Kevin Owens wins the title

After Finn Balor suffered a shoulder injured during the Universal title match at Summer Slam and was forced to vacate the championship less than 24 hours later, WWE management scrambled to book a scenario to determine a new champion.

Last week, there were four matches to determine the contenders for the title match this week on Raw, which is a smart move because it built anticipation for the angle. Big Cass, Kevin Owens, Roman Reigns, and Seth Rollins were set for the main event to declare the new titleholder. Some thought that maybe Cass would get the surprise win, but, he's a "puppy with big paws" so to speak, and realistically, he would have to continue to develop as an overall talent before it could really be determined if he has main event potential. In my opinion, while Cass is an agile big man, he wouldn't be nearly as over without Enzo, at least at this point, and since the tag team is a perfect combination, there's no reason to book him on his own yet. Most assumed that Seth Rollins would resume his spot as the top guy since he was probably scheduled to continue to feud with Balor for the championship.

Just as the potential scenario was unfolding, Triple H made a return to WWE programming to eliminate Roman from the match and then in a surprising swerve that many probably didn't expect, Triple H helped Kevin Owens win the title. First it should be noted that Kevin Owens, who worked for years as one of the most popular stars on the independent scene, has all the skills to be a main event star for the WWE. Does Owens have abs? No, but he's a unique athlete, and he knows how to get over regardless of the audience, which is the key to working the main event picture. He has the in ring ability, mic skills, and charisma to be a legitimate star for the WWE.

The finish was surprising and that's exactly what the title picture should be on Raw, too often the audience knew exactly what was going to happen during the Roman Reigns mega push, creating a stale product in the process. Plus, when you consider that Seth as the heel champion has already been done and the crowd reaction he received on Raw the past few weeks, it makes sense to turn him baby face to freshen things up. The angle almost writes itself in many aspects, the Authority chose Rollins as their champion and he couldn't get the job done against Balor so they dropped him from their stable. This is where the WWE 24 production that highlighted Rollins' grueling recovery from injury can be used to establish him as an immediate top baby face on the show. The narrative can be that Rollins spent months training to recover in an attempt to win back the championship and when he had the chance, Triple H cost him the opportunity. Granted, the timeline is a little shaky because of Reigns/Rollins/Ambrose angle, but a few video packages and promos would easily be enough to cast Seth as the sympathetic figure that battled to return to the ring because of his passion for the sport, only to have management tilt the odds against him. Another storyline based around management might seem repetitive at this point, but considering that they had to call an audible after Balor was injured, it's at least understandable that something had to be done to give the new direction of the Universal title some steam going forward.

A question that remains is, what does this new direction mean for Roman Reigns?

It took over two years, but management might've figured out that Roman isn't over and his super man type push isn't going to automatically make him the next John Cena. As I've said before, how Reigns was booked didn't help the situation and it was somewhat unfair that the heat toward the writing team was directed at him. The possible upside of a heel turn for Reigns was previously discussed so there's no reason to mention it again here, but with Owens seemingly penciled in for the top heel spot, would a heel turn for Roman be effective at this point? The problem in this situation is that the WWE continuously pushed him so could he really start working the mid-card without the perception that he flopped as a main event competitor? In many ways, Reigns in is a lame duck type situation and it might be a wise move for him to take some time off to provide somewhat of a clean slate. While the writing team did him no favors, the wellness policy violation seemed to be the deciding factor in the Roman Reigns experiment, which he has nobody to blame but himself. That being said, everyone makes mistakes and despite all the hostility toward him, there's still an upside for Reigns' career.

One of Kevin Owens' biggest and loudest critics is legendary manager, Jim Cornette, who worked for Ring of Honor when Owens was known as Kevin Steen. Cornette actually complimented some of Steen's ability while downgrading everything else about his career, and when the former leader of the Midnight Express quit ROH, he often criticized Steen as well as others that had success in the WWE a few years later. Cornette once remarked that Steen, " could work for 400 people at a rec center." Since that time, Steen was signed by the WWE, worked in front of a crowd of 85,000 fans at Wrestlemania, and he won the WWE Universal title on Raw. Don't get me wrong, I respect everything that Jim Cornette has accomplished in his career and there are times that he makes valid points about the industry. But, as I wrote before, Jim Cornette seems to criticize almost everything that's not from the 70s or 80s and you have to wonder, is there ANY company would be Cornette approved? Jim Cornette is one of the best minds and best talkers in wrestling history so he's undoubtedly more knowledgeable than me about the industry. That being said, in my opinion, he was completely wrong about Kevin Owens. Since the title win, Cornette posted on social media that he doesn't care what happens on a show that he doesn't watch, and he probably doesn't watch WWE programming, but that doesn't stop him from criticizing almost everything about the product on his podcast.

Kevin Owens made the jump to the main event scene and while this angle still has to progress on TV, it's a storyline that can provide some intriguing possibilities within the next few weeks. The prize fighter character that Owens used during his initial push in NXT is very similar to the real life Kevin Steen, who has a family and his success in the wrestling business actually does help provide for them. I met Steen in 2013 at an ROH show and he was very polite and seemed to appreciate the support of the fans. Kevin Owens worked hard to improve to earn a WWE deal in 2014, and he without question has a passion for the business so it's great to see a performer that earned it achieve the success.

WWE suspensions

Last week brought surprising news from the WWE, three performers were suspended in just a few days for violating the wellness policy. It was announced that real-life pair Alberto Del Rio and Paige were suspended thirty days each. The following day, Eva Maire was suspended as well.

Two years ago, Alberto Del Rio was dismissed from the WWE after he slapped an employee that made a disparaging joke about his Mexican heritage. The employee, who was fired a few months after the incident, deserved to be slapped, but the WWE is a publicly traded company and the release of Del Rio was probably more to avoid a lawsuit at the time than anything. Alberto, a second generation wrester, worked for years as a main event star in Mexico as Dos Caras Jr. and was an established talent in his home country for years before he debuted on WWE TV. After his release in 2014, he became one of the most in-demand freelancers in the sport, returning to Mexico an even bigger star than before he left, and worked around the globe in a variety of promotions. He had a brief stint in Ring Of Honor and appeared for Lucha Underground as well.

In October of last year, Del Rio made a surprising return and defeated John Cena to win the US title on pay-per-view. Despite the tremendous start, for whatever reason, things fizzled out relatively quickly for him, as he dropped the US title just a few months later. Prior to dropping the title, Del Rio joined the League of Nations stable, but the group was basically formed because the writing team didn't seem to have any plans for them, and aside from a relatively short time frame, the faction was mostly irrelevant. In April, the League of Nations disbanded and Del Rio has somewhat floundered since that time. There was a report online in recent months that Del Rio was unhappy with his status in the company and might opt out of the deal when he has the contractual opportunity to do so, but those are just rumors at this point so who knows?

However, I always find it puzzling when WWE management either downgrades Alberto's spot on the card or keeps him at a stagnant level. Del Rio is one of the most solid in ring performers on the WWE roster and consistently delivers quality matches. Furthermore, he has the mic skills and the charisma to be a main event star so it was a little disappointing when he was booked for a generic foreign stable. Plus, the WWE has looked for another top Hispanic star, specifically since Rey Mysterio left the company and it's a role that Del Rio could portrayal well. If this wellness policy violation contributes to Alberto's eventual departure or not remains to be seen, but he has more leverage than the majority of mid card performers. Del Rio has options and he doesn't necessarily need WWE to work a lucrative schedule. He was a star in Mexico before he signed a WWE contract and he will still be a star there if he leaves the company. He made good money outside of the WWE as well, and as was discussed when he returned last year, he was obviously offered a generous contract to return, considering that he traded it for the great money he was making in Mexico after his release. That being said, I wouldn't be surprised if Del Rio decides to leave the company when he has the option.

 Paige, another second generation performer, is a member of a prominent wrestling family in Britain and started wrestling during her early teenage years. Her parents, Ricky and Saraya Knight are extremely influential and respected in the UK, and as a result, Paige had a solid foundation to build upon when she signed a WWE deal in 2011. After three years in the developmental system, she debuted on Raw and defeated AJ Lee to win the Divas title.

Ironically, the 24-year-old was suspended on her birthday, which probably isn't a coincidence and some might view that as a harsh move from WWE brass, but at the same time, it could be an attempt to send her a message not to fumble the opportunity that she has at this stage of her career. The argument could be made that money wise, right now is the best chance women's wrestling has ever had on the WWE platform to be presented in a credible manner. The women are finally getting the chance to become legitimate stars that draw money, and in the process, get the chance to make better money than in the past. Competitors like Victoria and Molly Holly were true pros and underrated talents, but worked for WWE during a time when pillow fights were considered women's matches. Would it be that much of a stretch if Bayley vs. Sasha was booked to main event a pay-per-view? If the women become more main stream starts, it allows them to make more money from merchandise sales etc.

Paige is a very skilled in ring performer and she has a unique charisma that gives her the star quality. However, she became a globally known talent at a relatively young age and that combination can be dangerous, especially in the technology based society today. One misstep or a one word slip can have a drastic effect on someone's career. For example, during a social media Q&A last year, Paige used profanity to respond to fan's rude comment, and was told by WWE producer Scott Armstrong to watch the language. Obviously, it's a PG product and despite her younger age, Paige should know better than to allow an internet toll to bait her into a heated exchange. The clueless keyboard warrior has nothing to lose, but Paige has a career to maintain. There was also the bizarre Twitter situation last year when Lana claimed Paige was a bully during her time in NXT, which led to several messages on social media. There was also some type of incident in June after the Money in the Bank pay-per-view when Paige was briefly detained by police before she was released after an altercation with hecklers at an entertainment venue. Obviously, it's not Paige's fault that the intoxicated patrons started an argument, but sometimes it's better to avoid that type of situation.

In recent months, Paige has been on the sidelines with an injury so was this violation from something related to it? Depending on where she goes from here, Paige could use the suspension as a learning experience or sadly it could be another case of "too much too soon" when a young athlete achieves success, but doesn't avoid the pitfalls of fame. Don't get me wrong, Paige is a tremendous talent and has the ability to be a star, but it would be disappointing if she wasted that opportunity. You can read stories how about nice Paige is to all the fans at autograph signings and appearances so that's a positive from a PR prospective, but the WWE is a publicly traded company, and it only takes one incident to cost someone their job. Hopefully after the suspension and Paige heals from the injury, she can get a fresh start to her career on Raw because she has the talent to be one of the main stars of the shift toward women's wrestling instead of sitting on the bench.

Eva Maire was suspended for thirty days and if it wasn't for a wellness policy violation, it should be for a lack of talent. Eva revealed on social media that she failed a test because of Addreal, the same substance that Roman Reigns tested positive for a few months ago. She claimed to have a prescription for the medication, but didn't have the correct paperwork submitted to the WWE medical staff in the proper time frame. Obviously, the former model will have a job as long as Total Divas is on the air, but she could cost herself an opportunity after she was getting a push on Smackdown.

It's interesting to note that these full time WWE performers were suspended, but Brock Lesnar, who failed two USADA tests for his fight at UFC 200, was allowed to work the match at Summer Slam without any penalty from WWE.

HBO drops Manny Pacquiao

Less than a year and a half ago, Manny Pacquiao was a part of the highest grossing event in boxing history when he squared off with Floyd Mayweather, a bout years in the making and one that many thought wouldn't become a reality. With a $99.99 price tag, the pay-per-view broadcast set revenue records with over 4 million buys that translated to $410 million in PPV revenue alone.

There was such a level of anticipation for the fight a few years before it actually happened and the time frame to cash in on a showdown of boxing's two biggest stars was closing so finally after years of political jousting between the two sides, the contract was signed. The fight itself was considered a flop, as a record number of viewers tuned in and saw Floyd defensively dodge his way to a lackluster decision win. I've said it before and I will say it again, anyone that was shocked at Floyd's masterful technique to avoid damage either hasn't watched him fight previously or they don't know anything about boxing.

However, the biggest fight in nearly a decade was a disappointment and shrapnel from the blunder affected bouts several months later.

In September of 2015, "Money" Mayweather signed on for what was promoted as his retirement fight, but it was met without much fanfare and the pay-per-view numbers were the lowest Mayweather offering in a decade. Andre Berto is a solid pro, but was no real threat to Floyd and after the $100 disappointment, fans weren't willing to pay to see another glorified exhibition from the technician that held championships in five different divisions. One of the most decorated careers in the history of boxing didn't receive a fond farewell from the boxing public, but rather a clear message that their PPV dollars could be used more effectively elsewhere.

Earlier this year, Manny returned to the ring to complete his trilogy with Timothy Bradley, a contest that I described as being unnecessary in an article prior to the event, and the results proved that description to be correct. Bradley won a very suspect decision in their initial fight (not Bradley's fault, he didn't score the fight) before Pacquiao dominated the score cards to win the rematch. There was no realistic reason to believe that Bradley had a chance to defeat Manny in a third fight and boxing fans didn't, as the PPV buyrate was called, "terrible" by promoter Bob Arum after considerably low numbers were reported. Manny defeated Bradley easily via unanimous decision and earned $20 million for his most recent performance in the ring. Arum, one of the godfathers of the promotional game, didn't get quite the same payday and when asked about the fight, he confirmed to ESPN that his company lost money on the event because the low buyrates didn't cover the expenses.

Again, the effects of the Floyd/Manny debacle surfaced months after their super fight, this time the message was directed at Manny. After his $100 million payday in 2014, it was revealed after the fight that Pacquiao fought with an injured shoulder, and didn't disclose it to the Nevada State Athletic Commission before the bout, which is a requirement. Boxing fans thought they were deceived and ripped off when they ordered the most expensive fight in the history of the sport. The injury required surgery and it was a successful procedure, but Pacquiao's credibility among boxing fans has yet to be completely repaired.

Earlier this month, in a somewhat shocking statement after he announced that he will fight Jessie Vargas later this year, Pacquiao revealed that he decided to return to the ring because boxing is his main source of income. Manny explained that he supports and helps many family members so he can't rely on his income as a public official. At 37, Manny Pacquiao has earned a few hundred million dollars during his career and signed for his 67th professional bout, it's almost unthinkable that he has to fight because he needs the money, but it has happened before so it's possible that he becomes another cautionary tale in sports.

The 27-year-old Vargas is a decent prospect, garnering a record of 27-1 with his only loss a unanimous decision when  he squared off with Timothy Bradley in June of 2015. The problem in terms of the drawing power for a Pacquiao/Vargas event, is that nearly all of his 27 wins were against unrecognizable competition, and most of the general public doesn't know the name Jesse Vargas, leaving the aging Manny responsible for the bulk of pay-per-view orders.

The fight announcement was met with a lukewarm reception at best and last week, in a once unthinkable decision, HBO decided not only to pass on the fight, but also dropped Pacquiao from his contract. Bob Arum again addressed lackluster Pacquiao news when he confirmed that HBO did indeed decline to host the contest, citing their already scheduled Andre Ward/Sergey Kovalev bout two weeks prior to the Manny fight as the primary reason for the dismissal. But, the most basic reason the premium cable channel passed on the deal is that they already have a drawing card with two undefeated fighters set to clash in an anticipated match-up, why would HBO risk losing money on another Manny-branded broadcast? It's almost stunning to say this, but Manny Pacquiao, one of boxing's top draws just a few years ago, doesn't have a distributor or a contract for his next professional fight.

The echos of the Pacquiao/Mayweather  post-fight reception can still be heard.

Promoter Bob Arum stated that he would talk to Showtime and ESPN about the Pacquiao/Vargas bout. But, considering the low numbers for Manny's last pay-per-view contest, are fans be willing to pay to watch him fight a mostly unknown opponent? As counter productive as it might sound, airing the November 5th fight on broadcast television and collecting the ad revenue from the commercials might be the safest financial option for the event. There's no question that the show would draw major ratings and generate considerable ad revenue, but who knows how Arum will choose to distribute the fight?

If anything, these latest developments prove that in many ways, Manny Pacquiao is damaged goods and after the super fight debacle, the general public isn't willing to spend many more dollars on watching his career. The record books will show that Manny Pacquiao vs. Floyd Mayweather was the highest grossing event in the history of boxing, but each fighter's legacy also paid a price when their fight disappointed a record audience.

Does Corgan own TNA?

In a press release last week, Impact Wrestling announced that the newly named parent company of TNA, Impact Ventures has a new president, Billy Corgan. Dixie Carter, who bought a majority share of TNA during its early years, was named the chairman of the group. While the announcement said that Corgan will run the "day-to-day operations," it's not clear, at least publicly, if the lead singer of The Smashing Pumpkins actually bought the company or not.

According to The Wrestling Observer, those that work for TNA were told that Corgan is running the company. But, even if that's the case, it doesn't mean that he owns the company. Keep in mind, at one point, Hulk Hogan was supposedly "running" (working Dixie Carter for every dime possible) the promotion, but he didn't own a share of it. It was also reported that Corgan funded the most recent set of TV tapings that would give Pop TV episodes to air through next month so it's safe to assume that he owns at least a share of the company. However, this further complicates an already complicated situation, as the Nashville-based Aroluxe Marketing paid for a taping session in April of this year and as a result, they were given a stake in the company as well.

So, if you're keeping score at home, the combination of Aroluxe, Corgan, and presumably Dixie Carter have varying levels of ownership of Impact Wrestling.

It's important to remember how TNA landed at this point before you consider how a Corgan-owned Impact would run today. Dixie Carter bought into the group after Jeff Jarrett and legendary promoter, Jerry Jarrett founded the company in 2002. The Jarretts put a million dollars each into the new project, a noble chance to take at the time, considering the landscape of the industry post-WCW. The weekly pay-per-view format was a new idea since it essentially provided eight hours of content for the same price of a three hour WWE PPV at that time, but there wasn't an effective way to realistically promote the brand, and fans just weren't going to pay to watch a show that they hadn't heard of previously. Bob Carter, the owner of Panda Energy, essentially funded his daughter's vanity project for nearly a decade. The laundry list of mistakes that led to TNA's financial woes are too extensive to name in this column and it could quite easily provide enough material for an article of its own, but the turning point seems to the signing of Hulk Hogan in 2009.

Hogan made an appearance on the Howard Stern show and revealed that he was in major debt, which was prior to the TNA announcement so it's obvious that he signed with TNA because the WWE wouldn't sign him after his family became a tabloid circus. Hogan needed the money and he worked Dixie for major money, and he did nothing that actually advanced the company. When Impact went on the road every week to broadcast live, the production costs increased exponentially compared to the budget of taping multiple episodes in advance. Dixie, seemingly as a fan of the 80s era of pro wrestling, thought that Hulk would be a draw, but after all the media headlines he made for all the wrong reasons, fans didn't but tickets just to see him talk on the mic. After Hulk made his money, he left TNA in a position where they didn't have the funds to resign many of the performers that were considered the foundation of the company. In 2012, Panda energy stopped funding Impact, and with the money that was spent on Hogan, many TNA originals were asked to take a pay cut. Most of them, including AJ Styles, the competitor that was the franchise of the organization, decline the offer, deciding to work elsewhere. Getting canceled from Spike TV, the failed Destination America experiment, and the rumors of financial problems haven't helped the perception of TNA in recent years.

The was a report as recent as just a few months ago that Impact Wrestling was basically out of money, which is why Aroluxe paid to produce a set of tapings while in negotiations about buying at least part of the company. As mentioned, Aroluxe has a stake, but Corgan funded the most recent tapings so it's unclear who owns the majority stock. But, the question is, does it really matter? How exactly does Impact Wrestling draw any substantial revenue? If the ad revenue for the commercials during Impact had any major value, Dixie wouldn't sell shares of the company to anyone that is willing to pay the tab to produce TV. TNA doesn't run house shows any longer so there's no money to be made on the road, and they rarely broadcast pay-per-views so what money is there to be made by investing into Impact Ventures? Don't get me wrong, if TNA shuts down, it does nothing to help the wrestling business and any "fans" that are somehow looking forward to the company potentially closing are extremely misguided, but what exactly is there to buy when Corgan invested into TNA? Basically there's no brand identity or profitable revenue stream so from a business prospective, what's the upside of investing into TNA?

If Billy Corgan does own or is definitely running Impact Ventures, what does this translate to for the direction of the company?

It's truly disappointing to have to say this, but a change in management probably means absolutely nothing for the direction of the product. Keep in mind, Corgan was signed as a consultant in April of last year so what concepts is he going to bring to the table now that he couldn't have brought before? Corgan is without a doubt an extremely creative and talented performer, but there are many elements to producing a national wrestling company, and TNA is still struggling nearly a year and a half after his tenure started. The only difference might be that as a share holder, Corgan might be willing to invest the money for TNA to sign some established stars to get some buzz for the show. Rey Mysterio or some of the talent featured on Lucha Underground could be a possibility if Corgan can offer them a better deal than the El Rey network.

The main point here is, even if Billy Corgan is a majority owner of TNA, it's doubtful that the company actually makes some major improvement to become legitimate competition in the industry. As mentioned, many of the problems that have plagued Impact for years still exist today, and as I've said before, the brand could be too damaged to improve. It's a disappointing situation because TNA has some talented competitors on the roster, but on the national level, it takes more than just solid in ring performances. It should also be said that any company that involves Dixie Carter will not be successful and her track record proves that she doesn't know how to run a wrestling company. Many of her former employees have said that Dixie is a nice person and she probably is a nice person, but that doesn't mean that she knows how to run a success promotion. Too often, Dixie booked herself in storylines just to play TV star and more often than not, when an executive becomes a character on the show, it takes away from the business side of the company.

If nothing else, it's a credit to Billy Corgan and his passion for the industry that he was willing to help fund TNA because that boost helps keep several talented people employed. Nobody, not even the WWE, benefits from a one company becoming a monopoly for the industry. Corgan's efforts are noble, but realistically, there won't be some major shift toward successful for the company.

Conor McGregor vs. WWE

Last week, the UFC Featherweight champion, Conor McGregor, an athlete that always has people talking, managed to generate more conversation when he spoke candidly about his view of the sports entertainment genre.

Basically, he referred to Brock Lesnar's recent failed tests after UFC 200 and his remarks were similar to other steroid comments that were made toward pro wrestling in the past. McGregor might have a point, but considering that Lesnar isn't subject to the WWE wellness policy, and the general direction of the industry, it's not exactly fair to compare the modern WWE landscape to some of the more infamous eras of the past. After his comments made some press, he sent a tweet to "clarify" his message, but ultimately fueled the situation. Despite his apparent disdain for sports entertainment, it's doubtful that Conor has any actual hostility toward the business.

If anything, Conor is essentially borrowing a page from the pro wrestling playbook to hype his next bout later this month at UFC 202 in a rematch with Nate Diaz. The Stockton native took the initial fight on ten days notice to replace the then-Lightweight champion Rafael Dos Anjos, and McGregor moved up an additional weight class to fight at 170 LBS. McGregor was riding a wave of momentum into the cage earlier this year when he fought Diaz, and many expected a Conor victory, especially since he had previously knocked out the dangerous Jose Aldo to claim the 145 LBS title in just 14 seconds.

However, the brash Dublin import and many fans were surprised when Diaz sustained punishment in the opening round and was still dangerous in the second round. McGregor was overconfident and with his hands down, he got caught with crisp punches from his opponent. Ultimately, McGregor couldn't recover from the combinations and was submitted via rear naked choke before the end of the second round. Conor McGregor is without question a skilled and entertaining fighter, which is why he is a top draw on pay-per-view, but this rematch could very well determine if he's a long term draw for the promotion or a flash in the pan.

The hype around Conor was his dynamic style and Ali-type of promotional efforts, but he was humbled when he was submitted by an opponent that had less than two weeks to prepare so he has to "rebuild" the buzz around himself prior to the next contest, hence the pro wrestling "controversy." The bottom line is, Conor knows how to get people talking about Conor, and it worked as many sports entertainment stars responded to him.

Similar to most of the promotional style of the UFC, Conor uses pro wrestling tactics to generate a fan following, and has done that so far in his career. The flashy clothes, the bold statements, and the elaborate entrances could just as easily be used to describe Ric Flair in his heyday, but those are all elements that McGregor uses today to enhance his image. Will Conor's comments make some wrestling fans want to see him get knocked out? Sure, but as long as they order the pay-per-view, it doesn't matter. The UFC is as much of a business, if not more so, as it is a sport and McGregor knows how to draw money.

It's no coincidence that Conor McGregor made these comments on social media just a few weeks before he fights on pay-per-view.

This maximizes the publicity and the spotlight for the bout where he can redeem himself, which is a good business move, but as mentioned, the fight with Diaz could determine the direction of Conor's career. Keep in mind, McGregor is a relatively new commodity with just a year at the top of the UFC, and without the accomplishments of some of the more well known fighters in UFC history. Quite frankly, he has more to prove in his career, considering that he has yet to actually defend his championship and another loss could damage his drawing power.

That being said, the rematch is extremely risky for the featherweight king pin, as this bout will, at his request, be at welterweight and this time, Nick Diaz has a full training camp to prepare for the contest. In many ways, the Diaz brothers have very unique untapped marketing potential, and the spotlight of defeating McGregor allowed a more main stream audience to get exposure to Nick Diaz, who brings an unfiltered style to the UFC. Diaz trains regularly with pro boxer Andre Ward and has a black belt in Brazilian jui jit su so he has well rounded skills. Under the radar for most of his career, Diaz is a journeyman of sorts in MMA, he wins some fights and loses others, but always has entertaining bouts, which is why he's well known among diehard MMA fans.

If Conor is successful or not when he returns to the octagon remains to be seen, but if I had to guess, I would say that Nick Diaz will be victorious again. Diaz is a more natural welterweight and possibly a more well rounded fighter, as Conor seems to lack some of the ground skills. That being said, from a business prospective, it's mission accomplished for McGregor, he definitely generated publicity for his return to pay-per-view. It's somewhat ironic that Conor worked some veteran pro wrestlers, a group that made a living off of working an audience, to get him free publicity for his next fight on pay-per-view.

Shelton Benjamin injured

Shelton Benjamin, the former multiple time champion in the WWE, was announced to return to the Smackdown brand just a few weeks ago, but last weekend, he posted the news on Twitter that a serious shoulder injury will prevent his return to the company. A torn rotator cuff, an injury that requires surgery and 4-6 months on the sidelines, was discovered during WWE medical screenings. It seems as though Shelton wasn't aware of the extent of the injury, but you have to wonder, why did promos air on Smackdown to hype his return before he was completely medically cleared to sign a contract?

At 41, Shelton is certainly at the latter stages of his career, but does this delay close the door on his WWE return?

It's ironic that Benjamin, who became one of the most graceful athletes in WWE history, was actually only given a WWE deal at the request of his friend from the University of Minnesota, Brock Lesnar, a prospect that management was willing to accommodate in an attempt to recruit him after winning the NCAA national championship in 2000. Benjamin quickly proved that he didn't need a favor to earn his spot and transitioned from an amateur career into the pro ranks almost seamlessly, training in Ohio Valley Wrestling until he debuted on WWE TV in 2003.

Shelton joined fellow amateur wrestling standout Charlie Hass to form "The World's Greatest Tag Team" as apart of Team Angle early that year. The trio were a memorable stable and the association with Angle, who was arguably at the peak of his pro career at the time, gave the younger team credibility, despite being new characters for the audience.

The following year, management attempted to give Benjamin a push on his own, but he just didn't have the mic skills or the charisma to really get further up the card. Don't get me wrong, his athleticism is incredible and he has all the tools from an in-ring aspect to be a star, but promos are extremely important from a merchandising stand point for a global company. A prime example of his skills was the match he had on Raw with Shawn Michaels in 2005, which is considered to be one of the greatest matches in the history of the show. Eventually, he was paired with a comedic "Momma" character and despite the angle giving him more TV time, it did nothing to progress his career and the storyline was dropped relatively quickly. The reminder of his WWE career was really a mixed bag, as sometimes he worked quality PPV matches, an example being a ladder match he had with Christian in 2009, but there were also various times when he was regulated to secondary WWE programming.

The accomplishment of being a former US and IC champion summarizes Benjamin's career very well, he was a good upper mid-card talent that added depth to the roster, and there's nothing wrong with that. In terms of the WWE product, Shelton is a good utility guy, a performer that consistently delivers quality matches and is versatile enough to work in a variety of roles. He didn't necessarily have the mic skills to main event Wrestlemania, but not every performer is going to fit in that role. There's a reason that Shelton worked a consistent schedule during his post-WWE career, because quality talent can always be used somewhere on the card, even if it's not in the main event.

After his WWE release in 2010, Benjamin worked extensively in Japan for NJPW and NOAH through a working agreement between two promotions. Prior to that, he and Hass reunited their team for a run in Ring Of Honor, but that was during a time when the promotion was going through a rough patch with changes in ownership, TV distribution, etc. so the highlight of his non-WWE career would definitely be Japan. That being said, obviously, his release from WWE wasn't for lack of talent, but rather it seemed to be a case of Shelton had done everything he was going to do as an upper mid-card talent and if the main event wasn't a realistic possibility, what else was he going to do? In some ways, the opportunity to go to Japan and work elsewhere provided the chance to get a fresh run when he returns to the company.

So, if Shelton Benjamin does return to the company after he's medically cleared, what role will he play on Smackdown?

If Shelton is on WWE TV in 2017, I would guess that he resumes his role as an upper mid-card talent that adds depth to the roster, which is really the key to the brand extension. The lack of depth and quality mid-card talent is ultimately what caused the original brand split to flop because it spread the rosters too thin. If the brand extension is successful or not this time remains to be seen, but the company is in a much better position now to truly establish different brands than it was 10-12 years ago. Another interesting aspect to consider is that Jordan and Gable were drafted to Smackdown so there could be a potential stable or angle for Shelton on the show. The only major roadblock for Shelton at this point aside from the injury is that considering his age, will the WWE want to invest the TV time for him in 2017? Again, he's 41 and when you factor the time on the shelf for the torn rotator cuff, if he wrestles until the age of 45 or 46, the WWE has about 3-4 years to push him on TV. Would that TV time be more useful for a younger star that has the potential to draw money on an extended basis?

It's possible, but all things considered, in my opinion, it would still be worth signing Shelton Benjamin to a contract when he returns from injury. Shelton has consistently worked quality matches and as mentioned, depth on the roster is the key to a successful brand extension.

CM Punk fighting at UFC 203

CM Punk walked out of the WWE the day after the Royal Rumble in 2014 and to say his exit from the promotion was rocky would be an understatement. Later that year, he appeared on Colt Cabana's "Art of Wrestling" podcast to discuss his departure, which generated an amount of web traffic that actually crashed their website for a brief time. Punk detailed his grievances, some of them were understandable while others seemed questionable. One of the downsides of his choice to share his story on the show was obviously, Colt wasn't going to ask challenging questions. Regardless, CM Punk had every right to leave the company if he was unhappy and if that decision is more beneficial for him then fans have no reason to criticize because they aren't in his shoes. One of the main points that Punk made was that it became clear to him that he wasn't going to get the chance to main event Wrestlemania and it was one of the few remaining goals left for him. Another major point he made was that he thought he wasn't given the proper medical treatment from the WWE doctor and had a staph infection that was treated after he quit the promotion. The doctor that Punk named, Chis Amann filed a lawsuit against him and Cabana for the comments made on the podcast, but it has yet to be resolved.

After getting through the legal red tape of his WWE contract, Punk made headlines again in November of 2014 when it was announced during a UFC pay-per-view broadcast that the former WWE champion had signed with the organization to fight in the octagon. The Chicago native had been known for his training in jiu jitsu, often sporting a Gracie hoodie during his entrance to the ring, but the news shocked many since he had no previous MMA experience. His debut in the sport was penciled in on a few different occasions, but injuries, including a minor knee injury and then most recently back surgery, delayed his start. However, CM Punk is finally cleared to compete and his fight with Mickey Gall is scheduled for September of this year.

But, with an official fight on the calendar, how will CM Punk transition to MMA?

At 37, Punk's debut isn't typical and there's no doubt that he was signed because of his WWE fame, but you can't blame the UFC because it's an extremely smart business move. That being said, Punk has trained continuously in Milwaukee and even those that said he was difficult to work with during his WWE run will credit him for being motivated to succeed in any venture that he attempts to accomplish. The MMA purists might scoff at a former pro wrestler with no legitimate competitive background  fighting in the cage, but there's no doubt that CM Punk is dedicated to this new chapter of his career.

However, this is a risky career move for Punk, as mentioned he has no legitimate sports background and he will go into the fight at a disadvantage in almost every aspect. His age, inexperience, the injuries from pro wrestling, the injuries from MMA training, and the bright lights of the main stage without any amateur career will work against him. Mickey Gall, who is 2-0 (three amateur wins) in his professional career, will have the advantage on paper prior to the fight. Perhaps one of the few advantages that CM Punk has before UFC 203 is the unknown factor, which will make his opponent's preparation  more difficult. Is Punk a decent striker? Can he utilize a take down? Does he have sufficient submission skills?

The answers to these questions are a part of the draw for this event, will CM Punk be victorious in the octagon?

Speaking of the draw, the initial fight will be major money for everyone involved, including CM Punk, but if he has more than a one-off will depend on the results of the contest. There will undoubtedly be the draw from his WWE career, but make no mistake about it, this isn't another Brock Lesnar type situation. Lesnar was a former NCAA champion and has a legitimate sports background so that alone doesn't make a transition to mixed martial arts that much of a stretch. Obviously, his WWE fame made him one of the top draws in UFC history, but the point is, he's a capable athlete outside of the sports entertainment genre. That's not to take anything away from Punk, but he really is an amateur jumping into the pro ranks. If Punk gets stopped early in the first round, will there be a demand for a second fight?

Punk is known among his peers and fans as being difficult, and not exactly the most personable athlete in sports. Aside from the initial hype of how he translates to the cage, his fan base might not follow his additional ventures into MMA. Granted, pro wrestling fans are a very dedicated fan base, but since Punk's exit from sports entertainment, he has downgraded the sports anytime he speaks on the subject, calling WWE talent "indentured servants" during a recent appearance on the Colin Cowherd show. As mentioned, if Punk was unhappy with his status in pro wrestling, he had every right to quit, but his insults toward the industry could sour many fans on him. At the same time, there are diehard MMA fans that consider a pro wrestler with no experience an insult to the sport so again, winning is the key if Punk wants to have more than a one-off MMA career. If he wins, people will want to see him fight again, but for now, the intrigue is based on how he does in the octagon, not his actual mixed martial arts ability.

Regardless of if you think Punk is a rude and bitter former WWE wrestler or if you admire him for standing up for himself, you must give him credit for the tenacity it takes to pursue this career path. MMA is a dangerous sport and again, regardless of your opinion of him, you have to give Punk credit for dedicating himself to this chapter of his career. If CM Punk is successful in the UFC remains to be seen, but from a business prospective it's a win because for at least one event, the fans of different genres will tune in to watch CM Punk fight in the octagon.

Marti Bell's American Dream

It's a very unique time for the world of professional wrestling, as the women's wrestling revolution is taking center stage, often with show stealing performances in some of the the biggest promotions in the world. One of the most unique athletes in this unique evolution of the sports entertainment genre is TNA Knockout, Marti Bell. With her trademark afro to compliment her well rounded skills, Marti has become one of the most dynamic female stars in just a few short years. Ironically, as much of she is on the forefront of a new era of the industry, Marti's story is very much a classic example of the American dream.

Despite being born in New York, Marti moved with her family back to their original hometown in the Dominican Republic when she was just a few months old, and she spent her early years on the island.

 "I am a first generation American, all of my grandparents and both of my parents were both born in the Dominican Republic, with my parents still currently residing there. I was born in NYC and moved back to the Dominican Republic until I was seven. My grandmother was the first to move to New York and she left her life behind in the Dominican to make a better future for her children, eventually bringing all five of her kids to live with her in States. I moved in 1996 to live with my grandmother, who I lived with until I was 18," she said.

 Speaking Spanish as her first language, Marti didn't know English when she began watching pro wrestling with her family, but she had an intrinsic connection to the drama that unfolded on screen.
 
"I vaguely remember watching wrestling with my dad when I lived in the Dominican Republic, and then when I moved to New York, I watched wrestling with my three cousins Richard, Christian, and Massiel. The four of us formed a wrestling club and we would get together Mondays and Thursdays to watch wrestling as well as the pay-per-views. Wrestling spoke to me because even though I couldn’t speak the language, I could still understand the stories. I wanted to do that for other people who were in the same shoes as me," she said.

As Marti wanted to connect with fans the way that the sport had connected with her, she sought to join the pro ranks to chase the dream of wrestling stardom. Living in New York City at the time, Bell chose to learn from one of the best, WWE Hall of Famer, Johnny Rodz, a grappler that is responsible for training several major stars in the industry. As she walked into the world famous Gleason's Gym, through the same doors of legends such as Jake LaMotta, Muhammad Ali, and Mike Tyson, Marti knew that her desire to be successful in professional wrestling would be tested.
 
"I began as a valet in 2008 and eventually began my training August of 2009, having my first match that November. Training was rough – I was one of two girls who consistently showed up to training, so I found myself training with the boys. Some of them respected me as a wrestler and really wanted to help me succeed. They would push me and make me do the same things they were doing. Others thought I wouldn’t last, or that I wouldn’t make it and paid me no mind."

Despite the tedious process of learning to land on the canvas and the toll it took, Bell made it through the training program and learned many valuable lessons along the way. 

"The first and most important thing you learn in wrestling is respect. And this manifests itself in so many different ways. From walking into a room and shaking everyone’s hand, to listening with your mouth shut when someone is speaking to you, learning the signature moves of people you work with so you’re not doing the same thing they’re doing etc. I also learned how hard this business is. We’d start a class with 20 people and by the end, there would only be a few of us sticking it out. But I also learned what an amazing, and fun business this can be," Marti said.

As the Caribbean competitor began to polish her skills, she worked for several independent promotions and found success, winning multiple championships in the Women Superstars Uncensored promotion, as well as wrestling for the Shimmer and Shine groups. Her work ethic in the squared circle was noticed by TNA writer, Dave Lagana and she was invited for a few tryouts in 2013. Her efforts earned her an invitation the following year to wrestle for the original Knockouts pay-per-view special. Nearly six years of hard work inside the ring ropes paid off when Marti was offered a TNA contract in March of 2015, the young girl that began watching the sport before she knew the language was now going to work on national television. As an addition to achieving the dream of a major contract, her best friend, Jade debuted along with her as members of The Doll House on Impact.

"Coming into a new environment is always intimidating, especially knowing my career was about to go to new heights I had only dreamed about. Having one of my closest friends at my side definitely made the transition smoother. We had so many questions and so much was unknown to us, but knowing that we had each other there for support and then being able to work together could not have been better. Right now, the current Knockouts are some of my closest friends, girls I’ve either admired for so long, or considered some of my closest friends for the last six years. It is unreal the comradely and support I have at TNA. I have been able to grow, not only as a performer, but also as a person in my last year and a half of working at TNA," she said.

Outside of the ring, Marti met and bonded with independent standout Matt Justice. A former WWE developmental star, Justice owns the Boro Barbell gym in Streetsboro, Ohio where he and Marti give others the opportunity to achieve their own fitness goals. When she's not slamming opponents on the mat, Bell enjoys time with her Pit bull, Sandman and advocates for pet adoption. Always wanting to pursue sports, Marti plays softball and volleyball regularly, and enjoys reading a variety of books in her spare time. However, she's still focused on adding more accomplishments to her resume and continues to build her stellar career.

"There is so much that I still want to do in wrestling. I want to continue to travel, not just within the US but throughout the world. I would love to wrestle in Mexico and Australia, as well as go back to UK. The Knockouts championship of course is a goal of mine I hope to accomplish within the next few years. I just mainly want to have a long, healthy career," she said

Polite, pretty, talented, and determined are all words that can be used to describe Marti Bell. But perhaps the elements that is most remarkable about her story is the journey that she took on her way to make it to national television. Her grandma, known as "Abuelita" to her family, came to America to provide the future generations of her family with more opportunities, and Marti has certainly come far from when she stepped into Gleason's gym in 2008. So, while Marti is a part of a new era of sports entertainment, her story to achieve that status is a great example of the classic American dream.