WWE and UFC merged on September 12, 2023, to create TKO Group Holdings, Inc. Since the merger, there have been several occurrences of WWE and UFC superstars appearing at each other’s events. Most recently, interim UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall made a surprise appearance at a WWE event. As such, he even shared the stage with Cody Rhodes and Gunther.
The WWE Live event was held in Manchester, United Kingdom, previewing the 2024 Crown Jewel event in November. The main event will feature an exciting match between undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes and World Heavyweight Champion Gunther. Interestingly, against everyone’s expectations, Tom Aspinall made a surprise appearance there.
The British MMA fighter, Aspinall, is a UFC champion and a local hero due to immense success at one of the top MMA promotions in the world. The fight fans loved those visuals where they saw their favorite fighters from different fields together. Nevertheless, this isn’t the first time when this has happened. Most recently, WWE legend Rey Mysterio graced the grand Noche UFC (UFC 306) event a few weeks back.
Tom Aspinall pulled up to a WWE show in Manchester and showed off his heavyweight title 😭🔥
🎥 IG / @TheCoopLive #UFC #MMA #WWE pic.twitter.com/vkE53wK3x3
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) October 16, 2024
Despite his recent appearance in WWE, Tom Aspinall is currently engaged in a rivalry with UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones. Aspinall believes he deserves a title shot and is deliberately trying to provoke Jones into a title unification bout. However, the heavyweight champion has frequently ignored these requests. Amidst all this, Aspinall recently discussed his life after retiring from the UFC.
Tom Aspinall eyes for a WWE move after MMA retirement
Aspinall’s current stature in the UFC is no stranger to anyone. Since his debut, the Brit has defeated nearly every formidable heavyweight fighter in the division. Regarding his UFC career record, Aspinall has won eight out of nine fights. At 31 years old, he is looking to further enhance his record before retiring from the sport.
The British MMA fighter recently discussed his retirement in an exclusive interview with The Sun. During this discussion, Aspinall shared his thoughts on his experience at a recent WWE show. While reflecting on this event, the interim UFC heavyweight champion expressed interest in potentially moving to WWE in the future.
‘Switching over’ – UFC champ Tom Aspinall eyes big WWE move after MMA retirement https://t.co/H9rEjJWOst
— The Sun MMA (@TheSunMMA) October 16, 2024
Before moving to WWE, Tom Aspinall appeared eager to establish a legacy for himself in MMA. Currently, he is scheduled to be the backup fighter for the upcoming heavyweight matchup between Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic at UFC 309. Now, it remains to be seen whether Aspinall will have the opportunity to compete in that fight.