The WWE got a huge signing today as Cain Velasquez, the former 2-time UFC Heavyweight champion, joins the company. Velasquez is with WWE on a multi-year deal, according to Fox Sports.
Cain Velasquez to WWE
It’s a signing that’s just in time as WWE Crown Jewel 2019 was in need of that super match. With his debut on SmackDown on 10/4, it seemed like a lock that Velasquez would be involved with WWE in some way. He appeared way ahead of the road to WrestleMania 36 for it to be a special appearance.
Plus, Velasquez has been wrestling for Lucha Libre AAA this year. There, he debuted on the company’s major Triplemania XXVII show teaming with Cody Rhodes and Psycho Clown against Texano Jr., Taurus, and Killer Kross. The Cody Rhodes connection is partially what prompted the rumors that he could end up signing with AEW. According to Dave Meltzer, there was also a contract snag with the leak that Velasquez was high on WWE’s radar.
Apparently, WWE threw up their hands over it and withdrew their offer. Weird but not surprising.
The Story Writes Itself
Velasquez to AEW would’ve been a massive get but the back story is actually there for him to face off against Brock Lesnar—which is the match for WWE Crown Jewel. Going back to their MMA career in UFC, Velasquez was 8-0 riding towards his UFC Heavyweight title bout against the champion, the 5-1 Brock Lesnar.
Lesnar lost in the first round and the belt while Velasquez would lose the belt a year later to Junior dos Santos in a short but similar fashion. The company didn’t really have to do anything extra besides sign Velasquez to a juicy deal since the story writes itself.
Cain Velasquez’s first match will be against Brock Lesnar on 10/31 at WWE Crown Jewel in Saudi Arabia. You can catch it live on the WWE Network starting at 1 PM ET, 12 PM Central.
