MMA and wrestling star Bobby Lashley invites WWE outcast Ryback to follow CM Punk into the octagon
Bellator fighter invited Ryback to move into mixed martial arts but says CM Punk stood little chance at cross-over glory
WWE outcast Ryback has been invited to follow CM Punk and cross over into MMA fighting.
Former WWE superstar and current Bellator fighter Bobby Lashley has invited the Big Guy to swap the ring and script for mixed martial arts after his contract with the wrestling company came to an end and billionaire owner Vince McMahon let him go.
Punk’s move into UFC was a disaster, getting submitted in seconds with just fleeting moments of his debut against Mickey Gall spent on his feet.
But Ryback’s giant frame might help him hold up better and Lashley – a former colleague grappler and US army sergeant – is ready to offer Ryback a route into the sport and a mouth-watering first fight IF the money is right.
Speaking to ESPN, Lashley said: "Fighting is about money, as we see with Conor McGregor getting a UFC title shot at 155, bypassing everybody else.
"There is a fight business aspect of all of this also.
"I think right now, I don't even know that a commission would allow a guy with 15 fights against somebody with no fights.
"I don't know if it could happen. But, if it's something that they wanted to do, it would be something that we could talk about.
"But I wouldn't by any means try to call the guy out and I don't know if he's just doing it right now because he just left WWE and is trying to keep his name out.
"Something like that might be the case. I don't know what his motivation is and I don't know Ryback so close like that so I really don't know.
"So if he wants to do it I would say by all means get in here and do it.
"But if he's not serious about it, don't go out there and do it half-assed."
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Lashley – who famously took part in a WWE head-shaving match including prospective president Donald Trump – watched Punk’s painful introduction into the sport.
And although he respects anyone brave enough to compete in the brutal sport, he saw the 37-year-old’s late bid for cross-over credibility as a doomed venture with his lack of sporting background.
Lashley, who fights Josh Appelt at Bellator 145 on October 21, said: "I understand what he was trying to do, I just don't know exactly if he was prepared for it.
"I take my hat off to him for going out there but CM Punk really didn't come from an athletic and competitive background like myself.
"It was kind of a different situation."