Cain Velasquez in talks to sign with WWE After SmackDown Appearance
Cain Velasquez plans to step out of the Octagon for the foreseeable future and step into the pro-wrestling ring.
Cain Velasquez, a former two-time UFC heavyweight champion, is in advanced talks to sign with WWE, he told ESPN. Friday at WWE SmackDown's Fox premiere at Staples Center, which Brock Lesnar faces in the closing moments of the show. Velasquez said he was not officially retired from the UFC, but pro-wrestling is probably his focus at the moment.
WHAT?!?!@cainmma is HERE and he is getting a piece of the NEW #WWEChampion @BrockLesnar!!!! #SmackDown @HeymanHustle @reymysterio
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Velasquez said no deal was officially signed, and he has also been in discussion with other wrestling promotions, including Upstart All Elite Wrestling (AEW) and New Japan Pro-Wrestling.
WWE was able to find a blockbuster between Velasquez and Lesnar, also a former UFC heavyweight champion. Velasquez eliminated Lesnar to win the UFC call in 2010. Coincidentally, Velasquez headlined the first UFC show at Fox in 2011, and on Friday he was an important part of WWE's Fox premiere, walking to the ring with Rey Mysterio and hit Lesnar with a double-legged removal.
Velasquez, 37, debuted in August in pro-wrestling with the Lucha Libre AAA in Mexico. Velasquez, a Mexican American, is a celebrity in Mexico for his UFC success and how he has marketed himself there. The 6-foot-2, 250-pound native California impressed at AAA's Triplemania show for 18,000 at Mexico City Arena, pulling athletic movements that were unexpected for the size of a man.
Last month, Velasquez had a second AAA match at the Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden and his skills once again attracted attention. The MMA star has only been training full-time in pro-wrestling since June at Pro Wrestling Revolution in San Jose, California. Velasquez has done it all with multiple torn ligaments in his left knee, an injury sustained in a knockout loss to Francis Ngannou at UFC Phoenix in February.
Velasquez (14-3) is one of the most experienced fighters in UFC history. He won the UFC heavyweight belt in 2010, and then again in 2012. Velasquez holds victories over Junior Dos Santos (twice), Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira and Lesnar. Injuries to his knees, back and shoulders marred his run at the division. Velasquez has just fought three times since 2013. He dropped the heavyweight title to Fabricio Werdum in 2015 and recovered to defeat Travis Browne on UFC 200 in 2016.
In 2018, Velasquez trained at the WWE Performance Center to see if he could physically work in a ring. He received rave reviews from coaches there, but it didn't work with WWE until a contract, and he finally signed a short-term deal with AAA.
After his two appearances for AAA in August and September, Velasquez saw an increase in interest in him. WWE returned to the table.
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"We've talked a little bit back and forth and nothing happened," Velasquez said. "They wanted to see my development. I think they're pleased with what I'm doing now."
Velasquez's interest in pro-wrestling comes at a particularly busy moment in the history of pro-wrestling. The emergence of AEW, owned by the Khan family, which also owns the Jacksonville Jaguars and Fulham FC, is the first major effort to enter a WWE-dominated space for 20 years. In addition, WWE signed TV contracts to bring SmackDown to Fox and extend Monday Night Raw on the US network with a value of more than $ 1 billion.
Velasquez would join former UFC champions in WWE such as Lesnar and Ronda Rousey. WWE also has UFC veterans Matt Riddle and Shayna Baszler under contract.
"This is definitely my focus," Velasquez said of pro wrestling. "My family is into it, they love it. They're super excited. I haven't seen them excited over something like this in a while. It's cool."
