WWE News: Signing UFC Star Tito Ortiz Would Be Massive Mistake

Brock Lesnar's recent return to the WWE has apparently sparked interest in a similar move from current UFC fighter Tito Ortiz. Even though he has name recognition among many members of the WWE Universe, the company shouldn't even consider bringing him in.

The media firestorm surrounding Ortiz and a potential WWE move started after he did an interview with ESPN UK in which he mentioned his options once his UFC contract expired.

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However, Ortiz has not completely shut the door on a UFC extension. The American admits a big win could tempt him to fight on, although a move into the WWE–where Brock Lesnar recently returned–also appeals.

"I may have another one...you never know," Ortiz said of extending his UFC stay. "But I've got a lot of options. I've seen Brock Lesnar go back to the WWE, that's something I may entertain, do some 'theatrical entertainment' as they call it."

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Based solely on those comments, it would appear Ortiz might be attempting to gain some leverage in future negotiations with UFC by mentioning professional wrestling. After watching Lesnar make the move successfully, appearing to keep his options open is a smart move by Ortiz.

That said, the WWE can't continue to rely on outsiders to carry its programming. After a WrestleMania build that was dominated by The Rock, Undertaker, Triple H and Shawn Michaels followed by the return of Lesnar, full-time superstars have been getting a raw deal lately.

Ultimately, the business will always be about making money. Guys like Lesnar and Ortiz provide an instant boost because of their popularity, but the roles they play could easily be handled by wrestlers who have been waiting for their opportunity to shine.

Lesnar can come in with Cena and be developed into a dominant force, but once the initial shock value of his return wears off, he'll just be another star on the roster. Bringing in Ortiz would yield a similar result in terms of short-term gains.

Over the long haul, however, the future doesn't look quite as bright because outsiders aren't as committed to the WWE as superstars who dedicated their entire career to wrestling.

Eventually the company will need to start pushing some of its younger talent. Sooner or later these veterans won't be around every year to help save the marquee events, so there will be a void to fill and it takes a prolonged period of development before somebody can draw an audience.

Whether it's allowing mid-card stars like Cody Rhodes and Zack Ryder to take the next step or building from the ground up with Alex Riley and Drew McIntyre, now's the time to start elevating the next group of headliners.

Signing Ortiz would just be another patch on a leaky pipe. Sure, it will ensure things operate smoothly for a couple more months, but eventually things are going to need a major overhaul.

Start that process while some of the veterans are still around, which allows for less pressure during a push, instead of waiting until the Attitude Era stars are officially gone. At that point, the WWE would be facing an uphill battle to elevate new starts quickly, and that rarely leads to promising results.

It's time for the WWE to start thinking more about the future and less about over-hyped options like Ortiz.