Gable Steveson: Rhea Ripley Would Fare Better in MMA Than Conor McGregor Would in WWE

Gable Steveson has weighed in on a crossover debate that wrestling and combat sports fans have been kicking around for years — and his answer might surprise some people. The Olympic gold medalist turned pro wrestler believes Rhea Ripley would have more success transitioning to MMA than Conor McGregor would have stepping into a WWE ring.

Steveson is one of the few people uniquely qualified to offer that kind of perspective. His career has taken him from the heights of amateur wrestling — where he won an Olympic gold medal — to a run in professional wrestling, giving him first-hand experience with what it takes to make that kind of crossover work. That background lends real weight to his take on both sides of the argument.

The comparison itself is a fun one. McGregor is one of the biggest names in combat sports history, a former two-division UFC champion whose larger-than-life personality and mic skills would seem like natural fits for the world of sports entertainment. Ripley, meanwhile, is one of the most physically imposing and athletically gifted performers in WWE today, a former world champion with the kind of intensity that translates across combat disciplines.

Still, in Steveson’s view, Ripley has the edge when it comes to crossover potential — at least in the direction of MMA. It’s a bold stance, given McGregor’s mainstream appeal, but Steveson’s firsthand knowledge of both worlds makes it a perspective worth taking seriously.

The comments add another layer to an ongoing conversation about which pro wrestling stars could genuinely compete in combat sports, and vice versa.