8 Wrestlers You Didn't Know Competed In MMA
1. Bart Gunn (1-1)
Bart Gunn had a varied career in pro wrestling. After a distinguished period including multiple World Tag Team Championship reigns in WWE teaming with Billy Gunn as The Smoking Gunns, Bart found himself caught in the mid-card wilderness after their split.
His opportunity to shine would come in unlikely circumstances with success in the infamous Brawl for All. He defeated then tag-partner Bob Holly by decision, then followed up by knocking out Steve Williams, The Godfather, and JBL in the final. This led to an ill-fated WrestleMania boxing match with Eric 'Butterbean' Esch, in which he was knocked out in just 35 seconds.
Years after the tournament Gunn would revive his legitimate combat sports skills, defeating UFC veteran Wesley 'Cabbage' Corriea via TKO. He would then be signed with PRIDE FC to face noted giant-killer and fellow pro wrestler Ikuhisa Minowa.
Minowa took Gunn down right at the start of the fight, and while Gunn was competitive in the grappling exchanges, he narrowly avoided being submitted on several occasions. The second round was contested almost entirely in striking range, and despite owning a significant size advantage over his opponent, Gunn was outstruck en-route to a unanimous decision defeat. Gunn hasn't competed in MMA since.