As much as he respects the fighters competing in the UFC, Rollins feels like the arduous schedule required to perform in WWE would just be too much to handle.
As an example, Rollins invoked former UFC champion Ronda Rousey, who transitioned to WWE after her fighting career was over, however didnt work a full-time schedule filled with televised events, premium cards like WrestleMania, and weekly house shows where the promotion holds untelevised matches for local live crowds.
I dont want to knock Ronda Rousey because I love Ronda, Rollins told ESPN. She did a lot for our industry, for women in our industry and the fight industry in general, but it was tough for Ronda. She tried her damnedest and it was hard for her.
But I dont know, Id love for somebody to come over and take a crack if you think you can hang. But its hard.
Unlike many professional sports, there is no offseason for UFC fighters, so most train year-round but typically only set foot in the octagon two to three times per year.
Rollins understands MMA isnt easy, but he still argues its a different animal to put the kind of physical toll on your body that WWE requires for performers working a full-time schedule.
They dont have the stamina for it, Rollins said. They dont fight every single weekend.
This championship goes everywhere. It goes everywhere. It goes to like Biloxi, [Miss.]. And especially the top stars over there, theyre catered to a certain way, and thats great. Thats their style. Thats what works for them. You fight maybe once, twice a year. Youre crazy, youre fighting three times a year.
But to fight over 100 times a year, make all those towns, still be able to train, still be able to do all the media, its an exhausting industry.