5 successful UFC fighters that joined WWE

#2. UFC Hall of Famer Ken Shamrock

UFC Hall of Famer Ken Shamrock was the first big star to join the WWE. The former superfight champion took a considerable risk and joined WWE while he was in the prime of his career.

Shamrock served as the special guest referee for the ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin vs. Bret Hart at WrestleMania 13. He brought legitimacy to the No Holds Barred match as he came from the world of Ultimate Fighting. During his WWE tenure, he achieved a lot and is instrumental in creating a pathway for other fighters to follow suit.

Some of his accomplishments in WWE include intercontinental champion, tag team champion, and 1998 King of the Ring. He was also part of a memorable feud with 'The Rock', who became the biggest star in Hollywood. In fact, 'The Rock' later inducted Shamrock into the IMPACT Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2020.

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#1. UFC Hall of Famer Ronda Rousey

UFC Hall of Famer Ronda Rousey has been the biggest star to join WWE. After back-to-back losses to Holly Holm and Amanda Nunes, she decided to walk away from MMA and transition to pro wrestling. The former women’s bantamweight champion joined the company at the 2018 Royal Rumble event after the first-ever women’s Royal Rumble match.

‘Rowdy’ immediately became a focal point in WWE's programming, and it wasn’t long before she became WWE Raw women’s champion. She was a part of WWE history in 2019, when she main evented WrestleMania, along with Charlotte Flair and Becky Lynch. This was a milestone as it was the first women’s match to main event the company's biggest event of the year.

After a two-year hiatus, Rousey returned to WWE as a surprise entrant in this year’s women’s Royal Rumble match. She won the match and could main event WrestleMania for the second time in her career.