The Great Debate - Pro Wrestlers in MMA

There are as many sides to the issue of pro wrestlers in MMA as there are to an octagon. Some people say that bringing pro wrestlers into MMA creates a freak show environment and that such an environment will be the ruination of MMA.

Others say that pro wrestlers can't hack it in MMA. Anyone that can count to 25 knows that pro wrestling is fake. The outcome of a given match in the WWE has a predetermined outcome. So, I've heard it said that these guys are a joke and wouldn't last two minutes with a trained MMA fighter. On the other hand, just because wrestling is fake, doesn't mean that pro wrestlers aren't great athletes. But does that qualify them to fight in an octagon? Gymnasts are amazing athletes as well, but they wouldn't last long in the cage. I think that certain pro wrestlers, with time and the right training can hack it in the cage, but they have to start somewhere near the bottom of the ladder to work their way up, just like everybody else. Admittedly, in an interview with Tagg Radio (www.taggradio.com), even WWE superstar Kurt Angle who won Olympic gold for wrestling, knows that he can't just jump into the cage or an octagon.

Speaking of working their way up the ladder, that brings me to the next burning question; should pro wrestlers be allowed to step in and take on MMA veterans? Furthermore, is it fair to the average Joe that has worked his or her way up the ladder? After all, the average MMA fighter has typically had to overcome huge obstacles, training hard after working at a full time job, and paying his or her dues for years, only to earn a shot in front of thousands of fans. People like Brock Lesnar and Kurt Angle have made plenty of money. They can spend all day, every day training for a fight. Could this be an unfair advantage?

And why should the already wealthy superstars, like Kurt Angle of the WWE, get 7-figure contracts (according to mmajunkie.com) while UFC stars who have earned their salaries by fighting their way up the ranks get a fraction of that? Speaking of an unfair advantage, what about the ugly side of pro wrestling? Have you ever seen a natural bodybuilding competition? Compare natural bodybuilders to the guys with layers of thick muscle, built in a relatively short time with the best "supplements" that money can buy. Yes, I'm talking about illegal steroids. Although there is a minority of people that want to win at all costs, as there is in any sport, most of the guys and girls in MMA are real athletes and see steroid use as an unfair advantage over the competition. In pro wrestling, the fans want to see a muscle bound animal up there complete with 22 inch biceps and tights, looking like some kind of comic book superhero, rather then an elite fit athlete. Pro wrestlers are almost left with no choice but to give in to the steroid culture. I guess the pay, for some pro wrestlers, outweighs the risk of death and roid rage.

On the flip side are the MMA fans that say that bringing pro wrestlers into MMA can only serve to grow the sport by increasing the fan base which will lead to better salaries and, in turn, attract better talent. But is this what true MMA fans want to see? Aren't we adulterating the sport by bringing in "talent" from other so-called sports? I don't think that we need to sell our souls to build a sport that is as amazing and as exciting to watch as MMA. Maybe I'm just old fashioned, but I like watching real people risk everything in their life for a shot at becoming a true champion.

Perhaps we need some kind of hybrid league to satisfy the curiosity of certain fans. Maybe such league can appease the what-if factor in all of us and we could see what the outcome would be in a match between Eric Scott "Butterbean" Esch and "Big Show". At least that way we could keep the freak show element where it belongs; out of MMA. If we start stacking the MMA deck with whomever would appeal to a wider audience we are going to lose a little bit of the true flavor of MMA in the process.

Just like a hooker couldn't end the career of Hugh Grant, the addition of pro wrestlers won't really destroy MMA. It might just befoul it a little for some of us.

by JP Berube aka MMA Commentator