Michael Chandler got the enforcer job he asked for, and he’ll be on next week’s NXT to work the unsanctioned match between Dion Lennox and Cruz Montana. The 40-year-old UFC lightweight fighter has officially confirmed it, after he offered to take up the role himself and NXT General Manager Robert Stone was quick to respond. Their exchange on social media made the announcement official. Chandler is now getting ready to step into a WWE setting again after his previous appearance on Monday Night RAW in 2024, and this time he won’t just be sitting in the front row.
Michael Chandler offers to enforce the unsanctioned match between Dion Lennox and Cruz Montana
Chandler started it himself with a video posted on Instagram. He wasn’t asking for a wrestling match, he wanted in on the growing rivalry between Lennox and Montana. The ask was simple, oversee their unsanctioned contest, and he figured his experience in combat sports made him the right person to keep things under control. He also spoke to Robert Stone directly, so his intentions were pretty clear.
Stone picked up on the proposal and answered with a video on X, where he recorded a screen message of Chandler’s video and offered to discuss the idea further. Stone wrote, “You’re making this too easy for me. Let’s jump on a call and talk… @MikeChandlerMMA,” and from there it turned into an official arrangement. Chandler then replied to Stone’s announcement with a message that borrowed one of the NXT GM’s familiar expressions. “It’s set in stone!!!! Not a better man for the job…no one is more unsanctioned than me,” Chandler wrote on X.
So his job will be enforcing the rules during Lennox and Montana’s unsanctioned match. The contest is scheduled for next week’s special Wednesday edition of NXT, which goes head-to-head with AEW Dynamite: Blood & Guts.
It’s set in stone!!!! Not a better man for the job…no one is more unsanctioned than me. @MrStoneWWE @WWENXT
— Michael Chandler (@MikeChandlerMMA) October 31, 2026
Chandler previously appeared on WWE RAW in 2024 to call out Conor McGregor
Chandler has been in front of a WWE crowd before. He showed up on the February 19, 2024, episode of Monday Night RAW in Anaheim, California, sitting in front row before he grabbed a microphone and cut a promo directed at Conor McGregor. He called out his fellow UFC star during that segment, which brought their real-life rivalry into WWE programming.
This one will be different than that. Instead of simply appearing as a celebrity guest, Chandler has been given an official ringside responsibility for a match involving two NXT Superstars.
Stone also mentioned Shawn Michaels, WWE NXT’s creative head, in his video while confirming the arrangement. He added that he would see the WWE audience live the following night at Halloween Havoc.
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