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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – MARCH 07: Israel Adesanya waits during his decision win over Yoel Romero to retain the middleweight title at T-Mobile Arena on March 07, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – MARCH 07: Israel Adesanya waits during his decision win over Yoel Romero to retain the middleweight title at T-Mobile Arena on March 07, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
A few UFC stars have brought their talents to the WWE, ranging from Ken Shamrock in the Attitude Era to Cain Velasquez only some years ago.
The list of UFC stars who made an illustrious name for themselves in the WWE goes on and on. Along with the aforementioned names, Israel Adesanya is another who looks forward to a WWE career.
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UFC star Israel Adesanya wanted to join the WWE
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MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – FEBRUARY 10: Israel Adesanya of New Zealand stands in his corner prior to his middleweight bout against Anderson Silva of Brazil during the UFC 234 at Rod Laver Arena on February 10, 2019 in the Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
Israel Adesanya is a UFC fighter from New Zealand, although he was born in Nigeria. At UFC 259, Adesanya will take on Jan Błachowicz for the UFC Middleweight Championship. Before his fight, Adesanya talked about his dream to join the WWE.
In an interview with BT Sport, Adesanya said it was his dream to join WWE even before he knew about the UFC.
“I’ve never spoken to them about it directly, but I speak to, a few, well, a couple of guys from the Attitude Era, my era. Never spoken about it. But yeah, growing up, that was before I even knew what the UFC was, that existed, that was definitely a dream of mine; or a path to, I guess, being where I’m at right now in the public eye, being a WWE superstar. So, yeah, it definitely is a possibility.”
For the MMA star, coming to the biggest wrestling promotion in the world wasn’t an unachievable dream. Ronda Rousey thrived in her one year in wrestling, as did Steve Blackman, Ken Shamrock and current United States Champion Matt Riddle.
UFC stars who succeeded in WWE
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USA Today via Reuters
Aug 1, 2015; Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil; Ronda Rousey (red gloves) celebrates after defeating Bethe Correia (not pictured) during UFC 190 at HSBC Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jason Silva-USA TODAY Sports.
Amongst the aforementioned names, none had a brighter career than Ronda Rousey.
Within a year of debuting, Rousey faced Triple H and Stephanie McMahon at WrestleMania, won the Women’s Title at SummerSlam, beat three-fourths of the Four Horsewomen, and main evented WrestleMania. In her second match in WWE, she came within a hair’s breath of winning the Raw Women’s Title but was successful in her fourth attempt.
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LAS VEGAS – JULY 03: Brock Lesnar reacts after his second round submission of Shane Carwin to win the UFC Heavyweight Championship Unification bout at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on July 3, 2010 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jon Kopaloff/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
Brock Lesnar was a successful wrestler before he joined the UFC, but his post-UFC wrestling career is bonkers. Breaking the Streak, 600+ days with the Universal Title and a $12 million salary – Brock Lesnar definitely made the right choice by returning to wrestling.
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Ken Shamrock is another name who enjoyed a healthy WWE run. He was a star in the Attitude Era and also held the Intercontinental Championship.
Matt Riddle knocked people out in the UFC but is knocking people from the WWE Universe dead with his impressive performances.
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If he does step into a WWE ring, will Israel Adesanya be as successful as the names mentioned above?
Read More: Is Brock Lesnar’s UFC Career Overrated?
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