At the beginning of 2016, I penned a column that explained why New Japan Pro Wrestling had to be considered the promotion of the previous year. Since that time, New Japan has continued to expand, most notably with English commentary regularly offered on their streaming service and the launch of an English website, making it easier for North American fans to follow the product. Most importantly, those were truly progressive steps towards marketing and establishing the product to a new demographic. This weekend, the Japanese promotion will make another major step toward its expansion, as it will present its first ever NJPW show in the United States, culminating with a tournament to determine the inaugural IWGP United States champion. The two-day event will be held in Long Beach, California at the Long Beach Convention Center, a venue that sold out in just hours when tickets went on sale a few months ago. The stellar Okada vs. Omega rematch from earlier this month only added to the anticipation for the G-1 Special, which will be shown live on Axis TV, another historic aspect of this tour.
I have to be honest, when Naoki Sugabayashi, owner of the Bushiroad trading card company, bought New Japan from Yuke's in 2012, I was extremely skeptical about the future of New Japan. Founder, Antonio Inoki nearly bankrupted his empire through a series of misguided decision, including MMA fighters prominently featured in a pro wrestling environment in the early 2000s. Inoki sold to Yuke's, a division of THQ, in 2005 to avoid the complete collapse of the promotion. Under Yuke's, the wrestling group treaded water during a time when over saturation led to a steep decline in Japanese business. Too many groups tried to promote their own events and it completely diluted the market. Finally, Yuke's sold to Sugabayashi in 2012, and THQ filed for bankruptcy later that year.
Sugabayashi was ambitious, but smart enough to know that he needed wrestling minds to guide this new project so he hired Jado and Gedo, wrestling veterans from a variety of promotions, as bookers. There were some key steps during the pivotal time of new management that led to the success that the promotion has today. The previously mentioned over saturation was a result of aging veterans that ran their own shows if they had any type of dispute with a major wrestling office. Since star power is needed to get an organization off the ground, the well-established older stars were featured at the top of the card. For its part, New Japan during the early 2000s was on the brink of bankruptcy and without the major distribution channels that it had in the past so Yuke's wasn't going to gamble on an unproven talent, even if that competitor had potential. Jado and Gedo were wise enough to know that the formula of the past decade is what led to the dive in Japanese business. So, in 2013, Prince Devitt, formed the Bullet Club, a spin off of the New World Order. Of course, Devitt went on to become Finn Balor in the WWE, but the blue print for success was put in place. A series of talented foreign or "gaijin" wrestlers were there to challenge the native talent of New Japan. It could be argued that the Bullet Club continues to be the best wrestling stable in the world. When an athlete departed, another quality athlete was added to the group. For example, when the previously mentioned Balor exited Japan, AJ Styles assumed the role of leader of the group. When Styles signed a WWE contract, Kenny Omega was elevated to that spot within Bullet Club. Even with the potential signing of Adam Cole, Marty Scurll recently joined the group. The point being, the booking of the stable is still logical and quality talent is used to replace those that sign to WWE so the Bullet Club maintains its popularity. As far as native talent, the Bushiroad era of New Japan saw younger talent truly established as main event performers as the draw of the company. Nakamura, Tanahashi, and Okada were stars that carried the organization into this new phase. Naito, Minoru Suzuki, and others were also featured to add variety to the main event scene. Equally as important, logical and well-paced booking is a philosophy that builds legitimately stars in New Japan.
Aside from establishing quality talent, Bushiroad, the popular trading card company, incorporated their wrestling acquisition into the trading card business, producing several series of NJPW cards. Along with that, more merchandise was produced and there was an increased availability to merchandise. Finally, the launch of New Japan World, the Japanese group's version of the WWE Network, allowed more fans more access to the product than anytime in the promotion's history. The bottom line is, these steps allowed for more revenue streams for the company, and ultimately, the potential for more profit.
New Japan management was smart enough not to rush these shows in the United States. Ring Of Honor ran a series of shows that featured NJPW talent and those co-branded shows were a major draw so that proved there was a demand for New Japan Pro Wrestling in the United States. It was a win-win for each promotion as well and their working agreement is mutually beneficial. In many ways, those co-branded shows allowed for New Japan to "test the market" so to speak without the financial risk of running a full-fledged tour, while ROH had the added draw of Japanese talent. While there are some similarities, New Japan and Ring Of Honor are different entities.
The main event of the first show this weekend is Cody Rhodes vs. Okada for the IWGP championship. Rhodes, who asked for his WWE release last year after he floundered as Star Dust, had an almost unbelievable stellar year outside of the WWE. Within a 12 month span, Cody worked for ROH, TNA, New Japan, PWG, and various independent promotions. Without a doubt, Rhodes proved that WWE brass missed the boat on him. Just last week, Cody won the Ring Of Honor championship on pay-per-view, and he's a recognizable star in America, but I don't think he was booked for this title match simply because American fans are familiar with him. After such a top notch year wrestling around the globe, Cody's skills justify a major match on a major stage. While it would be great to see Cody win the IWGP belt, it's doubt that he becomes a double champion this weekend. At 29, Okada is set to be the future of New Japan for years, and considering he has a third bout with Kenny Omega in August, it makes sense for him to remain the champion. Plus, as ROH champion, Rhodes will have more schedule demands with that promotion so even if it was considered, a double champion might not be a possibility from a logistics prospective. Still, anything can happen and it would certainly make history if Rhodes became one of the few foreigners to win the IWGP title.
For New Japan, they shouldn't alter their product in any way to tailor to American fans, mostly because the authentic Japanese action is the main draw, both for Long Beach, and for the streaming service. All things considered, it's quite remarkable that a Japanese promotion will run shows in the United States, which will be broadcast live on American television. When I was 15, I had to borrow Japanese tapes from other local fans, set up two VCRs, and copy each tape. Adding grainy copies of FMW Kawasaki Stadium shows or NJPW light weight action to the tape collection was always cool. A little more than a decade later, it's amazing that the streaming service allows fans to watch shows from the other side of the globe live as they happen. This New Japan expansion adds a legitimate alternative for fans, which is good for the entire wrestling business.
Friday, June 30, 2017
Wednesday, June 28, 2017
The Urban Legend of Cliff Compton
The pro wrestling business, which originated from the carny circuit, is often described as a shark tank, an industry where those that enter the business risk their health for a chance to make a name for themselves. In the modern era, shady local promoters often try to thrift their way through events to make an extra $25 on the show, while gutsy performers work on dirt-stained canvases in hopes of making enough of a name for themselves that they get the chance just to have a tryout in front of those in the major leagues. That notion alone requires dedication to chase the dream, local hopefuls wrestle in rundown venues for barely enough cash to cover their gas money, but they do it to live the dream.
Sometimes, depending on an individual's circumstances, the level of passion needed to achieve their goal of pro wrestling glory exceeds logical limits, but the willingness to push themselves that far is a primary reason why they become successful.
For Cliff Comption, long before he held the WWE tag team championship or became a cult favorite online, he was another dreamer, a kid from Long Island that saw his heroes on TV and wanted to emulate them. Cliff wasn't content with just visions of climbing the steel cage in Madison Square Garden like his future mentor Jimmy Snuka, he wanted to actually step inside the ropes to give this improbable dream a shot. He chose the well known "Monster Factory," a training center ran for many years by Larry Sharpe, who was regarded as a skilled technician and worked WWF house shows for nearly a decade. The school was responsible for the introduction of stars such as Bam Bam Bigelow, Raven, and others.
"I started training to be a pro wrestler at 19 at the Monster Factory in New Jersey. I had one goal and that was to make it to WWE. That's a pretty impossible goal. I was realistic about what I could do in wrestling, I was a pretty big guy with athletic ability. I wasn't the size of Hulk Hogan, but I looked the part. I honestly thought I could make it because of my dedication. Pro Wrestling is hard! The ring is made of wood and steel. The ropes bite you when you hit them. The mat at the school was soaked with sweat and blood. My first weekend of training left me in pain from head to toe," Cliff recounted.
He began the training in 1998 and quickly learned that the path to fame wasn't so glamorous. Studying criminal justice at the time, Cliff also worked a full-time job during the week. He lived in a very small apartment and similar to many college students, he didn't have much money. Still, that didn't deter him from traveling two hours, sometimes double that depending on New York traffic, to the Monster Factory every Friday for the weekend of lessons. He left Long Island with enough cash to cover gas and road tolls, unsure of how he would pay for any unexpected costs during the course of the trip. With no extra funds in his budget, he frequently slept on a trainer's couch most weekends because he simply couldn't afford lodging after road expenses. Just a few months later, he began working shows and put all his aspirations into the sport.
"As time went on I focused on three things, wrestling,working out, and eating. My interest in college was fading and my grades were showing it. I majored in criminal justice and did well, but I honestly had no time to study. I regret not finishing college and always tell aspiring wrestlers to get your degree. The more I trained at the Monster Factory, the better I got. I started doing indy shows in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Georgia. I avoided wrestling in New York because you needed a license from the athletic commission and that cost money," he said.
Along the way, he worked with some of the legends that he watched perform at the Nassau Coliseum during his youth. His bouts against King Kong Bundy and Nikolai Volkoff remain early career highlights for him. He also ran into a few of the perils of the independent scene in those early years, including a match against a particularly clumsy opponent, whose careless body slam left Compton with a concussion. After vomiting on the side of the road several times during his trip home, Cliff knew it was time to make a push toward moving his career forward.
"As time went on everybody was talking about OVW in Louisville, KY. It was the WWE developmental center and was owned by Danny Davis. Jim Cornette was the booker and Rip Rogers was the head trainer. I'd been doing TNA matches at the Nashville Fairgrounds back when TNA was still owned by Jeff and Jerry Jarrett. I needed a change and I'd been wrestling for five years at this point. I attended an OVW tryout camp and decided I needed to be there."
Eventually, the tough road of learning the craft paid off when Cliff was signed to a WWE developmental deal to became Domino, and was paired with Deuce, to form the 50s-inspired team in late 2005. Just over a year later, a classic car and a Doo Woop theme beamed through the television screen as a throwback trio made their WWE debut.
"We were set to debut on Friday Night Smackdown in January 2007. Smackdown was on UPN in those days and not cable. The day of the debut was a routine hectic TV day for WWE. We had to rehearse our entrance and promo several times in front of Vince. The WWE was not big on yelling in those days, so that debut promo was very relaxed compared to what I was used to. The promo and match went great. It was exactly what WWE wanted. When we got to the back Vince and everyone were clapping."
With Cherry literally skating by their side, the greasers became extremely popular characters that generated a crowd reaction. This new Smackdown commodity found early success, winning the Smackdown Tag Team championships in April of that year.
"It was September of 2007 and I really couldn't complain about anything. Deuce and Domino were a fixture on Smackdown for the last nine months. We had been on almost every Smackdown TV, a few Raws, and a lotsof ECW. We won the tag belts and had been around the world. Our theme music was one of the top selling WWE songs on iTunes. We were in all the magazines and now had action figures. I created Deuce N' Domino and now it was being marketed to the world. We had a unique look and our entrance was always good. I was proud of Deuce and Cherry, they played their characters great. We did an appearance at a Best Buy somewhere and I remember pulling up and seeing a ton of people. People had signs and were dressed like us, one girl was even on roller skates. I remember thinking to myself this is crazy, this team started in a flea market."
But the wrestling business can be a harsh environment. The concept of tag wrestling had yet to receive the refocused emphasis seen in the WWE today, and 2008 was a time when the division wasn't prominently featured on the global programming. Without the continuous exposure or a major storyline, Cliff and WWE management mutually agreed for his release..
"John Laurinaitis called me and told me they were gonna exercise their 90 day out clause in my contract and release me. It was a strange conversation that lasted for about 45 minutes. John kept telling me how much he liked me and that I would be back in a year. He said it was just budget cuts. I guess they announced it on WWE.com because my phone was getting tons of texts and calls. I remember after responding to all the text messages and calls, I sat on my couch and took a deep breath. I had been wrestling non-stop for 10 years," he explained.
After his WWE release, Domino was at a crossroads in his career. Some athletes have a certain perception broadcast on global WWE TV and get typecast into that role, hoping to garner bookings based on that image. As popular as the leather jacket and retro car were on Smackdown, Cliff knew that presentation was tailored for WWE, and a change was needed to progress his career. It's often said that the best personas in professional wrestling are simply extensions of real-life personalities and Cliff was no exception. A Dice Clay-inspired look, and Compton's experiences growing up in New York brought along a new phase.
"I was getting e-mails about a Deuce, Domino, and Cherry booking. Jimmy was not interested and Cherry wasn't either. The promoters wanted all three of us or at least two of us. I was getting calls from all over the world to wrestle as Domino. The big problem when you leave WWE is your stock drops dramatically. The power of TV is unreal so these promoters want to get you before people forget about you. I honestly turned most of the offers down. I was done being Domino and was burnt out on wrestling in general. I had money in the bank," he said.
The spotlight was beamed toward this transition in one of the most unbelievable ways possible and the complete details of the story must be told directly by the grappler himself to get a true sense of the circumstances. World Wrestling Entertainment's global television distribution brings the show to remote areas, even if for just a sporadic time frame.
One such place was Nigeria, a war torn country that had access to the Smackdown brand in 2007 before it abruptly went off-air two years later, but the exposure came at a time when Domino was the tag team champion. Another Smackdown star from that era was Festus, known currently as Luke Gallows. Real-life friends from their time on the blue brand, Festus called Cliff in 2011 with an opportunity to tour Nigeria for a good money deal. As Compton landed in the underdeveloped country, where guards with machine guns are a common sight, he noticed the promotional material for the upcoming matches. Advertised as "Super Domino," the image to promote Cliff was actually a picture of former UFC Welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre. Unfortunately, this printing blunder wouldn't be the last memorable mistake of the trip for the New York native. His opponent The Great Power Uti was somewhat of a national sports figure in the country despite the lack of any noticeable wrestling skills.
Uti played his trademark saxophone to the poorly-constructed ring for a less than stellar bout with Cliff in a soccer stadium. After the bout, a series of bombings in Nigeria made it critical that the pair of Smackdown stars return home for their safety. At their hotel, Compton was informed that Nigeria's favorite wrestler hadn't paid the bill, which was part of the tour agreement. Uti hadn't paid the staff several times in the past, and this time the hotel refused to let the visitors leave without payment. Considering the urgency of the situation to make his flight home, Cliff paid the bill of roughly $1,000 to exit the impromptu hostage situation. When Compton recounted his story on Colt Cabana's Art of Wrestling podcast, it launched online popularity that cemented his status as a cult favorite.
It also gave Colt, the independently-minded athlete that carved a profitable niche for himself without the exposure of the major leagues, an idea for his next project, a follow-up to his documentary debut, Wrestling Road Diaries Too.
"The filming of Wrestling Road Diaries Too made reminded me how much I missed being on the road. It's hard to explain but it's literally an adventure to get to each town. These wrestlers become your family and best friends. After we finished filming in early 2012 social media had really taken off. Colt was a master self promoter. He had YouTube shows and his own merchandise website. Social media revolutionized independent wrestling. You could promote yourself on many different platforms. I had made a name for myself on AOW. In 2012, it was pretty much the only podcast for wrestling. I know Colt was getting some very high numbers. I remember hearing about Kevin Steen, I could simply google him and see his matches," Cliff explained.
Post-WWE was a rewarding time for Compton, as he wrestled around the world in a variety of places, and even saw his career go full circle when he worked for OVW again. Cliff's wild stories of his global travels led to consistent merchandise sales online and even his own video series through the High Spots company. His online popularity helped him get the chance to work for Ring Of Honor in 2013 for a run with the SCUM faction, culminating in a main event unsanctioned street fight with Kevin Steen, now known as Kevin Owens in 2014.
Unfortunately, Compton suffered a concussion early in the match and that led to some tough decisions for him. Still wrestling a flexible schedule in 2015, over a decade and a half of professional wrestling took its toll on Compton. At just 37, he took the advice of his neurologist to officially retire from in-ring competition last year. He still remains active on social media, and his interviews with a variety of guests are among favorites on the High Spots video network. He also considers the friends he made, including many athletes currently on the WWE roster, a highlight of his wrestling career and stays in contact with most of them today.
The total of Cliff Comption's journey is truly a success story. Thousands of aspiring wrestlers attempt to get a spot on global television, but through sheer hard work, Cliff made it to that level. From sleeping on a trainer's couch when he had no extra money at the monster factory to working on pay-per-view, the dreamer from Long Island became an accomplished professional. The dream that he dared to chase took him around the globe and allow him to visit some of the most unique places in the world. Furthermore, he reinvented himself outside of the WWE landscape, which is not an easy task after the exposure of global TV. Undoubtedly, Cliff Comption's nearly two decade path through the world of professional wrestling was successful.
Sometimes, depending on an individual's circumstances, the level of passion needed to achieve their goal of pro wrestling glory exceeds logical limits, but the willingness to push themselves that far is a primary reason why they become successful.
For Cliff Comption, long before he held the WWE tag team championship or became a cult favorite online, he was another dreamer, a kid from Long Island that saw his heroes on TV and wanted to emulate them. Cliff wasn't content with just visions of climbing the steel cage in Madison Square Garden like his future mentor Jimmy Snuka, he wanted to actually step inside the ropes to give this improbable dream a shot. He chose the well known "Monster Factory," a training center ran for many years by Larry Sharpe, who was regarded as a skilled technician and worked WWF house shows for nearly a decade. The school was responsible for the introduction of stars such as Bam Bam Bigelow, Raven, and others.
"I started training to be a pro wrestler at 19 at the Monster Factory in New Jersey. I had one goal and that was to make it to WWE. That's a pretty impossible goal. I was realistic about what I could do in wrestling, I was a pretty big guy with athletic ability. I wasn't the size of Hulk Hogan, but I looked the part. I honestly thought I could make it because of my dedication. Pro Wrestling is hard! The ring is made of wood and steel. The ropes bite you when you hit them. The mat at the school was soaked with sweat and blood. My first weekend of training left me in pain from head to toe," Cliff recounted.
He began the training in 1998 and quickly learned that the path to fame wasn't so glamorous. Studying criminal justice at the time, Cliff also worked a full-time job during the week. He lived in a very small apartment and similar to many college students, he didn't have much money. Still, that didn't deter him from traveling two hours, sometimes double that depending on New York traffic, to the Monster Factory every Friday for the weekend of lessons. He left Long Island with enough cash to cover gas and road tolls, unsure of how he would pay for any unexpected costs during the course of the trip. With no extra funds in his budget, he frequently slept on a trainer's couch most weekends because he simply couldn't afford lodging after road expenses. Just a few months later, he began working shows and put all his aspirations into the sport.
"As time went on I focused on three things, wrestling,working out, and eating. My interest in college was fading and my grades were showing it. I majored in criminal justice and did well, but I honestly had no time to study. I regret not finishing college and always tell aspiring wrestlers to get your degree. The more I trained at the Monster Factory, the better I got. I started doing indy shows in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Georgia. I avoided wrestling in New York because you needed a license from the athletic commission and that cost money," he said.
Along the way, he worked with some of the legends that he watched perform at the Nassau Coliseum during his youth. His bouts against King Kong Bundy and Nikolai Volkoff remain early career highlights for him. He also ran into a few of the perils of the independent scene in those early years, including a match against a particularly clumsy opponent, whose careless body slam left Compton with a concussion. After vomiting on the side of the road several times during his trip home, Cliff knew it was time to make a push toward moving his career forward.
"As time went on everybody was talking about OVW in Louisville, KY. It was the WWE developmental center and was owned by Danny Davis. Jim Cornette was the booker and Rip Rogers was the head trainer. I'd been doing TNA matches at the Nashville Fairgrounds back when TNA was still owned by Jeff and Jerry Jarrett. I needed a change and I'd been wrestling for five years at this point. I attended an OVW tryout camp and decided I needed to be there."
Eventually, the tough road of learning the craft paid off when Cliff was signed to a WWE developmental deal to became Domino, and was paired with Deuce, to form the 50s-inspired team in late 2005. Just over a year later, a classic car and a Doo Woop theme beamed through the television screen as a throwback trio made their WWE debut.
"We were set to debut on Friday Night Smackdown in January 2007. Smackdown was on UPN in those days and not cable. The day of the debut was a routine hectic TV day for WWE. We had to rehearse our entrance and promo several times in front of Vince. The WWE was not big on yelling in those days, so that debut promo was very relaxed compared to what I was used to. The promo and match went great. It was exactly what WWE wanted. When we got to the back Vince and everyone were clapping."
With Cherry literally skating by their side, the greasers became extremely popular characters that generated a crowd reaction. This new Smackdown commodity found early success, winning the Smackdown Tag Team championships in April of that year.
"It was September of 2007 and I really couldn't complain about anything. Deuce and Domino were a fixture on Smackdown for the last nine months. We had been on almost every Smackdown TV, a few Raws, and a lotsof ECW. We won the tag belts and had been around the world. Our theme music was one of the top selling WWE songs on iTunes. We were in all the magazines and now had action figures. I created Deuce N' Domino and now it was being marketed to the world. We had a unique look and our entrance was always good. I was proud of Deuce and Cherry, they played their characters great. We did an appearance at a Best Buy somewhere and I remember pulling up and seeing a ton of people. People had signs and were dressed like us, one girl was even on roller skates. I remember thinking to myself this is crazy, this team started in a flea market."
But the wrestling business can be a harsh environment. The concept of tag wrestling had yet to receive the refocused emphasis seen in the WWE today, and 2008 was a time when the division wasn't prominently featured on the global programming. Without the continuous exposure or a major storyline, Cliff and WWE management mutually agreed for his release..
"John Laurinaitis called me and told me they were gonna exercise their 90 day out clause in my contract and release me. It was a strange conversation that lasted for about 45 minutes. John kept telling me how much he liked me and that I would be back in a year. He said it was just budget cuts. I guess they announced it on WWE.com because my phone was getting tons of texts and calls. I remember after responding to all the text messages and calls, I sat on my couch and took a deep breath. I had been wrestling non-stop for 10 years," he explained.
After his WWE release, Domino was at a crossroads in his career. Some athletes have a certain perception broadcast on global WWE TV and get typecast into that role, hoping to garner bookings based on that image. As popular as the leather jacket and retro car were on Smackdown, Cliff knew that presentation was tailored for WWE, and a change was needed to progress his career. It's often said that the best personas in professional wrestling are simply extensions of real-life personalities and Cliff was no exception. A Dice Clay-inspired look, and Compton's experiences growing up in New York brought along a new phase.
"I was getting e-mails about a Deuce, Domino, and Cherry booking. Jimmy was not interested and Cherry wasn't either. The promoters wanted all three of us or at least two of us. I was getting calls from all over the world to wrestle as Domino. The big problem when you leave WWE is your stock drops dramatically. The power of TV is unreal so these promoters want to get you before people forget about you. I honestly turned most of the offers down. I was done being Domino and was burnt out on wrestling in general. I had money in the bank," he said.
The spotlight was beamed toward this transition in one of the most unbelievable ways possible and the complete details of the story must be told directly by the grappler himself to get a true sense of the circumstances. World Wrestling Entertainment's global television distribution brings the show to remote areas, even if for just a sporadic time frame.
One such place was Nigeria, a war torn country that had access to the Smackdown brand in 2007 before it abruptly went off-air two years later, but the exposure came at a time when Domino was the tag team champion. Another Smackdown star from that era was Festus, known currently as Luke Gallows. Real-life friends from their time on the blue brand, Festus called Cliff in 2011 with an opportunity to tour Nigeria for a good money deal. As Compton landed in the underdeveloped country, where guards with machine guns are a common sight, he noticed the promotional material for the upcoming matches. Advertised as "Super Domino," the image to promote Cliff was actually a picture of former UFC Welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre. Unfortunately, this printing blunder wouldn't be the last memorable mistake of the trip for the New York native. His opponent The Great Power Uti was somewhat of a national sports figure in the country despite the lack of any noticeable wrestling skills.
Uti played his trademark saxophone to the poorly-constructed ring for a less than stellar bout with Cliff in a soccer stadium. After the bout, a series of bombings in Nigeria made it critical that the pair of Smackdown stars return home for their safety. At their hotel, Compton was informed that Nigeria's favorite wrestler hadn't paid the bill, which was part of the tour agreement. Uti hadn't paid the staff several times in the past, and this time the hotel refused to let the visitors leave without payment. Considering the urgency of the situation to make his flight home, Cliff paid the bill of roughly $1,000 to exit the impromptu hostage situation. When Compton recounted his story on Colt Cabana's Art of Wrestling podcast, it launched online popularity that cemented his status as a cult favorite.
It also gave Colt, the independently-minded athlete that carved a profitable niche for himself without the exposure of the major leagues, an idea for his next project, a follow-up to his documentary debut, Wrestling Road Diaries Too.
"The filming of Wrestling Road Diaries Too made reminded me how much I missed being on the road. It's hard to explain but it's literally an adventure to get to each town. These wrestlers become your family and best friends. After we finished filming in early 2012 social media had really taken off. Colt was a master self promoter. He had YouTube shows and his own merchandise website. Social media revolutionized independent wrestling. You could promote yourself on many different platforms. I had made a name for myself on AOW. In 2012, it was pretty much the only podcast for wrestling. I know Colt was getting some very high numbers. I remember hearing about Kevin Steen, I could simply google him and see his matches," Cliff explained.
Post-WWE was a rewarding time for Compton, as he wrestled around the world in a variety of places, and even saw his career go full circle when he worked for OVW again. Cliff's wild stories of his global travels led to consistent merchandise sales online and even his own video series through the High Spots company. His online popularity helped him get the chance to work for Ring Of Honor in 2013 for a run with the SCUM faction, culminating in a main event unsanctioned street fight with Kevin Steen, now known as Kevin Owens in 2014.
Unfortunately, Compton suffered a concussion early in the match and that led to some tough decisions for him. Still wrestling a flexible schedule in 2015, over a decade and a half of professional wrestling took its toll on Compton. At just 37, he took the advice of his neurologist to officially retire from in-ring competition last year. He still remains active on social media, and his interviews with a variety of guests are among favorites on the High Spots video network. He also considers the friends he made, including many athletes currently on the WWE roster, a highlight of his wrestling career and stays in contact with most of them today.
The total of Cliff Comption's journey is truly a success story. Thousands of aspiring wrestlers attempt to get a spot on global television, but through sheer hard work, Cliff made it to that level. From sleeping on a trainer's couch when he had no extra money at the monster factory to working on pay-per-view, the dreamer from Long Island became an accomplished professional. The dream that he dared to chase took him around the globe and allow him to visit some of the most unique places in the world. Furthermore, he reinvented himself outside of the WWE landscape, which is not an easy task after the exposure of global TV. Undoubtedly, Cliff Comption's nearly two decade path through the world of professional wrestling was successful.
Friday, June 23, 2017
Bellator 180
This Saturday, Bellator enters the pay-per-view market again, a revenue stream almost exclusive to the UFC within the mixed martial arts genre. With a price tag of $49.99, Bellator 180 is the promotion's second PPV offering. Their pay-per-view debut was headlined by Rampage vs. Lawal in 2014, generating roughly 100,000 buys, which was considered a moderate success. While the Viacom-owned group had its share of ups and downs, fans tune into Spike TV to see Bellator's often over-the-top fight cards. Even some of the organization's disastrous moments, including backyard brawler "Dada 5000" going into cardiac arrest from lack of cardio condition following a bout with the late Kimbo Slice, set ratings records for Spike.
Undoubtedly, if Bellator is going to obtain a piece of the MMA piece that is almost completely dominated by the UFC, Viacom is smart to market their MMA brand as something different from the product that Dana White promotes. Elaborate entrances and even side show type bouts can give Bellator events that are perceived as something more than just UFC lite.
However, the pay-per-view market is a completely different aspect of the fight business. Casual fans will tune into television events because there's no extra cost to take a peek at the side show bouts. While it's in some ways a smart business move to promote oddity contests to boost interest in an event, it's imperative to have a solid under card of legitimate athletes that can deliver quality performances for the bulk of the show. Could you imagine the mutiny if fans paid for the Dada/Kimbo debacle?
Generally, pay-per-view is the way to maximize profits for a sports or entertainment product that consumers have followed, but is that the best path for Bellator?
The cost to broadcast a live PPV event is what keeps a slew of independent professional wrestling shows or regional MMA events from diluting the distribution channel. It's not cheap to run an event at Madison Square Garden either. Granted, Viacom is a billion dollar company so while Bellator's future as an entity is stable, its endeavor into pay-per-view has yet to be determined. Even a media conglomerate as massive as Viacom, with its dozens of multinational platforms, won't continuously lose money on a particular venture. Considering the networks under its umbrella, Viacom has no reason to try to shoehorn its MMA show onto pay-per-view if it's not a profitable situation. Obviously, Bellator CEO, Scott Coker, who is the former president of the now-defunct Strike Force group, realizes that if this MSG show is a success, it gives his organization more credibility. Nobody wants to promote a product as, "the minor leagues of MMA."
But, is it better financially to put super cards on Spike TV that draw record ratings and generate substantial add revenue?
The key to success for this MSG event is simple, give fans a reason to pay $50 to watch it. The key match-ups that were promoted ahead of this show include the return of the legendary Fedor Emelianenko, and a MMA grudge match that brewed for years. Fedor, the humble Russian that many consider the greatest heavyweight in the history of the sport, returns to fight in the United States for the first time in seven years. After three consecutive losses for the fighter that had never tapped or suffered a KO previously, many speculated that his career fight ended. He fought and won three times outside of America to rebound from the defeats before he retired in 2012. In 2015, he returned to Japan to fight for Rizin, the modern day spin off of Pride, and defeated a kick boxer with just two previous MMA bouts. Last year, "The Last Emperor" fought in his home country, winning a controversial decision against Fabio Maldonado.
The major criticism toward Fedor, an athlete that represents himself well, was that he dodged top level competition later in his career. Some pointed to Fedor's management team as possibly delaying negotiations with the UFC in the past in an attempt to protect their most profitable fighter. That is another discussion for another time, but the point is, since his comeback, it's tough to gauge the level that Fedor fights at today. An inexperienced kick boxer, and a possible hometown decision doesn't make for highlights or promotional tools. At 40, Emelianenko is near the twilight of his career, but that could actually be the most marketable tool that Bellator has right now. Sure, Fedor isn't the same dynamic competitor that he was in his prime, but this pay-per-view gives fans the chance to see him step into the cage for perhaps the final time.
On the flip side, the status of Fedor is really only known to diehard MMA fans, and the most credible opponent he had in the United States was several years ago when he was defeated in a contest with Dan Henderson. In New York, Fedor will be challenged by former UFC grappler, Matt Mitrione. The former New York Giant has a less than impressive MMA record of 11-5, and during his time in the UFC, was only successful against lower-tier competition. However, he has a two fight win streak ahead of the biggest fight of his career and an impressive win could elevate his status within the sport. I will pick Fedor to win this bout, but it really depends how the bout unfolds that will determine the reaction it receives from the viewing audience. If Fedor dominates, the impression will be that he beat a UFC scrub without any signature wins on his record. If Mitrione overwhelms Emelianenko early, it could lead to a flat conclusion, as it's disappointing to see an aging legend's skills diminish. I'm not trying to be pessimistic, more so pointing out the potential pitfalls of his match-up. The best case scenario in terms of quality is a close fight that the fans enjoy watching.
The main event will settle the grudge between Chael Sonnen and Wanderlei Silva, but I have to ask, is that truly an effective selling point?
Sonnen, the former UFC contender, somehow talked his way into much higher status than his skills justified and manufactured this rivalry with Silva to create a big money fight after he failed to win the UFC Middleweight title. Sonnen failed multiple drug tests, testing positive for steroids in both post-fight and random drug tests. He was fired from the UFC in 2014 and works more often currently as an analyst for a variety of media outlets than fighting. He lost his Bellator debut against Tito Ortiz earlier this year in a fight that many questioned if the bout was fixed because of how Ortiz won.
Wandereli is a global icon in MMA, but the argument could certainly be made that he should've stopped competing several years ago. The brutal bouts he had in Brazil and Japan early in his career took a toll on his body. His epic slug fest with Brain Stann at the Saitama Super Arean, the venue that hosted Pride events, was the opportunity for a perfect conclusion to his career in 2013. The following year, Silva refused to take a random drug test prior to his scheduled bout with Sonnen in the UFC. As a result, he was initially banned entirely, but that was overturned in 2015. Silva's lawyers explained that his refusal to take the random test was because he doesn't read English and didn't want to provide a sample without understanding the process. If that's a valid excuse or not is anyone's guess. The ban was reduced to three years and Silva became eligible to fight again last month. After claiming that the Ultimate Fighting Championship fixed fights, an accusation that wasn't taken lightly because the sport is regulated by the state athletic commissions, Silva apologized for the "miscommunication" and was released from his Zuffa contract. It was certainly a bizarre finish to his UFC career, especially considering that the exposure the organization provided him introduced "the axe murder" to a new audience.
So, is a grudge from years ago between two fighters with diminished popularity really a worthy main event for a Madison Square Garden pay-per-view? Silva is 40 years old and hasn't competed in four years. Sonnen took a nearly four year hiatus from the sport because of suspensions from failed drug tests. When he debuted for Bellator, he was submitted by Tito Ortiz within 2 minutes of the first round. Again, is there really interest in this "rivalry" from five years ago in the UFC?
It's very possible that a decent number of novice MMA fans will buy this event to see the score settled. More people than I thought tuned in to watch Rampage and King Mo square off so it's certainly possible that this MSG card sells. However, with the aging legends like Fedor and Wandereli, and their mostly irrelevant opponents, do either of the fights at the top of the card seem like they will provide epic performances? The under card bouts should deliver quality action, including the MMA debut of the highly-touted prospect Aaron Pico. But, pay-per-view is about reaching the casual fans and it remains to be seen if the names at the top of this card will sell. Keep in mind, Rampage Jackson, who headlined the company's original pay-per-view event, is much more well known in the United States than Fedor. Either way, it will be interesting to see who wins and if the event draws pay-per-view numbers.
Undoubtedly, if Bellator is going to obtain a piece of the MMA piece that is almost completely dominated by the UFC, Viacom is smart to market their MMA brand as something different from the product that Dana White promotes. Elaborate entrances and even side show type bouts can give Bellator events that are perceived as something more than just UFC lite.
However, the pay-per-view market is a completely different aspect of the fight business. Casual fans will tune into television events because there's no extra cost to take a peek at the side show bouts. While it's in some ways a smart business move to promote oddity contests to boost interest in an event, it's imperative to have a solid under card of legitimate athletes that can deliver quality performances for the bulk of the show. Could you imagine the mutiny if fans paid for the Dada/Kimbo debacle?
Generally, pay-per-view is the way to maximize profits for a sports or entertainment product that consumers have followed, but is that the best path for Bellator?
The cost to broadcast a live PPV event is what keeps a slew of independent professional wrestling shows or regional MMA events from diluting the distribution channel. It's not cheap to run an event at Madison Square Garden either. Granted, Viacom is a billion dollar company so while Bellator's future as an entity is stable, its endeavor into pay-per-view has yet to be determined. Even a media conglomerate as massive as Viacom, with its dozens of multinational platforms, won't continuously lose money on a particular venture. Considering the networks under its umbrella, Viacom has no reason to try to shoehorn its MMA show onto pay-per-view if it's not a profitable situation. Obviously, Bellator CEO, Scott Coker, who is the former president of the now-defunct Strike Force group, realizes that if this MSG show is a success, it gives his organization more credibility. Nobody wants to promote a product as, "the minor leagues of MMA."
But, is it better financially to put super cards on Spike TV that draw record ratings and generate substantial add revenue?
The key to success for this MSG event is simple, give fans a reason to pay $50 to watch it. The key match-ups that were promoted ahead of this show include the return of the legendary Fedor Emelianenko, and a MMA grudge match that brewed for years. Fedor, the humble Russian that many consider the greatest heavyweight in the history of the sport, returns to fight in the United States for the first time in seven years. After three consecutive losses for the fighter that had never tapped or suffered a KO previously, many speculated that his career fight ended. He fought and won three times outside of America to rebound from the defeats before he retired in 2012. In 2015, he returned to Japan to fight for Rizin, the modern day spin off of Pride, and defeated a kick boxer with just two previous MMA bouts. Last year, "The Last Emperor" fought in his home country, winning a controversial decision against Fabio Maldonado.
The major criticism toward Fedor, an athlete that represents himself well, was that he dodged top level competition later in his career. Some pointed to Fedor's management team as possibly delaying negotiations with the UFC in the past in an attempt to protect their most profitable fighter. That is another discussion for another time, but the point is, since his comeback, it's tough to gauge the level that Fedor fights at today. An inexperienced kick boxer, and a possible hometown decision doesn't make for highlights or promotional tools. At 40, Emelianenko is near the twilight of his career, but that could actually be the most marketable tool that Bellator has right now. Sure, Fedor isn't the same dynamic competitor that he was in his prime, but this pay-per-view gives fans the chance to see him step into the cage for perhaps the final time.
On the flip side, the status of Fedor is really only known to diehard MMA fans, and the most credible opponent he had in the United States was several years ago when he was defeated in a contest with Dan Henderson. In New York, Fedor will be challenged by former UFC grappler, Matt Mitrione. The former New York Giant has a less than impressive MMA record of 11-5, and during his time in the UFC, was only successful against lower-tier competition. However, he has a two fight win streak ahead of the biggest fight of his career and an impressive win could elevate his status within the sport. I will pick Fedor to win this bout, but it really depends how the bout unfolds that will determine the reaction it receives from the viewing audience. If Fedor dominates, the impression will be that he beat a UFC scrub without any signature wins on his record. If Mitrione overwhelms Emelianenko early, it could lead to a flat conclusion, as it's disappointing to see an aging legend's skills diminish. I'm not trying to be pessimistic, more so pointing out the potential pitfalls of his match-up. The best case scenario in terms of quality is a close fight that the fans enjoy watching.
The main event will settle the grudge between Chael Sonnen and Wanderlei Silva, but I have to ask, is that truly an effective selling point?
Sonnen, the former UFC contender, somehow talked his way into much higher status than his skills justified and manufactured this rivalry with Silva to create a big money fight after he failed to win the UFC Middleweight title. Sonnen failed multiple drug tests, testing positive for steroids in both post-fight and random drug tests. He was fired from the UFC in 2014 and works more often currently as an analyst for a variety of media outlets than fighting. He lost his Bellator debut against Tito Ortiz earlier this year in a fight that many questioned if the bout was fixed because of how Ortiz won.
Wandereli is a global icon in MMA, but the argument could certainly be made that he should've stopped competing several years ago. The brutal bouts he had in Brazil and Japan early in his career took a toll on his body. His epic slug fest with Brain Stann at the Saitama Super Arean, the venue that hosted Pride events, was the opportunity for a perfect conclusion to his career in 2013. The following year, Silva refused to take a random drug test prior to his scheduled bout with Sonnen in the UFC. As a result, he was initially banned entirely, but that was overturned in 2015. Silva's lawyers explained that his refusal to take the random test was because he doesn't read English and didn't want to provide a sample without understanding the process. If that's a valid excuse or not is anyone's guess. The ban was reduced to three years and Silva became eligible to fight again last month. After claiming that the Ultimate Fighting Championship fixed fights, an accusation that wasn't taken lightly because the sport is regulated by the state athletic commissions, Silva apologized for the "miscommunication" and was released from his Zuffa contract. It was certainly a bizarre finish to his UFC career, especially considering that the exposure the organization provided him introduced "the axe murder" to a new audience.
So, is a grudge from years ago between two fighters with diminished popularity really a worthy main event for a Madison Square Garden pay-per-view? Silva is 40 years old and hasn't competed in four years. Sonnen took a nearly four year hiatus from the sport because of suspensions from failed drug tests. When he debuted for Bellator, he was submitted by Tito Ortiz within 2 minutes of the first round. Again, is there really interest in this "rivalry" from five years ago in the UFC?
It's very possible that a decent number of novice MMA fans will buy this event to see the score settled. More people than I thought tuned in to watch Rampage and King Mo square off so it's certainly possible that this MSG card sells. However, with the aging legends like Fedor and Wandereli, and their mostly irrelevant opponents, do either of the fights at the top of the card seem like they will provide epic performances? The under card bouts should deliver quality action, including the MMA debut of the highly-touted prospect Aaron Pico. But, pay-per-view is about reaching the casual fans and it remains to be seen if the names at the top of this card will sell. Keep in mind, Rampage Jackson, who headlined the company's original pay-per-view event, is much more well known in the United States than Fedor. Either way, it will be interesting to see who wins and if the event draws pay-per-view numbers.
Monday, June 19, 2017
Ellsworth wins at MITB
The women's revolution is finished.
There was an attempt to present female sports entertainers on the same level as the guys, which is definitely possible. However, through a series of questionable decisions and undeniable mistakes, the "revolution" is finished. After about two years, female athletes are still portrayed as less important, with the only noticeable difference being that you won't see talented women being subjected to lame gimmick matches or pillow fights. That's not a revolution, it's common sense that should've been used a long time ago.
At the dismal Money in the Bank pay-per-view, the first ever women's MITB match took place, an indication that the female division was given an equal chance since the traditional men's ladder match was scheduled for the same show. James Ellsworth, the jobber that got smashed by Braun Strowman to the point that he garnered a cult following, climbed the ladder to retrieve the briefcase for Carmella. Yes, the historic women's MITB match was essentially won by James Ellsworth. The reason for this was probably an attempt to get cheap heat for Carmella, but this soured fans on the bout and created a negative perception as to how WWE brass handled the division. If management couldn't construct a better conclusion to this ladder match then a women's version of MITB probably shouldn't have been scheduled in the first place.
The lackluster booking of female talent isn't exclusive to Smackdown, as Raw had more fumbles than the Tuesday night show in recent months. Charlotte, daughter to Ric flair, was prominently featured on Raw, including a lengthy feud with Sasha Banks and Bayley respectively. Basically, the title switched randomly and often, diluting the prestige of the title to the level of simply a prop. Nobody was elevated when they won the belt because instead of a title change being used to punctuate the conclusion of a well-booked feud, the new champion gained nothing from the illogical switch, especially when that particular competitor dropped it shortly afterwards anyway. Granted, the 50/50 booking is a problem across the board in WWE, but the time frame and results of Charlotte, Bayley, and Sasha are a textbook example of how counterproductive it can be to every aspect of a division.
For example, instead of Bayley winning the title at Wrestlemania this year to truly capitalize on the underdog storyline, she won it the previous month, which created a rather flat scenario for the biggest show of the year. It's often said that professional wrestling is about creating moments, not necessarily just the matches. How many major moments were created since management brought the "revolution" to the main roster?
Aside from just the title switches, the Charlotte/Sasha feud wasn't put into the most productive situations for success either. The concept of a women's HIAC match is historic on paper, but considering that Banks has a smaller frame of around 105 LBS, was it really a good idea to expect her to be able to crash through tables? Realistically, she doesn't have the physical frame to go through the tables, a problem that can be avoided if those elements aren't used in the match. Keep in mind, one of the reasons that Mick Foley was able to survive (and still required surgery recently) the bumps he took on his way to the hall of fame was his unique body structure could absorb the rough landing. Another major booking fumble from that same match was Banks on the stretcher with a neck brace from an attack prior to the bell. Somehow, Banks popped up with a fiery comeback, showing no effects of the attack after she was on a stretcher just seconds either. That series of events seemed too illogical and made those watching sigh at how unrealistic it was portrayed. In retrospect, the HIAC match was a sloppy contest that probably wasn't the best environment to showcase the talent of either athlete.
The way that Bayley is being used on WWE currently is almost unbelievable, considering how much momentum she had after her excellent run in NXT. Somehow management took one of the most over babyfaces in the entire company and halted the hype that would've put her near the level of John Cena in a few years in terms of popularity and marketability. The series of recent cringe worthy segments, including the "this is your life" with Alexa Bliss, and the awkward interview with Corey Graves are completely counterproductive for her.
I'm still not sure why management hasn't booked the Sasha/Bayley feud to showcase their electric dynamic to the main stream TV audience because of how successful the formula was in NXT. Yes, I know booking that angle again might be considered somewhat repetitive, but a Sasha heel turn after her and Bayley became allies on Raw would incorporate their history from the developmental brand. You also have to consider that with roughly 1.5 million subscribers, which varies somewhat throughout the year, the WWE network still has a fraction of the viewers that the global television shows draw each week. So, using the background of NXT as the basis for a feud on Raw would be a fresh angle for most viewers.
Don't get me wrong, Alexa Bliss has done well in her role as one of the "mean girls" of Raw, but the way her angle with Bayley was presented, instead of an underdog fighting for a dream, Bayley was portrayed as a naive fan that didn't seem to belong in the big leagues.
Why did Bayley's character work so well in NXT, only to flounder for the most part on the main roster?
Unfortunately, it could be the writing team's perception of the audience, but most of the time, the content on the main roster seems to target the lowest common denominator. It makes sense to attempt to gear the product to a main stream demographic because ultimately, the WWE is trying to draw as many causal fans as possible. The diehard fans are already consistent consumers of the product and a loyal fan base so management always tries to expand outside of that, which is a smart business move for a publicly traded company. But, there's a different between trying to reach the general public and insulting the audience's intelligent. The NXT brand isn't subjected to the "standards" of the general public because it's exclusive to the network, which is why most characters aren't booked for lame angles on that show. However, a winning formula is a winning formula, and what the writing team booked for Bayley so far seems to be the exact opposite of the booking style that would make her a major star to a global television audience. Make no mistake, Bayley has the charisma and in-ring skills to be one of the most popular stars for years in the WWE. The same could also be said for Sasha and perhaps others in the women's division.
Instead, the women's division on Raw is basically a shuffle with no definitive direction right now, and Smackdown has the previously mentioned Ellsworth "controversy." Not mentioned in the "outrage" of Ellsworth grabbing the briefcase is, was Carmella even the best choice to get the title shot? She's not terrible, but isn't established either. Is there really going to be a major reaction when she cashes in the title shot? The total of the "revolution" was WWE brass finally got rid of the lame pillow fight matches, but that's not really a revolution, it's just common sense. The women didn't need to wrestle in HIAC matches or even ladder matches to get equal opportunity, they just needed a chance to showcase their ability in the ring without being stereotyped or made too look secondary. There's no doubt that the caliber of matches that Bayley and Sasha had during their time in NXT could main event a Wrestlemania. After Ellsworth was booked to win a historic women's match at MITB, it appears that the revolution has concluded.
There was an attempt to present female sports entertainers on the same level as the guys, which is definitely possible. However, through a series of questionable decisions and undeniable mistakes, the "revolution" is finished. After about two years, female athletes are still portrayed as less important, with the only noticeable difference being that you won't see talented women being subjected to lame gimmick matches or pillow fights. That's not a revolution, it's common sense that should've been used a long time ago.
At the dismal Money in the Bank pay-per-view, the first ever women's MITB match took place, an indication that the female division was given an equal chance since the traditional men's ladder match was scheduled for the same show. James Ellsworth, the jobber that got smashed by Braun Strowman to the point that he garnered a cult following, climbed the ladder to retrieve the briefcase for Carmella. Yes, the historic women's MITB match was essentially won by James Ellsworth. The reason for this was probably an attempt to get cheap heat for Carmella, but this soured fans on the bout and created a negative perception as to how WWE brass handled the division. If management couldn't construct a better conclusion to this ladder match then a women's version of MITB probably shouldn't have been scheduled in the first place.
The lackluster booking of female talent isn't exclusive to Smackdown, as Raw had more fumbles than the Tuesday night show in recent months. Charlotte, daughter to Ric flair, was prominently featured on Raw, including a lengthy feud with Sasha Banks and Bayley respectively. Basically, the title switched randomly and often, diluting the prestige of the title to the level of simply a prop. Nobody was elevated when they won the belt because instead of a title change being used to punctuate the conclusion of a well-booked feud, the new champion gained nothing from the illogical switch, especially when that particular competitor dropped it shortly afterwards anyway. Granted, the 50/50 booking is a problem across the board in WWE, but the time frame and results of Charlotte, Bayley, and Sasha are a textbook example of how counterproductive it can be to every aspect of a division.
For example, instead of Bayley winning the title at Wrestlemania this year to truly capitalize on the underdog storyline, she won it the previous month, which created a rather flat scenario for the biggest show of the year. It's often said that professional wrestling is about creating moments, not necessarily just the matches. How many major moments were created since management brought the "revolution" to the main roster?
Aside from just the title switches, the Charlotte/Sasha feud wasn't put into the most productive situations for success either. The concept of a women's HIAC match is historic on paper, but considering that Banks has a smaller frame of around 105 LBS, was it really a good idea to expect her to be able to crash through tables? Realistically, she doesn't have the physical frame to go through the tables, a problem that can be avoided if those elements aren't used in the match. Keep in mind, one of the reasons that Mick Foley was able to survive (and still required surgery recently) the bumps he took on his way to the hall of fame was his unique body structure could absorb the rough landing. Another major booking fumble from that same match was Banks on the stretcher with a neck brace from an attack prior to the bell. Somehow, Banks popped up with a fiery comeback, showing no effects of the attack after she was on a stretcher just seconds either. That series of events seemed too illogical and made those watching sigh at how unrealistic it was portrayed. In retrospect, the HIAC match was a sloppy contest that probably wasn't the best environment to showcase the talent of either athlete.
The way that Bayley is being used on WWE currently is almost unbelievable, considering how much momentum she had after her excellent run in NXT. Somehow management took one of the most over babyfaces in the entire company and halted the hype that would've put her near the level of John Cena in a few years in terms of popularity and marketability. The series of recent cringe worthy segments, including the "this is your life" with Alexa Bliss, and the awkward interview with Corey Graves are completely counterproductive for her.
I'm still not sure why management hasn't booked the Sasha/Bayley feud to showcase their electric dynamic to the main stream TV audience because of how successful the formula was in NXT. Yes, I know booking that angle again might be considered somewhat repetitive, but a Sasha heel turn after her and Bayley became allies on Raw would incorporate their history from the developmental brand. You also have to consider that with roughly 1.5 million subscribers, which varies somewhat throughout the year, the WWE network still has a fraction of the viewers that the global television shows draw each week. So, using the background of NXT as the basis for a feud on Raw would be a fresh angle for most viewers.
Don't get me wrong, Alexa Bliss has done well in her role as one of the "mean girls" of Raw, but the way her angle with Bayley was presented, instead of an underdog fighting for a dream, Bayley was portrayed as a naive fan that didn't seem to belong in the big leagues.
Why did Bayley's character work so well in NXT, only to flounder for the most part on the main roster?
Unfortunately, it could be the writing team's perception of the audience, but most of the time, the content on the main roster seems to target the lowest common denominator. It makes sense to attempt to gear the product to a main stream demographic because ultimately, the WWE is trying to draw as many causal fans as possible. The diehard fans are already consistent consumers of the product and a loyal fan base so management always tries to expand outside of that, which is a smart business move for a publicly traded company. But, there's a different between trying to reach the general public and insulting the audience's intelligent. The NXT brand isn't subjected to the "standards" of the general public because it's exclusive to the network, which is why most characters aren't booked for lame angles on that show. However, a winning formula is a winning formula, and what the writing team booked for Bayley so far seems to be the exact opposite of the booking style that would make her a major star to a global television audience. Make no mistake, Bayley has the charisma and in-ring skills to be one of the most popular stars for years in the WWE. The same could also be said for Sasha and perhaps others in the women's division.
Instead, the women's division on Raw is basically a shuffle with no definitive direction right now, and Smackdown has the previously mentioned Ellsworth "controversy." Not mentioned in the "outrage" of Ellsworth grabbing the briefcase is, was Carmella even the best choice to get the title shot? She's not terrible, but isn't established either. Is there really going to be a major reaction when she cashes in the title shot? The total of the "revolution" was WWE brass finally got rid of the lame pillow fight matches, but that's not really a revolution, it's just common sense. The women didn't need to wrestle in HIAC matches or even ladder matches to get equal opportunity, they just needed a chance to showcase their ability in the ring without being stereotyped or made too look secondary. There's no doubt that the caliber of matches that Bayley and Sasha had during their time in NXT could main event a Wrestlemania. After Ellsworth was booked to win a historic women's match at MITB, it appears that the revolution has concluded.
Monday, June 12, 2017
ECW One Night Stand
Toward the end of 2004, the WWE released a 2-disc set of the "Rise and Fall of ECW" documentary, a production that garnered critical acclaim for its chronicle of the influential promotion that helped change the presentation of sports entertainment while running events from a dingy bingo hall in South Philadelphia. Vince McMahon, who put the organization on the payroll after he signed away many extreme originals to add depth to his roster during the Monday night wars with WCW, bought the ECW rights and video library in 2003 after a lengthy legal process allowed full ownership of the footage. Around this time, with the wrestling war of the 90s won, the WWE began buying and marketing video libraries, including a Ric Flair DVD set that showcased several classic matches that were acquired during the purchase of WCW in March of 2001. Quite simply, the early 2000s were the beginning of classic footage becoming monetized, a concept that ultimately led to the Network streaming service that distributes pay-per-view events today.
The previously mentioned Flair set was the highest selling release at the time, as it was the first time many of those bouts were released on DVD. After the 2003 proceedings allowed full control of ECW, the opportunity to profit from the fan base that still chanted the letters was an easy decision. Many former stars from the South Philadelphia-based promotion were under contract, and Paul Heyman was a member of the Smackdown writing team at the time so the cast was under the WWE umbrella to give a fairly complete story. When the presentation was released, it allowed fans a look inside the rise and demise of the group that still maintained cult status among those that watched it on various local stations or eventually on national TV on TNN, a deal that ultimately contributed to its collapse. "Rise and Fall" became one of WWE's best-selling home videos and it reignited the demand for a return of the hardcore company. Since ECW's final shows in 2001, many fans wanted to see the return of the action that generated such a diehard following. The reason being, different from WCW, Paul Heyman didn't go out of business because a lack of fans watching the product, but rather that ECW couldn't compete with the money required to keep pace with its competition. Heyman was desperate to get signed to a national deal and didn't negotiate any type of rights or ad revenue for shows that aired on the network. So, the production cost was increased exponentially while only live gates or pay-per-view buys from the increased exposure could cover the extra expenses. Keep in mind, there are several costs for broadcasting a live PPV as well so there wasn't a realistic way that ECW would've profited from the TNN deal.
So, ECW collapsed from the pressure of the industry. Similar to how Jim Crockett Promotions and Verne Gagne's AWA were causalities of the 80s, WCW and ECW shut down after the wrestling boom of the 90s. Vince McMahon's sports entertainment empire owned the wrestling world and 95% of the market share, a reality that effects the direction of the industry today. However, the sales of the extreme documentary proved that there was a demand for more than just Raw and Smackdown, shows that hit somewhat of a skid after the business took a down turn post-Attitude Era with the exits of Steve Austin and The Rock from weekly television. Rob Van Down, a former ECW TV champion and arguably the company's most popular star in its heyday, worked for McMahon in 2005 when he suggested an extreme reunion show to capitalize on the buzz that was created with the documentary.
Surprisingly, the chairman agreed, and the event was booked for the Hammerstein Ballroom, a venue that hosted many original events. Today marks 12 years since that historic event, a pay-per-view where the original atmosphere of extreme was recreated for one night only. Despite the slew of reunion shows and even the relaunch of the letters under the WWE banner, One Night Stand remains the only event since Heyman closed the doors in 2001 that seemed like a truly authentic ECW show. Fans were clamoring for the chance to relive the wild era of extreme and the rabid sold out crowd provided a rowdy environment for the broadcast. There wasn't a sub par match on the card, but there were some particular highlights. Chris Jericho working with his longtime friend Lance Storm was a solid opener, the three-way dance saw Super Crazy moonsault from the balcony, Sabu battled Rhino for an entertaining bout, the Awesome/Tanaka bout stole the show, and Tommy Dreamer was put through a flaming table during an insane main event.
The show was touted as one of the best pay-per-view events of the year and many wondered if there would be a follow-up. With a reported 325,000 buys, the message was sent that there was obviously a demand for pro wrestling outside of the Raw and Smackdown brands, which had low points. The Raw brand centered around Triple H almost constantly during that time while Smackdown was clearly the B-show. The bottom line is, there was much more hype and anticipation around ECW in 2005 than anything on typical WWE programming. The Raw brand tried to answer with a HIAC match between Triple H and Batista that featured barbed wired on PPV just two weeks after One Night Stand.
In retrospect, what effect did the success of the original One Night Stand have on the industry?
Ultimately, it led to the "relaunch" of the brand the following year, which depending on who you ask, was either to bury or attempt to redefine ECW. Realistically, I don't think WWE brass truly expected the Sci-Fi experiment to work because there was no logical reason fans would embrace an "ECW" show that barely resembled anything that initially gained popularity in the 90s. It was almost a win-win situation for Vince McMahon, either he added another revenue stream to his publicly traded company or worst case scenario, the nostalgic demand for Extreme Championship Wrestling diminished. As history shows, the ECW chants were finally quieted when the Sci-Fi show soured the audience on the extreme experience.
So, 12 years after the historic event at the Hammerstein, the ripple effect was that for one night, ECW was recreated and it allowed fans to witness an authentic return. However, the enthusiastic reaction to the PPV eventually led to a relaunch that was probably designed to bury the letters that generated such a diehard following in the 90s. As disappointing as it might sound, the entire situation almost emphasized that Vince McMahon decides the direction of the entire industry in the United States. Granted, the WWE has done relatively well showcasing the history of the sport, but with the expansion of the network, it makes it even more important that there are alternatives within the business. Everyone, even Vince McMahon, knows that a monopoly wouldn't benefit the industry.
The previously mentioned Flair set was the highest selling release at the time, as it was the first time many of those bouts were released on DVD. After the 2003 proceedings allowed full control of ECW, the opportunity to profit from the fan base that still chanted the letters was an easy decision. Many former stars from the South Philadelphia-based promotion were under contract, and Paul Heyman was a member of the Smackdown writing team at the time so the cast was under the WWE umbrella to give a fairly complete story. When the presentation was released, it allowed fans a look inside the rise and demise of the group that still maintained cult status among those that watched it on various local stations or eventually on national TV on TNN, a deal that ultimately contributed to its collapse. "Rise and Fall" became one of WWE's best-selling home videos and it reignited the demand for a return of the hardcore company. Since ECW's final shows in 2001, many fans wanted to see the return of the action that generated such a diehard following. The reason being, different from WCW, Paul Heyman didn't go out of business because a lack of fans watching the product, but rather that ECW couldn't compete with the money required to keep pace with its competition. Heyman was desperate to get signed to a national deal and didn't negotiate any type of rights or ad revenue for shows that aired on the network. So, the production cost was increased exponentially while only live gates or pay-per-view buys from the increased exposure could cover the extra expenses. Keep in mind, there are several costs for broadcasting a live PPV as well so there wasn't a realistic way that ECW would've profited from the TNN deal.
So, ECW collapsed from the pressure of the industry. Similar to how Jim Crockett Promotions and Verne Gagne's AWA were causalities of the 80s, WCW and ECW shut down after the wrestling boom of the 90s. Vince McMahon's sports entertainment empire owned the wrestling world and 95% of the market share, a reality that effects the direction of the industry today. However, the sales of the extreme documentary proved that there was a demand for more than just Raw and Smackdown, shows that hit somewhat of a skid after the business took a down turn post-Attitude Era with the exits of Steve Austin and The Rock from weekly television. Rob Van Down, a former ECW TV champion and arguably the company's most popular star in its heyday, worked for McMahon in 2005 when he suggested an extreme reunion show to capitalize on the buzz that was created with the documentary.
Surprisingly, the chairman agreed, and the event was booked for the Hammerstein Ballroom, a venue that hosted many original events. Today marks 12 years since that historic event, a pay-per-view where the original atmosphere of extreme was recreated for one night only. Despite the slew of reunion shows and even the relaunch of the letters under the WWE banner, One Night Stand remains the only event since Heyman closed the doors in 2001 that seemed like a truly authentic ECW show. Fans were clamoring for the chance to relive the wild era of extreme and the rabid sold out crowd provided a rowdy environment for the broadcast. There wasn't a sub par match on the card, but there were some particular highlights. Chris Jericho working with his longtime friend Lance Storm was a solid opener, the three-way dance saw Super Crazy moonsault from the balcony, Sabu battled Rhino for an entertaining bout, the Awesome/Tanaka bout stole the show, and Tommy Dreamer was put through a flaming table during an insane main event.
The show was touted as one of the best pay-per-view events of the year and many wondered if there would be a follow-up. With a reported 325,000 buys, the message was sent that there was obviously a demand for pro wrestling outside of the Raw and Smackdown brands, which had low points. The Raw brand centered around Triple H almost constantly during that time while Smackdown was clearly the B-show. The bottom line is, there was much more hype and anticipation around ECW in 2005 than anything on typical WWE programming. The Raw brand tried to answer with a HIAC match between Triple H and Batista that featured barbed wired on PPV just two weeks after One Night Stand.
In retrospect, what effect did the success of the original One Night Stand have on the industry?
Ultimately, it led to the "relaunch" of the brand the following year, which depending on who you ask, was either to bury or attempt to redefine ECW. Realistically, I don't think WWE brass truly expected the Sci-Fi experiment to work because there was no logical reason fans would embrace an "ECW" show that barely resembled anything that initially gained popularity in the 90s. It was almost a win-win situation for Vince McMahon, either he added another revenue stream to his publicly traded company or worst case scenario, the nostalgic demand for Extreme Championship Wrestling diminished. As history shows, the ECW chants were finally quieted when the Sci-Fi show soured the audience on the extreme experience.
So, 12 years after the historic event at the Hammerstein, the ripple effect was that for one night, ECW was recreated and it allowed fans to witness an authentic return. However, the enthusiastic reaction to the PPV eventually led to a relaunch that was probably designed to bury the letters that generated such a diehard following in the 90s. As disappointing as it might sound, the entire situation almost emphasized that Vince McMahon decides the direction of the entire industry in the United States. Granted, the WWE has done relatively well showcasing the history of the sport, but with the expansion of the network, it makes it even more important that there are alternatives within the business. Everyone, even Vince McMahon, knows that a monopoly wouldn't benefit the industry.
Wednesday, June 7, 2017
Brock Lesnar vs. Samoa Joe
Samoa Joe, the journeyman that made his name across the wrestling scene
for nearly 15 years before he debuted in the WWE in 2015, won a five-way
match at the Extreme Rules pay-per-view to become the number one
contender for the Universal championship. Joe, who spent a decade in
TNA, was considered too far outside of the typical "WWE mold" at one
point, but the company's expansion puts an emphasis on quality talent so
he was originally signed to boost the NXT brand. After a successful run
there, he debuted on the main roster, and the very unique athlete made
an impactful presence on WWE TV.
In truth, Samoa Joe was never utilized to his full potential during his time in TNA and it's disappointing that he spent the majority of the peak of his career there. The agility, persona, and presentation of the Samoan competitor was a combination that the organization could've used to establish their own brand, but a series of booking fumbles prevented that. Joe had a six month run as the heavyweight champion in 2008, but that was his only reign with the belt while aging veterans had multiple title runs around that time frame. In fact, the booking of Joe, including random character variations and the infamous ninja kidnapping hindered his progress in the organization. Quite simply, TNA never fully gave Samoa Joe the chance to run with the championship. Even his lengthy undefeated streak was ended when Kurt Angle joined the promotion, something that Angle didn't need, and made one of TNA's top prospects look secondary to a WWE star.
When Joe left Impact Wrestling as Dixie Carter's regime was crumbling in early 2015, I thought he would return to Ring Of Honor, the group that was bought by Sinclair Broadcasting since his departure several years earlier. Considering ROH's extensive working agreement with New Japan Pro Wrestling and the surge in Japanese business using foreign talent, I expected him to work the New Japan scene for an extended period of time, similar to what AJ Styles did when he left Impact Wrestling. Joe made a brief comeback to the promotion that he helped put on the map, but his ROH return was only temporary as he appeared at NXT in May of 2015.
I have to say, I was extremely surprised that Samoa Joe signed a WWE deal, simply because he had such a notable track record previously and still hadn't inked a contract. Again, the "WWE mold" just wasn't Joe's style, which seemed to stall a contract offer in the past. However, make no mistake, Joe was up to par from an in-ring aspect at least ten years ago, but the WWE climate was much different. Keep in mind, despite the tremendous ability that Umaga brought to the squared circle, he was saddled with a cartoonish gimmick at the time.
As mentioned, Samoa Joe has done well so far in his WWE run, and his physical style and monster persona make an intriguing scenario for a Brock Lesnar match. Brock, a former UFC heavyweight champion, won the title at Wrestlemania 33 and hasn't appeared in a few months. In theory, this keeps the champion a "special event" for TV, but with the amount of weekly content produced, it's difficult to build pay-per-view main events without the champion as one of the prominent figures on Raw. The champion was featured sporadically on television in the 80s in an effort to sell tickets to house shows, but the business moves much faster today. In fact, television rights fees and ad revenue based off of TV ratings are an exponentially more important aspect of the industry than house show ticket sales so the "it worked in the 80s" theory to explain Lesnar's extended absence is somewhat of an apples to oranges comparison. If anything, Brock doesn't need to wrestle on TV weekly, but with the recent ratings dip, it would seem to be beneficial if he appeared more often to promote more title defenses.
That being said, I'm still skeptical if this entire Brock Lesnar mega push will be worth it in terms of the long term return or lack thereof that it brings for the company. Yes, there's undoubtedly hype around Lesnar's matches and he earns his money because he delivers solid performances in the ring. But, the trade off is seemingly the opportunity to truly establish younger competitors as legitimate stars that can draw money. How long can WWE brass rely on part-timers to bring star power to Wrestlemania? Furthermore, how many full-time stars have the star power to sell out a stadium right now? Sure, the WM brand sells a certain number of tickets, but if a lackluster main event is booked, there will be a difference in sales. Aside from Brock, the other major push is obviously Roman Reigns, who has yet to get to the level that management has pushed during the past few years.
So, will Samoa Joe actually win the Universal title?
The answer to that question depends on how the contest is booked and the plans for the title. Regardless of the results of Joe/Lesnar, there should be at least two matches in the feud. There's simply too much hype because of the similar styles to use this match up for just the main event of a random pay-per-view. Considering that the ratings could use the belt more often on Raw, it's possible that Joe might win the title and then eventually drop it to Lesnar. A win against Brock for the championship would certainly solidify Samoa Joe as a main event level star. At 38, Samoa Joe seems to be toward the latter stages of his career and he worked a very physical style for several years so if he's going to get a run as Universal champion, now would be the time to do it. As seen on Raw, Paul Heyman continues to cut the best promos in wrestling today and those segments will be "must see" on Raw leading to the PPV, which makes for good TV.
If I had to guess, I would say that Samoa Joe wins the title in an entertaining match at the pay-per-view. The main reason being, the three hour format of Raw makes it difficult for the show to maintain an entire audience for the duration of the time slot and as a publicly traded company, WWE brass doesn't want to have to explain a trend in declining ratings on the next conference call. At the very least, the Universal champion competing weekly in the main event gives fans a reason to watch the third hour of Raw, which is where there was a pattern of a decline of viewers. If Joe wins, it allows Brock to remain a part-timer and makes it easier to book Raw with a weekly champion. Either way, the Lesnar/Joe feud will provide some entertaining TV and a quality pay-per-view main event.
In truth, Samoa Joe was never utilized to his full potential during his time in TNA and it's disappointing that he spent the majority of the peak of his career there. The agility, persona, and presentation of the Samoan competitor was a combination that the organization could've used to establish their own brand, but a series of booking fumbles prevented that. Joe had a six month run as the heavyweight champion in 2008, but that was his only reign with the belt while aging veterans had multiple title runs around that time frame. In fact, the booking of Joe, including random character variations and the infamous ninja kidnapping hindered his progress in the organization. Quite simply, TNA never fully gave Samoa Joe the chance to run with the championship. Even his lengthy undefeated streak was ended when Kurt Angle joined the promotion, something that Angle didn't need, and made one of TNA's top prospects look secondary to a WWE star.
When Joe left Impact Wrestling as Dixie Carter's regime was crumbling in early 2015, I thought he would return to Ring Of Honor, the group that was bought by Sinclair Broadcasting since his departure several years earlier. Considering ROH's extensive working agreement with New Japan Pro Wrestling and the surge in Japanese business using foreign talent, I expected him to work the New Japan scene for an extended period of time, similar to what AJ Styles did when he left Impact Wrestling. Joe made a brief comeback to the promotion that he helped put on the map, but his ROH return was only temporary as he appeared at NXT in May of 2015.
I have to say, I was extremely surprised that Samoa Joe signed a WWE deal, simply because he had such a notable track record previously and still hadn't inked a contract. Again, the "WWE mold" just wasn't Joe's style, which seemed to stall a contract offer in the past. However, make no mistake, Joe was up to par from an in-ring aspect at least ten years ago, but the WWE climate was much different. Keep in mind, despite the tremendous ability that Umaga brought to the squared circle, he was saddled with a cartoonish gimmick at the time.
As mentioned, Samoa Joe has done well so far in his WWE run, and his physical style and monster persona make an intriguing scenario for a Brock Lesnar match. Brock, a former UFC heavyweight champion, won the title at Wrestlemania 33 and hasn't appeared in a few months. In theory, this keeps the champion a "special event" for TV, but with the amount of weekly content produced, it's difficult to build pay-per-view main events without the champion as one of the prominent figures on Raw. The champion was featured sporadically on television in the 80s in an effort to sell tickets to house shows, but the business moves much faster today. In fact, television rights fees and ad revenue based off of TV ratings are an exponentially more important aspect of the industry than house show ticket sales so the "it worked in the 80s" theory to explain Lesnar's extended absence is somewhat of an apples to oranges comparison. If anything, Brock doesn't need to wrestle on TV weekly, but with the recent ratings dip, it would seem to be beneficial if he appeared more often to promote more title defenses.
That being said, I'm still skeptical if this entire Brock Lesnar mega push will be worth it in terms of the long term return or lack thereof that it brings for the company. Yes, there's undoubtedly hype around Lesnar's matches and he earns his money because he delivers solid performances in the ring. But, the trade off is seemingly the opportunity to truly establish younger competitors as legitimate stars that can draw money. How long can WWE brass rely on part-timers to bring star power to Wrestlemania? Furthermore, how many full-time stars have the star power to sell out a stadium right now? Sure, the WM brand sells a certain number of tickets, but if a lackluster main event is booked, there will be a difference in sales. Aside from Brock, the other major push is obviously Roman Reigns, who has yet to get to the level that management has pushed during the past few years.
So, will Samoa Joe actually win the Universal title?
The answer to that question depends on how the contest is booked and the plans for the title. Regardless of the results of Joe/Lesnar, there should be at least two matches in the feud. There's simply too much hype because of the similar styles to use this match up for just the main event of a random pay-per-view. Considering that the ratings could use the belt more often on Raw, it's possible that Joe might win the title and then eventually drop it to Lesnar. A win against Brock for the championship would certainly solidify Samoa Joe as a main event level star. At 38, Samoa Joe seems to be toward the latter stages of his career and he worked a very physical style for several years so if he's going to get a run as Universal champion, now would be the time to do it. As seen on Raw, Paul Heyman continues to cut the best promos in wrestling today and those segments will be "must see" on Raw leading to the PPV, which makes for good TV.
If I had to guess, I would say that Samoa Joe wins the title in an entertaining match at the pay-per-view. The main reason being, the three hour format of Raw makes it difficult for the show to maintain an entire audience for the duration of the time slot and as a publicly traded company, WWE brass doesn't want to have to explain a trend in declining ratings on the next conference call. At the very least, the Universal champion competing weekly in the main event gives fans a reason to watch the third hour of Raw, which is where there was a pattern of a decline of viewers. If Joe wins, it allows Brock to remain a part-timer and makes it easier to book Raw with a weekly champion. Either way, the Lesnar/Joe feud will provide some entertaining TV and a quality pay-per-view main event.
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