5 Names Who Could Become The First Mr. (or Ms.) TKO
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What if UFC gold wasn’t the final boss? What if the next BMF Champion isn’t even in the UFC right now… But wrestling in WWE instead?
Now that both promotions are under the same TKO banner, the walls between fight night and Friday Night SmackDown have never been thinner. Crossovers aren’t just possible, they’re inevitable. So the question isn’t if someone becomes the first true double-champ of the TKO era… it’s who.
We’re talking about the first fighter to run both the cage and the squared circle. Someone who can throw hands in 4 oz. gloves and cut a fire promo on a live mic. Someone with the skills, the swagger, the résumé—and yeah, the guts—to go for it all. Mr., or Ms. TKO.
From Olympic killers and freak athletes to rising stars already eyeing the jump, here are five names who just might make history by conquering both worlds in the new TKO era:
Julius Creed
Julius Creed has made it his mission to become the first Mr. TKO. After an impressive collegiate wrestling career at Duke University and multiple MMA fight camps with UFC Hall of Famer Daniel Cormier and former UFC Middleweight Champion Luke Rockhold, Julius ultimately chose the WWE route. But that doesn’t mean the itch to fight is gone.
We’ve learned that he still trains regularly with UFC-level talent in Florida. He also served as a coach on The Ultimate Fighter 33: Team Sonnen vs. Team Cormier. Julius is an absolute freak athlete. He’s a rare combination of power, agility, and high-flying ability. He can cut a killer promo, wrestle his ass off, has the look, and the drive to make history. He’s one of the few up-and-comers who make it all look effortless.
If anyone can successfully cross over and hold gold in both the UFC and WWE, it’s him. I’d bet the house on it.
Lola Vice
Lola Vice may have found her true calling in pro wrestling. But don’t forget, she’s a legit fighter too. Before signing with WWE in 2022, she went 4-1 as a professional MMA fighter under the Bellator banner. She also held an impressive Taekwondo résumé that includes a 4th Dan black belt and time with the U.S. Olympic team. By 20, she had already climbed the ranks of the global taekwondo scene and was on the radar of major MMA promotions.
While it may seem like her fighting days are behind her, don’t be so sure. She still carries herself like a fighter, and the “Ms. TKO” moniker would be very fitting if she ever laced up the gloves again.
She’s a trailblazer, an entertainer, and an elite-level athlete. Lola Vice is one of very few names in the women’s division you can say that about today.
Bo Nickal
Bo Nickal’s rise in MMA has been fast, and it’s only just beginning. Despite a minor bump in the road, his elite wrestling pedigree is already cemented as one of the greatest. Still early in his MMA career, Nickal continues to climb the ranks, with a UFC title shot feeling like an eventual certainty.
But with the UFC and WWE now under the same roof, Bo has grown an interest in pro wrestling. In fact, he hinted at making the jump one day. We even covered it on our YouTube channel when Julius Creed responded to a tweet where Bo said he’d be open to joining WWE when the time is right.
Athletes crossing from MMA to WWE isn’t new. But thriving in both takes something special. It takes charisma, presence, and the ability to sell a moment. While it’s unclear if Bo would excel in the squared circle, one thing is certain… He’s a world-class athlete who’s dominated in everything he’s committed to.
Could Bo Nickal become the first Mr. TKO? Absolutely. But to do it, he’d have to beat Julius Creed to the punch, and that’s a tall order.
Tom Aspinall
A WWE future may not have been on Tom Aspinall’s radar until the moment he stepped into the ring. When WWE rolled into Manchester in October 2024, the Interim UFC Heavyweight Champion joined Cody Rhodes and Gunther for a surprise in-ring appearance. And just like that, it felt like he belonged.
Young, massive, and already holding UFC gold, Aspinall looked right at home under the lights. Since then, he’s made it clear that stepping into a WWE ring isn’t out of the question. While the UFC prevented him from doing any physical action that night, the experience clearly left an impression. Behind the scenes, he connected with the talent and staff, and left wanting more.
Aspinall has admitted he’d prefer to walk away from MMA a bit early rather than stick around too long, and WWE could offer the perfect post-fight outlet. He’s got the size, the presence, and a charisma that’s more understated but still magnetic.
If he ever makes the jump, don’t be surprised if Tom Aspinall becomes the UK’s next crossover superstar. He’s a real contender for the title of Mr. TKO.
Kayla Harrison
Kayla Harrison has already dipped her toes in the pro wrestling world, and now, she’s poised to take over MMA. The new UFC Bantamweight Champion made early appearances in AEW during her PFL days, and at one point, was even set to compete in a match. But now that she’s in the UFC—and holding gold—her star power has skyrocketed.
Her manager, Ali Abdelaziz, wants Kayla to defend her bantamweight title against Amanda Nunes and potentially move up to challenge her for the featherweight strap. With Kayla already admitting how brutal the weight cut was for 135, her reign in the division may not be a long one.
Ali has also been vocal about what could come next, and that’s a run in WWE. And honestly? It makes perfect sense. Ronda Rousey paved the way, and Kayla has all the tools to follow suit. She can talk, she has the look, and when she’s not cutting weight, she’s absolutely shredded.
Don’t be surprised if Kayla Harrison becomes the face of TKO. With two Olympic gold medals, championships in MMA, and a WWE run potentially on deck, she’s got a real shot at making history as the first Ms. TKO in this new era.
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