Tom Aspinall has been forced to wait in the wings while pound-for-pound star Jon Jones gears up to defend his heavyweight title against Stipe Miocic at UFC 309.
The 31-year-old comes off a destructive first-round stoppage in his rematch with Curtis Blaydes, retaining his UFC heavyweight interim title.
And yet, while he has earned the opportunity to challenge Jon Jones for the full championship, ‘Bones’ will instead defend his trinket against Stipe Miocic on November 16.
So now, as the 37-year-old prepares to take on the seasoned but battle-worn MMA legend, Tom Aspinall is still yet to announce his next move.
Tom Aspinall joins Cody Rhodes and Gunther in WWE ring
As fans eagerly await his next MMA outing, Aspinall has kept everybody on their toes by teasing a potential entry into the WWE.
The pro wrestling promotion staged a live event in Manchester, England, on October 16, with wrestlers Gunther and Cody Rhodes locking horns in an unexpected brawl.
But before they collided in the ring, Rhodes invited local UFC star Aspinall into the squared circle, only for Gunther to then ambush his WWE rival.
In the end, Aspinall was able to stay out of the brief skirmish before posing with his UFC belt on the turnbuckle, galvanizing his home fans.
Most interestingly, though, the Brit revealed to MMA journalist Chisanga Malata that he wishes to eventually make his debut with the sports entertainment juggernaut.
“When I have retired from MMA, I’m switching over to WWE,” Aspinall told Malata. “And I’m going to be the WWE heavyweight champ.”
Will Tom Aspinall fight Jon Jones for the UFC heavyweight title?
While he may indeed look to join the WWE several years down the line, Aspinall still has plenty of ambitions left to realize in his MMA career.
Of course, Jones is the main man on his hit list, with the former light heavyweight king representing a lucrative option for any fighter campaigning in the heavyweight division.
And so, former UFC champion Francis Ngannou, too, has expressed a desire to face the combat sports legend, despite his contractual dispute with MMA’s flagship promotion.
But still, while Ngannou makes his PFL debut against Renan Ferreira this Saturday, a showdown with Jones may trump any other heavyweight matchup.