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There are five current WWE Superstars that once had a career in MMA. Often times, athletes fantasize about how they would fare if they were to participate in another sport. Several entertainers and athletes have tried their luck on the WWE stage. Professional wrestlers have often crossed over into other entertainment genres and sports as well.
Former WWE Superstars have also entered into the world of MMA. Names like Dan Severn, Ken Shamrock, Bart Gunn and Dave Bautista are just a handful of professional wrestlers that have given combat sports a shot.
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In this article, we will discuss the path of five current WWE Superstars through Mixed Martial Arts. This is not a comprehensive list and there are several names that will not be included. Ronda Rousey is not active in the WWE, so she is not included.
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#5 Jessamyn Duke
Long before her time as a WWE Superstar in NXT, Jessamyn Duke was an amateur and professional MMA fighter. Duke started her amateur career in 2010, fighting for Absolute Action MMA and Tuff-N-Uff. She won the featherweight championship in both MMA companies, compiling a 5-2 record.
Jessamyn Duke made her professional MMA fighting debut in 2012 for Invicta Fighting Championships, where she earned a TKO victory. She would fight for Invicta for one year before earning a major opportunity to showcase her talents.
In August 2013, Duke became a cast member of the UFC's The Ultimate Fighter reality television competition. She was defeated in the elimination round, but her fight against Raquel Pennington earn both competitors the Fight of the Season award.
After a strong performance on the television series, Duke earned the opportunity to fight for the UFC. After winning her UFC debut, Duke lost three consecutive fights, leading to her release from the promotion. While in the UFC, Duke's overall professional career record was 3-5-1.
In May 2018, Duke and fellow former MMA competitor Marina Shafir, signed with the WWE and began training at the Performance Center. Just a few months later, Duke and Shafir made their debuts when they interfered in the NXT Women's Championship match to assist WWE Superstar Shayna Baszler in winning the title. The trio reigned over the NXT Women's Division from that point on.
#4 Bobby Lashley
In the middle of his wrestling career, WWE Superstar Bobby Lashley competed in MMA from 2008 to 2018. With an amateur wrestling background, Lashley adapted quickly to the trading blows with his opponents.
During his MMA career, Lashley went an impressive 15-2. Bobby Lashley competed in Bellator MMA, where he compiled an undefeated 5-0 record. Lashley showed his dominance in his bouts, proving that he could be a force in professional wrestling and MMA.
After leaving WWE in 2008, Lashley spent time on the independent circuit that same year before heading to TNA/IMPACT Wrestling from 2009-2010. Bobby Lashley returned to WWE in 2018 and has been a prominent member of the WWE RAW roster since his return. Lashley continued to compete in MMA until he returned to WWE.
Lashley has been involved in several storylines since his return to WWE. Most recently, Lashley faced WWE Champion Drew McIntyre for the championship, eventually losing the match at WWE Backlash. Lashley, MVP and Shelton Benjamin have now formed a faction on RAW.
#3 Matt Riddle
The Original Bro, Matt Riddle, competed in MMA from 2008 to 2013 in the UFC. With a 1-0 record as an amateur, Riddle earned a spot on the UFC's The Ultimate Fighter reality television competition.
After winning his first bout on the show, Riddle lost his second fight against Tim Credeur. The loss didn't stop Riddle from earning a contract with the UFC, as his debut came across fellow castmate Dante Rivera. Riddle would go on to defeat Rivera via unanimous decision. Matt Riddle would go on to sign a contract with Bellator MMA after being released from the UFC in 2013.
Riddle never competed for Bellator but did go on to fight in one bout in Titan FC before an injury sidelined him for a second fight.
Following his MMA career, Riddle began wrestling on the independent professional wrestling circuit before joining the WWE in 2018. Most of Riddle's career has been in NXT before earning a spot on the WWE SmackDown roster this year.
#2 Shayna Baszler
Before she reigned supreme over the NXT Women's Division, Shayna Baszler had a lengthy MMA career. Baszler began her career in 2006 and had a 15-11 overall MMA record, .
After a 1-1 start to her MMA career, Baszler fought in several promotions before her big break. A second round TKO defeat came at the hands of the formidable Cris Cyborg in Elite XC. Following her time in various promotions, Baszler landed on the UFC's The Ultimate Fighter: Team Rousey vs. Team Tate.
In total, Shayna Baszler competed in MMA for nine years. In 2015, Baszler began her career in professional wrestling working for World Wonder Ring Stardom. In 2017, she made a trip to the WWE to be on the NXT brand where she captured the title one year later.
Shayna Baszler is now officially on WWE's red brand, RAW. Baszler started off her RAW run with a dominant performance in the Elimination Chamber to earn a shot against former WWE RAW Women's Champion Becky Lynch at Wrestlemania 36.
#1 Brock Lesnar
Brock Lesnar has tried his hand at a couple of different sports including MMA and professional football in the NFL. After earning a NCAA Division I Championship in 2000, Lesnar would soon take his talents to the WWE for his first run in the company.
Lesnar rose to stardom on the WWE main roster after a stint in Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW) from 2000-2002. Once on the main roster, Brock Lesnar was quickly elevated due to his powerful ability in the ring. Even after a successful title run and stardom, Lesnar left the WWE after just two years to pursue a career in football.
After being cut in training camp following his tryout with the Minnesota Vikings, Brock Lesnar returned to wrestling for two years, working in Japanese promotions. He would begin his MMA career in 2007.
Just one year after his MMA career began, Brock Lesnar made his UFC debut on February 2, 2008 against Frank Mir. Lesnar eventually earned a UFC Heavyweight Championship Fight against MMA legend Randy Couture, in which Lesnar defeated Couture to become the champion.
Lesnar fought in the UFC until 2011, and eventually returned to the promotion from 2016 to 2018 while he was still dominating the WWE upon his return in 2012.
