For years, the name Conor McGregor has surfaced within WWE discussions as a potential opponent for a major bout, but such a match never came to fruition. Enzo Amore, now known as Real 1, recently disclosed that Vince McMahon himself instructed him to create a showdown with McGregor.
Enzo Amore shared these details during a guest appearance on the Julian Dorey podcast, explaining that he and Big Cass (currently Big Bill in AEW) were preparing for a split storyline on WWE television. Both were told about their future singles opportunities, including a planned title run for Enzo. Vince McMahon directed Enzo to reach out and provoke McGregor, even advising him to attend McGregor’s highly publicized fight against Floyd Mayweather as part of the buildup.
McMahon’s Strategy: Provoking McGregor to Secure a WrestleMania Spot
Enzo recounted McMahon’s specific directive to challenge McGregor publicly.
“Bro, I went to the Conor McGregor [vs.] Floyd Mayweather fight because Vince McMahon sent me there. Vince McMahon — bro, when I tell you I was the Cruiserweight Champ of the fuckin’ world. Vince McMahon made me tweet, pulled me into a room,”
Enzo explained.
“Big Cass is my witness, thank God he was a witness because people probably even wouldn’t fuckin’ believe me.”
McMahon urged Enzo to tweet at McGregor and stir up tension to garner interest, aiming to book the fight for WrestleMania. Enzo described the envisioned character for the match, portraying himself as a brash heel who runs his mouth but avoids direct confrontation.
“Me versus McGregor! Because I’m becoming a bad guy heel, but I’m becoming the bad guy heel that runs his mouth and runs away. The Flair thing. ‘I got more money than you, I’m the champ!’ And when you give the heel a title, you give him a license to kill on the microphone.”
Plans and Challenges Surrounding the Proposed WrestleMania Match
In concept, Enzo imagined enduring a prolonged beating during the match yet still escaping with a controversial win through underhanded tactics, such as a low blow or using the ropes illegally. While he did not clarify how advanced the negotiations became, it is evident the match never proceeded, as McGregor has never wrestled in WWE despite ongoing speculation.
Enzo and Big Cass split in mid-2017, suggesting any potential match might have been intended for WrestleMania 34 in New Orleans. However, Enzo’s release from WWE on January 23, 2018, extinguished any remaining chances for this encounter.
Enzo Amore’s Career Post-WWE and Continued Wrestling Appearances
Following his departure from WWE, Enzo has maintained a presence in the wrestling world through independent circuits and sporadic appearances with well-known promotions, including Ring of Honor, New Japan Pro-Wrestling, and Major League Wrestling. This past summer, he appeared at TNA Slammiversary, held near his home in Long Island.
The indication that Vince McMahon had aimed to pair Enzo Amore with Conor McGregor at WrestleMania highlights WWE’s ongoing interest in leveraging celebrity names for high-profile matches. While that particular plan did not materialize, Enzo’s revelations shed light on the creative strategies considered behind the scenes and underscore the challenges of bringing such dreams to the wrestling ring.
