MMA Legend Alistair Overeem Making Pro Wrestling Debut

MMA star Alistair Overeem will make his pro wrestling debut on the inaugural show from Wrestling Entertainment Series, a new promotion from former NXT Tag Team Champions the Authors of Pain.

Former NXT Tag Team Champions the Authors of Pain – now going by the name Legion of Pain – recently announced that they are launching a new wrestling promotion called Wrestling Entertainment Series. Their first event is scheduled to take place on June 4th in Nottingham, England. The press release for the event reads:

“WES WRESTLING ENTERTAINMENT SERIES Wrestling Entertainment Series launches June 4th Nottingham, England: Gzim Selmani & Sunny Dhinsa, formerly known as WWE’s Authors of Pain, are proud to announce the launch of a brand-new professional wrestling promotion.

“Wrestling Entertainment Series (WES) will debut on June 4th live from the Motorpoint Arena in Nottingham, England, and will be available to watch live around the world on FITE.tv. Some of the biggest names in professional wrestling will all be announced very soon for this celebratory kick-off event.

“WES already has an action-packed schedule in place for the remainder of 2022 with several yet-to-be-revealed dates across Europe & the Middle East.

“WES will also see the in-ring return of the Selmani & Dhinsa with legendary manager Paul Ellering by their side. The duo is set to re-establish themselves as one of the most dominant forces in the tag team wrestling division.”

One of the biggest announcements surrounding the event is the pro wrestling debut of Alistair Overeem. The MMA legend has been advertised to clash with Adam Scherr – formerly WWE’s Braun Strowman. The two will battle to become the first-ever Wrestling Entertainment Series World Champion.

Alistair Overeem is a Dutch MMA star and kickboxer who is known for his fights in PRIDE, Strikeforce, K-1, and UFC among other promotions.

His move to the world of wrestling could come as a surprise to fans who remember his comments about the wrestling business during an interview with Ariel Helwani in August 2021. Back then, the kickboxer used a homophobic slur to describe the current business.

“The thing is with that whole wrestling thing, I watched it when I was 8, 9, 10 years old,” said Overeem, who faces Verhoeven on Oct. 23 under the GLORY banner. “Hulk Hogan, Ultimate Warrior, huge fan of those guys. Honky Tonk Man. Great, funny. Andre The Giant. I stopped watching after that, so I’m not watching since [1992, 1993, 1994].

“And just recently, I started looking again on YouTube, and oh my God, this stuff is lame. It’s just lame what these guys are doing. It’s fake. It’s lame. It’s stupid. It’s gay. It doesn’t make any sense.”

The full card for the promotion’s first show is listed below:

• Adam Scherr (Braun Strowman) vs. Alistair Overeem in a World Championship match
• Lina Fanene (Nia Jax) vs. CJ Perry (Lana) in a Women’s Championship match
• Gzim Selmani & Sunny Dhinsa (The Authors of Pain) vs. Westin Blake & Steve Maclin (Wesley Blake & Steve Cutler) in a Tag Team Championship match
• Killer Kross (Karrion Kross) vs. Samuray Del Sol (Kalisto) vs. JONAH (Bronson Reed)
• Madison Rayne & Tenille Dashwood vs. Deonna Purrazzo & Chelsea Green in a Women’s Tag Team Championship match
• Dean Muhtadi (Mojo Rawley) vs. Lince Dorado
• Pre-show match: Mike Bennett (Mike Kanellis) vs. Biff Busick (Oney Lorcan)
• Pre-show match: Dirty Dango (Fandango) vs. Levis Valenzuela Jr. (No Way Jose)

H/T to MMA Fighting for the above transcription.