This month marks twenty years since the 1998 edition of World Championship Wrestling's Halloween Havoc pay-per-view, an event that in retrospect, summarized many of the flaws and missed opportunities of the Turner organization during the boom period of the industry in the late 90s.
Aside from a solid Chris Jericho vs. Raven opener, the majority of this under card was less than memorable, including two Disco Inferno matches. With a dozen matches scheduled, (more of that later) many of this early bouts that didn't offer much in terms of match quality or storyline seemed shoehorned onto the show. A side note about Raven, he doesn't seem to really get the credit he deserves for the innovative career that he had, but at the same time, some of that might be his own fault because he clearly had another gear when he was motivated to put in the work. The Raven of 1998 still had very crisp ring work, and it was certainly a contrast to his lack of effort just a few years later.
As mentioned, the preliminary contests are more or less just randomly placed on the card so there's not much to discuss about them, which is unusual because WCW was known for its stellar under card of talented younger athletes, but that wasn't the case for Halloween Havoc in 1998. However, Bret Hart worked a match against Sting, which would've been considered a dream match in the right situation. An example of this would be the bout they had nearly a year later at WCW Mayhem in the semi-finals of the WCW World title tournament. But again, at the time of this Halloween Havoc contest, it was another example of how WCW didn't use Bret in a more effective way. Up until that point, Bret was arguably as well-known for his tenure in the WWF as Sting was for his run in WCW, and with the same submission finisher, as well as their solid in-ring ability, this was a match that had the potential to be at the top of the card.
Unfortunately, the Havoc clash was a year after Bret's initial jump to WCW and through lackluster booking, all the momentum he had after the Montreal incident was systematically halted through a series of decisions that minimized his name value. It creates some intriguing possibilities when you consider, what would've been possible if the company didn't completely mismanage Bret Hart? Keep in mind, less than a year before this pay-per-view, the former WWF champion left Vince McMahon's organization after one of the most controversial incidents in the history of the industry, and at that time, the general consensus was that Vince was wrong for his decision. Granted, in the two decades since, many people understand the chose that McMahon had to make, but in 1997, Hart was viewed as the workhorse of the company that got shunned on his exit. When Bret arrived on Nitro roughly a month later, WCW could've used his status as the "true WWF champion" to propel him into the hero role against the NWO in the main event picture in 1998. Remember, in November of 1997, the WWF was still on the ropes in the battle of the Monday Night Wars, and adding Bret Hart to the roster should've given WCW an edge the following year. Instead, Bret was portrayed as a secondary figure during most of his WCW run.
The infamous Hulk Hogan/Ultimate Warrior match has become known as one of the worst matches in the history of pay-per-view. While it was nice to see Warrior make peace with many of his former rivals when he was inducted into the Hall of Fame a few years ago, it's well-known that for the majority of his in-ring career, he was very difficult to work with in nearly every promotion. Warrior's original WWF run was just four and a half years, but his iconic presentation made him extremely popular, and he also made major cash so when he left amid controversy in 1992, he didn't need to continue to wrestle since he was financially secure from his previous main event run. When the WWF was struggling in 1996 from the slump of the industry the previous few years and the pressure of the competition of Nitro that started in late 1995, Warrior was brought back for Wrestlemania 12 for a squash match with Triple H. Less than three months later, Warrior left again after he supposedly no-showed scheduled appearances.
Considering his track record, it's puzzling why Eric Bischoff, the Vice President of WCW, even considered working with Warrior during a boom period when the company obviously didn't need to sign another aging star to find star power. However, there was speculation that Hogan pushed for Warrior's involvement so that Hulk could beat him to get a win since he had to put Warrior over at WM 6 nearly a decade prior. Sure, it sounds petty, but that's not surprising with Hogan so it certainly seems possible. Bischoff got exactly what you could expect from Warrior, a series of bizarre promos and a few terrible matches. This bout summed up why the structure of World Championship Wrestling allowed politics to destroy the company. Hogan was at the top of the card and had creative control to make sure he stayed there. Instead of talent with potential getting the chance to work with Hogan, a feud from years earlier was recycled so that Hulk could get an ego boost. Perhaps, if WCW had a mindset to look beyond just a week-to-week rating, the company wouldn't have imploded after original angles became stale. In fact, other than Goldberg and Diamond Dallas Page, what main event star were truly discovered after Hogan signed with WCW?
Speaking of Goldberg and DDP, their main event of Halloween Havoc became known for two things, most importantly, the show ran long and they paying audience didn't get to watch it, and it was considered Goldberg's best match for the Turner organization. Similar to how Hogan's politics didn't allow for new stars to work their way to the main event, the environment of WCW didn't give Goldberg the chance to evolve as a performer. It was very rare that he was booked against an opponent that could provide depth to his matches.
Ultimately, those one-dimensional matches are why the fans started to reject Goldberg the following year and his run as a top star was relatively short in WCW. Still, the potential was there for him to be a major star on a long term basis if he was booked properly when he was at the peak of his career. His stellar run in WWE last year proved that if something is booked right, in terms of showcase the strengths and camouflage the weaknesses, it can be a successful.
Tuesday, October 30, 2018
Tuesday, October 23, 2018
What's the status of Impact?
Throughout the decade and a half of its existence, the company that started as NWA-TNA and went through a variety of name changes saw its share of peaks and valleys. When it began in 2002 as an upstart weekly pay-per-view project under the direction of legendary promoter, Jerry Jarrett and his son Jeff Jarrett, the organization attempted to use the lineage of the recognizable NWA initials to attempt to garner an audience for a new product. The professional wrestling industry in the post-WCW era had over a year of strictly a WWF monopoly when the concept of a national NWA promotion was launched so there was definitely a demand for an alternative.
However, there were numerous hurdles that made the ambitious project a difficult task.
Mostly importantly, the distribution of a weekly pay-per-view event proved that it couldn't be a successful long-term option in 2002. At the time, a WWE PPV broadcast had a price tag of $40 so in theory, a fan could watch four of the $10 NWA-TNA events a month for the same price as one of the monthly WWE shows. Again, in theory this was a logical concept. The problem was, unless fans already knew about this weekly schedule, it was very difficult for a new audience to discover the product. Most of the wrestling fans base simply didn't know NWA-TNA existed, and if they did, they weren't willing to pay to sample it. There wasn't an effective way to market this new group to the already established fan base and thus, it almost immediately became a niche product.
Economically, this distribution system was a failed model because of the extensive costs of running a live broadcast every week on pay-per-view. Without a way to market the events for more exposure, it wasn't realistic to expect the weekly buy rates to cover the cost of production. Don't get me wrong, the X-Division, especially its early years, was a pioneering style that continues to have an influence on the industry today, but again, it was a niche market. And, make no mistake about it, a niche product can be profitable if it can be produced with the right budget, but NWA-TNA had major league expenses when they only generated minor league exposure. Perhaps, if the company had started today with the ability to utilize social media and streaming services, it might've been a different story. But, the point is, Jerry Jarrett looked to sell his share of the organization in 2003 after the weekly PPVs didn't get off the ground.
In late-2002, Dixie Carter received funding from Bob Carter's Panda Energy company to purchase a majority share of NWA-TNA. As he detailed in his book, "The Best of Times," Jerry Jarrett saw Dixie's lack of wrestling knowledge and eventually left the company. After the Dixie takeover, TNA began to tape additional matches prior to live broadcasts that were used for "Xpolosion," a show that aired on some regional local access channels. Dixie knew enough to realize that TNA needed some type of cable TV exposure if the organization was going to build toward competition in the industry.
In June of 2004, two years after its launch, TNA "Impact" debuted on Fox Sports Net on Friday afternoons. The one-hour show wasn't exactly in the best time slot, but it provided the viewing audience more access to the product. After a year on that network, the deal expired and the company produced web-based episodes of Impact while it searched for a new TV deal. It was definitely a time of uncertainty because at that point, the group began to produce traditional three-hour PPVs so they had to find a suitable platform to promote those events.
It was major progress for TNA when its show began on Spike TV, the network that previously broadcast Raw and the UFC, in October of 2005. The Saturday 11 PM time slot wasn't prime time, but it gave the promotion the most exposure in its history. Reportedly, Spike TV also invested in the product, paying a portion of Sting's hefty contract when he signed with the company in 2006. As an entity, the argument could be made that TNA had its best chance to elevate itself as legitimate competition within the 2006-2008 time frame with names like AJ Styles, Samoa Joe, Abyss, Kurt Angle, Sting, Christian, Rhino, and others on the roster. During the majority of its run on Spike, Impact averaged a million viewers on a weekly basis. The numerous reasons and booking debacles about why it didn't happen is another article for another time. Hulk Hogan's involvement in 2010 that used Dixie Carter as a major money mark and how it drained the financial resources from the company that led it to the brink of collapse is also another article for another time.
The point being, TNA remained on Spike TV for nine years until it was cancelled in December 2014. Reportedly, Dixie lied to Spike executives and claimed that Vince Russo wasn't involved in the television show. Russo accidentally sent an e mail intended for announcer Mike Tenay with production notes to PWInsider's Mike Johnson, who reported the story. When Spike officials found out Dixie lied about the writing of Impact, they decided to cancel the show, which had declined in the ratings.
Without a network, Dixie Carter's league landed on the sparsely-watched Destination America channel in 2015. After Impact had the lead-in of UFC programming during its original run on Spike, shows like Major League Bass Fishing accompanied Impact on Destination America. It wasn't a wrestling channel and it proved to be a very lackluster combination. TNA's deal wasn't renewed after the one-year contract expired.
The following year, Impact found its way to Pop TV, which eventually put the foundation in place for the Anthem Sports purchase that rescued the company when it almost shut down. When Anthem started to run the company early this year with Executive VPs Don Callis and Scott D'Amore, the show was still scheduled for its usual time slot of Thursdays at 8 PM each week. At the start of the year, the program generated roughly 300,000 viewers weekly, a drastic decline from the Spike TV era with much more TV clearance, but still an improvement from Destination America in 2015. However, there was a noticeable decline in numbers over the past few months, more specifically since the start of football season with Thursday night games. Recently, Impact has garnered under 200,000 viewers for some episodes.
Last week, Impact announced that the TV show will move to 10 PM on Thursdays, but what does this translate to for the company?
It mostly depends on if this is just a move to avoid some of the competition from football or if it's a way for Pop TV to minimize Impact before they cancel the show. Although, it would be odd for the network to move the show for just a few months until the conclusion of the NFL season, but at the same time, what's the goal of a show that airs until midnight? Granted, this isn't certain doom for the organization, and Impact survived rocky situations before, but the late-night time slot doesn't help Impact establish itself. It's possible that Anthem and Pop TV would be content with a niche audience, which is fine. Keep in mind, the bottom line in business is profitability so if Anthem finds a way to profit with Impact Wrestling that airs at 10 PM than it's a successful project. NWA-TNA couldn't find a profitable niche, but if Anthem does then it's a smart business move. It remains to be seen what effect this late-night time slot will have of the status of Impact, but it doesn't necessarily hinder put the company.
However, there were numerous hurdles that made the ambitious project a difficult task.
Mostly importantly, the distribution of a weekly pay-per-view event proved that it couldn't be a successful long-term option in 2002. At the time, a WWE PPV broadcast had a price tag of $40 so in theory, a fan could watch four of the $10 NWA-TNA events a month for the same price as one of the monthly WWE shows. Again, in theory this was a logical concept. The problem was, unless fans already knew about this weekly schedule, it was very difficult for a new audience to discover the product. Most of the wrestling fans base simply didn't know NWA-TNA existed, and if they did, they weren't willing to pay to sample it. There wasn't an effective way to market this new group to the already established fan base and thus, it almost immediately became a niche product.
Economically, this distribution system was a failed model because of the extensive costs of running a live broadcast every week on pay-per-view. Without a way to market the events for more exposure, it wasn't realistic to expect the weekly buy rates to cover the cost of production. Don't get me wrong, the X-Division, especially its early years, was a pioneering style that continues to have an influence on the industry today, but again, it was a niche market. And, make no mistake about it, a niche product can be profitable if it can be produced with the right budget, but NWA-TNA had major league expenses when they only generated minor league exposure. Perhaps, if the company had started today with the ability to utilize social media and streaming services, it might've been a different story. But, the point is, Jerry Jarrett looked to sell his share of the organization in 2003 after the weekly PPVs didn't get off the ground.
In late-2002, Dixie Carter received funding from Bob Carter's Panda Energy company to purchase a majority share of NWA-TNA. As he detailed in his book, "The Best of Times," Jerry Jarrett saw Dixie's lack of wrestling knowledge and eventually left the company. After the Dixie takeover, TNA began to tape additional matches prior to live broadcasts that were used for "Xpolosion," a show that aired on some regional local access channels. Dixie knew enough to realize that TNA needed some type of cable TV exposure if the organization was going to build toward competition in the industry.
In June of 2004, two years after its launch, TNA "Impact" debuted on Fox Sports Net on Friday afternoons. The one-hour show wasn't exactly in the best time slot, but it provided the viewing audience more access to the product. After a year on that network, the deal expired and the company produced web-based episodes of Impact while it searched for a new TV deal. It was definitely a time of uncertainty because at that point, the group began to produce traditional three-hour PPVs so they had to find a suitable platform to promote those events.
It was major progress for TNA when its show began on Spike TV, the network that previously broadcast Raw and the UFC, in October of 2005. The Saturday 11 PM time slot wasn't prime time, but it gave the promotion the most exposure in its history. Reportedly, Spike TV also invested in the product, paying a portion of Sting's hefty contract when he signed with the company in 2006. As an entity, the argument could be made that TNA had its best chance to elevate itself as legitimate competition within the 2006-2008 time frame with names like AJ Styles, Samoa Joe, Abyss, Kurt Angle, Sting, Christian, Rhino, and others on the roster. During the majority of its run on Spike, Impact averaged a million viewers on a weekly basis. The numerous reasons and booking debacles about why it didn't happen is another article for another time. Hulk Hogan's involvement in 2010 that used Dixie Carter as a major money mark and how it drained the financial resources from the company that led it to the brink of collapse is also another article for another time.
The point being, TNA remained on Spike TV for nine years until it was cancelled in December 2014. Reportedly, Dixie lied to Spike executives and claimed that Vince Russo wasn't involved in the television show. Russo accidentally sent an e mail intended for announcer Mike Tenay with production notes to PWInsider's Mike Johnson, who reported the story. When Spike officials found out Dixie lied about the writing of Impact, they decided to cancel the show, which had declined in the ratings.
Without a network, Dixie Carter's league landed on the sparsely-watched Destination America channel in 2015. After Impact had the lead-in of UFC programming during its original run on Spike, shows like Major League Bass Fishing accompanied Impact on Destination America. It wasn't a wrestling channel and it proved to be a very lackluster combination. TNA's deal wasn't renewed after the one-year contract expired.
The following year, Impact found its way to Pop TV, which eventually put the foundation in place for the Anthem Sports purchase that rescued the company when it almost shut down. When Anthem started to run the company early this year with Executive VPs Don Callis and Scott D'Amore, the show was still scheduled for its usual time slot of Thursdays at 8 PM each week. At the start of the year, the program generated roughly 300,000 viewers weekly, a drastic decline from the Spike TV era with much more TV clearance, but still an improvement from Destination America in 2015. However, there was a noticeable decline in numbers over the past few months, more specifically since the start of football season with Thursday night games. Recently, Impact has garnered under 200,000 viewers for some episodes.
Last week, Impact announced that the TV show will move to 10 PM on Thursdays, but what does this translate to for the company?
It mostly depends on if this is just a move to avoid some of the competition from football or if it's a way for Pop TV to minimize Impact before they cancel the show. Although, it would be odd for the network to move the show for just a few months until the conclusion of the NFL season, but at the same time, what's the goal of a show that airs until midnight? Granted, this isn't certain doom for the organization, and Impact survived rocky situations before, but the late-night time slot doesn't help Impact establish itself. It's possible that Anthem and Pop TV would be content with a niche audience, which is fine. Keep in mind, the bottom line in business is profitability so if Anthem finds a way to profit with Impact Wrestling that airs at 10 PM than it's a successful project. NWA-TNA couldn't find a profitable niche, but if Anthem does then it's a smart business move. It remains to be seen what effect this late-night time slot will have of the status of Impact, but it doesn't necessarily hinder put the company.
Friday, October 12, 2018
The Saudi Arabia event
"Everybody's got a price"
Those are the lyrics for the theme song and a catch-phrase of "The Million Dollar Man," a Vince McMahon creation that utilized the less than admirable traits that wealth can generate from certain people. Ted DiBiase's villainous persona appeared in many segments where he used his money to get others to sacrifice their mortality for the almighty dollar.
It's somewhat ironic that the WWE, a global publicly-traded company, finds itself as the corporate member of the audience that performs tasks for the cash. When the WWE held The Greatest Royal Rumble event in Saudi Arabia in April with a WM-type card just weeks after the actual Wrestlemania, it generated much criticism because of some of the cultural restrictions in the country. For example, women athletes, a group that the WWE claims to promote as an extremely important part of their organization as a part of the female empowerment marketing strategy, weren't allowed to compete in Saudi Arabia. Some might view this as just the traditions of a different culture, while others will think it's a repressive regime. Either way, it's difficult to judge these things from an outside perspective. However, when the WWE accepts the Saudi cash, they must also be prepared from the criticism that goes along with it.
At the time of the Greatest Rumble, I penned an article that explained that the Saudi deal was strictly business and that a corporate entity wasn't going to skip the chance to get that type of money in a deal with the government of a foreign country. It's still strictly business, but the perception of the contract went to a different level recently, and though it won't happen, WWE might want to think about the reality of this deal, not just the sports entertainment events it brings to the country.
Recently, the Saudi government has been the subject of many news stories because of the disappearance of reporter Jamal Khashoggi, who went to the Saudi consulate, but didn't return. Khashoggi, an outspoken critic of the Saudi royal family, was seen entering the building, but footage has yet to surface that shows his exit. There are rumors that he might've been assassinated, a claim that the Saudi government denies, but what happened to the reporter remains unknown.
It would be unfair to jump to conclusions, but the notion that a government agency had someone assassinated to keep them quiet isn't exactly a new concept. Was there anyone on the grassy knoll?
But, the point is, the major news currently around the world about Saudi Arabia is that the government might've silenced a critic because he didn't praise their decisions. With the Crown Jewel event being held there, the WWE is indirectly associated with the controversy around the country. According the The Wrestling Observer's Dave Meltzer, the Saudi royal family is paying roughly $40 million for each WWE event, which makes it an extremely profitable venture. That said, depending on the stock price, the WWE is worth nearly a billion dollars, do they really need the money considering this particular situation?
Just a few days ago, Turkish government officials claimed that there's evidence of the assassination, but Saudi Arabia continues to deny any involvement, and the investigation hasn't concluded yet.
As of this writing, the Crown Jewel event is still scheduled to take place and WWE released a statement that said they are "monitoring the situation." Keep in mind, this WWE deal and other western imports into the region are simply a vanity project to try to improve the image of a country that is often associated with strict cultural traditions. Basically, the WWE is being paid to be used as a PR tool for the Saudi government. Again, the company is worth nearly a billion dollars and will make $2.5 billion for its combined TV deals in the next five years so is the potential negative press worth the Saudi money?
Aside from the money, which is the most important factor, the WWE doesn't need to be associated with the Saudi royal family because the organization is already a global entity. The bottom line is, the Saudi government needs the WWE more than the WWE needs the royal family's cash, but it's management's decision to determine if the amount of money they will be paid for this show is worth it. Obviously, if a reporter was killed because the Saudi royal family didn't approve of criticism then it's a total disgrace. Essentially, the WWE should be better than this to accept major cash if there was actually an assassination at the consulate. All things considered, it might be a better decision for management to cancel the show because the promotion is financially secure and this is an opportunity for WWE brass to prove there's a standard for the company.
That being said, management already invested TV time into the storylines that are booked for the show, including the return of Shawn Michaels after an eight years retirement. Speaking of HBK, it speaks volumes about the power of the dollar when he agrees to wrestle again after the stellar conclusion to his career in 2010. Why take away from the match with The Undertaker in 2010? At this point, what does WWE brass do with the promoted Undertaker/Kane vs. DX match or the Universal title match? In some ways, the company is booked into a corner since the matches are already advertised.
Vince McMahon built a north east territory into a truly global brand, and in the process, he consolidated the entire sports entertainment industry, buying the tape libraries of every major promotion in the United States, which built the foundation for the WWE Network. The WWE stock price is currently at $84.30, which is an exponential increase from the price of $22.30 last year. So why would the WWE allow the company to be used as a PR tool for Saudi Arabia?
Everybody's got a price.
Those are the lyrics for the theme song and a catch-phrase of "The Million Dollar Man," a Vince McMahon creation that utilized the less than admirable traits that wealth can generate from certain people. Ted DiBiase's villainous persona appeared in many segments where he used his money to get others to sacrifice their mortality for the almighty dollar.
It's somewhat ironic that the WWE, a global publicly-traded company, finds itself as the corporate member of the audience that performs tasks for the cash. When the WWE held The Greatest Royal Rumble event in Saudi Arabia in April with a WM-type card just weeks after the actual Wrestlemania, it generated much criticism because of some of the cultural restrictions in the country. For example, women athletes, a group that the WWE claims to promote as an extremely important part of their organization as a part of the female empowerment marketing strategy, weren't allowed to compete in Saudi Arabia. Some might view this as just the traditions of a different culture, while others will think it's a repressive regime. Either way, it's difficult to judge these things from an outside perspective. However, when the WWE accepts the Saudi cash, they must also be prepared from the criticism that goes along with it.
At the time of the Greatest Rumble, I penned an article that explained that the Saudi deal was strictly business and that a corporate entity wasn't going to skip the chance to get that type of money in a deal with the government of a foreign country. It's still strictly business, but the perception of the contract went to a different level recently, and though it won't happen, WWE might want to think about the reality of this deal, not just the sports entertainment events it brings to the country.
Recently, the Saudi government has been the subject of many news stories because of the disappearance of reporter Jamal Khashoggi, who went to the Saudi consulate, but didn't return. Khashoggi, an outspoken critic of the Saudi royal family, was seen entering the building, but footage has yet to surface that shows his exit. There are rumors that he might've been assassinated, a claim that the Saudi government denies, but what happened to the reporter remains unknown.
It would be unfair to jump to conclusions, but the notion that a government agency had someone assassinated to keep them quiet isn't exactly a new concept. Was there anyone on the grassy knoll?
But, the point is, the major news currently around the world about Saudi Arabia is that the government might've silenced a critic because he didn't praise their decisions. With the Crown Jewel event being held there, the WWE is indirectly associated with the controversy around the country. According the The Wrestling Observer's Dave Meltzer, the Saudi royal family is paying roughly $40 million for each WWE event, which makes it an extremely profitable venture. That said, depending on the stock price, the WWE is worth nearly a billion dollars, do they really need the money considering this particular situation?
Just a few days ago, Turkish government officials claimed that there's evidence of the assassination, but Saudi Arabia continues to deny any involvement, and the investigation hasn't concluded yet.
As of this writing, the Crown Jewel event is still scheduled to take place and WWE released a statement that said they are "monitoring the situation." Keep in mind, this WWE deal and other western imports into the region are simply a vanity project to try to improve the image of a country that is often associated with strict cultural traditions. Basically, the WWE is being paid to be used as a PR tool for the Saudi government. Again, the company is worth nearly a billion dollars and will make $2.5 billion for its combined TV deals in the next five years so is the potential negative press worth the Saudi money?
Aside from the money, which is the most important factor, the WWE doesn't need to be associated with the Saudi royal family because the organization is already a global entity. The bottom line is, the Saudi government needs the WWE more than the WWE needs the royal family's cash, but it's management's decision to determine if the amount of money they will be paid for this show is worth it. Obviously, if a reporter was killed because the Saudi royal family didn't approve of criticism then it's a total disgrace. Essentially, the WWE should be better than this to accept major cash if there was actually an assassination at the consulate. All things considered, it might be a better decision for management to cancel the show because the promotion is financially secure and this is an opportunity for WWE brass to prove there's a standard for the company.
That being said, management already invested TV time into the storylines that are booked for the show, including the return of Shawn Michaels after an eight years retirement. Speaking of HBK, it speaks volumes about the power of the dollar when he agrees to wrestle again after the stellar conclusion to his career in 2010. Why take away from the match with The Undertaker in 2010? At this point, what does WWE brass do with the promoted Undertaker/Kane vs. DX match or the Universal title match? In some ways, the company is booked into a corner since the matches are already advertised.
Vince McMahon built a north east territory into a truly global brand, and in the process, he consolidated the entire sports entertainment industry, buying the tape libraries of every major promotion in the United States, which built the foundation for the WWE Network. The WWE stock price is currently at $84.30, which is an exponential increase from the price of $22.30 last year. So why would the WWE allow the company to be used as a PR tool for Saudi Arabia?
Everybody's got a price.
Thursday, October 11, 2018
The career of Eddie Kingston
This Sunday, at the Melrose Ballroom in New York, Eddie Kingston and his LAX faction will step into the “Concrete Jungle Death Match” for Impact Wrestling’s Bound for Glory event live on pay-per-view.
However, long before this 16-year veteran of the genre was scheduled to appear on pay-per-view in New York, he called the Empire State more than the location of his next anticipated match-up, he called it home. Born in the Bronx and raised in Yonkers, with an Irish-Puerto Rican background, Eddie Moore always projected a sense of authenticity, even before he stepped into the ring ropes.
“There is no place like New York, I can’t explain it because New York becomes a part of you,” Eddie commented.
Despite a caring family, Eddie found the allure of the city drew him into a rough crowd during his youth, an aspect of his life that would later have a direct influence on his professional wrestling persona. Ironically, it was the action of the squared circle that allowed him to avoid some of the pitfalls of the streets, as ECW’s Hardcore TV at varying odd hours of the night prompted him to back home in time to watch performers like Tommy Dreamer, Terry Funk, and others that inspired him.
Throughout his teen years, the man that would become known as Kingston, became enthralled with the combination of physicality and athleticism that he saw on screen. Soon, he discovered the Japanese scene and was amazed with the stiff style of Giant Baba’s All Japan, another major influence on him.
Eddie wanted to be one of the strong style grapplers that left such a major impression on him so in 2002, he and longtime friend, Blackjack Marciano searched for a place to learn the craft. Eventually, they found themselves inside the ring at Mike Quackenbush’s Wrestle Factory, the training center of his Chikara promotion. Quackenbush’s project blended different styles into a unique formula for a comic book-inspired approach to professional wrestling. This element of the sport might’ve contrasted with Eddie’s gritty background, but a variety of trainers and the atmosphere of Chikara events allowed for the development of a solid skill set.
“Going to Chikara to be trained and then hitting IWA Mid-South where my name started to grow,” he explained as important steps in the evolution of his career.
In fact, during the years that followed his time at the Wrestle Factory, Kingston has worked for, and often times won championships for nearly every major independent organization in the United States, making him one of the well-known performers of the indy scene. From bouts on the west coast for Pro Wrestling Guerrilla to mid-west slug fest at IWA Mid-South to contests for Alpha-1 in Canada, these are just some of the extensive accomplishments on his resume.
But, New York will always be the most important place for him to compete.
A former iron worker and member of the 580 union, Eddie Moore brings a blue collar work ethic to any venture, and the audience can see the real-life passion for the industry that he brings to the ring. He verbalized his struggles and triumphs through various promos during the course of his career, making him as well-known for his ability on the mic as he is for his skills inside the ropes. As he spoke of in the past, Eddie has grappled with depression for most of his life, but the unique art form of sports entertainment provided solace for him.
“It does help and it is my therapy, it brings me peace,” Eddie said.
After various stints in Ring Of Honor and his extensive accomplishments on the independent circuit, Kingston signed a deal with Total Nonstop Action in late-2016 as a member of the DCC, a trio that saw him work with stellar talent, James Storm and Bram. A year later, during the rocky time for the company that was fueled with the well-publicized turmoil of the Dixie Carter regime, Kingston left the company.
By early 2018, Anthem Sports, the parent company of Canada’s Fight Network, rescued and officially renamed Impact Wrestling. A hidden gem of the business, Don Callis and talented veteran Scott D’Amore were named Executive Vice Presidents, an announcement that created a sense of optimism around the brand. Despite initially being lost of the shuffle of the regime during his DCC run, Kingston’s talent as a storyteller couldn’t be denied, and he resurfaced alongside one of his mentors, Homicide in April.
“LAX led to my return, and I’m having a blast bringing raw and rugged storytelling.”
As with any new venture, Impact Wrestling under the Anthem banner saw its share of peaks and valleys during the past year, but the common theme is that the company continues to make progress building itself as a national entity. For King, he and the original LAX combination, Homicide and Hernandez embarked on an intense rivalry with the talented pair of Ortiz and Santana, including a thrilling match at Slammiversary in July. Lucha legend, Konnan accompanied Ortiz and Santana, which prompted several confrontations with King in recent months.
As explained by play-by-play commentator, Josh Matthews in a video posted on social media, the stipulation of the first-ever “Concrete Jungle Death Match” will see the canvas taken away, exposing the wooden planks underneath the mat. All the turnbuckle pads will be taken as well so the steel that connects the ropes to the ring posts will be uncovered. The gritty environment of this match certainly suits the athletes scheduled to compete and the New York crowd that will be in attendance at the event.
“It means the world to me and everyone in that match feels the same. New York raised us and will never leave us,” Eddie explained.
Eddie Moore has spent nearly half his life in the professional wrestling business, a path that saw him struggle and succeed. Perhaps, what made this charismatic brawler such an asset for many promotions during his decade and a half career is that much of the reality of Eddie Moore blends through the work of Eddie Kingston. King brings an unapologetic passion to the squared circle, and that dedication will give him the chance to compete in his hometown on pay-per-view.
However, long before this 16-year veteran of the genre was scheduled to appear on pay-per-view in New York, he called the Empire State more than the location of his next anticipated match-up, he called it home. Born in the Bronx and raised in Yonkers, with an Irish-Puerto Rican background, Eddie Moore always projected a sense of authenticity, even before he stepped into the ring ropes.
“There is no place like New York, I can’t explain it because New York becomes a part of you,” Eddie commented.
Despite a caring family, Eddie found the allure of the city drew him into a rough crowd during his youth, an aspect of his life that would later have a direct influence on his professional wrestling persona. Ironically, it was the action of the squared circle that allowed him to avoid some of the pitfalls of the streets, as ECW’s Hardcore TV at varying odd hours of the night prompted him to back home in time to watch performers like Tommy Dreamer, Terry Funk, and others that inspired him.
Throughout his teen years, the man that would become known as Kingston, became enthralled with the combination of physicality and athleticism that he saw on screen. Soon, he discovered the Japanese scene and was amazed with the stiff style of Giant Baba’s All Japan, another major influence on him.
Eddie wanted to be one of the strong style grapplers that left such a major impression on him so in 2002, he and longtime friend, Blackjack Marciano searched for a place to learn the craft. Eventually, they found themselves inside the ring at Mike Quackenbush’s Wrestle Factory, the training center of his Chikara promotion. Quackenbush’s project blended different styles into a unique formula for a comic book-inspired approach to professional wrestling. This element of the sport might’ve contrasted with Eddie’s gritty background, but a variety of trainers and the atmosphere of Chikara events allowed for the development of a solid skill set.
“Going to Chikara to be trained and then hitting IWA Mid-South where my name started to grow,” he explained as important steps in the evolution of his career.
In fact, during the years that followed his time at the Wrestle Factory, Kingston has worked for, and often times won championships for nearly every major independent organization in the United States, making him one of the well-known performers of the indy scene. From bouts on the west coast for Pro Wrestling Guerrilla to mid-west slug fest at IWA Mid-South to contests for Alpha-1 in Canada, these are just some of the extensive accomplishments on his resume.
But, New York will always be the most important place for him to compete.
A former iron worker and member of the 580 union, Eddie Moore brings a blue collar work ethic to any venture, and the audience can see the real-life passion for the industry that he brings to the ring. He verbalized his struggles and triumphs through various promos during the course of his career, making him as well-known for his ability on the mic as he is for his skills inside the ropes. As he spoke of in the past, Eddie has grappled with depression for most of his life, but the unique art form of sports entertainment provided solace for him.
“It does help and it is my therapy, it brings me peace,” Eddie said.
After various stints in Ring Of Honor and his extensive accomplishments on the independent circuit, Kingston signed a deal with Total Nonstop Action in late-2016 as a member of the DCC, a trio that saw him work with stellar talent, James Storm and Bram. A year later, during the rocky time for the company that was fueled with the well-publicized turmoil of the Dixie Carter regime, Kingston left the company.
By early 2018, Anthem Sports, the parent company of Canada’s Fight Network, rescued and officially renamed Impact Wrestling. A hidden gem of the business, Don Callis and talented veteran Scott D’Amore were named Executive Vice Presidents, an announcement that created a sense of optimism around the brand. Despite initially being lost of the shuffle of the regime during his DCC run, Kingston’s talent as a storyteller couldn’t be denied, and he resurfaced alongside one of his mentors, Homicide in April.
“LAX led to my return, and I’m having a blast bringing raw and rugged storytelling.”
As with any new venture, Impact Wrestling under the Anthem banner saw its share of peaks and valleys during the past year, but the common theme is that the company continues to make progress building itself as a national entity. For King, he and the original LAX combination, Homicide and Hernandez embarked on an intense rivalry with the talented pair of Ortiz and Santana, including a thrilling match at Slammiversary in July. Lucha legend, Konnan accompanied Ortiz and Santana, which prompted several confrontations with King in recent months.
As explained by play-by-play commentator, Josh Matthews in a video posted on social media, the stipulation of the first-ever “Concrete Jungle Death Match” will see the canvas taken away, exposing the wooden planks underneath the mat. All the turnbuckle pads will be taken as well so the steel that connects the ropes to the ring posts will be uncovered. The gritty environment of this match certainly suits the athletes scheduled to compete and the New York crowd that will be in attendance at the event.
“It means the world to me and everyone in that match feels the same. New York raised us and will never leave us,” Eddie explained.
Eddie Moore has spent nearly half his life in the professional wrestling business, a path that saw him struggle and succeed. Perhaps, what made this charismatic brawler such an asset for many promotions during his decade and a half career is that much of the reality of Eddie Moore blends through the work of Eddie Kingston. King brings an unapologetic passion to the squared circle, and that dedication will give him the chance to compete in his hometown on pay-per-view.
Sunday, October 7, 2018
The UFC 229 brawl
You reap what you sow-Galatians 6:7
Last night, the much anticipated grudge match of Conor McGregor vs. Khabib Nurmagomedov took place at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, NV. The brash Irishman returned to the octagon for the first time in almost two years, an absence that saw him fight Floyd Mayweather in a boxing contest that drew an estimated 4.4 million buys on pay-per-view, ranking as the second best-selling event in history behind only the Pacquiao-Mayweather event.
As I wrote before UFC 229, I picked Khabib to get the victory because his status as a two-time Sambo champion gave him the skill set to defeat Conor, whose three previous career losses were via submission. Nurmagomedov used his ground game to control the majority of the first three rounds, with McGregor only showing brief flurries of offense at various points in the bout. As the contest went into the championship rounds, Khabib secured a modified choke, forcing his opponent to tap out. After referee Herb Dean halted the match-up and declared Nurmagomedov the winner, the Russian grappler began yelling toward the opposite corner and jumped over the fence, throwing punches at McGregor's jiu-jitsu coach, Dillon Danis. During that confrontation, a total brawl started outside the cage while security struggled to maintain order. At the same time, members of Khabib's team jumped over the cage and punched an unaware McGregor, adding to the complete chaos of the live broadcast.
Post-fight, Conor was ushered from the octagon as an irate crowd expressed their discontent with Nurmagomedov. The Russian champion insisted that he should get the UFC Lightweight championship presented to him during the announcement of the winner of the bout, but UFC president, Dana White refused, citing safety concerns from the crowd. Khabib was escorted backstage as security huddled around him, avoiding objects being thrown from the audience. Surprisingly, the 155 LBS champion attended the post-fight press conference and made a short statement, including an apology to the Nevada State Athletic Commission for the incident. But, the damage is done because instead of Khabib's dominate win against the top star in the organization, the narrative for UFC 229 is the unprofessional brawl that took place after the main event. At what will be the most watched UFC pay-per-view of the year, the story will be anything but the sport itself.
However, make no mistake about it, the UFC allowed for this situation to be possible because of the way it handled previous incidents. When Conor McGregor was arrested after he threw a dolly through a bus window, injuring fighters that were scheduled for that weekend's card, I wrote that he doesn't deserve a spot in the UFC, but that he would probably compete again. Conor was originally charged with a felon and there were civil lawsuits against him for the injuries caused. McGregor's legal team got the charges reduced to disorderly conduct, and the UFC did nothing to reprimand him for his actions. The top star in the company injured mid-card fighters that don't draw the major money he does so management wasn't going to release the golden goose. It's a harsh reality, but cash is the top priority for the WME group, and McGregor sells pay-per-views. If there were no consequences for the main event star that illegally injured others then why would management expect any different from another main eventer?
In fact, UFC brass exploited McGregor's illegal attacks when they used footage of the bus incident to promote the UFC 229 event. You reap what you sow.
When Conor got a free pass for bus attack and more recently, when Jon Jones somehow only received a 15-month retroactive suspension for a second failed PED test, the UFC sent a message that if you draw enough money, you can get away with things that would get others fired.
As mentioned, I penned an article where I said that Conor shouldn't have a spot in the UFC after the bus incident, and I will say this now, Khabib should be fired for his actions after the main event at UFC 229. Just as with the Conor incident earlier this year, don't expect Nurmagomedov to be released because one way or another, there's now more money to be made from him. Management isn't going to leave that money on the table.
As of this writing, the Nevada State Athletic Commission has yet to determine any fines or suspensions for Nurmagomedov, but his check for the bout is being withheld until the commission makes a decision. Conor was paid because it was determined that he didn't cause the brawl. That being said, it can't be understated how much of a negative impact this ridiculous post-fight chaos could have on the sport. The Fertittas and an entire generation of fighters invested years to prove that mixed martial arts was about competition, not a blood sport. What Nurmagomedov did when he jumped the fence and attacked members of McGregor's team wasn't mixed martial arts, it was assault. The same can be said for when Conor attacked the bus, that wasn't fight hype, it was assault, which is why he was arrested. If Khabib faces any charges from the incident remains to be seen, but Conor refused to press charges so three members of Nurmagomedov's team were released after initially being detained.
The bottom line is, the next few months will be a pivotal point for the UFC in terms of the perception of mixed martial arts. The company is still low on star power, the Jon Jones situation looks like an example of corporate corruption, and the UFC will have to present quality fights for its launch on ESPN next year. Khabib not only ruined the championship win, but considering that he was relatively unknown to the general public prior to this near-riot, he will be known as the fighter involved in the fights outside of the cage after a pay-per-view. There's no excuse for Nurmagomedov's actions, but the UFC should send a message before these ridiculous antics from a variety of fighters ruin the sport.
Last night, the much anticipated grudge match of Conor McGregor vs. Khabib Nurmagomedov took place at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, NV. The brash Irishman returned to the octagon for the first time in almost two years, an absence that saw him fight Floyd Mayweather in a boxing contest that drew an estimated 4.4 million buys on pay-per-view, ranking as the second best-selling event in history behind only the Pacquiao-Mayweather event.
As I wrote before UFC 229, I picked Khabib to get the victory because his status as a two-time Sambo champion gave him the skill set to defeat Conor, whose three previous career losses were via submission. Nurmagomedov used his ground game to control the majority of the first three rounds, with McGregor only showing brief flurries of offense at various points in the bout. As the contest went into the championship rounds, Khabib secured a modified choke, forcing his opponent to tap out. After referee Herb Dean halted the match-up and declared Nurmagomedov the winner, the Russian grappler began yelling toward the opposite corner and jumped over the fence, throwing punches at McGregor's jiu-jitsu coach, Dillon Danis. During that confrontation, a total brawl started outside the cage while security struggled to maintain order. At the same time, members of Khabib's team jumped over the cage and punched an unaware McGregor, adding to the complete chaos of the live broadcast.
Post-fight, Conor was ushered from the octagon as an irate crowd expressed their discontent with Nurmagomedov. The Russian champion insisted that he should get the UFC Lightweight championship presented to him during the announcement of the winner of the bout, but UFC president, Dana White refused, citing safety concerns from the crowd. Khabib was escorted backstage as security huddled around him, avoiding objects being thrown from the audience. Surprisingly, the 155 LBS champion attended the post-fight press conference and made a short statement, including an apology to the Nevada State Athletic Commission for the incident. But, the damage is done because instead of Khabib's dominate win against the top star in the organization, the narrative for UFC 229 is the unprofessional brawl that took place after the main event. At what will be the most watched UFC pay-per-view of the year, the story will be anything but the sport itself.
However, make no mistake about it, the UFC allowed for this situation to be possible because of the way it handled previous incidents. When Conor McGregor was arrested after he threw a dolly through a bus window, injuring fighters that were scheduled for that weekend's card, I wrote that he doesn't deserve a spot in the UFC, but that he would probably compete again. Conor was originally charged with a felon and there were civil lawsuits against him for the injuries caused. McGregor's legal team got the charges reduced to disorderly conduct, and the UFC did nothing to reprimand him for his actions. The top star in the company injured mid-card fighters that don't draw the major money he does so management wasn't going to release the golden goose. It's a harsh reality, but cash is the top priority for the WME group, and McGregor sells pay-per-views. If there were no consequences for the main event star that illegally injured others then why would management expect any different from another main eventer?
In fact, UFC brass exploited McGregor's illegal attacks when they used footage of the bus incident to promote the UFC 229 event. You reap what you sow.
When Conor got a free pass for bus attack and more recently, when Jon Jones somehow only received a 15-month retroactive suspension for a second failed PED test, the UFC sent a message that if you draw enough money, you can get away with things that would get others fired.
As mentioned, I penned an article where I said that Conor shouldn't have a spot in the UFC after the bus incident, and I will say this now, Khabib should be fired for his actions after the main event at UFC 229. Just as with the Conor incident earlier this year, don't expect Nurmagomedov to be released because one way or another, there's now more money to be made from him. Management isn't going to leave that money on the table.
As of this writing, the Nevada State Athletic Commission has yet to determine any fines or suspensions for Nurmagomedov, but his check for the bout is being withheld until the commission makes a decision. Conor was paid because it was determined that he didn't cause the brawl. That being said, it can't be understated how much of a negative impact this ridiculous post-fight chaos could have on the sport. The Fertittas and an entire generation of fighters invested years to prove that mixed martial arts was about competition, not a blood sport. What Nurmagomedov did when he jumped the fence and attacked members of McGregor's team wasn't mixed martial arts, it was assault. The same can be said for when Conor attacked the bus, that wasn't fight hype, it was assault, which is why he was arrested. If Khabib faces any charges from the incident remains to be seen, but Conor refused to press charges so three members of Nurmagomedov's team were released after initially being detained.
The bottom line is, the next few months will be a pivotal point for the UFC in terms of the perception of mixed martial arts. The company is still low on star power, the Jon Jones situation looks like an example of corporate corruption, and the UFC will have to present quality fights for its launch on ESPN next year. Khabib not only ruined the championship win, but considering that he was relatively unknown to the general public prior to this near-riot, he will be known as the fighter involved in the fights outside of the cage after a pay-per-view. There's no excuse for Nurmagomedov's actions, but the UFC should send a message before these ridiculous antics from a variety of fighters ruin the sport.
Friday, October 5, 2018
UFC 229
This weekend's UFC 229 card from Madison Square Garden could be a very historic event, both from a financial and promotional perspective. After months of tension, Khabib Nurmagomedov will defend his UFC Lightweight championship against the returning Conor McGregor, the most controversial and top star on the roster.
Ironically, McGregor's return to the octagon will take place in the same arena where he last competed almost two years ago, knocking out Eddie Alvarez to claim the same 205 LBS title that he will compete for on Saturday. Since the victory that made him a double champion in November of 2016 at MSG, Conor made many headlines, but none of them were about his accomplishments in mixed martial arts. As I've written before, UFC management shoehorned McGregor into a scenario that provided him the chance to win two titles and gave the company the opportunity to market a double champion, granting him a shot at the 155 LBS title before he ever defended the featherweight championship that he won when he defeated Jose Aldo in late-2015.
Keep in mind, the UFC is as much of a business, if not more so, as it is a sport.
Many of the stars from the era that saw MMA surge in popularity had declined or retired so UFC brass knew they needed new athletes to market to the general public. The charismatic McGregor received the promotional push and was marketed as the top star in the organization. Don't get me wrong, Conor is a tremendous fighter, but he doesn't necessarily have the well-rounded skills that other top stars had from the previous era. Still, his Ric Flair style and presentation made him a major draw on pay-per-view and his bouts are among the best-selling in the history of the company. More specifically, his grudge rematch with Nate Diaz at UFC 196 set a record for MMA PPV, generating over 1.5 million buys. His previously mentioned win against Alvarez was his most recent pay-per-view bout and garnered 1.3 million buys, which is also one of the highest PPV numbers in UFC history.
Conor McGregor might not be the most complete fighter in MMA, but he draws money, which is the most important factor from a business perspective.
After UFC management marketed and promoted McGregor as the biggest star in the organization, arguably at the expense of entire divisions, he took that name value to boxing for a mega payday to fight Floyd Mayweather. The brash Irishman is known for his mic skills, but the media tour for his August 2017 bout against Mayweather often resembled a sideshow, and boxing purists scoffed at the contest. The former MMA champion was stopped in the tenth round via TKO, but his goal was to get paid, not jump start a boxing career so it was basically mission accomplished.
The paycheck from boxing was exponentially more than Conor made previously in the octagon so he had much more leverage at the negotiating table for a return to the cage, prompting speculation about if he would actually fight in the UFC again.
Perhaps, the "Notorious" McGregor overestimated what he could do with his over-the-top antics, as his confrontation with Khabib's fight team this past April made TMZ headlines just days before the UFC 223 card in Brooklyn. Nurmagomedov, who was scheduled to fight Tony Ferguson, got into an altercation with a fighter from McGregor's team during fight week. Ferguson suffered a knee injury during training, and Max Halloway was declared unable to take his spot on the card because of weight cutting problems so Al Iaquinta was added as a late replacement for the main event. Conor flew from Dublin to New York to confront Khabib, and when a bus that transported the fighters on that weekend's card was parked after a media event, McGregor threw a dolly through the window, injuring some of the athletes that were scheduled to fight. The event was further scrambled and a warrant was issued for McGregor's arrest following the bus incident. Khabib defeated Iaquinta via unanimous decision, and McGregor turned himself into New York police a few days later.
Originally charged with a felon that could've affected him ability to fight in the United States, McGregor's expensive legal team was able to get the charges reduced to disorderly conduct and he was ordered to perform community service. Still, there were questions about if Conor had any plans to compete again, especially after management was forced to strip him of both the featherweight and lightweight belts due to lack of title defenses.
However, it was announced just a few months ago that McGregor would challenge Nurmagomedov for the 155 LBS championship, a title that Conor held previously, but never defended. This grudge match is expected to draw major numbers on pay-per-view, with Dana White speculating that it might set a buy rate record, but I think that's more of a hype strategy than anything. Regardless, UFC 229 will undoubtedly draw over a million PPV buys, which translates to major money for everyone involved.
So, what will happen during the actual fight?
Stylistically, this isn't a good match-up for McGregor. Khabib is undefeated with a record of 26-0 and he has a well-rounded skill set that has garnered KO, submission, and decision wins. A two-time Sambo champion, Nurmagomedov will have the advantage in the clinch and on the ground. Conor's solid record of 21-3 is impressive, but the three losses in his career were via submission so he will have to avoid the ground game in this contest. If the fight ends within the first time rounds, it favors Conor's ability to land dynamic punches, but if the fight reaches the championship rounds, it's very possible that Khabib could win with a submission.
Granted, anything can happen in mixed martial arts, but I will pick Khabib to win the fight, mostly because he has the skill set to defeat McGregor. The other major factor here is ring rust because Conor hasn't fought in the octagon in two years so his cardio might be affected in the later rounds. McGregor shouldn't underestimate Khabib or take this fight lightly because the mindset of each athlete could be another determining factor in this bout. McGregor is already extremely wealthy and will receive another major payday from UFC 229, but Nurmagomedov has the added motivation of the potential for major money fights in the future if he defeats the top star in the company.
Ironically, McGregor's return to the octagon will take place in the same arena where he last competed almost two years ago, knocking out Eddie Alvarez to claim the same 205 LBS title that he will compete for on Saturday. Since the victory that made him a double champion in November of 2016 at MSG, Conor made many headlines, but none of them were about his accomplishments in mixed martial arts. As I've written before, UFC management shoehorned McGregor into a scenario that provided him the chance to win two titles and gave the company the opportunity to market a double champion, granting him a shot at the 155 LBS title before he ever defended the featherweight championship that he won when he defeated Jose Aldo in late-2015.
Keep in mind, the UFC is as much of a business, if not more so, as it is a sport.
Many of the stars from the era that saw MMA surge in popularity had declined or retired so UFC brass knew they needed new athletes to market to the general public. The charismatic McGregor received the promotional push and was marketed as the top star in the organization. Don't get me wrong, Conor is a tremendous fighter, but he doesn't necessarily have the well-rounded skills that other top stars had from the previous era. Still, his Ric Flair style and presentation made him a major draw on pay-per-view and his bouts are among the best-selling in the history of the company. More specifically, his grudge rematch with Nate Diaz at UFC 196 set a record for MMA PPV, generating over 1.5 million buys. His previously mentioned win against Alvarez was his most recent pay-per-view bout and garnered 1.3 million buys, which is also one of the highest PPV numbers in UFC history.
Conor McGregor might not be the most complete fighter in MMA, but he draws money, which is the most important factor from a business perspective.
After UFC management marketed and promoted McGregor as the biggest star in the organization, arguably at the expense of entire divisions, he took that name value to boxing for a mega payday to fight Floyd Mayweather. The brash Irishman is known for his mic skills, but the media tour for his August 2017 bout against Mayweather often resembled a sideshow, and boxing purists scoffed at the contest. The former MMA champion was stopped in the tenth round via TKO, but his goal was to get paid, not jump start a boxing career so it was basically mission accomplished.
The paycheck from boxing was exponentially more than Conor made previously in the octagon so he had much more leverage at the negotiating table for a return to the cage, prompting speculation about if he would actually fight in the UFC again.
Perhaps, the "Notorious" McGregor overestimated what he could do with his over-the-top antics, as his confrontation with Khabib's fight team this past April made TMZ headlines just days before the UFC 223 card in Brooklyn. Nurmagomedov, who was scheduled to fight Tony Ferguson, got into an altercation with a fighter from McGregor's team during fight week. Ferguson suffered a knee injury during training, and Max Halloway was declared unable to take his spot on the card because of weight cutting problems so Al Iaquinta was added as a late replacement for the main event. Conor flew from Dublin to New York to confront Khabib, and when a bus that transported the fighters on that weekend's card was parked after a media event, McGregor threw a dolly through the window, injuring some of the athletes that were scheduled to fight. The event was further scrambled and a warrant was issued for McGregor's arrest following the bus incident. Khabib defeated Iaquinta via unanimous decision, and McGregor turned himself into New York police a few days later.
Originally charged with a felon that could've affected him ability to fight in the United States, McGregor's expensive legal team was able to get the charges reduced to disorderly conduct and he was ordered to perform community service. Still, there were questions about if Conor had any plans to compete again, especially after management was forced to strip him of both the featherweight and lightweight belts due to lack of title defenses.
However, it was announced just a few months ago that McGregor would challenge Nurmagomedov for the 155 LBS championship, a title that Conor held previously, but never defended. This grudge match is expected to draw major numbers on pay-per-view, with Dana White speculating that it might set a buy rate record, but I think that's more of a hype strategy than anything. Regardless, UFC 229 will undoubtedly draw over a million PPV buys, which translates to major money for everyone involved.
So, what will happen during the actual fight?
Stylistically, this isn't a good match-up for McGregor. Khabib is undefeated with a record of 26-0 and he has a well-rounded skill set that has garnered KO, submission, and decision wins. A two-time Sambo champion, Nurmagomedov will have the advantage in the clinch and on the ground. Conor's solid record of 21-3 is impressive, but the three losses in his career were via submission so he will have to avoid the ground game in this contest. If the fight ends within the first time rounds, it favors Conor's ability to land dynamic punches, but if the fight reaches the championship rounds, it's very possible that Khabib could win with a submission.
Granted, anything can happen in mixed martial arts, but I will pick Khabib to win the fight, mostly because he has the skill set to defeat McGregor. The other major factor here is ring rust because Conor hasn't fought in the octagon in two years so his cardio might be affected in the later rounds. McGregor shouldn't underestimate Khabib or take this fight lightly because the mindset of each athlete could be another determining factor in this bout. McGregor is already extremely wealthy and will receive another major payday from UFC 229, but Nurmagomedov has the added motivation of the potential for major money fights in the future if he defeats the top star in the company.
Tuesday, October 2, 2018
Gary Cappetta's Beyond Bodyslams
The legendary Mick Foley's New York Times #1 best-selling autobiography, "Have A Nice Day" began with an incident that could only happen in the professional wrestling business. Under his Cactus Jack persona, Foley was treading water in Ted Turner's World Championship Wrestling in the middle of the slump of the industry of the early 90s, attempting to make a name for himself through a series of risky maneuvers. As Mick detailed in the pages of his famous book, his already injured ear was further damaged when his head became stuck in the tightened ring ropes. As Foley collapsed onto the outside of the ring with his head finally free, the referee picked up the now-missing ear and passed it to the unsuspecting ring announcer, Gary Michael Cappetta. Usually, Cappetta never left his place at ringside, as he was responsible for time cues and promptly declaring the winner of each bout, but on that night in Germany in 1994, the booming voice of WCW took the grappler's ear to the dimly-lit backstage area to find a way to preserve it so that it could be reattached to Foley's head. The piece of flesh that resembled uncooked chicken had hair and tape dangling from it before Cappetta showed it to then-booker, Ric Flair. As the story goes, Mick didn't get his ear reattached, but it was certainly a notable effort from Cappetta to transport the flesh from the ring to a bag of ice in the locker room.
This unbelievable tale of the missing ear is only one of the very unique memories that Gary Cappetta has from a career that spans nearly five decades, and this Saturday, he plans to bring his critically acclaimed stage show to the Pittsburgh area in association with the International Wrestling Cartel's "Unbreakable" event.
"Beyond Bodyslams:The Rematch" is the second edition of Cappetta's live event after a successful tour last year. Described as an emotional roller coaster for its variety of memorable and genuine stories, Gary takes the audience behind the curtain to hear his unique perspective of the very unique sports entertainment industry. "The Rematch" gives him a chance to tell more stories from the times he shared the ring with legendary performers from different eras of professional wrestling. After he became a ring announcer by mere coincidence when he attended a show that needed someone to make the introduction of the competitors in 1974, Cappetta has decades worth of stories to share with fans, which is what he considers his favorite part of his stage show.
"Interacting with the fans, I've always had a great rapport with the fans. I developed a rapport with the fans when the cameras weren't rolling when I would work live events in venues around the world. The ring announcer is always the most accessible to the fans and how you use that time will determine how close you are with the fans. I didn't pretend to be any kind of star, I was a regular guy, I was a fan. The emotional I brought to my announcing came from my heart," Cappetta explained.
The genuine enthusiasm the one known as "The World's Most Dangerous Ring Announcer" brings to the stage is very reminiscence of the energy he brought to the mic when he introduced some of the biggest stars in the history of the industry. After years surrounded by the glamour of sports entertainment, Gary's "Beyond Bodyslams" has its own element of showmanship with music, props, and a video screen to allow for additional context to his stories.
Cappetta's stage performance has received rave reviews, and each event offers its own atmosphere for those live in attendance. During a recent show in Chicago, the late Brian Pillman's son, who is now a wrestler himself, joined Gary to discuss his father's legacy. The second generation loose cannon considered it a wonderful occasion for everyone involved.
"It was a truly magical experience . The fans at the event were some of the most knowledgeable people I've met. You can expect to learn more about the history of wrestling than you have ever known," Brian Pillman Jr. said.
This Saturday will be a special night for Cappetta, and will include a tribute to a Pittsburgh icon, Bruno Sammartino. A record-setting world champion, Bruno's impact on the region and the world was passed down through generations. As a part of the performance, Gary plans to illustrate Sammartino's greatness by featuring several magazine covers that showcased the Italian strongman throughout the years. Bruno will always have an important meaning to Cappetta.
"October 6th is Bruno Sammartino's birthday, and Bruno was my hero when I was a kid. I'm paying special tribute to Sammartino on his birthday. It wasn't planned, it just happened and I realized, I was at Bruno's funeral, and I was driving back from the funeral and I realized the date we had selected to coordinate with IWC's schedule so it really wasn't planned. I will be paying tribute to Bruno and how he influenced me. I'm going to take a step-by-step look at how he was able to connect with the fans on a very personal level. He went from being a hero to being my friend," Capetta said.
Even after nearly 45 years around the wrestling industry, Gary still watches the sport and still considers himself a fan. A native of the New Jersey area, he taught Spanish when he wasn't on tour with a national promotion. Today, Gary will regularly attend independent events, and even offers feedback to the next generation when asked as a way to give back to the sport. This weekend will be no different, as he's looking forward to the International Wrestling Cartel's live matches.
IWC is very excited to host GMC's Beyond Bodyslams! We partnered with him last year and thought that his show was so good that we offered to do a joint event if he ever came back to Pittsburgh. Ultimately, that led to our big event on October 6th at Court Time Sports Center. If this show is even close to as good as last year, we are in for a treat. But, I hear that it's going to be even better with a deeper look behind the scenes of many classic moments. Unbreakable will take place immediately after Beyond Bodyslams, and we are going all out to try to keep our sellout streak going," IWC promoter, Justin Plummer commented.
"Part of my stage show is about indy wrestling and the importance of supporting indy wrestling because if you care about the future of the industry, you need to support those that are training to be the stars of tomorrow," Cappetta remarked.
Along with the tales of luminaries such as Gorilla Monsoon, Bruno, Dusty Rhodes, and others, Cappetta plans to tell the story of traveling with Mean Mark, who later became The Undertaker. After a week on the road with the future phenom, Capetta will recount a confrontation between Mean Mark and a disgruntled foes from years earlier.
"Beyond Bodyslams:The Rematch" is guaranteed to be an entertaining show about many memorable characters, but perhaps the most impressive aspect of the event will be the genuine enthusiasm that Gary Michael Cappetta brings to each performance and the passion that he has for the professional wrestling industry.
This unbelievable tale of the missing ear is only one of the very unique memories that Gary Cappetta has from a career that spans nearly five decades, and this Saturday, he plans to bring his critically acclaimed stage show to the Pittsburgh area in association with the International Wrestling Cartel's "Unbreakable" event.
"Beyond Bodyslams:The Rematch" is the second edition of Cappetta's live event after a successful tour last year. Described as an emotional roller coaster for its variety of memorable and genuine stories, Gary takes the audience behind the curtain to hear his unique perspective of the very unique sports entertainment industry. "The Rematch" gives him a chance to tell more stories from the times he shared the ring with legendary performers from different eras of professional wrestling. After he became a ring announcer by mere coincidence when he attended a show that needed someone to make the introduction of the competitors in 1974, Cappetta has decades worth of stories to share with fans, which is what he considers his favorite part of his stage show.
"Interacting with the fans, I've always had a great rapport with the fans. I developed a rapport with the fans when the cameras weren't rolling when I would work live events in venues around the world. The ring announcer is always the most accessible to the fans and how you use that time will determine how close you are with the fans. I didn't pretend to be any kind of star, I was a regular guy, I was a fan. The emotional I brought to my announcing came from my heart," Cappetta explained.
The genuine enthusiasm the one known as "The World's Most Dangerous Ring Announcer" brings to the stage is very reminiscence of the energy he brought to the mic when he introduced some of the biggest stars in the history of the industry. After years surrounded by the glamour of sports entertainment, Gary's "Beyond Bodyslams" has its own element of showmanship with music, props, and a video screen to allow for additional context to his stories.
Cappetta's stage performance has received rave reviews, and each event offers its own atmosphere for those live in attendance. During a recent show in Chicago, the late Brian Pillman's son, who is now a wrestler himself, joined Gary to discuss his father's legacy. The second generation loose cannon considered it a wonderful occasion for everyone involved.
"It was a truly magical experience . The fans at the event were some of the most knowledgeable people I've met. You can expect to learn more about the history of wrestling than you have ever known," Brian Pillman Jr. said.
This Saturday will be a special night for Cappetta, and will include a tribute to a Pittsburgh icon, Bruno Sammartino. A record-setting world champion, Bruno's impact on the region and the world was passed down through generations. As a part of the performance, Gary plans to illustrate Sammartino's greatness by featuring several magazine covers that showcased the Italian strongman throughout the years. Bruno will always have an important meaning to Cappetta.
"October 6th is Bruno Sammartino's birthday, and Bruno was my hero when I was a kid. I'm paying special tribute to Sammartino on his birthday. It wasn't planned, it just happened and I realized, I was at Bruno's funeral, and I was driving back from the funeral and I realized the date we had selected to coordinate with IWC's schedule so it really wasn't planned. I will be paying tribute to Bruno and how he influenced me. I'm going to take a step-by-step look at how he was able to connect with the fans on a very personal level. He went from being a hero to being my friend," Capetta said.
Even after nearly 45 years around the wrestling industry, Gary still watches the sport and still considers himself a fan. A native of the New Jersey area, he taught Spanish when he wasn't on tour with a national promotion. Today, Gary will regularly attend independent events, and even offers feedback to the next generation when asked as a way to give back to the sport. This weekend will be no different, as he's looking forward to the International Wrestling Cartel's live matches.
IWC is very excited to host GMC's Beyond Bodyslams! We partnered with him last year and thought that his show was so good that we offered to do a joint event if he ever came back to Pittsburgh. Ultimately, that led to our big event on October 6th at Court Time Sports Center. If this show is even close to as good as last year, we are in for a treat. But, I hear that it's going to be even better with a deeper look behind the scenes of many classic moments. Unbreakable will take place immediately after Beyond Bodyslams, and we are going all out to try to keep our sellout streak going," IWC promoter, Justin Plummer commented.
"Part of my stage show is about indy wrestling and the importance of supporting indy wrestling because if you care about the future of the industry, you need to support those that are training to be the stars of tomorrow," Cappetta remarked.
Along with the tales of luminaries such as Gorilla Monsoon, Bruno, Dusty Rhodes, and others, Cappetta plans to tell the story of traveling with Mean Mark, who later became The Undertaker. After a week on the road with the future phenom, Capetta will recount a confrontation between Mean Mark and a disgruntled foes from years earlier.
"Beyond Bodyslams:The Rematch" is guaranteed to be an entertaining show about many memorable characters, but perhaps the most impressive aspect of the event will be the genuine enthusiasm that Gary Michael Cappetta brings to each performance and the passion that he has for the professional wrestling industry.
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