Cain Velasquez is still passionate about MMA, but it doesn’t take much to notice that the former UFC heavyweight champion has a new athletic passion with pro wrestling.

Velasquez (14-3 MMA, 12-3 UFC) made his pro wrestling debut earlier this month at Triplemania XXVII in Mexico City. He performed in a lucha libre style, wearing a traditional mask and successfully pulling moves that were seemingly way beyond his depth considering his size and experience level.

The outpouring of praise following his debut paired with his instant connection with pro wrestling has Velasquez falling head over heels. He’s already got a pair of matches scheduled for Sept. 15 and Oct. 13, and while a potential UFC return still lingers, Velasquez said it’s hard to pull himself away from his new love.

“I was kind of shocked to be honest,” Velasquez told MMA Junkie in promotion for his Schick Xtreme “Bald Important People” campaign. “I didn’t know what to expect. I wasn’t sure how many people would actually be watching and tuning in to watch. I did a match and heard all the positive things from people. It was great. I was shocked. The whole night I was asking my wife, ‘What just happened?’

“For me, I know what I can do and I feel like learning wrestling for the short time that I’ve learned it, it feels very natural to me,” Velasquez continued. “I loved it. I love going out there and competing and I can’t wait to do more of it.”

Velasquez, 37, has fought just once in the past three years. The two-time heavyweight titleholder returned from a lengthy absence in February only to suffer a 26-second knockout loss to Francis Ngannou at UFC on ESPN 1. He said the “plan” is to eventually return to the octagon, but it won’t be this year.

But will it happen at all, though? Velasquez is undecided. He said he still enjoys training MMA and the sport will always hold a special place in his heart, but it’s obvious he is gravitating hard toward pro wrestling.

“I’ve always loved MMA as well from when I started doing it until now,” Velasquez said. “I’m still training and I still love it, so I’m not sure if I’m done yet. I still love MMA but pro wrestling is something I really love as well. It hit me by surprise and I wasn’t sure if I would like it or if I could even do it at first. I’ve becoming a natural to it. I love the acting side of it, the entertainment. I get to do stuff that’s physical then it also looks cool.”

There’s also the health element of the entire situation. Velasquez admits his “knee is still a little banged up” after the Ngannou fight, but the injury is significantly easier to work around in pro wrestling than in MMA.

Ultimately only time will tell what the future holds for Velasquez. However, at this stage only pro wrestling is circled on his calendar. His next match is Sept. 15 at Madison Square Garden in New York City (just two days after he’ll shave his head clean at the Schick Xtreme “Baldest Party Ever” event in the same city), and he intends to pursue that passion until he feels otherwise.

“In pro wrestling I’m able to work well with whoever is out there and it doesn’t put me in danger,” Velasquez said. “Fighting will definitely put my body in danger, put my knees at risk and everything else. It’s just full force with punching, kicking, takedowns and everything else. Your opponent is working against you and there’s the unknown of what they’re going to do as well.

“I do plan on coming back to fight as well, but at this moment I’m just having too much fun doing this pro wrestling. I can’t wait to go out there and perform again and try to be one of the best guys out there that has ever done pro wrestling.”