WWE And UFC: 10 Shared Values Of Sports Entertainment

4. The Implementation Of MMA In WWE

In further developing the last point, the slow subtle change of WWE ring style is actually hugely owing to MMA. Whereas UFC borrowed storyline inspiration from WWE, the pro wrestling outfit has borrowed move inspiration from Ultimate Fighting. Undertaker was one of the first to adapt his ring style to be built around MMA holds and attacks, stating in 2003's 'Unscripted' book that he believed the WWE product would end up like Ultimate Fighting. In some ways his prediction came true. While still entirely fake obviously, WWE matches now have several aspects of jiu jitsu and MMA strikes built into their spots. In 2012 we witnessed CM Punk and Daniel Bryan dominate the ring with MMA inspired kicks and holds. Brock Lesnar is another man who has made WWE more like MMA, having came back to WWE as a successful UFC Champion he has helped to get over the idea of Ultimate Fighting being used in WWE - something we first witnessed on a smaller scale with Ken Shamrock back in 90's. This time around it's a bigger influence and the style is throughout the pro wrestling product. As WWE evolves alongside UFC its ring style is undoubtedly more MMA influenced than it was ten years ago.