Alexander Volkanovski. Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports

Watch: UFC stars parody Hulk Hogan, Steve Austin after UFC-WWE merger

By Michael Gallagher | Last updated 4/5/23

Crossover stars between World Wrestling Entertainment and the Ultimate Fighting Championship are becoming more common.

And with the recent news that Endeavor — the UFC’s parent company — has bought a controlling interest in the WWE with plans to merge the two entities into one publicly traded combat sports company, UFC fighters Robert Whittaker and Alexander Volkanovski have seemingly thrown their hats in the ring to be the next stars who get their 15 minutes of pro wrestling fame.

During a recent skit for Fox Sports Australia, Whittaker and Volkanovski dressed up as WWE legends Hulk Hogan and “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, respectively.

With the @ufc and @WWE merger we were privileged to have super stars Hulk Hogan and Steve Austin on set. Unreal.@NikoPajarillo @alexvolkanovski @FOXSportsAUS @MainEventTV pic.twitter.com/4VDEFkaR3w
— Robert Whittaker (@robwhittakermma) April 5, 2023

“How about the disrespect?” Volkanovski joked when asked by host Niko Pajarillo which UFC stars would do well in WWE. “We’re standing right here in your presence, outfits and all, and you’re going to ask me who’s going to be the best in WWE? I’m going to tell you we’re going to be the best. And that’s the bottom line ‘cus Stone Cold said so.”

Done in jest, the skit poked fun at the pending UFC-WWE deal, which left many fans of each promotion wondering what a post-merger world looks like for both companies.

The list of UFC fighters to cross over into the WWE include Ken Shamrock, Dan Severn, Cain Velasquez, Matt Riddle, Ronda Rousey and Shayna Baszler, while the list of WWE superstars to try their hand at the UFC is ostensibly shorter and features Brock Lesnar and CM Punk.

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