A former UFC Champion believes he achieved his childhood dream with his brief WWE tenure.
Almost five years ago, on the October 4, 2019, episode of SmackDown, former UFC Heavyweight Champion Cain Velasquez, made his WWE debut. Velasquez made his intentions known by aligning himself with Rey Mysterio and going straight after Brock Lesnar.
Soon after, he was scheduled in a WWE Championship match against Lesnar at the 2019 Crown Jewel PLE, which Velasquez lost in under three minutes. Following the defeat, he was brutally attacked by The Beast Incarnate.
The former MMA star was later involved in a tag-team match at a live show. Later rumored to be a part of the 2020 Royal Rumble, an injury sidelined him, and was released a few months later due to Covid-19 budget cuts.
Speaking on The Ariel Helwani Show, Velasquez reflected on his short run at the Stamford-based promotion, and if he had any regrets about it.
“No, again, it was something that for me, it was living a childhood dream. It was something that was very fun, a great experience. It’s all a learning experience, right? No, that wasn’t. It was something that I wanted to do, I did. Again, the road of learning never stops. That’s why we’re here. We’re here to learn and teach each other. So now, for me, it’s helping those others, helping the people coming up, learning from the guys that are training now, the guys that are in the position that I was a couple years ago. I’m just grateful to be here. I’m grateful that I’m still learning and I’m still teaching.”
H/t Fightful
Further, in the interview, he opened up more about the style of wrestling he enjoyed working with the most.
Former UFC Star Cain Velasquez Fond Of Lucha Wrestlers
In the same interview, Velasquez addressed the style of wrestling he enjoyed the most and named the “Lucha guys” as someone he was glad to work with.
Again, for me, more so working with the lucha guys, that was really something that hit home for me. WWE as well, but something about the lucha, the style of lucha that they do, that for me was something that I had to do for me, for my childhood. So again, I’m glad I did it. As far as athletes go, we go out there, we show what we’re made of, we show who we are, and that’s what I did. Again man, it just keeps on going to learning and loving what you’re doing in the present moment.”
The former Heavyweight Champion made his wrestling debut in 2019 at the AAA before working two matches in WWE. After departing the Stamford-based promotion, he has wrestled for AAA twice again and has not fought inside the squared circle since 2022.
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