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MCGREGOR'S CROSS-PROMOTIONAL MONEY MAKING WON'T STOP WITH BOXING

Conor McGregor utilised the showmanship he is so famous for to firstly talk himself into a professional boxing bout he didn't deserve (on paper at least), and secondly to make an obscene amount of money from what was fundamentally a mismatch.

He looks great, has the quips, and takes the time to hone new material for the mic. It gets people interested. This is why there was a huge demand for the bout, despite it pitting a debutant against a man who stood at 49-0.

"UFC 189 World Tour Aldo vs. McGregor Lon" (CC BY-SA 2.0) by andriuXphoto.events

Of course, the experience in the squared circle became evident after a couple of rounds, and the experience of Floyd Mayweather saw him pick up his first stoppage victory in years, overwhelming McGregor with punches in the tenth round. It was no surprise to the hardcore fans, nor anyone who kept up with the latest boxing odds, which had the Irishman as a big underdog, but 'The Notorious' had sold the fight well enough that the legions of new fans he'd convinced to watch the PPV were shocked.

That's the power of his persona, and how effectively he cuts a promo. It may be the last we'll see of Conor McGregor as a pugilist, but where else would that skill set fit in perfectly? 

Pro wrestling, of course.

The world's biggest and best stars haven't always been the greatest athletes, but they've been the greatest showmen. They've been creative with their personalities and sold fights better than the rest, enough to get them the biggest opportunities. 

That's why many wrestling insiders believe that we may see the UFC champion in the ring again, but under a different guise. 

"WWE House Show - Garrett Coliseum - 1/10" (CC BY-SA 2.0) by Anton Jackson

"I think it's a no-brainer," said Chris Jericho. "A guy that's that yappy and understands the concept of cutting a wrestling promo, I think Conor will definitely end up [in the WWE]."

"I can see him doing it in a heartbeat," offered Bill Goldberg, on the Dubliner potentially making the switch, proposing a matchup with fellow crossover sensation, Brock Lesnar.

Not only is the idea popping up in the minds of the experienced industry professionals, but McGregor himself has already set the scene for a showdown.

After some less than favourable comments on a conference call ahead of UFC 202, McGregor then took to Twitter to explain himself.

I didn't mean no disrespect to the @wwe fans. What I meant to say was that I'd slap the head off your entire roster. And twice on Sunday's.

— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) August 7, 2016

Amongst the stars taking the bait were Kurt Angle, Sheamus, Roman Reigns, and more. Opting to defend their brand of sport entertainment and build up a feud simultaneously, McGregor was called "a wee yapper" by Sheamus, with Reigns stating he was "the size of my leg".

As we know, a good heel makes a good feud, and McGregor is savvy enough to build on any retort to capture interest. 

Prize fighting is a hard business and with a young son now in his thoughts, if McGregor thinks there's money to be made elsewhere without the same trauma on the body and mind, he might just take it. 

Plus, he likes money, and wherever he goes, it seems everybody watches. Keep your eye on his next movements, as it's very possible he could be looking to another industry once again. 

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