WWE and UFC’s merger under the TKO umbrella has led to tons of crossover appearances and more combat sports stars trying their hand at wrestling. That’s why fans aren’t surprised that former MMA star Anthony Taylor will be taking part in a WWE tryout this year.
While speaking to Esports Insider, Anthony Taylor revealed that he got a tryout with WWE and is preparing to prove himself in sports entertainment. Taylor views this opportunity as the result of years spent entertaining crowds across MMA and boxing.
Taylor says every fight and performance has shaped his style as a showman, and now he wants to transfer that energy onto WWE’s global stage. His passion for wrestling started when he was a kid, inspired not only by watching WWE on television but also by playing the official video games. He said it’d be surreal to be a playable character in WWE 2K26 next year.
“I’ve just found out I’ve been given a WWE tryout. I’m fired up like never before. This is the moment I’ve been working towards my whole career. Every fight, every show, every crowd I’ve entertained has led to this.
To even get the chance to prove myself on the WWE stage is huge, but I’m coming in with the mindset to not just impress, but to earn my spot. I know what I bring to the table, and I’m ready to show the world that Anthony Taylor belongs in WWE.
It would be a childhood dream come true. Imagine loading up WWE 2K26 and seeing me as a playable character — that would be surreal.”
Anthony Taylor said he has wanted to be a wrestler since he was a kid. He loved the big characters, the drama, and the excitement of wrestling. Later in MMA, Misfits, and boxing, he tried to bring that same energy to his fights and always used every chance to perform for the crowd.
All those experiences have made him both a tough fighter and a natural entertainer. Now he hopes to take what he has learned and show it in WWE.
“Before I ever stepped inside an MMA cage or boxing ring, my dream was to be a professional wrestler. As a kid, I was hooked on the larger-than-life characters, the drama, and the showmanship.
I’ve tried to bring a bit of that WWE showmanship to my fights over the years. And I’ve made the most of every opportunity put in front of me. Whether that was fighting in MMA, making noise in Misfits, or going toe-to-toe with world-class boxers. Every fight, every moment in the spotlight has built me into the performer I am today.
Now I’d love to take all that experience, all that charisma, and bring it to WWE, the biggest stage in sports entertainment.”
Anthony Taylor thinks Logan Paul has shown that athletes from other sports can succeed in WWE if they have the skill, hard work, and personality to connect with fans. He sees that as a good example but wants to make his own path.
Taylor has built his name in combat sports with talent, confidence, and entertainment, and he feels those same qualities fit WWE. His aim is not to copy Logan Paul but to create his own success in wrestling.
“What Logan Paul has done in WWE is nothing short of incredible,” said Taylor. “He’s proved that if you have the athletic ability, the dedication, and the personality to connect with the fans, you can walk in from another sport and earn respect in the wrestling world.
I look at his journey and see a blueprint but I also see an opportunity to put my own twist on it. I’ve built my name in combat sports through skill, confidence, and entertainment, and I know that combination is exactly what WWE is all about. I’m not just coming to follow Logan’s path but to create my own.”
We will have to wait and see whether Anthony Taylor will end up crushing it in his WWE tryout and get one step closer to becoming a WWE Superstar, since it’s always been his dream.
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