Conor McGregor WWE Specials

Following over a week of controversy - where Conor McGregor wound up a lot of WWE fans and talent - a list of sportsbooks have published betting specials where customers can bet on McGregor making his way to WWE before the end of WrestleMania.

The bookmakers have priced up three separate markets. The first asks customers to bet on him simply making an appearance in WWE by the close of Mania 33, the second is offering clients the option on him to have a match at any point up to the end of next year's WrestleMania and then the third builds on the middle option and has a long list of '1st Opponents for McGregor'.

The 'To Make An Appearance During Any WWE Live Broadcast Before The End Of WrestleMania?' market offering is 2/1. You can double that by betting on him having a match as the 'To Have A Match During Any Live WWE Live Broadcast Before The End Of WrestleMania 33?' is 4/1.

The market where customers can bet on McGregor's first opponent before the end of WrestleMania 33 has two unlikely options as joint-favourites. They are Brock Lesnar and CM Punk. Both are 6/4 each. Well, to be honest, none of them are likely. I'll get to my theory in a moment.

For what it's worth, here are the selections:

Brock Lesnar 6/4
CM Punk 6/4
John Cena 5/1
Kurt Angle 5/1
Sheamus 7/1
Shinsuke Nakamura 7/1
Seth Rollins 10/1
Roman Reigns 14/1
Samoa Joe 14/1
The Rock 20/1

If I believed that Conor McGregor is going to have a match in WWE between this moment and WrestleMania 33, here's how I would go about betting on this market.

Brock Lesnar: Whoever faces McGregor has to lose. Lesnar is one of their main stars and will be protected.

CM Punk: Not happening.

John Cena: Has been the guy that McGregor has tweeted negative things about lately. He's top-tier so has to be protected (yes, I remember the Kevin Federline thing).

Kurt Angle: Can't see him being brought back let alone being put in a big mainstream role like this

Sheamus: This is who I would choose. Both Irish. Have had heat in the past over Twitter (if my memory serves me correctly). Is the sort of guy that isn't right at the top but not too far down the bottom to make the thing look silly.

Shinsuke Nakamura: I just can't see the company going with him to face McGregor for some reason.

Seth Rollins: Can't rule it out, but I am not sold on it.

Roman Reigns: No way.

Samoa Joe: I'd actually like to see this, but wouldn't bet on it.

The Rock: Would be a huge attraction, but I can't see it.

So, going by all those names, the only one that makes sense to me is Sheamus. I could have a bet on it as the terms state that the bets will be voided if McGregor does not take part in an official match before the end of WrestleMania 33.

The thing with McGregor's comments and tweets is that I don't think he's angling for a WrestleMania 33 gig. What I believe he's doing is trying to play the panto villain so wrestling fans will be so wound up by his claims that they'll pay for next weekend's UFC 202 show to see him lose to Nate Diaz.

It's hard to handicap what his motives are whenever he tweets outrageous things, though.

The markets can be found under 'WWE' on the websites listed on THIS PAGE.