OFFICIAL: 40-Year-Old UFC Fighter Making WWE Return Next Week

A crossover among the TKO Group Holdings’ companies is happening next week, as a UFC fighter will be on WWE NXT. It became official just a few hours ago when the UFC lightweight star posted a reel on social media, directly addressing NXT General Manager Robert Stone and saying his involvement is necessary for NXT next week.

The fighter in question is the 40-year-old Michael Chandler. He used Stone’s famous phrase, saying ‘Set in Stone,’ and confirmed he’ll be at next week’s NXT to enforce the rules on Dion Lennox and Cruz Montana in their unsanctioned match. He claims to be the best man for the job, marking him as the most unsanctioned option. Chandler posted this message on X in response to the NXT GM’s video announcing the UFC star’s appearance.

“It’s set in stone!!!! Not a better man for the job…no one is more unsanctioned than me,” wrote Michael Chandler.

In a video posted by Stone from his home office, he let Shawn Michaels (creative head of WWE NXT) know that Chandler is ‘set in stone’ to enforce the unsanctioned match next week. He added that he will see the WWE audience live tomorrow night at Halloween Havoc.

This technically marks Chandler’s ‘return’ to WWE, following a 2024 appearance on RAW. He appeared on the February 19, 2024, episode of Monday Night RAW in Anaheim, California, sitting in the front row and grabbing a microphone to cut a promo calling out Conor McGregor. This time he will be on NXT, though with a prominent role.

Michael Chandler proposed the idea of a WWE NXT appearance first in a video

The exchange began when Michael Chandler posted a video on Instagram saying he wanted to step into the squared circle not to wrestle, but to control the personal rivalry brewing between Cruz Montana and Dion Lennox. Recognizing his own background in high-stakes combat, Chandler offered his services to enforce order in their scheduled unsanctioned match on the special Wednesday edition of NXT.

NXT GM Robert Stone noticed almost instantly when he posted a screen-recording video on X referencing Michael’s proposal. Robert said that Michael has made it easy for him and offered a call to discuss further developments. It then became official that Chandler would appear on next week’s NXT, which will go head-to-head against AEW Dynamite: Blood & Guts special episode.

Edited by Riya Peter