By James Caldwell, PWTorch assistant editor

A pro wrestling fan since watching Sting vs. Ric Flair at the Clash of Champions, MMA fighter "King Mo" Lawal has signed with TNA to begin a wrestling career this summer. Under the Spike TV umbrella, King Mo will also begin fighting for the Bellator MMA promotion starting in 2013.

Terms and lengths of the two separate deals were not disclosed in a Thursday conference call to announce the signing. Spike TV president Kevin Kay noted the network "funds" both organizations, so Spike is indirectly funding King Mo's contracts after "approving" of the deals.

TNA president Dixie Carter and Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney stressed during the conference call that although the two sides are working together to co-promote King Mo's two careers, there will not be co-promoted shows (e.g. wrestling matches and MMA fights on the same show). TNA will document the build-up to King Mo's MMA fights and Bellator will cross-promote King Mo's wrestling appearances, but the two ecosystems will not mix in the same "space."

It was noted during the conference call that Dixie and Rebney have had ongoing talks over the past year trying to find the right person to fit Dixie's vision. Dixie noted she's had a vision over the past few years to establish this kind of cross-promotion.

Dixie recalled Rebney calling her backstage during a TV taping to banter about names. When he suggested King Mo had become available, Dixie says she knew he would be the right fit for her cross-promotion vision. Prior to King Mo's name coming up, Spike's Kevin Kay encouraged the two sides to continue talking about names, which led to Bellator sending a few fighters to Impact for commentary to get the wheels in motion.

TNA and Bellator stressed during the call that King Mo will not have to "divorce" himself from one promotion to cross over to the other promotion during his run. Instead, the plan is for a fluid situation that will see him wrestle and fight simultaneously, doing "two things at the same time."

Dixie said she is more concerned than King Mo is about his schedule going back and forth. Mo said he's confident in his physical abilities to be able to handle it. "I don't think it will be that hard at all," he said. Dixie told Mo, "It will be hard, but you have the ability to do that."

Throughout the call, the executives stressed King Mo as a "world-class athlete" capable of handling both and being a "unique fit" for TNA and Bellator's desire to create synergy under Spike. Dixie said she thought for a "long time" about sending a wrestler to MMA to jump-start her vision, but with a fighter coming to TNA, it will make for an easier transition from "their world to ours."

Potential pitfalls were brought up during the call. Rebney was asked whether MMA fans would reject King Mo or the Bellator product if there are questions over the legitimacy of Bellator's fights if an "MMA fighter-turned-pro wrestler" is involved. Rebney stressed that he believes MMA fans are sophisticated enough to see the differences.

Dixie was asked about a relationship not working out with Bobby Lashley, who was dabbling in MMA while part of TNA three years ago. "We never tried anything with Bobby. He had a short stint with us, but we were not working with the MMA world at that time," Dixie said. "With Mo, it will be more my concern for him not pushing it too hard. I'm worried he's going to want too much. I really don't have any concerns about it."

Dixie and Bjorn also noted "more synergetic pieces" will be in-place as part of the deal, suggesting more cross-over and wrestlers potentially crossing over to MMA. Kevin Kay noted they are all sitting in the same room working together to figure out "how to make this work."

TNA may also be looking to hire wrestlers who could cross over to MMA, and Bellator may be looking for fighters similar to King Mo who could do both wrestling and MMA. Pro wrestler/MMA fighter Josh Barnett was brought up, but the parties were non-committal on talent not named King Mo.

We suggest these recent related articles...

TV RATINGS: TNA Impact & ROH TV viewership - Week 19 on Dest. America - Impact surges post-BFG, ROH draws big audience

TV WRESTLING VIEWERSHIP - Week of Sept. 28: Full Break Down of last week's Pro Wrestling TV with DVR viewing

TNA NEWS: TNA announces TV tapings on January U.K. Tour