How would you introduce a former MMA star into the WWE?

[CM Steel]

The WWE has been known for years to sign a wrestler with a background in MMA. Former WWF/E stars like Ken Shamrock, Dan Sevran, Daniel Puder, Bobby Lashley, ECT. Most of these former superstars risen to the top in the WWF/E at one point making it into the main event in their respected era's. But not winning the top title. MMA stars in wrestling are stereotyped as "bland", have no personality. Not charismatic in the ring.

But how would you introduce a former MMA star into the WWE if you worked for the E? How would you bring him/she in as a star in the WWE? And what kind of gimmick/character would he/she have? If I were to bring in a former MMA star in into the WWE if I were to work for Vince McMahon. I would give him or her a "keeping it real" kind-of gimmick/character. Just a former MMA coming into the wrestling world from the legit world of cage fighting.

But really, how would you introduce a former MMA star into the WWE?

 

[TempestH]

Uh, Brock Lesnar...?

Brock Lesnar doesn't really count because he made his name in the WWE. Lesnar was given so much initial buzz in the UFC because of his wrestling past, and people wondering if this "fake" pro-wrestler could hang with real fighters. While Lesnar did do well for himself during his MMA career, I doubt he would've been the huge PPV draw that he was if he had gone into MMA prior to debuting in the WWE.

And without the UFC buzz, he would not be treated as a some kind of demi-god separate from the rest of the roster upon coming to the WWE.

 

[BaconBits]

Um, Bobby Lashley didn't get into mixed martial arts until he left professional wrestling (although he is looking to get back into wrestling because he's an extraordinarily average fighter).

Personally, I don't think mixed martial artists make for good professional wrestlers. They know how to legitimately tear people apart and putting them in a world where they have to fake it just comes across lame as shit.

I am a huge fan of mma, and I am a huge fan of professional wrestling. Keep the two entities as far apart as possible to preserve the integrity of both. When the lines are blurred it never works all that well. Even in Japan, where they've been doing it for years. Wrestling comes across even more fake (have you seen the abomination that is King Mo in TNA?) and mma starts getting accusations of being fixed (see Pride FC).

 

[oneleggedman]

Id debut them as a surprise bodyguard for a top heel. In the case with Punk and Ryback at the moment, I would have (just because I know they are buddies in real life and he is a massive WWE fan) Chael Sonnen wrestle and ground and pound Ryback. You could build them him a wrestling machine, ala Kurt Angle, and we all know he can talk. Whilst hes not talking, he could be doing the Chael 'Im gonna fuck you up' Sonnen stare.

'When you are the greatest fighter in the world, they call you Chael P. Sonnen, beat me if you can...'

[/IMG]

 

[enviousdominous]

We live in an age where attempting to sell a person as a space traveler or a generic cowboy is career suicide, but they still did that to Matt Bloom.

To work, several things beyond the ability of WWE/TNA creative have to happen.

#1. The fighter had to really fucking want the lifestyle. Don't lure some guy with a good record by offering a fat contract, let him come to the promoter.

#2. Train him to fucking wrestle, it's a different field of expertise. Example, Vladimir Koslov.

#3. Don't limit his moveset. Del Rio was an MMA fighter and all he's allowed to apply his experience toward is a sloppy looking arm bar. Let him be what you promote him as within the bounds of a good show.

#4. Don't throw the belt in his lap. Give him a good two years to cut his teeth on the rigors of the business and, if he's still good for it, grant him a title run. At least have the criteria for earning the belt be more a matter of crowd reaction and less a matter of being HHH's work out bitch.

#5. Never put him in the ring with The Undertaker. Undie thinks he's an MMA fighter.


Posted from Wrestlezone.com App for Android

 

[Xumer]

Assuming we are talking about a heavyweight monster with a big name, I think I'd book him the same as Lesnar in his recent return (except of course making sure he had more than a few dates a year on a contract) but I'd keep him a monster. There should be some sort of stipulations that he CAN'T use certain MMA moves to help gloss over the fact that he could knock out or submit his opponent at any time in real life. This would also make for more exciting "no D.Q.", Cage or streetfighting matches as he could "let loose" which would cause more anticipation and could also help him get over as a heel by doing some of these "illegal" moves in regular matches while the ref is distracted. Might also have him do some brutal "shoot" matches overseas somewhere for a bit to be used as hype building up to his debut.

Of course that could never work in WWE and if it COULD, they'd screw it up. Probably have him debut as a mute tap dancer trying to find his voice through wrestling or some stupid shit. Regardless of how he's booked, he'll be jobbed to Cena like everyone else.

 

[Gallops77]

It depends on the fighter. A guy with a strong amateur wrestling background could thrive in pro wrestling. Same with a guy who's got a strong BJJ background. Strikers aren't as good, like Tank Abbot, because they won't be as good in the ring because of their grappling.

Shamrock was good because he could grapple a bit but also was willing to learn the craft. That's a big thing.

 

[LeviCook]

I would bring them in being dominate. Sort of similar to Brock Lesnar now days. They acknowledge him being a fighter and push him as being this guy who you know is going to be hard to fight. Gimmick wise i would pretty much let them use their mma background. I would have the individual declare himself as the best fighter in the world. And ideally in the ring have them take risks. A guy who can be a technical fighter but is just as good with a chair in his hands or doing highflying moves. Then you have the realism of this guy being a good fighter but it also makes him more entertaining for the fans to watch. If they weren't good on the mic i would give them a manger. Allow them to say very little. Someone who is just there to kick ass and win championships doesn't need to say a whole lot.

 

[Red Flag]

Um, Bobby Lashley didn't get into mixed martial arts until he left professional wrestling (although he is looking to get back into wrestling because he's an extraordinarily average fighter).

Personally, I don't think mixed martial artists make for good professional wrestlers. They know how to legitimately tear people apart and putting them in a world where they have to fake it just comes across lame as shit.

I am a huge fan of mma, and I am a huge fan of professional wrestling. Keep the two entities as far apart as possible to preserve the integrity of both. When the lines are blurred it never works all that well. Even in Japan, where they've been doing it for years. Wrestling comes across even more fake (have you seen the abomination that is King Mo in TNA?) and mma starts getting accusations of being fixed (see Pride FC).

Dude ok if bobby lashley had stayed in wwe he could be everything cena was but more. Sure he wasn't that good on the mic but by now he would be fine and he's more athletic and way cooler than cena. Seriously I think bobby lashley leaving was probably one of the worst things for wwe in a long time

 

[Teddy Irving]

Dude ok if bobby lashley had stayed in wwe he could be everything cena was but more. Sure he wasn't that good on the mic but by now he would be fine and he's more athletic and way cooler than cena. Seriously I think bobby lashley leaving was probably one of the worst things for wwe in a long time

Don't know why you felt the need to defend Lashley at all here, BaconBits didn't say anything bad about Lashley in his post he just pointed out that Lashley didn't get into MMA until he left pro wrestling. He didn't knock Lashley's ability or say that Lashley was bad in the ring there was nothing that warrented a defence on Lashley.
Also in what way was he cooler than Cena? If you go by reports Cena is by all means a pretty cool guy and if you go by kayfabe then he is definitely a cool guy?

Now onto the original point of this thread.

I think that it is important not to put this guy straight into the top spot because you want to ensure he isn't just going to leave in 3 months, and you also want him to be able to work well enough to be in that spot.


I think they would have to be booked as tough to beat, so have them come in an start at the bottom, I would bring them in as a face. This way they can dominate some of the lower card guys, and the reason given would be that everyone starts at the bottom and works there way up. The MMA guy would be a dangerous force as people would know he was truely capable of making a man tap out or KOing a man. I would have him lose his first few matches against he low card guys, but not due to pin/submission. I would have him lose from things like not breaking for a rope break, or count out. This way he could still be built as a monster but it shows that although he was great in MMA (I am assuming that he would be or why would Vince bother) the rules and things in WWE are different.
He could get tricked into count out victories by people who have always been pro wrestlers and have the experience. As time goes by he could learn the tricks of the trade so to say. He learns that he has 10 seconds to get back in the ring once outside and then he starts to win a few matches. Then he locks in a submission (I am pretty sure all MMA guys know a few submissions) and the wrestler gets to the rope. There isn't a rope in MMA and you don't have to break unless they person taps and if you don't the ref physical attempts to remove you by force. Have him lose this match due to dq for not breaking the hold when his opponent is on the ropes. Again he is out smarted by experience and learns another bit about this new business. Then he can win a few more matches.

I would then let him move up after a few wins. Not far up as like I said they need to learn the ropes and see if they will stick around. I would have them move into the hunt for the US title. Have them win a few matches against the guys competing for that title. They should work their way through all the other competitors and then finally be given a title shot. The reason they didn't outright get one could be the champion refused to give them one, saying they didn't deserve a shot as they hadn't beaten anyone of his caliber. After a few win against people on that level the champion just makes more excuses and weasels out of the match, until finally the gm books the match for a ppv.
At the PPV I would have a good back and forth match with the MMA guys still being booked as an animal, so taking a beating but always getting back up quick enough. I would have the champion doing everything they can to get away such as trying to get the count out, the MMA guys thinks you know he has won the match and so the title, but quickly finds out this isn't the case it has to be pinfall/submission victory. The match gets booked for the next ppv and this time the MMA guy knows this and so doesn't let it happen but the champion gets themselves DQ'd for use of a weapon and again walks away holding his title (obviously this is after the match as gone on a while and the champ can't see himself winning anymore).
A third PPV match would be booked ( during the weeks between PPV's have the MMA guy winning matches), this time no DQ and no count out, or the champ can lose the title via DQ whichever you want really. Now it seems that there is no way the MMA guy can lose the match. Now I know most will disagree here but I would have him lose this third PPV match but not cleanly. Either a handful of tights or feet on the ropes for leverage. This keeps the title off the MMA guy and has the crowd buzzing for him to win that title and for the champion to get his ass beat down and lose that title. I would then have the champion come out and say he wont be defending against MMA guy again until he has worked his way back up from the bottom ( I see Miz as the champion for all this I think he could pull this off well, not sure why it just seems to fit in my head ). I would have the MMA star do this and some how earn a title shot 2 or 3 PPV's away. This would have the crowd buzzing. I would have the MMA guy win the title at that PPV and the crowd would love it.

All this would have taken at least 6/7 months to do. If they MMA guy has stuck around that long then the chance is he will be with you for at least the rest of his contract so having him win a mid card title then wouldn't be much of a risk. I would then have the MMA guy defend his title and continue to win in singles matches. I would have him lose the title in a triple threat or fatal four way match. Again this isn't something they would have experienced and they could lose without being pinned. I wouldn't have them recapture or even try to recapture the title. I would turn them heel at this point ( I assume everyone realised I had started with a face run, actually I will go up the top and post that ), I would turn them heel by having them say that they have been wasting there time at this level and it is time for them to go for the top prize, the WWE/WHC title. That they are above the other titles and they deserve to be up at that level. I would again work them through the upper card guys before getting a shot at the title this would take another few months and if they are still around after that then you can trust to have them in a main event.
For their first time going for the WWE/WHC title I would have a face champion and I would have the MMA guy challenge them to his environment... a cage match. Obviously there will be back and forth with the MMA guy (a heel) having the upper hand most of the time. I would have the MMA guy eventually lose this match due to their own arrogance. Have them make a mistake and then have the wrestler escape from the cage. At the next PPV I would have the MMA guy win the title and have a good run with it before dropping it.


Wow that was alot longer than I thought it would be doubt many will read that but those who do/did I hope you enjoyed it

 

[Peoples_Champ]

Introducing a former MMA star has several different paths. There are many lazy methods: a graphic saying MMA Fighter will be appearing on Raw next week, having John Cena announce he's going outside the WWE for help against a stable, or the weeks of teaser videos followed by in-ring promo that either gets interrupted or some backstage conflict.

But the way that I think would be best is having MMA Fighter front row at Raw for a week, leading the cheers against a upper midcard heel (say Dolph Ziggler, for argument's sake). Following week Ziggler rips MMA Fighter for what he did (throw beer, or whatever) and says that he would crush MMA Fighter if he got into the ring. Ziggler would then switch gears and continue to talk about his current feud. MMA Fighter talks on Twitter, get into a Twitter war. MMA Fighter shows up at Raw a week later (or PPV) at ringside, friends with whoever Ziggler is feuding with. Ziggler fight goes to the outside and Ziggler accidentally hits MMA Fighter. MMA Fighter gets pissed, jumps the rail and beats down Ziggler, putting him in submission finisher.

The rest writes itself, but having an element of surprise and 'logic' would benefit WWE writers.

 

[theBec2101]

They generally come down to the ring. I highly doubt someone is coming through the rafters again. Also Undertaker would be highly pissed if they came through underneath the ring besides Kane. So I am going with; they come out through the curtain, onto stage, down the ramp. I guess the hard part is they taking the stairs or are they climbing onto the apron. I’ll pick stairs and in between the top and middle ropes. I think that should get him to the ring in a timely safely manner.

 

[BaconBits]

Dude ok if bobby lashley had stayed in wwe he could be everything cena was but more. Sure he wasn't that good on the mic but by now he would be fine and he's more athletic and way cooler than cena. Seriously I think bobby lashley leaving was probably one of the worst things for wwe in a long time

Holy overreaction Batman. I only mentioned that Lashley was a wrestler before he was a fighter.

I got no beef with Lashley at all. He's not that great a fighter, but that's to be expected with the limited training he has had.

No need to get all bent out of shape.

 

[mikekinkade]

The problem with introducing an MMA fighter into the WWE is that it damages professional wrestling in the long run if done improperly. When pro-wrestlers start to seem inferior to MMA fighters on an actual wrestling program it hurts the business. I would instead use this MMA star to help attack MMA and aggravate MMA fans. The MMA fans will only care to watch if their fighter is struggling at first. You have to get an emotional response from this group.

I realize you can get a boost in ratings and PPV buys in the short-run if you book this MMA star as an unstoppable fighter with an even more dangerous move set, but I would want the fans to see that pure MMA doesn't work in the pro wrestling world. YOU HAVE TO ALWAYS PROTECT THE BUSINESS. Originally, I would show this MMA star struggling to finish matches with his MMA style (note, I would still book this person to look good, be dangerous and have potential). Over time, as this star starts to incorporate more wrestling moves with MMA moves, then he will start winning matches.

You have to put yourself into the mind-set of a hardcore MMA fan. The whole purpose to signing an MMA star is to get these individuals to watch and buy PPVs. But why would they care about seeing an MMA fighter fake beat up a pro-wrestler? The trick is to infuriate these people to the point were they are tuning in to see their beloved MMA star struggle to finish fights. The pay-off for these people is that down the line their MMA star decides to incorporate more wrestling moves with MMA, and begins to win matches. Eventually you should give this person a small title run, with a title shot at a PPV.