The Viper is the latest WWE name to appear at a UFC event.
One fighter at UFC Fight Night in St. Louis was happy to see Randy Orton at the show and made that clear with some (non-violent) physical contact.
The 14-time WWE World Champion was spotted in attendance at the May 11, event. Orton was on hand to witness Joaquin Buckley win his Welterweight co-main event against Nursulton Ruziboev. After the right, Buckley ran into the crowd to hug Orton, a native of St. Louis.
Joaquin Buckley went to hug Randy Orton after his win at #UFCStLouis ❤️ pic.twitter.com/p6IUJtXwAa
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) May 12, 2024
WWE & UFC Collaboration
WWE and UFC came together in September 2023 in the culmination of a $9.3 billion deal that saw WWE acquired by Endeavor. Since then, WWE Superstars have been seen at UFC events and fighter Michael Chandler used the February 19, 2024 Raw to call out Conor McGregor.
- Bianca Belair, Montez Ford & “Retired” CM Punk Appear At UFC 298
Even before the merger, WWE had played host to UFC alum including Ronda Rousey, Shayna Baszler, and Matt Riddle. Brock Lesnar similarly had an exceptional run in the Octagon before his WWE return in April 2012. More recently, UFC fighter Derrick Lewis has shown interest in competing for WWE. Lewis was in the main event of UFC Fight Night and defeated Rodrigo Nascimento via TKO in the third round.
What’s to Come?
The worlds of WWE and UFC will grow even closer this June when WWE NXT Battleground takes place at the UFC Apex in Enterprise, Nevada. The show will see the crowning of the first WWE NXT Women’s North American Champion in a six-woman ladder match.
