http://mmajunkie.com/news/4460/wwes-bobby-lashley-signs-with-american-fight-league.mma WWE's Bobby Lashley signs with American Fight League by Dann Stupp on May 30, 2008 at 4:37 pm ET Former World Wrestling Entertainment performer and decorated amateur wrestler Bobby Lashley is the latest signing for the Kentucky-based American Fight League. A source close to the 31-year-old told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) that Lashley will be introduced as an AFL signee -- perhaps the organization's biggest to date -- during tonight's "Bulletproof" show at Phillips Arena in Atlanta. Rumors of Lashley's possible transition into MMA heated up over the past month, but few expected such a high-profile figure to sign with an organization so new to the national scene. AFL officials declined to comment today, but one executive said some "major signings" will be announced at tonight's show, which features a main event between AFL lightweight champ and former UFC fighter Diego Saraiva. Terms of Lashley's contract aren't known, but it's expected to be a non-exclusive deal. Lashley, a two-time NAIA national wrestling champion while at Missouri Valley College, also won two armed-forces titles while serving in the U.S. Army. He signed with the WWE in 2003 and debuted with the organization in 2005. His character won titles in both the WWE and Extreme Championship Wrestling organizations. Lashley received some mainstream popularity when he was chosen to represent Donald Trump in a "Hair vs. Hair match" with WWE Chairman Vince McMahon in 2007. Lashley won the staged match, so McMahon was forced to shave his head. However, Lashley was released from his WWE contract earlier this year. Lashley, of course, won't be the first WWE wrestler turned MMA fighter. Former WWE superstar Brock Lesnar signed with the UFC in 2007 and debuted with the organization in February. Lashley is unlikely to match Lesnar's popularity in MMA, but like his fellow WWE alumnus, he's likely to convert some pro-wrestling fans into MMA viewers. The AFL, a Kentucky-based organization born from the Caged Inferno promotion, has held three events to date. Its first arena show was held in March at Rupp Arena in Lexington, Ky. Tonight's "Bulletproof" show (see our event preview) is the first-ever MMA event to take place in Phillips Arena, which is September's rumored UFC 88 host venue. The AFL's other recent signings include Saraiva, "The Ultimate Fighter 2" cast member Dan Christison, highly ranked featherweight Raphael Assuncao, UFC veteran Junior Assuncao, and highly touted prospect Douglas Lima. TFK
He quit after feeling he was being ripped off, particularly his Wrestlemania paycheque. Not that I care. I always thought he was a sh*t personality in the WWE with the charisma of a corpse. He was just a black version of Bill Goldberg but a crappier version. At least that's kinda what they tried marketing him as. I never cared much for him. Maybe he'll do a bit better in this tiny mma league.
I haven't followed wrestling with anything other then a passing interest in years, but what I saw of Lashley, he was terrible. They pushed him big because of his juiced up look, but he was awkward and clumsy in the ring, couldn't give a promo worth a shit, and his voice sounded exactly like Pete Puma. TFK
He was pretty decent in the ring. His agility was insane. And for a big man he is very fast. Kevin Randleman fast. HIs personality was just terrible. These days if your not good on the mic, you can forget it.
Could any of those WWE stars make it big in MMA? Does any of them have good quality fighting backgrounds?
Of the current crop of WWE wrestlers, Shelton Benjamin has a great amatuer wrestling pedigree, so if he were able to pick up other facets of MMA, he'd have a shot. Other then him, I can't think of anyone off of the top of my head. TFK
Nah is was better than Ahmed. And Ahmed had terrible mic skills too. Ahmed could barely speak English
Charlie Hass Kurt Angle Samoa Joe Chris Benoit would have made a great MMA fighter Jericho can wrestle and is pretty tough
I know Haas has an amatuer wrestling backgroud for Seton Hall, but I'm not sure how good he was. Angle and Joe doesn't wrestle for WWE, and while in his day Angle could have definitely succeeded, those days are long past. And what makes you think Samoa Joe would be a good MMA fighter? Because his wrestling character says he is? Same with Chris Benoit, other then his very effective chokehold, why do you think he'd be a good MMA fighter. And Chris Jericho? Gimme a break. I know Jericho and Benoit trained in 'The Dungeon' with Stu Hart, but training to be a professional wrestler and being a succesful MMA fighter are worlds apart. TFK
Samoa Joe has a Martial Arts Background. He is also very agile and extremely strong on the ground. If Angle can get healthy, i think he has a great shot. Maybe time has passed him by, but he is much younger than Randy and is a much better wrestler. Chris Benoit's training was INSANE!! Benoit had the ability to be shown something just once and he can pick it up auotmatically. There is name for that gift, but dont know what its called. Kurt Angle said that him and Benoit would practice all the time, and many times kurt had a hard time controlling him on the ground. And Kurt is an olympic Gold Medalist.
I don't know much about Joe, so I can't say. Angle could've been an MMA great, but that ship has sailed. He may be younger then Randy, but he's damn near a cripple. He's had so many inuries dating back to his Olympic days, he could never put the training in to be succesful. It's a shame actually. And Benoit was nothing but a Roided up jackass. Maybe if he fought in Japan where they don't drug test he'd have a shot, but without his roids and HGH, Benoit would've been a 165 lb nothing. TFK
All the Canadians, who went through the Hart Dungeon are probably pretty good wrestlers, since Stu Hart was an Olympian and a true badass, who taught them how to defend themselves in case of a shoot. There are still rumours about a backstage altercation between Jericho and Goldberg. Allegedly Goldberg called Jericho small. Jericho heard about it and confronted him. Goldberg took him by the throat and a few second later Goldberg was on the ground in a frontface lock, grasping for air. :laughing::laughing:
