Timing is everything.
When a combination of diverticulitis and right hands from other heavyweights led to Brock Lesnar's retirement from mixed martial arts, WWE brass jumped on the opportunity to bring him back to the sports entertainment world in 2012. The former NCAA national champion was recruited directly from the amateur ranks and given a meteoric push to the top of the card, winning the WWE championship less than six months after his debut on television in 2002. Just two years after he stormed onto the scene on Raw, Brock was tired of the travel involved with the WWE schedule and abruptly quit.
His sports entertainment name value made him an instant commodity for the Ultimate Fighting Championship in 2008, and UFC kingpin, Dana White promoted him as a beast, despite a lack of fundamental striking skills. Eventually, Lesnar's novice striking and aversion to punches in the face led to his UFC exit, but his time in the octagon gave him a renewed hype for sports entertainment.
Timing is everything.
A former UFC Heavyweight champion when he returned to the squared circle, Brock had much negotiating power, and perhaps Vince McMahon was a little too generous with the offer that made Lesnar among the highest paid performers on the roster with an extremely limited schedule. Plus, Brock was allowed outside sponsorship, something that CM Punk asked for prior to his departure, but was denied.
Since Lesnar's original return to the WWE, he signed to renew his deal on a few occasions, including his current contract that runs until Wrestlemania of next year. There was a lot of debate as to weather WWE brass relied too often on part-timers to boost its major cards. Along with that, the debate continued as to the "opportunity cost" of a part-time champion. At nearly 40, is Brock really worth the investment of the top spot on the card instead of younger talent to build toward the future?
Just a few weeks ago, troubled UFC light heavyweight, Jon Jones returned to the octagon from his second career suspension, stemming from a positive test prior to UFC 200 in July of last year. Jones, one of the most athletically gifted competitors to fight in the octagon, had a laundry list of legal problems before he reclaimed his 205 LBS title at UFC 214. While "Bones" won via stoppage in the third round, there were varying opinions about if his opponent, Daniel Cormier had won the first two rounds. I'd say it's too early to proclaim that Jon Jones is back in top form, but he immediately put the spotlight on himself. Post-fight, after he gave credit to his opponent, "Bones" challenged Brock Lesnar to an MMA bout.
Timing is everything.
Lesnar, who returned for a one-off appearance to fight Mark Hunt last year, was suspended for a positive PED test after the contest. Brock, still under a WWE contract, accepted the Nevada State Athletic Commission suspension and didn't appeal their decision. Instead, he announced his mixed martial arts retirement earlier this year, which froze his suspension and removed his name from the USADA testing pool. While it's theoretically possible for the WWE Universal champion to be eligible to compete in mixed martial arts again, the retirement and suspension make the situation a little murky. Before a potential Jones fight would be an option, Lesnar would have to enroll in the USADA testing pool again and sit on the sidelines for the five months that remain on his suspension. During that time, he would be subject to random USADA testing, and a positive out-of-competition test could derail any plans to return to the UFC.
However, this Jon Jones challenge gives Brock leverage when his WWE deal expires. The two promotions worked a deal previously, and more specifically, the entire Lesnar career path was mutually beneficial to both companies. Make no mistake, "Bones" Jones wouldn't have made the challenge unless Dana White had some indication that Brock wanted to fight again. Plus, this isn't the first time that Brock used the UFC as a bargaining chip with the WWE, as rumors swirled right before he signed his most recent extension. Conveniently, he appeared on ESPN the week before Wrestlemania 31 to announce his "official" retirement from MMA before he revealed that he signed another WWE deal. Of course, when the money was right, Brock returned to the cage for the previously mentioned one-off to fight Mark Hunt. The point being, there's a pattern here so these Jon Jones headlines shouldn't surprise fans.
Right now, there's probably a 50/50 chance that Brock Lesnar puts on the gloves again, mostly because of all the prior hurdles already mentioned. The weight class won't be a problem because anything over 205 LBS is considered a heavyweight fight and Jones cuts down to make light heavyweight so it's not that much of a stretch for him to fight in the heavyweight division. If these two sign to fight in the octagon, "Bones" will probably dominate Brock. Jones has the reach to land punches before Lesnar could attempt a take down, and if the Universal champion gets the chance to go for a take down, Jones has some of the best take down defense in the UFC. Plus, let's not forget that Lesnar's success in the UFC was at a time when the heavyweight division was at a relative low point, and when the level of competition improved, he was defeated. Don't get me wrong, that's not an attempt to take anything away from his accomplishments, but the reality is, Lesnar is a mostly one dimensional fighter, while Jones defeated world class competition. Regardless of Lesnar's weight advantage, he has a limited skill set in MMA, but Jon Jones is one of the most well rounded athletes in the history of the sport, which tells the story of how a potential contest would probably go if a contract is signed.
Let's be clear, this is a win-win situation for Brock Lesnar. Either he uses the combat sport alternative as a way to get more money from WWE or he returns to the cage for a major money fight before he retires back to his farm. For anyone that disagrees with his negotiating tactics, you can't really blame Brock for trying to get as much money as possible. Considering the major pay checks that he earned the past decade, there's no reason to expect him to compete into his mid-40s. That said, if he does plan to compete to that age, WWE would be the realistic option at that point so if he is going to fight again, this would be the last chance for him to do it. That being said, there's easy money on the table for him to continue to work for the WWE, but again, money talks and it's a matter of the amount of money each company offers that will determine his future plans.
Tuesday, August 8, 2017
Thursday, August 3, 2017
Tremont vs. Onita
In September of 1981, a wild brawl took place in Tupelo, MS, the same place where Jerry Lawler and Bill Dundee battled The Blond Bombers in the historic "Tupelo concession stand brawl" two years earlier. Similar to the original concession stand confrontation, blood flowed as nachos, hotdogs, and right hands were swung during the mayhem in 1981. This time, it was Ricky Morton and Eddie Gilbert clashing with Masa Fuchi and Atsushi Onita, two of the standout talents from All Japan Pro Wrestling. Fuchi and Onita worked the territory as apart of their excursion, a Japanese wrestling traditional that sends athletes with the most potential around the world to learn different styles before they return to their native country as more polished performers.
When Onita returned to All Japan, he resumed his status as one of the top Jr. heavyweights in the promotion. However, the high risk aerial style took its toll on him, causing a series of very serious knee injuries that put his career in jeopardy. In early 1985, Onita was forced to retired from the sport, ending a decade of performances that made him a recognizable name during a very popular era for the wrestling genre in Japan.
In many ways, Atsushi Onita had two completely different careers. He resurfaced on the scene over three years later, taking that time to heal from the injuries that many assumed had ended his career. The following year, he founded his own promotion, but it was very different from the athletic contests that he was known for previously. Ironically, Onita borrowed a page from the action he saw in Memphis to create a new genre, and in the process, alter the entire direction of the industry.
In 1989, Onita founded Frontier Martial Arts Wrestling, renegade promotion that was completely different from anything the country had witnessed at the time. Over the next few years, FMW became extremely popular with matches that featured barbed wire, explosions, and fire, peaking with a draw of over 40,000 fans for its fourth anniversary show when Onita fought Terry Funk in an exploding barbed wire match in 1993. That same year, Nintendo released an FMW video game, an indication that the once underground death match scene was recognized as a main stream success. Post-match, Onita often took the mic and delivered emotional speeches with tears in his eyes while blood continued to stream down his face. After the leader of FMW threw down the microphone in triumph to conclude the show, fans rushed toward the ring, reaching through the ropes for the chance to briefly shake hands with the death match icon. Even with his wrist tape covered in a mixture of blood and ash, fans clamored to tag the scarred hands of the Japanese gladiator. Undoubtedly, Atshushi Onita reached mythical status.
A young manager, Paul Heyman borrowed often from the blue print that FMW crafted when he guided Extreme Championship Wrestling during a revolution that changed the presentation of sports entertainment in the United States.
Onita retired once again in 1995, only to return a short time later, which led to the fans calling him "Mr. Liar" after an emotional retirement tour led to what was supposed to be a definitive conclusion. Throughout the years, controversy followed Onita, both for his business practices and a scandal outside of the ring. He left FMW in 1998, and the company collapsed less than four years later after the legendary Hayabusa, an amazing athlete that carried the organization on his back, was tragically paralyzed after a botched moonsault. The late Hayabusa kept his promise to the fans when he walked into the ring during the FMW relaunch in 2015, a year before his tragic death at the age of 47.
Outside of FMW, Onita worked as a freelancer, retiring several more times before he was back to wrestle again. Despite the backlash from his almost immediate return to the squared circle from FMW fans, his charismatic and risk-taking style provided other opportunities. In 1999, he worked a series of matches for New Japan Pro Wrestling, culminating in a pair of exploding barbed wire matches against Chono and Muta, drawing over 60,000 and 48,000 fans for each bout respectively. He won a Japanese Senate seat in 2001, but a scandal prompted his exit from politics. Still, his popularity remained and a political video game was released. In more recent years, Onita continued to draw crowds for a variety of promotions, including Zero-1, All Japan, NOAH, and independent groups, as well as promoting his own cards.
Similar to how FMW influenced ECW, the South Philadelphia-based promotion inspired an entire generation of wrestlers to pursue the sport. During the early 2000s, the American independent circuit began to feature death matches, a style pioneered by Onita, more often, and saw groups such as Combat Zone Wrestling find a niche for themselves. As CZW grew, many risk-taking competitors made a name for themselves and generated a fan following.
One such grappler is Matt Tremont, a pro for nearly 11 years that dreamed of becoming a professional wrestler after he saw CZW tapes as a youth. Through a series of bloody battles, dangerous falls, and an admirable passion for the sport, Tremont has achieved the status of the death match icons that he idolized. A former CZW Heavyweight champion, Tremont achieved many of the goals he set for himself, and even launched other projects, including "Bulldozer's Collectiables," a wrestling superstore in Berlin, NJ.
This Saturday, for the first time in decades, Atsushi Onita will have an official match in the United States against Matt Tremont, a contest that fans of the genre consider a dream match. The influence and draw to Onita wrestling a death match in America is not a new concept. In fact, other promotions tried to make it happen, but it never materialized. Onita made a one-off appearance at the ECW Arena to set up a bout with The Sandman in 1998 as apart of the talent exchange that saw some extreme originals work Japan, and allowed Tanaka to have an incredible series of matches with Mike Awesome in the United States. Rob Black, the founder of XPW that eventually served prison time for digressions related to his adult film company, scheduled Onita vs. Sabu for a match that never took place. Combat Zone Wrestling is the only company that will feature Onita wrestling in a death match in America.
"A Lot of logistically work to get Onita and his crew here. I did the early work and he responded. I know it's been a lot of communication and work on DJ Hyde's part. So, a lot of the work and credit goes to him to make this match and event happen among others as well that have helped tremendously," Tremont explained.
A road map of scars decorate the forehead of the man known as "The Bulldozer," and within the past few years, his profile gave him opportunities to work many different areas, including a tour of Mexico earlier this year. Despite his extensive resume, Tremont still wanted to work with the athlete that created the genre. He was fascinated with the wild brawls in FMW since he originally watched the action on a bootleg VHS tape that he found in a random box at a flea market during his youth.
"I have been fortunate enough to accomplish a lot in my almost 11 years in the business. This match and event is my biggest and means a lot to me personally. It doesn't get any bigger than this. In my opinion, this is the biggest CZW event of the year, very historically for many reasons. I'm excited. Onita in my eyes and in my opinion started it all. I know elsewhere as well, but has far as raising the bar and the violent matches and stories they were telling , Onita and FMW were number one."
Hundreds of tickets are already sold, and fans are traveling from several states away to see the legendary grappler live. Considering the legacy of Onita, and the passion for ultraviolence that Tremont brings to the ring, part of the intrigue for this match is what will happen when these two share the squared circle.
"Expect blood, violence, and a memorable evening. On top of Onita and I, there is a stacked card as well. In my opinion, this is CZW best card of this year and can be bigger than any TOD or COD. I look forward to a packed Skate Zone in Voorhees, NJ and fans from around the world enjoying it live on the Highspots network," Tremont said.
After a career that spans over four decades and a collection of scars that zigzag his entire body, Onita maintains an aura of an icon in professional wrestling, both in his native country and America. This Saturday, legendary Japanese veteran collides with one of the hardest working athletes in independent wrestling today for an ultraviolent dream match.
For more information, you can go to czwrestling.com
When Onita returned to All Japan, he resumed his status as one of the top Jr. heavyweights in the promotion. However, the high risk aerial style took its toll on him, causing a series of very serious knee injuries that put his career in jeopardy. In early 1985, Onita was forced to retired from the sport, ending a decade of performances that made him a recognizable name during a very popular era for the wrestling genre in Japan.
In many ways, Atsushi Onita had two completely different careers. He resurfaced on the scene over three years later, taking that time to heal from the injuries that many assumed had ended his career. The following year, he founded his own promotion, but it was very different from the athletic contests that he was known for previously. Ironically, Onita borrowed a page from the action he saw in Memphis to create a new genre, and in the process, alter the entire direction of the industry.
In 1989, Onita founded Frontier Martial Arts Wrestling, renegade promotion that was completely different from anything the country had witnessed at the time. Over the next few years, FMW became extremely popular with matches that featured barbed wire, explosions, and fire, peaking with a draw of over 40,000 fans for its fourth anniversary show when Onita fought Terry Funk in an exploding barbed wire match in 1993. That same year, Nintendo released an FMW video game, an indication that the once underground death match scene was recognized as a main stream success. Post-match, Onita often took the mic and delivered emotional speeches with tears in his eyes while blood continued to stream down his face. After the leader of FMW threw down the microphone in triumph to conclude the show, fans rushed toward the ring, reaching through the ropes for the chance to briefly shake hands with the death match icon. Even with his wrist tape covered in a mixture of blood and ash, fans clamored to tag the scarred hands of the Japanese gladiator. Undoubtedly, Atshushi Onita reached mythical status.
A young manager, Paul Heyman borrowed often from the blue print that FMW crafted when he guided Extreme Championship Wrestling during a revolution that changed the presentation of sports entertainment in the United States.
Onita retired once again in 1995, only to return a short time later, which led to the fans calling him "Mr. Liar" after an emotional retirement tour led to what was supposed to be a definitive conclusion. Throughout the years, controversy followed Onita, both for his business practices and a scandal outside of the ring. He left FMW in 1998, and the company collapsed less than four years later after the legendary Hayabusa, an amazing athlete that carried the organization on his back, was tragically paralyzed after a botched moonsault. The late Hayabusa kept his promise to the fans when he walked into the ring during the FMW relaunch in 2015, a year before his tragic death at the age of 47.
Outside of FMW, Onita worked as a freelancer, retiring several more times before he was back to wrestle again. Despite the backlash from his almost immediate return to the squared circle from FMW fans, his charismatic and risk-taking style provided other opportunities. In 1999, he worked a series of matches for New Japan Pro Wrestling, culminating in a pair of exploding barbed wire matches against Chono and Muta, drawing over 60,000 and 48,000 fans for each bout respectively. He won a Japanese Senate seat in 2001, but a scandal prompted his exit from politics. Still, his popularity remained and a political video game was released. In more recent years, Onita continued to draw crowds for a variety of promotions, including Zero-1, All Japan, NOAH, and independent groups, as well as promoting his own cards.
Similar to how FMW influenced ECW, the South Philadelphia-based promotion inspired an entire generation of wrestlers to pursue the sport. During the early 2000s, the American independent circuit began to feature death matches, a style pioneered by Onita, more often, and saw groups such as Combat Zone Wrestling find a niche for themselves. As CZW grew, many risk-taking competitors made a name for themselves and generated a fan following.
One such grappler is Matt Tremont, a pro for nearly 11 years that dreamed of becoming a professional wrestler after he saw CZW tapes as a youth. Through a series of bloody battles, dangerous falls, and an admirable passion for the sport, Tremont has achieved the status of the death match icons that he idolized. A former CZW Heavyweight champion, Tremont achieved many of the goals he set for himself, and even launched other projects, including "Bulldozer's Collectiables," a wrestling superstore in Berlin, NJ.
This Saturday, for the first time in decades, Atsushi Onita will have an official match in the United States against Matt Tremont, a contest that fans of the genre consider a dream match. The influence and draw to Onita wrestling a death match in America is not a new concept. In fact, other promotions tried to make it happen, but it never materialized. Onita made a one-off appearance at the ECW Arena to set up a bout with The Sandman in 1998 as apart of the talent exchange that saw some extreme originals work Japan, and allowed Tanaka to have an incredible series of matches with Mike Awesome in the United States. Rob Black, the founder of XPW that eventually served prison time for digressions related to his adult film company, scheduled Onita vs. Sabu for a match that never took place. Combat Zone Wrestling is the only company that will feature Onita wrestling in a death match in America.
"A Lot of logistically work to get Onita and his crew here. I did the early work and he responded. I know it's been a lot of communication and work on DJ Hyde's part. So, a lot of the work and credit goes to him to make this match and event happen among others as well that have helped tremendously," Tremont explained.
A road map of scars decorate the forehead of the man known as "The Bulldozer," and within the past few years, his profile gave him opportunities to work many different areas, including a tour of Mexico earlier this year. Despite his extensive resume, Tremont still wanted to work with the athlete that created the genre. He was fascinated with the wild brawls in FMW since he originally watched the action on a bootleg VHS tape that he found in a random box at a flea market during his youth.
"I have been fortunate enough to accomplish a lot in my almost 11 years in the business. This match and event is my biggest and means a lot to me personally. It doesn't get any bigger than this. In my opinion, this is the biggest CZW event of the year, very historically for many reasons. I'm excited. Onita in my eyes and in my opinion started it all. I know elsewhere as well, but has far as raising the bar and the violent matches and stories they were telling , Onita and FMW were number one."
Hundreds of tickets are already sold, and fans are traveling from several states away to see the legendary grappler live. Considering the legacy of Onita, and the passion for ultraviolence that Tremont brings to the ring, part of the intrigue for this match is what will happen when these two share the squared circle.
"Expect blood, violence, and a memorable evening. On top of Onita and I, there is a stacked card as well. In my opinion, this is CZW best card of this year and can be bigger than any TOD or COD. I look forward to a packed Skate Zone in Voorhees, NJ and fans from around the world enjoying it live on the Highspots network," Tremont said.
After a career that spans over four decades and a collection of scars that zigzag his entire body, Onita maintains an aura of an icon in professional wrestling, both in his native country and America. This Saturday, legendary Japanese veteran collides with one of the hardest working athletes in independent wrestling today for an ultraviolent dream match.
For more information, you can go to czwrestling.com
Friday, July 28, 2017
Daniel Cormier vs. Jon Jones
Tomorrow night, UFC 214 will take place at the Honda Center in Anaheim, CA with a stacked card, featuring three title fights. This night of mixed martial arts action will have championship ramifications, and effect the overall direction of some careers as well.
At the top of the card, a grudge match between Daniel Cormier and Jon Jones for the UFC Light Heavyweight championship, a rematch two and a half years in the making. Jones, the troubled former champion, won the title from the legendary Shogun Rua at the age of just 23 years old. Since that victory in 2011, "Bones" Jones made more headlines outside of the cage than he did in the ring. With a laundry list of arrests and drug violations, the details of every incident would be too lengthy to discuss entirely in this article. Most recently, Jones did zero in his UFC career as he was suspended for a year after it was announced just days before a scheduled Cormier rematch at UFC 200 that he tested positive for a banned substances, which was his second suspension after he tested positive for cocaine following a bout in January of 2015. With Jones' positive test, Anderson Silva stepped in to fight Cormier as a late replacement for UFC 200, a bout that DC won via unanimous decision. Still, many considered the Jones/Cormier feud unresolved, despite the fact that "Bones" wasn't eligible to fight again until his suspension expired.
The last time Jon Jones was inside the octagon, he defeated Ovince Saint Preux via decision and looked to have a lot of ring rust in April of last year. The general consensus after the score cards awarded him the interim title, a belt he was later stripped of because of the positive test, was that the Jones that fought OSP wouldn't be able to defeat Cormier. So, there's much speculation as to what version of "Bones" Jones will show up this Saturday
At the time that Jones' legal woes unfolded, I penned a column that utilized a quote from the underrated classic film, "A Bronx Tale." Robert De Niro plays the father of a youth that idolizes a local mafia boss brilliantly portrayed by Chazz Palminteri. The film takes place during the tension of the 1960s, and Calogero receives useful advice, both from his hard working father and the neighborhood kingpin. De Niro's character cautions his son with wise words that become the theme of the film, "the saddest thing in life is wasted talent."
That quote can be applied to Jon Jones. Sadly, Jones is known more for incidents outside of the octagon than the amazing athletic talent that he has in the sport. At 30, he already spent a few years of his prime suspended for drug violations or in court for legal problems. When he originally won the 205 LBS championship, it looked as though he would become the next Anderson Silva, a tremendous champion that set records in the UFC. However, he is now one more positive test away from possibly the end of his MMA career. A multiple year suspension for another violation would logistically take him out of the conversation as a top star for the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
The result of this 205 LBS contest, and more specifically, the performances that Jon Jones displays will be an indication of his mixed martial arts future. A lackluster effort could reveal that his best days are behind him, while a dynamic win would rejuvenate his career. Either way, let's make it extremely clear, Jon Jones has nobody to blame but himself for this situation.
As for the fight itself, the key will be, what "Bones" Jones arrives in the octagon? Assuming that the former champion shows up ready to fight, it will be difficult to beat him. The reach and most importantly, the ability to properly use that reach gives him a tremendous advantage against opponents.
At 38, Cormier is definitely at the latter stages of his career, but his extensive amateur wrestling background might extend his career because of the exceptional conditioning involved with the amateur background. The point being, DC undoubtedly has enough left in the tank to win this contest. With a record of 19-1, the only blemish a defeat in the original Jones bout, Cormier had a relatively late start in MMA, transitioning to the cage after the 2008 Olympics. All things considered, he probably doesn't get the credit he deserves for the record he quietly assembled since he began fighting in 2009. A win against "Bones" Jones avenges his only loss and puts him on course to be considered among the elite at the conclusion of his career. Assuming that DC racks up a few more wins, when he retires it might allow him to reach legendary status in the Light Heavyweight division. At the same time, the former Olympic grappler might surprise everyone and fight for another five years. Either way, the opportunity to avenge his only defeat and settle the score with Jones could determine the perception of his legacy, especially because he became the UFC Light Heavyweight champion without beating Jon Jones to win it.
I don't think Cormier will be able to stop Jones so the best strategy will probably be to use his wrestling skills to win a decision. That philosophy will test Jones' cardio and it will be interesting to see if he will be effective in the later rounds. If Jones is in top form, he could use his striking and take down defense to win on the score cards. I will pick Jones to win via decision, but again the key to this bout is if Jon Jones shows up ready to fight. If Jones wins the title, it will be interesting to see if he can avoid the pitfalls that derailed his career a few years ago and actually add to his accomplishments in the UFC.
At the top of the card, a grudge match between Daniel Cormier and Jon Jones for the UFC Light Heavyweight championship, a rematch two and a half years in the making. Jones, the troubled former champion, won the title from the legendary Shogun Rua at the age of just 23 years old. Since that victory in 2011, "Bones" Jones made more headlines outside of the cage than he did in the ring. With a laundry list of arrests and drug violations, the details of every incident would be too lengthy to discuss entirely in this article. Most recently, Jones did zero in his UFC career as he was suspended for a year after it was announced just days before a scheduled Cormier rematch at UFC 200 that he tested positive for a banned substances, which was his second suspension after he tested positive for cocaine following a bout in January of 2015. With Jones' positive test, Anderson Silva stepped in to fight Cormier as a late replacement for UFC 200, a bout that DC won via unanimous decision. Still, many considered the Jones/Cormier feud unresolved, despite the fact that "Bones" wasn't eligible to fight again until his suspension expired.
The last time Jon Jones was inside the octagon, he defeated Ovince Saint Preux via decision and looked to have a lot of ring rust in April of last year. The general consensus after the score cards awarded him the interim title, a belt he was later stripped of because of the positive test, was that the Jones that fought OSP wouldn't be able to defeat Cormier. So, there's much speculation as to what version of "Bones" Jones will show up this Saturday
At the time that Jones' legal woes unfolded, I penned a column that utilized a quote from the underrated classic film, "A Bronx Tale." Robert De Niro plays the father of a youth that idolizes a local mafia boss brilliantly portrayed by Chazz Palminteri. The film takes place during the tension of the 1960s, and Calogero receives useful advice, both from his hard working father and the neighborhood kingpin. De Niro's character cautions his son with wise words that become the theme of the film, "the saddest thing in life is wasted talent."
That quote can be applied to Jon Jones. Sadly, Jones is known more for incidents outside of the octagon than the amazing athletic talent that he has in the sport. At 30, he already spent a few years of his prime suspended for drug violations or in court for legal problems. When he originally won the 205 LBS championship, it looked as though he would become the next Anderson Silva, a tremendous champion that set records in the UFC. However, he is now one more positive test away from possibly the end of his MMA career. A multiple year suspension for another violation would logistically take him out of the conversation as a top star for the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
The result of this 205 LBS contest, and more specifically, the performances that Jon Jones displays will be an indication of his mixed martial arts future. A lackluster effort could reveal that his best days are behind him, while a dynamic win would rejuvenate his career. Either way, let's make it extremely clear, Jon Jones has nobody to blame but himself for this situation.
As for the fight itself, the key will be, what "Bones" Jones arrives in the octagon? Assuming that the former champion shows up ready to fight, it will be difficult to beat him. The reach and most importantly, the ability to properly use that reach gives him a tremendous advantage against opponents.
At 38, Cormier is definitely at the latter stages of his career, but his extensive amateur wrestling background might extend his career because of the exceptional conditioning involved with the amateur background. The point being, DC undoubtedly has enough left in the tank to win this contest. With a record of 19-1, the only blemish a defeat in the original Jones bout, Cormier had a relatively late start in MMA, transitioning to the cage after the 2008 Olympics. All things considered, he probably doesn't get the credit he deserves for the record he quietly assembled since he began fighting in 2009. A win against "Bones" Jones avenges his only loss and puts him on course to be considered among the elite at the conclusion of his career. Assuming that DC racks up a few more wins, when he retires it might allow him to reach legendary status in the Light Heavyweight division. At the same time, the former Olympic grappler might surprise everyone and fight for another five years. Either way, the opportunity to avenge his only defeat and settle the score with Jones could determine the perception of his legacy, especially because he became the UFC Light Heavyweight champion without beating Jon Jones to win it.
I don't think Cormier will be able to stop Jones so the best strategy will probably be to use his wrestling skills to win a decision. That philosophy will test Jones' cardio and it will be interesting to see if he will be effective in the later rounds. If Jones is in top form, he could use his striking and take down defense to win on the score cards. I will pick Jones to win via decision, but again the key to this bout is if Jon Jones shows up ready to fight. If Jones wins the title, it will be interesting to see if he can avoid the pitfalls that derailed his career a few years ago and actually add to his accomplishments in the UFC.
Friday, July 21, 2017
The Battleground pay-per-view
There was a time when pay-per-views shaped the structure and destination of angles. However, similar to how the WWE Network changed the dynamic of the PPV business, the streaming service also changed how these premium shows are booked.
During the boom of the late 90s, Eric Bischoff pushed Vince McMahon to offer pay-per-view on a monthly basis, which worked because the popularity of the business fueled buy rates. Truth be told, I thought even once a month was a little too frequent for PPV shows, but WWE brass made it work. In 2004, management tried to occasional run two of these shows within a month for a few years, but eventually decided to return to the standard format. I don't want to sound too pessimistic, but the entire point of the concept is a "special event" that is worth paying to watch. Therefore, the more events there are, the less "special" each individual event is. Of course, there are exceptions, but that's mostly because of the history of certain events, not necessarily the card assembled.
But, the WWE network changed the entire distribution of pay-per-view so there's not directly a "selling point" for each show since the pitch to subscribe to the service is the entire network with the extensive video library content. Still, content is what fuels the network so running more PPV events theoretically gives the perception of added value for a subscription. That being said, the downside of that ideology is that rushing these shows or too many of them lead to either lackluster cards or they blend together so that nothing really stands out. It might sound counter productive, but it almost seems like there's too much content for fans to realistically follow and many competitors get lost in the shuffle. An elevated platform or a "special event" is an opportunity to get talent over as a bigger star so without shows that seem like big events, there's less of an opportunity to push talent to the next level in an attempt to create more money-drawing stars.
A pay-per-view every two weeks just isn't a logical way to get angles over with the audience. It also leads to less of a build up for storylines or sometimes a lack of depth on the card because of the brand extension. If there weren't so many PPVs, the writing team wouldn't be put into a corner to book a card simply because a show is on the schedule. If anything, rotating monthly events between Raw and Smackdown could give the writing team sufficient time to book meaningful cards for PPVs.
This predicament of the scramble to book another pay-per-view card makes Battleground an already mostly irrelevant show.
What will really get resolved at Battleground? What meaningful results will there be? What matches are scheduled that fans want to see? Both Aiden English and Tye Dillinger talented, but they are portrayed as jobbers or have lesser status on the brand so how exactly is this match supposed to be perceived as important?
There are also a few lukewarm matches that resemble more of a weekly Smackdown bout than a rivalry for pay-per-view. The tag team title match should be decent in terms of the in-ring action, but the tacky "rap battle" skits did nothing to add steam to the feud.
The Mike Kanellis vs. Sami Zayn match is the same category for a different reason. The former ROH star known as Mike Bennett was touted as an athlete with the potential to be a major star, which might be the case, but this particular match-up won't do much for either competitor. Battleground is Kanellis' first pay-per-view match so he will probably get the win, which makes sense to establish a fresh face on the brand, but Heath Slater or Curt Hawkins would be a better choice as an opponent. For whatever reason, WWE management has yet to see the value of Sami Zayn and despite his ability to identify with the audience, he continues to be stuck in the lower mid-card of the brand. The social media age and the state of the industry allows fans to be aware of the ability of the writing team to decide the status of their favorite stars, and there's a platform for them to voice their opinion. Granted, social media probably has more of a negative effect of the industry than anything, but the point is, the fans can see when the marketing machine allows an athlete to flounder. However, Sam Zayn undoubtedly has the talent to work the main event scene so this Kanellis match-up almost creates a disappointment when the fans see Zayn being used simply to put others over.
Despite Rusev's return, the flag match with John Cena has no momentum behind it. These two had an extensive feud a few years ago, including a match at Wrestlemania so it seems very repetitive to book it again. In fact, the entire angle just has a "been there, done that" atmosphere to it. If this angle is being used to push John Cena strong for his return after a few months off, why? He's John Cena and reached a level that he will always be completely over with the audience. Cena could take a year off or lose every match for the rest of his career and he would still be one of the most over performers on the roster. This goes back to the question, what will really get resolved here? John Cena stands up for America? That score was settled two years ago with the previously mentioned Wrestlemania match.
After the MITB debacle and the fact that Carmella has the briefcase, there doesn't seem to be much of a reason for a women's number one contender match. Plus, a five-way match is difficult to book and might be a sloppy presentation.
As for as in-ring performance, the AJ/Owens match might steal the show, but considering that they had a match at Backlash, a match on Smackdown, and the MSG title switch, this is somewhat of a stale contest. Reportedly, AJ took the title to avoid any confusion with Jinder's foreign angle and Owens' "face of America" gimmick. So, if AJ retains the title, there's not much more that can be done with this match-up.
The Corbin/Nakamura contest might be a situation where the writing team booked themselves into somewhat of a corner. Baron Corbin won the MITB match, which appears to suggest that he will get a main event push at some point so it makes sense to book him strong going forward until the eventual cash-in for the title. Nakamura is a unique athlete with the superstar quality. The charismatic Japanese competitor has the ability to be a main event level performer, but so far, the booking has somehow minimized the momentum that he generated during his NXT run. If Corbin does the job, it's counterproductive to the eventual title push. At the same time, if Nakamura loses on pay-per-view, it will halt any momentum he has on Smackdown. The WWE might miss the boat on this talented Japanese commodity if they fumble another pivotal opportunity to truly establish him on the brand. Considering his age and the physical style he worked for the majority of his career, Nakamura should probably be established as soon as possible if management wants to maximize the profitability of his WWE career. Corbin is five years younger and does have potential, but there's no reason to rush him to the main event scene.
The main event is a Punjabi prison match, a concept that seems to stereotype the demographic that WWE brass is attempting to target, which doesn't seem like the wisest strategy. Not only is the gimmick of the match lame, the numbers would suggest that the audience doesn't anticipate another Jinder Mahal pay-per-view main event. As I said previously, it's not necessarily anything against Jinder, but rather that it's difficult to expect the audience to take this main event push seriously when he went from a jobber to the WWE champion in the span of only a few weeks. The chances of a successful (and more logical) push might've improved if Jinder was given a steady push over the span of a few months. Considering that Cena is booked for a flag match, Battleground will probably lead to a Cena vs. Mahal match at Summer Slam. The ratings for SD have declined since Jinder became champion, and since WWE's ratings have slumped across the board recently, you can expect a change in direction in an attempt to boost ratings. Keep in mind, the WWE's TV rights fee is one of the company's most lucrative revenue sources, and they certainly aren't going to want to have to take less money when they renew so improving the numbers will be a top priority within the next few months.
Is it too harsh to critique an event that hasn't happened yet? Maybe, but keep in mind, this article is based on the lack of any major selling point, not necessarily the quality of the show itself. A combination of too many PPVs, a lack of hype around angles, and some nonsensical booking doesn't really give Battleground the "must see" environment. The results won't have a major impact on the brand, and at just $9.99 a month, the WWE Network indirectly lowers the expectations of individual shows. If the results won't really effect the characters on the brand as compared to now, what exactly is the point of the event in terms of storylines? So, there's not much of a reason to tune in for Battleground, but the WWE network is only $10 a month and sometimes you get what you pay for in this situation.
During the boom of the late 90s, Eric Bischoff pushed Vince McMahon to offer pay-per-view on a monthly basis, which worked because the popularity of the business fueled buy rates. Truth be told, I thought even once a month was a little too frequent for PPV shows, but WWE brass made it work. In 2004, management tried to occasional run two of these shows within a month for a few years, but eventually decided to return to the standard format. I don't want to sound too pessimistic, but the entire point of the concept is a "special event" that is worth paying to watch. Therefore, the more events there are, the less "special" each individual event is. Of course, there are exceptions, but that's mostly because of the history of certain events, not necessarily the card assembled.
But, the WWE network changed the entire distribution of pay-per-view so there's not directly a "selling point" for each show since the pitch to subscribe to the service is the entire network with the extensive video library content. Still, content is what fuels the network so running more PPV events theoretically gives the perception of added value for a subscription. That being said, the downside of that ideology is that rushing these shows or too many of them lead to either lackluster cards or they blend together so that nothing really stands out. It might sound counter productive, but it almost seems like there's too much content for fans to realistically follow and many competitors get lost in the shuffle. An elevated platform or a "special event" is an opportunity to get talent over as a bigger star so without shows that seem like big events, there's less of an opportunity to push talent to the next level in an attempt to create more money-drawing stars.
A pay-per-view every two weeks just isn't a logical way to get angles over with the audience. It also leads to less of a build up for storylines or sometimes a lack of depth on the card because of the brand extension. If there weren't so many PPVs, the writing team wouldn't be put into a corner to book a card simply because a show is on the schedule. If anything, rotating monthly events between Raw and Smackdown could give the writing team sufficient time to book meaningful cards for PPVs.
This predicament of the scramble to book another pay-per-view card makes Battleground an already mostly irrelevant show.
What will really get resolved at Battleground? What meaningful results will there be? What matches are scheduled that fans want to see? Both Aiden English and Tye Dillinger talented, but they are portrayed as jobbers or have lesser status on the brand so how exactly is this match supposed to be perceived as important?
There are also a few lukewarm matches that resemble more of a weekly Smackdown bout than a rivalry for pay-per-view. The tag team title match should be decent in terms of the in-ring action, but the tacky "rap battle" skits did nothing to add steam to the feud.
The Mike Kanellis vs. Sami Zayn match is the same category for a different reason. The former ROH star known as Mike Bennett was touted as an athlete with the potential to be a major star, which might be the case, but this particular match-up won't do much for either competitor. Battleground is Kanellis' first pay-per-view match so he will probably get the win, which makes sense to establish a fresh face on the brand, but Heath Slater or Curt Hawkins would be a better choice as an opponent. For whatever reason, WWE management has yet to see the value of Sami Zayn and despite his ability to identify with the audience, he continues to be stuck in the lower mid-card of the brand. The social media age and the state of the industry allows fans to be aware of the ability of the writing team to decide the status of their favorite stars, and there's a platform for them to voice their opinion. Granted, social media probably has more of a negative effect of the industry than anything, but the point is, the fans can see when the marketing machine allows an athlete to flounder. However, Sam Zayn undoubtedly has the talent to work the main event scene so this Kanellis match-up almost creates a disappointment when the fans see Zayn being used simply to put others over.
Despite Rusev's return, the flag match with John Cena has no momentum behind it. These two had an extensive feud a few years ago, including a match at Wrestlemania so it seems very repetitive to book it again. In fact, the entire angle just has a "been there, done that" atmosphere to it. If this angle is being used to push John Cena strong for his return after a few months off, why? He's John Cena and reached a level that he will always be completely over with the audience. Cena could take a year off or lose every match for the rest of his career and he would still be one of the most over performers on the roster. This goes back to the question, what will really get resolved here? John Cena stands up for America? That score was settled two years ago with the previously mentioned Wrestlemania match.
After the MITB debacle and the fact that Carmella has the briefcase, there doesn't seem to be much of a reason for a women's number one contender match. Plus, a five-way match is difficult to book and might be a sloppy presentation.
As for as in-ring performance, the AJ/Owens match might steal the show, but considering that they had a match at Backlash, a match on Smackdown, and the MSG title switch, this is somewhat of a stale contest. Reportedly, AJ took the title to avoid any confusion with Jinder's foreign angle and Owens' "face of America" gimmick. So, if AJ retains the title, there's not much more that can be done with this match-up.
The Corbin/Nakamura contest might be a situation where the writing team booked themselves into somewhat of a corner. Baron Corbin won the MITB match, which appears to suggest that he will get a main event push at some point so it makes sense to book him strong going forward until the eventual cash-in for the title. Nakamura is a unique athlete with the superstar quality. The charismatic Japanese competitor has the ability to be a main event level performer, but so far, the booking has somehow minimized the momentum that he generated during his NXT run. If Corbin does the job, it's counterproductive to the eventual title push. At the same time, if Nakamura loses on pay-per-view, it will halt any momentum he has on Smackdown. The WWE might miss the boat on this talented Japanese commodity if they fumble another pivotal opportunity to truly establish him on the brand. Considering his age and the physical style he worked for the majority of his career, Nakamura should probably be established as soon as possible if management wants to maximize the profitability of his WWE career. Corbin is five years younger and does have potential, but there's no reason to rush him to the main event scene.
The main event is a Punjabi prison match, a concept that seems to stereotype the demographic that WWE brass is attempting to target, which doesn't seem like the wisest strategy. Not only is the gimmick of the match lame, the numbers would suggest that the audience doesn't anticipate another Jinder Mahal pay-per-view main event. As I said previously, it's not necessarily anything against Jinder, but rather that it's difficult to expect the audience to take this main event push seriously when he went from a jobber to the WWE champion in the span of only a few weeks. The chances of a successful (and more logical) push might've improved if Jinder was given a steady push over the span of a few months. Considering that Cena is booked for a flag match, Battleground will probably lead to a Cena vs. Mahal match at Summer Slam. The ratings for SD have declined since Jinder became champion, and since WWE's ratings have slumped across the board recently, you can expect a change in direction in an attempt to boost ratings. Keep in mind, the WWE's TV rights fee is one of the company's most lucrative revenue sources, and they certainly aren't going to want to have to take less money when they renew so improving the numbers will be a top priority within the next few months.
Is it too harsh to critique an event that hasn't happened yet? Maybe, but keep in mind, this article is based on the lack of any major selling point, not necessarily the quality of the show itself. A combination of too many PPVs, a lack of hype around angles, and some nonsensical booking doesn't really give Battleground the "must see" environment. The results won't have a major impact on the brand, and at just $9.99 a month, the WWE Network indirectly lowers the expectations of individual shows. If the results won't really effect the characters on the brand as compared to now, what exactly is the point of the event in terms of storylines? So, there's not much of a reason to tune in for Battleground, but the WWE network is only $10 a month and sometimes you get what you pay for in this situation.
Saturday, July 15, 2017
McGregor vs. Mayweather
Well, I was wrong. I'm not perfect, and I've been wrong many times before. Once, I made a wrong turn at a yield spot, I didn't think a reality TV star would become president, and I thought Stone Cold Steve Austin would win the first blood match at the King of The Ring in 1998.
But, when I penned a column a few months to explain why the super fight of Floyd Mayweather vs. Conor McGregor probably wouldn't happen, I thought it was a relatively safe assumption with valid reasoning behind it. Still, those reasons continue to be valid. "Money" Mayweather, no pun intended, was "notoriously" difficult to negotiate with during the peak of his boxing career.
However, I'm happy to say that I was wrong, and it was announced via a conference call last month that boxing's biggest star of the past decade, Floyd Mayweather has officially signed to fight MMA's biggest star today, Conor McGregor in a boxing match on August 26th at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, NV.
Floyd, a masterful defense man, garnered a professional record of 49-0 during his career, a mark that tied the undefeated steak of the legendary Rocky Marciano. Smart enough to know that a main stream persona translates to more revenue at the box office, "Money" Mayweather enjoyed the role of the villain during the second half of his career, often flaunting his wealth with an arrogant attitude. Ironically, along with the disdain that the general public had towards his brash ways, he also gained a following because of his lavish life style. Either way, it made no difference if the public paid to see him artfully dodge his opponent's punches, or wanted to see him get KO'ed, the point was, fans paid to see him fight. Unfortunately, Floyd's antics extended beyond his on-camera persona. He was charged with domestic violence several times within the past 15 years, including when he served two months in jail in 2011 after a plea bargain was made to drop the felony charges against him.
Despite those cowardly acts, he maintained a loyal fan base around his "Money Team" brand, which promotes other fighters and includes a variety of merchandise. As mentioned in the previous article, as Floyd was on pace to reach Marciano's record, pay-per-view buys for his bouts diminished, mostly because fans began to realize that Floyd carefully chose his opponents to protect his record, and weren't going to pay to watch glorified exhibition fights. In fact, Show Time actually lost money on a few of his fights prior to the Pacquiao contest because the buy rates didn't cover his hefty guarantee, which is what finally allowed the "super fight" with Manny to materialize. Despite being five years too late, the Manny/Floyd fight took place and set the all-time pay-per-view record with over 4 million buys for an estimated revenue $400 million in PPV alone. The disappointment of the "super fight" and the debacle of the aftermath was discussed previously so there's no reason to repeat that, but it undoubtedly signaled the conclusion of Floyd's mega paydays in boxing. After Manny was dropped from his HBO contract, Floyd fought Andre Berto in what was advertised as his retirement bout, drawing a dismal 350,000 buys that put it among Mayweather's lowest offering in the past decade. Clearly, the ripple effect of the Pacquiao/Mayweather contest soured many fans on the fighters that cashed in before the demand to see the fight declined.
Were there still challengers for Floyd Mayweather in boxing? Absolutely, he could've signed to fight Gennady Golovkin before he "retired" in 2015, but Triple G is regarded by many as the best pound-for-pound boxer in the sport, and that was a risk Floyd wasn't going to take.
So, why did the McGregor fight only take a few months for Floyd to sign the contract?
Mayweather stalled the Manny negotiations for years to maximize his portion of the earnings, an amount that eventually totaled more than $200 million. However, mixed martial arts is a different dynamic, and Conor McGregor is the current UFC Lightweight champion, a title he has yet to defend in the octagon. Conor is at the peak of his MMA career right now, but a devastating KO would drastically effect his drawing power to those outside of the MMA fan base. Would he continue to be a major star for the UFC? Sure, but his only losses in MMA are submissions. If a boxing fan sees a clip of McGregor KO'ed in the octagon, why would they think he has any chance in a boxing match? Conor currently has more people following his career than at any other point during his UFC run so there's no reason to jeopardize the marketability of the Floyd fight. If Conor gets KOed in the cage before he steps into the ring with Mayweather, who knows if the demand is still there from the general public?
As far as the actual bout, there's no realistic reason to expect that Conor Mcgregor will win this fight. Some naive fans might tune in thinking that his MMA background will somehow confuse the boxer, but it won't happen. In reality, I wouldn't be surprised if McGregor gets KO'ed in two rounds. Full-time professional boxers at a championship level haven't been able to defeat Floyd, and McGregor is literally an amateur in terms of boxing experience. Again, there's no realistic argument to be made that Conor can win. However, the Irishman is actually in a win-win situation. If he gets dropped to the canvas, he will do it for a record paycheck, and he doesn't even have to necessarily win the fight to leave the ring victorious. If the UFC Featherweight champion somehow makes it to the final bell against an undefeated boxing champion, the moral victory alone will elevate his status. Remember, Rocky didn't have to beat Apollo to become the hero of the film.
If Conor somehow lands a fluke punch and defeats Floyd, it will be perhaps the biggest upset in sports history. Nobody expects McGregor to win so there's really no pressure on him ahead of this bout. As the media tour kicked off this week, the spectacle began and it was incredibly entertaining to see Floyd subjected to an athlete that can verbally spare with him. Along with the hype for the fight, a somewhat bizarre story surfaced recently as well. Floyd Mayweather filed for an extension to pay taxes that he owes from 2015. The IRS filed a tax lien against him for a reported $22 million debt, which is only the latest lien against him, as he owed taxes several times in the past.
Considering the type of businessman that Floyd is and the millions he made in his career, it's almost unbelievable to think that he signed to fight the UFC champion because he needs the money. In fact, "Money" Mayweather probably has enough money to pay off the debt without any effect on his lavish life style. However, it certainly doesn't speak well in terms of smart business when a fighter that made $200 million in his last fight asks for an extension to pay a tax debt.
With a price tag of $99.99, this bout will probably rank among the top three highest selling pay-per-view events in sports history. While it's doubtful that it will exceed the record of Pacquiao/Mayweather, this clash of combat sports athletes will translate to money for everyone involved. Is this really a contest of boxing skill? No, but it's a spectacle that will be tremendously entertaining, and if there's major money on the table, it's a smart decision to make the fight happen.
But, when I penned a column a few months to explain why the super fight of Floyd Mayweather vs. Conor McGregor probably wouldn't happen, I thought it was a relatively safe assumption with valid reasoning behind it. Still, those reasons continue to be valid. "Money" Mayweather, no pun intended, was "notoriously" difficult to negotiate with during the peak of his boxing career.
However, I'm happy to say that I was wrong, and it was announced via a conference call last month that boxing's biggest star of the past decade, Floyd Mayweather has officially signed to fight MMA's biggest star today, Conor McGregor in a boxing match on August 26th at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, NV.
Floyd, a masterful defense man, garnered a professional record of 49-0 during his career, a mark that tied the undefeated steak of the legendary Rocky Marciano. Smart enough to know that a main stream persona translates to more revenue at the box office, "Money" Mayweather enjoyed the role of the villain during the second half of his career, often flaunting his wealth with an arrogant attitude. Ironically, along with the disdain that the general public had towards his brash ways, he also gained a following because of his lavish life style. Either way, it made no difference if the public paid to see him artfully dodge his opponent's punches, or wanted to see him get KO'ed, the point was, fans paid to see him fight. Unfortunately, Floyd's antics extended beyond his on-camera persona. He was charged with domestic violence several times within the past 15 years, including when he served two months in jail in 2011 after a plea bargain was made to drop the felony charges against him.
Despite those cowardly acts, he maintained a loyal fan base around his "Money Team" brand, which promotes other fighters and includes a variety of merchandise. As mentioned in the previous article, as Floyd was on pace to reach Marciano's record, pay-per-view buys for his bouts diminished, mostly because fans began to realize that Floyd carefully chose his opponents to protect his record, and weren't going to pay to watch glorified exhibition fights. In fact, Show Time actually lost money on a few of his fights prior to the Pacquiao contest because the buy rates didn't cover his hefty guarantee, which is what finally allowed the "super fight" with Manny to materialize. Despite being five years too late, the Manny/Floyd fight took place and set the all-time pay-per-view record with over 4 million buys for an estimated revenue $400 million in PPV alone. The disappointment of the "super fight" and the debacle of the aftermath was discussed previously so there's no reason to repeat that, but it undoubtedly signaled the conclusion of Floyd's mega paydays in boxing. After Manny was dropped from his HBO contract, Floyd fought Andre Berto in what was advertised as his retirement bout, drawing a dismal 350,000 buys that put it among Mayweather's lowest offering in the past decade. Clearly, the ripple effect of the Pacquiao/Mayweather contest soured many fans on the fighters that cashed in before the demand to see the fight declined.
Were there still challengers for Floyd Mayweather in boxing? Absolutely, he could've signed to fight Gennady Golovkin before he "retired" in 2015, but Triple G is regarded by many as the best pound-for-pound boxer in the sport, and that was a risk Floyd wasn't going to take.
So, why did the McGregor fight only take a few months for Floyd to sign the contract?
Mayweather stalled the Manny negotiations for years to maximize his portion of the earnings, an amount that eventually totaled more than $200 million. However, mixed martial arts is a different dynamic, and Conor McGregor is the current UFC Lightweight champion, a title he has yet to defend in the octagon. Conor is at the peak of his MMA career right now, but a devastating KO would drastically effect his drawing power to those outside of the MMA fan base. Would he continue to be a major star for the UFC? Sure, but his only losses in MMA are submissions. If a boxing fan sees a clip of McGregor KO'ed in the octagon, why would they think he has any chance in a boxing match? Conor currently has more people following his career than at any other point during his UFC run so there's no reason to jeopardize the marketability of the Floyd fight. If Conor gets KOed in the cage before he steps into the ring with Mayweather, who knows if the demand is still there from the general public?
As far as the actual bout, there's no realistic reason to expect that Conor Mcgregor will win this fight. Some naive fans might tune in thinking that his MMA background will somehow confuse the boxer, but it won't happen. In reality, I wouldn't be surprised if McGregor gets KO'ed in two rounds. Full-time professional boxers at a championship level haven't been able to defeat Floyd, and McGregor is literally an amateur in terms of boxing experience. Again, there's no realistic argument to be made that Conor can win. However, the Irishman is actually in a win-win situation. If he gets dropped to the canvas, he will do it for a record paycheck, and he doesn't even have to necessarily win the fight to leave the ring victorious. If the UFC Featherweight champion somehow makes it to the final bell against an undefeated boxing champion, the moral victory alone will elevate his status. Remember, Rocky didn't have to beat Apollo to become the hero of the film.
If Conor somehow lands a fluke punch and defeats Floyd, it will be perhaps the biggest upset in sports history. Nobody expects McGregor to win so there's really no pressure on him ahead of this bout. As the media tour kicked off this week, the spectacle began and it was incredibly entertaining to see Floyd subjected to an athlete that can verbally spare with him. Along with the hype for the fight, a somewhat bizarre story surfaced recently as well. Floyd Mayweather filed for an extension to pay taxes that he owes from 2015. The IRS filed a tax lien against him for a reported $22 million debt, which is only the latest lien against him, as he owed taxes several times in the past.
Considering the type of businessman that Floyd is and the millions he made in his career, it's almost unbelievable to think that he signed to fight the UFC champion because he needs the money. In fact, "Money" Mayweather probably has enough money to pay off the debt without any effect on his lavish life style. However, it certainly doesn't speak well in terms of smart business when a fighter that made $200 million in his last fight asks for an extension to pay a tax debt.
With a price tag of $99.99, this bout will probably rank among the top three highest selling pay-per-view events in sports history. While it's doubtful that it will exceed the record of Pacquiao/Mayweather, this clash of combat sports athletes will translate to money for everyone involved. Is this really a contest of boxing skill? No, but it's a spectacle that will be tremendously entertaining, and if there's major money on the table, it's a smart decision to make the fight happen.
Wednesday, July 12, 2017
The career of Ronda Rousey
Ronda Rousey, former UFC Women's Bantamweight champion, resurfaced last week after an extended absence following her 48-second KO defeat when she challenged Amanda Nunes for the belt last November. The bronze medalist in judo appeared on the "Live with Kelly" show to discuss her engagement to UFC heavyweight, Travis Browne and the recent attempted robbery of her California home. Thankfully, the thief was caught minutes later and nobody was hurt during the incident.
While the engagement is nice news for Rousey, it essentially confirms the end of her mixed marital arts career since she made no mention of a return, and Dana White speculated earlier this year that she retired. So, what is the totality of Ronda's career?
Growing up on the west coast, Ronda endured a turbulent childhood, overcoming very serious speech problems as a result of a birth disorder. In her autobiography, "My Fight, Your Fight," a New York Times best seller, she detailed the tragic suicide of her father when she was young. Sports were an outlet for her, as she began to train in judo with her mom before she reached her teenage years. Always unconventional, Rousey dropped out of high school and later earned a GED when she wasn't winning judo championships. Her grappling career culminated with the previously mentioned bronze medal at the 2008 Olympic games in China.
Reaching the pinnacle of judo, she turned to mixed martial arts, a concept that was still relatively new for female athletes at the time. In the United States, women's MMA was a fringe concept that didn't receive any major marketing until Gina Carano made a splash in Strike Force in the mid-2000s. In 2010, Ronda fought in the amateur ranks on three occasions within the span of six months, winning each bout via arm bar in the first round. By that time, Carano was beaten out of the sport by Cyborg Santos, and it appeared Carano was content to attempt to use her fighting career to spring board to film.
Just months after Ronda turned pro in 2011, Cyborg Santos tested positive for steroids during a post-fight drug test and was stripped of the Strike Force Women's Featherweight belt, leaving female combat sports without a top contender. "Rowdy" Ronda began a meteoric rise, winning the Strike Force 135 LBS title after just five professional fights, and gained tremendous popularity for stoppages within the first round. She had such a fan following that Dana White, the UFC kingpin that once vowed he would never promote women's MMA, introduced the female division to the UFC after Zuffa bought Strike Force. Her UFC debut took less than a round, and she ranked up more victories with a combination of aggressive striking and submission skills.
When Rousey sent Beathe Correia face-first to the mat in just 34 seconds in August of 2015, she was still undefeated and one of the most recognizable athletes in the world. Her beautiful face transformed into a bitter scowl when the cage door shut. Her brash style and dominating performances made her one of the most marketable athletes in mixed martial arts. The progress she made for female sports allowed an entirely new demographic to tune into UFC events.
Her accomplishments inside the octagon brought many opportunities outside of the sport. Movies, television, a Wrestlemania appearance, and the previously mentioned book were all added to her resume during the run as the UFC Women's Bantamweight champion.
Just three months after she pummeled Correia, the undefeated champion was either overconfident or unprepared when she stepped into the cage in front of a record-setting crowd in Melbourne, Australia. Holly Holm, a multiple-time boxing champion in three different weight classes, provided the opposition and ultimately changed the course of women's MMA. Despite her lengthy grappling experience, Ronda attempted a series of wild punches, which Holm dodged and countered. After the opening round, Rousey looked as though she didn't know what to do next. Less than a minute into the second round, Holly stunned her opponent with a punch and then landed a highlight reel head kick, as Rousey collapsed to the canvas.
Ronda was distraught and made few public comments for nearly a year before her return to octagon, opting not to participant in the media week before her fight with Amanda Nunes in December of 2016. Nunes, a well-rounded competitor, submitted Miesha Tate at UFC 200 to win the championship. However, all the promotional advertisements were based around Ronda's return. Questions surrounding the former champion's mindset swirled ahead of the fight. It took just 48 seconds for all the questions to be answered when Rousey took nearly a dozen unanswered punches as she stumbled around the cage before the referee stopped the bout to avoid any further damage.
It's often said that the measure of a champion is how they response to adversity.
Clearly, Rousey didn't response well to either loss, in fact it could be argued that she couldn't handle a loss on such a major stage. The combination of women's MMA still evolving and that Ronda's popularity might skew perception, it might be a few years until her career can be put into the proper context. Make no mistake about it. Ronda took women's MMA to a completely different level that many didn't think was possible, but her peak as a combat fighter was relatively brief. Does that mean she was a flash in the pan? No, but it says much about her skills and the mindset that she brought to the cage after fame became a priority.
As female MMA evolved, more well rounded women entered the sport, and that exposed Ronda's lack of technical striking. For example, Holly Holm carefully dodged her wild flurries, and Rousey didn't know what to do next. "Rowdy" Ronda seemed to assume that her success would automatically continue, as she talked often in her book and interviews about retiring undefeated. It wasn't just the hype around Ronda that led to her fall from grace, but also how she set the standard to retire undefeated, and then how she handled the defeat. If someone proclaims they are going to retire undefeated, it almost sets up for a let down because the expectation was made public. It also created the impression that Rousey looked passed her opponents toward her post-fight Hollywood career. Refusing to discuss the title loss prior to her return also made it appear that she was a fragile fighter and thus gave the impression her peak had passed after the Holm fight. On the flip side, when the brash Conor McGregor was submitted, he said he would continue to train and return stronger. He won the Diaz rematch and the submission loss isn't a focal point of his career, especially when you consider that he will make a record paycheck to fight Floyd Mayweather next month.
The point being, after the two KO losses, Ronda Rousey appeared to be damaged goods. She couldn't handle the adversity and much of the mystic around her diminished. That is why a fighter must maintain a focus of their primary sport because the outside distracts of a potential movie career can lead to a harsh reality check about the evolution of the level of competition in the UFC. She had a dozen wins against mostly one dimensional fighters, it's not as though she had a lengthy championship run comparable to Anderson Silva or Georges St. Pierre. Don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to take anything away from her tremendous ability or career, but the total collapse of her career should be considered as well. On the flip side, Joanna Jędrzejczyk, the current 115 LBS champion is undefeated, already has more career wins than Rousey, and arguably fought tougher competition. Does that automatically mena that Joanna is a better fighter? No, but it certainly proves that Rousey can't definitively be called the greatest female fighter of all time either. It also underscores the fact that if a champion wants to maintain their status, they must stay focused on their opponents. I could be wrong, but I would guess that Joanna will generate an Anderson Silva type of title run before she concludes her career.
When Ronda lost, the movie offers, including a remake of "Road House" were quietly "delayed." Again, Ronda did herself no favors when she emphasized an undefeated retirement, which essentially directly linked her success in the cage to her film career outside of it. That said, Ronda should be proud of her accomplishments, and she undoubtedly brought women's MMA to a new platform. It's disappointing that her career abruptly halted after such an accelerated rise to fame. While it's not exactly fair to automatically assume she's the greatest female fighter of all time, Ronda Rousey certainly has an undeniable role in the history of mixed martial arts.
While the engagement is nice news for Rousey, it essentially confirms the end of her mixed marital arts career since she made no mention of a return, and Dana White speculated earlier this year that she retired. So, what is the totality of Ronda's career?
Growing up on the west coast, Ronda endured a turbulent childhood, overcoming very serious speech problems as a result of a birth disorder. In her autobiography, "My Fight, Your Fight," a New York Times best seller, she detailed the tragic suicide of her father when she was young. Sports were an outlet for her, as she began to train in judo with her mom before she reached her teenage years. Always unconventional, Rousey dropped out of high school and later earned a GED when she wasn't winning judo championships. Her grappling career culminated with the previously mentioned bronze medal at the 2008 Olympic games in China.
Reaching the pinnacle of judo, she turned to mixed martial arts, a concept that was still relatively new for female athletes at the time. In the United States, women's MMA was a fringe concept that didn't receive any major marketing until Gina Carano made a splash in Strike Force in the mid-2000s. In 2010, Ronda fought in the amateur ranks on three occasions within the span of six months, winning each bout via arm bar in the first round. By that time, Carano was beaten out of the sport by Cyborg Santos, and it appeared Carano was content to attempt to use her fighting career to spring board to film.
Just months after Ronda turned pro in 2011, Cyborg Santos tested positive for steroids during a post-fight drug test and was stripped of the Strike Force Women's Featherweight belt, leaving female combat sports without a top contender. "Rowdy" Ronda began a meteoric rise, winning the Strike Force 135 LBS title after just five professional fights, and gained tremendous popularity for stoppages within the first round. She had such a fan following that Dana White, the UFC kingpin that once vowed he would never promote women's MMA, introduced the female division to the UFC after Zuffa bought Strike Force. Her UFC debut took less than a round, and she ranked up more victories with a combination of aggressive striking and submission skills.
When Rousey sent Beathe Correia face-first to the mat in just 34 seconds in August of 2015, she was still undefeated and one of the most recognizable athletes in the world. Her beautiful face transformed into a bitter scowl when the cage door shut. Her brash style and dominating performances made her one of the most marketable athletes in mixed martial arts. The progress she made for female sports allowed an entirely new demographic to tune into UFC events.
Her accomplishments inside the octagon brought many opportunities outside of the sport. Movies, television, a Wrestlemania appearance, and the previously mentioned book were all added to her resume during the run as the UFC Women's Bantamweight champion.
Just three months after she pummeled Correia, the undefeated champion was either overconfident or unprepared when she stepped into the cage in front of a record-setting crowd in Melbourne, Australia. Holly Holm, a multiple-time boxing champion in three different weight classes, provided the opposition and ultimately changed the course of women's MMA. Despite her lengthy grappling experience, Ronda attempted a series of wild punches, which Holm dodged and countered. After the opening round, Rousey looked as though she didn't know what to do next. Less than a minute into the second round, Holly stunned her opponent with a punch and then landed a highlight reel head kick, as Rousey collapsed to the canvas.
Ronda was distraught and made few public comments for nearly a year before her return to octagon, opting not to participant in the media week before her fight with Amanda Nunes in December of 2016. Nunes, a well-rounded competitor, submitted Miesha Tate at UFC 200 to win the championship. However, all the promotional advertisements were based around Ronda's return. Questions surrounding the former champion's mindset swirled ahead of the fight. It took just 48 seconds for all the questions to be answered when Rousey took nearly a dozen unanswered punches as she stumbled around the cage before the referee stopped the bout to avoid any further damage.
It's often said that the measure of a champion is how they response to adversity.
Clearly, Rousey didn't response well to either loss, in fact it could be argued that she couldn't handle a loss on such a major stage. The combination of women's MMA still evolving and that Ronda's popularity might skew perception, it might be a few years until her career can be put into the proper context. Make no mistake about it. Ronda took women's MMA to a completely different level that many didn't think was possible, but her peak as a combat fighter was relatively brief. Does that mean she was a flash in the pan? No, but it says much about her skills and the mindset that she brought to the cage after fame became a priority.
As female MMA evolved, more well rounded women entered the sport, and that exposed Ronda's lack of technical striking. For example, Holly Holm carefully dodged her wild flurries, and Rousey didn't know what to do next. "Rowdy" Ronda seemed to assume that her success would automatically continue, as she talked often in her book and interviews about retiring undefeated. It wasn't just the hype around Ronda that led to her fall from grace, but also how she set the standard to retire undefeated, and then how she handled the defeat. If someone proclaims they are going to retire undefeated, it almost sets up for a let down because the expectation was made public. It also created the impression that Rousey looked passed her opponents toward her post-fight Hollywood career. Refusing to discuss the title loss prior to her return also made it appear that she was a fragile fighter and thus gave the impression her peak had passed after the Holm fight. On the flip side, when the brash Conor McGregor was submitted, he said he would continue to train and return stronger. He won the Diaz rematch and the submission loss isn't a focal point of his career, especially when you consider that he will make a record paycheck to fight Floyd Mayweather next month.
The point being, after the two KO losses, Ronda Rousey appeared to be damaged goods. She couldn't handle the adversity and much of the mystic around her diminished. That is why a fighter must maintain a focus of their primary sport because the outside distracts of a potential movie career can lead to a harsh reality check about the evolution of the level of competition in the UFC. She had a dozen wins against mostly one dimensional fighters, it's not as though she had a lengthy championship run comparable to Anderson Silva or Georges St. Pierre. Don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to take anything away from her tremendous ability or career, but the total collapse of her career should be considered as well. On the flip side, Joanna Jędrzejczyk, the current 115 LBS champion is undefeated, already has more career wins than Rousey, and arguably fought tougher competition. Does that automatically mena that Joanna is a better fighter? No, but it certainly proves that Rousey can't definitively be called the greatest female fighter of all time either. It also underscores the fact that if a champion wants to maintain their status, they must stay focused on their opponents. I could be wrong, but I would guess that Joanna will generate an Anderson Silva type of title run before she concludes her career.
When Ronda lost, the movie offers, including a remake of "Road House" were quietly "delayed." Again, Ronda did herself no favors when she emphasized an undefeated retirement, which essentially directly linked her success in the cage to her film career outside of it. That said, Ronda should be proud of her accomplishments, and she undoubtedly brought women's MMA to a new platform. It's disappointing that her career abruptly halted after such an accelerated rise to fame. While it's not exactly fair to automatically assume she's the greatest female fighter of all time, Ronda Rousey certainly has an undeniable role in the history of mixed martial arts.
Monday, July 10, 2017
Brock Lesnar retains the Universal title
When Brock Lesnar returned to the WWE after an nearly an eight year absence, he brought with him a renewed hype from his time in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. After he was pushed to the top of the card as fast as possible in 2002, the former NCAA champion opted to leave the WWE just two years after he debuted on television, citing the travel demands as the reason he stepped away from sports entertainment. After he burned bridges in Japan and a failed attempt to join the Minnesota Vikings, Lesnar pursued mixed martial arts, a genre that surged in popularity at the time.
He made his successful MMA debut in 2007, and his name value from professional wrestling made him an instant commodity, prompting an offer from the UFC. Lesnar fought a total of nine times in his combat sports career, garnering a record of 5-3-1 and the UFC Heavyweight title. A combination of diverticulitis and not wanting to get punched in the face led to his initial retirement from the sport.
His return to WWE in 2012 gave the business a major boost in star power, but how Brock is booked continues to be the subject of debate. Lesnar was promoted as the "real fighter" in sports entertainment, wearing MMA gloves and shorts into the ring. He ended the Undertaker's Wrestlemania streak because he was the "real" athlete that could do what sport entertainers couldn't in the past. He won the WWE World Heavyweight championship in 2014, a topic of much criticism. Brock's appearances are very limited, which are intended to keep a "special event" atmosphere around him, but during his run as champion, it was 3-4 months between title defenses. It's certainly difficult to book a weekly television show when the champion, the holder of the theoretical top prize in the company, doesn't appear for a few months at a time. Plus, if viewers aren't going to see the Universal champion in a main event role on TV, isn't there less of an incentive to watch each week?
After a well-booked program with Goldberg that maximized the nostalgia and minimized the limitations of the former WCW champion, Lesnar won the Universal title at Wrestlemania 33 in April. Brock didn't defend the belt for over three months, but a series of sporadic appearances along with Paul Heyman's tremendous promos built the Samoa Joe match very well. There was a natural intrigue for the match-up, because of Joe's style, but the match should be booked carefully because of his monster character.
In roughly nine minutes, Joe was pinned clean after an F5. The match just didn't have the intensity expected, and it was difficult to determine who was supposed to be the heel. Samoa Joe debuted on the main roster as a heel, but his tremendous in-ring ability won over the audience and he received a babyface reaction recently. He attacked Lesnar before the bell and hit a low blow mid-match. However, considering Brock's brutal style, is there really going to be any crowd sympathy for him?
Brock Lesnar is still the champion and will disappear back to his farm until management wants to peak interest for another pay-per-view event, which most speculate will be Summer Slam. The problem with that equation is, what happens to Samoa Joe? The former NXT champion is on Raw every week and usually has an important role on the show. What did a rather simplistic match and taking a clean pin do for Samoa Joe? It certainly didn't do anything to add to the monster persona that was established on television.
Is Brock Lesnar really that much of a draw that it's worth sacrificing the rest of the roster? At what point does the hefty investment in the Lesnar push reach the point of diminishing returns?
It was well publicized that WWE ratings have declined, mostly within the third hour. The perils of a three hour show is another discussion for another time, but the fact remains that less people watch on a weekly basis than just a few years ago. It seems logical to assume that more credible stars will add to the overall star power on the show and thus fans will have more of a reason to watch each week. Despite one of the most talented rosters in terms of in-ring ability arguably in history, talents like Finn Balor, Bray Wyatt, Ambrose, and others seem to reach a glass ceiling of sorts because management has other plans for the top of the card. For example, Finn Balor worked a main event match with Cesaro last week on Raw, but didn't have a spot on the pay-per-view.
In my opinion, the reason this happens is because WWE management had two main priorities the past several months, the angle to get Lesnar the championship, and the continuous push of Roman Reigns. Because those two maintain such prominent spots far in advance, it limits how far others will get pushed as legitimate stars. Essentially, the opportunity cost of Lesnar's "rare appearances" is that talented athletes like Balor and Joe won't necessarily get the chance to live up to their potential if an eventual Lesnar vs. Reigns rematch is the top priority for management. In a way, it's basically Lesnar is the champion and Reigns is the successor regardless of how over others might be with the WWE audience. That lack of flexibility from WWE management might be one of the reasons for the ratings decline.
In years prior, Lesnar always delivered for the major matches, but the suplex city gimmick, as popular as it is, led to a rather stale presentation against Joe. Granted, the Goldberg formula was meant to be simplistic and to only feature the trademark moves, but against an opponent like Joe, there's not much to build around the repetitive German suplex. Plus, none of the submission attempts from Joe seemed like it could lead to the conclusion of the bout so the match was somewhat flat. The entire point of a match with the title on the line is to create moments when it appears that the belt might actually change hands, but the Lesnar/Joe contest didn't have that effect. In fact, this is one of the few times since Brock's return in 2012 that one could argue that his match didn't live up to the hype around it.
Don't get me wrong, Lesnar had an impressive run since he returned to sports entertainment, but I don't think his title reign should limit pushing those that appear on Raw every week. At 40, how long will Lesnar continue to wrestle? Besides Roman Reigns, at what point will management shift the focus to develop more legitimate stars that will draw money on a major stage? Haven't WWE brass relied on part-timers to boost major event too often? I'm not trying to be too negative here, but at with Lesnar rarely on television as champion and Roman Reigns the focus of a constant push, it seems like there's a waste of the potential of other talented competitors on the roster.
He made his successful MMA debut in 2007, and his name value from professional wrestling made him an instant commodity, prompting an offer from the UFC. Lesnar fought a total of nine times in his combat sports career, garnering a record of 5-3-1 and the UFC Heavyweight title. A combination of diverticulitis and not wanting to get punched in the face led to his initial retirement from the sport.
His return to WWE in 2012 gave the business a major boost in star power, but how Brock is booked continues to be the subject of debate. Lesnar was promoted as the "real fighter" in sports entertainment, wearing MMA gloves and shorts into the ring. He ended the Undertaker's Wrestlemania streak because he was the "real" athlete that could do what sport entertainers couldn't in the past. He won the WWE World Heavyweight championship in 2014, a topic of much criticism. Brock's appearances are very limited, which are intended to keep a "special event" atmosphere around him, but during his run as champion, it was 3-4 months between title defenses. It's certainly difficult to book a weekly television show when the champion, the holder of the theoretical top prize in the company, doesn't appear for a few months at a time. Plus, if viewers aren't going to see the Universal champion in a main event role on TV, isn't there less of an incentive to watch each week?
After a well-booked program with Goldberg that maximized the nostalgia and minimized the limitations of the former WCW champion, Lesnar won the Universal title at Wrestlemania 33 in April. Brock didn't defend the belt for over three months, but a series of sporadic appearances along with Paul Heyman's tremendous promos built the Samoa Joe match very well. There was a natural intrigue for the match-up, because of Joe's style, but the match should be booked carefully because of his monster character.
In roughly nine minutes, Joe was pinned clean after an F5. The match just didn't have the intensity expected, and it was difficult to determine who was supposed to be the heel. Samoa Joe debuted on the main roster as a heel, but his tremendous in-ring ability won over the audience and he received a babyface reaction recently. He attacked Lesnar before the bell and hit a low blow mid-match. However, considering Brock's brutal style, is there really going to be any crowd sympathy for him?
Brock Lesnar is still the champion and will disappear back to his farm until management wants to peak interest for another pay-per-view event, which most speculate will be Summer Slam. The problem with that equation is, what happens to Samoa Joe? The former NXT champion is on Raw every week and usually has an important role on the show. What did a rather simplistic match and taking a clean pin do for Samoa Joe? It certainly didn't do anything to add to the monster persona that was established on television.
Is Brock Lesnar really that much of a draw that it's worth sacrificing the rest of the roster? At what point does the hefty investment in the Lesnar push reach the point of diminishing returns?
It was well publicized that WWE ratings have declined, mostly within the third hour. The perils of a three hour show is another discussion for another time, but the fact remains that less people watch on a weekly basis than just a few years ago. It seems logical to assume that more credible stars will add to the overall star power on the show and thus fans will have more of a reason to watch each week. Despite one of the most talented rosters in terms of in-ring ability arguably in history, talents like Finn Balor, Bray Wyatt, Ambrose, and others seem to reach a glass ceiling of sorts because management has other plans for the top of the card. For example, Finn Balor worked a main event match with Cesaro last week on Raw, but didn't have a spot on the pay-per-view.
In my opinion, the reason this happens is because WWE management had two main priorities the past several months, the angle to get Lesnar the championship, and the continuous push of Roman Reigns. Because those two maintain such prominent spots far in advance, it limits how far others will get pushed as legitimate stars. Essentially, the opportunity cost of Lesnar's "rare appearances" is that talented athletes like Balor and Joe won't necessarily get the chance to live up to their potential if an eventual Lesnar vs. Reigns rematch is the top priority for management. In a way, it's basically Lesnar is the champion and Reigns is the successor regardless of how over others might be with the WWE audience. That lack of flexibility from WWE management might be one of the reasons for the ratings decline.
In years prior, Lesnar always delivered for the major matches, but the suplex city gimmick, as popular as it is, led to a rather stale presentation against Joe. Granted, the Goldberg formula was meant to be simplistic and to only feature the trademark moves, but against an opponent like Joe, there's not much to build around the repetitive German suplex. Plus, none of the submission attempts from Joe seemed like it could lead to the conclusion of the bout so the match was somewhat flat. The entire point of a match with the title on the line is to create moments when it appears that the belt might actually change hands, but the Lesnar/Joe contest didn't have that effect. In fact, this is one of the few times since Brock's return in 2012 that one could argue that his match didn't live up to the hype around it.
Don't get me wrong, Lesnar had an impressive run since he returned to sports entertainment, but I don't think his title reign should limit pushing those that appear on Raw every week. At 40, how long will Lesnar continue to wrestle? Besides Roman Reigns, at what point will management shift the focus to develop more legitimate stars that will draw money on a major stage? Haven't WWE brass relied on part-timers to boost major event too often? I'm not trying to be too negative here, but at with Lesnar rarely on television as champion and Roman Reigns the focus of a constant push, it seems like there's a waste of the potential of other talented competitors on the roster.
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