As noted earlier this week, former WWE Superstar Ryback has expressed interest in transitioning into the MMA world, as he claimed he has been in talks with the Bellator MMA promotion in recent weeks.
Ryback, who has been using the name “The Big Guy” (his WWE nickname) since parting ways with the company earlier this year, spoke about his interest in pursuing an MMA career during a Las Vegas radio interview on Monday.
Following the initial report, MMAFighting.com reporter and Wrestling Observer Newsletter editor Dave Meltzer recently provided an update, as he noted that Bellator MMA President Scott Coker confirmed to him that he has been in talks with Ryback in recent weeks. It’s worth noting, however, that Coker pointed out that “nothing is even close to being signed” at this point.
As far as the motivation for the 35-year-old pro wrestler to want to fight professionally all of a sudden, he made it clear that the decision will come down to dollars and cents, and isn’t a passion-project like CM Punk — coincidentally enough someone he has had documented issues with in the past — recently scratched off his bucket list.
