Three years ago, Georges St. Pierre defended his title against Johny Hendricks, winning a split decision in a very close fight, and during the post-fight interview, he said he needed to take time away from the sport. It was a somewhat bizarre announcement because GSP didn't say he was going to retire, but offered no explanation as to why he was stepping away from a sport that he dominated for several years.
Since his abrupt exit from the octagon, GSP has shed some light on his decision, saying that an obsessive compulsive disorder made the preparation for fights an unhealthy process. Sadly, it seems like mental health problems are overlooked far too often and for anyone that wanted to criticize St. Pierre for vacating the title, they should realize that only he knows how the disorder effected him. Obviously, medical records are private, but GSP seems to be doing better and last week, he announced his intention to return to mixed martial arts.
First, this gives the UFC some much needed star power with Ronda Rousey's future unknown and the historic Madison Square Garden card in November, which is probably the event where St. Pierre will step back into the cage. Although, the landscape of MMA has changed drastically since his hiatus so just how will GSP transition back into the sport?
The argument can be made that GSP was the most dominate champion in UFC history (Anderson Silva has a legitimate claim to that accomplishment, but the taunting that led to lackluster fights dilutes the argument) and keep in mind, while almost every dominate champion of the current era has lost their championship, St. Pierre stepped away while still champion. With a record of 25-2 and avenging both career losses in rematches, GSP defended his title easily for the majority of his reign as welterweight champion. In fact, he was actually subject to some criticism for using the Greg Jackson theory of playing it safe and winning on points when he wasn't able to finish opponents inside the five rounds of a championship bout. There might be some validity to the criticism, but since GSP switched trainers for his most recent (and more entertaining) fights, he sustained more damage. Was that because of the switch in fight tactics or was it just the competition? The answer depends on perspective, but the point being St. Pierre defeated every contender in the division at the time.
Will GSP be successful if he returns to the UFC?
There have been rumors that St. Pierre might request a fight with middleweight champion, Michael Bisping and if that's the case, the 185 LBS division would be a different dynamic for him. Perhaps more than the weight class, the most important question is, will St. Pierre return to the top form that he was prior to the time away from the UFC? At 35, GSP spent three years of his theoretical prime outside of the sport and while it was the right decision for his health, there's no guarantee that he automatically assumes the top spot again. Don't get me wrong, GSP is a tremendous athlete and one of the best MMA fighters of all time, but there would be a question about ANY fighter returning after a few years absence.
That being said, if anyone could take a few years off and return without missing a step, it's George St. Pierre. His cardio is always top notch, he's extremely well rounded, and he always has a game plan. How many times has GSP made a major mistake during a contest? The ring rust is doubtful to be a major factor in a return to the octagon considering how well prepared he was for each opponent previously.
According to an interview on the MMA Hour, the only major hurdle left toward a GSP return is an agreement on a new contract. As I've said before, mixed martial arts is about competition, but the UFC is a business, and there's major money for a potential St. Pierre fight after an extended absence. Since the UFC's top PPV draws are Ronda Rousey and Conor McGregor, it's reasonable to think that GSP should at least get a similar deal. More specifically, with those two being the only major draws in terms of PPV numbers, that actually gives St. Pierre more leverage to negotiate because he's one of the few MMA fighters that could generate major numbers for the company. Besides Rousey and McGregor, who's going to draw better numbers than GSP? That's not a jab at the great UFC roster either, just the observation that St. Pierre draws money for the promotion. In fact, Montreal became one of the major UFC cities because of the star power of St. Pierre and it was a key for their international expansion.
The bottom line is, the UFC should offer Georges St. Pierre a good deal because they need the star power, and this provides the unique opportunity to see the next stage of one of the most successful fighters in MMA history.
Thursday, June 30, 2016
Saturday, June 25, 2016
Roman Reigns suspended
Just days after WWE seemingly scraped the Roman Reigns project for the foreseeable future, the company announced that he was suspended for thirty days for his first violation of the WWE Wellness policy. The former WWE champion apologized on Twitter and will be on the sidelines until a few days before the Battleground pay-per-view, where he's scheduled to work a triple threat match with the other members of The Shield. This is terrible timing for Reigns and it creates many questions going forward.
I was surprised that Reigns was booked to drop the title at Money in the Bank, simply because it's the second time in a little more than a year that the WWE has changed course as a result of the hostile crowd reaction. However, this time WWE management got the Wrestlemania moment they've wanted since Reigns was recruited into the company and they concluded the title run within two months. Depending on when Reigns failed the test, it's possible that the MITB decision was a response to his upcoming suspension. Either way, this further complications his problems and considering that violations are publicity announced, it will fuel hostility toward him. If management knew of the violation prior to the pay-per-view, it's easy to understand that they booked the title switch because he won't be on TV for a month. If WWE brass didn't know of the violation before MITB, the title change was a result of Roman not getting over as champion. Neither scenario helps his case of supposedly being the next top star.
Is it possible that Roman accidentally took something that he didn't know was a banned substance? Sure, but in terms of public perception, the damage is done. Obviously, Roman is responsible for his own decisions, but everyone makes mistakes and it's disappointing that many fans are condemning him on social media, especially when the specific circumstances surrounding the situation aren't known publicly. However, this violation could sway the booking to take another direction because the WWE has continued to push him despite the fan rejection, but this might be the deciding factor for them to attempt to build another long term star. Specifically, with Rollins, Ambrose, Finn Balor, Nakamura, etc. on the roster, there are other opinions for the WWE to get the marketing machine behind toward a main event run. Granted, other stars such as Randy Orton, Edge, and Rey Mysterio had violations, but the difference is, they were established commodities at the time. Roman is on his third attempt to get over as the top baby face and if he doesn't eventually get over, the WWE will go in another direction.
An example of this is Lex Luger was chosen to be the predecessor to Hulk Hogan, and the WWF did everything they could to cast Luger in the USA role. The Lex Express, body slamming Yokozuna on a Navy fleet, and a push to the top of the card were used, but Lex didn't get over. The wrestling business being in the slump of the early 90s didn't help, but the main reason that the fans didn't buy Luger as the top star was that the Hogan-type character wasn't going to be successful for him. Similar to how the WWE is trying to book Roman Reigns as the next John Cena, but it's clear that Roman doesn't fit the Cena mold. More specifically, it seems like WWE brass is trying to base their next top guy around being the "next John Cena," but there's only one Cena and he's a rare breed. Instead, it would probably be more productive if the WWE looks for the star that gets over the most with the audience, and if that's Roman Reigns or not remains to be seen, but the wellness policy violation certainly doesn't help.
So, where does Roman Reigns go from here?
He will return to TV, but where he goes from there is anyone's guess. If WWE still tries to push him as the top star will be an indication of what he does in terms of storylines. Keep in mind, after Lex flopped, he joined the British Bulldog for a relatively uneventful tag team run. Almost everyone that has noticed that Roman isn't over as a baby face has suggested turning him heel. At this point, especially with a publicly announced violation that gives live crowds something else to chant, how doesn't Roman turn heel?
The writing team trying to get Roman to sound similar to Cena with attempted witty or comical type promos come across lame and are actually counter productive to establishing him as a Samoan monster. The baby face promos have mostly fallen flat and when Roman is on Raw with a live mic, it's almost like someone should throw him a life preserver because his message starts to get drowned in the sea of crowd chants. As I wrote a few weeks ago, there was a time when a performer getting booed out of the building every week made them not only a heel, but in theory an effective heel. Somehow that hasn't been the case with Reigns, but it might be the only way he builds any steam on TV when he returns. In fact, a heel Roman Reigns could use the super man type push as an asset for a heel character and when he defeats a crowd favorite he can simply tell the audience that there's nothing they can do about it. The audience is already invested in seeing Roman lose, could you imagine the emotional investment if the booking added some fuel to it with a heel turn?
Despite the mishap, Roman still has a chance to become an established star, but who knows what the WWE does in terms of booking when he returns to TV? As I've said before, if Rocky Maivia hadn't turned heel, The Rock wouldn't have gotten over as a baby face so the heel turn could be the key factor for Roman Reigns eventually becoming a bigger star. It remains to the seen what direction his character takes, but as of right now, the Roman Reigns experiment is a flop. Hopefully, this entire situation can be used to benefit Roman in the overall picture, but with a roster of talented stars, his time as the projected top star might have concluded.
I was surprised that Reigns was booked to drop the title at Money in the Bank, simply because it's the second time in a little more than a year that the WWE has changed course as a result of the hostile crowd reaction. However, this time WWE management got the Wrestlemania moment they've wanted since Reigns was recruited into the company and they concluded the title run within two months. Depending on when Reigns failed the test, it's possible that the MITB decision was a response to his upcoming suspension. Either way, this further complications his problems and considering that violations are publicity announced, it will fuel hostility toward him. If management knew of the violation prior to the pay-per-view, it's easy to understand that they booked the title switch because he won't be on TV for a month. If WWE brass didn't know of the violation before MITB, the title change was a result of Roman not getting over as champion. Neither scenario helps his case of supposedly being the next top star.
Is it possible that Roman accidentally took something that he didn't know was a banned substance? Sure, but in terms of public perception, the damage is done. Obviously, Roman is responsible for his own decisions, but everyone makes mistakes and it's disappointing that many fans are condemning him on social media, especially when the specific circumstances surrounding the situation aren't known publicly. However, this violation could sway the booking to take another direction because the WWE has continued to push him despite the fan rejection, but this might be the deciding factor for them to attempt to build another long term star. Specifically, with Rollins, Ambrose, Finn Balor, Nakamura, etc. on the roster, there are other opinions for the WWE to get the marketing machine behind toward a main event run. Granted, other stars such as Randy Orton, Edge, and Rey Mysterio had violations, but the difference is, they were established commodities at the time. Roman is on his third attempt to get over as the top baby face and if he doesn't eventually get over, the WWE will go in another direction.
An example of this is Lex Luger was chosen to be the predecessor to Hulk Hogan, and the WWF did everything they could to cast Luger in the USA role. The Lex Express, body slamming Yokozuna on a Navy fleet, and a push to the top of the card were used, but Lex didn't get over. The wrestling business being in the slump of the early 90s didn't help, but the main reason that the fans didn't buy Luger as the top star was that the Hogan-type character wasn't going to be successful for him. Similar to how the WWE is trying to book Roman Reigns as the next John Cena, but it's clear that Roman doesn't fit the Cena mold. More specifically, it seems like WWE brass is trying to base their next top guy around being the "next John Cena," but there's only one Cena and he's a rare breed. Instead, it would probably be more productive if the WWE looks for the star that gets over the most with the audience, and if that's Roman Reigns or not remains to be seen, but the wellness policy violation certainly doesn't help.
So, where does Roman Reigns go from here?
He will return to TV, but where he goes from there is anyone's guess. If WWE still tries to push him as the top star will be an indication of what he does in terms of storylines. Keep in mind, after Lex flopped, he joined the British Bulldog for a relatively uneventful tag team run. Almost everyone that has noticed that Roman isn't over as a baby face has suggested turning him heel. At this point, especially with a publicly announced violation that gives live crowds something else to chant, how doesn't Roman turn heel?
The writing team trying to get Roman to sound similar to Cena with attempted witty or comical type promos come across lame and are actually counter productive to establishing him as a Samoan monster. The baby face promos have mostly fallen flat and when Roman is on Raw with a live mic, it's almost like someone should throw him a life preserver because his message starts to get drowned in the sea of crowd chants. As I wrote a few weeks ago, there was a time when a performer getting booed out of the building every week made them not only a heel, but in theory an effective heel. Somehow that hasn't been the case with Reigns, but it might be the only way he builds any steam on TV when he returns. In fact, a heel Roman Reigns could use the super man type push as an asset for a heel character and when he defeats a crowd favorite he can simply tell the audience that there's nothing they can do about it. The audience is already invested in seeing Roman lose, could you imagine the emotional investment if the booking added some fuel to it with a heel turn?
Despite the mishap, Roman still has a chance to become an established star, but who knows what the WWE does in terms of booking when he returns to TV? As I've said before, if Rocky Maivia hadn't turned heel, The Rock wouldn't have gotten over as a baby face so the heel turn could be the key factor for Roman Reigns eventually becoming a bigger star. It remains to the seen what direction his character takes, but as of right now, the Roman Reigns experiment is a flop. Hopefully, this entire situation can be used to benefit Roman in the overall picture, but with a roster of talented stars, his time as the projected top star might have concluded.
Wednesday, June 22, 2016
Brock Lesnar signed for UFC 200
Earlier this month, a promotional video was aired during the UFC 199
event to advertise next month's historic UFC 200 event and at the
conclusion of the vignette, Brock Lesnar made a brief appearance. Social
media and the sports world were a buzz, and questions swirled about how
such an occurrence could be possible. It's well known that he is still
under contract to the WWE and has a few years left on his deal so how
can he fight for the UFC? Subsequently, it was announced that a deal was
reached to allow Brock to fight a one-off bout in mixed martial arts
and that he's also scheduled for a match at Summer Slam.
First, such a cross-promotional event is truly unprecedented and more than anything, it shows the draw that Lesnar has become for both companies. The WWE has tightly controlled any rights to use almost anything they've created for years, but similar to his sponsorship deals, Brock Lesnar is the exception to the rule. There was a point when it would be laughable to even consider the prospect of the WWE allowing contracted talent to compete in another sport, but recent years have been unique times in sports entertainment. At the same time, the UFC also tries to keep as much control of their promotional efforts as well and they've been involved in more than one lawsuit in an effort to do so. A decade ago, when Kurt Angle negotiated with Dana White, his deal with TNA prevented him from competing in the octagon because the UFC didn't want to sign the Olympic gold medalist if he was involved in pro wrestling at the same time. Again, Brock Lesnar is the exception to the rule and it speaks volumes to the type of commodity he is in the sports world.
After winning the NCAA championship in amateur wrestling in 2000, Brock Lesnar was recruited into sports entertainment and transitioned to the pro ranks well. He trained in Ohio Valley Wrestling with one of the most successful groups in the history of the business, alongside John Cena, Randy Orton, and others. He trained for a little more than a year before he started working dark matches and debuted on Raw in March of 2002, destroying several opponents during the segment. Within six months, he won the King of the Ring tournament and defeated The Rock to win the Undisputed championship. At the time, the accomplishment made Lesnar the youngest WWE champion in history and he seemed set to have an extended run as a top draw in sports entertainment. However, the grueling WWE schedule and the travel associated with it didn't suit the Minnesota native after just two years of touring with the company. Brock Lesnar quit the WWE and signed a ten year no compete to void his contract.
Without any extensive experience, Lesnar did a try out for the Minnesota Vikings, but he was cut from the team. Since football didn't offer a new career path for him and he left the WWE without an extended run as a main event star, he had to find a way to make a living. In 2005, he made his way to New Japan Pro Wrestling and won the IWGP championship, but since he signed the previously mentioned no compete clause, the WWE filed a lawsuit to prevent him from wrestling in Japan. Eventually, it was settled and he worked sporadic appearances there until he refused to drop the IWGP title, which prompted NJPW to strip him of the belt.
Still searching for another profession, Brock Lesnar made his debut in mixed martial arts, a sport that was just starting to boom at the time, in 2007 for K-1 when he defeated Min Soo Kim via stoppage in the first round. Despite the successful debut, many were still skeptical about his venture in mixed martial arts after he was signed to fight for the UFC in 2008. On par with his experience level, Lesnar made a rookie mistake and was submitted by Frank Mir, but the pay-per-view generated buys, and Lesnar showed enough potential to create a hype for his next bout. When he returned to the octagon that August, he dominated mediocre fighter Heath Herring and somehow earned a title shot at the heavyweight championship with a record of just 2-1. I've said it many times, the ONLY reason Lesnar was given the opportunities so early in the UFC was because of his name value from sport entertainment, and I don't blame Zuffa since it's a smart business move. Granted, mixed martial arts is about competition, but even the UFC is a business and more than anything, it's about what people are willing to pay to watch. Fans were willing to pay to see Lesnar fight for the title and as right as the purists were that it was ridiculous that he got a title shot after one win, drawing money is the priority. Brock Lesnar defeated the legendary Randy Couture, an aging veteran and more of a light heavyweight, to win the UFC Heavyweight championship. At UFC 100, Lesnar helped generate the highest pay-per-view buy rate in the history of the company when he defeated Frank Mir in a rematch from their earlier bout. However, his run as champion was interrupted when he had diverticulitis and it required surgery. When he returned to the cage a year later, he was pummeled by Shane Carwin in the first round, but Carwin ran out of gas and Lesnar won via submission. Just a few months later, he returned to defend his title against Cain Velasquez, arguably the first top tier challenger of his MMA career, and Lesnar was dominated in the contest, as he lost via TKO in the first round. Essentially, Brock Lesnar doesn't like to get punched in the face, something that is certainly understandable, but it's part of the job description for a mixed martial artist. While Lesnar is an unbelievable athlete, the Velasquez bout exposed his lack of fundamental striking skills, an aspect that surfaced again before his original retirement from the sport. Another bout of diverticulitis kept him away from the cage for another year and when he returned, he lost in a contest against Alistair Overeem after a first round stoppage.
Post-fight, Brock Lesnar retired from MMA and along with his reign as UFC heavyweight champion, his PPV cards were among the highest numbers in UFC history. Considering he made major money during his time at Zuffa, most assumed Lesnar would be content to enjoy the rural lifestyle he created at his expansive farm in Canada, and despite rumors at the time, many were surprised when Lesnar returned to the WWE in 2012. For the former WWE champion, it was a win-win situation because he worked a very limited schedule and was still one of the highest paid performers on the roster. Similar to how WWE made Lesnar a star for the UFC to promote, the run in the UFC had made him a bigger star for his return to sports entertainment than he was previously. Some have criticized how Lesnar was booked the past few years and the limited schedule, which is a valid argument, but he undoubtedly adds a boost to any event he's booked to appear.
As mentioned, this deal to fight while still under WWE contract is very unique and was announced as a "one-off." Considering his age and the easier money in sports entertainment, I doubt Brock Lesnar would attempt a full-time comeback to MMA. This is only a guess, but it seems like Brock wants the chance to conclude his time in combat sports under better circumstances than the loss to Alistair Overeem in 2011. However, there's definitely a risk here and simply because of the timing, the UFC could benefit more from this deal than the WWE. Obviously, Lesnar has been in the spotlight in recent years from his WWE work and that guarantees a major draw for the UFC 200 pay-per-view. The risk/reward here is that if Lesnar loses in the octagon, he's somewhat damaged goods for Summer Slam the following month because if he's defeated, the hype for the Summer Slam match could fall flat. On the flip side, if Lesnar is victories at UFC 200, it adds even more buzz around him for his return to WWE TV so it's certainly a gamble.
Brock's opponent, Mark Hunt is a veteran that has knocked out his last two opponents. Stylistically, the bout is very simple, if Lesnar can the fight to the ground, he wins, but if Hunt lands a punch, it's very possible that he could KO him. Anything can happen, but this whole situation certainly creates some very interesting events for the next few months. That being said, regardless of the result, each company is going to make major money so from a business prospective, it's already a successful deal.
First, such a cross-promotional event is truly unprecedented and more than anything, it shows the draw that Lesnar has become for both companies. The WWE has tightly controlled any rights to use almost anything they've created for years, but similar to his sponsorship deals, Brock Lesnar is the exception to the rule. There was a point when it would be laughable to even consider the prospect of the WWE allowing contracted talent to compete in another sport, but recent years have been unique times in sports entertainment. At the same time, the UFC also tries to keep as much control of their promotional efforts as well and they've been involved in more than one lawsuit in an effort to do so. A decade ago, when Kurt Angle negotiated with Dana White, his deal with TNA prevented him from competing in the octagon because the UFC didn't want to sign the Olympic gold medalist if he was involved in pro wrestling at the same time. Again, Brock Lesnar is the exception to the rule and it speaks volumes to the type of commodity he is in the sports world.
After winning the NCAA championship in amateur wrestling in 2000, Brock Lesnar was recruited into sports entertainment and transitioned to the pro ranks well. He trained in Ohio Valley Wrestling with one of the most successful groups in the history of the business, alongside John Cena, Randy Orton, and others. He trained for a little more than a year before he started working dark matches and debuted on Raw in March of 2002, destroying several opponents during the segment. Within six months, he won the King of the Ring tournament and defeated The Rock to win the Undisputed championship. At the time, the accomplishment made Lesnar the youngest WWE champion in history and he seemed set to have an extended run as a top draw in sports entertainment. However, the grueling WWE schedule and the travel associated with it didn't suit the Minnesota native after just two years of touring with the company. Brock Lesnar quit the WWE and signed a ten year no compete to void his contract.
Without any extensive experience, Lesnar did a try out for the Minnesota Vikings, but he was cut from the team. Since football didn't offer a new career path for him and he left the WWE without an extended run as a main event star, he had to find a way to make a living. In 2005, he made his way to New Japan Pro Wrestling and won the IWGP championship, but since he signed the previously mentioned no compete clause, the WWE filed a lawsuit to prevent him from wrestling in Japan. Eventually, it was settled and he worked sporadic appearances there until he refused to drop the IWGP title, which prompted NJPW to strip him of the belt.
Still searching for another profession, Brock Lesnar made his debut in mixed martial arts, a sport that was just starting to boom at the time, in 2007 for K-1 when he defeated Min Soo Kim via stoppage in the first round. Despite the successful debut, many were still skeptical about his venture in mixed martial arts after he was signed to fight for the UFC in 2008. On par with his experience level, Lesnar made a rookie mistake and was submitted by Frank Mir, but the pay-per-view generated buys, and Lesnar showed enough potential to create a hype for his next bout. When he returned to the octagon that August, he dominated mediocre fighter Heath Herring and somehow earned a title shot at the heavyweight championship with a record of just 2-1. I've said it many times, the ONLY reason Lesnar was given the opportunities so early in the UFC was because of his name value from sport entertainment, and I don't blame Zuffa since it's a smart business move. Granted, mixed martial arts is about competition, but even the UFC is a business and more than anything, it's about what people are willing to pay to watch. Fans were willing to pay to see Lesnar fight for the title and as right as the purists were that it was ridiculous that he got a title shot after one win, drawing money is the priority. Brock Lesnar defeated the legendary Randy Couture, an aging veteran and more of a light heavyweight, to win the UFC Heavyweight championship. At UFC 100, Lesnar helped generate the highest pay-per-view buy rate in the history of the company when he defeated Frank Mir in a rematch from their earlier bout. However, his run as champion was interrupted when he had diverticulitis and it required surgery. When he returned to the cage a year later, he was pummeled by Shane Carwin in the first round, but Carwin ran out of gas and Lesnar won via submission. Just a few months later, he returned to defend his title against Cain Velasquez, arguably the first top tier challenger of his MMA career, and Lesnar was dominated in the contest, as he lost via TKO in the first round. Essentially, Brock Lesnar doesn't like to get punched in the face, something that is certainly understandable, but it's part of the job description for a mixed martial artist. While Lesnar is an unbelievable athlete, the Velasquez bout exposed his lack of fundamental striking skills, an aspect that surfaced again before his original retirement from the sport. Another bout of diverticulitis kept him away from the cage for another year and when he returned, he lost in a contest against Alistair Overeem after a first round stoppage.
Post-fight, Brock Lesnar retired from MMA and along with his reign as UFC heavyweight champion, his PPV cards were among the highest numbers in UFC history. Considering he made major money during his time at Zuffa, most assumed Lesnar would be content to enjoy the rural lifestyle he created at his expansive farm in Canada, and despite rumors at the time, many were surprised when Lesnar returned to the WWE in 2012. For the former WWE champion, it was a win-win situation because he worked a very limited schedule and was still one of the highest paid performers on the roster. Similar to how WWE made Lesnar a star for the UFC to promote, the run in the UFC had made him a bigger star for his return to sports entertainment than he was previously. Some have criticized how Lesnar was booked the past few years and the limited schedule, which is a valid argument, but he undoubtedly adds a boost to any event he's booked to appear.
As mentioned, this deal to fight while still under WWE contract is very unique and was announced as a "one-off." Considering his age and the easier money in sports entertainment, I doubt Brock Lesnar would attempt a full-time comeback to MMA. This is only a guess, but it seems like Brock wants the chance to conclude his time in combat sports under better circumstances than the loss to Alistair Overeem in 2011. However, there's definitely a risk here and simply because of the timing, the UFC could benefit more from this deal than the WWE. Obviously, Lesnar has been in the spotlight in recent years from his WWE work and that guarantees a major draw for the UFC 200 pay-per-view. The risk/reward here is that if Lesnar loses in the octagon, he's somewhat damaged goods for Summer Slam the following month because if he's defeated, the hype for the Summer Slam match could fall flat. On the flip side, if Lesnar is victories at UFC 200, it adds even more buzz around him for his return to WWE TV so it's certainly a gamble.
Brock's opponent, Mark Hunt is a veteran that has knocked out his last two opponents. Stylistically, the bout is very simple, if Lesnar can the fight to the ground, he wins, but if Hunt lands a punch, it's very possible that he could KO him. Anything can happen, but this whole situation certainly creates some very interesting events for the next few months. That being said, regardless of the result, each company is going to make major money so from a business prospective, it's already a successful deal.
Wednesday, June 15, 2016
Goldberg to WWE?
A few weeks ago, it was announced that former WCW and WWE world
heavyweight champion Bill Goldberg will be featured as a playable
character in the WWE 2K17 video game that will be released later this
year. It's surprising and intriguing when you consider his rocky exit
from the company over a decade ago. Judging from The Ultimate Warrior
and Sting being included in previous titles in the series, could this
open the door for Goldberg to return to the company?
Nearly two decades ago, the former Atlanta Falcon was recruited by World Champion Wrestling when Sting spotted him at a gym during an attempt to make a comeback to the NFL after a series of injuries derailed his somewhat mediocre gridiron career. He was trained at the Power Plant and less than a year later, he debuted on Nitro in September of 1997. Goldberg looked like a barbarian and while his skills were unrefined, his smash mouth style became an anticipated segment of WCW programming. The formula for him was simple, he showcased his power skills and the matches were kept short to camouflage his weaknesses. Again, it was simple, but effective as he began a meteoric rise in popularity and became the most popular star in the company in just a few months. The combination of the music, the security that walked him from the dressing room to the ring, and the pryo all enhanced the presentation. Was Bill Goldberg one dimensional? Sure, but it was a gimmick that worked.
As was the case with many elements of WCW, they eventually fumbled the Goldberg project and in some ways, his career never recovered. At the peak of his popularity and the streak that had a record number of viewers tuning in each week, Goldberg defeated Hulk Hogan to win the heavyweight title in July of 1998 at the Georgia Dome with over 40,000 fans in attendance. The critical flaw for the promotion (and probably an example of why they lost money in the years that followed) was perhaps THE biggest match they could book at the time was aired on free TV instead of getting fans to pay to watch it on pay-per-view. Eric Bischoff traded a win in the weekly ratings war for millions of dollars in PPV revenue. In late 1998, Kevin Nash, a legitimate star that didn't need the push, ended the streak, and that was followed by the infamous "finger poke of doom" when Hogan won the belt again. The office managed to end Goldberg's streak without making another star, and tarnish the credibility of the championship within a short time frame. The problem with any undefeated streak is there's a risk of it becoming stale or the angle falls flat when it eventual ends, and it requires a very careful booking style, something that WCW wasn't known for during its history. Depending on what interview you watch, supposedly there was a plan to rebuild Goldberg toward another run at the title, but for whatever reason, it didn't happen and for the majority of 1999, he was booked in mostly useless storylines. There was also the time frame when the crowd rejected Goldberg,which was probably a combination of the booking not protecting his limited style after the conclusion of the streak and the lack of any major angles. In a way, it was a "been there done that" type of situation when they tried to restart the streak. Another situation that stalled Goldberg was that in late 1999 he punched through a limo window and injured his arm and he was on the sidelines for over eight months. So, after nearly a year of pointless angles, he was injured several more months and his momentum was completed halted when he returned in 2000. He had shoulder surgery in early 2001 and then Vince McMahon bought WCW.
Nearly two decades ago, the former Atlanta Falcon was recruited by World Champion Wrestling when Sting spotted him at a gym during an attempt to make a comeback to the NFL after a series of injuries derailed his somewhat mediocre gridiron career. He was trained at the Power Plant and less than a year later, he debuted on Nitro in September of 1997. Goldberg looked like a barbarian and while his skills were unrefined, his smash mouth style became an anticipated segment of WCW programming. The formula for him was simple, he showcased his power skills and the matches were kept short to camouflage his weaknesses. Again, it was simple, but effective as he began a meteoric rise in popularity and became the most popular star in the company in just a few months. The combination of the music, the security that walked him from the dressing room to the ring, and the pryo all enhanced the presentation. Was Bill Goldberg one dimensional? Sure, but it was a gimmick that worked.
As was the case with many elements of WCW, they eventually fumbled the Goldberg project and in some ways, his career never recovered. At the peak of his popularity and the streak that had a record number of viewers tuning in each week, Goldberg defeated Hulk Hogan to win the heavyweight title in July of 1998 at the Georgia Dome with over 40,000 fans in attendance. The critical flaw for the promotion (and probably an example of why they lost money in the years that followed) was perhaps THE biggest match they could book at the time was aired on free TV instead of getting fans to pay to watch it on pay-per-view. Eric Bischoff traded a win in the weekly ratings war for millions of dollars in PPV revenue. In late 1998, Kevin Nash, a legitimate star that didn't need the push, ended the streak, and that was followed by the infamous "finger poke of doom" when Hogan won the belt again. The office managed to end Goldberg's streak without making another star, and tarnish the credibility of the championship within a short time frame. The problem with any undefeated streak is there's a risk of it becoming stale or the angle falls flat when it eventual ends, and it requires a very careful booking style, something that WCW wasn't known for during its history. Depending on what interview you watch, supposedly there was a plan to rebuild Goldberg toward another run at the title, but for whatever reason, it didn't happen and for the majority of 1999, he was booked in mostly useless storylines. There was also the time frame when the crowd rejected Goldberg,which was probably a combination of the booking not protecting his limited style after the conclusion of the streak and the lack of any major angles. In a way, it was a "been there done that" type of situation when they tried to restart the streak. Another situation that stalled Goldberg was that in late 1999 he punched through a limo window and injured his arm and he was on the sidelines for over eight months. So, after nearly a year of pointless angles, he was injured several more months and his momentum was completed halted when he returned in 2000. He had shoulder surgery in early 2001 and then Vince McMahon bought WCW.
Similar to the majority of the top tier talent in WCW,
Goldberg's contact was with Turner broadcasting, not the actual WCW
organization so even though the promotion folded in early 2001, he still had
more than a year of his deal. Also similar to the majority of the top tier
talent from the Turner group, he stayed home for the duration of the contract
and collected the paycheck, a smart business move as signing with another
company would've voided his deal. After a brief tour of Japan in 2002 for major
money, the landscape of sports entertainment realistically only offered WWE at
the time, considering in 2003, TNA was still doing weekly pay-per-views without
a TV deal and didn't have the type of cash to sign Goldberg. While Goldberg had
a few matches in Japan, the early 2000s were a time when Japanese business was
on the brink of collapse so a long term schedule there wasn't going to bring
the type of money that WWE could offer. For the WWE, they needed a boost of
star power as Stone Cold Steve Austin had walked out previously and then
returned for a final in ring run with a limited number of matches to set up his
retirement match with The Rock. Was it promoted as Austin's last match at
Wrestlemania 19? No, but those behind-the-scenes knew that the biggest star in
the business was on borrowed time as an in ring performer after many serious
injuries. Along with Stone Cold's impending exit, The Rock was set to make his
transition full time to Hollywood, a process that had begun the previous year
when he appeared in the Scorpion King. Basically, 2003 saw the conclusion of
the wrestling careers of the WWE's top two stars, along with the slump the
business was in as a result of there being only one option for fans. It's
ironic that Goldberg arrived the night after Stone Cold finished wrestling
since there was a time when it would've been considered the ultimate dream
match. Plus, you have to take into account that Goldberg worked a per-per-view
match with The Rock before his jump to movies. Again, this was definitely a
time when WWE needed the star power.
However,
for whatever reason, very little was done to help
Goldberg get over with the WWE audience and in many ways, he wasn't
booked in a
way that had any legitimate chance for success. The WCW formula kept the
matches
short in an effort not to exposed his weaknesses and when he was
building the
streak to a record audience on Nitro, he was usually booked with
opponents that
could make him look good for the brief time he was on TV. Granted, the
WWE is a
different level and performers have to be more well rounded there, but
at the
same time, you know what you're getting with Goldberg. It seems as
though more
often than not he was booked in scenarios that he would've had to carry
the
majority of the match and that's not something he had been known for at
any
point in his career. Keep in mind, Bill Goldberg only had five years
experience
when he debuted for the WWE so while he was an established star, he
wasn't
going to be able to carry main event matches. Goldberg vs. Batista or
Mark
Henry in 2003 wasn't exactly going to make anyone look good on TV,
despite the
fact that those matches would probably be solid now. There was also the
infamous Elimination Chamber match at Summer Slam that year when Triple H
was
injured and only wrestled about five minutes in the actual match before
he
defeated Goldberg. Even though he was the top star in WCW for a period
of time,
Goldberg was only the World Heavyweight champion in WWE for about three
months
and he didn't get the chance to main event any marquee pay-per-views.
Plus, his last match in the WWE with Brock Lesnar was memorable for all
the wrong reasons.
So, why didn't Goldberg translate from WCW to the WWE?
There are several reasons, but in my opinion, there were a few key factors as to why the WWE wasn't going to let Bill Goldberg run with it. Maybe this is being too cynical, but the WWE has a history of taking jabs at WCW whenever possible and specifically in 2003, there were numerous examples of former WCW talent being made to look inferior. If the WWE made one of WCW's top stars look secondary in comparison to their own stars, it only reinforced the notion that WCW was an inferior product. Granted, WCW had a laundry list of problems, but when you look at the situation objectively, it's obvious that the promotion did something right to almost put Vince McMahon out of business in 1997. Another aspect to consider is that Goldberg only signed a one-year deal with the WWE and without a long term contract, there was the risk that they would invest the TV time to reestablish him as a star and not get a major return on the investment if he decided not to sign another contract.
Will Bill Goldberg return to the WWE?
It's tough to say because it's very possible that he does the video game deal and definitely a Hall of Fame induction without actually wrestling again. On the flip side, he's friends with several well known stars, including Brock Lesnar and there was a slight "cryptic message" with the suplex city sign being featured in the commercial so that could provide an opportunity for a Wrestlemania match, similar to Sting a few years ago. The debate on if Bill Goldberg is a Hall of Fame level performer is another discussion for another time, but there are a few points to consider. In some ways, Goldberg was a flash in the pan because he was extremely successful for a short period of time, but it faded quickly because of his limited in ring ability. That being said, he was almost as popular as Stone Cold Steve Austin during a time when pro wrestling was drawing record numbers and that itself makes a good argument for a HOF induction. The question is, will Goldberg get inducted? The answer is simple, if the WWE can make money from it then it will probably happen.
More than anything, it would be great if Bill Goldberg received some recognition for his career because it was somewhat disappointing for one of the biggest stars of the 90s to conclude his in ring career with such a lackluster match in 2004. This certainly creates some interesting scenarios for early next year and considering that nobody thought Sting would sign, it's more than possible that Goldberg returns to the WWE.
So, why didn't Goldberg translate from WCW to the WWE?
There are several reasons, but in my opinion, there were a few key factors as to why the WWE wasn't going to let Bill Goldberg run with it. Maybe this is being too cynical, but the WWE has a history of taking jabs at WCW whenever possible and specifically in 2003, there were numerous examples of former WCW talent being made to look inferior. If the WWE made one of WCW's top stars look secondary in comparison to their own stars, it only reinforced the notion that WCW was an inferior product. Granted, WCW had a laundry list of problems, but when you look at the situation objectively, it's obvious that the promotion did something right to almost put Vince McMahon out of business in 1997. Another aspect to consider is that Goldberg only signed a one-year deal with the WWE and without a long term contract, there was the risk that they would invest the TV time to reestablish him as a star and not get a major return on the investment if he decided not to sign another contract.
Will Bill Goldberg return to the WWE?
It's tough to say because it's very possible that he does the video game deal and definitely a Hall of Fame induction without actually wrestling again. On the flip side, he's friends with several well known stars, including Brock Lesnar and there was a slight "cryptic message" with the suplex city sign being featured in the commercial so that could provide an opportunity for a Wrestlemania match, similar to Sting a few years ago. The debate on if Bill Goldberg is a Hall of Fame level performer is another discussion for another time, but there are a few points to consider. In some ways, Goldberg was a flash in the pan because he was extremely successful for a short period of time, but it faded quickly because of his limited in ring ability. That being said, he was almost as popular as Stone Cold Steve Austin during a time when pro wrestling was drawing record numbers and that itself makes a good argument for a HOF induction. The question is, will Goldberg get inducted? The answer is simple, if the WWE can make money from it then it will probably happen.
More than anything, it would be great if Bill Goldberg received some recognition for his career because it was somewhat disappointing for one of the biggest stars of the 90s to conclude his in ring career with such a lackluster match in 2004. This certainly creates some interesting scenarios for early next year and considering that nobody thought Sting would sign, it's more than possible that Goldberg returns to the WWE.
Tuesday, June 7, 2016
Kimbo Slice passed away
The sad news from the sports world continues, as internet street fighter Kimbo Slice died earlier this week at the age of 42. While the cause of death isn't confirmed, heart failure is suspected as possible. Slice, whose real name is Kevin Ferguson, was scheduled to fight next month for Bellator at their event in London. While never reaching the status in the cage that he did on the streets, Kimbo had a very unique story and provided MMA with some entertaining moments.
Originally from the Bahamas, Ferguson survived poverty during his youth in Miami and had a notable high school football career, which earned him a scholarship to the University of Miami, but he was only there a short time since he didn't meet the academic standards. Searching for a way to make a living, he worked as a driver, a bouncer and security. One of his bodyguard jobs was for the adult production company, "Reality Kings" and the website indirectly led to the start of his fighting career. In 2003, Ferguson began fighting for money in unsanctioned street fights that were filmed and posted on various adult-themed sites online. When Youtube launched in 2005, a more mainstream public was exposed to the Miami-based street brawler, and videos of his fights became extremely popular. These gritty backyard slug fests generated such a cult following that it actually opened the door for Kimbo Slice to start a pro career.
In 2007, after training at a few pro MMA gyms, Slice competed in an exhibition fight against former boxing champion, Ray Mercer. He submitted the aging boxer early in the first round, prompting his introduction to the pro ranks just a few months later. Elite XC, the upstart promotion that was attempting to get a piece of the MMA pie during the boom in popularity of the sport, signed Slice to a multi-fight deal that saw him make his MMA debut against the completely unknown Bo Cantrell. Kimbo KO'ed his opponent in 19 seconds, adding to the hype around the bearded slugger. In early 2008, he returned to the cage to battle veteran Tank Abbott, who provided no real challenge and was knocked out in 43 seconds. Later that year, Kimbo was a part of MMA history when he fought in the main event of the first show broadcast on network TV for the Elite XC organization that aired on CBS. The show did major ratings, and Kimbo won via TKO when the referee stopped the bout after his opponent, James Thompson had a cauliflower ear burst from a right hook.
At the time, the common criticism of Slice was that he wasn't a legitimate mixed martial artist and he wouldn't have been offered a contract without the underground fights against no competition, which is a fair summary of his rise to fame. Was Kimbo a novelty act? Sure, but he was a fighter that people wanted to watch, and proof of it was the four million viewers that tuned in for his fight against Seth Petruzelli. However, Slice's novice experience at the pro level was exposed and he lost via TKO in the first round.
Elite XC folded shortly afterwards, and the subject of Kimbo fighting for the UFC became a frequent topic of conversation. UFC president, Dana White stated that if Slice wanted to fight for the organization, he would have to win the Ultimate Fighter reality show, which was a smart business move because it capitalized on the former internet brawler's popularity to generate ratings. In 2009, filming started on the show and the audience got the chance to get to know another side of Kimbo Slice. Beneath his golden grin and imposing appearance, Kevin Ferguson was a humble competitor that was just trying to make a living to support his family. His genuine appreciation for the UFC opportunity, and effort to become a credible mixed marital artist made it easy to rally for Kimbo to achieve success. He was eliminated from the reality competition when he lost an exhibition fight to Roy Nelson, but he continued to train during the filming of the show and then sharpened his skills at the American Top Team center. At 35, Slice was already past the typical age for a fighter to start in the promotion when he made his UFC debut, but he won his initial bout with a unanimous decision against Houston Alexander. In 2010, he was defeated by Matt Mitrione and subsequently released from his contract. Many of his critics, including Dana White, praised Slice's efforts during his time in the UFC.
Following his brief stint in the UFC, Slice began a pro boxing career, mostly of sideshow type fights where he KO'ed virtual unknown challengers and garnered a 7-0 record. When he wasn't boxing, he appeared in various TV shows and commercials. After a five year hiatus from MMA, Slice returned for a fight against Ken Shamrock for a Bellator event. I've said it many times, Shamrock shouldn't be allowed to fight at this point and he was knocked out in the first round. Despite the complete gimmick of Slice vs. Shamrock, it was a draw as it set a ratings record for Bellator on Spike TV. Most recently, he fought another street fighter, "Dada 5000" earlier this year and it was one of the worst fights in the history of the sport. Dada 5000 actually went into cardiac arrest at the conclusion of the contest and had to be rushed to the hospital for treatment. Post-fight, it was revealed that Ferguson tested positive for elevated testosterone and the bout was overturned to a no contest.
Ferguson, a father of six children, explained that he was grateful for his chance to fight professionally because it allowed him to put his kids through college. In 2010, the associated press asked him about his time in the UFC and he mentioned that he was thankful to fight on the under card of the events. It's important to note that the humble Slice never claimed to be a polished MMA competitor or that he was going to win championships, it just seemed like he was happy to get the chance to make a good living for his family.
Considering that he died from heart failure and he previously tested positive for steroids, you have to wonder if PEDs played a role in his death? Since he passing, there have been reported that he had various health problems in recent months, but at this point, most of that has to be considered speculation until it's official confirmed.
Regardless of the cause, it's disappointing that Kevin Ferguson passed away far too young, but his popularity in the sport will certainly be remembered. Kimbo Slice was a fierce brawler inside the cage and a humble competitor outside of it. Was Kimbo a great fighter? No, but he did provide entertainment to millions of fans when his bouts set ratings records. All things consider, Slice is a success because he went from brawling on the sreets to fighting on broadcast television. There are not many that would've guessed it during his reign as street fighting king on Youtube, but Kimbo Slice has a very unique place in MMA history.
Sincere condolences to Kimbo's friends and family at this difficult time.
Originally from the Bahamas, Ferguson survived poverty during his youth in Miami and had a notable high school football career, which earned him a scholarship to the University of Miami, but he was only there a short time since he didn't meet the academic standards. Searching for a way to make a living, he worked as a driver, a bouncer and security. One of his bodyguard jobs was for the adult production company, "Reality Kings" and the website indirectly led to the start of his fighting career. In 2003, Ferguson began fighting for money in unsanctioned street fights that were filmed and posted on various adult-themed sites online. When Youtube launched in 2005, a more mainstream public was exposed to the Miami-based street brawler, and videos of his fights became extremely popular. These gritty backyard slug fests generated such a cult following that it actually opened the door for Kimbo Slice to start a pro career.
In 2007, after training at a few pro MMA gyms, Slice competed in an exhibition fight against former boxing champion, Ray Mercer. He submitted the aging boxer early in the first round, prompting his introduction to the pro ranks just a few months later. Elite XC, the upstart promotion that was attempting to get a piece of the MMA pie during the boom in popularity of the sport, signed Slice to a multi-fight deal that saw him make his MMA debut against the completely unknown Bo Cantrell. Kimbo KO'ed his opponent in 19 seconds, adding to the hype around the bearded slugger. In early 2008, he returned to the cage to battle veteran Tank Abbott, who provided no real challenge and was knocked out in 43 seconds. Later that year, Kimbo was a part of MMA history when he fought in the main event of the first show broadcast on network TV for the Elite XC organization that aired on CBS. The show did major ratings, and Kimbo won via TKO when the referee stopped the bout after his opponent, James Thompson had a cauliflower ear burst from a right hook.
At the time, the common criticism of Slice was that he wasn't a legitimate mixed martial artist and he wouldn't have been offered a contract without the underground fights against no competition, which is a fair summary of his rise to fame. Was Kimbo a novelty act? Sure, but he was a fighter that people wanted to watch, and proof of it was the four million viewers that tuned in for his fight against Seth Petruzelli. However, Slice's novice experience at the pro level was exposed and he lost via TKO in the first round.
Elite XC folded shortly afterwards, and the subject of Kimbo fighting for the UFC became a frequent topic of conversation. UFC president, Dana White stated that if Slice wanted to fight for the organization, he would have to win the Ultimate Fighter reality show, which was a smart business move because it capitalized on the former internet brawler's popularity to generate ratings. In 2009, filming started on the show and the audience got the chance to get to know another side of Kimbo Slice. Beneath his golden grin and imposing appearance, Kevin Ferguson was a humble competitor that was just trying to make a living to support his family. His genuine appreciation for the UFC opportunity, and effort to become a credible mixed marital artist made it easy to rally for Kimbo to achieve success. He was eliminated from the reality competition when he lost an exhibition fight to Roy Nelson, but he continued to train during the filming of the show and then sharpened his skills at the American Top Team center. At 35, Slice was already past the typical age for a fighter to start in the promotion when he made his UFC debut, but he won his initial bout with a unanimous decision against Houston Alexander. In 2010, he was defeated by Matt Mitrione and subsequently released from his contract. Many of his critics, including Dana White, praised Slice's efforts during his time in the UFC.
Following his brief stint in the UFC, Slice began a pro boxing career, mostly of sideshow type fights where he KO'ed virtual unknown challengers and garnered a 7-0 record. When he wasn't boxing, he appeared in various TV shows and commercials. After a five year hiatus from MMA, Slice returned for a fight against Ken Shamrock for a Bellator event. I've said it many times, Shamrock shouldn't be allowed to fight at this point and he was knocked out in the first round. Despite the complete gimmick of Slice vs. Shamrock, it was a draw as it set a ratings record for Bellator on Spike TV. Most recently, he fought another street fighter, "Dada 5000" earlier this year and it was one of the worst fights in the history of the sport. Dada 5000 actually went into cardiac arrest at the conclusion of the contest and had to be rushed to the hospital for treatment. Post-fight, it was revealed that Ferguson tested positive for elevated testosterone and the bout was overturned to a no contest.
Ferguson, a father of six children, explained that he was grateful for his chance to fight professionally because it allowed him to put his kids through college. In 2010, the associated press asked him about his time in the UFC and he mentioned that he was thankful to fight on the under card of the events. It's important to note that the humble Slice never claimed to be a polished MMA competitor or that he was going to win championships, it just seemed like he was happy to get the chance to make a good living for his family.
Considering that he died from heart failure and he previously tested positive for steroids, you have to wonder if PEDs played a role in his death? Since he passing, there have been reported that he had various health problems in recent months, but at this point, most of that has to be considered speculation until it's official confirmed.
Regardless of the cause, it's disappointing that Kevin Ferguson passed away far too young, but his popularity in the sport will certainly be remembered. Kimbo Slice was a fierce brawler inside the cage and a humble competitor outside of it. Was Kimbo a great fighter? No, but he did provide entertainment to millions of fans when his bouts set ratings records. All things consider, Slice is a success because he went from brawling on the sreets to fighting on broadcast television. There are not many that would've guessed it during his reign as street fighting king on Youtube, but Kimbo Slice has a very unique place in MMA history.
Sincere condolences to Kimbo's friends and family at this difficult time.
Saturday, June 4, 2016
Muhammad Ali
I can't really put into words the tremendous sadness from reading the news that the legendary Muhammad Ali has passed away at the age of 74 after being rushed to an Arizona hospital for respiratory problems. Just hours before, it was reported that he was placed on life support, which prompted thousands of fans to flood social media with positive messages for the champ. I don't think there's any article, documentary, or book that can truly summarize the impact of the life and career of Muhammad Ali. In fact, far more important people than me that can state it in far better fashion have spoken on his life, but I hope that this article can in some small way speak to the amazing journey that the Louisville native took on his way to becoming a global icon.
Born Cassius Clay in 1942, he took up boxing in his hometown at the age of 12 and won numerous amateur accolades within the next few years, culminating in a gold medal in the light heavyweight division at the Olympic games in 1960. Late that same year, he transitioned to the pro ranks and quickly made an impact, racking up 19 consecutive wins during the next three years. Ali's style consisted of remarkable speed, moving with gracefully footwork and landing stinging punches in a display of poetry in motion. Adding to the draw of the young charismatic Clay was his gift of gab that he used to promote his bouts. Ali later cited professional wrestling stars Gorgeous George and "Classy" Freddie Blassie as inspirations for the "promos" he used to verbally jab his opponents prior to contests. Ali's rhymes and showmanship were as slick as his boxing skills, and in the process, he influenced the generations that followed him. The brash boxing prodigy proclaimed himself "the greatest" and during his two decade career, he certainly made a valid argument that he could be right.
At the age of 22, still known as Cassius Clay, he defeated Sonny Liston via TKO to win the World Heavyweight championship in 1964, despite entering the bout as a major underdog. As a combination of cigar smoke and flash bulbs surrounded the ring, Clay shocked the world to win the title. Post-fight, as the ring overflowed with press and entourages, he declared, "I shook up the world!"
Cassius shook up the world outside the ring as well when he announced his membership in the nation of Islam after his title victory. Along with his conversion to a new religion, he declared his new name to be Muhammad Ali, a name that very few in the media were willing to use at the time. The newly named Ali had become involved with the NOI a few years earlier when he met social activist Malcolm X in 1962. The brilliant and often misunderstood Malcolm became a mentor to the prize fighter, and the two forged a strong friendship. The same year that Ali won the title, Malcolm X exposed the founder of the NOI, Elijah Muhammad as a fraud when it was discovered that Elijah had affairs with several of his teenage secretaries. The younger Ali still followed the NOI and decided to refuse the friendship of his former mentor. Malcolm's courage to expose Elijah Muhammad's corruption cost him his life as he was assassinated by members of the NOI in 1965. In the book, "Blood Brothers" that was released earlier this year, it's well documented that Ali considered it one of the biggest regrets of his life that he didn't get the chance to repair his friendship with Malcolm after he also realized the corruption of the NOI and converted to the traditional Sunni Islam in 1975.
However, before Ali embraced peace between people of all colors and backgrounds, he was a very controversial figure in the 60s as a result of the radical views of Elijah Muhammad. After he won the title, Ali added nine more wins to his record and was at the peak of his career, but was unjustly derailed in 1967. In the mist of the Vietnam war that divided the country, Ali was notified that he could be drafted, but he refused on the grounds that it was against his religious beliefs. In April of that year, he was arrested and sentenced to five years in prison for refusing to serve in Vietnam. A lengthy appeals process began, which allowed Ali the opportunity to speak out against the war at various public gatherings. The impact of his message was profound and was one of the proponents that further swayed public opinion to end the conflict. After continuous legal sparring, the United States Supreme Court overturned his conviction in 1971.
Ali standing up for what he believed in took courage and sacrifice. Among the things that he sacrificed during his legal battles was nearly four years of the prime of his boxing career. When he refused to serve in Vietnam, he was suspended from boxing until the conviction was overturned. It's almost unbelievable to think that as much as he accomplished inside the ring ropes, Ali could've accomplished even more if politics hadn't taken the chance away from him. He returned to boxing in late 1970 and was successful in two fights before he fought the legendary "Smokin" Joe Frazier in a bout was promoted as "the fight of the century" in 1971. Frazier won the violent spectacle and the heavyweight title, while handing Ali his first professional defeat. After they both put together a series of victories, the pair fought again in 1974 and this time, Ali was victorious. Later that year, he was scheduled to fight then-champion, George Foreman. At 32 and with many ring wars on his resume, many assumed Ali would get KO'ed by his undefeated opponent, who had knocked out the granite-chinned Frazier previously. Never hesitant, he began his verbal campaign against Foreman for the bout dubbed "the rumble in the jungle" that took place in Zaire. During his preparation for the match, Ali won over the local crowds with his entertaining sparring sessions and thousands flocked to the venue to see the historic fight live, which was broadcast around the world. Using the now famous "rope-a-dope" tactic, Ali leaned against the ropes and allowed the younger challenger to unleash punches. Foreman battered him with looping hooks, prompting taunts from Ali in a game of psychological sparring. As the eighth round was winding down, Foreman was out of gas and Ali connected with a series of punches to send him crashing to the canvas.
Just as he had done nearly 15 years prior, Muhammad Ali "shook the world" to win the heavyweight championship.
After a few successful title defense, he was set to fight Joe Frazier to complete their trilogy in a bout promoted as "The Thrilla in Manila" in 1975. Similar to their previous encounters, Ali taunted Frazier and hostility developed between the two legends. When they squared off in the Philippines, the competitors exchanged punches in a contest that's considered one of the most brutal and greatest fights in the history of the sport. After the fourteenth round, Frazier's corner stopped the fight as he wanted to continue into the last round. Ali stood briefly to acknowledge his victory before he collapsed from exhaustion. Many prompted the champion to retire, but he kept fighting and kept winning, as he traded the belt with Leon Spinks before he won his third championship in 1978. Ali lost the title to Larry Homes in 1980 and finally retired after he fought Trevor Berbick in 1981. In an example of how respected Ali was, Larry Holmes actually cried in his dressing room following his title win because he didn't want to cause any damage to the aging legend.
After he hung up his gloves with an impressive professional record of 56-5 spanning his twenty year career, Muhammad Ali began perhaps his toughest fight when he was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease at the age of 42. Many suspected that the repeated head trauma from his lengthy boxing career contributed to the neurological condition. However, Ali continued to be just as much of a cultural icon in retirement as he was in the ring. He appeared on countless TV shows and events, including his role as a special referee for the main event of Wrestlemania in 1985. He worked as a social activist around the world and contributed to many charities. He also worked to promote peace between countries of different political and cultural backgrounds. In one of the most iconic moments in American history, he held the torch at the 1996 Olympics, keeping the flame steady, despite the effects of Parkinson's. The champ was honored with dozens of awards, both for his athletic accomplishments and humanitarian efforts. In 2001, a film based on his life titled "Ali," was released with Will Smith playing the lead role, a part that he only agreed to play after he was given Ali's endorsement. In 2002, he was given his own star on the Hollywood walk of fame for his numerous television appearances. In 2005, he was awarded with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor that can be given in the United States.
In more recent years, the champion appeared frail, and it was extremely sad to see Parkinson's take away his physical and verbal gifts. His once seamless movement became an almost continuous shake. His vocal declarations of his position as the champion of the world were quieted to a whisper. When former rival Joe Frazier passed away in 2011, it was revealed that the two had patched up their friendship and Ali attended the funeral in a wheelchair. Despite physically deterioration from the disease, it never conquered the champion's spirit. Nearly a million Twitter followers read historic quotes from the legend and an occasional recent picture of the him that was posted during the past few years showed that the champion still had the look in his eye that he had when he was in his prime. The argument could be made that Ali defeated Parkinson's on the score cards, as he lived with the disease for over three decades and refused to let it stop him from working to bring peace to the world. It speaks volumes as to just how special Muhammad Ali is when you take into account that people from different countries, backgrounds, races, and generations could identify with him. One of the trademarks of Ali was he always took the time to acknowledge his fans and to help build a more peaceful world.
Muhammad Ali was a champion in the ring and a champion outside of it. He's not once in a generation or even once in a lifetime, Muhammad Ali is once in history.
Muhammad Ali is global icon.
Muhammad Ali is a humanitarian
Quite simply, Muhammad Ali is the greatest.
Born Cassius Clay in 1942, he took up boxing in his hometown at the age of 12 and won numerous amateur accolades within the next few years, culminating in a gold medal in the light heavyweight division at the Olympic games in 1960. Late that same year, he transitioned to the pro ranks and quickly made an impact, racking up 19 consecutive wins during the next three years. Ali's style consisted of remarkable speed, moving with gracefully footwork and landing stinging punches in a display of poetry in motion. Adding to the draw of the young charismatic Clay was his gift of gab that he used to promote his bouts. Ali later cited professional wrestling stars Gorgeous George and "Classy" Freddie Blassie as inspirations for the "promos" he used to verbally jab his opponents prior to contests. Ali's rhymes and showmanship were as slick as his boxing skills, and in the process, he influenced the generations that followed him. The brash boxing prodigy proclaimed himself "the greatest" and during his two decade career, he certainly made a valid argument that he could be right.
At the age of 22, still known as Cassius Clay, he defeated Sonny Liston via TKO to win the World Heavyweight championship in 1964, despite entering the bout as a major underdog. As a combination of cigar smoke and flash bulbs surrounded the ring, Clay shocked the world to win the title. Post-fight, as the ring overflowed with press and entourages, he declared, "I shook up the world!"
Cassius shook up the world outside the ring as well when he announced his membership in the nation of Islam after his title victory. Along with his conversion to a new religion, he declared his new name to be Muhammad Ali, a name that very few in the media were willing to use at the time. The newly named Ali had become involved with the NOI a few years earlier when he met social activist Malcolm X in 1962. The brilliant and often misunderstood Malcolm became a mentor to the prize fighter, and the two forged a strong friendship. The same year that Ali won the title, Malcolm X exposed the founder of the NOI, Elijah Muhammad as a fraud when it was discovered that Elijah had affairs with several of his teenage secretaries. The younger Ali still followed the NOI and decided to refuse the friendship of his former mentor. Malcolm's courage to expose Elijah Muhammad's corruption cost him his life as he was assassinated by members of the NOI in 1965. In the book, "Blood Brothers" that was released earlier this year, it's well documented that Ali considered it one of the biggest regrets of his life that he didn't get the chance to repair his friendship with Malcolm after he also realized the corruption of the NOI and converted to the traditional Sunni Islam in 1975.
However, before Ali embraced peace between people of all colors and backgrounds, he was a very controversial figure in the 60s as a result of the radical views of Elijah Muhammad. After he won the title, Ali added nine more wins to his record and was at the peak of his career, but was unjustly derailed in 1967. In the mist of the Vietnam war that divided the country, Ali was notified that he could be drafted, but he refused on the grounds that it was against his religious beliefs. In April of that year, he was arrested and sentenced to five years in prison for refusing to serve in Vietnam. A lengthy appeals process began, which allowed Ali the opportunity to speak out against the war at various public gatherings. The impact of his message was profound and was one of the proponents that further swayed public opinion to end the conflict. After continuous legal sparring, the United States Supreme Court overturned his conviction in 1971.
Ali standing up for what he believed in took courage and sacrifice. Among the things that he sacrificed during his legal battles was nearly four years of the prime of his boxing career. When he refused to serve in Vietnam, he was suspended from boxing until the conviction was overturned. It's almost unbelievable to think that as much as he accomplished inside the ring ropes, Ali could've accomplished even more if politics hadn't taken the chance away from him. He returned to boxing in late 1970 and was successful in two fights before he fought the legendary "Smokin" Joe Frazier in a bout was promoted as "the fight of the century" in 1971. Frazier won the violent spectacle and the heavyweight title, while handing Ali his first professional defeat. After they both put together a series of victories, the pair fought again in 1974 and this time, Ali was victorious. Later that year, he was scheduled to fight then-champion, George Foreman. At 32 and with many ring wars on his resume, many assumed Ali would get KO'ed by his undefeated opponent, who had knocked out the granite-chinned Frazier previously. Never hesitant, he began his verbal campaign against Foreman for the bout dubbed "the rumble in the jungle" that took place in Zaire. During his preparation for the match, Ali won over the local crowds with his entertaining sparring sessions and thousands flocked to the venue to see the historic fight live, which was broadcast around the world. Using the now famous "rope-a-dope" tactic, Ali leaned against the ropes and allowed the younger challenger to unleash punches. Foreman battered him with looping hooks, prompting taunts from Ali in a game of psychological sparring. As the eighth round was winding down, Foreman was out of gas and Ali connected with a series of punches to send him crashing to the canvas.
Just as he had done nearly 15 years prior, Muhammad Ali "shook the world" to win the heavyweight championship.
After a few successful title defense, he was set to fight Joe Frazier to complete their trilogy in a bout promoted as "The Thrilla in Manila" in 1975. Similar to their previous encounters, Ali taunted Frazier and hostility developed between the two legends. When they squared off in the Philippines, the competitors exchanged punches in a contest that's considered one of the most brutal and greatest fights in the history of the sport. After the fourteenth round, Frazier's corner stopped the fight as he wanted to continue into the last round. Ali stood briefly to acknowledge his victory before he collapsed from exhaustion. Many prompted the champion to retire, but he kept fighting and kept winning, as he traded the belt with Leon Spinks before he won his third championship in 1978. Ali lost the title to Larry Homes in 1980 and finally retired after he fought Trevor Berbick in 1981. In an example of how respected Ali was, Larry Holmes actually cried in his dressing room following his title win because he didn't want to cause any damage to the aging legend.
After he hung up his gloves with an impressive professional record of 56-5 spanning his twenty year career, Muhammad Ali began perhaps his toughest fight when he was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease at the age of 42. Many suspected that the repeated head trauma from his lengthy boxing career contributed to the neurological condition. However, Ali continued to be just as much of a cultural icon in retirement as he was in the ring. He appeared on countless TV shows and events, including his role as a special referee for the main event of Wrestlemania in 1985. He worked as a social activist around the world and contributed to many charities. He also worked to promote peace between countries of different political and cultural backgrounds. In one of the most iconic moments in American history, he held the torch at the 1996 Olympics, keeping the flame steady, despite the effects of Parkinson's. The champ was honored with dozens of awards, both for his athletic accomplishments and humanitarian efforts. In 2001, a film based on his life titled "Ali," was released with Will Smith playing the lead role, a part that he only agreed to play after he was given Ali's endorsement. In 2002, he was given his own star on the Hollywood walk of fame for his numerous television appearances. In 2005, he was awarded with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor that can be given in the United States.
In more recent years, the champion appeared frail, and it was extremely sad to see Parkinson's take away his physical and verbal gifts. His once seamless movement became an almost continuous shake. His vocal declarations of his position as the champion of the world were quieted to a whisper. When former rival Joe Frazier passed away in 2011, it was revealed that the two had patched up their friendship and Ali attended the funeral in a wheelchair. Despite physically deterioration from the disease, it never conquered the champion's spirit. Nearly a million Twitter followers read historic quotes from the legend and an occasional recent picture of the him that was posted during the past few years showed that the champion still had the look in his eye that he had when he was in his prime. The argument could be made that Ali defeated Parkinson's on the score cards, as he lived with the disease for over three decades and refused to let it stop him from working to bring peace to the world. It speaks volumes as to just how special Muhammad Ali is when you take into account that people from different countries, backgrounds, races, and generations could identify with him. One of the trademarks of Ali was he always took the time to acknowledge his fans and to help build a more peaceful world.
Muhammad Ali was a champion in the ring and a champion outside of it. He's not once in a generation or even once in a lifetime, Muhammad Ali is once in history.
Muhammad Ali is global icon.
Muhammad Ali is a humanitarian
Quite simply, Muhammad Ali is the greatest.
Thursday, June 2, 2016
Who's the top heel?
Following Raw this past week, the WWE 24 series aired a special about Seth Rollins, chronicling his serious knee injury during a European tour late last year to his shocking return at Extreme Rules. While the production of the presentation was tremendous and speaks volumes to the high quality staff that the WWE has, it essentially puts the former champion in position to be the top baby face in the company.
Obviously, one of the main focuses of the nearly 60-minute documentary was the injury itself and tracked not only the surgery to repair it, but also the grueling recovery process. The network audience gets a very unfiltered look at the painful therapy sessions that Rollins had to endure just to attempt to pass the necessary test for medical clearance. During a strength test, you can see the pain etched on his face as he worked his knee. Basically, this feature of the entire process gives the fans a reason to rally behind Rollins to make a successful return to the ring because his dedication is there as he went through the various stages of rehabbing the injury. It's often said that one of the keys to an over baby face is getting some level of sympathy from the crowd, and while it varies depending on the character, it translates to fan support. It's tough not to see how important professional wrestling is to Seth Rollins, considering how the documentary showcases his desire to get back to the main stage of sports entertainment. Injuries are never a good thing, but the comeback can provide a platform for a particular talent to propel themselves to the next level upon their return. For example, it could be argued that Triple H was a bigger star after his return from a quad injury in 2002 than he was prior to that.
Another very baby face aspect of the presentation was a very interesting look into the family life of Colby Lopez, long before he worked Ring Of Honor as Tyler Black or won the WWE title as Seth Rollins. Again, his passion was highlighted as a very young Colby dropped elbows on the classic "wrestling buddies" and ran around his living room as the Ultimate Warrior. As time progressed, Lopez was shown during his teenage years preforming backyard matches with his friends. This is another way to get Rollins over as a major "good guy" because the backyard wrestling footage shows that pro wrestling is a life long dream for him. Keep in mind, one of the reasons that Mick Foley originally got over as strong as he did was the audience could identify, and appreciate the passion when the footage of him jumping off of his friend's garage to emulate his heroes aired on Raw.
You also get a very intriguing look into the career of Seth Rollins before he was a top star including the clips of independent matches in dingy buildings in front of small crowds. It certainly shows that he was willing to pay the price and climb the ladder to get to the WWE. Many of his peers including, AJ Styles, Cesaro, Sami Zayn, and others praised his work ethic.
The problem with this in-depth look into Rollins' journey back to the squared circle is, it reinforces almost every aspect of the negative perception of Roman Reigns, who Rollins is booked to wrestle for the title at the next pay-per-view. One of the reasons there's hostility towards Reigns is that it's thought he didn't "earn" his success, and the documentary details that Rollins had to claw his way up the ranks from independent scene. It's also well known that Roman Reigns attempted a career in the NFL before he transitioned to pro wrestling and logically, you know that if Roman would've had even moderate success on the field, he wouldn't be working in sports entertainment. On the flip side, WWE 24 showed that pro wrestling is the only dream that Seth Rollins wanted to pursue so it adds fuel to the notion that Roman was "entitled" to his spot because of his family. It probably didn't help that one of the main points of the show was that Rollins didn't heal in time for Wrestlemania 32, the event where Roman won the title in the main event, almost as if to suggest that he took Rollins' spot.
Sami Zayn spoke about Seth Rollins saying, "he sticks by his friends."
Isn't that a classic baby face? How is Seth Rollins supposed to get heat after that? Granted, the argument could be made that as entertaining as these specials are, they expose too much of the business, but that's another article for another time. The point is, despite all the production value that goes into WWE events, pro wrestlers (or sports entertainers) aren't actors and they aren't viewed in the same context as other TV characters. For example, when Roman Reigns appeared on ESPN, he was on the show as Roman Reigns, not Joe Anoa'i. When Al Pacino wins an award, he doesn't accept it as Michael Corleone, he's introduced as himself. When Robert De Niro won an award for his role in "Raging Bull," he wasn't announced as Jake LaMotta. You get the point. A pro wrestling character is continuous since the sport doesn't have an off season and there's an entirely different perception than other TV characters. In theory, pro wrestling is supposed to make the audience believe what they are seeing is legitimate, but that's not the case for other TV characters.
As mentioned, the WWE 24 production reinforces the hostility towards Roman Reigns. Seth Rollins wanted to be a pro wrestler since his youth, but Roman Reigns started in sports entertainment after he was cut from three football teams. Rollins wrestled for small crowds to work his way to WWE, but Reigns started with a developmental deal. On the surface, it adds to the notion that Roman didn't "earn" his spot. In reality, Roman Reigns has worked and put fourth the effort to improve on his weakness, but management continues to put him in a position that makes it difficult to generate fan support. It's disappointing to see Reigns continue to get flak that's directed more at management than him, but the bottom line is, he's still not over. There was a time in sports entertainment that when a performer was booed every week, it made the competitor a heel, but that's not the case. That being said, if it doesn't effect revenue, WWE brass doesn't have a reason to change the direction.
Seth Rollins is booked to challenge Roman Reigns for the title so does that make him the top heel in the company? After the WWE 24 documentary, it might actually make him the top baby face in the promotion.
Obviously, one of the main focuses of the nearly 60-minute documentary was the injury itself and tracked not only the surgery to repair it, but also the grueling recovery process. The network audience gets a very unfiltered look at the painful therapy sessions that Rollins had to endure just to attempt to pass the necessary test for medical clearance. During a strength test, you can see the pain etched on his face as he worked his knee. Basically, this feature of the entire process gives the fans a reason to rally behind Rollins to make a successful return to the ring because his dedication is there as he went through the various stages of rehabbing the injury. It's often said that one of the keys to an over baby face is getting some level of sympathy from the crowd, and while it varies depending on the character, it translates to fan support. It's tough not to see how important professional wrestling is to Seth Rollins, considering how the documentary showcases his desire to get back to the main stage of sports entertainment. Injuries are never a good thing, but the comeback can provide a platform for a particular talent to propel themselves to the next level upon their return. For example, it could be argued that Triple H was a bigger star after his return from a quad injury in 2002 than he was prior to that.
Another very baby face aspect of the presentation was a very interesting look into the family life of Colby Lopez, long before he worked Ring Of Honor as Tyler Black or won the WWE title as Seth Rollins. Again, his passion was highlighted as a very young Colby dropped elbows on the classic "wrestling buddies" and ran around his living room as the Ultimate Warrior. As time progressed, Lopez was shown during his teenage years preforming backyard matches with his friends. This is another way to get Rollins over as a major "good guy" because the backyard wrestling footage shows that pro wrestling is a life long dream for him. Keep in mind, one of the reasons that Mick Foley originally got over as strong as he did was the audience could identify, and appreciate the passion when the footage of him jumping off of his friend's garage to emulate his heroes aired on Raw.
You also get a very intriguing look into the career of Seth Rollins before he was a top star including the clips of independent matches in dingy buildings in front of small crowds. It certainly shows that he was willing to pay the price and climb the ladder to get to the WWE. Many of his peers including, AJ Styles, Cesaro, Sami Zayn, and others praised his work ethic.
The problem with this in-depth look into Rollins' journey back to the squared circle is, it reinforces almost every aspect of the negative perception of Roman Reigns, who Rollins is booked to wrestle for the title at the next pay-per-view. One of the reasons there's hostility towards Reigns is that it's thought he didn't "earn" his success, and the documentary details that Rollins had to claw his way up the ranks from independent scene. It's also well known that Roman Reigns attempted a career in the NFL before he transitioned to pro wrestling and logically, you know that if Roman would've had even moderate success on the field, he wouldn't be working in sports entertainment. On the flip side, WWE 24 showed that pro wrestling is the only dream that Seth Rollins wanted to pursue so it adds fuel to the notion that Roman was "entitled" to his spot because of his family. It probably didn't help that one of the main points of the show was that Rollins didn't heal in time for Wrestlemania 32, the event where Roman won the title in the main event, almost as if to suggest that he took Rollins' spot.
Sami Zayn spoke about Seth Rollins saying, "he sticks by his friends."
Isn't that a classic baby face? How is Seth Rollins supposed to get heat after that? Granted, the argument could be made that as entertaining as these specials are, they expose too much of the business, but that's another article for another time. The point is, despite all the production value that goes into WWE events, pro wrestlers (or sports entertainers) aren't actors and they aren't viewed in the same context as other TV characters. For example, when Roman Reigns appeared on ESPN, he was on the show as Roman Reigns, not Joe Anoa'i. When Al Pacino wins an award, he doesn't accept it as Michael Corleone, he's introduced as himself. When Robert De Niro won an award for his role in "Raging Bull," he wasn't announced as Jake LaMotta. You get the point. A pro wrestling character is continuous since the sport doesn't have an off season and there's an entirely different perception than other TV characters. In theory, pro wrestling is supposed to make the audience believe what they are seeing is legitimate, but that's not the case for other TV characters.
As mentioned, the WWE 24 production reinforces the hostility towards Roman Reigns. Seth Rollins wanted to be a pro wrestler since his youth, but Roman Reigns started in sports entertainment after he was cut from three football teams. Rollins wrestled for small crowds to work his way to WWE, but Reigns started with a developmental deal. On the surface, it adds to the notion that Roman didn't "earn" his spot. In reality, Roman Reigns has worked and put fourth the effort to improve on his weakness, but management continues to put him in a position that makes it difficult to generate fan support. It's disappointing to see Reigns continue to get flak that's directed more at management than him, but the bottom line is, he's still not over. There was a time in sports entertainment that when a performer was booed every week, it made the competitor a heel, but that's not the case. That being said, if it doesn't effect revenue, WWE brass doesn't have a reason to change the direction.
Seth Rollins is booked to challenge Roman Reigns for the title so does that make him the top heel in the company? After the WWE 24 documentary, it might actually make him the top baby face in the promotion.
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