After winning the lightweight championship at UFC 205 (to go along with his featherweight belt), Conor McGregor knew that he would have options and now he's got one more available to him.
Paul "Triple H" Levesque is a multiple-time WWE champion who is also one of the most powerful executives in the company. Triple H was actually at Madison Square Garden for UFC 205 and afterwards he spoke to The Telegraph about the possibility of bringing McGregor over to the world of staged combat.
"He could come over, he's got it all, man - he's got the personality, the skills, the talk. He's an entertainer, for sure."
This wouldn't be a first either. Ronda Rousey is a longtime lover of professional wrestling and she made an appearance at Wrestlemania 31 shortly after she dismantled Cat Zingano at UFC 184. In fact, many suspected this was an eventuality when McGregor kicked up beef with the entire WWE roster when he declared he would "slap the head off" the entire WWE roster back in August. McGregor has even taken to using WWE CEO and owner Vince McMahon's power walk as noted by Triple H on Twitter recently (McMahon also happens to be Triple H's father-in-law).
The WWE and the UFC have been closely aligned for years but even outside of that relationship the WWE has a long history of bringing in celebrities for casual appearances and matches. They even have a celebrity wing in their Hall of Fame to enshrine various celebrities who have joined their ranks. McGregor's star is such that even outside of the combat athlete category he would still likely be a welcome addition. And despite the long history of professional wrestlers being 300-pound behemoths, McGregor wouldn't even be the smallest celebrity to make a Wrestlemania appearance; McGregor's tabloid rival and possible (not really) boxing foe Floyd Mayweather Jr. has already made the crossover into the WWE.
"What does he walk around at? 180 pounds? I have smaller guys now in the WWE. We have 200-pound guys who are stars. You don't need to be 300lbs any more...But yeah, he could do just as well as Floyd Mayweather when he fought the Big Show. That really worked. Conor could do it for sure."
The only other impediment to such a crossover would be the UFC. McGregor is still under contract with the UFC so any WWE appearance would likely have to be signed off on by Dana White. But considering the amount of leverage McGregor currently has over the organization, and their general willingness to cross-promote for their own benefit, it seems unlikely White would squash such an opportunity.
However it all shakes out, McGregor certainly isn't lacking for options now.
MUST-READ STORIES
10-8's. Joanna Jedrzejczyk says Karolina Kowalkiewicz doesn't deserve an immediate rematch.
Thought right. John Kavanagh thought Conor McGregor vs. Eddie Alvarez would be a "massive mismatch."
8 fight win streak. Dana White says Michael Bisping vs. Yoel Romero is "the fight that makes sense."
Cruz-Edgar. Frankie Edgar talks about possibly dropping to bantamweight.
Goodbye. Raquel Pennington says Miesha Tate shouldn't retire on a loss.
EXTRA CREDIT
Naked truth. The Naked Gambler breaks down the technical performance of Conor McGregor at UFC 205.
MEDIA STEW
A whole lot of free fights for you.
The original.
The other rematch.
Skip Bayless out here with scorching hot takes. Gotta admire it, honestly.
Conor is all over the mainstream media.
Pettis wants both McGregor's belts. Would watch.
LISTEN UP
Bushido.
Severe MMA.
Show the Art
TWEETS
Incredible.
2014 I called this #DoubtMeNow https://t.co/ogaLUY3Eoh
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) November 15, 2016
C'mon Bisping. Embrace the full heel.
@ChrisWeidmanUFC I know we had our differences but I was rooting for you against that cheat.All class in defeat, look 4ward 2 ur next bout
— michael (@bisping) November 14, 2016
— Chris Weidman (@ChrisWeidmanUFC) November 14, 2016
Didn't you pick me to win ? #liar #ynuevo @bisping @ChrisWeidmanUFC https://t.co/BuuTeSrSze
— Yoel Romero (@YoelRomeroMMA) November 15, 2016
Made it down to São Paulo, Brazil. Fight week, healthy and ready to do the damn thing. pic.twitter.com/VRaQVjDAXU
— Ryan Bader (@ryanbader) November 15, 2016
Conor had a great fight, I'm glad that when I held two belts it didn't effect my head like it has his.https://t.co/HEtaqBVQri
— Dan Henderson (@danhendo) November 15, 2016
For nearly 8 years, I gave you everything I had. In exchange, you gave me memories for a lifetime. Thank you isn't enough.
— Dave Sholler (@DaveSholler) November 13, 2016
Goodbye, UFC. pic.twitter.com/B4UAuHUgcD
Trying to get on that Cowboy schedule.
I'm healthy and need a fight! #UFC207 on 12/30 at any weight!
— Jeremy Stephens (@LiLHeathenMMA) November 14, 2016
I can't wait and need 3 this year, 4-5 in 2017. @danawhite @seanshelby
Missed this the other day but it is great.
MJ knows.
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
N/A
TODAY IN MMA HISTORY
2008: Brock Lesnar became the UFC heavyweight champion by knocking out Randy Couture at UFC 91.
2013: Quinton Jackson made his Bellator debut, stopping Joey Beltran at Bellator 108. The co-main event that evening also saw Vitaly Minakov stop Alexander Volkov to win the Bellator heavyweight championship.
2014: Fabricio Werdum won the UFC interim heavyweight championship by knocking out Mark Hunt at UFC 180.
Also on this date, Will Brooks defeated Michael Chandler for the second time to win the Bellator lightweight championship at Bellator 131.
2015: One year ago today (yesterday technically for Americans since the event was held in Australia) Holly Holm gave Ronda Rousey a whole lot of shin and took the UFC women's bantamweight championship at UFC 193. Joanna Jedrzejczyk also whipped up on Valerie Letourneau to retain her women's strawweight title and Mark Hunt crushed Antonio Silva.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Maybe the WWE can even get Floyd back and he and Conor can have a fake fight instead of the real one they'll never have.
Take it easy y'all.
If you find something you'd like to see in the Morning Report, just hit me up on Twitter @JedKMeshew and let me know about it. Also follow MMAFighting on Instagram and add us on Snapchat at MMA-Fighting because we post dope things and you should enjoy them.