Chael Sonnen has often drawn comparisons to pro wrestling, but he says he passed up a WWE deal.
The self proclaimed "Peoples Champ" Chael Sonnen, who recently defeated Quinton Jackson at Bellator 192, appeared on CBS Sports' "In Your Corner" podcast. While a plethora of topics were being discussed between the two parties, Sonnen revealed that a contract offer from WWE was once on the table.
Sonnen would go to explain that WWE wanted him to be a part of WrestleMania 32, which was in 2016 in Arlington, Texas.
“I kind of pissed those guys off," said Sonnen. "I was asked to be a contestant in a battle royal [Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal] and I wasn’t against it, but I just couldn't get the date. I actually worked hard and I tried to clear it. I tried to do it but [WWE] thought I blew them off. I haven’t really heard back and whenever they come to down, they invite me and give me and some friends some really good tickets and we have a real blast.”
The 30-15 mixed martial artist would then go on to state that there was a $5 million contract offer from Vince McMahon on the table. Sonnen stated that his reasoning for turning down the contract was because he knew that UFC President, Dana White, would attempt to match the offer from WWE.
"I was still under contract with the UFC and I never took this to Dana, I handled it on my own. I told WWE: ‘No’ and that was the end of that. I never told Dana White this story, but here’s why I didn’t tell him. I knew if I called Dana and said: ‘I’ve got a $5 million offer from Vince McMahon.’ Dana would have matched it.”
Chael Sonnen would go on to have a 2-1 record following 2016; as he defeated Quinton Jackson, Wanderlei Silva and suffered a loss to UFC Hall Of Famer, Tito Ortiz in January of 2017.
