Next weekend, CM Punk, former Ring Of Honor and WWE champion, will return to the octagon to fight at UFC 225 in his hometown of Chicago. As is usually the case with any pro wrestling involvement in mixed martial arts, there was much criticism toward CM Punk and more specifically, UFC management when Alistair Overeem was moved to the preliminary card so that the former pro wrestler could get a spot on the pay-per-view card. Overeem, a nearly 20-year pro and former Strike Force Heavyweight champion, was involved in steroid controversies throughout his career, but was also considered a contender in the UFC title picture in recent years, which saw him ranked among the top five in the division.
Punk, a novice Brazilian jiu jitsu practitioner during the latter stages of his WWE career, embarked on a two year journey toward his MMA debut before he stepped into the cage to compete against Mickey Gall in September of 2016. Among setbacks with injuries and surgery, Punk trained full-time at Roufusport MMA center, and despite the delay, there was a lot of anticipation for his start in the sport. Two years of preparation was summed up in 2 minutes and 14 seconds, as Punk was completely dominated, mounting virtually no offense before Gall, a brown belt in jiu jitsu, won via submission.
Most assumed that the lop-sided defeat was the end of the MMA experiment for CM Punk, but he later indicated that he wanted to fight again. Since he inked a deal with the UFC in November of 2014, that created questions about if the organization would promote another Punk bout or opt to release him from his contract, a deal that saw him make $500,000 for the Gall contest.
Still extremely popular from his sports entertainment run, Punk could theoretically be a draw for another fight. However, this contest for UFC 225 is more about the circumstances than his ability as a mixed martial artist. The event is being held in his hometown of Chicago with a lack of any major star power on the card so it makes sense to feature him at the show because at the very least, it's a selling point and a boost to the live gate attendance. Keep in mind, tickets to UFC events are very expensive. Through a series of interim title debacles and Georges St. Pierre vacating the middleweight belt without defending it, Robert Whittaker was declared the official champion. The point being, because the credibility of the championship was diluted, Whittaker is not a major draw for the organization so his title defense in the main event isn't expected to garner big numbers. As I've written before, the UFC is very, very low on star power at the moment and most of their recent PPV cards have generated rather low buy rates.
It's questionable about how that justifies the recent price hike to $65 for UFC pay-per-view events, but the bottom line is, the company needs a way to sell these cards. It's a harsh reality, but as I've said many times before, the Ultimate Fighting Championship is as much of a business, if not more so, as it is a sport. WME, the group that bought the promotion a few years ago for over $4 billion dollars, made the purchase as an investment to make profit. Granted, the credibility of the sport is extremely important, and it's disappointing when rankings are basically ignored to make the money on the table, but that's the reality of business.
When UFC president, Dana White was recently asked about the switch of the card, he explained that CM Punk sells more pay-per-views, and he's right. However, will CM Punk really be a major difference in the buy rate for UFC 225?
The UFC 203 event did a reported 450,000 buys, putting it among one of the better selling PPVs that year. But much of the intrigue of Punk's debut was based on if he could transition to mixed martial arts. After such a one-sided defeat, much of the novelty of CM Punk as a cage fighter diminished. This time, he signed to fight Mike Jackson, who is actually the grappler that Mickey Gall beat to earn the spot against Punk at UFC 203. Jackson, who lost an amateur bout before he lost against Gall, hasn't fought in two and a half years. With a professional record of 0-1, you have to wonder if Jackson is actually trying to become a professional fighter or if he simply agreed to fight Punk for the payday. Either way, this is literally the most evenly-matched fight that CM Punk could possibly get under the UFC banner so this scenario is probably his best chance to be successful. That said, it remains to be seen if fans will want to pay $65 to see Punk fight a scrub.
The other aspect that could hinder the selling point is, even if Punk wins, what does that actually translate to?
Punk was dominated and embarrassed when he fought a talented upstart with potential during the Gall fight. It's not as though a victory over Mike Jackson is going to propel his career. If Punk beats Jackson, what's next? Obviously, if he competes against anyone with any legitimate success in the sport, there will be a repeat of the Gall contest. Don't get me wrong, CM Punk is a talented athlete, but the entire fight seems rather pointless in terms of ranks or the progress of his MMA career. In fact, regardless of the result, this will probably be Punk's final fight in the UFC because if he loses, there's really not anyone else they would sign for him to fight, and if he wins, there's not much he can do next because the majority of the roster are athletes that had to work their way to the UFC so they are probably too experienced for him to logically compete against in the octagon.
But, the most important impact of CM Punk vs. Mike Jackson is the cash it generates, not the of effects on the ranking or progression of a career. Longtime UFC commentator, Joe Rogan was very critical of this bout, but Rogan is a smart guy and he knows it's about the money. For any diehard MMA fan that complains about the CM Punk pay-per-view spot, they don't understand the bigger picture, it's about the cash, not the sport. The most diehard fans are going to tune in regardless so UFC management added CM Punk to attempt to draw the casual audience. Remember, Punk doesn't make those decisions so any hostility toward him is misguided. The card switch was a business decision, not a sport decision and there's nothing wrong with that. Punk will make major cash for this, and the UFC wants a return on their investment. More than the actual fight, it will be interesting to see if Punk boosts the buyrate for the event.
Thursday, May 31, 2018
Tuesday, May 22, 2018
The Smackdown deal
Social media was buzzed this week as it was reported that Smackdown, the WWE's Tuesday night show that currently airs on USA, will move to the Fox network in October of 2019 for a new TV deal worth a rumored $1 billion for a five year contract that will see the show return to Friday nights. The staggering number is nearly three times what USA pays for the franchise right now, which suggests that the Universal-owned network will pay an even more expensive number to maintain the rights to broadcast Raw, the WWE's flagship show.
The amount of money involved in the new TV rights fee deal is really a game changer for the company on a few different levels, which was made possible with the current climate of the television business. The diehard fans that are inside the "wrestling bubble" that complain about the product constantly on social media don't understand the big picture. To put it in perspective, the WWE's B-show will generate a billion dollars in rights fees alone during the duration of the deal, and that translates to triple the value annually of its current contract. At this point, it has less to do with the actual content and more to do with the interpreted value of the WWE brand. Don't get me wrong, WWE management isn't perfect, but it speaks volumes to their ability to build and market a global brand when they can secure a billion dollar deal for a secondary show.
How did such a major deal become possible?
The answer to that question can be somewhat complex depending of how someone views the situation. Television ratings across the board have declined slightly in recent years with the addition of on-demand programming and an increased availability to streaming services. However, those that claim that "cord cutting" will be the downfall of TV are very misguided. Traditional television is still used exponentially more than streaming by the general public to watch programming. The major differences are the amount of channels and outlets available that draw viewers to different shows. The amount of competition in terms of the content available has made it more difficult for any particular show to maintain its viewership. Another factor is that DVR can skew ratings when viewers decide to record a show instead of watching it when it's scheduled to air.
In many ways, sports entertainment provides an answer to the problem.
Most importantly, pro wrestling provides a consistent, steady rating. In the TV business, that's exactly what a network wants from its programming. While there's undoubtedly an entertainment aspect, the loyalty from the pro wrestling fan base is similar to that of sports teams. Even the most jaded wrestling fans will continue to watch because they want to see a good product the same way some downtrodden sports fans watch their hometown team even if the results are disastrous. Again, this has nothing to do with the actual wrestling content and more to do with the business aspect. Comparatively speaking, if a series airs eight seasons, it's considered a long term show. WWE programming airs weekly for the entire year and in this scenario, Smackdown has been on the air for nearly twenty years. The consistent ratings are the major key. Some of the biggest series in the modern era either concluded within the typical time frame for a TV show or saw a ratings dip as it progressed. For example, "Breaking Bad," the drama that chronicled Walter White's transformation into a kingpin criminal, generated rave reviews before its finale after five seasons. HBO's "The Sopranos" that told the story of a New Jersey mafia family was extremely popular for the eight years span (minus an extra year for production) that it was on the air. On the flip side, "The Walking Dead" on AMC declined noticeable in the ratings during its most recent season. The general consensus is that sub par writing caused a drop of nearly a third in the ratings for the eighth season finale as compared to the finale of the previous season. Obviously, the zombie apocalypse show peaked in popularity a few years ago and is on the down slide.
The steady ratings that pro wrestling delivers weekly translates to lucrative ad revenue. One of the ways that networks can combat the DVR skew is live programming that will get viewers to tune in during the actual broadcast. By nature, live sports lends itself to that situation. For example, how many people are going to DVR a football or baseball game? Sure, professional wrestling has its own value in terms of watching classic matches again for the performance, but as far as the weekly storylines, the premise is to watch the angles unfold as they happen on the show. The bottom line is, live programming draws the most consistent numbers, and aside from other major sports, WWE draws those consistent numbers every week. The TV networks need those consistent numbers to maximize ad revenue, which is why Fox is willing to pay such a major amount for the rights to air Smackdown.
So, what effect will this contract have on the product?
In theory, there are pros and cons to the situation. The possible negative is that as is sometimes seen with the WWE today, there tends to be some complacency because of the dominated market share and the virtual monopoly the organization has in the United States. This TV rights deal will bring the company guaranteed money of $200 million for each year of the contract so they basically just have to maintain the status quo, which is easier to do now than any other time in the history of the industry because of the lack of competition. Sure, management will still promote the WWE network and will generate revenue from merchandise and ticket sales, but the rights fee contract basically provides the promotion with a profitable safety net before any of the other revenue streams are a priority. So, there isn't exactly an incentive for WWE to change plans if the fans voice discontent with the product because the TV contracts are guaranteed money for at least five years. The other major factor is that if Smackdown, the secondary show, landed a $1 billion deal, Raw will definitely get an even more profitable contract so again, that emphasizes the financial security the promotion has for the next few years.
The biggest aspect of the Fox deal and the ripple effect it will have for the company is obviously the major money. The bottom line is, the WWE is a major financial success and from a business perspective, management's plan is successful. Granted, the fans will continue to boo Roman Reigns, but as long as they pay for tickets or network subscriptions to boo him, the result is profit for the WWE. Is the WWE at its most popular? No, but the climate of the TV industry has allowed them to cash in, which is something that was made possible with the global brand they built during the past several years.
The amount of money involved in the new TV rights fee deal is really a game changer for the company on a few different levels, which was made possible with the current climate of the television business. The diehard fans that are inside the "wrestling bubble" that complain about the product constantly on social media don't understand the big picture. To put it in perspective, the WWE's B-show will generate a billion dollars in rights fees alone during the duration of the deal, and that translates to triple the value annually of its current contract. At this point, it has less to do with the actual content and more to do with the interpreted value of the WWE brand. Don't get me wrong, WWE management isn't perfect, but it speaks volumes to their ability to build and market a global brand when they can secure a billion dollar deal for a secondary show.
How did such a major deal become possible?
The answer to that question can be somewhat complex depending of how someone views the situation. Television ratings across the board have declined slightly in recent years with the addition of on-demand programming and an increased availability to streaming services. However, those that claim that "cord cutting" will be the downfall of TV are very misguided. Traditional television is still used exponentially more than streaming by the general public to watch programming. The major differences are the amount of channels and outlets available that draw viewers to different shows. The amount of competition in terms of the content available has made it more difficult for any particular show to maintain its viewership. Another factor is that DVR can skew ratings when viewers decide to record a show instead of watching it when it's scheduled to air.
In many ways, sports entertainment provides an answer to the problem.
Most importantly, pro wrestling provides a consistent, steady rating. In the TV business, that's exactly what a network wants from its programming. While there's undoubtedly an entertainment aspect, the loyalty from the pro wrestling fan base is similar to that of sports teams. Even the most jaded wrestling fans will continue to watch because they want to see a good product the same way some downtrodden sports fans watch their hometown team even if the results are disastrous. Again, this has nothing to do with the actual wrestling content and more to do with the business aspect. Comparatively speaking, if a series airs eight seasons, it's considered a long term show. WWE programming airs weekly for the entire year and in this scenario, Smackdown has been on the air for nearly twenty years. The consistent ratings are the major key. Some of the biggest series in the modern era either concluded within the typical time frame for a TV show or saw a ratings dip as it progressed. For example, "Breaking Bad," the drama that chronicled Walter White's transformation into a kingpin criminal, generated rave reviews before its finale after five seasons. HBO's "The Sopranos" that told the story of a New Jersey mafia family was extremely popular for the eight years span (minus an extra year for production) that it was on the air. On the flip side, "The Walking Dead" on AMC declined noticeable in the ratings during its most recent season. The general consensus is that sub par writing caused a drop of nearly a third in the ratings for the eighth season finale as compared to the finale of the previous season. Obviously, the zombie apocalypse show peaked in popularity a few years ago and is on the down slide.
The steady ratings that pro wrestling delivers weekly translates to lucrative ad revenue. One of the ways that networks can combat the DVR skew is live programming that will get viewers to tune in during the actual broadcast. By nature, live sports lends itself to that situation. For example, how many people are going to DVR a football or baseball game? Sure, professional wrestling has its own value in terms of watching classic matches again for the performance, but as far as the weekly storylines, the premise is to watch the angles unfold as they happen on the show. The bottom line is, live programming draws the most consistent numbers, and aside from other major sports, WWE draws those consistent numbers every week. The TV networks need those consistent numbers to maximize ad revenue, which is why Fox is willing to pay such a major amount for the rights to air Smackdown.
So, what effect will this contract have on the product?
In theory, there are pros and cons to the situation. The possible negative is that as is sometimes seen with the WWE today, there tends to be some complacency because of the dominated market share and the virtual monopoly the organization has in the United States. This TV rights deal will bring the company guaranteed money of $200 million for each year of the contract so they basically just have to maintain the status quo, which is easier to do now than any other time in the history of the industry because of the lack of competition. Sure, management will still promote the WWE network and will generate revenue from merchandise and ticket sales, but the rights fee contract basically provides the promotion with a profitable safety net before any of the other revenue streams are a priority. So, there isn't exactly an incentive for WWE to change plans if the fans voice discontent with the product because the TV contracts are guaranteed money for at least five years. The other major factor is that if Smackdown, the secondary show, landed a $1 billion deal, Raw will definitely get an even more profitable contract so again, that emphasizes the financial security the promotion has for the next few years.
The biggest aspect of the Fox deal and the ripple effect it will have for the company is obviously the major money. The bottom line is, the WWE is a major financial success and from a business perspective, management's plan is successful. Granted, the fans will continue to boo Roman Reigns, but as long as they pay for tickets or network subscriptions to boo him, the result is profit for the WWE. Is the WWE at its most popular? No, but the climate of the TV industry has allowed them to cash in, which is something that was made possible with the global brand they built during the past several years.
Tuesday, May 15, 2018
The All In event sold out
Nearly two years ago, Cody Rhodes, the son of the legendary Dusty Rhodes, asked for his release from the WWE. A standout amateur in high school, Cody signed a developmental deal in 2006 and spent his entire career within the WWE system. After he showed much potential, his run over a decade had its share of peaks and valleys. It appeared that despite the possibility of a successful stint in the main event scene, he never had the opportunity to be involved in the title picture. For almost two years prior to his request to be released, Cody portrayed Star Dust, a spin off of his brother's long time persona. While the gimmick made sense for a tag team and an eventual feud between the two, it was clearly a short-term project. There was no logic behind why management kept the character on-screen for such an extended period, and it became a stale act that really halted the progress of Cody Rhodes' career.
Cody knew he had more to offer than just a carbon copy presentation of Goldust and wanted to prove it. Cody bet on himself and won.
More than just his in-ring ability, you have to give him credit for being willing to take the risk to leave WWE to pursue better opportunities and to prove his worth. Considering Dusty's contributions to the company before he passed, Cody easily could've collected a paycheck in mediocrity for the rest of his career and retired at a relatively young age more than financially stable.
Just this past weekend, Cody and The Young Bucks bet on themselves and won again.
After Dave Meltzer mentioned on Twitter last year that he didn't think Ring Of Honor could sell out a 10,000 seat venue, Cody replied that he would bet the editor of the Wrestling Observer that he could sell out such a venue. Rhodes and the Young Bucks have worked together extensively in New Japan as members of the Bullet Club, and the trio eventually decided that they would run a show, which would be totally financed by the grapplers themselves. The buzz for "All In" built for a few months and talent announcements began to be made, leading to the on-sale date for tickets this past Sunday. In just under 30 minutes, the event that will be held at the Sears Centre Arena in Chicago in September sold out. I have to be honest, I thought the ticket sales would do well and that it might be possible for an eventual sell out after matches were announced, but I didn't think an immediate sell out would happen.
To put that into perspective, the cost of renting a venue alone of that size is easily thousands of dollars, which is why WWE is the only sports entertainment promotion in the United States that schedules shows for those type of venues. The entire concept of an independent show without major TV exposure running such an event is really unprecedented. Again, to compare this scenario, ECW's biggest crowd in the history of the organization was 6,000 fans for its Anarchy Rulz pay-per-view in Chicago in 1999, which was during the biggest boom period in the history of the industry. TNA's biggest crowd was drawn for Lockdown 2013 with an estimated 7,200 in attendance, which was at a time when they were still aired weekly on Spike TV.
How is this possible when WWE dominates 95% of the market in America?
First, it proves how smart Cody and the Young Bucks are, both as athletes and for business. Most importantly, through stellar matches and a variety of marketing tools, the trio made themselves stars without the WWE machine behind them. Granted, Cody was in the system for a decade, but let's be honest here, he's not drawing this crowd based on two years of Star Dust that stalled his career. In many ways, Rhodes reinvented himself so WWE exposure isn't why he's successful now. The Young Bucks took the criticism of their over-the-top in ring performances and used it to enhance their characters. Their amazing aerial ability lends itself to the perception that are going to deliver a memorable performances every time they are in the ring. Aside from just the athletic performances, Young Bucks and Cody use their "Being The Elite" Youtube show to further develop their characters and to market themselves as stars through entertaining content outside of the ring. Plus, the use of social media allows them to promote themselves and their projects. Another major key to this is that Cody and the Bucks made themselves accessible to the fans, both through autograph signings at events and interaction on social media. There's a sense of genuine appreciation from them, which makes it very easy for fans to rally behind them for success. As an example, I actually met Cody, The Young Bucks, Kenny Omega, Minoru Suzuki, and a few of the other stars at an ROH show in Pittsburgh last October. The meet and greet line for the Bullet Club members stretched the length of the venue. While everyone was very polite, it was nice to see that despite a match early on the card, The Young Bucks stayed until everyone had a chance to meet them and seemed very appreciative that fans were willing to wait in line to meet them. Cody also stayed to make sure everyone had a chance to meet him, even though the actual show started while he still signed autographs.
What does this sell out prove about the state of pro wrestling in the United States?
The most important aspect is that this event proves that there is real money to be made outside of the WWE, which is beneficial to everyone in the industry, even the WWE itself. Alternatives and options are what will keep the industry fresh and the ability to avoid a stagnant pace. When Nakamura made his WWE debut, there was a hype around his arrival because of the buzz around the New Japan product. Does this mean that one particular show will cause a shift in the industry? No, but such a sell out proves that there is a legitimate demand for wrestling outside of WWE programming. However, it remains to be seen if any specific organization could get all the necessary pieces of the puzzle under contract to build upon that in the United States. It's possible that the success of this event could be an indication that underutilized stars on the WWE roster would have better success if they left the organization to improve their value, but as mentioned earlier, it's a somewhat risky scenario to decide to leave the safety net that a WWE contract provides the talent on the roster.
The bottom line is, Cody and The Bucks deserve a tremendous amount of credit for the success of this event. They were able to independently sell more tickets to an event in the United States than other promotions did with national television exposure. Along with the actual show, there's also a convention scheduled with names such as Kevin Nash, Scott Hall, Jerry Lawler, Tully Blanchard, and many others. Plus, scheduled for the actual event are stars that include Okada, Mysterio, Pentagon, Marty Scurll, and several others. It's great to see that this event is already a successful venture and it's extremely helpful to the industry.
Cody knew he had more to offer than just a carbon copy presentation of Goldust and wanted to prove it. Cody bet on himself and won.
More than just his in-ring ability, you have to give him credit for being willing to take the risk to leave WWE to pursue better opportunities and to prove his worth. Considering Dusty's contributions to the company before he passed, Cody easily could've collected a paycheck in mediocrity for the rest of his career and retired at a relatively young age more than financially stable.
Just this past weekend, Cody and The Young Bucks bet on themselves and won again.
After Dave Meltzer mentioned on Twitter last year that he didn't think Ring Of Honor could sell out a 10,000 seat venue, Cody replied that he would bet the editor of the Wrestling Observer that he could sell out such a venue. Rhodes and the Young Bucks have worked together extensively in New Japan as members of the Bullet Club, and the trio eventually decided that they would run a show, which would be totally financed by the grapplers themselves. The buzz for "All In" built for a few months and talent announcements began to be made, leading to the on-sale date for tickets this past Sunday. In just under 30 minutes, the event that will be held at the Sears Centre Arena in Chicago in September sold out. I have to be honest, I thought the ticket sales would do well and that it might be possible for an eventual sell out after matches were announced, but I didn't think an immediate sell out would happen.
To put that into perspective, the cost of renting a venue alone of that size is easily thousands of dollars, which is why WWE is the only sports entertainment promotion in the United States that schedules shows for those type of venues. The entire concept of an independent show without major TV exposure running such an event is really unprecedented. Again, to compare this scenario, ECW's biggest crowd in the history of the organization was 6,000 fans for its Anarchy Rulz pay-per-view in Chicago in 1999, which was during the biggest boom period in the history of the industry. TNA's biggest crowd was drawn for Lockdown 2013 with an estimated 7,200 in attendance, which was at a time when they were still aired weekly on Spike TV.
How is this possible when WWE dominates 95% of the market in America?
First, it proves how smart Cody and the Young Bucks are, both as athletes and for business. Most importantly, through stellar matches and a variety of marketing tools, the trio made themselves stars without the WWE machine behind them. Granted, Cody was in the system for a decade, but let's be honest here, he's not drawing this crowd based on two years of Star Dust that stalled his career. In many ways, Rhodes reinvented himself so WWE exposure isn't why he's successful now. The Young Bucks took the criticism of their over-the-top in ring performances and used it to enhance their characters. Their amazing aerial ability lends itself to the perception that are going to deliver a memorable performances every time they are in the ring. Aside from just the athletic performances, Young Bucks and Cody use their "Being The Elite" Youtube show to further develop their characters and to market themselves as stars through entertaining content outside of the ring. Plus, the use of social media allows them to promote themselves and their projects. Another major key to this is that Cody and the Bucks made themselves accessible to the fans, both through autograph signings at events and interaction on social media. There's a sense of genuine appreciation from them, which makes it very easy for fans to rally behind them for success. As an example, I actually met Cody, The Young Bucks, Kenny Omega, Minoru Suzuki, and a few of the other stars at an ROH show in Pittsburgh last October. The meet and greet line for the Bullet Club members stretched the length of the venue. While everyone was very polite, it was nice to see that despite a match early on the card, The Young Bucks stayed until everyone had a chance to meet them and seemed very appreciative that fans were willing to wait in line to meet them. Cody also stayed to make sure everyone had a chance to meet him, even though the actual show started while he still signed autographs.
What does this sell out prove about the state of pro wrestling in the United States?
The most important aspect is that this event proves that there is real money to be made outside of the WWE, which is beneficial to everyone in the industry, even the WWE itself. Alternatives and options are what will keep the industry fresh and the ability to avoid a stagnant pace. When Nakamura made his WWE debut, there was a hype around his arrival because of the buzz around the New Japan product. Does this mean that one particular show will cause a shift in the industry? No, but such a sell out proves that there is a legitimate demand for wrestling outside of WWE programming. However, it remains to be seen if any specific organization could get all the necessary pieces of the puzzle under contract to build upon that in the United States. It's possible that the success of this event could be an indication that underutilized stars on the WWE roster would have better success if they left the organization to improve their value, but as mentioned earlier, it's a somewhat risky scenario to decide to leave the safety net that a WWE contract provides the talent on the roster.
The bottom line is, Cody and The Bucks deserve a tremendous amount of credit for the success of this event. They were able to independently sell more tickets to an event in the United States than other promotions did with national television exposure. Along with the actual show, there's also a convention scheduled with names such as Kevin Nash, Scott Hall, Jerry Lawler, Tully Blanchard, and many others. Plus, scheduled for the actual event are stars that include Okada, Mysterio, Pentagon, Marty Scurll, and several others. It's great to see that this event is already a successful venture and it's extremely helpful to the industry.
Friday, May 11, 2018
The potential of Big Cass
During the post-WM superstar shake up, Big Cass, the grappler that
originally made his name in the tag team division, returned to the WWE
after an eight-month hiatus to heal from surgery to repair a torn ACL.
As his name implies, Cass has the height and size to put himself in a
spot where he can get the opportunity to become a star. However, much of
that is based on his potential to develop into a money-drawing
commodity, and it remains to be seen if that will materialize.
Quite simply, is there more to Big Cass than just potential?
Originally a student of notable trainer, Johnny Rodz, Cass started wrestling in 2010 and worked only a little more than a year on the independent circuit before he was offered a developmental deal so in many ways, he's a product of the WWE system. Eventually, he debuted on the newly formed NXT brand in 2013 and his tag team with Enzo was extremely popular. The presentation and formula was somewhat simplistic, but it worked. Enzo was entertaining on the mic and could take the beat down before Cass got the tag for the basic spot in a match. Cass showcased his size and worked the traditional big man move set. There's nothing wrong with that either, considering that you don't have to reinvent the wheel to find an entertaining act. Simple, but effective can often be the key for inexperienced talent.
The Enzo promos and catchphrases became so popular that the duo debuted on the post-WM Raw in 2016. The pair transitioned very well to the main roster and continued to be one of the most well-received acts on the show with an enthusiastic response each week. A little over a year after their debut on Raw, Cass turned heel and attacked Enzo. The argument could be made that the split was too soon, and it seemed like both members could've evolved further before they were booked on different paths. The writing team did them no favors, as before the split, Enzo was booked in several cringe worthy segments with Rusev and Lana that did nothing to benefit anyone in the storyline. Even the split was booked very oddly after Enzo as the baby face was beat down weekly until the segments became repetitive and stale. At the same time, Cass' heel persona was initially made to look very generic with basic music and a very bland presentation. His "fist up" pose on the way to the ring resembled something from the "Create-a-Wrestler" mode from the Attitude video game.
Unfortunately, he suffered the previously mentioned very serious ACL injury during a match on Raw last year and his heel push halted. As disappointing as it is when someone suffers an injury, the time off actually provided a fresh start for him when he returned, and more specifically, it distanced him from the stain of Enzo, who was released after several backstage incidents earlier this year.
The booking thus far of his return has been mediocre at best. Don't get me wrong, I understand the logic of the bully character against the underdog of Daniel Bryan, but considering the situation, this angle could be counterproductive. Bryan is back after three years on the sidelines, and there's much anticipation for what direction he goes on the Smackdown brand. More specifically, the audience knows there will be a showdown with The Miz based on their fiery mic exchanges when Bryan was on the shelf. The story writes itself and the matches will deliver intriguing back and fourth action. Since the audience knows of the upcoming Bryan/Miz confrontation, you can tell that the focus of the fans is geared toward that, not necessarily Cass' agenda. In some respects, Big Cass was booked to be lost in the shuffle of the eventual Bryan/Miz feud. From a booking perspective, it's difficult to showcase Cass when there are clearly more important plans for Bryan on the horizon. Plus, Daniel Bryan is currently at the point of reestablishing his momentum as an in-ring competitor, not exactly being used to help get Cass over.
So, where does that leave Cass?
At Backlash, after a decent match, but nothing spectacular, Cass tapped out in a roughly 7-minute match so where exactly does the feud go from here? The monster was slayed so to speak. From a storyline perspective, that appears to be a definitive conclusion to the feud. Another point, the submission defeat in such a relatively short contest didn't do much to showcase him at all. His promos are average at best, and he doesn't have any momentum at this point, especially after he didn't appear on Smackdown this past week.
It's unclear if the lackluster booking has hindered Cass or if he simply doesn't have the ability to get over outside of a tag team, but I'd guess that the audience has already seen the skills that he brings to the table. It's doubtful that Cass will suddenly find a successful formula for the heel character. This might be a scenario where the "potential" of Big Cass is just that, only potential that won't translate to the ability to become a major star. Along with that, you have to wonder, what is the time frame for the Cass project? Management has invested almost seven years into the Cass signing and he might've already accomplished his peak of success in the company. It might sound harsh, but if the heel run flops, it might be the conclusion of his current WWE run. At 30, Cass is still a young competitor that has the chance to evolve as an athlete. It's certainly a leap of faith, but Cass might be better suited to leave the WWE landscape and find himself as a performer, similar to the path that Drew McIntyre took to get himself in a much better scenario upon his eventual return. The bottom line is, if Cass doesn't establish himself something more than just someone with potential then it's very possible that he could flounder on the brand.
Quite simply, is there more to Big Cass than just potential?
Originally a student of notable trainer, Johnny Rodz, Cass started wrestling in 2010 and worked only a little more than a year on the independent circuit before he was offered a developmental deal so in many ways, he's a product of the WWE system. Eventually, he debuted on the newly formed NXT brand in 2013 and his tag team with Enzo was extremely popular. The presentation and formula was somewhat simplistic, but it worked. Enzo was entertaining on the mic and could take the beat down before Cass got the tag for the basic spot in a match. Cass showcased his size and worked the traditional big man move set. There's nothing wrong with that either, considering that you don't have to reinvent the wheel to find an entertaining act. Simple, but effective can often be the key for inexperienced talent.
The Enzo promos and catchphrases became so popular that the duo debuted on the post-WM Raw in 2016. The pair transitioned very well to the main roster and continued to be one of the most well-received acts on the show with an enthusiastic response each week. A little over a year after their debut on Raw, Cass turned heel and attacked Enzo. The argument could be made that the split was too soon, and it seemed like both members could've evolved further before they were booked on different paths. The writing team did them no favors, as before the split, Enzo was booked in several cringe worthy segments with Rusev and Lana that did nothing to benefit anyone in the storyline. Even the split was booked very oddly after Enzo as the baby face was beat down weekly until the segments became repetitive and stale. At the same time, Cass' heel persona was initially made to look very generic with basic music and a very bland presentation. His "fist up" pose on the way to the ring resembled something from the "Create-a-Wrestler" mode from the Attitude video game.
Unfortunately, he suffered the previously mentioned very serious ACL injury during a match on Raw last year and his heel push halted. As disappointing as it is when someone suffers an injury, the time off actually provided a fresh start for him when he returned, and more specifically, it distanced him from the stain of Enzo, who was released after several backstage incidents earlier this year.
The booking thus far of his return has been mediocre at best. Don't get me wrong, I understand the logic of the bully character against the underdog of Daniel Bryan, but considering the situation, this angle could be counterproductive. Bryan is back after three years on the sidelines, and there's much anticipation for what direction he goes on the Smackdown brand. More specifically, the audience knows there will be a showdown with The Miz based on their fiery mic exchanges when Bryan was on the shelf. The story writes itself and the matches will deliver intriguing back and fourth action. Since the audience knows of the upcoming Bryan/Miz confrontation, you can tell that the focus of the fans is geared toward that, not necessarily Cass' agenda. In some respects, Big Cass was booked to be lost in the shuffle of the eventual Bryan/Miz feud. From a booking perspective, it's difficult to showcase Cass when there are clearly more important plans for Bryan on the horizon. Plus, Daniel Bryan is currently at the point of reestablishing his momentum as an in-ring competitor, not exactly being used to help get Cass over.
So, where does that leave Cass?
At Backlash, after a decent match, but nothing spectacular, Cass tapped out in a roughly 7-minute match so where exactly does the feud go from here? The monster was slayed so to speak. From a storyline perspective, that appears to be a definitive conclusion to the feud. Another point, the submission defeat in such a relatively short contest didn't do much to showcase him at all. His promos are average at best, and he doesn't have any momentum at this point, especially after he didn't appear on Smackdown this past week.
It's unclear if the lackluster booking has hindered Cass or if he simply doesn't have the ability to get over outside of a tag team, but I'd guess that the audience has already seen the skills that he brings to the table. It's doubtful that Cass will suddenly find a successful formula for the heel character. This might be a scenario where the "potential" of Big Cass is just that, only potential that won't translate to the ability to become a major star. Along with that, you have to wonder, what is the time frame for the Cass project? Management has invested almost seven years into the Cass signing and he might've already accomplished his peak of success in the company. It might sound harsh, but if the heel run flops, it might be the conclusion of his current WWE run. At 30, Cass is still a young competitor that has the chance to evolve as an athlete. It's certainly a leap of faith, but Cass might be better suited to leave the WWE landscape and find himself as a performer, similar to the path that Drew McIntyre took to get himself in a much better scenario upon his eventual return. The bottom line is, if Cass doesn't establish himself something more than just someone with potential then it's very possible that he could flounder on the brand.
Thursday, May 3, 2018
Will Brock Lesnar return to the UFC?
The surge in the popularity of the Ultimate Fighting Championship in the early 2000s was a result of a combination of several factors. If one particular reason was more important than another is a matter of perspective. However, arguably, marketing of the product to a main stream audience through The Ultimate Fighter reality show and the live fight cards on Spike TV was the key to the exponential growth of the sport. Even combat sports fans had to search several platforms to be able to follow the genre. Credit the Fertittas for rescuing the sport from obscurity and the risk they took to develop the UFC into a global brand that they sold for over $4 billion two years ago. Through the countdown shows and the bundle of UFC programming on Spike, fans could get insight into who each fighter was and the specific story of their career.
Chuck Liddell was marketed as the technical brawler that KO'ed his opponents. Randy Couture was the aging grappler that had enough heart to continue to compete. Lyoto Machida was intended to be the karate kid. Brock Lesnar was sold as a monster inside the cage. Through a series of suspensions, retirements, and other events, the Ultimate Fighting Championship doesn't have quite the buzz it did previously. Is that a reason to scramble? No, because any long term business will have peaks and valleys. In fact, WME, the group that bought that organization for that hefty sum a few years ago, is scheduled to negotiate a new TV deal within the next few months, and that is reported as a major revenue source.
But, the fact remains that the UFC is currently very low on star power and there aren't many names on the roster that will generate major buy rates.
The argument could be made that in an attempt for a short-term fix, the UFC opted to cash in at the expense of long range plans. For example, when the former UFC Welterweight champion, Georges St. Pierre returned to the cage after a four-year hiatus, he was immediately given a shot at the Middleweight title last November. GSP, who already obtained legendary status for his prior accomplishments, won the belt via submission and promptly vacated it, making the entire bout pointless. After an interim title debacle, Robert Whitaker was named the undisputed MW champion without fighting either of the previous champions. Essentially, this disrupts the continuity of the division and the credibility of the championship.
Jon Jones, the former 205 LBS titleholder, was stripped of the title more than once and tested positive for PEDs more than once, which is why he's currently not eligible to compete. The totality of the suspension has yet to be determined. Aside from that, he was arrested several times, and has made more headlines outside of the cage than he has in competition. Quite frankly, "Bones" Jones has wasted much of his incredible talent and instead his shenanigans outside the octagon have overshadowed his career.
I wrote an article last month about Conor McGregor's arrest after he threw a loading dolly through the window of a UFC bus that transported the fighters booked for that pay-per-view that weekend. As I explained, UFC shoehorned McGregor into a scenario where they could promote a double champion, but he took that star power and went to boxing to get a rumored $100 million payday to fight Floyd Mayweather. With that type of cash, McGregor didn't necessarily need to return to mixed martial arts and had much more leverage at the negotiating table with the UFC. Just last month, Conor was stripped of the titles he won in the octagon without ever defending either championship. Basically, that halted both the lightweight and featherweight divisions for an extended period of time. When McGregor was arrested for the UFC 223 incident, he was charged with a felon because of the injuries that occurred. Management made McGregor the face of the company, but he might be a convicted felon at the conclusion of the court case, which could prevent him from fighting in the United States.
Before McGregor was dumb enough to get himself arrested, Ronda Rousey was the top star of the organization, but she was KO'ed into retirement so what exactly does the company promote on pay-per-view?
Right now, Daniel Cormier, the LHW champion will fight Stipe Miocic, the HW champion, on PPV in July. Again, this is a short term situation because each grappler will compete in their respective divisions again. The solution to the UFC's star power predicament could be the current Universal champion, Brock Lesnar. When Brock was tired of the road schedule of professional wrestling, he eventually earned major cash in the UFC based on his name value from sports entertainment. After he won the UFC heavyweight title, a carefully marketed plan by Zuffa management at the time, he realized he didn't like to get punched in the face so he used his MMA exposure to sign a part-time deal as one of the highest paid performers on the roster when he returned to the WWE in 2012. Three years later, when Brock had the chance to return to the cage, he used the UFC option as a negotiating tactic to sign an even more lucrative deal with the WWE.
If you enjoy Brock's part-time status or not, you must give him credit, he works the negotiating angle better than anyone in the modern era. I wrote before that I think WWE brass almost invested too much into the Lesnar monster push because it indirectly limits the opportunities to make other legitimate money-drawing stars. The opportunity cost of Brock as champion and the Roman Reigns super push is that it creates a glass ceiling for everyone else on the roster. Finn Balor or Samoa Joe could become the most over athletes on the roster, but they will still be kept at a level below Reigns.
At WM 34, most assumed that the WWE's year of planning would be another Roman Reigns title win at the biggest event of the year. Brock beat Braun Strowman and Samoa Joe with one F-5 so that Reigns could kick out of the move. However, Reigns didn't win and a fluke finish in Saudi Arabia, one of the few places where Reigns wouldn't get booed, still has Lesnar the champion. Obviously, Brock signed a new deal, but it remains unclear how many bouts are included in the contract. In many ways, Lesnar is in the best possible position to make as much money as possible from the WWE because management invested in Brock's monster push as a way to present Reigns as the successor. The problem is, Reigns still isn't over and won't get over in his current role so Brock is still the biggest star on the roster. The WWE hasn't done anything in several months to push anyone else as a main event star so the best option they have is to pay Lesnar more major paychecks until they can find another plan.
At the same time, Brock's recent matches were less than stellar, and it seems like he's mailing in the performances. Lesnar's bouts that were dynamic became stable and repetitive within the past year. In many ways, there's a "been there, done that" atmosphere to his matches. This is where the UFC could use Lesnar's return to the cage and his exposure on WWE TV to sell pay-per-views again, which is exactly what they did during his original run in mixed martial arts. The difference is, the UFC could use Brock's appearance in the octagon to make one of the current champions a bigger star. For example, if Stipe Miocic KOs Lesnar, it will take him to an entirely different level of notoriety in the general public. It should be noted that since Lesnar tested positive for PEDs after his last fight with Mark Hunt in 2016, he must join the USADA testing pool for at least six months before he could be eligible to fight again. That being said, different from the WWE's botched push, there could be a major payoff for the UFC if they make a bigger star at the expense of Lesnar so it would definitely be worth the investment for his to return to the octagon. Keep in mind, Brock is a business man and it wouldn't be surprising if he cashes in again before he retires from competition.
Chuck Liddell was marketed as the technical brawler that KO'ed his opponents. Randy Couture was the aging grappler that had enough heart to continue to compete. Lyoto Machida was intended to be the karate kid. Brock Lesnar was sold as a monster inside the cage. Through a series of suspensions, retirements, and other events, the Ultimate Fighting Championship doesn't have quite the buzz it did previously. Is that a reason to scramble? No, because any long term business will have peaks and valleys. In fact, WME, the group that bought that organization for that hefty sum a few years ago, is scheduled to negotiate a new TV deal within the next few months, and that is reported as a major revenue source.
But, the fact remains that the UFC is currently very low on star power and there aren't many names on the roster that will generate major buy rates.
The argument could be made that in an attempt for a short-term fix, the UFC opted to cash in at the expense of long range plans. For example, when the former UFC Welterweight champion, Georges St. Pierre returned to the cage after a four-year hiatus, he was immediately given a shot at the Middleweight title last November. GSP, who already obtained legendary status for his prior accomplishments, won the belt via submission and promptly vacated it, making the entire bout pointless. After an interim title debacle, Robert Whitaker was named the undisputed MW champion without fighting either of the previous champions. Essentially, this disrupts the continuity of the division and the credibility of the championship.
Jon Jones, the former 205 LBS titleholder, was stripped of the title more than once and tested positive for PEDs more than once, which is why he's currently not eligible to compete. The totality of the suspension has yet to be determined. Aside from that, he was arrested several times, and has made more headlines outside of the cage than he has in competition. Quite frankly, "Bones" Jones has wasted much of his incredible talent and instead his shenanigans outside the octagon have overshadowed his career.
I wrote an article last month about Conor McGregor's arrest after he threw a loading dolly through the window of a UFC bus that transported the fighters booked for that pay-per-view that weekend. As I explained, UFC shoehorned McGregor into a scenario where they could promote a double champion, but he took that star power and went to boxing to get a rumored $100 million payday to fight Floyd Mayweather. With that type of cash, McGregor didn't necessarily need to return to mixed martial arts and had much more leverage at the negotiating table with the UFC. Just last month, Conor was stripped of the titles he won in the octagon without ever defending either championship. Basically, that halted both the lightweight and featherweight divisions for an extended period of time. When McGregor was arrested for the UFC 223 incident, he was charged with a felon because of the injuries that occurred. Management made McGregor the face of the company, but he might be a convicted felon at the conclusion of the court case, which could prevent him from fighting in the United States.
Before McGregor was dumb enough to get himself arrested, Ronda Rousey was the top star of the organization, but she was KO'ed into retirement so what exactly does the company promote on pay-per-view?
Right now, Daniel Cormier, the LHW champion will fight Stipe Miocic, the HW champion, on PPV in July. Again, this is a short term situation because each grappler will compete in their respective divisions again. The solution to the UFC's star power predicament could be the current Universal champion, Brock Lesnar. When Brock was tired of the road schedule of professional wrestling, he eventually earned major cash in the UFC based on his name value from sports entertainment. After he won the UFC heavyweight title, a carefully marketed plan by Zuffa management at the time, he realized he didn't like to get punched in the face so he used his MMA exposure to sign a part-time deal as one of the highest paid performers on the roster when he returned to the WWE in 2012. Three years later, when Brock had the chance to return to the cage, he used the UFC option as a negotiating tactic to sign an even more lucrative deal with the WWE.
If you enjoy Brock's part-time status or not, you must give him credit, he works the negotiating angle better than anyone in the modern era. I wrote before that I think WWE brass almost invested too much into the Lesnar monster push because it indirectly limits the opportunities to make other legitimate money-drawing stars. The opportunity cost of Brock as champion and the Roman Reigns super push is that it creates a glass ceiling for everyone else on the roster. Finn Balor or Samoa Joe could become the most over athletes on the roster, but they will still be kept at a level below Reigns.
At WM 34, most assumed that the WWE's year of planning would be another Roman Reigns title win at the biggest event of the year. Brock beat Braun Strowman and Samoa Joe with one F-5 so that Reigns could kick out of the move. However, Reigns didn't win and a fluke finish in Saudi Arabia, one of the few places where Reigns wouldn't get booed, still has Lesnar the champion. Obviously, Brock signed a new deal, but it remains unclear how many bouts are included in the contract. In many ways, Lesnar is in the best possible position to make as much money as possible from the WWE because management invested in Brock's monster push as a way to present Reigns as the successor. The problem is, Reigns still isn't over and won't get over in his current role so Brock is still the biggest star on the roster. The WWE hasn't done anything in several months to push anyone else as a main event star so the best option they have is to pay Lesnar more major paychecks until they can find another plan.
At the same time, Brock's recent matches were less than stellar, and it seems like he's mailing in the performances. Lesnar's bouts that were dynamic became stable and repetitive within the past year. In many ways, there's a "been there, done that" atmosphere to his matches. This is where the UFC could use Lesnar's return to the cage and his exposure on WWE TV to sell pay-per-views again, which is exactly what they did during his original run in mixed martial arts. The difference is, the UFC could use Brock's appearance in the octagon to make one of the current champions a bigger star. For example, if Stipe Miocic KOs Lesnar, it will take him to an entirely different level of notoriety in the general public. It should be noted that since Lesnar tested positive for PEDs after his last fight with Mark Hunt in 2016, he must join the USADA testing pool for at least six months before he could be eligible to fight again. That being said, different from the WWE's botched push, there could be a major payoff for the UFC if they make a bigger star at the expense of Lesnar so it would definitely be worth the investment for his to return to the octagon. Keep in mind, Brock is a business man and it wouldn't be surprising if he cashes in again before he retires from competition.
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