PWInsider - WWE News, Wrestling News, WWE

COULD CONOR MCGREGOR EVER MIGRATE TO WWE?

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

There has been a lot of trash talking before and after Conor McGregor’s UFC 229 defeat at the hands of Khabib Nurmagomedov. McGregor flattered to deceive back in the Octagon, failing – once again – to live up to his pre-fight bravado and coming up very short against the Russian after submitting in the fourth round. What followed the fight – both inside and outside the Octagon – can only be described as disgraceful, with Nurmagomedov and his team attacking McGregor and his stablemates at the end of the bout.

However, putting those ugly scenes to one side for a short moment, the defeat to Nurmagomedov proves that McGregor is no longer the force he was in mixed martial arts. Combine that with his failed attempt to enter the world of professional boxing, and it’s difficult to see the next direction for the McGregor camp. Before the Nurmagomedov match, McGregor was rated +275.00 major outsider in the UFC betting, with the smart money going on Nurmagomedov at -300. Few punters believe in McGregor now.

Given his recent UFC form, there have been reports post-Nurmagomedov that suggest McGregor is in line for a debut in the world of WWE at 2019’s Wrestlemania. This one-off appearance may be akin to his money-spinning debut in pro boxing, but if it was to come off he could consider making the switch to WWE for keeps. Betting enthusiasts will be interested in seeing those markets available, especially those who already like to bet on McGregor.

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

There’s no doubt about it, Conor McGregor is one of the best-known MMA fighters in the history of the sport. His notoriety and personality make him a promoter’s dream and the “Notorious One” would certainly add another dimension to the WWE scene. WWE icon and six-time world champion, Chris Jericho laughed off claims of McGregor’s entrance to WWE by suggesting that he could “probably beat” McGregor in a UFC match. Publicly, McGregor also appears to have a very dim view of WWE, so why would he make the switch?

For many years there have been arguments about whether a UFC fighter would ever move to WWE. The prospect of changing codes was made all the more possible thanks to a trio of women who made the move from MMA to WWE and NXT: Ronda Rousey, Sonia Deville and Shayna Baszler. Their decision has proven to be a good one, paving the way for McGregor to make a similar transition.

Another option for McGregor could be a lucrative UFC rematch with Nurmagomedov. However, if the opening betting lines are any indication, the Russian will go off as an even heavier favorite this time around. Some sportsbooks have Nurmagomedov priced as a -250 contender in the moneylines. Amusingly, some betting sites have also priced up the likelihood of the rematch taking place in McGregor’s backyard in Dublin. It appears highly improbable, with sportsbooks pricing it at +5000 to take place in the Irish capital.

Of course, the famous McGregor swagger is what makes him such a prime candidate for WWE’s entertainment business. Nevertheless, Ken Shamrock, the pioneer of the switchover from MMA to WWE, believes McGregor would find it tough applying his physical skills to the world of professional wrestling. Shamrock insists the Irishman would need to learn “a whole lot of different types of moves” in order for him to be credible enough to “wrestle the bigger guys”.

That’s a very valid statement when you consider that McGregor is only a lightweight in UFC and failed to get to an imposing enough weight in the boxing ring against Floyd Mayweather. Nevertheless, millions of people would pay to watch McGregor ruffle some feather in the WWE scene. Whether or not his future lies in WWE permanently, remains to be seen. One thing’s for certain: Wherever McGregor goes, drama follows.

If you enjoy PWInsider.com you can check out the AD-FREE PWInsider Elite section, which features exclusive audio updates, news, our critically acclaimed podcasts, interviews and more by clicking here!

• Tweet