Wednesday, December 28, 2016

UFC 207

In a year when the Ultimate Fighting Championship was sold for over $4 billion dollars, UFC 207 will provide the conclusion this Friday at the T-Mobile arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. A solid under card is scheduled to take place that will feature former champion TJ Dillashaw, but the main event will have a direct impact on the championship picture and possibly the direction of the organization next year.

Ronda Rousey was the biggest star in mixed martial arts and transitioned to the main stream when she released an autobiography, appeared in movies, was a frequent guest on TV shows, and did a segment with The Rock at Wrestlemania. She took the concept of women's MMA, something that Gina Carano represented just long enough to use to get film roles, from a sparsely used feature on Strike Force under cards and brought it to the main event of the major league of the sport. "Rowdy" Ronda is beautiful enough, gritty enough, and authentic enough to endear herself to every demographic.

Female fans began to follow this fighting phenom as she used a combination of Olympic-level judo and wild punches to arm bar and KO her competition, often within two minutes of the opening bell. Ronda also shows her softer side outside of the cage and regularly uses her fame to contribute to charities, including when she donated $30,000 to a jiu-jit su school in Brazil after she defeated Bethe Correia. All of these traits have contributed to the mega popularity that she has today.

Still, the bright lights of the main stream media can be a distraction, especially for a combat sport athlete. The argument can certainly be made that a top level fighter shouldn't try to balance a full-time acting career while in their prime as a fighter because it will simply distract from their preparation. When Rousey walked into the octagon in front of a record-setting crowd of more than 56,000 fans in Melbourne, Australia, she overlooked her opponent or wasn't completely prepared. The former Women's Bantamweight champion had run through the competition relatively easily in her previous bouts and played right into the game of Holly Holm, a multiple-time boxing champion in three different weight classes. Rousey tried to rush forward with a flurry of punches, assuming she would connect with one of the wild hooks that had conquered her prior opposition. Holm, showing her experience, countered and landed combinations on the Judo bronze medalist. After the first round, Ronda's lip was bleeding and she looked puzzled as to what to do next. Less than a minute into the second round, Holly landed a punch that staggered Ronda and followed it up with a highlight reel head kick as Rousey collapsed to the canvas.

Post-fight, the shocking victory put some of the spotlight on then-champion Holm, but she dropped the title to veteran Miesha Tate in dramatic fashion via fifth round submission at UFC 196. Holly lost her next bout, and Tate wouldn't be champion long either, as she lost via choke to Amanda Nunes in the main event of UFC 200 in July. Following her title defeat, Tate lost via decision at Madison Square Garden at UFC 205 and subsequently announced her retirement after a notable career.

So, the Bantamweight title picture became somewhat of a revolving door, but where's Ronda Rousey?

It has been over a year since Rousey fought, much of that time she spent working on already scheduled film projects, but questions have remained about her future in the sport since her first professional loss. The extent that the toll of the defeat took on her wasn't made public until she appeared on the Ellen Degeneres show earlier this year. An emotional Ronda explained that the KO was so devastating to her that she contemplated suicide after the fight. It's well known that her dad committed suicide during her youth, and those with a family history are more at risk for taking their own life so it's obviously a very serious subject. It should be noted that if fighting again poses ANY risk to her mental health then Ronda should retire because it would be tragic if she was harmed outside of the cage because of the pressures of fighting in the octagon. I would guess that UFC 207 bout wouldn't be scheduled if Rousey was in any type of mental danger.

Regardless, questions about if Ronda's head will be in the game this Friday will remain the main topic ahead of the contest. I have to say, if Rousey is mentally ready to return to combat sports is probably the key factor to this bout because as cliche as it sounds, the fight game is very much based on mental preparation. If Rousey hesitates inside the octagon, it will cost her the opportunity to reclaim the championship.

Further adding to the speculation, Ronda refused to do any media appearances during the week of the fight so is she completely focused or does she just want to avoid questions about the KO loss before she enters the octagon again? It's somewhat ironic that Ronda was allowed to refuse media, but when Conor McGregor didn't want to appear for a press conference, his fight at UFC 200 was cancelled. It's also interesting that WME, the group that bought the company earlier this year, represents Rousey so it's a wise business move for them to grant her some exceptions because they have a more direct vested interest in her career. It's not a coincidence that the entire promotional effort for the pay-per-view is based around Ronda's return, which isn't exactly fair to the champion, but it's a smart business move because Rousey is the bigger star. As far as marketing to the general public, the return itself is the draw, not necessarily the opponent.

For Amanda Nunes, she doesn't have much to lose, despite being the champion. If she loses the belt, most fans are expecting a Rousey victory so it doesn't do much to damage the Brazilian's status. If Nunes defeats Rousey, it will propel her to another level in the sport so being under the radar could work to her advantage. At 13-4, Nunes isn't the perfect fighter, but she's well rounded and formidable competition so she shouldn't be overlooked, even if she actually is overshadowed by Rousey's return before the fight.

As for a winner, it's tough to say because as mentioned, the result of the bout will depend on if Ronda is mentally ready to fight again and without any fight week interviews to gauge her preparation, to pick a winner is more of a guess than anything. If Ronda is mentally ready, she can win within two rounds, but if she's not, Nunes could get the victory during the championship rounds. As a guess, I will pick Ronda Rousey to get the win because she probably would've retired if she didn't want to fight again.

Thursday, December 22, 2016

Magnum TA documentary

The events of October 14, 1986 alternated the course of pro wrestling history and most importantly, the life of Terry Allen, the charismatic 80s star known as Magnum TA. On his way home from a series of shows, he lost control of his Porsche, veering across two lanes of the highway before he struck a pole at nearly 50 MPH. Allen barely survived, his in-ring career was over, and medical experts said he would never walk again.

But, he never quit.

Highspots.com recently released a new documentary profiling the life and career of Terry Allen, a production that features the comments of many luminaries of the industry that really demonstrates the impact that he had on the business in a relatively short time. "I Never Quit" gives a unique look into the story of an underrated superstar that probably doesn't get the amount of recognition that he deserves because of his brief run on the national stage.

As a youth in Norfolk, VA, Allen watched the Mid-Atlantic show with his family and was a fan of the giant athletes he saw projected onto his television screen. His mother, Mrs. Allen tells the story of his first venture into athletics on the amateur mat, which resulted in only one win the entire season.

But, he never quit.

Eventually, he read the legendary Dan Gable's autobiography, and this documentary details how he progressed through the amateur ranks, winning awards in high school and college. During his time working as a bouncer at local clubs in his hometown, Magnum met some of the stars that were in the territory at the time, including Greg Valentine, Ricky Steamboat, and Buzz Sawyer. A very eccentric individual, the late Sawyer told Allen that he had potential as a wrestler. Allen paid Sawyer to teach him the ropes, but Buzz soon departed to work the pacific northwest territory for Don Owens while Magnum waited for him to return. After a few months, Allen refused to be conned by the savvy veteran and drove across the country to Portland, showing up at Buzz's door to start the lessons. Sawyer, not expecting the confrontation, agreed to show Magnum the basics, and with just two hours of training, Terry Allen debuted in his first professional match during the Portland TV program.

Soon, he began a journeyman path, learning his craft from some of the best minds in the industry as he traveled to the small southwest territory before he landed in Florida, a place where the pieces of the puzzle began to be assembled for him as a performer. Sitting under the learning tree of the legendary promoter Eddie Graham proved to be a valuable experience for the young grappler as he learned the intricacies of almost every facet of the business. Interestingly, this production will provide insight into how Terry Allen was initially called "Magnum." While he worked Florida, he forged a strong friendship with "The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes and it would later play a pivotal role in his career.

In 1983, Allen began working for the hard-nosed Bill Watts and helped provide the territory with a boost, influenced by the Memphis booking style of Bill Dundee. It was during his time of logging 2,000 mile road trips during the week that Allen began to showcase the image that made him famous. Clad in a leather jacket and seen riding a motorcycle, Magnum TA was youthful enough, but still rugged enough to draw every demographic of the audience. He became one of Watts' big draws and worked main event matches just a few years into his wrestling tenure, a prime example of the natural talent of Terry Allen. In other interviews, the legendary manager Jim Cornette recalled that some of the most heated moments of the Midnight Express' heel run in the territory involved Magnum, including when the heel trio poured tar on him before dowsing him with feathers.

Just as Magnum TA was peaking in Mid South Wrestling, his close friend Dusty called him when Jim Crockett Promotions was in a precarious situation. In 1984, Dusty was the booker for JCP and was set to build Barry Windham as the next top baby face to chase the championship. Crockett Promotions hadn't yet started on TBS and the 80s wrestling boom hadn't taken place yet so Windham left abruptly to work for the WWF for more money. Dusty needed to boost the territory and Allen, always loyal to his friends, decided to work the Carolina territory. When JCP started on the air after the WWF infamously took Georgia Championship Wrestling's spot on TBS, Magnum TA became a national name, surging his popularity among fans.

One of the most intriguing features of this documentary is the profile of the Magnum/Tully Blanchard feud and specifically, the legendary "I Quit" match that probably defined Allen's in-ring career. Hearing the details of how the rugged baby face took the shards of a wooden chair and jammed them into the head of  the arrogant heel gives a unique view into the amount of work that went into presenting a sense of realism to the match. Following that, the best of seven series with Nikita Koloff for the US title is profiled and it gives a look into a different dynamic as to when Magnum TA was the veteran of the matches.

It's heartbreaking to hear the specifics of the car accident that changed the course of Magnum TA's life. After the pole that he hit fell onto the car he was driving, it broke several vertebrate in his neck, which left the athlete in the prime of his career paralyzed. Interesting details about his decision to have surgery immediately will be recounted as well as the grueling therapy sessions that he did in an attempt to walk again. The production will confirm the details about what fans speculated for years, Magnum TA was slated to win the NWA World Heavyweight championship from Ric Flair and work as the top star of the promotion. Who knows what ripple effect this could've had on the industry if Magnum could've avoided the wreck?

After enduring 2-3 therapy sessions a day, Terry Allen walked out of the hospital with the assistance of a cane five months after the near-fatal accident. As fans know, Magnum made an emotional return to the wrestling scene in 1987, often accompanying his former rival Nikita to the ring. He worked for WCW for a few years as a broadcaster and other roles before he retired from the business. Perhaps the most uplifting aspect of the documentary is that 30 years after the car crash, Terry Allen is a successful family man today. He works in the financial industry and also runs a company that builds different industrial structures.

At 27-years old, Magnum TA was paralyzed in a car accident at a time when he was achieving national fame. He was slated to become a major star before his career was cut short. It's rather remarkable that Allen legitimately earned legendary status from just six years in the sport, and it's proof of the natural talent that he had. He survived the injuries to become a successful family man. Who knows what Magnum TA could've accomplished in the square circle if he continued wrestling? The events of October 14, 1986 changed the career of Terry Allen.

But, he never quit.

Thursday, December 15, 2016

The Kevin Owens situation

Kevin Owens is a heel.

There was a time when heels being...well, heels was part of what made pro wrestling great. This aspect of the industry, especially in 2016 shouldn't have to be explained, but after reading about a recent "incident" at a WWE house show, I wanted to write this column in an attempt to put the situation into prospective.

Kevin Owens, the WWE Universal champion and top heel on Raw, was scheduled to wrestle Roman Reigns at a live event in Lowell, MA last weekend. As Owens walked toward the ring, he spotted a young fan in a Roman Reigns t-shirt and told him that he should buy a KO t-shirt instead. The Canadian star then changed his mind and told the youngster not to buy his shirt and not to touch him. The fan's mom recorded the interaction and posted on Facebook that her heart "sank" because Owens was rude.

So, a heel wasn't all smiles and that ruined the entire experience for the young kid? Seriously?

This will sound very basic, but it must be pointed out here. One of the reasons that fans support the heroes in the pro wrestling genre is because the heels generate heat and the audience wants to see the "bad guy" lose. Without that heat, what is the reasoning to support the hero? In theory, the fans rallying behind the baby face gives them the encouragement to overcome the odds to defeat the heel. For example, part of the draw to pro wrestling is that the concept presented is that if the fans bought tickets to support their star, they could actually influence the result of a contest. Obviously, there's a different dynamic in 2016 with the business exposed as predetermined, but the point remains that crowd participation is one of the selling point to draw a live crowd.

For example, when Bruno Sammartino battled the evil villains of his era, crowds flocked to see him because they knew they had to be their to support their hero. In the mist of the cold war, the audience couldn't let the Italian strongman battle the Russian, Ivan Koloff without them.

Granted, there's a line of decency and personal conduct that shouldn't be crossed. And, Kevin Owens did NOT cross any type of line. He wasn't vulgar or reckless toward the young fan so there's really no logical reason to complain as if Owens simply playing his part of the performance is somehow a traumatic event. In the social media era, it seems as though some people are just looking for their "Youtube moment" to go viral so that other people will notice them and the mom that wrote the message to complain about a "bad guy" wrestler was probably attempting to get other fans to take notice. If KO yelled obscenities toward the kid, that's a different story entirely, but that's NOT what happened.

Keep in mind, this interaction took place within the context of a wrestling show when heels portray themselves as "bad guys" to project the hero/heel dynamic that was mentioned earlier. Considering it's 2016, if a wrestler is at an autograph signing and they are rude to fans, that's also a completely different story because their role isn't as a villain when they meet fans.

Again, this should go without saying, but there's a different between the characters on TV and the athletes portraying them. Kevin Steen is the person behind the Owens persona and it would be unfair to judge him as a person strictly based on when he was clearly playing the role of the villain at a wrestling event. Another aspect of this whole situation that should be realized is that Steen has a son around the same age as the fan he confronted so realistically, do you think he would actually try to ruin the experience for him? Plus, if you've followed his career for any amount of time, it's obvious that Steen's family is very important to him so he doesn't seem like the type of person that would try to ruin a family experience.

Just my two cents, I actually met Kevin Steen at an ROH show a few years ago and he was one of the politest wrestlers that I've ever met so I truly don't think he had any malicious intentions last weekend.

Let's not forget, Kevin Owens has quickly become one of the top acts on WWE TV and his passion for the business is displayed when he's in the ring, which is one of the reasons that he generated a crowd reaction. You won't find an Owens match when he doesn't give it 100% and he has done well as WWE champion.

The bottom line is, Kevin Owens is a heel and there's nothing wrong with that.

Monday, December 12, 2016

The Cruiserweight division

The Cruiserweight division is doomed.

Don't think so? A look into the history of the lightweights inside a WWE ring and the events that took place so far will give an indication of a rather lackluster direction in the future.

First, it's well-known that the WWE will always be considered a "big man territory" and as long as Vince McMahon chooses the philosophy for the promotion, that's just a matter of fact. Granted, there were exceptions, mostly notably Daniel Bryan a few years ago, but we all know how long it took before the machine got behind him.

After the Cruiserweight division gained popularity on Nitro in WCW, the WWF's answer was a light heavyweight tournament in 1997. Through a working agreement with Michinoku Pro, Taka and a few others participated in the tournament, as well as various luchadors from Mexico. Taka, one of the young stars in Japan at the time, won the title, but the emphasis on smaller competitors was relatively brief during the Attitude era. Following that, the belt didn't get much of the spotlight with the exception of when it was used as an introduction for Rey Mysterio when he debuted in 2002.

After the CWC on the WWE Network garnered rave reviews earlier this year, the full-fledged return of the division was announced for September. In the two months that CWs have performed on WWE TV, it became clear that the division isn't a priority for WWE brass. When TJ Perkins won the CWC, he was awarded the championship, but dropped it shortly after that to Brian Kendrick. When Kendrick won the title at the HIAC pay-per-view, the bout was sandwiched in an odd spot on the card and thus received a lukewarm crowd reaction at best, which made it sound as if the audience couldn't care less during the broadcast.

In my opinion, this was the first pivotal mistake that was made and switching the title so quickly essentially didn't give Perkins the amount of time necessary to establish himself as a star. Keep in mind, the network has 1.5 million subscribers while Raw draws roughly three million viewers so at least half of Raw viewers aren't familiar with the CWC. When TJ dropped the belt, he basically became just another crusierweight. At the same time, Kendrick kept the title for a short time and then dropped it so while the fans know him, it's not as though Brian Kendrick had an opportunity to reestablish himself either. That predicament summarizes the CW division as a whole, it's a collection of tremendous athletes that is virtually unknown to the majority of the WWE audience.

This is where it's important to present a specific character for each competitor in the division because when everyone wrestles a similar style, competitors will often become interchangeable without anyone standing out as unique and thus being viewed as generic. Cedric Alexander is a great athlete, but what sets him apart from the other CWs? Drew Gulak is a tremendously skilled technician, but what does the fan base know about him besides that he's a technical wrestler? TJ Perkins' video game based entrance could be used to enhance his popularity, especially within the PG product, but he didn't get the spotlight long enough to become a star to a new audience.

Don't get me wrong, this isn't a jab at anyone in the division, but a TV product is viewed differently by a different demographic than an independent show or even a WWE network show geared toward the diehard fans. Alexander and Gulak as great in-ring workers in their respective styles are enough to win over the crowd at an Evolve show because that demographic is there specifically for the in-ring product, but when they are on the same show as Roman Reigns or Kevin Owens, what makes them stand out?

Truthfully, aside from a few video packages, WWE brass haven't done much on Raw to truly establish the characters of the CW division and believe it or not, adding 205 Live to the network schedule will only complicate the problem. As mentioned, roughly half of the WWE TV audience subscribes to the network so if a storyline starts on the 205 show and continues on Raw, most of the viewing audience won't be familiar with what took place. In theory giving the CWs their own show would help them, but unless the division is exclusive to that show, it will create confusion when storylines progress to Raw.

Another aspect to take into consideration is that the WWE will obviously have some restrictions on what their performers can do in the ring as a safety precaution so the CW division isn't exactly a translation of an indy match on Raw. That being said, the crusierweight style that was unique twenty years ago is much more common place now and isn't just used by lightweights so it doesn't stand out as much as it did previously. For example, Dean Ambrose and Luke Harper both do dives through the ropes so some maneuvers that were once performed almost exclusively by lightweights won't get the same reaction in the CW division now. Plus, you have to take into account that there are generally more risks on WWE programming now than in years prior so the CW aerial moves won't get the same reaction either. That might not be a wise direction for the business considering the amount of injuries that occur, but the point is, the audience watches high risk spots in a variety of matches on the card so establishing CW characters will give the division a chance for longevity instead of a short term project.

There's no doubt that the CW division has the talent to get over with the causal WWE fans, but it's a matter of how it's booked and presented to the audience. So far, nobody has been the champion long enough to make themselves a star, and the matches on Raw usually seem like throw together matches of random wrestlers without any continuity. As mentioned, there's also the 205 Live situation where angles could get lost in translate to the Raw audience. The current champion Rich Swann is a tremendously talented and an extremely charismatic athlete with a unique background so he could get over as a major baby face. The problem is, what heels are in the division that generate heat? Again, it goes back to establishing different personas among the CWs.

It's booking 101 that a heel that gets heat can help a baby face get over with the crowd, and right now the lightweights don't have that dynamic to progress angles.

For all of WCW's mistakes, the Cruiserweight division was given an the amount of time to establish itself, mostly because it provided the bell-to-bell action that some of the older talent on the roster couldn't deliver. While WCW had a different and arguably ineffective long-term business model as a promotion, at least the time necessary to get the CW division over was invested on Nitro. Assuming Rich Swann or any other cruiserweight for that matter, gets over as a major star, where would they go from there? Are they pigeonholed in the CW division or is the potential of a main event run a possibility? If there's a glass ceiling for anyone competing at 205 then the chances of the project being successful are already limited.

Obviously, it remains to be seen how the prospect of the 205 division develops, but if the past few months are any indication, I would say it will flounder because of the lack of proper time to establish it. The talent of the CWs is undeniable so it has nothing to do with a particular wrestler, but more to do with the decision making for the division. The WWE is a global entity, and the company has to use its resources to promote and maintain various revenue streams so it's possible that an entirely new division with a possibly limited demographic isn't the top priority for them. That's not to say Vince McMahon is sitting behind his desk plotting ways to bury the CWs either, just more the fact that historically, lightweights aren't usually booked in a prominent role on WWE TV.

So, the CWs will probably get lost in the shuffle of the WWE landscape on Raw, but they might have a better chance of success if their matches were showcased exclusively on the WWE network, both because of the demographic of the subscribers to the streaming service and for the continuity of the angles. Regardless, I hope the Cruiserweights get a chance because there are several talented competitors in the division.

Wednesday, December 7, 2016

The career of Brandon K

In every genre of entertainment there are the journeymen that might not receive all the limelight, but are pivotal to the success of those within the main stream. The iconic Ray Charles had his traveling band, a group that he credited with making each live performance unique, for years. Longtime actor Bud Jamison enjoyed a 30 year career on film and a recurring character on television. The underrated John Cazale worked alongside De Niro, Pacino, and Brando, appearing in a series of films that are considered among the greatest of all time.

Professional wrestling also has its share of workhorses that had all the skills necessary to be successful and contributed much to the sport, even if they aren't known on a global level. Weather it be timing, injuries, or simply the climate of the business, they are several talented athletes that are a credit to the industry. Some of the names that comes to mind immediately are Dave Taylor and Dr. Tom Prichard, two skilled veterans that helped train several names in the business.

There are skilled wrestlers such as that at every level of the sport and as a commentator locally in Pittsburgh, I've had the chance to call the action during matches of upstarts with potential, as well as veterans that help teach the next generation. The top example of that in the steel city is Brandon Kaplack, an 19-year veteran of the squared circle that is known to fans as Brandon K. After nearly two decades in the ring and several years as the head trainer of the Pro Wrestling Express academy, he is now launching his own project. This month Brandon is set to open The Stronghold, a venue where he will continue his training duties and feature live events.

However, his journey to this new venture was a unique path, including when he shared a ring with an Olympic gold medalist.

As a youth, like most iron city fans, Brandon grew up on the WWF and was fascinated with the larger than life personas that were projected onto his TV screen. Hulk Hogan, Ultimate Warrior, and Bret Hart all held a prominent spot during his formative years. After graduating high school, he heard about live shows in his area and ironically, a friend that attended the same school was already wrestling. Quinn Magnum, an accomplished semi-retired grappler that now runs the Pro Wrestling Express promotion, invited Brandon to a show as an introduction to the local scene.

"I immediately went to a show to watch him and fell in love with indy wrestling. Afterwards, I asked Quinn how he got into this and he informed me that the promotion had a school, and he could get me in if I wanted. I didn't plan on it lasting so long," he said.

With a 22-year history, PWX is one of the longest running independent groups in the country, but when Brandon walked into his first training session in 1997, the business was at a completely different place, Cruiser weights weren't nearly as common as they are now. At the time, Paul Atlas and Brian Anthony, two proteges of Dominic DeNucci, were the trainers at the school. After his debut in 1998, fans of the blue collar league identified with Brandon's risk-taking style and the effort he displayed during bouts. Later, Sterling James Keenan, who eventually debuted on national TV as Corey Graves, trained at the same school and had several matches with Brandon prior to signing a WWE deal.

"My early career was great and brutal at the same time.  I was a small guy in the land of giants.  Everyone at that time was much bigger then me. So, my style had to be completely different, A lot of flying and technical work. But, it won over the fans.Thankfully, the guys took a liking to me and helped guide me in the right direction.  Paul and Brian trained me and did an awesome job in preparing me for everything.  I hit the road all the time back then.  I'd wrestle anywhere that would have me.  I traveled a lot with Dirk Ciglar and we got to work some awesome talent in a lot of different areas," Brandon recalls.

He began to turn heads with his technical ability early on and had the chance to do some WWF extra work within six months of his start. He stayed on the WWF radar in the years that followed and did a series of dark matches, including a competitive contest with Essa Rios in 2001. Having made a name for himself as one of the most solid performers in Pittsburgh, a variety of groups in the area and surrounding states wanted to add him to their cards.

One of the highlights of Brandon's early years in the sport was the chance to train with another Pittsburgh native Kurt Angle, who began training with the WWF in 1998 and was looking to stay sharp until he started on television so he attended local practice sessions. The late "Shocker" Sean Evans, who had been on WCW's radar in the late 90s after auditioning at the Power Plant, often offered advice to them. Being in the ring was Angle, Brandon knew that it was a matter of time before the Olympic gold medalist achieved fame in the pro ranks.

"He lived in the area of the PWX promotion and stopped up one day to check out if he could get some ring time.  I was always up there so on his first day there we talked a lot and after chaining around a bit we decided to plan to train together as much as we could before he would be on TV full time.  It worked out real well for both of us.   He was super new to pro wrestling at the time so we started out with the basics and worked up from there.  Sean Evans was in the sessions with us and did a lot of coaching.  Kurt was intense as you get when it came to training.  He was always on full throttle.  He was eager to learn, that was his best quality," he said.

As the years went on, Brandon continued to build a body of work and in the process became one of the most respected wrestlers in the Pittsburgh area, primarily competing for the organization where he started.

"I've really enjoyed my time at PWX.  It's been running a consistent show for 22 years and there has been so much talent to come in and out of its doors.  So much history there.   I'm just proud to have been a part of it all. But, honestly the things I remember, or maybe a better word is value, more is when someone compliments me on my work.  All I ever wanted to do was put on great matches," he commented.

Still, the grind of professional wrestling has taken its toll on the veteran and during the course of his career, he sustained his fair share of injuries, including when he broke his ankle in a match in 2013. After his ankle bent in an awkward angle, he finished the match and then went to the hospital to get an x-ray to confirm the injury.

"My style has changed over the years.  I've definitely slowed down on the big bumps and fast paced matches and concentrated more on being a technician. I try to avoid getting into the same rhythm with my matches, always trying to think of ways to change it up so not to become to stale."

Aside from always having solid matches and always being willing to help the younger generation of wrestlers, Brandon is extremely generous outside of the ring as well, doing humanitarian work in underdeveloped countries.

"My wife and I put teams together and visit areas where we find that there is a desperate need and do what we can to help the people in that area cope with the bad hands they've been dealt.  In Peru we helped build a facility that took in local children who previously lived in the city dumps.  At that facility they are taught a trade so they when the time came they would be able to find work.  They are given food and a warm bed.  Recently however we've been going to the Dominican Republic and working on the water problem they have in that area.  The water there is so contaminated that the people spend a majority of their time fighting off water born illness.  We've partnered with Wine to Water and Mission 2535 to get filters out to those people.  We go every year and always are looking for people who want to go and get to work," Brandon explained.

After nearly twenty years, but still regarded as one of the top talents in the region, Brandon knows that eventually his career will come to a conclusion, but that's what prompted him to launch the Stronghold project.

"I'm understanding that my wrestling career is in its twilight but I'm not ready to walk away from something that I've done passionately for 19 years now.  Promoting would be the next natural step.  I want to create a place that's fun for the fans and the wrestlers alike.  Hopefully a place that stays out of the mud that has engulfed indy wrestling around here and keeps its focus on moving forward creating a wonderful product."

Without a doubt, Brandon K has worked extremely hard to create a notable career among Pittsburgh fans. Perhaps if he started wrestling at a time when lightweights were given more opportunities or if injuries didn't occur, he could've made it nationally? That question is pure speculation, but there's no doubt that his contributions as a wrestler and trainer are a credit to the wrestling business. He didn't need a major contract to continue performing inside the ring ropes, he did it simply because of his passion for the sport. His contributions to the industry might not have landed him on pay-per-view, but they certainly made the sport better for the next generation.

Monday, December 5, 2016

Did Goldberg squash Brock Lesnar?

At Survivor Series, Goldberg returned to action for first time in 12 years, a move that prompted much speculation among fans, how would the 49-year-old preform after such an extended absence? Furthermore, as I penned in a column prior to the event, the Brock Lesnar bout from Wrestlemania 20 is memorable for all the wrong reasons, so how would the rematch be presented? This match was under very different circumstances and it was a much better bout, depending on your prospective.

After Goldberg was moved to the corner, he shoved Brock to the canvas and a confused former NCAA national champion looked to his adviser Paul Heyman for answers. As he stood up, he was hit with a spear out of nowhere and that was followed up with a second spear before the former WCW champion hoisted Lesnar up for the jack hammer for the win.

Goldberg defeated Brock Lesnar in less than two minutes.

It was a complete shock and a result that nobody expected. It generated outrage from some fans that consider the events of WM 30, when Lesnar defeated The Undertaker and snapped the streak, to be useless because he was "squashed" by the former WCW champion. Again, it's really all a matter of prospective. Was it actually a squash match? It's a colorful term and often brings to mind memorable jobbers such as "Iron" Mike Sharpe and Frankie Williams. If the definition of a squash match is strictly that only one competitor gets offense then yes, Brock was squashed. But, I disagree with that observation, it wasn't as though Goldberg dominated the former UFC Heavyweight champion for five minutes and then won. It was presented in such a way that it actually maintained Lesnar's credibility and didn't exposure any potential ring rust for Goldberg. It was done similar to a flash KO in boxing or MMA, Brock was caught off guard and didn't recover before the three count. It also gives Paul Heyman, who cuts the best promos on WWE TV, a perfect way to promote an eventual rematch. Heyman will explain to the audience that Survivor Series was a fluke and such an event couldn't happen again. At the same time, someone like Big Show, who was used to reignite Lesnar's momentum before, could be used to give him another dominate win.

Despite the "controversy" about how Survivor Series was booked, if you look at the situation objectively, it was probably the best option to maximize the money that Goldberg can draw during his current WWE run. In fact, the set up to draw more money was already put in place on Raw last week when Heyman explained that Lesnar suffered cracked ribs after the initial spear and that he would enter the Royal Rumble to confront Goldberg.

Keep in mind, the Rumble will take place at the 65,000-seat Alamodome and WWE brass will need something unique to pack the Wrestlemania type venue. Bill Goldberg received a tremendous reaction when he returned to the WWE and the logic behind his entry into the battle royal is potentially another title run. While that's probably not the plan, it gives the Alamodome another selling point aside from the Rumble itself, will Goldberg win it to main event Wrestlemania? The Lesnar storyline provides the reasoning for his entry and since Brock is a part-timer, his rare appearance adds to the potential draw. Finally, the actual confrontation is another angle to build toward to sell tickets, which is possible because of the type of finish at Survivor Series.

Chances are, Brock and Goldberg eliminate each other from the Rumble to set up another bout at Wrestlemania 33, another major venue where the company has to sell a lot of tickets. Essentially, management is getting more longevity from Goldberg's run. If Survivor Series featured a 15-minute match that exposed his ring rust from 12 years outside of the sport, the buzz around his return would've diminished. If the path that appears to be set is followed, the WWE gets three draws for major events over the course of about six months instead of a one-off appearance.

Plus, it should be noted that much of this rivalry is being used as a way to push WWE 2K17 video game sales and the continuation of the feud through the shopping season further promotes the game. As I said previously, it cost several million dollars to produce the video game and there's the potential of several million dollars for profit so there's more to Goldberg's return to the company than just his appearances on WWE TV.

When you consider the upside of the potential drawing power of Goldberg through Wrestlemania, it makes the most business sense to protect him from ring rust until the conclusion of the feud. Essentially, the Survivor Series finish allows the angle to draw more money and a longer match can be presented at the biggest stage possible. If the Wrestlemania 33 match isn't quite up to par, it's a moot point because at least the feud will have already drawn the money it was designed to draw during the course of a few pay-per-views.

Thursday, December 1, 2016

The Roman Reigns situation

Roman Reigns was, at one time, anointed to be the next top star for the WWE, taking the "John Cena spot" as the center piece of the company. As history shows, Reigns didn't get over, and still isn't over in most situations.

The reason Roman Reigns isn't over after two years of being pushed as the main event guy was summed up in one segment this past week on Raw. As Kevin Owens and Chris Jericho were complimenting each other in the ring, Reigns interrupted and mocked them before setting up a match with Owens later that night. The problem is, Roman attempted to be witty and comical, which came across as lame and counterproductive to what could be a successful formula for him.

I've said it before and I will say it again, the WWE seems to be looking for the next John Cena instead of just the next top star. While Cena is one of the most polarizing athletes in WWE history, he's a rare breed and nobody can deny his work ethic. Plus, regardless of if fans pay to cheer him or pay to boo him, John Cena draws money, which is the key to truly being considered the top guy. Again, some might boo him, but Cena has the mic skills to make the comedy promos work, at least for the demographic of the audience that he's trying to reach.

Roman's attempt to sound witty comes across as forced and unnatural, which is why the fans aren't buying it. Keep in mind, you can't blame Reigns for this either, he's literally just doing what he's told. Clearly, Roman works hard and he's doing the best he can with what he's given, and it's disappointing that he gets so much flak for it, but the audience has sent a message to management with the continuously hostile reaction. The perils of over scripted promos and an over sanitized product are another discussion for another time, but there's no question that the ridged script hasn't benefited the career of Roman Reigns.

It's a little puzzling why the over scripting ideology is still being used as the direction of the product, especially when it's generally acknowledged that the most successful characters in sports entertainment are simply extensions of those that are portraying them. The bottom line is, Roman Reigns isn't John Cena and he's not going to get over the same way that Cena did. If Roman is going to eventually be the top guy, he will get over in his own way.

But, can Roman Reigns get over at this point?

When The Shield was one of the most popular stables on WWE TV, Roman Reigns was presented as a destroyer. It was simple and somewhat one dimensional, but it was effective. The Samoan monster that is willing to fight all challengers was and can be effective. WWE brass has really flip-flopped on the presentation of Reigns, during the Sheamus feud, he was portrayed as the no non-sense powerhouse, but subsequently he attempted to deliver tacky jokes during a rather lackluster feud with Rusev. Speaking of the US title series, after the HIAC match with Rusev, Roman took a second after the pin to pose with the "surfs up" sign to the camera and it was so lame that it took the intensity away from the match that just happened. This past Monday, the promo with Owens was another example of how attempted comedy will limit the success of Reigns, as he again had lines that were similar to something Cena would be known to say, and delivered them in such a way that it actually took away from the effectiveness of his character. If the path to truly getting over on a long term basis for Roman is as the Samoan destroyer, why dilute that with counterproductive promos?

However, will the audience buy Reigns as a monster after these attempted witty promos?

In some ways, Reigns was exposed when he sounded unnatural attempting to deliver over scripted lines, and considering how often the presentation of his character was switched, does he still have the credibility to be perceived as the Samoan monster that will fight anyone?

Another point to consider, is when will Roman Reigns getting yet another run in the main event become stale? He has won the WWE title a few different times and still isn't over as a main event star so it's somewhat of a "been there done that" type of scenario. He won the match against Owens on Raw to get a title shot at the Road Block pay-per-view, but is there really a demand for him to be in the title picture?

 Basically, if Roman is going to get over to the extent that the WWE is pushing for, it seems like there's going to have be some type of reset for him, as the audience continues to make it clear they've had enough of the Reigns experiment. It was discussed previously that a heel turn would be a way to add a completely new dynamic to his character, and there was a time in sports entertainment when a performer that prompted booing from the crowd would actually be a heel. The lack of competition in the business allows WWE more flexibility when it comes to presenting the product that they want and as effective of a decision as it might be, it doesn't seem like Reigns is going to turn heel. Another option would be to have him take some time off and start fresh in a few months as a way to reset his character for the audience, but considering the brand extension divided the rosters, management will probably keep him on TV for the estimated star power he brings to Raw.

If Roman was booked for the title match at Road Block just to give Owens and opponent, it doesn't say much about their hopes for him to be the top star. At the same time, if Reigns wins, it doesn't appear that one match is going to win over the crowd for him. While the US title is more of a consolation prize than anything, will there be a point when the WWE acknowledges that the Reigns experiment flopped?

Granted, the WWE is a global company for a reason and they bet right more than wrong, but it's obvious that Roman Reigns isn't over and it was summed up in one segment on this past week.

Monday, November 28, 2016

The Mass Transit incident

This month marks the 20th anniversary of one of the most infamous incidents in pro wrestling history, "The Mass Transit incident" at an ECW house show in Revere, MA in 1996. At the time, the firestorm of negative press prompted the cancellation of the company's debut on pay-per-view the following year before owner Paul Heyman persuaded providers to distribute the event. Two decades later, retrospect provides a much clearer picture of what actually happened and what the results could've been if the stunt wasn't recorded.

Eric Kulas, a 17-year-old attired in a bus driver outfit, showed up at the non-televised event in hopes he could get a spot on the card that night. Axl Rotten, who was scheduled to team with D-Von Dudley in a match with The Gangstas, had a family emergency and couldn't work the show so Kulas took his place. Kulas used a fake ID that said he was 23 and claimed to be a student of Killer Kowalski, the  legendary grappler that ran a school in the area for years. The aspiring wrestler also claimed that he had wrestled previously as "Mass Transit," but it was later revealed that he had no wrestling experience.

Where the controversy starts is that when planning the match, Kulas stated that he wanted to bleed during the bout, but didn't know how to blade, or cut himself in a safe manner, a common practice in the business for decades. He asked New Jack, one of the most notorious figures in the history of the business, if he would make the cut for him. New Jack agreed, and it was determined that the contest would be one-sided since The Gangstas were an established team.

According to The Blue Meanie in the "Forever Hardcore" documentary, Kulas was extremely arrogant backstage and even tried to light a cigarette while sitting next to Taz, one of the veterans on the roster. When Mass Transit climbed in the ring, he taunted the crowd in typical heel fashion, but there was nothing typical about what happened after The Gangstas stormed the ring with a collection of weapons for their trademark entrance. Given that Kulas hadn't endeared himself to the rest of the crew, The Gangstas made a point to keep D-Von outside of the ring and focused on not letting Mass Transit get any offense. When the time came for New Jack to blade Kulas as he requested, the ECW tag champion sliced deeply into the teenager's forehead, opening a geyser  that squirted a continuous stream of blood onto the canvas.

Realizing that his son was injured, Kulas' father, who vouched for him prior to the show,  can be heard on the video tape yelling that Mass Transit was only 17. Soon after the incident, Kulas and his family filed a lawsuit against ECW and New Jack. As mentioned, the negative press almost costs ECW their chance on pay-per-view, and New Jack, the real-life Jerome Young, was eventually charged with assault and battery.

In hindsight, the spin that the press put on the story is almost comical, considering that it made no mention of the fact that Kulas lied about his age to get work on the card that night. Ultimately, Kulas, a naive fan that wanted to play wrestler, couldn't keep his story together and the inconsistencies led to Jerome Young being acquitted and nobody was found to be liable for the injuries. The key to determining this was at the trial when the video tape was played that showed Kulas waiting for and then allowing Young to cut him. After that Kulas can been seen compressing his forehead, a common way to attempt to produce more blood from a blade job. What the court case came down to was Kulas asked to be cut and then knowing what was going to happen, waited to get bladed. Weather it was morally right or not is a completely different matter, as far as legally, Kulas wasn't "attacked" as he originally claimed.

At the time, the incident enhanced the view that New Jack actually was the violent "gangsta" that he portrayed in the ring. The former bounty hunter claimed to have four justifiable homicides during his time pursing bail jumpers, but it was later revealed during Kayfabe Commentaries' "Breaking Kayfabe" series that it was one justifiable homicide and the numbers were exaggerated as a part of Young's wrestling persona. On the flip side, while it might've added to the perception of New Jack's character, it could've done major damage to ECW as a promotion. If the Barely Legal pay-per-view had remained cancelled, who knows if Extreme Championship Wrestling would've made it off the ground to revolutionize the business in the United States?

In the years that followed, Eric Kulas passed away in 2002 after complications from gastric bypass surgery. The incident was discussed in a variety of documentaries and interviews, with seemingly everyone expressing varying opinions about the validity of the responsibility of what happened to Kulas. While Jerome Young is a very complex individual that hasn't always made the best decisions and he undoubtedly decided to cut Kulas deeper than he probably should've, he wasn't legally responsible for Mass Transit's injuries. Kulas lied about his age, his experience, the details of the events, and got himself into a situation that he wasn't prepared for at the event. Eric Kulas asked to be cut, waited to be cut, and he was cut. Again, it doesn't make it morally right, but Kulas had no right to file a lawsuit when he lied to ECW to get a chance to play wrestler. It's tragic that Eric Kulas passed away at a young age, but he clearly had no business attempting to be a wrestler in 1996.

As for New Jack, he had a very complicated career, as some speak about his generosity as a person and a performer, while others claim he was dangerous in the ring. Despite displaying a limited range of skills during most of his career, New Jack is actually an underrated performer, mostly because he presented a believable character and he cut promos that could sell an event. Plus, he could actually wrestle technically matches earlier in his career when The Gangstas had an extensive feud with the Rock n' Roll Express in Smokey Mountain Wrestling in 1994.

Despite an undeniable charisma, in many ways, New Jack couldn't get out of his own way when it came to opportunities during his post-ECW career. Considering his promo skills, New Jack could've landed work with either TNA or ROH on an extended basis, but some of his choices in the years after ECW closed made it difficult for those companies to invest into the character. In 2003, Jack worked a match with veteran Gypsy Joe, who had a reputation for carelessly stiffing opponents. At 68, Gypsy Joe decided to legitimately punch New Jack during the contest and he responded with real punches to the senior citizen. The very real situation continued when New Jack pummeled Joe with various objects until the promoter stopped the match. The following year when wrestling in Florida, New Jack legitimately stabbed an William Lane nine times after the independent wrestler tried to actually fight him during the bout. If New Jack was provoked during this incidents is irrelevant, the point is, main stream promotions wouldn't want the negative press involved.

In some respects, the controversy that surrounded New Jack outside of the ring overshadowed a notable career in the ring. From insane dives from the balcony that were staples of the opening of the ECW TV show to falling twenty feet from a scaffold, New Jack would probably receive more notoriety if he wasn't involved in various infamous events. However, it's interesting to consider how serious the consequences of The Mass Transit incident could've been at the time and the ripple effect it would've had if Barely Legal remained cancelled. Regardless, two decades later, the incident is still talked about as one of the most controversial events in pro wrestling history.

Sunday, November 27, 2016

Will there be a Pacquiao/Mayweather rematch?

Earlier this month, boxing legend Manny Pacquiao returned to the ring and defeated Jesse Vargas, sending him tumbling to the canvas in the second round en route to a dominate unanimous decision. Despite the lukewarm reaction when the bout was announced, over 16,000 fans packed into the Thomas & Mack Arena to witness the bout live, including former pound-for-pound king pin Floyd Mayweather, who defeated Manny in 2015 in a bout that became the sport's most lucrative fight of all time.

Floyd's attendance prompted speculation about a potential rematch with the Filipino superstar, but would the general public  pay to see the two square off again?

The story of the "super fight" is well documented, after years of political jousting between the two sides, a contract was signed and despite taking place nearly five years too late, the mainstream public was in a frenzy to witness the clash between boxing's top two stars of the modern era. At a $99.99 price tag, the event generated nearly 4.5 million pay-per-view buys, which translated to $400 million in revenue. Pacquiao and Mayweather were paid $120 million and $180 million respectively.

As financially successful as it was for the promoters, it became equally as disappointing for the paying customers, as the anticipated contest flopped. Floyd, known for his masterful defense, danced and dodged his way to an easily victory on the score cards, while Manny didn't show the speed necessary to push the pace. Controversy swirled after the final bell when it was revealed that Pacquiao fought with a shoulder injury that he didn't disclose, which is a requirement for the Nevada State Athletic Commission. Fans thought they were swindled into buying the event, and there's no doubt if word of his injury was public that it would've affected the buyrate. Adding to the circus was the news that was revealed after the contest that Floyd used an unapproved IV to rehydrate before the fight.

The Pacquiao/Vargas pay-per-view, an event promoted by Top Rank exclusively after HBO dropped Manny from his contract and passed the rights to distribute the fight, garnered 300,000 buys, the lowest Pacquiao offering in eight years. As I penned in an article a few months ago, the "super fight" with Floyd and the disappointment that followed unquestionably damaged the drawing power of both stars, which was proven by the dismal numbers their subsequent bouts generated.

Boxing's top stars are in quite a unique predicament, fans aren't willing to pay for glorified exhibition fights against lesser known opponents because of the disappointment of the super fight and at the same time, a rematch also doesn't guarantee a major draw because of the same disappointment.

But, will there actually be a rematch?

Longtime promoter Bob Arum, one of the godfathers of the promotional business, recently said he thinks there's a 75% chance that Manny and Mayweather square off again. I'd say that realistically it's more of a 50/50 chance that another contract is signed. Similar to the original contest, I would guess that the deciding factor will be the guaranteed offered for the deal. The bottom line is, if the figure will be what "Money" Mayweather wants to fight again. Floyd is all business and a rematch with Manny has nothing to do with a legacy or an attempt to "write the wrong" of the mega fight from last year, it's simply the chance to add more cash to his bank account.

If the leader of "The Money Team" is expecting an amount based on the draw of the initial fight then this potential rematch won't go any further than the negotiation table, as it would be extremely risky for fight promoters to guarantee an amount without taking into account how the lackluster "super fight" might affect pay-per-view buys for the rematch. Just as an estimate, I would say that a potential rematch would probably do about 2.5 million buys, a staggering number despite it being a little more than half of the number for the original fight. That said, if Floyd is willing to take less of a guarantee in exchange for PPV points, it's a much safer option for promoters because there are several million dollars at risk when negotiating the contract. If the rematch flops financially, the fighters will still get paid the guarantee so a promotional group isn't going to risk the debt if the deal isn't logical. As comical as it might sound, $100 million each might not close the deal even if it makes monetary sense.

If the bout happens, it would probably contain more action, but the result would be the same, Mayweather uses defense to win on the score cards. Floyd made a career out of avoiding damage, and even at 39, he undoubtedly has less miles on his body than Manny, who was involved in some brawls during his career. Prior to the victory against Vargas, Pacquiao showed his age in some of his recent contests, and realistically, there's no reason to expect that he would show the speed necessary to defeat Mayweather.

Questions remain about if the rematch will materialize, but it could be asked, should it take place?

 When the mega fight flopped, it did nothing to help boxing and almost reinforced the notion that it was an antiquated sport that no longer showcased the tremendous competition of the past. Granted, those that follow the sport can cite the action of Golovkin, Provodnikov, Kovalev, and others, but the main stream public saw two of boxing's biggest stars in a lackluster bout so it certainly didn't help the perception of the sport. Is it worth the risk of the credibility of boxing for another disappointing fight?

On the flip side, Andre Ward and the previously mentioned Kovalev fought to a compelling and debated decision last week. Isn't it better for the future of the sport if the discussion is about the winner of a competitive bout of two fighters in their prime than a possibly lackluster rematch of aging stars?

If I had to guess, I would say that a Manny/Mayweather rematch won't get signed, simply because Floyd won't return to the ring unless it's for similar money to the initial fight and logistically, it would be difficult to judge if a rematch would generate that type of revenue. That being said, it might be more beneficial for boxing to avoid the potential pitfalls of the rematch and to focus on the current stars that can improve the future of the sport.

Tuesday, November 15, 2016

Goldberg vs. Lesnar

At Wrestlemania 20, a milestone for what became one of the most valuable franchises in entertainment, the event returned to Madison Square Garden, the site of the inaugural event in 1985. Besides an overall solid card, the show is known for a match that is memorable for all the wrong reasons.

At the time, a 27-year-old Brock Lesnar had grown tired of the road schedule that was required for a WWE superstar just two years after his debut on TV. Lesnar, a former NCAA national amateur champion, was rocketed to the main event scene and paired with Paul Heyman in 2002, a move WWE brass hoped would secure their next top star for the future. The savvy NYC fans knew that Brock was discarding an opportunity that others worked years to achieve and the audible chants of "you sold out!" sent a clear message. It was widely reported prior to his departure that the former WWE champion planned to pursue an NFL career, which emphasized that he was a sports entertainer strictly for the money, a notion that further infuriated the fans in attendance.

For Bill Goldberg, the former WCW champion had spent a year under WWE contract and it was clear that WWE brass were still intent on downgrading stars from the Ted Turner organization. Goldberg, who was limited in the ring, was booked in scenarios where he would've had to carry matches, something he wasn't known for at any point in his career. He was also made to look secondary to Triple H, who was injured during a few months of the previous year, but somehow continued to be booked as the champion on Raw. The bottom line is, Goldberg didn't get over in the WWE because the WWE didn't want it to happen and did nothing to make it even remotely possible. The former Atlanta Falcon was Turner's biggest star a few years before he signed a WWE deal so they knew what they were getting as far as an in ring product. Goldberg didn't have the technical ability to work 20 minute pay-per-view main events, but his intensity and the presentation were incredible. Despite undoubtedly winning, management still had a "Monday night war" type of mind set, WCW had to look inferior to WWE. Plus, with only a one-year contract signed, Vince McMahon wasn't going to reestablish Goldberg's name value, which had been damaged during the latter stages of WCW, for him to possibly sign elsewhere. Goldberg knew he was being shafted and considering the lucrative Turner contract he had previously, he didn't need the money or the hassle so he unofficially retired after he left WWE.

The combination of Brock's lack of dedication to the business and Goldberg's contract expiring led to one of the worst matches in Wrestlemania history. The diehard MSG crowd was hostile toward the bout, which is ultimately what the match is known for. Lesnar didn't want to be a pro wrestler even though he had a golden opportunity, Goldberg was tired of the politics, and it was obvious that both of them just wanted to finish the match without injury.

So, why should the fans want to see a rematch of one of the worst matches in Wrestlemania history?

At Survivor Series, the names will be the same, but it's a very different scenario than the contest in 2004. Lesnar is still there only for the money, but his stint in the UFC made him a much bigger star than he was during his initial run in WWE. When Brock left, he was enough of a star, and enough of an athlete that he became a commodity in the UFC. The Zuffa hype machine, using many pro wrestling tactics, promoted Lesnar as a monster and as a result, he gained many stream exposure. Was Lesnar given opportunities in MMA because of his name value from sports entertainment? Absolutely, and there's nothing wrong with that because it was a smart business move. Despite concluding his full-time UFC career with a pair of devastating losses, his run as the UFC Heavyweight champion presented him as the "legitimate athlete" when he returned to the WWE in 2012. In many ways, the WWE and UFC co-promoted and both benefited from the incredible athlete that Brock continues to be even as he nears the age of 40.

Everyone, probably even most within the WWE, will acknowledge that lackluster results of the Goldberg experiment in 2003. At this point, most of the "WCW stigma" was resolved when World Wrestling Entertainment reached the point where they became the undisputed sports entertainment company without any legitimate competition a few years ago. Plus, there's a vested interest in promoting Bill Goldberg as a WCW legend because there's money to be made from the WWE network, merchandise, DVDs, and the HOF induction. There's also the fact that presenting Goldberg as a major star to a new generation of fans pushes video game sales of WWE 2K17, a major money deal for everyone involved. Some fans might not realize it, but several millions of dollars are required to produce the game and if it sales well, there are millions of dollars of potential profit so there's more to Goldberg's return to the WWE than just the angles on TV.

Bill Goldberg mentioned previously that he wanted to get the chance to wrestle a match for his family, Brock Lesnar gets another substantial paycheck for working a limited schedule, and the WWE gets the chance to market everything that goes along with the rematch so it's a win-win situation. The hostile environment of the original bout is actually what creates the intrigue for the rematch. What's going to happen when Goldberg and Lesnar are in the same ring again? Hopefully, the match is kept relatively short and it's a basic contest that showcases the trademark moves. That's what the people are paying to see and nobody is expecting a Flair/Steamboat type classic from Goldberg vs. Lesnar at Survivor Series. Assuming the match is at least watchable, I would guess that it's very possible that Lesnar is booked to win the rematch to set up a the trilogy at Wrestlemania to go along with a Goldberg HOF induction. Regardless of if there's another contest next year, it will be extremely interesting to see how the rematch is presented on pay-per-view.

Saturday, November 12, 2016

The Joey Styles situation

There are enough politics in pro wrestling.

During last night's broadcast of Evolve 72 on the FloSlam app, an expanded distribution platform for the group, Joey Styles was doing commentary for the show. Styles, who was fired from his job at WWE.com a few months ago after he criticized the WWE product during a Facebook interview, made a reference to a Donald Trump quote toward a female performer on the show.

 "Joanna, you look great tonight and if our next President were here tonight, he’d want to grab you by the —" Styles said.

Anyone that is reading this knows the original quote from Trump surfaced from footage caught after a  mic that was left in between interviews with Access Hollywood 11 years ago. Whoever you voted for is your business and political affiliation has nothing to do with Styles' comments. After one of the most divisive elections in the history of the country and those from both sides lashing out at each other, is there really any place for any type of political references at wrestling shows? Isn't professional wrestling an escape from some of the harsh reality of the world?

Take nothing away from Joey Styles, he was the voice of one of the most influential promotions at one of the most influential times in wrestling history. His trademark, "oh my God!" sound byte is plastered over  some of the wildest moments in the sport, and his legacy as an announcer is immortalized through the WWE network. Along with that, the sum of his work puts him among the best commentators in business, Ross, Solie, Russel etc. Granted, he had a different deliver in a different era, but when you list the greatest announcers in the history of the industry, he makes the list.

The problem for Joey Styles appears to be that he often tries to make insider or edgy comments simply to seem "cool" and it cost him opportunities. Keep in mind, during the Facebook interview that got him fired from WWE, he often said "and this will make the office mad" before he was critical of the direction of the product and then it actually became the result. Maybe Joey thinks he's still in ECW where he can get away with saying anything, but for as long as he worked in the industry, he knows what not to say about a corporate company. Styles is smart enough to know what he shouldn't say and if he says it anyway in an attempt to be "edgy" then there can be consequences.

Again, it has nothing to do with political affiliation, you can vote for Trump, Hilary, or Jesse Ventura. But, when something is completely polarizing, why mention it during a wrestling event, especially when it's guaranteed to sour at least half the audience? Either people from both sides will take it as mocking a candidate that they support or making light of something that they find offensive. Plus, regardless of someone's view on if such a remark should or shouldn't be a factor to vote, it undoubtedly had a vulgarer context. What exactly did Styles' comment add to the show? It didn't push a wrestler or an angle and it certainly didn't sell any tickets.

Since the backlash on Twitter, Gabe Sapolsky, the booker of Evolve, and the booker for ROH during arguably the peak of the promotion, issued an apology on social media for Styles' comments. About 30 minutes later, Gabe tweeted that Evolve had parted ways with Joey Styles. Aside from Evolve, Styles has done work with Chikara, a VERY PG product so it remains to be seen if he will continue there. After his WWE release, Styles mentioned that he returned to working in marketing and wrestling projects were just a hobby on the weekends. It might be time for Joey to get a new hobby.

Ironically, (but not surprisingly) as of this writing, Joey Styles has not issued an apology or any type of statement about his dismissal from Evolve. Credit to Gabe for making the right decision in a timely manner so that the incident didn't distract from their next show. However, I want to make it clear, I didn't pen this column to reprimand Styles, but rather to let fans know that they shouldn't sour on Evolve simply because of this negative incident that had more to deal with Joey than it did the actual content of the shows. Through a working agreement with WWE, Evolve features some of the stars of the WWE cruiser weight division, and more specifically, they always produce quality shows. Drew Gulak, Ethan Page, Zack Sabre Jr., and others provide performances that give the fans their money's worth. It's a very unique deal between WWE and Evolve because obviously, the Evolve product is tailored toward a specific demographic so it's not as though they are going to compete with WWE, but the global exposure that Raw provides for some stars on Evolve shows helps boost the organization. If Evolve can get more viewers and became a more solidified  group then it allows a platform for more competitors to make a name for themselves. Basically, the Evolve organization is good for pro wrestling, it gives fans a solid product and it gives wrestlers a stage to make a name for themselves.

As for Joey Styles, if someone's comments gets them fired twice within the span of a few months then maybe they should be more careful about what they say to an audience.

The next Evolve event is today and you can get more information about the different ways you can watch the show at DGUSA.TV and WWNLive.com

Thursday, November 10, 2016

The WWE Expansion

In theory, a 24/7 wrestling channel should be a major fan's dream and during the peak of the pro wrestling boom in 1998, a similar concept would've generated millions because of the supply/demand ratio at the time.

Nearly two decades later, World Wrestling Entertainment is the undisputed champion of the industry and after years of meticulous negotiating, they own the video library of nearly every major wrestling promotion that existed in the United States. As a result, more footage is available to more fans than any other time in history, but is that too much of a good thing?

After the brand extension, more pay-per-views were added to the schedule and as of now, there's usually a PPV event every 2-3 weeks, which has already watered down the concept of those shows being perceived as "special events." Since Smackdown was moved to Tuesday to air live, a key if the perception of the show is going to be considered near the level of Raw, if there's a pay-per-view that week then it translates to 8-9 hours of wrestling in the span of just a few days. At some point, it's too much for the viewer to digest and angles begin to blend together or at least don't stand out as much as they could've. Between pay-per-views, Raw, and Smackdown, is there really a demand for that much live wrestling content?

Let's be honest here, while the WWE makes hundreds of millions of dollars a year, pro wrestling isn't as relevant in pop culture as it once was, something that the ratings reflect. Sports entertainment isn't trendy the way it was a decade and a half ago. Don't get me wrong, the WWE is a successful company, in part because they usually maximize the potential revenue from the core audience, but there isn't an overwhelming demand for more content. Along with several hours of live programming each week, the WWE network streams a 24 hour schedule, including special events such as the Stone Cold podcast. At some point, the average viewer has enough wrestling for the week and tunes into something else.

Essentially, it seems like WWE brass could be in danger of unintentionally over saturating their own product because with the amount of content available, viewers might simply pick and chose what they want to watch before they channel surface to another genre. Sure, there are those diehard fans within the wrestling bubble, but the general public, which makes up the bulk of the WWE's business doesn't necessarily demand endless hours of sports entertainment. A network subscription might sell with the affordable price for the pay-per-view, but is that same consumer watching weekly? Depending on the competition on a particular night, pro wrestling ratings are sometimes sluggish and with more entertainment options than any other time in history, it becomes even more critical for the effectiveness of angles to be maximized to maintain viewership, but again, is that realistically possible with several hours of live programming each week?

As simplistic as it sounds, pro wrestling is up against very formidable competition for ratings right now and with a revolving door of various rematches often booked, it's difficult to create the "must see" atmosphere for a particular contest. The MLB postseason provided compelling drama for the better part of a month and the world series garnered major ratings. The NFL season, despite being down slightly compared to previous years, still poses opposition to PPVs or Raw depending on the teams scheduled. The TV dramas such as The Walking Dead also compete with pay-per-views in terms of live viewers. Obviously, the network has the on-demand feature to allow fans to watch at their convenience, but the point is the product is still not being perceived as "must see" in that scenario, which could transition to the TV broadcast.

I don't have the answer for how to make the current product more of a weekly draw, and as mentioned, I don't know if it's possible with several hours of live programming each week. Some have suggested that Raw be scaled back to the traditional two-hour format, a logical point because it would package the show better without some of the potential flat points during the production, but the expansion to three hours a few years ago didn't have much to do with the actual content of the show. The USA network requested that Raw add another hour, as it generates more ad revenue and it also provides an additional hour of steady ratings for them. Basically, the additional hour was strictly a business move, not an attempt to add more substance to the product.

Essentially, more wrestling doesn't automatically mean better wrestling. If the causal viewer decides to limit the amount of sports entertaining programming they watch, it can lead to stagnant numbers that will reflect a stagnant product. Again, if a well booked angle gets lost in the shuffle of the expansion of WWE shows, how effective is it? Keep in mind, there's NXT weekly, and a cruiser weight show to be added soon, both of which are in some ways used to introduce or further talent on the main roster. Is the casual viewer going to watch all those shows?

Another aspect of the WWE being a corporation is the stock price, a number that can determine the estimated value of the company at any given time. That stock price, while often kept stable by the diehard demographic, is mostly determined by how many of the general public are spending money on the product. As harsh as it might sound, the most loyal fans don't usually determine WWE's rate of main stream success, as a corporation, the priority is to reach the main stream demographic of causal fans. If the product remains watered down, it's remains to be seen how or if management generates more viewers for the shows than the roughly 3.1 rating that they average right now. By the way, that's a solid number for a weekly TV show, but when you consider that the peak of the Attitude era had 10 million viewers a week, there's obviously the potential for an increase for the ratings.

The bottom line is, the combination of over saturation  and lack of angles that generate a buzz around the product creates a ceiling on the level of success the promotion achieves. Granted, the company is profitable and without any legitimate competition, there's no risk of another group getting a piece of the pie so it might not make a major difference, but as a business, it's not ideal to have an artificial limit of success.

Friday, November 4, 2016

Will the fight network buy TNA?

After much unnecessarily complicated legal jargon, it was ruled in a Nashville courtroom this week that Billy Corgan's request for an injunction to prevent a major shift in the ownership of Impact Ventures, the company he's the president of, was invalid so Dixie Carter can now sell a majority share to Anthem Entertainment, the parent company of the Fight Network, which is based in Canada.

According to the proceedings, Corgan invested $1.8 million for what equates to  36% of the company, a share that Anthem is willing to buy from him to get him to leave the company. Legal posturing aside, Corgan's attorney presented a case that claimed TNA was insolvent, and had the injunction been granted, the path could've technically been cleared for the the leader singer of Smashing Pumpkins to take over the promotion. Since there were offers to buy TNA, that "technically" proves it has value and therefore not insolvent so the court denied the injunction, which will allow Anthem to purchase almost the entire stock in TNA. There was also the hurdle of Tennessee law that would've prevented Corgan from taking over even if the organization was proven to be insolvent after he invested.

First of all, Billy Corgan really got shafted here and as I wrote previously, it appears as though Dixie just wanted someone to pick up the tab for her vanity project without any intention of actually selling to him. Again, it doesn't speak well to the character of Dixie Carter when one of her few allies that attempted to help Impact Wrestling was basically swerved and it had to result in a lawsuit. It's disappointing that someone with the passion and dedication to the sport with good intentions such as Corgan got swerved by Dixie. During the court hearing earlier this week, Corgan wasn't there, but his attorney presented his side of the case. However, Dixie Carter made an appearance in court. Of course she did because Dixie wouldn't miss a chance to be seen in public, which is the entire point of her vanity project. Her father Bob Carter, owner of the billion dollar Panda Energy company, bought her a wrestling company so she could play TV star, which she did often.

Adding to this bizarre situation, Anthem Entertainment sent a press release after the court decision and specifically said that Billy Corgan was no longer involved with the company, but the musician responded, saying that he hasn't been paid the money that he's owed yet. Keep in mind, Corgan is still a legitimate investor and still owns stock in the promotion so he can't be forced to leave. There seems to be two main options for Corgan, he could stick around as a minority shareholder just to prove a point or he could suggest an inflated price if Anthem really wants to buy his stake in the group. Depending on the path he wants to take, Corgan could actually make a profit from this whole debacle. Obviously, it would be his personal decision, but my two cents worth of advice would be for him to get as much cash from Anthem as he can, if they want to pay to clean up Dixie's mess then let them do it at a premium. Along with paying off Corgan, The Fight Network will have to cover the costs of other recent TNA lawsuits, including American Express, the Audience One production company, and others.

From what's reported, Anthem would own 95% of the organization and Aroluxe would work for the production staff. As mentioned in the column I penned about the initial lawsuit news, if the Fight Network bought TNA it would further their expansion into the United States, but several questions remain, including what exactly is Anthem Sports going to do with TNA? How exactly is the Fight Network going to make TNA profitable? What are they going to do different than what was already done? Granted, Anthem is worth several million dollars so theoretically, they could fund the company indefinitely without any concern of potential profits, but why buy the company if they are content just to own it? The bottom line of business is to make a profit and even the billion dollar Panda Energy organization eventually stopped funding Dixie Carter so what exactly is Anthem expecting to gain from ownership of Impact Wrestling? The lack of brand identity, revenue streams, no house shows, marginal pay-per-view numbers, and a tainted public perception still exist. Basically, all the same problems will remain with the only difference being the group that covers the expenses. At the same time, you can't blame the Fight Network for this mess either, they didn't attempt to swindle Billy Corgan when he originally invested to keep TNA afloat, that was Dixie. The Fight Network is in the television business and are attempting to acquire the second largest pro wrestling company in the United States to continue to provide content for their stations. Regardless of how distant of a second place it might be, TNA is a national promotion and it seems like Anthem thinks there's a chance it could become profitable in the future. A side note, if the Fight Network gets ripped off on this deal then they will get what they deserve because it's obvious the type of business person that Carter is from the well documented laundry list of lawsuits.

Since the Anthem press release, Corgan posted a series of tweets that he could sell his stock in the company to an outside bidder without any legal order. That is true, but it's doubtful that anyone on the outside would want to get involved with the circus surrounding TNA.

The only real good news from all of this is that the talented TNA roster will continue to have a job and a national stage to display there skills. Remember the 95% that Anthem Entertainment would own after all the disputes are settled? Dixie Carter will still own 5% of the company and she will still be the chairman. Yes, as insane as it sounds, someone is willing to pay all the lawsuits and expenses, but allow Dixie Carter to stay employed in TNA. It's a crazy scenario until you consider the two jokers running in the election next week then you can see how easy it would be for an inept person to be the chairman of something as inconsequential as a secondary pro wrestling company.

Wednesday, November 2, 2016

The UFC sale

When Dana White convinced his friends in the boxing business to purchase an ultimate fighting league in 2001, Lorenzo and Frank Fertitta bought the organization for $2 million because they were fans of the sport, and hoped to shed light on a genre that was shut out by the establishment several years earlier. Once dubbed a blood sport, the no-holds-barred competition in the original octagon was called too brutal by many of the corporate suits that made decisions about distribution. At one time, the concept of mixed martial arts was banned in almost every state and rejected by most pay-per-view providers. Still, there was always conversation among the public about the spectacle that was simply known as "ultimate fight" before the term mixed martial arts was popularized.

Lorenzo, a casino executive and a former member of the Nevada State Athletic Commission that sanctioned many major boxing events, had the cash and the connections to at least give the UFC a chance, as well as get officials to listen to the changes that were made under Zuffa  management to make the sport legitimate. New weight divisions, rules, and protocols were added to ensure competition, not a barbaric spectacle. As time went on, more states began allowing UFC cards to be held there, but it wasn't easy to brand or market the sport. Under the Fertittas, the Ultimate Fighting Championship made its way back to pay-per-view, but most of the general public was unaware of these grapplers or how the sport had progressed.

During the first few years that Zuffa owned the company, the project was nearly $40 million in debt. Most would've throw in the towel, but Zuffa didn't. In what proved to be the key to success, the UFC finally got a cable deal with Spike TV in 2005 to televise their cards and just as important, the Ultimate Fighter reality show. The main stream finally had the chance to see not only the sport, but also the story of the athletes, which is what truly generated the initial boom in popularity. As Forrest Griffin and Stephen Bonner slugged it out in a bout reminiscent of Rocky and Apollo, the general public saw a glimpse of what the sport could showcase. In some ways, the argument could be made that Griffin/Bonner was the most important fight in UFC history because it was the right fight at the right time, and without it, there might not be a UFC today. Add to that "The Iceman" Chuck Liddel, who was in the prime of his career, knocking out opponents on pay-per-view, and the company began to turn the corner.

Fast forward 11 years and it was officially announced at UFC 200 this past July that the Ultimate Fighting Championship was sold to the WME-IMG group for a record-setting $4 billion. After years of political sparring, MMA was sanctioned in New York and the new ownership is set to promote a historic card at the world's most famous arena, Madison Square Garden. The venue where Roddy Piper battled Mr. T and Hulk Hogan, Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier squared off in "the fight of the century," and multiple sports championships were decided will host the UFC later this month.

The line-up for the event is stacked, showcasing three title fights and many former champions. At the top of the card, the company's most popular star, Conor McGregor will attempt to make UFC history when he steps into the cage against lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez for a chance to hold titles in two divisions. Despite the perceived accolades on the line, the announcement of this main event has drawn criticism and could be an indication of the direction of the promotion under WME. The brash Dublin native brings a dynamic style and Ali-type promotional efforts to hype his bouts similar to the pro wrestling genre, and in the process became one of the company's top pay-per-view draws.

However, McGregor is a relatively new commodity and lacks in some areas of his game so he might not be as dominate as some of the organization's past stars. But, Conor's drawing power is especially important at this point, considering many of the athletes that made the Zuffa era profitable are either retired or winding down their careers so WME needs a top star to promote. From a business prospective, the group just paid $4 billion to acquire the UFC so they need stars to make a return on the investment. All things considered, it appears as though the main event at UFC 205 was booked simply as an opportunity to promote Conor as the first two division champion in UFC history, not because competition justifies it. Conor, the Featherweight champion, has yet to defend the belt he won after he knocked out Jose Aldo in 14 seconds in 2015. Instead, he fought Nate Diaz at welterweight in March of this year after then-lightweight champion Rafel Dos Anjos suffered an injury that caused him to cancel the title fight. Some think Conor underestimated his opponent, and he was submitted in the second round. He avenged the loss when he won a unanimous decision against Diaz in another welterweight bout at UFC 202 in August.

Somehow getting a victory at 170 LBS justifies McGregor getting a lightweight title shot, while Conor hasn't defended the featherweight title yet. It's obvious that this is being done just to attempt to draw as much money as possible for the Madison Square Garden card, which makes sense from a business prospective, but it sacrifices some of the credibility of the sport. As further proof of that, UFC president Dana White recently said on an edition of the UFC Tonight show that if Conor wins the 155 LBS belt, he will immediately vacate one of the titles and decide what belt he wants to defend in the future. I have to ask, if there are already no plans for Conor to defend both titles, why would the Alvarez/McGregor fight even take place? Doesn't it effect the credibility of either the featherweight or lightweight division when someone willingly vacates the title? How are fans supposed to view either of those belts as important going forward if they are being used as a promotional prop for UFC 205? As talented as he is, McGregor has done literally nothing to earn a lightweight title shot and it's blatantly obvious that the focus of the main event is on him, not the potential competition of an Alvarez/McGregor fight. Alvarez, who defeated Dos Anjos to win the championship in July, is a solid pro, but is lesser known to the fan base. He won the title at an event that aired on the Fight Pass streaming service so his victory wasn't publicized as much as it could've been either. Basically, the fact that Alvarez is the lightweight champion is secondary to the hype of McGregor possibly winning a second title. That being said, Alvarez could use his grappling skills to defeat Conor, derailing the hype, but at this point, drawing the money for UFC 205 is the top priority.

The bottom line is, the sizzle of the McGregor persona is being promoted over the substance of the competition of the sport.

Another example of this business strategy is the return of Ronda Rousey, who was knocked out via a highlight reel head kick by Holly Holm last year. One of the most popular stars in MMA, Rousey appeared at Wrestlemania, various TV shows, and movies before she was KO'ed in her first professional defeat. Ronda, a former bronze medalist in judo at the 2008 Olympics, is one of the most dominate fighters in women's MMA history, but she was overconfident against Holm and lost the Women's Bantamweight championship in devastating fashion, which prompted many to question if she would fight again. Holly, a former multiple time boxing champion, wasn't prepared for the ground skills of the dangerous Amanda Nunes at UFC 200 and was submitted in the second round. After several months of speculation, Ronda Rousey will return to the octagon in December and get a shot at the title. If this was a rematch against Holly Holm, it would be a different situation, but what exactly justifies an immediate title fight for Rousey? The only logical answer is the money involved in promoting Ronda as the Women's Bantamweight champion again.

Since these decisions were made, there was some backlash from the UFC roster, including Jose Aldo's request to be released from his contract, and Julianna Pena threatened to quit when it was announced that Rousey would get a title shot when she returned. Along with that, Georges St. Pierre recently claimed that he's a free agent when he terminated his UFC contract after a deal couldn't be made for him to return to the octagon. One of the many hurdles that prevented a GSP return was how the Reebok deal, a topic of much debate in recent months, would affect his sponsorship money. A court case will probably determine the status of St. Pierre's deal, which won't be the first time that legal action will be used to determine a UFC contract dispute. Fighter pay and the structure of contracts has been a controversial topic for years, but will only be magnified after a corporate group paid $4 billion for the company. Despite being casino executives, the organization under the Zuffa banner had more of a blue collar atmosphere to it because the Fertittas risked millions for the sport, but WME-IMG is strictly corporate and won't get the benefit of the doubt on the topic of paying athletes fair wages. In fact, the corporate side of the UFC could sour some fans on the organization.

So, what does all this translate to for the sport?

For now, it's very simple, if it draws money and people are willing to pay to see Conor McGregor get an unjustified title shot against Eddie Alvarez than the competition aspect is secondary. It's disappointing, but from a business prospective, it's about what the general public is willing to pay to watch and what fight draws the most money, not necessarily what the competition of the sport suggest should take place. The UFC is as much as a business, if not more so than it is a sport so none of these decisions should be all that surprising to the diehard MMA fans. Granted, if UFC management continues to dilute the competition of the sport, there's a risk of the credibility of the organization, but at this point, if it draws major money, why wouldn't WME-IMG promote it?

Is the UFC putting cash ahead of competition? Yes, and if it draws money then from a business prospective, UFC 205 will be a success.

Regardless of any criticism, the MSG card will draw major money for the UFC and it could potentially be the start of a new era for the promotion. The concern here is will the WME group go too far with the sizzle and fans are letdown with a lack of substances for events going forward? The Fertittas deserve major credit and the pay off for everything they did for the sport, but at the same time, it's concerning that new management will run the UFC. While Dana White is still the president, Lorenzo stepped down after the purchase and longtime booker Joe Silva also left the company so some of the key figures that made the UFC successful aren't working for the company now. It remains to be seen if WME can truly advance the sport further than Zuffa took it, but it certainly provides an intriguing scenario during the next few months.

Thursday, October 27, 2016

Too many gimmicks?

The HIAC pay-per-view, a Raw brand exclusive, will air live on the WWE network and the event was promoted this past week on Raw as a show with three main events. Those "main events" are all matches to take place inside the cell, a structure that at one time was a rare spectacle to peak certain feuds.

However, as seems to be the case with almost every gimmick in pro wrestling, the cell was overused and thus, the gimmick was watered down. I've always said that gimmick type of pay-per-views will cheapen the actual stipulations, which became even more prominent when WWE bass added more gimmick shows to the calendar. There's a PPV for cell matches, TLC matches, MITB, extreme rules, etc. The problem with that concept is, the matches that are booked for the stipulations aren't booked because it fits the feud, but rather the show with a certain stipulation is on the calendar. As mentioned, this isn't a new predicament in sports entertainment either, especially when you consider that a cage match used to be the most barbaric stipulation possible. Granted, as the business evolves, there are times that you can push the envelope, but you can certainly get more from a well booked angle than using a random gimmick match to sell the show.

That being said, sports entertainment has reached its current state and three cell matches will be presented on one show, but do these matches justify the cell?

The US title match is the glaring error here from the booking team, as they want to keep Roman Reigns relevant with the United States title, a type of consolation prize since he didn't get over as WWE champion. While it's understandable that management wants to do what they can with Reigns because of the amount of time they invested in him previously, there's really no reason that Roman/Rusev should be inside the cell. Keep in mind, the fan reaction to Reigns continues to be lukewarm at best and it's not as though Rusev is getting major heat weekly either so there's not much to build in terms of a heated rivalry. It seems like Roman was booked for the HIAC match simply because the WWE is trying to continue to spotlight him in some form or fashion on every PPV, but if the fan response doesn't justify it, does it really matter? If I had to guess, I would say that the Roman/Rusev contest gets a mediocre reaction and it will probably hinder the momentum of the event.

The WWE Universal title match is an interesting one because it combined the injury to Finn Balor with the storyline that Kevin Owens is the chosen champion, which was a great decision, especially since management had to call an audible after the unfortunate Balor injury. There's a lot of different angles that can be developed from this whole scenario, but rushing this match-up into a cell just because it's the current PPV does nothing to add to it. It should be noted that the Jericho/Owens dynamic is extremely entertaining and Jericho's involvement has helped establish Owens as a more prominent star on the show. Speaking of Chris Jericho, I have to say that his current run is a prime example of the stellar performer that he is and his ability to adapt to the current product whenever he returns to the company speaks volumes to his talent. Despite all the praise, Y2J still might not completely get the credit he deserves, but just to put it in prospective, he kept up with Seth Rollins in the ring, one of the best young stars of today. At 45, Jericho can still go and he's as good now, if not better than he was previously in his career. Back to Rollins/KO, there hasn't been enough build up to justify the cell match and even if these two use the HIAC to make the match memorable, where does the feud go from here? If KO drops the title, which probably won't happen yet, there will be a rematch so what do these two do to try to top a potentially great cell match? If they don't use the cell at all, why book the stipulation? But, at the same time, if Rollins is taking bumps into the fence, won't the rematch next month fall somewhat flat? This is the reason why HIAC was booked at the conclusion of a feud so that there wasn't the obstacle of trying to top it during the next match in the series. I expect this to be a solid match, but it just seems out of place to rush it into a HIAC match when the feud could be built up further.

The women's title match is probably the only contest on the card that actually justifies the HIAC stipulation, as it's an extensive feud and the historic aspect of the first women's bout inside the cell goes along with the women's revolution that was promoted. I've read some criticism online that it's too dangerous to book women in a HIAC match, but they are professionals and skilled athletes. Plus, there's a risk for anyone that performers in pro wrestling so the viewing audience shouldn't be more concerned for this match than they are during any other cell match at the show. In truth, this one should the main event, mostly because it's a history making bout, but it probably won't, which could lead the momentum of the show going flat depending on how the rest of the card is booked. As mentioned, this is really the only match that justifies the gimmick so it will be interesting to see how the show is presented and if there are any flat points during the pay-per-view.

Maybe I'm being too cynical here, but I just don't think there will be a situation where you can logically book three cell matches at one event. If you think back to the video packages that hyped The Undertaker/Shawn Michaels, the well produced vignettes made it seems like it was a truly dangerous match, and then Mick Foley proved that it was a truly dangerous match. When Mankind took the 15 ft. plunge for the top of the cage and risked his life in the process, an aura was created around the match. Nobody has ever topped it and they won't, but the point being, the gimmick was established as truly dangerous. Since Foley crashed through the Spanish announce table, they have been dozens of other cell matches, and a few of them worked well while others diluted the aura that Mick established for the stipulation. When Mick "retired" in 2000 after a cell match, it worked well since it had previously cemented his legacy. Triple H and Chris Jericho had a memorable match in 2002, as did Lesnar and The Undertaker that same year.

That said, if Sasha/Charlotte were the only cell match on the card, it would further spotlight the historic match. The gimmicks on this card are essentially being used as a substitute for well booked angles, management can't get the crowd behind Reigns so let's put him in the HIAC to give him a featured bout at the PPV. The stipulation can add the sizzle, but the argument can be made that there's not much substance for this event. The bottom line is, one HIAC match on this show would mean a lot more than three "main events" as it would stand out, especially since the women's bout is historic.