One of the biggest names in the history of Mixed Martial Arts has begun training at the WWE Performance Center as he hopes to become a WWE Superstar.
Dave Meltzer reported on Wrestling Observer Radio that Ortiz was seen training at the PC this week. “Tito Ortiz is training to be a professional wrestler at the Performance Center … He was there all week and I heard great things about his work ethic [and] his enthusiasm.”
In December during an interview with TMZ, Ortiz noted that he had talks with WWE. He didn’t specifically say WWE but it was strongly implied when he said that he was in talks with the biggest company in the world that has been around for many years.
Ortiz is a huge wrestling fan and he has dabbled with pro wrestling in the past. He made brief appearances for TNA Wrestling in 2005 as the special guest referee for the NWA World Championship match at the Hard Justice pay-per-view. He also refereed a match on the Bound For Glory 2005 pay-per-view. Ortiz was brought in as part of the Aces and Eights storyline in 2013 but he was gone from the company a month later.
Ortiz is the latest MMA fighter to try his hand at professional wrestling. It’s not unheard of for people to get into wrestling into their 30’s and Diamond Dallas Page was able to do it but Ortiz is 45 years old and he has neck and back issues so it would seem more likely, if he ends up wrestling for WWE, it won’t be for more than a handful of matches. Ortiz still a couple of years left with Combate Americas and he will continue working with them as well.
Ortiz is a UFC Hall Of Famer and a former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion and he is considered one of the biggest names in company history as he’s one of the guys who fans give credit to for helping boost the company’s popularity in the mid-2000s.
