10 Real MMA Stories That Could've Come from Pro Wrestling

The lines between MMA and WWE are often blurred; sometimes a little too much for MMA fans' liking.

It's inevitable that when you combine a bunch of egos under the same roof, some good storylines are bound to happen. These storylines can sometimes seem larger than life and even more important than the fight itself.

The saying "styles make fights" is often true in most MMA bouts, but in certain cases, the story behind to bout is what makes them interesting.

Alistair Overeem vs. Golden Glory

The story of Alistair Overeem and Golden Glory is an example of a classic pro wrestling storyline crossing over into the MMA scene.

When a younger wrestler comes into their own, they're often paired with a "manager/agent" that become the voice of the superstar.

These pairings are made in attempt to give the superstar a "mentor" and help them grow. In some cases, the managers even become bigger than the wrestlers.

Once the superstar grows beyond needing a manager, there's often an ugly split that gets played out in front of the fans' eyes. This seems to be the case for Overeem and GG.

Overeem felt he could no longer work with the gym and decided to leave. Now, instead of an amicable split between the two parties like we've seen with other fighters, this breakup looks like it could be very ugly.

Prepare for a smear campaign by both sides as the argument heads into the courtroom.

Fedor "The Unbeatable" Emelianenko

Looking at the careers of Fedor Emelianenko and Goldberg, one can see a lot of similarities.

Both men made their careers by dominating the competition and creating an aura of invincibility about them. WCW used a handful of squash matches to create the allure that Goldberg couldn't lose and even came up with the catchphrase "Who's Next?!"

Emelianenko created his aura by competing against the best heavyweights in the world and winning in impressive fashion.

The problem with both men's careers is that nobody knew what to do with them once they lost. Obviously, Goldberg would lose eventually and once his unbeaten streak was gone, his career was never the same.

Emelianenko's legacy goes without question, but now that he's in the twilight of his career, especially after those brutal losses in Strikeforce, fans and promoters alike seem unsure of what to do with the MMA legend.

Conspiracy Theories

Whether it's bad judging, fixing fights, or taking dives, conspiracy theories have been a part of MMA since the sport was invented, it seems.

When people have no explanation for what they've seen, most people can get over the fact soon enough. A handful of MMA fans like to resort to conspiracy theories instead. Or if you're Cesar Gracie, you believe the judges simply don't like your fighter.

Conspiracy theories are a huge hit in the world of pro-wrestling as well. Perhaps it is due to the fact that so much happens behind the scenes, and fans seem to be more interested in what happens after the lights go out.

Head over to the B/R WWE section and you will likely find a handful of stories that encompass the craziest urban myths in pro-wrestling history. Conspiracy theories aren't as popular in the MMA world but still generate some interest.

Frank Mir's Comeback Story

Frank Mir was on top of the world in 2004. In just his ninth professional MMA bout, Mir snapped Tim Sylvia's arm and won the UFC Heavyweight title.

With some of the best jiu-jitsu in the heavyweight division and at such a young age, a lot of MMA fans and analysts were predicting great things for Mir. His career plans were derailed when Mir crashed his motorcycle in a horrific accident.

It would be nearly two years before Mir stepped in the Octagon again. But in his first couple of fights back, the former champion didn't seem himself.

After admitting that he was not training like he should have, Mir rededicated himself to the sport and went on to reclaim his UFC Heavyweight title.

The comeback story, or story of redemption, is one we see played out in pro wrestling numerous times. It's a story that almost anyone can relate to, as we've all gone through some adversity in our own lives.

A classic example of the "comeback" angle in pro wrestling is Shawn Michaels, a back injury left him sidelined for years just as WWE was reaching its pinnacle.

Reinvention of the Sports

When the WWF began losing the ratings battle to WCW, Vince McMahon realized there needed to be a change. He ushered in the Attitude Era and began promoting an edgier product. The move saved the company and is widely considered to be the "golden era" in professional wrestling.

In the early days of the sport, MMA was considered a "blood sport" and referred to "human cockfighting" by Sen. John McCain. The sport was banned from major television outlets and if you were an MMA fan, you were busy trading video tapes like kids traded Pokemon.

Enter Dana White and the Fertitta brothers (along with a unified rules system) and the sport has blossomed into one of the most popular sports across the world.

MMA continues to grow each year in popularity and this is no doubt credited to the reinvention of the sport, in much the same way the WWF reinvented itself in the late 1990's.

Fascination with "Freak Show" Characters

A noted characteristic of what Vince McMahon likes in professional wrestlers are guy who are freakishly big.

Look at the careers of guys like Andre the Giant, The Undertaker, Kane, The Big Show among others to see how McMahon will make a superstar out of someone for their size.

Although not as prevalent in today's MMA scene, the fascination with freak-show type matches was very much prevalent years ago (especially overseas).  Guys like Bob Sapp became international superstars due to their enormous size (and colorful personalities).

Sometimes MMA fans don't want a match that matters in the rankings, occasionally we just like to be entertained, just as pro-wrestling fans do.

Jon Jones-Rashad Evans and Chuck Liddell-Tito Ortiz

Tag teams are often some of the most exciting matches on a pro wrestling card. The chemistry that some teams have can lead to some impressive showings. This chemistry forms as a result of hours upon hours spent working together to where both men are in sync with one another.

Sometimes, one superstar tends to outshine his tag partner and ventures into a solo career. The split between tag teams is often not on good terms and usually makes one person look like the bad guy.

This scenario is playing out right now before our eyes with the Jon Jones-Rashad Evans rivalry and the Chuck Liddell-Tito Ortiz situation became the premier story in the earlier days of the UFC.

When teammates branch out from one another, the breach of trust and broken bonds create quite a bit of tension.

This tension, combined with the drama that ensues from two jilted friends going at it, helps make for not only a big-time fight, but also big-time money in the UFC's pockets.

Steroid Scandals

In a sport where looks matter almost as much as your performance in the ring, it's no surprise why so many pro-wrestlers get popped for steroid scandals each year. Even the owner of the WWE has had his own personal issues with steroids and law enforcement.

Although one's physique is not as important in the world of MMA, fighters are constantly searching for a way to get an advantage over their opponents. The numerous instances of PED scandals in MMA are quickly becoming more high-profile as the sport continues to grow.

Thankfully MMA hasn't had a "Chris Benoit" style incident but there's always the possibility given the violent nature of the sport and rumored steroid abuse that goes on behind closed doors.

Dana White as the Evil Boss

One of the prominent storylines during the WWF's "Attitude Era" was the "Mr. McMahon" character. The owner of the WWF, Vince McMahon paraded himself on TV as the evil corporate boss that everyone loved to hate. Combined with the anti-hero Stone Cold Steve Austin, McMahon's evil boss character became a huge hit.

Dana White has been a leading figurehead in the MMA world and often speaks his mind as a fan instead of a boss. It's gained him a lot of fans but also a lot of enemies. Incidents like the Loretta Hunt episode have put a lot of negative attention on the UFC president.

White lets it all roll off his shoulders which has created an image of the "evil boss" in MMA. The image is enhanced by the recent controversy surrounding fighter pay distribution and his ongoing feud with Nick Diaz,

Perhaps White has found his Steve Austin in Diaz?

Featherweights and Bantamweights = Cruiserweights of MMA

While Hulk Hogan and the NWO were busy headlining PPV cards, the cruiserweights were stealing the show out from under them.

Guys like Chris Jericho, Dean Malenko, Rey Mysterio, Eddie Guerrero and Ultimo Dragon among others started off the show with a bang. The things these guys would be able to do inside a wrestling ring were simply amazing.

The same can be said of the featherweight and bantamweight divisions in the UFC. The classic divisions like heavyweight and light heavyweight divisions will continue to headline major PPV cards, but the lighter weight classes often times are where the best fights occur.

The WEC may have not been a financial success, but every card they put together had numerous exciting matches; and that was before the main-event bouts.