6 WWE Superstars Who Kicked It in MMA

Over the years, there have been several wrestling icons who have tried their hands at mixed martial arts with varying success. While some have transitioned from MMA to the world of wrestling, others have developed an interest in it while at the peak of their wrestling careers. Without further adieu, here are some of the greatest in the industry who had a run at both these intense sports.

Batista

The WWE veteran Dave Bautista, aka Batista, had a brief but memorable stint in MMA. The six time WWE World Champion first expressed his wish to compete in MMA in 2010, and he began his training under the iconic Cesar Gracie Jiu-Jitsu gym. On October 6, 2012, Batista had his first and only MMA bout where he faced off against Vince Lucero. The fight ended at 4:05 in the first round, with Batista taking out Lucero by a technical knockout (TKO).

Brock Lesnar

Brock Lesnar has established himself as an icon not only in WWE but also in the world of MMA, showcasing his proficiency in both the sport. He is the posterboy for a successful crossover between the two sports, having held both UFC and WWE titles in his career. He embarked on his MMA journey after taking a hiatus from wrestling in 2008. His UFC debut ended in disappointment, when he was defeated by Frank Mir. However, Lesnar soon went on to claim the title of the UFC Heavyweight Championship by defeating Heath Herring and Randy Couture. He retired from MMA in 2017, following his suspension by USADA after failing two drug tests.

Bobby Lashley

Franklin Roberto Lashley aka Bobby Lashley is yet another wrestling icon who had a brief stint in MMA in his career. The eight-time world champion made his MMA debut on December 13, 2008 where he won against Joshua Franklin via a TKO. He went on to accomplish a stellar fighting record with 15 wins in 17 matches. He bagged two titles in his MMA career, Shark Fights Heavyweight Championship and XFN Heavyweight Championship.

Ronda Rousey

Ronda Rousey is famously from a combat sports background who transitioned into pro wrestling. An absolute legend in the field of combat sports, she began her career in MMA in the early 2010s. She became the first female fighter to sign with the UFC, and went on to have an absolutely stellar record at the promotion. Rousey became the first ever UFC Women's Bantamweight Champion, a title which she defended for consecutive six times. She was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame in 2018. Rousey along with Shayna Baszler, Jessamyn Duke, and Marina Shafir, made their WWE debut as The Four Horsemen in 2014.

Shayna Baszler

Shayna Baszler too transitioned from MMA to wrestling, like her fellow The Four Horsemen Ronda Rousey. Early on in her career, Baszler received training in both Brazilian jiu-jitsu and Muay Thai boxing, as she began making her mark in various promotions before finally securing a fight against UFC featherweight champion Cris Cyborg, which she failed to win. Although she had several ups and downs in her MMA career, Baszler is still remembered for her impressive run before she joined The Four Horsemen.

Shinsuke Nakamura

Another WWE superstar to make the list is the Japanese wrestling icon Shinsuke Nakamura. He too had a brief stint in MMA, an experience which contributed greatly to his fighting style in WWE. His first MMA match was against Alexey Ignashov at the K-1 MMA ROMANEX on May 22, 2004. He had fought a total of five professional matches in his MMA career and claimed victory in three of them.