While most MMA fans are aware of the fact that Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal has dabbled in the professional wrestling world in the past, however the Bellator Light Heavyweight contender recently revealed that he nearly signed with WWE.
“WWE offered me a contract after the Olympic Trials in 2004,” said Mo during a recent appearance on The Two Man Power Trip Of Wrestling Podcast. “I went there and they offered me a developmental deal but I turned it down.”
Mo said it was advice from longtime WWE performer Shad Gaspard, who was best known to pro wrestling fans as one-half of the “Cryme Tyme” tag-team, that ultimately persuaded him to take the MMA avenue, as opposed to the pro wrestling.
“Shad Gaspard said to me if I want to win a lightweight title in a fight go do that because wrestling will always be there,” said Lawal. “So I did that but looking back maybe I should have taken that deal. I made the decision I made and I can live with it.”
While he never quite reached the big leagues in the professional wrestling industry as he had once originally hoped, “King Mo” did get to spend some time in arguably the second largest pro wrestling organization in North America — TNA Wrestling — a show that aired for years on Spike TV before moving to its’ new cable television home of Destination America.
However, even in the minor leagues of the pro wrestling world, Lawal said he felt like he didn’t get a chance to prove himself.
“I waited and got an opportunity with TNA and they sent me to OVW and I got a chance to obtain my dreams,” said Lawal. “Granted, it didn’t really play out the way I wanted to because I didn’t get to have a match and I was match ready.”
The Bellator contender concluded, “Things didn’t really work out the way I wanted and [TNA President] Dixie [Carter] was always busy, and they didn’t seem to think I was ready and I didn’t get a chance to prove myself.”
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