Michael Chandler stepped out of the UFC world to take part in WWE RAW this week. He was in the crowd, and he had a lot to say. Luckily for the UFC fighter, he was also handed a live microphone without a script.
Chandler Speaks On WWE RAW Appearance
Michael Chandler, who is usually recognized for his prowess on the microphone in the MMA realm, left a significant mark on RAW this week. Chandler delivered a speech on the show, shedding light on whether it was scripted.
In this week’s episode of Monday Night RAW, UFC Lightweight contender Michael Chandler issued a challenge to Conor McGregor for a fight inside the Octagon. Concluding his impassioned appeal with the phrase, “See you at the top!”
In an interview on the MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani, Michael Chandler dove deeper into his time on the mic during WWE RAW, revealing that he strained his voice during the promo.
“I actually strained my voice during Monday Night Raw,” he explained. “Before going on, a producer mentioned, ‘Hey, this microphone has a gate.’ I asked, ‘What does that mean?’ They replied, ‘It means you need to speak up.’ I didn’t think it would be an issue. The moment seized me, and a star was born. While it was planned for me to be at Raw, it was the first time UFC and WWE were blending crowds, bringing in fighters. Placed in the front row, I took initiative.”
When questioned if he deviated from the script during the promo, Chandler disclosed that he improvised the entire speech without any scripted guidance.
“Two minutes before, they said they were going to put the camera on me. I said, ‘Why don’t you give me the microphone?’ ‘Hold on, let me run it up the flag pole.’ About a minute later, ‘You’re going on and you’ll get the microphone if you want it.’ Magic happened. There was nothing prepared. I was thrown into the fire. Smacked myself a couple of times, and we went.”
Who Was Behind Michael Chandler’s WWE RAW Appearance? (Exclusive)
After Michael Chandler appeared on RAW for his call-out of Conor McGregor, I asked around about who made these plans. I was told that he did not have any type of script, and the booking was done through TKO.
Since WWE and AEW have the same parent company, there is a very good chance that fans will see more crossover segments like this. Chandler certainly made the most of his time with a microphone on live television.
Also, this goes without saying, but I asked whether Michael Chandler calling out Conor McGregor on WWE RAW this week was scripted. I was told that, "TKO handled that."
WWE fans may expect even more things like that in the future, because it certainly gained attention for UFC…
— Aaron (@AaronVarble) February 20, 2024
