Following the sale of WWE to the parent company of UFC, a former WWE Heavyweight Champion has challenged one of their most outspoken fighters, Conor McGregor.
Endeavor Group agreed on a deal to purchase WWE, with news breaking after WrestleMania 39.
The group already owned UFC, and feel that paring action from the Octagon, with the global appeal of WWE, it will create the world’s leading sports and entertainment brand.
Following the news, media, and fans began to speculate on what this could mean for talent, and if it would lead to cross-over matches.
Not one to shy away from the limelight, Conor McGregor took to social media after the announcement, tweeted a photo of himself holding WWE Championships and the word “inevitable”.
This has led to a former WWE World Heavyweight Champion challenging the Notorious one to step into a WWE ring at WrestleMania 40.
Dolph Ziggler spoke with TMZ Sports about his desire to face off against McGregor in a WWE ring, but also in two further disciplines.
“Why not make it a best of 3? Octagon. Boxing match. Wrestling. Fighting. WWE. And then set it all up for the best out of seven at WrestleMania.”
“That’s just where the money is, but not everybody can go and back it up. But some of us can.”
Dolph Ziggler Ready To Show The World He’s Ready For Conor McGregor
On April 3rd, Dolph Ziggler responded to McGregor’s “inevitable” tweet, to let the UFC Star know that he would be ready for anyone “talking trash” about WWE.
Ziggler later followed up by posting a fight promo-style image of the pair, with weight and height stats.
ABSOLUTELY AMAZING #WrestleMania
PS: If I can drop 45 more pounds, I can drop anyone talking trash! seems even easier to get the deal done now, right @TheNotoriousMMA
*207.5, but whatever pic.twitter.com/iAy641kZhA
— Nic Nemeth (@HEELZiggler) April 3, 2023
Should the series take place, it would lead to the first under-contract WWE Superstar to fight inside the Octagon.
Brock Lesnar and CM Punk had both left the company before joining UFC, and Ronda Rousey’s MMA career was over before she properly headed to the squared circle.
Brock Lesnar took WWE by storm after joining in 2000. He would become the youngest-ever WWE Undisputed Champion after defeating The Rock at SummerSlam in 2002.
After leaving WWE, The Beast joined UFC and won the Heavyweight Championship at UFC 91, defeating Randy Couture.
If McGregor does compete in Philadelphia at next year’s WrestleMania, he will be following in the footsteps of Ronda Rousey and Ken Shamrock, in making their name in the Octagon before looking to establish a career in the squared circle.
Conor McGregor was the first fighter to hold UFC Championships in two weight divisions at the same time, after winning both the featherweight and lightweight Championships.
Dolph Ziggler has one of the most memorable Money In The Bank cash-ins, on April 8th, 2013, the Raw following WrestleMania 29.
As an injured Alberto Del Rio was in the ring, Ziggler’s music hit to a huge crowd reaction. The Showoff made quick work of the then Champion Del Rio, to lift the WWE World Heavyweight Championship.
Ziggler is also a six-time Intercontinental Champion, and two-time United States Champion, and has tasted success with both the Raw and Smackdown Tag Team Championships during his 19-year career in WWE.
H/t to Fightful