One of the biggest pro wrestling fans in combat sports will finally be stepping inside the squared circle for the first time on October 8.
Daniel Cormier, a former UFC light heavyweight and heavyweight champion, is heading to WWE. The 43-year-old will be the special guest referee for the “Fight Pit” match between Matt Riddle and Seth “Freakin” Rollins at WWE’s Extreme Rules event.
“I will be fair. I’ll be honest. I’ll be impartial. And I will not take anyone’s shit. I will be there for a reason. The law has been called in, and I will enforce it with every part of myself to the fullest extent,” Cormier stated on Instagram.
WWE’s Extreme Rules event will be inside the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia.
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Who is Daniel Cormier?
Cormier is an NCAA Division I All-American who was a six-time US World or Olympic Team Member. He won six gold medals in the US National Championships. A two-time Pan American champion and a two-time NJCAA champion, Cormier has used his wrestling to dominate inside the octagon.
Making his MMA debut in 2009, Cormier is a former KOTC and Strikeforce heavyweight champion. He joined the UFC in 2013 and was 11-3 with one no-contest with the promotion. His run in the UFC is famous for his pro wrestling-like rivalry with Jon Jones. Cormier won the UFC light heavyweight title against Anthony Johnson and beat Stipe Miocic for the UFC heavyweight title.
Cormier and Miocic competed in a trilogy for the heavyweight belt. Miocic beat Cormier twice in a row, with the latter retiring following the third fight. He now is a full-time commentator for the UFC and recently entered its Hall of Fame.
Will Daniel Cormier join WWE?
It is unknown if this appearance will lead to something bigger for Cormier. Cormier has been a supporter of WWE for years. He was actually in talks to join WWE in an on-air commentary role following his retirement. He chose to stay with the UFC.
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On a recent Twitter Spaces with Monster Energy, Cormier talked about being offered another role with WWE. He was asked to work within WWE's NXT brand with the Creed Brothers (Julius & Brutus Creed), also wrestlers. Julius trained with Cormier ahead of a fight against Jon Jones.
"I actually talk to them quite a bit. I'm friends with a lot of people that are in that company,” Cormier stated, via Fightful. “I speak to Triple H. I've got some friends that are competing. My brothers, not my actual brother, one of my friends, Jacob Kasper [Julius Creed], he's part of the Creed Brothers. They are in the WWE and the NXT Champions, they are the smaller league champions. I've been asked a couple of times to do stuff with them for the promotion, but I haven't been able to make it work. It's something I want to do.”
One person who could spark a Cormier wrestling debut is Brock Lesnar. When Cormier beat Miocic at UFC 226 for the UFC heavyweight title, he called out Lesnar, a former heavyweight champion, who was in attendance. Lesnar then entered the octagon and pushed Cormier. The WWE-like segment was a tease for a potential fight, but nothing materialized.
Lesnar has been under contract with WWE, winning gold multiple times. The Wrestling Observer’s Dave Meltzer discussed the idea of Cormier potentially facing Lesnar in a WWE ring now that he is appearing at Extreme Rules.
"Daniel will never go full-time, I’m sure he will never do full-time WWE wrestling, but would he do a match at WrestleMania? I could see it. Would he do it with Lesnar? I could see it. He’s a big wrestling fan, he might wanna do it,” said Meltzer, via Bleacher Report.
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What is the Fight Pit?
There are no ropes or turnbuckles in the Fight Pit match. The competitors fight inside a small steel cage. The only way to win is by submission or by a referee ten-count.
The first Fight Pit match took place in 2020, featuring Riddle vs. Timothy Thatcher. Kurt Angle was the guest referee. In 2021, Thatcher fought Tomasso Ciampa inside the Fight Pit.