What's next for Ronda Rousey?

Ronda Rousey is whining again.

The former UFC Women's Bantamweight champion was undoubtedly a trailblazer in female sports, skyrocketing to the top of the conversation of pop culture with  lightning-quick finishes of her opponents with a combination of wild punches and her Olympic-level Judo skills. She racked up a dozen wins in a row in the span of just over four years, with the majority of those bouts under either the Strike Force banner or the bright lights of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Ronda was so dominate and created such a buzz in Strike Force that when the UFC bought the organization, Dana White, who previously said his organization wouldn't promote MMA, more or less had no choice than to introduce women's MMA to the general public. Fans responded as Ronda became not only one of the most popular fighters on the roster, but her pay-per-view bouts drew big numbers for the company. Make no mistake about it, we wouldn't see the opportunities for incredible athletes like Amanda Nunes, Zhang Weili, and others without Ronda Rousey's impact on the sport.

In November 2015, Rousey's meteoric rise crashed to the canvas at the same time she did after a head kick from Holly Holm. Movies and TV appearances seemed to take away the focus of "Rowdy" Ronda, and she recklessly tried to steamroll her opponent with wild strikes that completely missed, suggesting that prehaps she took Holm too lightly after such a dominate streak in the octagon. In the year that followed, Amanda Nunes, who would later hold titles in two different divisions beat Holm for the 135 LBS belt. In December 2016, Ronda re-emerged for a chance to reclaim the championship, but refused any media appearances or interviews prior to the bout, despite the fact that  all of the promotional material was geared toward her return, with  barely any mention of the champion.

After nearly a dozen unanswered punches and just 48 seconds, Nunes sent Rousey into retirement. The fact that Ronda quit MMA because she didn't maintain an undefeated streak took some shine away from her star power because grace even in defeat is one often a key aspect of the perception of a sports figure, can they handle the adversity?

Rousey couldn't so he chose to step into the WWE ring in 2018.

At a time when the audience began to notice the pattern of part-timers showing up to take the featured spots on the card, and Rousey not quite the star that she was before she was knocked out twice, the reaction to her debut was mixed among the audience. She still retained some of the name value and there was the novelty of the MMA fighter that transitions to sports  entertainment so of course, WWE brass presented her as a top star in the company. She teamed with Kurt Angle for a match against Triple H and Stephanie at WM that year, and the bout received favorable reviews. However, it's easy to get that positive feedback when the scenario was specifically tailored to minimize her inexperience in the squared circle. As Rousey eventually won the Raw Women's championship, her promo skills were often subpar with flat mic work that didn't seem natural or organic. It was a textbook example of someone trying to remember a script instead of just cutting a promo. When Becky Lynch gained majority popularity as "The Man" the division had a rising star that needed the push to solidify her at the next level. At Wrestlemania 35, the botched finish, where it looked like Ronda might've tried to get her shoulder up instead of letting Lynch get the clean victory prompted some criticism from the audience.

After her departure, Rousey posted a video online where she criticized the fans as being "ungrateful" because of criticism to her promos and in-ring performances. She also called WWE fake. Considering that we saw what happened to Ronda when the action wasn't scripted, her complains don't seem too credible.

After starting a family, she returned to the WWE at the Royal Rumble in 2022 and won to go directly to a featured match at Wrestlemania. She won the Smackdown Women's title at Backlash and worked for the company on a regular basis. Still, her promos haven't improved and her in-ring work is average at best. As I said when she re-signed, you could make the argument that her star power was faded when she originally inked a deal with the WWE, and I'm not sure the fans were clamoring to see her back on WWE television, especially after she lashed out at the audience when her initial tenure concluded. Her current run in the company is rather undistinguished, with the terrible bout against Shotzi at Survivor Series last year as an example that her in-ring work hasn't improved. She dropped the title to Charlotte Flair on Smackdown in a very short bout late last year, and it appears that the office didn't view her as the center piece of the Women's division  that they did a few years ago.

According to The Wrestling Observer's Dave Meltzer, Ronda is scheduled to team with Shayna Bazler in a four-way tag match at Wrestlemania, despite an arm injury. Recently, she posted on Instagram, complaining about the scripting of her feud with Liv Morgan, which probably has more to do with her lack of a prominent position on the WM card than anything else. It's another public temper tantrum from Ronda, except this time she's still under contract to the company so you have to ask, is she worth the hassle?

I penned a similar article about CM Punk's latest antics on social media last week and concluded that given the stagnant ratings during the majority of his run on television, it probably wouldn't be productive to bring him back to the organization. In a similar fashion, the WWE already has record-setting revenue and profit from their TV deals and the Peacock deal. They will get paid the same amount for broadcasting WM on Peacock regardless of how many people actually watch the shows. Reportedly, tickets have already done well, and that was before Ronda's match was confirmed so from strictly a numbers perspective, does it really make a difference if she's on the card?

More than anything, the problem is, Ronda Rousey's run as a novelty act concluded when she dropped the title to Becky Lynch a few years ago. The sizzle of the MMA fighter in the WWE had its run, and without the substance of improved in-ring skills, the office doesn't have much choice but to book her as a mid-card act. She took the spotlight and was promoted ahead of most of the rest of the division when she debuted so there's not much for her left to do in the WWE anyway.

It's ironic that when the WWE rolled out the red carpet and promoted her as one of the top stars, Ronda was thrilled to be on the show, but when she has a mid-card match at Wrestlemania, she complains on Instagram. When Ronda lost in MMA, she quit. When the fans criticized her performances, she called them ungrateful. Now that she's not given the spotlight at WM, she's whining again on social media about the company.

The career of Carl Martin

The term psychology within the genre of professional wrestling, as unconventional as it might sound, does have its ties to the traditional sense of the word. Granted, Sigmund Freud wasn't going to critique the form of the body slams of George Hackenschmidt and Karl Gotch, but the use of human emotion always remained a key to not only the survival of sports entertainment as society evolved, but also gave the sport the ability to thrive as a part of pop culture. The building blocks of the pro wrestling narrative and thus the foundation of the entire industry are based on human psychology.

There was a reason that Bruno battling the menacing foreign villains was a top draw in the midst of the cold war. The same way that as society evolved to a more sophisticated narrative, those foreign acts slide down the card to make room for the pop culture fads of Rock N' Wrestling in the 80s, which allowed the heels to be more complex, garnering jeers as a result of their actions, not simply what country they were from.  At a time when Marylin Manson sold five million albums, Howard Stern had 20 million listeners daily, and Jerry Springer had uncensored pay-per-view specials, society was ready for the edgier wrestling product of the late-90s. In a post-9/11 world, more traditional hero roles made a comeback with Hustle, Loyalty, and Respect as a motto for a softer image of sports entertainment to allow for an escape from the harsh reality of the real world for the audience.

Make no mistake about it, as different as each era was and how the events of society shaped them, the use of psychology, the ability to get the audience emotional invested in the product, was key for the revenue at the box office for pro wrestling.

Who better to understand the psychology of the human mind and thus the way to use those skills to connect with the audience than a real-life psychologist?

Carl Martin, a Philadelphia-based pro wrestling manager, is a legitimately licensed and practicing mental health professional, focusing on the trauma, rehabilitation, and clinical aspects of the field. With a decade of experience as a counselor, Martin has a Master's degree in his area of expertise from Penn State University, which he obtained after he served in the US Army.

But, his pursuit of psychology wasn't purely a capitalist career move, he had a much deeper personal connection to therapy that allowed him to realize just how important mental health advocates can be in someone's life.

"The career stemmed from my own experience with a counselor that save my life as a kid. My father passed away when I was 13 and I began my battle against depression. That counselor helped to save my life, and I hoped that I could have the same impact for someone else," Martin explained.

Very similar to many that venture into the over-the-top world of the grappling arts, Carl was a huge fan for the vast majority of his life, watching all the major stars from different promotions throughout the history of the sport. Despite already being established and successful in his chosen profession, Carl wanted to give his passion project a chance.

"I was fulfilled personally and professionally as a therapist, but still needed an outlet for creativity and connection," he explained.

He found the famous Monster Factory training facility and embarked on a journey to learn the grappling arts. While training on the canvas and making progress as an in-ring athlete, Carl soon realized that the combination of injuries he sustained during his military service and the toll that pro wrestling can take on the body wouldn't yield the longevity that he wanted for a new chapter in his career.

As a naturally gifted and intelligent speaker, Carl decided that a manager role would be the best way to utilize his abilities in the sport. His level of in-ring training would allow him to get physically involved if the story called for it, but wouldn't cut his career short with an increased level of wear and tear that is often associated with full-time competition. Of course, every great manager has a signature persona, and Martin decided to use this background in the mental health field to blend two of the genres of entertainment that drew him into fandom.

"I was able to begin merging my love of wrestling with another of my loves, horror movies. The character is an amalgamation of several horror-based characters and themes, including Dr. Loomis of the Halloween series, and Brad Dourif from Alien Resurrection. With my own flare for weird and a lack of fear from embarrassment, I was able to create a unique and entertaining character," Carl explained.

Martin was paired with Geddy Cahoon and Mike Dobbs, and the trio zigzagged around the northeast independent circuit, gain notoriety in the process. Martin, with his team that resembled the cast of One Flew Over The Coocoo's Nest, were featured in a PWI feature about potential in the future following an ROH seminar.

"We meshed into a unique presentation that could do different and unique things. My biggest accomplishments include being able to share the ring and train with so many amazing talents that I have seen grow into true talents in the wrestling business. Seeing their success is motivating for me and pushes me to want to do more," Martin commented.

Many pundits cite Martin's authenticity as a persona to be one of the main aspects of why he became such a valuable commodity among the independent scene. The Dr. Carl character immediately projects a level of importance onto the portions of events where he's involved with well-produced vignettes to further storylines and a measured approach of how to be an asset at ringside.

"I hope to leave a positive mark on the wrestling business and to use my talents to improve the experience for everyone because wrestling is for everyone. I want to help bring that message and boost the characters by adding depth and understanding from a psychological perspective," he remarked.

Despite the villainous on-screen presentation and his wrestling teammates that often cause mayhem in the ring, the real-life Carl Martin is involved in several mental health support projects and seminars for those in the wrestling business.

"I hope to help the people that have sacrificed for the fans to be able to enjoy their memories and experiences," Martin concluded.

Punk vs. Meltzer

The CM Punk saga continues.

As the time frame for CM Punk's recovery from a torn triceps nears its conclusion, of course there continues to be speculation that prehaps the former All Elite Wrestling World champion could return to the company. The story of the infamous All Out media scrum and the aftermath was discussed by almost everyone so there's no need to rehash all of those details again. However, a few social media posts within the past few weeks, including Punk's response to a fan on social media, seemed to imply that he was at least willing to consider a comeback to the organization.

But, in typical CM Punk fashion, the drama continues.

The Wrestling Observer's Dave Meltzer posted on his site's message board in response to fan questions, claiming that the circumstances around the CM Punk/Jon Moxley matches last year were murky because "Punk sent a legal letter" and implied that Punk initially refused the match.

This prompted Punk to post an Instagram story with his side, claiming that he wasn't cleared to wrestle and that he disagreed with Moxley's idea of a Rocky 3 scenario, an angle that I'm assuming saw Punk lose quickly first before he won at the pay-per-view. The real-life Phil Brooks claimed that he never saw any Rocky movies, but agreed to the angle if that's what Tony Khan wanted because he's the boss of the organization. Punk also said that Moxley originally refused to lose the match. The 44-year-old grappler went on to say that Meltzer is a liar and continued with claims that Chris Jericho is "a liar and a stooge." Punk concluded with saying that his health was more important.

In response, Chris Jericho posted an Instagram story with a Matt Hardy "Delete" gif, and then Punk actually deleted the Instagram post, but several fans took screen shots to post it online.

This all sounds like middle school drama, not a scenario that could draw money in pro wrestling.

There's a lot to unpack with this situation, but to attempt to make a few key points, I think it's best to try to discuss them in the order that they were posted online. Meltzer's implication that Punk sent a legal letter as a way to dodge the Moxley match seems doubtful, only because the pay-per-view was almost six months ago, and a legal hurdle to avoid it would've been in the news prior to this. As much as Punk probably is a self-centered jerk in real life, it's completely fair to question Meltzer's credibility, not only because it was proven that he printed false information in the past, (the Dragon Gate fiasco made him look terrible) but he undoubtedly has a conflict of interest in coverage with AEW. Keep in mind, Tony Khan said himself that he is a longtime subscriber to the Observer newsletter, and has taken the time to be interviewed on Wrestling Observer Radio in the past. In many ways, Dave Meltzer has full access to AEW because of his friendship with Khan. Obviously, Meltzer doesn't have this type of access to WWE and didn't have that type of access to WCW in its heyday. Vince McMahon or Triple H aren't going to appear on Meltzer's podcast.

In some respects, this speaks to a bigger issue that could be a discussion of its own, as far as how The Wrestling Observer, both in its coverage and the perception of the publication, changed as the industry evolved. Dave always sprinkled in his opinions, but didn't necessarily have a horse in the race prior to the modern era. Dirt sheet readers were by nature a niche demographic, especially during and at any point before the Monday night wars. Within the past two decades, as the internet became a household item and even today, the vast majority of wrestling news sites use The Observer as their primary source for information. A major portion of Meltzer's content in some form or fashion was distributed for free rather than through a newsletter subscription. Sure, The Observer added more to its subscription service with Wrestling Observer Radio and a myriad of podcasts, but the bottom line is, the main selling point is still the backstage news in the industry. Keep in mind, Dave Meltzer is a reporter, but he's not a journalist in the traditional sense. Meltzer makes a living for subscriptions so it's quite literally in his financial interest to serve a base audience. The slat that there often was against the WWE in the post-WCW era served the contrarian audience that wanted to claim that an obscure company in Japan or an underground indy group in The United States had a better product than Vince McMahon. Similar to that, Meltzer's slat toward the success of All Elite Wrestling serves that diehard audience, which is the same demographic that follow the dirt sheets. Considering that Meltzer sold tickets to Q & A sessions during a few of the All Elite pay-per-view weekends, he quite literally has a vested interest in the success of the company. Does this mean that everything Meltzer says is wrong or that he doesn't make fair points? Absolutely not, in fact, from a historical perspective Dave Meltzer is one of the best resources in the history of the industry. However, the point is, that it wouldn't be shocking if CM Punk was right about Meltzer's bias toward putting The Elite in a favorable light.

As far as Punk's claim that Moxley refused to put him over, it's possible, but I'm not sure how much stock to put into it. It's very possible that given Punk's reputation and the fact that Moxley had to put the company on his back while Punk was on the shelf with the foot injury, it might've been a situation where Moxley wanted to see if Punk was willing to put him over before he dropped the title. Still, I find it difficult to believe that Moxley refused to do the job since he's a smart businessman.

Next. Punk called Jericho a liar and a stooge, with the implication that Jericho gave information to either Meltzer or the AEW office. Punk didn't cite any specific examples, but maybe it was a reference to Jericho's friendship with Tony Khan? Don't get me wrong, Jericho definitely keeps himself strong on television and part of the reason he remains relevant in the business, aside from his stellar skills, is that he knows how to navigate the political shark tank of the industry. That being said, I doubt that Chris Jericho would sabotage CM Punk's stint in AEW. Jericho is smart enough to know that the more well established AEW is, the longer he can make money in the company.

Of course, the cynical nature of wrestling will make people question if the whole situation is a work.

If it's a work, it's a poorly-constructed work, as random and brief exchanges on Instagram don't have a payoff. Punk took issue with Meltzer, Moxley, and Jericho, but the money that still be on the table is a feud against The Elite so an Instagram angle just dilutes the narrative of a CM Punk return. As mentioned, Punk indicated on social media that he would be willing to mend fences in AEW, but if it's not a work, this latest riff doesn't accomplish that. More than anything, it might be proof that CM Punk is more of a hassle than he's worth for the company.

What's the status of Goldberg?

Bill Goldberg, the former WCW and WWE champion, was one of the most popular stars of the hottest period in the history of the pro wrestling business. He had a meteoric rise, propelling himself to the top of World Championship Wrestling to become the world champion less than a year after his debut on Nitro. The handling of Bill Goldberg as a main event commodity and how it coincided with the collapse of WCW is another discussion for another time, but the point being, Goldberg left a massive mark on the industry.

That's why it's very interesting to hear that for the first time in several years, the former main event star is officially a free agent. Of course, as is the case when anyone of notoriety hits the market, questions will be asked about a potential All Elite Wrestling debut.

Would Tony Khan offer the 56-year-old grappler an AEW contract?

As we know, when Bill Goldberg made a return to the WWE in 2016, it was initially scheduled to be a one-off to promote the video game franchise, which can be very lucrative for everyone involved. The diehard purists can criticize the in-ring style of the former Atlanta Falcon, but he was always a great businessman. Bill Goldberg never got five stars for his matches, but he made seven figures when he signed deals throughout his career. Keep in mind, the ability to make the most money possible should be the number one priority in the business. There's absolutely something to be said for legacy and stellar in-ring performances, but the harsh reality is, Wrestling Observer awards don't pay the mortgage, cash does.

It goes without saying that when Goldberg originally inked a deal with WWE in 2003, not only did the company do him no favors with how he was booked, (another topic that could be its own discussion for another time) but it was clear that WWE management was still fighting the wrestling war of the 90s that they won two years earlier with the purchase of WCW. That sounds counterproductive, considering that he received a hefty paycheck to sign with the company and it would've been in the organization's interest to use him as best as possible to draw as much money as possible to get a return on that investment, but you have to consider that Vince was still fighting the war in 2015 when Triple H just had to defeat Sting at Wrestlemania.

Goldberg's exit in 2004, the match that was surrounded in controversy, as it was also Brock Lesnar's last match with the promotion, was lackluster to say the least. It was clear that the WWE office had no interest in promoting a WCW commodity, especially when the Turner organization was still in the conversation of the industry when so many wondered what was next for the business after WCW folded. It took over 12 years for the fence to be mended, and everyone involved, including Goldberg himself, wanted a better conclusion to his career than an infamous match at Madison Square Garden where both he and Brock just wanted to get through the contest without any injuries so they could leave the company. In many ways, the office's botched presentation of the former WCW star in 2003 created the demand for his return in 2016. The fans wanted to see Goldberg get a better conclusion to his career. and that draw of a proper presentation allowed for a perfect scenario for the 90s legend to be introduced to an entirely new generation. In some ways, this was a chance for the WWE to put their own spin on Bill Goldberg, as many of the fans of his era had stopped watching years earlier, and a younger audience was exposed to the WWE presentation of him.

In 2016, when Bill beat Brock at Survivor Series, it was one of the very few truly surprising moments of the modern era and it will be considered a classic segment in retrospect. Obviously, he was older, but instead of putting him in scenarios that exposed his weaknesses, which was the bulk of his 2003 stint, the office took a much different approach with the run he had before WM 33. There were only three key matches that were promoted as major event and they were all kept short, with the exception of the final bout of that particular run when the Goldberg/Lesnar segment went about ten minutes at Wrestlemania.

You could say that WWE caught lightening in a bottle when they were able to recapture the buzz around Bill Goldberg so it makes sense that they kept him under contract, specifically when the Saudi deal was signed in 2018 and much of that was based on stars of the past that the Saudi government wanted to see in the country. The problem was, similar to anything else in that type of situation, you can only play that card so many times before you run the risk of exposing a star not being in their prime so you can't expect them to be the same performer from two decades earlier. The infamous Undertaker/Goldberg match from Saudi Arabia in 2019 was the clear indication that the Goldberg nostalgia run had already peaked a few years earlier.

Since that time, most of Goldbergs's time in WWE, even including a brief run with the title again in 2020, was cannon fodder in an effort to try to elevate other performers. When he beat The Fiend for the belt before the pandemic shut down the world, it didn't have the same atmosphere as a few years earlier because it was a recycled concept so it yielded diminishing returns. Putting Braun Strowman over didn't do anything other than let Braun control his narrative. More recently, Bill was more or less only there to put over a few of the key guys the office wanted to push at the time, which makes sense since doing the job doesn't diminish his legacy. His most recent WWE bout was against Roman Reigns at The Elimination Chamber pay-per-view last year and he was still under contract for another year, but the office opted not to schedule him for another run on television. 

This isn't a knock on Goldberg at all, but taking everything into considerable, there wasn't much left for him to do in the WWE anyway. At his age, he already had another run and made big money in the process, with merchandise released since he re-signed with the company in 2016 so unless there's a specific bout that might be on the table, he accomplished more or less everything he could in WWE.

That's also why it wouldn't make sense for him to sign an AEW contract.

As much as Tony Khan is a fan of WCW and enjoys signing legends just so he can post the "All Elite" graphic on social media, there's no logical reason for Bill Goldberg to lace up the boots for AEW. He was already limited to very short matches a few years ago so how exactly would he be booked in the company? All Elite primarily sells work rate as its draw, and that's the opposite of what Bill Goldberg brings to the table. Plus, we've already seen the Goldberg return to the sport, what's the selling point of 56-year-old Goldberg in the ring again? More importantly, he doesn't need the money so why risk tarnishing his legacy? The vast majority of the All Elite roster, as bloated as it is, continues to be based on youth and the potential of the future so nostalgia has a limited spot on the card.

Tony Khan said in a recent interview that AEW would be interested in the potential of Bill Goldberg as a free agent, which isn't a surprise, considering how many contracts Khan offered. However, outside of a six man tag match with Sting based on their WCW history, I just don't see the realistic options for him in AEW. It's too much of a styles clash for Goldberg, unless Kenny Omega or another top name in the organization would work around him for a short match.

Finally, I want to mention that I actually met Bill Goldberg at a comic con in Pittsburgh last year and he was extremely polite. Goldberg is a genuine guy and you can tell that he takes his status as a potential role model seriously with the notoriety that fame brings him. In fact, if pro wrestling had more Bill Goldberg and less Hulk Hogan, the industry might be viewed better by the media. So, Bill Goldberg is a respectful former champion, but that doesn't mean he should sign to be a current AEW star.

Wrestle Rex returns

This past weekend, globetrotting grappler, Sam Adonis found himself in Guadalajara alongside longtime veterans Christopher Daniels and John Morrison as a part of the AAA World Cup tournament. The trio representing the United States defeated Team Japan in front of a rowdy crowd.

Professional wrestling is in Adonis' DNA, as his family promoted local cards around their hometown of Pittsburgh for years before his brother landed at the Raw desk as Corey Graves, and Sam went on to achieve international notoriety inside the ring ropes. A mainstay in AAA now, Adonis was no stranger to lucha libre, as he worked extensively for CMLL earlier in his career between tours of All Japan. Plus, he learned his craft in his formative years in the sport with an accomplished tenure in England.

The squared circle has taken Sam Adonis quite literally around the globe, but his hometown of the steel city will always be linked to his passion for the sport. The iconic Bruno Sammartino still maintains mythical status for Adonis' family and many in the region. That's why, despite the international travels that often take Sam across several different time zones at any given time, he still makes it a point to perform for his hometown anytime the opportunity presents itself.

Less than two days after he lands back at Pittsburgh International Airport from his AAA World Cup bout in Mexico, Sam will be back in the ring in front of his hometown fans when WrestleRex, the project that Adonis launched a few years ago to bring a new flavor of sports entertainment to Pittsburgh, returns to The Enclave, a revamped concert venue that made a comeback after the struggles of the pandemic, this Thursday.

“I want Wrestlerex to be a genre of its own. We are not going to be a touring wrestling company. We don’t want to compete with anyone on TV or be ‘the next ECW.’ We use the highest quality independent and unsigned talent available, but we don’t aim for the wrestling crowd, we aim for everyone. Anyone and everyone is welcome to the events and I think there’s the perfect balance of wrestling, theater, art, and music to be enjoyed by all. The production setup alone is out of this world. I want people leaving not being able to compare it to anything else they’ve seen. The way I see it, we are not indy wrestling. We are Wrestlerex,” Adonis commented previously.

This Thursday's line-up delivers on the WrestleRex philosophy of bringing together stellar international talent and some of the best athletes that the steel city has to offer. Facade, an aerial artist that has competed in dozens of countries, brings his unique style to the ring against Johnny Patch, one of the premiere high fliers in Pittsburgh. Former Impact star, Lady Frost, who recently made waves with her debut in Mexico, will be in action. Game Changer Wrestling standout, Matt Justice, brings his brand of chaos to The Enclave as well. The Mane Event, Ganon Jones Jr. and Duke Davis, regarded by many as the best tag team in Pittsburgh, will make their way to WrestleRex.

“My traveling has definitely made my perspective on wrestling different to almost everyone. I’ve been able to learn through trial and error of not only myself, but of other wrestlers and promotions in many different countries and cultures. That’s why I feel what we are doing at The Rex works. It’s a melting pot of all of it. WrestleRex is unique because there’s something for everyone. I believe wrestling has become too much of a niche and only appeals to diehards. Wrestle Rex is standing room only with a party atmosphere, featuring some of the top talent on earth for everyone to enjoy,” Sam said previously.

Of course, Adonis will lace up his boots, but it's a rare hometown appearance for the fans in attendance at The Enclave, and Sam's return will be brief, as he will be back on a plane to Monterrey less than twelve hours after the final bell of the evening. Friday night will see him back in action for AAA before he travels to Las Vegas for another bout on Saturday.

Despite the long hours of travel and the often late-night work put into the planning of the WrestleRex events while Sam is usually outside of the United States, the WrestleRex series garnered praise from its audience for the blend of a rock concert atmosphere with the athletic presentation of pro wrestling. Adonis cites his ability to coordinate with the local crew as key to not only the success of the project so far, but also the event this Thursday. It's not uncommon for Adonis to confirm WrestleRex plans via text message while he unravels his wrist tape in the locker room after a stellar performance in Mexico.

Considering the numerous options within pro wrestling in the modern era, it's difficult to find something that truly stands out as a unquie product, but WrestleRex has done that and looks to continue its success this Thursday at The Enclave.

Will there be another AEW TV show?

As All Elite Wrestling prepares to negotiate a new television deal relatively soon, the rumor mill online suggests that it's possible that Warner Brothers Discovery, the corporation that resulted from the recent merger of the two media entities, might look to add a third AEW wrestling show to its line-up, which would be in addition to the All Access reality show that was green lit to take over the infamous Power Slap time slot for a six-episode series.

The Wrestling Observer's Dave Meltzer noted that the third show would be added to the AEW line-up to air regularly on possibility Saturday, but didn't comment on the specific time slot.

First, it should be mentioned that there's absolutely no need for another weekly All Elite Wrestling television show. I understand that the WB executives see a show with a consistent number and want to exploit that for the better ad revenue that a steady rating can secure, but pro wrestling is such a unique genre that the rules of a traditional TV series can't really be applied. It's important mention that original programming, which All Elite Wrestling produces weekly since you're not getting reruns with pro wrestling like other series, also secures better ad rates for the network.

It might sound cynical or too simplistic, but very similar to most products in business, this scenario can be summarized with the supply and demand dynamics. All Elite has a diehard core audience that will invest in tickets to live events and order the pay-per-views, but national television by nature is geared toward trying to draw the general public to tune into the network. The more viewers there are, the more the revenue the network can generate with commercials, and thus it justifies the TV contract that Discovery will offer for AEW programming. However, Dynamite ratings have been somewhat sluggish recently, with numbers that usually hover somewhere around a million viewers, but have sometimes dipped into the 800,000 range, depending on other sports competition. A 20% drop in viewers on any given week isn't exactly encouraging because it illustrates that there are people that will watch the product if they think the program will be worth their time, but have sometimes opt to watch other channels, which demonstrates that there was content that the audience didn't consider "must see" compared to other options on television.

Even if you use the 1 million viewers for an average of Dynamite, the Friday night show usually draws less than half of that. Rampage, even if it wasn't designed to be, is clearly the secondary show. Granted, Friday night at 10 PM is a tough time slot, but maybe Discovery thought that they could get a portion of the audience that watches Smackdown on Fox? At the same time, that's almost an apples to oranges scenario because Fox is on broadcast TV while Rampage is on cable so more viewers have access to the WWE product. Granted, Friday night isn't a traditionally strong night for television, but if Tony Khan agreed to produce a second show, the goal still has to be as much exposure as possible.

Again, using the supply and demand dynamics, less than half of the audience that watches Dynamite tunes in to watch Rampage so it would be realistic to expect that only a fraction of the fan base would watch a third-tier show. It might sound too obvious, but the bottom line is, outside of the most diehard fans, the vast majority of people are only going to watch a certain amount of wrestling content. The 12,000 fans that Tony Khan said signed up for Honor Club to watch the new era of Ring Of Honor are the most diehard audience. Outside of those fans, between Raw, Smackdown, and Dynamite, most people aren't going to watch countless hours of wrestling on a weekly basis. There's a reason that the Youtube shows are more or less cannon fodder among the AEW landscape.

A Saturday show or any third-tier program on television is only going to further dilute the All Elite product. The argument could be made that Tony hasn't consistently booked a cohesive Dynamite show for any extended period of time so how exactly will another show to book for television be beneficial to the company? It's an old troupe in the wrestling business, but it's still true, if you try to get everyone over, nobody gets over. For example, when Bran Cage was randomly booked in the main event spot of Dynamite several weeks ago, nothing was accomplished except a lower rating on that particular week. Cage isn't featured on television often enough to be considered a star so there's no reason for fans to invest in or tune in for his shot at the ROH TV championship. At the same time, the opportunity cost for putting Cage into the main event segment is that the same TV time could've been used for a competitor that Tony Khan actually wants to attempt  to establish as a star. That's not meant as a knock on Cage, but rather an example of how TV time should be used more effectively. If Tony Khan honestly sees potential in Hook to be a major star for All Elite Wrestling in the future, invest the TV time in a showcase match for Hook, not a throw away Brain Cage match for a title that is nothing more than a prop.

Finally, I'd say that it would be almost unanimously agreed on that the AEW product across the board should be more concise so by nature, more programming isn't the answer. Perhaps it's because the WB suits are willing to continue to give AEW a platform with a new TV contract that Tony Khan is overestimating All Elite's success as a television commodity. Yes, there are definitely a core group of fans that are willing to invest in the product and have a brand loyalty to AEW, but at the same time, it's fair to say that the company might be in danger of plateauing if Dynamite doesn't continue to expand its viewership. As mentioned a 20% drop on any given week doesn't make a good statement about the quality control of the product, and Meltzer reported a slight drop in recent pay-per-view buys, with Revolution generating around 130,000 buys. The biggest problem that might be on the horizon for AEW is if the product hits a ceiling, eventually the only direction to go is to decline. While All Elite is comparatively in a much better spot than TNA was in its heyday, it's important to remember that there was a time when Impact could draw a million viewers before it fell off a cliff, which is why it's important for the focus to remain on building Dynamite, not any other secondary shows.

Will Kenny Omega sign for WWE?

Since the inception of All Elite Wrestling the subject of free agency in the pro wrestling industry continues to be a topic of conversation, and it should be. For the first time in almost two decades, there was a second national promotion with the funding and the opportunity to truly get off the ground to compete with the WWE, both for a market share and talent. Not that this is meant as a knock on TNA, especially considering that it launched during an era when the business was at a low point following the collapse of WCW and ECW, but I think it's fair to say that the organization wasn't a destination point for anyone during its heyday. The vast majority of known talent that signed with TNA inked a deal because they got released from WWE. In fact, this happened so often that it almost became comical when another "flavor of the month" made their debut for the company. It was very rare that a competitor would opt for TNA over WWE, with Christian being the most notable exception.

AEW shifted that dynamic when it had the funding to offer comparable money to WWE and the distribution of the Turner networks to showcase the roster.

There are several names that simply opted to sign with Tony Khan instead of another deal with WWE, and that created a sense of optimism around the project since the talent saw a future in the company. Adam Cole, Bryan Danielson, FTR, and others made the decision to continue there careers with AEW. If those talents were used to their fullest potential is a different discussion for a different time, but the point being, the existence of AEW allowed for a more competitive free agent market.

That market continues to be beneficial to both sides, as Cody Rhodes' wise exit for All Elite before backstage controversy overshadowed the in-ring product was a wise move, and it ultimately set the stage for the main event of Wrestlemania. As I've cited before, as much as Jim Cornette has his critics, his assessment of "how can we miss you if you don't go away?" is true. Cody couldn't make an anticipated return unless he left to rejuvenate his career and thus build up the demand for a comeback to WWE. He took his career to a new level with the American Nightmare persona and the hype around it is what gave the WWE an opportunity to reintroduce him as a bigger star to the audience. But, that's not possible unless he could go to AEW to generate buzz for the American Nightmare character.

A competitive free agent market helps to keep the entire industry fresh.

That's why the rumor mill is so intriguing right now because there are a potpourri of names in the discussion that could potentially shift many of the dynamics within the industry depending on where they sign a contract.

Reportedly, Kenny Omega's contract could be set to expire relatively soon, with the only hurdle being if any time was added to his deal when he was on the shelf. Omega was complimentary of WWE in the past, fueling speculation that prehaps he would at least consider a WWE offer, and there was more talk of that after The Elite dropped the trios titles at Revolution. Considering that he will be 40 later this year, the bottom line is, if Omega is ever going to sign with the WWE, this is probably the most realistic opportunity. With more than 22 years on his resume and the injuries he had, it's very doubtful that he will ink another long term after he signs his next one. This is logically the last long term deal of his career so if he wants a run in WWE, now is the time to make the jump. While I wouldn't be surprised to see Omega work sporadically in Japan after he finishes his next full-time contract, I don't think it's realistic to expect Omega to ink a WWE deal at 43 or 45. The company isn't going to invest in a talent that would be relatively new to their audience if the performer would near the age of 50 during the duration of the contract. As far as if Omega would sign a deal there, I'd say it's 50/50, and I'm not trying to take the middle of the road there. One of the reasons that All Elite Wrestling was founded was based on the hype Kenny Omega had in The Wrestling Observer after his incredible series of matches with Okada in New Japan. Obviously, even EVP title aside, Omega is comfortable in All Elite and gets to work the style that he wants, regardless of any criticism of it. At the same time, AEW was fine without him, which isn't a knock on him, but rather to point out that the company has enough depth on the roster. Cody left and All Elite continued so it's not impossible that Omega could explore his options in the latter stages of his career.

With Triple H running the company, there are better odds that Omega would debut for WWE than in the past, but at the same time, I'd not sure he would be willing or could translate his style to the WWE audience. That's not a jab against his ability, but rather that what garnered Omega notoriety in the wrestling business isn't really what the WWE presents to its fan base. If he makes the jump is probably 50/50, but if it would be a successful transition is a completely different matter.

On the flip side, another New Japan alumni, Jay White recently finished up with the organization after he lost a loser leaves Japan and then a loser leaves New Japan match. The 30-year-old former IWGP Heavyweight champion has all the skills to be a major star and would be a wise acquisition for WWE. White is a polished pro because of his tenure in New Japan, but is young enough that his prime is theoretically still ahead of him. He has the in-ring ability, the mic work, and the intangibles to be a top guy on the roster. Plus, I'd make the argument that he's a more versatile wrestler than Omega. Jay White can excel during the work-rate matches while still being a heel. At the same time, we've seen him work with AEW before because of the New Japan working agreement so it's very possible that he signs an All Elite deal. When you take into account how many wrestlers AEW already has on its roster, and more importantly, how many of those competitors get lost in the shuffle, I think WWE is the better option for him. It would be too easy for him to fade into the background in AEW, which is exactly what happened to Adam Cole for the majority of his stint in the company before the concussion put him on the sidelines. For an organization that needs stars for the future, the WWE should make it a priority to sign Jay White to a contract because he would be a major asset to the company.

Revolution review

All Elite Revolution is in the books and based on the results of the pay-per-view, it looks like the direction of the organization might finally trend upward after 2022 made more headlines for the heat behind the curtain than on-screen.

The show opened with Ricky Starks vs. Chris Jericho, and I will be honest, when this bout was originally announced, I thought it was more or less a way for Jericho to get his win back. Thankfully, I was wrong, and all things considered, Jericho didn't need the win anyway. This is meant as a complete compliment, Chris Jericho reached a status in the industry where he's as over as he's going to be and even if he lost every match for the rest of his career, he would still be regarded as a legend. I'm still not sure why he had to beat Eddie Kingston in the barbed wire match on Dynamite after Kingston defeated Jericho on pay-per-view. The match at Revolution was solid and it was a quick start for the event, which was a very wise decision. Too often in the past, there was almost a pattern where the vast majority of the contests on the card were given twenty minutes and that created a tedious viewing experience. Not every match needs to be twenty minutes of a New Japan style bout. The purpose of this match was to make Ricky Starks look like a bigger star and it accomplished that goal.

Jungle Boy vs. Christian was a very well done segment. However, unless I missed it, I had no idea that this was supposed to be a casket match until the entrances. The biggest takeaway here was how a match worked properly can translate into a payoff. This match was the textbook definite of "work," and it speaks volumes to Christian's ability as a true pro. Absolutely one of the best of his generation, even if he was underutilized for a portion of his career. Christian is an example of a heel that can work and everything he did meant something throughout this match. His mannerisms and presentation emphasized that he was the heel. There was a lot of action, but the bumps were safe. There doesn't have to be dangerous car crash matches for the conclusion of the feud. Again, this was a segment that showcased the younger talent, and furthermore, if more All Elite matches were worked like this, the company would make more progress.

The Trios Title match was the fireworks bout of the card and it provided the dazzling spot fest that many expect from the AEW brand. Everything was crisp and precise, which is why this bout translated as well as it did. Sloppy technique or nonsensical spots plague a lot of All Elite programming so unless competitors can work as clean as these two teams than they should avoid this particular type of match. Buddy Matthews and Kenny Omega started with some stellar technical wrestling, and later in the bout, Brody King was featured very well. That's one of the other pitfalls that the rest of the roster should avoid, Brody is almost twice the size of Matt Jackson so it made more sense when Brody bumped for a double team move from The Bucks. Too often, some on the roster take unnecessary bumps and it dilutes the entire presentation.

I wasn't expecting much from the Women's title bout, simply because most triple threat matches fall into the same recycled patterns you've seen before. Thankfully, this contest didn't use the usual playbook and actually worked the three competitors into spots, as opposed to one wrestler taking a powder while the other two have a traditional match with very little use of the three way aspect. Jamie Hayter was undoubtedly the MVP of this bout and the glue that put the pieces together. While Saraya being cleared to get back into the ring and seemingly much happier after a rough few years because of the neck injury is great, she's definitely still very rust in the squared circle. Plus, it's still concerning when she takes any bumps that look like they might result in whiplash. There's still a balancing act of risk/reward for the payoff of Saraya on the roster compared to any potential injuries. So far, her promo and in-ring work are average at best, and the rather random heel turn seemed to hinder any hype from her debut. It was a wise decision to have Hayter retain the title, but the post-match Rudy heel turn didn't make much sense. Rudy is a very talented performer that should've been booked a lot better in AEW, but if she wanted to join the former WWE wrestlers, why did she wait until after the match? Why give Hayter a chance to remain the championship? The motivation can't be that she lost the match, either because Saraya technically cost her the title as much as Hayter did.

The Texas Death Match in a vacuum had its moments, but overall, I have to say that I think it missed the mark. First and most importantly, if Jon Moxley bleeds so often on television, it's naturally going to yield diminishing returns, even on pay-per-view. In fact, it's almost comical how often Moxley bleeds on TV. This contest had some very good exchanges and wild moments, but the bottom line is, the more gimmicks they used, the more over-the-top the entire segment became until it was just too nonsensical. Moxley put Adam Paige's hand in between two bricks before he stomped on it. If a brick is ever involved in a fight, someone is going to use it to strike an opponent in some form or fashion, not try to set up a wrestling move. Furthermore, when Adam Page hit Moxley with a brick, instead of being knocked out, Moxley stumbled to his feet for another sequence. The whole thing jumped the shark. If you can hit someone with a brick and they can get up within seconds, it just went too far. Instead of a match that was built on violence, this devolved into who could bleed more or take more bumps in barbed wire. This was the type of match you'd see on an independent show, and considering those events don't draw enough for those organizations to became bigger than just an independent, is there really a place for this stuff on a national level? The Japanese-inspired death matches became more prominent on the American indy circut after ECW folded, and if it hasn't drawn big for any of those groups in the past twenty years, why would it draw for AEW now? As far as the Japanese aspect, even the death match groups that are successful in that country are considered a niche so again, does this stuff really have a place in the national pro wrestling scene in the United States? Page got the victory, but I'm not sure there were any winners in this segment because this was the lowest common denominator of hardcore wrestling. Quite frankly, both of these athletes are more talented than that.

The TNT title match was in the death spot on the card since the audience just saw everything in the previous match. The contest was fine, but it was forgettable because of its place on the pay-per-view. Wardlow won, but for someone that was lost in the shuffle prior to Revolution, this scenario didn't do him any favors. That was followed by the tag title match, which wasn't bad, but on a show that had a 60-minute Iron Man match as the main event, it wasn't necessary to have this four team contest on the pay-per-view. Perhaps, it provided some comedy relief after the Texas Death Match, but it was still better suited for Dynamite.

Since the main event was over an hour, it would be too lengthy to discuss every portion of the bout, but generally speaking, this match showed why psychology is so important in pro wrestling. There was solid technical wrestling at the start and there wasn't a follow until the 25-minute mark, which makes sense because it's common place for main events to conclude around thirty minutes. The way that the low blow caused a DQ but allowed MJF to tie it up with two quick falls because of the cheap shot allowed a logic reason for multiple falls so the drama could build later in the match. As far as the controversy with MJF throwing the water on the kid at ringside, it's harmless on the surface, but ultimately not worth the potential downside. According to Bryan Alvarez of The Wrestling Observer, it was actually tequila, not water. That's one of the reasons it's not worth the possible downside, you don't always know what you're throwing at people, and if it was tequila then obviously, it's not a harmless heel troupe to get heat. The kid was taken backstage to meet Powerhouse Hobbs and given free tickets to Dynamite this week so it was smoothed over, but it could've been a much more difficult situation. The fans know that Tony Khan is a billionaire, and someone actually won a lawsuit because coffee was hot at McDonald's so you shouldn't underestimate the level some people will go for a quick payoff. The bigger issue is that if MJF throws a drink at the wrong fan, some yokel might take a swing, and do you really want a fight with a fan during the main event of a pay-per-view?

MJF bled buckets during the latter stages of the bout, which would've meant a lot more if a Texas Chainsaw Massacre remake wasn't booked a few matches earlier. The way the diamond ring was used as a misdirection before the actual finish was clever and the same can be said for the spot at the conclusion where Danielson tapped out instead of the stereotypical stoppage because a wrestler is unconscious. This match proved that MJF is a main event performer, but it will be interesting if he can solidify himself as the top guy in the company with better promo work in the future.

UFC 285

Tonight, UFC 285 will be held  at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada and the event will see the return of former Light Heavyweight champion, Jon Jones after a three-year absence from the octagon. The 35-year-old vacated the 205 LBS belt, a title he was previously stripped of three times, in May of 2020 after a contract dispute with the company.

"Bones" Jones made the move to heavyweight, adding almost 40 LBS to his frame before he returns to the cage, but does any of this matter?

The issue surrounding this UFC Heavyweight title fight is two-fold. Former champion, Francis Ngannou was officially stripped of the belt in January and released from the promotion because of a contract dispute. Reportedly, Ngannou wanted health insurance and the ability to get sponsorships of his own, which would conflict with the exclusive Rebok deal the organization has that pays the fighters a fraction of the sponsorship money compared to the deals they could get on their own. Ironically, his last fight in the  UFC was against Jones' opponent tonight, Ciryl Gane. Francis won a unanimous decision in January 2022 despite a knee injury before the bout. A few months prior to that Gane won an interim belt when he beat Derrick Lewis via TKO in the third round at UFC 265. However, that was more to be able to put a title fight on pay-per-view than anything else, as Ngannou claimed he wasn't ready to defend the title so an interim was created for more or less no reason since the original Ngannou/Gane bout was only delayed a few months.

Ngannou stated in interviews that he wants to pursue a big payday in boxing against either Deontay Wilder or Tyson Fury. While it's doubtful that Fury would risk his status as heavyweight champion against a novice boxer, considering a fluke punch is possible with the power that Francis brings to the table, a major bout with Wilder might be realistic since the hype and a win could bring enough spotlight back to him that might allow him to secure another rematch with Fury. For Francis, he more or less has nothing to lose in either scenario since there's no shame in a loss to a former or current heavyweight champion as an opponent without any pro boxing experience, and would allow him to make exponentially more money than he did in the UFC. You can't blame Francis, either. If he thinks he can get paid better money outside of the UFC, that's capitalism, and a fighter only has a certain time frame to maximize their earnings for as much financial security as possible.

That being said, his exit disrupts the lineage of the heavyweight title, and very similar to other divisions in the UFC, the rankings don't have much credibility. Since the ESPN deal pays the company a guaranteed amount regardless of the number of buys for pay-per-views or how many people watch the fight night cards, compelling match-ups are traded for superficial title fights. With the divisions being built on depth through those compelling match-ups, the domino effect is not nearly as many money-drawing stars have been made for the organization. Instead of key fighters getting signature wins to build hype for an eventual title shot on PPV, a potpourri of names get lost in the shuffle of the countless fight cards that are held because of the ESPN contract.

Somehow a guy can be on a four-fight win streak and he gets a title shot, but the vast majority of the audience hasn't heard of him because three of those fights were on the prelims of a random fight night card. It's worth noting that putting almost all of the UFC content behind a paywall in some form or fashion also had an impact on its ability to create new stars for the organization.

To even have the option to order a UFC pay-per-view, customers have subscribe to ESPN+ the streaming service that cost $9.99 a month before the hefty PPV price tag. Keep in mind, the fight that is almost unanimously praised the most important fight in UFC history because it helped spark the surge in popularity was Forrest Griffin vs. Stephan Bonnar. The fight was on Spike TV and the ratings for the bout indicated that viewers called others to tell them to tune into the fight. MMA finally becoming easily accessible on cable TV after years of being shunned by networks is what allowed for the sport to flourish. The casual fan isn't going to subscribe to ESPN+ for the fight night cards that have the names that they haven't heard of, even if the diehard fan base knows how talented some of those competitors are in the octagon.

Perhaps, that's why tonight's heavyweight title fight seems so superficial.

Jon Jones is one of the very few fighters left from the original surge in popularity, and management is more or less using this chance to actually get him into the cage as a money grab. Jones hasn't fought in three years and hasn't looked impressive in a fight since he defeated Alexander Gustafsson in 2018. There was a very valid argument to be made that Thiago Santos should've been awarded the decision when he fought Jones in 2019. Quite frankly, I think all the discussion of "Bones" Jones as possibility the greatest MMA fighter of all time is nothing more than marketing hype. Did he have the potential to be the greatest? Absolutely, but the reality is that he fell very short of that. He tested positive for PEDs four times so that alone should eliminate him from the conversation. We don't have how many fights he used PEDs and we don't know if he would've won the fights he tested positive for if he didn't take steroids. When you take into account that Jones wasn't available to fight because of failed drug tests or several arrests, it takes eliminates him from the discussion even more since he didn't fight the top competition at the time. When you consider that he had so much legal trouble that it's too lengthy to discuss, it's obvious that the story of Jones' career is wasted talent. Finally, his most recent trouble with the law was a domestic violence incident, and during the arrest Jones damaged a police car. The bottom line is, anyone that hits a woman is a coward.

The point being, Jones' reputation of not being available to fight more often than not at 205 LBS doesn't justify a shot at the heavyweight championship. It's a strategy for the short-term money. UFC management did the same thing to shoehorn Connor McGregor as a double champion, and it more or less ruined two divisions that still haven't been rebuilt. Ciryl Gane held an unnecessary interim belt before he lost to Ngannou. Gane knocked out Tai Tuivasa in the third round last September, but does one victory justify a title shot?

Don't get me wrong Ciryl Gane is a powerful puncher and a dangerous opponent, but he's a one-dimensional fighter. Ngannou, who is primarily a striker, was able to use the take down to win a decision so Jones, a fighter with a lot of wrestling experience, already saw him to defeat Gane. Jones isn't going to take any chance with someone that has knockout power, and he shouldn't so he's going to close to distance relatively quickly and use take downs to win the contest. Sure, it's possible that Gane has a puncher's chance, but the sportsbooks have it right that Jon Jones wins the heavyweight title.

The economics of WWE

Professional wrestling, much like other forms of live entertainment, had its share of triumphs, tragedies, scandals, and controversies throughout the history of the genre. Heroes, con artists, murderers, and a myriad of shady characters have played a role in a sport with a very complex narrative. Ricky Steamboat is a real-life baby face, Kevin Nash really is one of the coolest dudes in wrestling, and Hulk Hogan eventually proved that his public persona was a marketing scam. John Cena is a real-life super hero to millions, and The Ultimate Warrior wasn't.

At this point, nothing should be surprising when it comes to the business that originated from the carnival circuit, but I have to say, I was shocked at the rumor mill news a few months ago that the WWE, the biggest and most influential pro wrestling organization in the history of the sport, might be sold to the Saudi Arabian government. On the surface, this seems impossible, how could the WWE,be sold to a foreign government that is often criticized for its human rights violations and compared to a dictatorship?

The erroneous tweets that caused an uproar in recent months brought the topic into the conversation, as it continues to look very possible that the WWE will be sold. With the company being public, there are several hurdles that must be cleared before it can be sold so it's quite literally not a process that can happen overnight, even if Vince would prefer that type of swerve for Wall Street.

The possibility of a sale was back in the headlines recently when it was reported that sports entertainment kingpin, Vince McMahon, who strong-armed his way back onto the board of directors after accusations of misconduct sent him into a brief retirement, looks to ask for $9 billion for his organization. This is a drastic increase from the six billion that some analysts speculated the promotion could be sold for when the potential sale was originally discussed.

So, what's the point of all of this and is it possible that the organization will actually be sold?

As I wrote at the time of the initial reports that the WWE hired the JP Morgan firm to help with sale negotiations, it's very possible that all of the talk of a sale was a smoke screen for Vince to get himself back in the organization after he was ousted for the accusations of misconduct. However, considering that since he's still the majority shareholder, he had the power to return the entire time anyway so what does he accomplish if the sale talk is a bluff?

As we know, Vince told the board in writing late last year that he wouldn't approve of a new television deal or any sale of the company if he wasn't directly involved. The reason that the WWE continues to tout record-setting profits is because of its TV deals, as well as the Peacock deal so without the ability to negotiate for a new television contract, it would theoretically put the corporation in a scenario where it wouldn't have a platform to air its programming in the United States.

There's definitely a possibility that Vince increased his asking price to realistically eliminate any buyers. There are only logically a few corporate entities that have the capital and the funding to make such a purchase. With the company originally discussed at the six billion price point, the jump to $9 billion limits the list of buyers even more. Comcast was and still is the buyer that I think will end up with the company if it's actually sold. Raw is too valuable to the USA Network and they are already paying massive rights fees for the broadcast rights for the Monday night show and the WWE Network on Peacock. If Comcast, through the NBC umbrella makes the buy, they don't have to invest just to get the show on their channel, but can attempt to fully monetize it through the different networks and streaming platforms of the corporation. However, that's just my two cents, as more recent reports suggested that Comcast wouldn't look to invest billions to own the WWE, and this was before the price hike.

I wrote previously that Disney, with it's expansive collection of media properties, including ABC, ESPN, and other avenues could theoretically be a player in the sale, but with the recent shake-up of Disney management, which saw Bob Chapek get the boot after just two years as CEO, the company has much bigger problems than adding pro wrestling to it's line-up. In fact, Chapek was initially set to be the successor to the CEO position, but after two years of dismissal numbers, including massive flops that lost money for the Disney streaming service, former CEO, Bob Iger was asked to return as the CEO. The 72-year-old Iger worked as the top executive for Disney for 15 years before he retired, and only agreed to return for two years to help set up the next successor for the job. So, again, Disney has much bigger problems to tackle than an investment in pro wrestling.

If Comcast and Disney aren't buyers, that leaves Fox or Endeavor, the parent company of the UFC. This is where the dynamics of the media industry play such a key role in the possible sale of WWE. As we've seen more recently, the streaming bubble is finally deflating and thus media corporations aren't as willing to invest as much money at the moment, especially when there are streaming platforms that have lost money. When the production of a series has a certain cost, it depends on a specific amount of subscribers to remain customers of a service for a specific amount of time to cover those costs. If a specific series doesn't generate new subscribers or maintain them, the platform still has to provide new content to its current customers to maintain its subscriber base.

How many corporations are realistically going to invest $9 billion to buy the WWE in the current market?

During an earning call for stockholders, Endeavor CEO,. Ari Emmanuel praised the WWE's success, but mentioned that the corporation wouldn't look to make a purchase. Again, Fox would technically be a possible buy because of its hefty investment into the rights of Smackdown, but some analysts have reported that the network might actually lose money on the blue brand this year. This is where the question of if Vince really looks to sale could determine the next move for WWE. Since networks were willing to pay more for content a few years ago with the increased competition for viewers that went along with so many streaming options, the WWE landed the massive TV deals. As mentioned, the streaming bubble is deflating and when there are less streaming options, there will naturally be less competition for viewers so networks won't have to pay nearly as much for content with an established fan base that they did before. If Vince knows that the company would have to take a major pay cut for its next TV contract, he might look to sell the company before the climate of the TV industry decreases the value of WWE programming.

If he can cash out for a few billion dollars, that's a smart business move. But, I honestly doubt that he pushed his way back onto the board just to sale the company. As the majority shareholder, he would be set for a major payoff when they company is sold, regardless if he's on the board of directors or not. We know that Vince dedicated his entire life to his company and the stories of his ridiculous work schedule as the owner are well-documented in many interviews in recent years. Vince is probably going to die in the chair as CEO before he's going to play golf in Stamford. If McMahon was ever going to retire to life outside of the wrestling business, he would've done in when he left the organization last July.

The $9 billion price tag might be the "I don't want to sell it" price, but a number that Vince couldn't turn down because its significantly more than the company is valued at right now. If I had to guess, and this is a complete guess, considering the Freud would end up on the couch if he tried to figure out Vince McMahon, I think the $9 billion price is more or less a way for McMahon to maintain control of the company. Ironically, the Saudi government would probably be the only realistic buyer at that price because of the obscene amount of money the government has from the oil industry. As erroneous as the initial tweet was a few months ago that the Saudis bought WWE, it might end up being the only way someone other than Vince owns the company. Keep in mind, not only would a corporation have to invest billions to make the purchase, but there would have to be some realistic expectation of how there would be a return on the investment to make an eventual profit from the purchase. A five-year deal for the rights to Smackdown brought the company $1 billion, even when you add Raw and the WWE Network into the equation, it might take a corporation at least two decades to generate $9 billion in profits from WWE.