While it has not been confirmed whether or not he was the “mystery UFC fighter” eyeing a run with World Wrestling Entertainment once his contract expired, “The Ultimate Fighter” winner Roy Nelson has reportedly conveyed his interest in wrestling for WWE.
Though recent comments he made involving WWE–first, a crack about being willing to fight The Undertaker, who confronted Brock Lesnar after UFC 121 and later a line about getting ready for the Royal Rumble–were clearly designed as humor, the Wrestling Observer Newsletter reports that his representatives have expressed his legitimate interest to the world’s leading wrestling promotion.
Nelson is currently on an indefinite hiatus from UFC due to a contract dispute with Square Ring Promotions. That group, for which Nelson fought once last year, claims to still have the “TUF” winner in an agreement, making appearances with UFC unworkable. Since there is no immediate sign that the group actually plans to book Nelson in a fight, the fighter has apparently turned his interest to WWE as a way to get work done in the interim.
WWE sources have not commented on the promotion’s interest. It should be noted that Nelson has become famous for an unimposing physique, which includes a large “beer gut,” that does not mesh with WWE’s typical vision of a tough guy.