Cyborg Santos WWE Rumor Likely Was Negotiating Ploy for New Contract

A report emerged on Thursday suggesting that Strikeforce middleweight women’s champion Christine Cyborg Santos was negotiating with the WWE on a potential deal that would have her switch from MMA to wrestling. Yahoo!’s Dave Meltzer said on Saturday that the report was b.s. after the WWE denied they offered Santos a contract.

So unless some Brazilian site manufactured the report to gain headlines, where did the WWE report come from? Perhaps from Cyborg’s business managers who are looking for leverage in contract negotiations with Strikeforce.

Cyborg hasn’t fought since June and she’s looking to pull in more money from the organization. Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker has said the two sides are looking to finalize a deal soon. What better way to manipulate the talks and manufacture demand than by playing up the threat of a second option?

Anyone who follows baseball knows that Scott Boras clients frequently have “mystery teams” interested in their services. For Cyborg, a mystery team wouldn’t do, but the threat of joining the WWE is probably enough to get more favorable terms in her next deal with Strikeforce. In my opinion, she’s not a big-time sell for them. Their two biggest drawing cards are Fedor and Gina Carano, bottom line.