Cain VelasquezCain Velasquez, collegiate wrestling titlewinner and two-time UFC champ, now knows who he will face in his pro wrestling debut next month.
The former Arizona State wrestler will be teaming up with All Elite Wrestling star Cody Rhodes and Mexico's most popular pro wrestler, Psycho Clown, in his first appearance in the squared circle at the TripleMania XXVII event in Mexico City on Saturday, Aug. 3.
Velasquez's teammates are the products of pro wrestling royalty. Cody Rhodes is the son of all-time pro wrestling legend Dusty Rhodes, while Psycho Clown's father is Super Porky, also known as Brazo de Plata, Mexican superstar for decades.
The three amigos will be facing off against villain trio of El Texano Jr. -- himself the son of a major Mexican star, El Texano -- along with Taurus, and a yet-to-be-announced mystery partner in a match third from the top of the card.
The TripleMania show is a product of Luca Libre AAA, the most popular pro wrestling promotion in Mexico, which is affiliated with All Elite Wrestling (AEW), now the second-largest pro promotion in the U.S.
Velasquez's first pro appearance will most likely be in front of a sizable audience. TripleMania usually draws between 13,000 and 19,000 fans to Arena Ciudad in Mexico City.
Kevin "Killer" Kross, who is helping train Velasquez for his pro ring debut, said, "He's picking it up very quickly. He's legit. He's 100 percent legit. His entire life he's been an amateur wrestler from my understanding. His footwork is there. Everything is there. His footwork, his striking, all his transitions, ground mobility. If he gets into pro wrestling, he will 100 percent be a draw and he'll be able to carry the hype."
Velasquez also spent several days last year training with WWE at its Performance Center in Orlando, Fla.
All that said, Velasquez may simply be testing the waters of pro wrestling, as he remains under contract with UFC.
The 36-year-old Velasquez has compiled a 14-3 record since launching his pro MMA career in December 2006, and 12-3 in UFC bouts.
Prior to entering MMA, Cain Velasquez made a name for himself on the wrestling mat. He was a two-time Arizona high school state wrestling champ who started his collegiate career at Iowa Central Community College, where he won the 2002 NJCAA (National Junior College Athletic Association) heavyweight title. Velasquez then transferred to Arizona State where he was a 2005 Pac-10 conference champ, then went on to earn NCAA Division I All-America honors by placing fifth at the 2005 NCAAs. He was welcomed into the Arizona State Athletics Hall of Fame in 2018.
Recommended Comments
There are no comments to display.
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now