Cain Velasquez to WWE? Not quite, but he did seem to put his toe in the water this week.
The former UFC heavyweight champion is training at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Fla., this week and also attended the television tapings of NXT, WWE’s popular development brand. WWE posted a story about Velasquez’s presence Thursday, including a video of some of his training.
“All the athletes here have just been really easy to talk to — ask questions and get good feedback,” Velasquez said. “I’m just looking to be in here and learn as much as I can in the time that I’m here. I’ve been a fan of the sport since I was a little kid, now I get to participate in it. It’s great that I have all this accessible to me.”
Velasquez said he lifted and went to wrestling class. WWE.com also reported that he did a round of DDP Yoga with legend Diamond Dallas Page. Of course, Velasquez is a decorated former amateur wrestler, a two-time All-American at Arizona State.
“It’s tough,” Velasquez said. “It’s tough on the body. It’s tough mentally. But it’s fun. This is what I love to do — I love to compete and work out and I can get to do that here.”
Velasquez said he grew up watching lucha libre as a Mexican American, calling legends Blue Demon and Mil Mascaras some of his favorites before moving on to Hulk Hogan and Razor Ramon in the then-WWF.
The American Kickboxing Academy product seemed to catch the pro-wrestling bug earlier this year when he attended WWE’s Elimination Chamber special in Las Vegas to see the official signing of Ronda Rousey. Velasquez attended with other UFC fighters, including his longtime friend and teammate Daniel Cormier, who is a massive pro-wrestling fan.
