Current UFC legend Cain Velasquez is apparently in contract talks with both WWE and AEW. He just needs to get out of his UFC deal first.
Reports are surfacing that Velasquez is exploring his options in the world of professional wrestling after it was learned the UFC star met with officials from WWE and All Elite Wrestling on Sunday. Dave Meltzer told Wrestling Observer Radio Velasquez has entered into "serious" discussions with WWE and that the 37-year-old is balancing those discussions against talks with AEW and New Japan Pro-Wrestling.
Velasquez has been somewhat of a prodigy in wrestling circles while competing in the lucha libre promotion AAA. He's made a few appearances and impressed with moves no one would have expected from a MMA talent and he's taken to the business like few crossover stars before him. Not since Ronda Rousey has WWE seen the potential to do some really cool things with a UFC star.
His next appearance in wrestling is slated to be on the AAA card for the Invading LA show in October. That said, he's got some specific instructions and guidelines he must follow considering he's still a part of the UFC. Meltzer believes there are things he's been allowed to do in Mexico that he wouldn't be allowed to do in North America for either WWE or AEW and that could be making negotiations a bit trickier.
There is even some speculation that the UFC issues are why he's donned a mask in his wrestling appearances thus far.
These WWE Rumors Aren't New
This is not the first time whispers of Velasquez and WWE being connected have come up. Previously, ESPN's Marc Raimondi reported that talks in August with WWE "fell through." Still, as long as Velasquez keeps earning rave reviews for his work in wrestling, rumors of WWE and AEW being interested will continue. For a guy who is 250 pounds, he moves around like a Cruiserweight.