8 Wrestlers You Didn't Know Competed In MMA

Bam Bam Bigelow's exploits in the business of professional wrestling are legendary. The agile heavyweight headlined WrestleMania XI against NFL linebacker Lawrence Taylor and had successful stints in WCW, NJPW, ECW, and WWE.

Displaying a remarkable amount of athleticism throughout for a man his size, Bigelow was one of the premier big-man wrestlers of his era, even utilising a running somersault senton as part of his repertoire during his time in Japan.

What is less known about Bigelow is that after leaving WWE in 1995, he competed in a single MMA fight. Taking on UFC pioneer Kimo Leopoldo, Bigelow was seriously outmatched and despite having a size advantage on his opponent, was taken down early and bloodied with a barrage of ground and pound before being submitted with a rear-naked-choke just over two minutes into the first round. This would prove to be the American's one and only foray into MMA.

Bigelow later claimed that the result of the fight was predetermined and that he had been paid to lose to Kimo, which although isn't unprecedented given the history of worked fights in Japan, is highly unlikely due to the vast experience gap between the two men in legitimate contests.