Ronda Rousey signs WWE deal

After several months of speculation, the former UFC Women's Bantam Weight champion, "Rowdy" Ronda Rousey made her debut at the conclusion of the Royal Rumble pay-per-view, an event that featured the first ever women's rumble match. While this surprise appearance made headlines, how it was handled, and how it will be handled is a subject for debate.

Taking the "Rowdy" name prior to the start of her mixed martial arts career, Rousey is a lifelong wrestling fan, making her originally appearance inside a WWE ring to do a promo with The Rock at Wrestlemania a few years ago. Ronda actually asked the late, great Roddy Piper for permission to use the nickname, and he graciously granted it. The endorsement from the WWE legend was the start of a meteoric rise for the 2008 bronze medalist. After her victory in the Olympics in Judo, she transitioned to MMA, making her pro debut in 2011. Over the next four and a half years, Ronda Rousey became one of the most popular figures in sports, winning championships in Strike Force and then the UFC. In fact, the marketability of "Rowdy" Ronda is what led to the formation of women's divisions in the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

A combination of wild punches and arm bars became a common theme in her fights, which often concluded in a quick and devastating fashion. Along with wins in the octagon came more opportunities outside of the sport. Television appearances, film roles, and an autobiography all fueled the star power of the 135 LBS champion.

On November 15, 2015, the distractions outside of the cage hit Rousey via a head kick from Holly Holm, sending her crashing to the canvas. Ronda previously went undefeated in a 12 bouts before she fought Holm, a multi-time boxing champion. Rousey appeared to assume that she could throw a flurry of punches and overwhelm her opponent as she had done in bouts prior to that. The veteran boxing champion artfully dodged the wild hooks and set up for the kick that changed the course of MMA. Ronda didn't fight again for over a year until she was scheduled to fight Amanda Nunes for the same championship. Rousey refused to do any media appearances before the bout, generating questions about how mentally prepared she was to fight again. It took just 48 seconds for those questions to be answered, as Nunes landed nearly a dozen unanswered punches before the referee stopped the contest to rescue Rousey from any further damage.

The comeback that was a major promotional tool for the UFC wasn't a return to the sport, but rather an exit. After a year hiatus, it was clear that Ronda Rousey hadn't mentally recovered from the title loss to Holm, and the one-sided defeat in the Nunes fight more or less confirmed that Rousey didn't want to compete in mixed martial arts again. Don't get me wrong, Ronda is absolutely a pioneer in MMA and will be known in the history books as an influential sports figure, but all things considered, her time in the spotlight was relatively brief. The devastating KO and one-sided stoppage caused her stock to diminish almost immediatelyand her scheduled film roles were abruptly cancelled.

Prior to that, she was the biggest draw in the UFC, and the ripple effect of her exit can still be seen today. Without "Rowdy" Ronda to boost numbers on pay-per-view 3-4 times a year, the organization ran short on star power, especially since Conor McGregor earned major cash to fight Floyd  Mayweather in a boxing contest and doesn't seem to be too eager to step into the octagon again.

Still, Ronda Rousey inspired many fans and retained a major portion of those fans so despite the cancellation of movie projects, she maintains a loyal fan base. At 30, she's still in her prime and has options, but chose sports entertainment because she's a fan of the genre. It makes business sense for the WWE to sign her to capitalize on her popularity, but how she is presented must be carefully planned.

Unfortunately, WWE brass already made a critical flaw when Ronda appeared at the conclusion of the pay-per-view. The first ever women's Royal Rumble was deemed important enough to main event the show (also a debatable point, simply because the current number of women signed to the roster doesn't lend itself to have enough depth for a match with thirty competitors) and thus the winner of the historic bout would have an extra spotlight to help boost their career. Auska battled through the field to win the match, which earned her a title shot at the biggest event of the year. Auska is one of the best athletes in the WWE and has delivered quality matches consistently during the undefeated streak. More importantly, she projects an aura of danger and credibility that establishes her character despite her limited English. The bottom line is, Auska is a star, and management should promote that to the fullest if they want to further establish a competitor that can unquestionable be a legitimate money-drawing character in the women's division.

Instead of putting the spotlight on Auska to elevate her status for the historic victory, she was left literally just standing in the background while all the focus was geared toward the debut of Ronda Rousey. The way the entire segment was booked was completely counter productive to anything that could benefit Auska long term. Is that Ronda's fault? No, she's just doing what she's told. Wouldn't it have made more sense for Rousey to debut BEFORE the match? That way she's there to endorse the women's revolution angle, but it doesn't take away from Auska's win. If management wanted the conclusion of the first ever women's Rumble to be used as a platform for Rousey, why not book her to win the match?

Again, taking the moment away from Auska after she theoretically battled through the entire division in exchange for the photo-op of Ronda Rousey pointing at the Wrestlemania sign seems completely counter productive. As soon as the show went off the air, ESPN reported that Ronda signed a full-time deal with the company, which could be another mistake, depending on how it's presented.

The entire draw for Ronda Rousey in the WWE is that she's an outside entity. She's different from everyone else in pro wrestling, similar to Brock Lesnar's MMA push when he returned in 2012. Ronda isn't supposed to be a "regular" part of the show, she's a special athlete, which is the reason she's a major star in that environment. She should be booked on a limited basis in the biggest scenarios possible because that allows her to maintain her mystic as an outside commodity and emphasizes the importance of the events where she wrestles a match. The possibility of Rousey on Raw or Smackdown "full-time" could create more problems than opportunities. As soon as Ronda appears weekly, she becomes just another wrestler and when she becomes just another wrestler, the elements that make her special diminish. Furthermore, if she makes rare appearances, the writing team could avoid potential pitfalls that could stall her momentum.

With every Ronda Rousey segment, the writing must be up to par to maintain the hype around her. If she's on Raw weekly, will there be a segment every week that allows for intriguing television? How many times have you watched competitors with tremendous ability and momentum get stuck with a lame TV segment? Remember when Bayley was one of the most over athletes in the company? How about those cringe worthy segments where she was made to look like a naive dreamer that didn't belong on the big stage?

Obviously, Ronda will appear at Wrestlemania, and it seemed like a confrontation with Stephanie McMahon could be an option after their interaction at the pay-per-view. Along with how the angles are booked, the structure of Rousey matches should be booked carefully as well. If she submits Stephanie within two minutes, it emphasizes her dominance and doesn't exposure her inexperience. However, if she smashes every woman on the roster on a weekly basis then there won't be much of an actual division. That's why a limited number of matches might be the best formula to maximize the Rousey draw without the risk of hindering her status. Paul Heyman is the representative of former UFC Heavyweight champion, Brock Lesnar so it makes sense that Heyman could work in a similar role with Rousey. Brock's contract expires after WM 34 and it remains unclear if he will resign. If Lesnar steps away, the Ronda angle could be a way for Heyman to remain on TV to cut the best promos in the company.

Granted this is just hypothetical, but Heyman as a representative could be used to keep Ronda's appearances rare and special. For example, after Rousey does a spot at Wrestlemania, Heyman can show up a few weeks before Summer Slam and explain that through contract negotiations, he made a deal for Ronda to wrestle at the next pay-per-view. Rousey is then booked against a specific challenger on the premise that a deal was made for her to compete within a sports context, not necessarily a sports entertainment storyline.

Don't get me wrong, this is a major opportunity for WWE. Ronda is beautiful, talented, and a humanitarian from the charity work she does. She has a loyal fan base and makes it easy to want to support her. At the same time, she's a unique commodity that must be protected to maximize her potential within sports entertainment. The flip side of the coin is that the rest of the division can't be lost in the media shuffle of Rousey or she won't have many credible opponents in the company.

Who will win the Royal Rumble?

Tomorrow night's Royal Rumble pay-per-view will kickoff the "road to Wrestlemania," a path that creates the opportunity for intriguing television as the WWE builds toward the biggest event on their calendar. Before the discussion about the scenarios of the Rumble, I must mention that management's latest marketing move to boost Network numbers prior to their next conference call is somewhat perplexing. According to The Wrestling Observer's Bryan Alvarez, the company has randomly sent different pricing offers to some fans through e mail. For a limited time, it's possible to sign up for the streaming service for 99 cents a month for the first three months before the required monthly rate of $9.99 is applied. On the surface, it might make sense to encourage fans to try the service in hopes that a preview will entice them to subscribe continuously, but WWE has offered a free month for new subscribers for an extended period of time already. Let's be honest here, anyone that watches WWE programming or would have any interest in the historical footage already knows about the extensive selection of events on the network, as the video library was advertised consistently on WWE TV. The reality is, the network number might've plateaued, considering that the casual fan that WWE markets toward might be content with the amount of sports entertainment already on television weekly. Some diehard fans might find this difficult to believe, but most casual fans don't demand more than the five hours of shows already broadcasted on USA network. Sure, there will be the usual boost in numbers around Wrestlemania, but that's where the average amount of total subscribers will plateau, because even those that pay the $10 a month for the biggest show of the year aren't drawn to pay on a continuous basis. The problem is, the network model essentially made every PPV the same in terms of revenue since it cost the same $10 a month to watch WM as it does to watch any other show during the year.

That said, the build toward WM and the brand extension allow for many possibilities before the card is set for the event at the Super Dome. As I've written before, Roman Reigns' plans for the event were decided months ago and you can expect him to defeat Brock Lesnar for the Universal Championship as a part of the four-year plan to attempt to get him over as the next John Cena. It's predictable and manufactured with nothing organic about it, but as I wrote earlier week, Vince McMahon owns sports entertainment in the United States and if he says fans will watch Roman Reigns, they will watch him. But, does that mean Roman's path to the anointed championship begins with another Rumble win? I would say that WWE brass wouldn't risk another Roman revolt at the Rumble, considering what happened in years previously, but after the way Daniel Bryan was booked in the battle royal in 2015, anything is possible. Speaking of the 2015 match that Reigns won, it took place in Philadelphia, the same location of this year's event so if Roman is booked to win again in the same building, you can expect the same hostile response. It wouldn't do anything to help him toward another predictable title win, but it might be booked as a way to take a jab at the revolting fans in attendance.

Since Reigns will beat Lesnar for the title, obviously, Brock will retain the belt in the triple threat match. Another point that I made earlier this week in the article about Raw 25, Brock will be booked as strong as possible in his victory against two monsters so that it can ultimately be used to push Roman when he's the one to finally pin Lesnar. Truthfully, the reason Kane was added to this bout was to take the pin so that Braun keeps his momentum on Raw. That said, Kane is such an established pro that a defeat at this stage of his career doesn't diminish his status. This leaves questions about what Braun will be booked for at WM. While his feats of strength are impressive, the cartoonish way this three-way rival was booked on Raw might actually be counter productive for Strowman in the long term picture. Keep in mind, he got over with simple, physical in-ring work. The goofy stunts almost stretch logic too far even for wrestling and there might be too much distance from the aspects that got Braun over in the first place. Hopefully, the post-Rumble booking will further highlight Strowman in the ring because all things considered, he doesn't have quite the momentum that he had when he originally challenged Lesnar for the championship in mid-2017.

The women's battle royal is still a little unclear since nearly half of the competitors haven't been announced yet, which could lead to either memorable surprise entrants or a series of NXT women that the crowd aren't familiar with just to get the required amount of participants in the match. As far as the winner, there's somewhat of a predicament depending on the booking perspective. In theory, Auska should win it as a way to continue her push as the undefeated star of the division, but her status hasn't exactly been protected since she debuted on the main roster. It's puzzling, but for some reason, as simple as it seems, very few make a seamless transition to Raw after they build steam in NXT. For Auska, her pair of matches with Emma were too competitive and reduced much of the mystic she brought to the table. It made zero sense that those matches weren't just squash matches to showcase Auska, especially considering that Emma was released a few weeks later. If Auska doesn't win the opportunity to compete for the Women's title at WM, where does the undefeated streak go?

On the flip side, without the full roster announced, there's the possibility that a surprise entrant might win, simply as a way to make it more memorable. Rumors swirled in recent months that Ronda Rousey will debut in the WWE this year so this might be the stage for it, but at the same time, she would need more experience ahead of a potential WM match. Make no mistake about it, despite the losses in the octagon that sent her into MMA retirement, Ronda in the squared circle will be a main stream draw for the WWE. That said, her appearances should be extremely limited because as soon as she competes regularly, she will become just another wrestler, which is completely counter productive to the draw of her involvement in sports entertainment. If I had to pick a winner, I would say that Auska will get the win because it makes the most sense for booking of an undefeated steak to lead to a title match.

Aside from Roman Reigns' chances to win, the SD equation is a much less convoluted scenario. Assuming that AJ Styles is still the champion at WM 34, the challenger that will generate the most buzz a head of the event is Shinsuke Nakamura, the Japanese grappler that was a main event star in New Japan prior to his arrival in WWE. Ironically, Nakamura and AJ had an incredible match at the Tokyo Dome two years ago, just weeks before AJ debuted at the Royal Rumble. In my view, the current success of the SD brand is built around the presentation as the "wrestling brand." AJ's solid matches set the tone for the rest of the show, and the tag division compliments the dynamic well. Along with that theme, AJ vs. Nakamura could deliver a tremendous in-ring bout on the big stage to further establish the "wrestling brand" of SD. It's actually a wise move to book Raw as more entertainment based in comparison because it allows for variety within the company. Most importantly, a main event match on that stage could elevate Nakamura to the next level. In many ways, management fumbled Nakamura's character after he SD debut, as he was presented as just another wrestler and was basically used to try to push Jinder Mahal in that failed experiment. The charismatic Japanese athlete has all the tools to be a major star in the United States. If the writing team thinks the perceived language barrier would prevent Nakamura from identifying with the audience then the promotion will miss the boat on the chance to establish a legitimate star.

So, who will win the Rumble?

While anything is possible, and I didn't think Randy Orton would be the winner last year, I will say that Shinsuke Nakamura will win the match to set up the previously mentioned bout against AJ Styles. Despite the plan for Reigns to get the continued push, the WWE knows the crowd reaction he will get if he wins the match in Philadelphia again. Either way, it should be interesting to see the direction of the company prior to the biggest event of the year.

The career of The Original Sheik

Last week marked the fifteenth anniversary of the death of Eddie Farhart, known around the globe as The Original Sheik. Despite a career that spanned five decades as one of the most well-known grapplers in the world, few details of his personal life have surfaced. He never spoke to the audience, other than yelling in a language the crowd didn't understand, and even after he retired, he never did a real-life interview of any type to discuss his life outside of the ring. Legitimately of Arabian descent, Farhat built a legacy on bloodshed and believably. He might've played the classic role of the foreign villain that was a staple of the golden era, but the fire-throwing heel was anything but typical. In a genre where the acts of violence were called entertainment and that later was revealed to be a choreographed performance, The Sheik made people believe.

Starting his career in 1949, Farhart was more of a "special attraction" than a cornerstone of any particular territory. While he had wrestling skills that he would later teach to others as a trainer, technical contests would've seemed odd for the persona he projected to the audience. Announced as hailing from Syria, The Sheik was attired in traditional middle eastern head wear, pointed boots, and sometimes a lengthy jacket. Since he never did interviews, he was often accompanied to the ring by a manager to address the live audience or to collect his accessories. One of his managers during his early career was his wife Joyce, who played the role of "The Princess" in front of the fans, but would also be a key figure behind the scenes for Farhat's Big Time Wrestling territory in Detroit years later.

To properly and credibly project the role of a foreign madman, Farhat often aggressively attacked his opponents before the bell, and without the ref's awareness, reached into his boots to retrieve a pencil. The Sheik stabbed his foes in the head, arms, or chest with a deranged look in his eyes. The portrayal of this unstable persona was done so realistically during the majority of his career that fans truly believed that he was as dangerous as he appeared to be in the ring. During his prime in the kayfabe era, Farhat always stayed in character so that fans never saw the real-life person behind the character. If he was recognized in public, he wouldn't speak English and went to extreme measures to protect the integrity of the wild image he presented in the ring.

During the early stages of his career, Farhat worked the NWA territories primarily, traveling from city to city for short stints of hardcore matches that always drew money at the box office. Since his formula was fairly simply, his appearances within a promotion were used as special events rather than to build long term angles. After he became established, he worked title matches with Bruno Sammartino in the late-60s at Madison Square Garden. The believably of his character translated to legitimate heat that sent fans to arenas around the country to see the wild spectacle live. In many ways, the work that The Sheik did in the golden era of professional wrestling generated the blue print for the hardcore genre that would revolutionize the presentation of the industry in the United States in the late 90s.

Around the same time that he battled Bruno at MSG, Farhat bought the Detroit territory in his hometown and promoted shows successful there for almost two decades. As the United States champion, Sheik drew crowds that hoped to see him lose the title to one of the heroes. Perhaps the greatest rival of his extensive career was Bobo Brazil, the charismatic fan favorite that paved the way for other African American stars in the business. Bobo feuded with the Sheik for decades, drawing several sell out crowds at the Cobo Hall in Detroit. After nearly a decade of big crowds at the Cobo, Sheik was booked for a match against Andre The Giant in 1974. Andre, still a rookie at that point, had made his way to North America the previous year and quickly became a major draw for his mythical presence. Those in attendance thought they would finally see Sheik dethroned as US champion. Roughly three minutes into the bout, the villain threw one of his trademark fire balls, causing the giant to fall to the floor where he was counted out. This was a situation where the terrifying gimmick became too much of a good thing and fans had seen the act too often. The disappointment of the brief Andre match led to a steady decline in business until the Sheik sold the territory in 1980.

Post-Detroit, the aging Farhat began to work more often in Japan, where his wild style had earned him legendary status during the prime of his career. The short blood baths Farhat performed suited the All Japan booking well, as names like Abdullah The Butcher and Bruiser Brody drew huge crowds with brawls that sent the Japanese fans scattering to avoid the chaos. As All Japan transformed into the strong style era of the 90s with names like Misawa, Kobashi, and Kawada, Farhat shifted to a promotion that better fit his style. In his 60s at the time, he began working for Onita's Frontier Martial Arts Wrestling group, a smaller, but wildly popular company that cemented the foundation for death match wrestling in Japan, in the early 1990s. One of the most infamous matches in the extensive history of Japanese wrestling was a "fire death match" in 1992. Sheik and his nephew, Sabu were booked against Onita and Goto for a match that had flaming barbed wire ropes around the ring. Less than two minutes into the contest, the flames were uncontrollable and the performers were forced to jump from the ring. Sheik received serious burns, and the ring itself completely burned down.

When he wasn't wielding fire in Japan, Farhat trained wrestlers, most notably Sabu and eventually Rob Van Dam. During the mid-90s, Farhat worked occasional matches in the US, including a one-off appearance in ECW in 1994, but much of his later career was spent in FMW, as the fans there embraced the tradition and history of his legacy, even at his advanced age. It speaks volumes to his ability to maintain a mystic and aura, as he still generated a crowd reaction and was perceived as dangerous when he was in his 70s. By 1995, he worked his final matches, but was honored with a respectable retirement ceremony by FMW in 1998. At 74, Farhat was frail, but still had an ability to work the crowd as he wielded a sworn in the ring, and accepted retirement gifts through Sabu. In an extremely rare moment, Sheik hugged some of his Japanese contemporaries, and even took the mic briefly to rant in an inaudible language before he yelled, "Ichiban!" as a sign of respect to those that honored him during the event.

Eddie Farhat passed away in 2003 at the age of 78. Despite a nearly 50-year career in the spotlight around the globe, he maintained the mystic of his persona. He was so revolutionary that he stayed relevant for five decades and he did that without ever cutting an interview to promote a match. His presence and the aura he brought to the table  were enough to sell tickets. His influence on the industry inspired a generation, which did the same for the current generation so the ripple effect of the impact he had on the industry is still seen today. Interestingly, he generated legitimate heat as a foreign villain, but it was revealed after his death when photos of his tombstone surfaced online that he was actually a World War II veteran.

In 2007, he took his rightful place in the WWE Hall of Fame when he was inducted by Sabu and Rob Van Dam. His wife Joyce, former manager and important figure within the business side of Detroit wrestling accepted the honor. Mrs. Farhat passed away in 2013, and most fans are still unaware of her role as an administrator during the heyday of pro wrestling at Cobo Hall. Even years after his death, Ed Farhat maintains a mystic around his career and certainly carved a legacy within the industry as one of the greatest performers of all time.

The perception of WWE stars

According to The Wrestling Observer, the 25th anniversary of Monday Night Raw did major numbers in the ratings with an average of 4.5 million viewers, making it the most watched cable show of the night. The Observer's Dave Meltzer also speculated that the silver anniversary of the WWE flag ship show will be the highest number that the company draws this year, which is very possible.

It's somewhat ironic that professional wrestling as the highest rated cable show on a Monday night makes such a noteworthy headline in 2018, but was a weekly occurrence when the program was at a peak two decades ago. Does that say the WWE product was better at that time than it is now? No, not necessarily, but it makes a rather bold statement about the status of the industry as a whole. Granted, the show was promoted with some of the biggest names in the history of the sport, including Stone Cold, The Undertaker, Shawn Michaels, and others all advertised for weeks prior to the broadcast. Obviously, the nostalgia factor was the draw and that was the reason behind the major boost. The throwback aspect created the "special event" atmosphere for the show, but such a contrast within the numbers makes a statement beyond just a "blast from the past" scenario.

While the numbers can vary depending on the football season, Raw usually averages around three million viewers a week, a great number for a television show, especially for a program that runs weekly throughout the calendar year. From a sports entertainment prospective, the genre was capable of much bigger numbers during its previous era. The three million viewers a week is a steady, but stagnant number that sports entertainment is expected to draw within the modern television business. That's nothing for WWE brass to scuff at either, as the TV rights fees the company was paid totaled nearly $180 million last year.

Still, the contrast of essentially a 30% increase in viewership for an old school show suggest a harsh reality in 2018, there are people that would watch wrestling, just not current wrestling. Where are those 1.5 million viewers the rest of the year? Why can't the current product draw them or retain their viewership?

It's unfair to compare any era to the boom period of the 90s, simply because that peak was a matter of timing and the puzzle pieces organically fitting into the right place. You can't book Steve Austin, The Rock, and Mick Foley to pursue and find success in sports entertainment in the same place at the same time. You can't book Scott Hall and Kevin Nash with WWF contracts that expired within days, and then Eric Bischoff with the concept of the NWO just a few months later. But, why have ratings been stagnant for a decade?

Entire books were written on the series of events that altered the course of sports entertainment, but instead of the complex contracts and politics that made WCW implode, there are fundamental aspects of the industry that define the current climate. The bottom line is, much of the WWE structure has become complacent and that has led to a lack of legitimate, money-drawing stars. It can't be said enough that the shut down of WCW, a form of true competition, caused a seismic shift within the industry. Without Ted Turner or Eric Bischoff next to Vince McMahon in a marathon for ratings, revenue and sports entertainment glory, the McMahon empire grew, buying the video libraries and trademarks for nearly every major wrestling promotion that existed in the United States. In many ways, McMahon owns the history of the sport in America, and it was a tremendous business move, as it was the foundation for the WWE Network that distributes pay-per-view events today. Perhaps it was just a natural effect of the security that the undisputed top spot of the business provides, but the WWE in terms of star power has plateaued.

The reasons for this are a matter of opinion, but when figures from the past can increase an audience by 30%, the message appears to be that those extra 1.5 million viewers that tuned Monday night don't view the current generation as legitimate stars. The most disappointing aspect of this whole situation is the current roster absolutely has the talent to draw bigger numbers in the ratings and be perceived as major stars by the general public. In fact, the argument can be made that today's performers are generally better athletes than those that wrestled during the Attitude era. Further more, it could also be argued that there are consistently better matches now than in years past. All due respect to Kurrgan and Tom Brandi, but they weren't exactly delivering epic matches on Raw in 1998. Does the combination of Chainz and Skull compare to the Cesaro and Sheamus tag team?

So, what is the problem with the structure of modern WWE?

Some will say nothing, and they could be right. World Wrestling Entertainment is a publicly traded company and touted record-setting profits at their most recent conference call so from purely a business prospective, the organization is on the right path. The flip side of that is the record profits were after a series of cost-cutting measures, including the elimination of pryo at events. Along with that, there was a recent increase in some merchandise prices, as some new t-shirts are now listed at $27.99 so in many ways, instead of increasing its core audience, management attempts to generate more revenue for its existing fan base. Making money is certainly an indication of success so that works for now, but what about five years from now? I've written it for years, but WWE's tendency to rely on part-timers or nostalgia acts to boost numbers for key events does nothing to create money-drawing stars to main event shows when those aging performers decide to completely retire. For example, the past several years of Wrestlemania were built around part-timers or stars that returned for a short run. When The Rock worked the main event of WM two consecutive years against John Cena, it did great numbers for the short term, but the opportunity cost was that platform wasn't used to elevate a performer that will be on the roster to main event future WM shows.

Essentially, what current WWE star could main event Wrestlemania as the featured draw?

The total of WWE's complacency is that their agenda, not the fans dictate the direction of the product, and they can still run a profitable business with that agenda because of the previously mentioned lack of competition. If Nitro was still on the air, could management shoehorn Roman Reigns into the main event of WM? If WCW was still in business, CM Punk could've walked onto Nitro for an industry-shifting debut instead of an underwhelming UFC debut. Sure, they are independent promotions, but to the general public, WWE is pro wrestling in America, and Monday's ratings suggest the possibility of more viewers is there, but nothing to draw them to the product, except the occasional old school event.

Roman Reigns will continue to be the most pushed athlete on the roster, despite how lame or generic his TV persona continues to be on a weekly basis. That's not his fault either, he's doing the best he can with what he's given. The fans appear to demand a Reigns heel turn so the narrative of the show will fit the boos he receives, but the corporate agenda says otherwise. If management had to truly maintain its ratings against another sports entertainment product, business would dictate the direction of the product. However, if the general public wants to watch pro wrestling in the United States, they will watch WWE, and Vince says they will watch "The Big Dawg." Make no mistake about it, the monster push Lesnar received as champion for a year will be used to push Roman when he beats him for the title at Wrestlemania 34. The major problem with the anointment of Roman Reigns as the top guy because management wants him to be the one to attend the sponsorship conferences is that it creates a glass ceiling for everyone else on the roster and thus limits the star power they can achieve. For example, no matter how over Finn Balor gets on Raw or if there's an opportunity for him to reach the next level, he won't get the chance because management has reserved that spot for Reigns. As a result, you will have a select few part-timers that can draw money, and the rest of the roster that will always be at least one rank underneath Roman as far as WWE's priorities.

Does this mean that the current field of WWE stars will become as big as Stone Cold, The Rock, or Mick Foley? No, but the Raw 25 ratings prove more people would be willing to watch sports entertainment if there was a compelling product, and the current roster definitely has the talent to deliver better numbers. More than anything, there's a sense that today's roster is being underutilized and it often creates an underwhelming atmosphere. Why hasn't Samoa Joe been used for more than an opponent for Brock Lesnar, who will ultimately be used to push Roman Reigns? Why was Nakamura booked as just another wrestler upon his arrival on the main roster? These questions can be asked about many stars.

Again, Raw 25 proved there's more of an audience there, but the dip of the ratings for next week's show, even after the Royal Rumble, will prove that the current product can't retain those viewers. Considering the cash WWE is making now, and the reality that there won't be any major competition anytime soon, there's no reason for them to change their path. But, with ratings that have stayed the same for a decade, and Reigns as the only new star seen as a priority, will there be a point when the usual three million viewers declines? Touting record profits is excellent for PR, but when stars that retired draw a 30% increase in the ratings, it doesn't make an enthusiastic statement about the perception of the current roster.

The Cyrus effect

Just a few weeks ago, I penned a column about the shift in management for Anthem Sports' Impact Wrestling. I described Don Callis, the former stellar performer from the WWF and ECW in the late 90s, as a hidden gem in the industry. From listening to the podcast that he co-hosts with another underrated talent, Lance Storm, the knowledge and insight that Callis brings to the table is clearly an asset to any promotion. As an addition to the former Cyrus, Scott D'Amore, the obnoxious on-screen manager of the original Team Canada, was signed as another executive for the organization. Behind-the-scenes, when he wasn't antagonizing audiences during the early Total Nonstop Action days, D'Amore was an accomplished journeyman with an extensive career, working in almost every role possible within the pro wrestling genre. As I wrote previously, this was probably the first legitimate "fresh start" the company had in years, as neither the finger prints of Callis or D'Amore had been on the product prior to this. A fresh duo with fresh concepts were going to be able to take the group in a direction that they wanted, theoretically without any political interference. For example, when Hulk Hogan worked Dixie Carter for every dime he could, he brought along a goon squad with him. Both Callis and D'Amore are smart enough to know that you can't cater to a personal agenda and make good business decisions at the same time. Finally, I mentioned that this was the first time in several years that I was truly optimistic about the potential of Impact Wrestling.

Still taping television within the span of just a few days, Impact filmed several months of episodes over the last week. Granted, how it all translates to TV remains to be seen, but reports from those that attended the tapings have given an indication of the direction of the company within the next few months. Keep in mind, this article will explain content that hasn't aired yet so it will generally discuss the potential effects of particular debuts and exits for Impact.

The most major return that took place and was touted on social media, is the official return of Austin Aries to the organization. Aries, a former TNA heavyweight champion over five years ago, debuted for the WWE in early 2016. He did well for the majority of that year, but an eventual injury put him on the shelf until the beginning of 2017 and he never seemed to regain the momentum he had from his stint in NXT. That's not to say that Aries lacked in the ring, he didn't, but rather he was booked in the stagnant 205 division that has stalled the careers of almost every cruiser weight performer. Frustrated that his status plateaued, the former Ring Of Honor champion asked for and was granted his WWE release in mid-2017.

I was somewhat surprised to see Austin Aries back under the Impact banner, mostly because he has other projects, including a vegan cook book, outside of wrestling. Asking for his release wasn't anything new for him either, as Aries has a reputation of being difficult to work with, at least according to interviews from others. If he was justified in his complaints at the time or not is a matter of prospective, and unless someone was there, it's just speculation about the rumors. According to The Wrestling Observer's Dave Meltzer, backstage problems were the reason that Aries was released from his original TNA contract in 2007. Jim Cornette, who worked as a consultant for ROH when Aries worked there, spoke often about the difficulty of working with him. In some ways, it seems like Aries would rather quit if he's not given exactly what he wants in terms of angles or status within a company.

That said, "The Greatest Man That Ever Lived" persona and his run as TNA world champion is probably the best run that Austin Aries had in his career. Despite any problems off-screen, Aries is still a tremendous in-ring talent and a main event level performer. Plus, he brings a spark to the new era of the company. Reportedly, Aries wins the Impact heavyweight championship on a future episode of their television show and also defeated Matt Sydal for the Grand championship, which Callis confirmed on Twitter is a belt that will be phased out when the shows air on TV. Branding Aries as the "Impact Champion" is somewhat of a catch-22 in many ways. On one hand, he is a tremendous performer that had increased exposure from a recent WWE run and proved in the past that he can work well in the main event role. On the other hand, he has a history of leaving a promotion if he's not booked in a prime spot. Sure, Aries is content with Impact now, but what happens after he drops the title? Clearly, management is putting a lot of stock in his title run going forward, but time will tell how wise of a decision it is for the organization.

Another return to the Toronto-based league was independent standout, Su Yung, who worked a Knockouts show a few years ago and also had a WWE developmental deal before that. Working a Great Muta-inspired type character, Su has evolved as a performer in recent years and became one of the most in-demand free agents on the indy scene, working for many different companies in many different locations. With the exit of Gail Kim and more recently, Laurel Van Ness, the addition of Su Yung adds depth to the KO division. Aside from that, Su would be an asset to any roster and has a character that lends to building storylines so this was definitely a wise decision from management as far as the addition of current free agents.

I must mention that photos surfaced online that suggest that Jim Mitchell, known as the Sinister Minister from ECW, returned to manage Abyss in a monster's ball match. I haven't found any information about Mitchell's status or if it was just a one-shot deal, but it would certainly make sense if he returned to television on a regular basis. Without being at the right place at the right time, Mitchell never seemed to get the credit he deserved, but is undoubtedly one of the best talkers in the history of the industry. In fact, the argument could be made that despite his continuously stellar work throughout his extensive TNA career, Abyss' best run was when he was paired with Mitchell, who cut great promos to build angles.

Brian Cage, a name fans might know from PWG fame, joined the Impact roster. While he certainly has potential, much of how he will be presented on television will determine if he finds a place within Impact Wrestling. With a slew of departures, returns, debuts, and cameos set to play out over the next three months or so, there's always the possibility that Cage could simply get lost in the shuffle.

Impact saw its share of exits as well when a few key stars worked their final appearances under contract. Ethan Carter III took a bow during the tapings, which concluded his four year run with the various names the organization had when he was there. Carter has the charisma, in-ring skills, and the quality of a star so it wouldn't be too surprising if he surfaced in NXT soon. Ironically, he spent nearly six years under a WWE developmental deal as Derrick Bateman before he was released in mid-2013. I always found it a little surprising that WWE brass released him because he was always a solid in-ring talent. Perhaps, his release was for the best because he really seemed to find himself as a performer and shined on the TNA stage. While TNA endured a rocky road during the majority of his tenure there, EC3 was a highlight during a time of uncertainty for the promotion. This might be a sign of a bigger stage for his career moving forward, but it's somewhat unfortunate for Impact, as EC3 was one of the best on the roster.

Bobby Lashley, former champion in both WWE and TNA, also finished up at the tapings. It's disappointing that Lashley probably did the best work of his in-ring career when Impact's ratings were at an all-time low a few years ago. I always thought that Lashley was rushed to the main stage and his inexperience showed at times. Remember, within just three years of signing a WWE deal, he worked a featured match at WM 23, and was pushed as the top guy of the failed ECW project before that. You can't blame him for that either, management booked him for a major match at the biggest event of the year, is he supposed to say no?

A former amateur standout, Lashley had the WWE look, and it seemed as though management wanted to portray him as the next Brock Lesnar, as he jumped up on the ring apron in a similar fashion for his entrance. The problem is, Lesnar is a very unique talent and very few can transition to the pro ranks as quickly as he did. In some ways, it was unfair to expect Lashley to assume a main event role within just 3-4 years of the start of his pro career. As a result, his WWE stint was fairly brief and after an injury led to an extensive period of time on the sidelines, he requested his release in 2008.

That same year, he began his mixed martial arts career, garnering a record of 15-2, and is currently signed to a Bellator deal. He returned to pro wrestling in 2009, making a surprise appearance at the Lockdown pay-per-view. Initially, his appearances were sporadic as he alternated between MMA training and the Impact zone. He won several championship in TNA and had what most would consider a solid run in the promotion. That said, his biggest push in TNA was after Lesnar returned to the WWE after his UFC career so it seemed as though Impact attempted to promote an MMA persona on a much smaller scale. The only major criticism I would mention about Lashley is that he didn't really have the charisma of a main event talent and didn't seems quite comfortable in the role until recent years. At 41, it makes sense that he steps away from pro wrestling if he wants to make a final full-time run at mixed martial arts success before he retires.

There were also some changes toward the ideology of the company, which is a very wise decision. For example, the return of the traditional four-sided ring will be a noticeable difference going forward. While I don't think the six-sided ring was too radical, it wasn't exactly an asset either. Originating in Lucha Libre, the design lends itself to that style, not necessarily the traditional American presentation. Occasionally, you could notice an awkward spot because of the angle of the ropes, and the six-sided ring itself won't draw viewers so why create an unnecessary obstacle for the performers? As mentioned earlier, the Grand Championship will be deactivated and it's another smart decision. The concept of rounds and judges in pro wrestling is too convoluted and lends itself to indecisive booking. Some might say a round system is "innovative," but sometimes a concept hasn't been done before simply because chances are it won't be successful.

Finally, the Lockdown pay-per-view was remained, "Redemption," which makes sense because it acknowledges the very public blunders of the previous regime, and by nature of the name, it gives the group a platform to showcase a new era. Another wise move is the use of social media directly from the company. It's no secret that the shows are taped months in advance as a cost-cutting measure and the results will be posted online anyway. Realistically, it's very easy for those that follow Impact to read ahead about certain debuts or major title changes. If anything, Impact is using this to their advantage and creating as much buzz as possible prior to when the episode airs because they are giving the fans a reason to tune it, to see how those particular events actually happened. Obviously, it remains to be seen how effective these debuts and changes will be, but there certainly seems to be an improvement as there's a solid direction for the company. 

The career of Bob Backlund

Bob Backlund, a former WWWF world champion that is known almost more for his eccentric quirks than for his superb in-ring ability, is much debated as to his place in pro wrestling history. Some will tout his six-year reign as champion as historic while others will consider his time at the top of the card as a notable step down from the previous era.

Debuting for Verne Gagne's AWA in early 1973, Backlund was a former Division II amateur champion at North Dakota University prior to his transition to the pro ranks. After a short run for the promotion in his home state, the technician spent the mid-70s working for various NWA territories and polished his skills inside the ring ropes. When he landed in Vince McMahon's organization in 1977, the company approached an uncertain time for the business. Bruno Sammartino, the Italian strong man that held the championship for a record-setting eleven years over the course of two reigns, considered retirement after a broken neck and a series of other injuries during his legendary career. Bruno continued his in-ring work on more of a part-time basis through the early 80s, but even in the late 70s, the two decades of wrestling he had done previously took their toll on him. The beloved champion was ready to step down, but that left a void in the north east territory that was built upon baby face heroes to draw an audience.

When Backlund arrived, the company was in the mist of a rare heel champion run with "Superstar" Billy Graham at the top of the card. Graham, the charismatic grappler that inspired future generations, wore flamboyant tye dye attire and became extremely popular despite his villainous persona. As hypocritical as Graham continues to be even now, he undoubtedly deserves credit for his revolutionary work when he held the belt, and arguably, should've had an extended run as champion. Less than a year after he defeated Bruno to claim the title, Superstar dropped the belt to Backlund.

This is where the debate centers around the native of Princeton, Minnesota, did Backlund fail to live up to the standard as champion or did circumstances prevent him from being more successful? There's no question that he had the skills of a champion, but ultimately, Backlund didn't seem to fully translate to the crowds in the major markets of the WWWF. The mid west athlete brought an apple pie clean cut image to the ring, which was something that the blue collar audiences didn't identify with or relate to at events. For example, the steel workers of Pittsburgh connected with the gritty brawls that Bruno had in the main events. Bob Backlund just didn't have the charisma to obtain that type of crowd support, an aspect that was key to success during the kayfabe era.

At the same time, it's somewhat unfair to expect Bob Backlund or anyone else to live up to the standard that Bruno set in his prime. In many ways, anyone that was the next successor to directly follow Sammartino would be measured against the previous success, and those are steep demands for even the most talented wrestlers. As was the typical process of that era, the next major champion was determined based upon previous popularity and the title run was planned far in advance. The choice to anoint Backlund as the successor to Bruno was based on his popularity around the other territories, which makes sense in terms of the philosophy of the era. As mentioned, it didn't translate, but again, the timing wasn't beneficial at all, considering that he followed the most popular champion in the history of the business at the time.

Bruno was a true hero and truly identified with the ethnic crowds of the north east. Surviving illness while hiding in the mountains in his native country during the nazi invasion of World War II, Sammartino was a legitimate example of the American dream. He arrived in the blue collar city of Pittsburgh without much to his name, but worked hard to rise to the role of honorable champion. Along with that, Bruno, much like Backlund himself, understood the perception of a world champion and the responsibility that went along with it. Sammartino took his role as a respectable champion very seriously and used his status to provide a good example for others. Perhaps what best represents the support that he had was actually when he initially lost the belt to Ivan Koloff in 1971. The grind of the schedule and travel left the iron man wore down and after nearly nine years of full-time wrestling, he requested time off. As the referee counted three and declared the Russian the winner, the Madison Square Garden crowd went silent in total shock. Koloff was hustled from the ring to avoid any confrontations as Sammartino slowly made his way to his feet. When Bruno climbed down from the apron and made his way back to the dressing room, fans cried as they told their hero, " Bruno, we still love you." When he recounted the story in interviews, Bruno revealed that as he unlaced his boots in the locker room, he also got emotional because he thought he let the fans down when he relinquished the title. It's quite remarkable the fan support that Bruno retains even today and it speaks volumes about his greatness.

Backlund was booked to be the "next Sammartino" from the beginning of his WWWF run, as he was managed by "The Golden Boy" Arnold Skaaland, the respected figure that accompanied Bruno to ringside. Opinions about how successful Backlund was during his six-year reign vary depending on who you ask, but it appears that it's fair to say he was, at best, a moderate draw. Keep in mind, there's a difference between technical skill and the ability to draw money.

When Vince McMahon bought the WWWF from his dad in 1982, he knew he needed a more popular star for the expansion that he planned. By 1983, Backlund's popularity had noticeable decreased and some fans began to resent his "howdy doody" character. Originally, a heel turn was suggested, but Backlund didn't agree to it because he thought it would taint his clean image. As a result, the legendary Iron Sheik won the belt during the memorable moment when Skaaland threw in the towel to save his protege from the camel clutch. Just a few weeks later, Sheik was pinned by Hulk Hogan to launch the "Rock N Wrestling" boom of the 80s. Backlund's relatively plain presentation doesn't seem like it would've fit with the colorful era that followed, and he made a quiet exit from the company in 1984.

Post-WWF, he made a few appearances, but didn't resurface on the national stage until late 1992. Much of the eight years since he worked for the league were spent as an amateur coach away from the spotlight so many fans weren't as familiar with him when he returned. Part of the reason he was brought back to the promotion was his clean image was useful from a PR prospective when the steroid scandal garnered negative press. He remained extremely skilled, but again, timing seemed to work against him, as he didn't quite fit with the cartoonish era of the "new generation" of the early 90s. The lunatic character in 1994 didn't come across as anything more than confusing to the audience, and Bob didn't have the promos skills to make it work. His feud with Bret Hart is memorable, but Backlund's second title win at Survivor Series was more of a way to push the Bret/Owen rivalry from the same year. He dropped the belt to Diesel during an eight second contest at an MSG house show and faded away from the company a few months later.

His stints as a manager in the late 90s, including the "Mr. Backlund" persona when he ran for senate in 2000, were mostly cringe worthy. His eccentric personality showed through during most of his angles, including when he went off-script during a live interview segment with Kurt Angle in 1999 and asked if it was time for him to apply the chicken-wing submission. In 2013, he was rightfully inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame, where he had to be cut off when his induction speech devolved into a nonsensical rant. Most recently, he worked as the manager of Darren Young in  2016 and gained another run of popularity for doing very well in his role. He might be eccentric, but the audience seemed to appreciate Bob's genuine enthusiasm for being on-screen again.

So, what was the total of Bob Backlund?

Comparatively speaking, Backlund didn't live up to the numbers that Bruno drew as champion, but it's doubtful that anyone could've done it during that particular era. More specifically, it's a tough path to follow in the footsteps of one of the most popular stars of all time. At the same time, the gritty WWWF era didn't suit his technical style or persona quite well. Still, Bob's skilled in-ring ability led to a notable six years as champion. Timing plagued him again when he returned to the spotlight during the cartoon era, but was never known for using a gimmick. Ultimately, Backlund was only moderately successful as a draw, but was certainly a skilled athlete that earned his Hall of Fame induction with the in-ring ability displayed during his career.

Will the XFL return?

In 2001, Vince McMahon, titan of the sports entertainment industry, had conquered his competition within the professional wrestling genre. From a family of promoters, McMahon's father, Vince Sr. and grandfather, Jess McMahon promoted boxing and wrestling events for decades. The McMahon wrestling empire that later became World Wrestling Entertainment was founded by Vince Sr. in the 1950s under the Capital Sports banner. Despite stepping away from the National Wrestling Alliance to promote his own WWWF champion in 1963, he remained a member of the NWA board, as he was one of the most respected promoters of the era. After Vince Sr. stepped down due to a series of health problems, his son took over the north eastern wrestling organization in the early 80s. Nearly two decades later, Vince had taken a regional business and created a global brand. Along the way, he went toe-to-toe with the federal government, and survived the spending frenzy of media mogul, Ted Turner. By the spring of 2001, Mr. McMahon had bought his competition, Turner's World Championship Wrestling, for pennies on the dollar.

That same competition allowed a boom in business in the late 90s as both organizations competed for ratings on Monday nights. The surge in popularity and increase in exposure led to the WWF's stock market debut in late 1999. Revenue, ratings, and profits reached record levels during the "Attitude Era." However, the spring of 2001 wasn't all victory for the sports entertainment chairman.

In May of that year, McMahon announced the closure of the XFL football league, a venture co-owned by NBC Sports. The alternative sports league began just six months earlier and cost an estimated $100 million during the duration of its only season. The hype for this McMahon sponsored organization was tremendous, receiving a major promotional push on his highly rated pro wrestling shows on a weekly basis. But, assembling an entire league in such a short span and the logistics of the distribution of the product made success an unrealistic possibility. When it was all set and done, the XFL was sub par football at sparely attended games and a series of pro wrestling inspired marketing tactics that made traditional journalists cringe because of some of the criticism toward the WWF's edgier programming at the time. The XFL was a total flop, and millions of dollars were lost by both NBC and the WWF.

Still, there was always an intrigue about the renegade football project. It became so infamous for its failure after ratings started strong and fell off a cliff that it retained its place as a footnote in sports history. Last year, ESPN's 30 for 30 documentary series featured "That was the XFL," the first in-depth look into the project since it folded over a decade and a half ago. Dick Ebersol, a pioneer in sports television and longtime friend of Vince, was a key figure in the WWF/NBC project at the time. Ebersol was instrumental in the production of the Saturday Night's Main Event series that fueled the WWF's boom in popularity during the "Rock N Wrestling" era of the 80s so he found previous success with sports entertainment prior to the XFL debacle. Ebersol's son, Charlie directed the documentary film, and viewers were allowed to hear the details of the incredible toll it takes on a company to run two full-time projects, pro wrestling and pro football. Ultimately, the XFL provided an intriguing story, not necessarily intriguing football.

After the presentation aired, many enjoyed a nostalgic look at the ambitious gamble that  Vince and NBC took at the start of a new millennium. Recently, Vince  made headlines when he sold $100 million worth of WWE stock and announced the formation of Alpha Entertainment, a corporation set up specifically for projects outside of the WWE landscape. He also filed for several XFL trademarks, fueling speculation that he plans to relaunch the defunct football league. Granted, nothing was announced so any reports are just rumors at this point, but all things considered, it looks very possible that there could be an XFL return.

At first glance, you must ask, "why?" Why would Vince McMahon, a 72-year-old billionaire that already has a global company that he built from the regional scene, want to revive a failed football league? In fact, as ambitious as it was, there's literally nothing that would suggest that the XFL wouldn't be a complete failure again in 2018. However, if the XFL resurfaces, there are several questions that would revolve around the league, most importantly, what would be different in 2018?

The most basic and pivotal question for any business would be, is there a demand for the product? In this situation, is there a demand for an alternative football brand? Keep in mind, the formation of the McMahon/NBC partnership wasn't because of the demand for more football in 2001, but rather NBC's attempt to keep the sport on their network after CBS paid more money for the rights to broadcast AFC games in 1998, leaving NBC Sports without football at that point. If anything, it might be more difficult to get an upstart league off the ground in 2018 than it was in 2001 because of the amount of games distributed to a wider audience than in years previously. NBC has football again, and nearly every major sports network broadcasts games at some point during the season. Along with that, the expansion of the cable industry during the past decade allows for the availability to sports packages that can give viewers access to games in several different markets. There are already NFL games shown at least three days a week at various points during the season, and if there's a demand for more football than that, specifically in locations that don't host a pro team, college football is very popular in those markets.

Aside from the key of demand for a product, what revenue can be generated from XFL programming? Similar to sports entertainment, the XFL would have to set up in locations that could draw live attendance and then there must be a wider demand for the league outside of those geographical areas to establish a rights fee and advertisement revenue for television. As mentioned, nearly every major network runs NFL or college programming, something that no major media outlet would sacrifice for an alternative spring league. More importantly, what network or cable channel is going to pay Alpha Entertainment for the rights to broadcast XFL games in 2018? Furthermore, what ad revenue could realistically be generated if Alpha landed games on a secondary network?

The logistics of the entire scenario don't seem realistic from any perspective. Even with the $100 million that Vince made from the stock sell, that doesn't get anywhere close to an amount that could fund the league again. The costs of stadiums, salaries, and production would prevent him from offering contracts that would be competitive to anything in the NFL. Sure, the league might run in the spring, but what NFL prospect is going to risk injury and money from an NFL team to play in the XFL? The bottom line is, the XFL would need quality players to present a product that fans would want to watch. The locations are another  major obstacle, mostly because the previously mentioned college football covers most secondary markets. The original XFL was a two-division league that had eight teams and didn't draw well in most cities because those locations had established franchises. The landscape of football has changed since Los Angeles Xtreme won the only championship game. The LA market has two NFL teams, and Las Vegas is scheduled to host The Raiders in a few years. So, what locations could host Alpha Entertainment games and draw a crowd?

As I said, even a spring league would indirectly compete with the NFL, because any successful league needs quality plays, and just as important, stars that draw ratings. Perhaps the only attempt at competition to the National Football League that had any chance of success was the United States Football league in the 80s. The USFL was able to sign top college prospects to the league, which gave them credibility among sports fans. Names like Hershel Walker, Steve Young, and the legendary Jim Kelly were among those that played in the alternative league prior to their NFL careers. That said, even with legitimate players signed, the USFL folded after three seasons and lost over $160 million during its existence. While the USFL was probably the most well known attempt at football competition, there were several spinoffs that went under the radar. The United Football League ran four seasons from 2009-2012 with just five teams and lost millions of dollars before it closed.

For some reason, Vince seems to always aspire to set up another venture outside of the world of professional wrestling. Don't get me wrong, Vince is the most successful wrestling promoter in the history of the business and one of the most successful entrepreneurs in the entire entertainment genre. It's very possible he could set up another business outlet to become very profitable, but is that realistic when he runs a global company already? The infamous failures like the World Bodybuilding Federation and the XFL itself were done at the same time that Vince ran the daily business of the global WWE brand. It's doubtful that someone as dedicated to his business as Vince would step away entirely to run an alternative football league.

The bottom line is, the NFL is and always will be the premiere football league, and every attempt to compete with it in the past several decades failed. One way or another a relaunched XFL would be indirectly in competition with the NFL because signing quality players leads to a quality product. The failure of the NBC project proved that secondary football doesn't draw numbers. Undoubtedly, the return of the XFL would still have some of the pro wrestling stigma that the original league endured, but more specifically, a return of the XFL or any other McMahon football league would have the stain of the failure of the original XFL. Quite simply, the letters of the XFL were branded a failure and there's no logical reason there would be different results for a return of the league.

Jericho vs. Omega

In less than two days, New Japan Pro Wrestling will present its annual Wrestle Kingdom event, the promotion's biggest show of the year. As I've written before, the resurgence of New Japan, and in many ways, Japanese business as a whole, is remarkable. The upswing and expansion of NJPW continued in 2017 with distribution of the product through the New Japan World streaming service with more shows available in English, and two sold out shows in Long Beach, CA last year. While the organization has rebuilt much of its legendary status within its native country, expansion into the North American market is ultimately the key to a global product. Granted, there are some logistical hurdles with the language barrier and time zones, but even those "obstacles" are a part of what make the Japanese product an alternative to the American wrestling landscape. In many ways, New Japan isn't necessarily competition to the WWE, but rather compliments it as a way to give fans move variety, which benefits the entire industry.

However, it's very possible that the Toyko Dome event will get more foreign exposure this year than any other time in the history of the Wrestle Kingdom events. Last November, the legendary Chris Jericho made a surprise challenge via a video package to Kenny Omega, the leader of the Bullet Club that had one of the best years in the history of the business last year with several stellar matches, including thrilling bouts against the IWGP champion, Kazuchika Okada. Omega is undoubtedly the most popular gaijin athlete on the NJPW roster and was arguably the best wrestler of the year in 2017. The Jericho announcement created a tremendous buzz around the Tokyo Dome show, but the angle was taken to the next level when Jericho appeared live in New Japan last month to attack Omega as a way to continue to build toward the legitimate dream match.

First, it must be said that it speaks volumes to the greatness of Chris Jericho that he continues to stay cutting edge and a head of the curve after a nearly three decade career. Jericho could've retired long ago with an impressive resume and been considered a legend. He could've used his past accomplishments for a nostalgia run in the WWE just for an easy paycheck. But, the former Undisputed champion always finds a way to reinvent himself and puts in the work to continue to evolve as a performer. You will never see Jericho "mail it in," and his desire to keep his character fresh in a variety of ways puts him in a league of his own in many ways.

It's remarkable that Jericho is still able to surprise the wrestling world, considering that almost everything is exposed in the current era. Again, this speaks to his incredible career, as he goes the extra mile to make his appearances a surprise for the fans.

Kenny Omega, the Winnipeg native, actually signed a WWE deal over a decade ago, but had a negative experience during his time in Deep South Wrestling, particularly because of former DSW trainer, Bill Demott, who was fired from the WWE for misconduct a few years ago. Eventually, Omega made a name for himself on the independent scene and found himself as a performer in Japan for the DDT promotion in 2008. While DDT is known for being somewhat bizarre for various gimmick matches, its viewed differently within the Japanese culture than the way it might be perceived in the United States. Regardless, Omega made a name for himself in DDT, and that led to an offer from New Japan.

After sporadic appearances in NJPW during his formative years in Japan, Omega was offered a full-time deal in late-2014 when he became "The Cleaner" as an addition to The Bullet Club, one of  the most popular stables in the world. When AJ Styles signed a WWE deal in 2016, Omega was elevated to the leader of the group and achieved main event status the following year. Make no mistake about it, Omega earned his status, as his matches with Okada were incredible. The trilogy of matches with epic sagas of athleticism that cemented them both as two of the top talents in the world and their series of matches in pro wrestling history.

Nobody would've even thought it was possible that Jericho would make a surprise appearance for New Japan and to work such a major match. It's extremely rare that legitimate dream matches happen and that's what will take place at the Tokyo Dome. The showdown of "Alpha vs. Omega" should be a great match and considering the surprise of the set up, who knows what's next for Jericho in New Japan? It's very possible this might be more than just a one-off match for Jericho. The challenge for the contest with the video package would've been enough to create anticipation for it, but the attack and press conference added more depth to the feud. Aside from that, NJPW commentator, Don Callis originally suggested the match to Jericho, and both grapplers are from Winnipeg so that's another aspect of the bout. The most important aspect of the Jericho vs. Omega match is probably that it could bring more North American exposure to the product than any other match in the history of the company.