Professional wrestling, similar to most things in life, is based on timing and opportunity.
Historically, the examples are there, events that took place at certain times that couldn't be booked to happen, but their naturally occurrence led to opportunity. The New World World's two year run that made WCW formidable competition to Vince McMahon was facilitated by the availability of Scott Hall and Kevin Nash. There was no way to plan that Razor Ramon and Diesel had contracts that happen to expire just six days apart. The timing of their exits led to the opportunity to bring them to Nitro within just to weeks of one another to create the basis for the NWO hostile takeover that drew record ratings for WCW. Ironically, that series of events led to another organic shift in the industry the following year when Ted Turner's success put pressure on Vince McMahon, who struggled to keep his wrestling empire afloat during the wave of Turner's spending to sign talent. Eric Bischoff, a former AWA interviewer, found himself as executive vice president of WCW in 1994 after a revolving door of authority figures took the organization nowhere. For all of the mistakes that he might've made, Bischoff knew enough to use the resources within the Turner media umbrella to take a noticeable portion of the market. Along with Hulk, Randy Savage, Hall, and Nash, Bischoff attempted to lure Bret Hart away from the WWF. Bret, one of the most tenured and loyal performers on McMahon's roster, was one of the company's most skilled and biggest stars. When the steroid scandal of the early 90s put the future of the WWF in doubt, Bret was one of the cornerstones of the promotion to keep it above water. The WCW offer was very lucrative, guaranteeing the WWF champion a seven-figure contract and less required appearances per year.
McMahon had finished in the red for 1996 and couldn't afford to match the offer, despite initial suggestions of a potential 20-year deal that would've paid Bret more over a longer period. The tense negotiations were documented in "Wrestling with Shadows." Finally, Vince allowed Bret to negotiate with WCW, and the infamous Montreal incident sent Hart to Turner's group while the WWF appeared to unravel in late-97. Vince used the events of Montreal to spin a narrative that he was the ruthless promoter that did what needed to be done and insulted the Canadian hero who had worked tirelessly to draw him money for a decade previously. That presentation was a gamble and there was no way to be sure the fans wouldn't reject the WWF entirely or that Hart might've excelled on Nitro. Thankfully, a brawler named Steve Austin had found himself as a persona and reached his peak as the defiant employee at the same time that McMahon was vilified for his actions against Hart. The Austin/McMahon feud saw the biggest ratings in the history of the industry and ultimately won the Monday night war. Again, you can't book or plan that.
Both of those scenarios were based on timing and opportunity. Furthermore, a potentially negative real-life situation was used to draw money within sports entertainment.
The same still applies today, both in life and in sports entertainment.
When the Canadian duo of Don Callis and Scott D'Amore took over as Executive Vice Presidents of Impact Wrestling in January, it created the first sense of optimism around the brand in easily 5-6 years. When extensive TV tapings took place, news was made for the exits and debuts as the new regime looked to start with a clean slate. Among the headlines that surfaced was a very serious eye injury to Eddie Edwards after a wild swing directed at a chair from Sami Callihan. Graphic photos of Edwards at the hospital were posted online after the tapings, fueling speculation about exactly what happened.
When the Callihan/Edwards match finally aired last week, the violent footage caused quite a stir within the world of professional wrestling. Jim Cornette, the legendary manager that seemingly always has a Twitter feud with someone, used his trademark eloquent profanity to express his disapproval. Callihan responded, which further incited those that criticized him previously. The "baseball bat" incident was even picked up by TMZ Sports, and Callihan released a statement to the outlet to address the controversy.
Callihan made it extremely clear that he's not sorry for the injury to Eddie Edwards, drawing the ire of fans and peers. But, remember the timing and opportunity dynamic?
I'm extremely surprised at the reaction the injury footage received, especially from those within the industry. Does anyone honestly believe that Sami Callihan intentionally wanted to hurt Eddie Edwards? Callihan has done shoot interviews in the past and those give an insight into his prospect of the genre. It's a physical performance and accidents happen, that doesn't mean that Callihan is happy that one of his co-workers were injured. If anything, it doesn't make business sense for Callihan to want to hurt Edwards because the follow-up matches will undoubtedly have more of a spotlight because of the stir the injury caused. This is just my two cents and I could be wrong, but I'd guess that Callihan never wanted to injury Eddie Edwards.
But, it generated such a strong reaction, why not go with it? Callihan as an unhinged "dangerous" wrestler blurs the line between what's scripted and what's real-life, which is theoretically the entire point of the wrestling business. Maybe Callihan doesn't care that Edwards was injured? It certainly appears like he's not remorseful and he seems to have convinced many of that.
The timing of this is where the negative of the Eddie Edwards injury can be used as a positive. The new management of Anthem's Impact has a situation that generated more talk about the promotion than anything that happened during the final years of the Dixie Carter era, and the ratings during the first quarter of the year have steadily improved on a weekly basis. Eddie Edwards, a former ROH and Impact champion, had a main event run in the Impact zone when the promotion was on the brink of collapse and drew dismal numbers. Sami Callihan is a dynamic performer that had a run in the WWE developmental system, but never had the chance to showcase himself. At this point, a renewed spotlight can be shined on Sami, Edwards, and Impact as a promotion so there is a positive aspect to the whole situation.
When Eddie Edwards and Sami Callihan are in the ring again, it will be an anticipated confrontation because the controversy has created intriguing questions. Maybe Eddie will legitimately punch Sami in the face on live pay-per-view and end the match in thirty seconds? Maybe they will have an uncooperative match that continues to fuel talk that Callihan is unhinged? Maybe they will have a hard-hitting bout that fans will discuss as one of the best on the show?
Either way, this unfortunate injury generated a lot of press for Impact and while you never want to see an injury, at least the potential is there for this to become a positive if Sami and Eddie become bigger stars from it. Maybe Sami is a dangerous wrestler or maybe he's smart enough to work everyone so that an unfortunate situation becomes a bigger platform? You can bet fans will watch the rematch to find out what happens next for the Callihan/Edwards feud.
Thursday, March 8, 2018
Saturday, March 3, 2018
Will Chuck Liddell sign for Bellator?
When I saw the news on that Chuck Liddell was rumored to have signed a deal with Bellator MMA, I shook my head. Reports speculated that the multi-million dollar contract was offered to schedule a trilogy with Tito Ortiz, who Liddell defeated twice during his prime in the UFC.
Retired since 2010 after he lost 6 of the last 7 bouts of his career, "The Iceman" will have to ask himself if those millions are worth the risk to his legacy?
The 48-year-old slugger was the face of the Ultimate Fighting Championship when the organization emerged from obscurity and exploded in popularity to alter the course of sports history. Along with the Rocky-style brawl that Forrest Griffin and Stephen Bonnar delivered on cable TV in 2005, highlights of Liddell's haymakers became an intriguing selling point as the general public discovered mixed martial arts. Keep in mind, the Liddell/Couture trilogy was built around the original season of the Ultimate Fighter reality show that propelled the company into the main stream.
The former UFC Light Heavyweight champion started his MMA career in 1998, long before big money or fame accompanied those that stepped into the octagon. Surviving the lean years, Liddell used his background as a Division I amateur wrestler and kick boxer to utilize the "sprawl and brawl" tactics. A combination of windmill punches and takedown defense brought him notoriety as the sport that was once an underground niche began to draw big numbers on pay-per-view in the mid-2000s.
During the first eight years of his legendary career, "The Iceman" generated an impressive record of 20-3, most of those victories were by thrilling knockout. Perhaps the highlight of the pioneering grappler's career was the vicious KO of the legendary Randy Couture to claim the 205 LBS title in 2005. On top of a crowd-friendly style, Liddell had the perfect look to market an MMA fighter, sporting a Mohawk to accompany the Chinese letters tattooed on his head. As Chuck racked up victories in the cage, he also drew at the box office, including his 2006 pay-per-view KO of Tito that still ranks among the top ten best-selling events in the promotion's history with over a million buys.
While that second KO win against Ortiz was the peak of his drawing power, it proved to be the peak of Liddell's career as a fighter as well. After Zuffa bought Pride in 2007, the sport saw a drastic shift as another wave of established fighters joined the UFC, which eventually saw the sport continue to evolve. Just five months after his second win against Tito, Liddell was knocked out in less than two minutes by Rampage Jackson at UFC 71. The argument can be made that Liddel was never the same inside the cage after Rampage's looping right hook sent him crashing to the canvas.
The popular athlete finished the year with a split decision loss to Keith Jardine before he won via unanimous decision in an epic brawl with Wanderlei Silva at UFC 79. The violent spectacle with Silva wasn't an indication of a return, but rather the last glimpse of "The Iceman" that soared to fame when the UFC surged in popularity.
Three consecutive KO losses followed in the next three years against Rashad Evans, Shogun Rua, and Rich Franklin respectively. The brutal fashion of each knockout caused concern and a call for his retirement. UFC President and close friend, Dana White insisted on Chuck's retirement, which was officially announced at a press conference in 2010.
Liddell later acknowledged it was a tough decision to hang up the gloves, but most agreed with it so that he could avoid any further damage. The contrast of sports, especially combat sports, is that the decline from the peak can be just as disappointing as the thrill of the rise to the top. We watch sports heroes with anticipation as they excel with incredible skill, and in most cases, watch with some sadness as their decline is an indication that it's time to conclude their careers.
Nobody wants to see a fighter stay in the sport too long, mostly because of the danger it can pose to their health. Perhaps, the toughest test for any athlete in any genre is to know when to hang up the boots to preserve their health and their legacy. The examples are numerous, but the common theme is sadness as an audience watches all-time greats compete as a former shell of themselves. Sometimes the motivate is for the money or simply that those that have competed their entire lives can't step away from the sport. One of the most well known examples of this was the Ali/Holmes fight in 1980 that saw Ali's former sparring partner defeat the icon when the contest was stopped in the 10th round. The 39-year-old Ali took a tremendous beating before his trainer, Al Dundee screamed that the fight was over to rescue his fighter from more damage. The incredible punishment that "The Greatest" took during his heroic career had taken its toll. Larry Holmes, who retained his title, wept in the dressing room after the bout because he didn't want to cause damage to the aging legend.
The unfortunate example of this in MMA is Ken Shamrock, who was one of the originals of the first UFC tournament, but is much more well known for fighting well over a decade past his prime. The low point of this was probably 2010 when he lost to Pedro Rizzo via TKO at a sparsely-attended upstart event in Sydney, Australia. He also signed with Bellator in recent years, first for a loss against the late Kimbo Slice in 2015 and then another loss to Royce Gracie the following year. Shamrock tested positive for steroids after the Gracie bout and his license was revoked in 2016. "The World's Most Dangerous Man" didn't choose to retire, but instead prostituted his legacy until he was forced out of the sport.
I'm concerned about the potential pitfalls of a Chuck Liddell comeback to MMA. While he retired because he couldn't take the punches he had previously to set up for his own devastating counter punches, the decline is not unusual for combat sports. The general consensus was that Liddel hung it up at the right time and left a legacy he could be proud of intact for the history books. Following his retirement, he was named Vice President of Business Development for the UFC and continued to appear in film and television roles.
Assuming this isn't just about the money, what does Liddell expect to prove here? What does beating Tito for a third time really prove? Does a victory somehow indicate a comeback at 48 years old? Considering that Chuck hasn't won a fight since 2007, the odds are this potential return to the cage won't be successful. More than anything, this is a risk of his legacy, a career that helped build the sport to where it is today.
Is this Bellator deal really worth the risk to tarnish a legacy?
Chuck Liddell is the only one that knows the motivation behind this contract. Maybe it's because he needs the money, or maybe the athlete that KO'ed his way to the top of the UFC thinks he has one more run at stardom. However, at this point, I hope that Liddell reconsiders this move because nobody wants to see another Ken Shamrock situation.
Retired since 2010 after he lost 6 of the last 7 bouts of his career, "The Iceman" will have to ask himself if those millions are worth the risk to his legacy?
The 48-year-old slugger was the face of the Ultimate Fighting Championship when the organization emerged from obscurity and exploded in popularity to alter the course of sports history. Along with the Rocky-style brawl that Forrest Griffin and Stephen Bonnar delivered on cable TV in 2005, highlights of Liddell's haymakers became an intriguing selling point as the general public discovered mixed martial arts. Keep in mind, the Liddell/Couture trilogy was built around the original season of the Ultimate Fighter reality show that propelled the company into the main stream.
The former UFC Light Heavyweight champion started his MMA career in 1998, long before big money or fame accompanied those that stepped into the octagon. Surviving the lean years, Liddell used his background as a Division I amateur wrestler and kick boxer to utilize the "sprawl and brawl" tactics. A combination of windmill punches and takedown defense brought him notoriety as the sport that was once an underground niche began to draw big numbers on pay-per-view in the mid-2000s.
During the first eight years of his legendary career, "The Iceman" generated an impressive record of 20-3, most of those victories were by thrilling knockout. Perhaps the highlight of the pioneering grappler's career was the vicious KO of the legendary Randy Couture to claim the 205 LBS title in 2005. On top of a crowd-friendly style, Liddell had the perfect look to market an MMA fighter, sporting a Mohawk to accompany the Chinese letters tattooed on his head. As Chuck racked up victories in the cage, he also drew at the box office, including his 2006 pay-per-view KO of Tito that still ranks among the top ten best-selling events in the promotion's history with over a million buys.
While that second KO win against Ortiz was the peak of his drawing power, it proved to be the peak of Liddell's career as a fighter as well. After Zuffa bought Pride in 2007, the sport saw a drastic shift as another wave of established fighters joined the UFC, which eventually saw the sport continue to evolve. Just five months after his second win against Tito, Liddell was knocked out in less than two minutes by Rampage Jackson at UFC 71. The argument can be made that Liddel was never the same inside the cage after Rampage's looping right hook sent him crashing to the canvas.
The popular athlete finished the year with a split decision loss to Keith Jardine before he won via unanimous decision in an epic brawl with Wanderlei Silva at UFC 79. The violent spectacle with Silva wasn't an indication of a return, but rather the last glimpse of "The Iceman" that soared to fame when the UFC surged in popularity.
Three consecutive KO losses followed in the next three years against Rashad Evans, Shogun Rua, and Rich Franklin respectively. The brutal fashion of each knockout caused concern and a call for his retirement. UFC President and close friend, Dana White insisted on Chuck's retirement, which was officially announced at a press conference in 2010.
Liddell later acknowledged it was a tough decision to hang up the gloves, but most agreed with it so that he could avoid any further damage. The contrast of sports, especially combat sports, is that the decline from the peak can be just as disappointing as the thrill of the rise to the top. We watch sports heroes with anticipation as they excel with incredible skill, and in most cases, watch with some sadness as their decline is an indication that it's time to conclude their careers.
Nobody wants to see a fighter stay in the sport too long, mostly because of the danger it can pose to their health. Perhaps, the toughest test for any athlete in any genre is to know when to hang up the boots to preserve their health and their legacy. The examples are numerous, but the common theme is sadness as an audience watches all-time greats compete as a former shell of themselves. Sometimes the motivate is for the money or simply that those that have competed their entire lives can't step away from the sport. One of the most well known examples of this was the Ali/Holmes fight in 1980 that saw Ali's former sparring partner defeat the icon when the contest was stopped in the 10th round. The 39-year-old Ali took a tremendous beating before his trainer, Al Dundee screamed that the fight was over to rescue his fighter from more damage. The incredible punishment that "The Greatest" took during his heroic career had taken its toll. Larry Holmes, who retained his title, wept in the dressing room after the bout because he didn't want to cause damage to the aging legend.
The unfortunate example of this in MMA is Ken Shamrock, who was one of the originals of the first UFC tournament, but is much more well known for fighting well over a decade past his prime. The low point of this was probably 2010 when he lost to Pedro Rizzo via TKO at a sparsely-attended upstart event in Sydney, Australia. He also signed with Bellator in recent years, first for a loss against the late Kimbo Slice in 2015 and then another loss to Royce Gracie the following year. Shamrock tested positive for steroids after the Gracie bout and his license was revoked in 2016. "The World's Most Dangerous Man" didn't choose to retire, but instead prostituted his legacy until he was forced out of the sport.
I'm concerned about the potential pitfalls of a Chuck Liddell comeback to MMA. While he retired because he couldn't take the punches he had previously to set up for his own devastating counter punches, the decline is not unusual for combat sports. The general consensus was that Liddel hung it up at the right time and left a legacy he could be proud of intact for the history books. Following his retirement, he was named Vice President of Business Development for the UFC and continued to appear in film and television roles.
Assuming this isn't just about the money, what does Liddell expect to prove here? What does beating Tito for a third time really prove? Does a victory somehow indicate a comeback at 48 years old? Considering that Chuck hasn't won a fight since 2007, the odds are this potential return to the cage won't be successful. More than anything, this is a risk of his legacy, a career that helped build the sport to where it is today.
Is this Bellator deal really worth the risk to tarnish a legacy?
Chuck Liddell is the only one that knows the motivation behind this contract. Maybe it's because he needs the money, or maybe the athlete that KO'ed his way to the top of the UFC thinks he has one more run at stardom. However, at this point, I hope that Liddell reconsiders this move because nobody wants to see another Ken Shamrock situation.
Friday, March 2, 2018
The Reigns narrative
Just 24 hours after WWE brass shoved the narrative that Roman Reigns is the "best" wrestler in the company at the Elimination Chamber pay-per-view, a new spin was added toward the build of Wrestlemania 34.
Braun Strowman, the agile big man that organically got over with the audience, was featured as the unstoppable monster in the elimination chamber, defeating almost the entire field of competition. Braun couldn't be pinned by several finishers or dives, but a few repetitive superman punches finally did it. Nobody could slay the monster, except "Big Dawg." In theory, since Roman was the only one that could beat Strowman, he's the "best" on the roster. In reality, Reigns is only the "best" because Vince McMahon approved the script.
Not surprisingly, this scenario to "make Roman look really strong" only increased the hostility toward him because it's the exact reason why fans boo him in the first place. As I wrote earlier this week, winning scripted matches doesn't sell fans on a particular star in 2018. When the audience knows that the office makes the decisions and WWE documentaries even shine a light behind the scenes, the crowd is aware of when their voices are ignored. It's a completely different dynamic than in years prior that makes it even more important that a sports entertainer identify with the audience. The biggest stars in the history of the industry were major draws because they connected with the fans that paid to see them. Austin was the anti-hero that stood up to the authority figure, something that the general public could identify with and rally around him. Dusty Rhodes was the blue collar hero that made others believe that they won when he won. Daniel Bryan had a passion for the industry that the fans appreciated, and they knew that he appreciated their support as much as they appreciated him.
There are several other examples, but the common theme is that there was a spontaneous and organic connection with the audience. The crowd identified with those stars and were willing to spend money to follow their journey. There's nothing organic about the Roman superman push because the audience didn't get a chance to cast their vote on it. In fact, the decision to present Reigns as the next John Cena was made long before the forced push started.
This past week on Raw, the writing team tried to spin the narrative to suddenly portray Reigns differently a head of Wrestlemania.
Now, Roman Reigns cut a promo to imply that he's the "dedicated" WWE star that shows up when Brock Lesnar decides to stay home because his contract allows him to work part-time. This is basically the exact same type of promo that Cena cut against The Rock during their pair of Wrestlemania matches. The difference being that Cena already had a track record of nearly a decade as the company workhorse, proving the point. Management publicly acknowledged that Brock's deal was for limited appearances in the past so it wasn't much of a revelation. On one hand, it's a wise move to vilify Lesnar because he might be done with the company after his current deal expires so winding his profile down makes sense. On the other hand, the fans aren't going to buy Roman as the one that had to claw his way to the top either. As mentioned in the article earlier this week, Reigns was signed to a WWE developmental deal because of his last name. Furthermore, the only reason that Roman pursued professional wrestling is because he failed at a career in the NFL.
Don't get me wrong, he works hard and puts in the effort, but he had a relatively easy road to get to this point in his career. While other athletes work years just to get a WWE tryout, he started in the WWE system because of his last name. He was given the keys to the castle and more pushes after failure than anyone else in recent memory so what tough road did he travel? Sure, Brock is given a lighter schedule because of the star power he brings to the table, but Roman was handed just as much, if not more, without the proven track record that Lesnar has in his career.
Keep in mind, the fans rejected Roman because they are aware that the office wants to shove him as the top guy and for the same reason, the crowd will notice this attempted spin for its lack of credibility. In the view of the fans, Reigns hasn't "earned" his spot, and at this point, trying to sell that he has will be viewed as another attempt to force him as the top star. I could be wrong, but I don't think the audience will embrace Reigns at this point because management has done too much that caused resentment toward him. The bottom line is, Roman was given more than anyone else on the roster and it's difficult to expect the audience to rally behind that. Reigns has the stain of failure upon him and it remains to be seen if WWE brass can erase it. The superman push won't get over and it's doubtful that the "dedicated" Roman narrative will get over because both angles lack credibility.
How the WWE handles the hostility at WM 34 remains to be seen, but it might all be a moot point. As I wrote before, without competition, WWE has reached a certain level of complacency. The lack of competition and domination of the market in the United States allows for corporate agendas, not demand to dictate business. Vince McMahon says Roman Reigns should be the top star so "Big Dawg" will main event WM for the fourth year in a row. The ripple effect remains to be seen, but clearly, others that have the momentum to be elevated as bigger stars will be kept at a level below Reigns so that he can celebrate with confetti around him again this year.
The fans will remain hostile and it won't make a difference because it won't affect revenue. However, it's certainly disappointing that the company has arguably the best roster in over a decade in a half, but the product often remains stagnant. So, WWE brass will try to spin a new angle for Roman Reigns, but it won't get over, the same way the super push didn't get over the past few years.
Braun Strowman, the agile big man that organically got over with the audience, was featured as the unstoppable monster in the elimination chamber, defeating almost the entire field of competition. Braun couldn't be pinned by several finishers or dives, but a few repetitive superman punches finally did it. Nobody could slay the monster, except "Big Dawg." In theory, since Roman was the only one that could beat Strowman, he's the "best" on the roster. In reality, Reigns is only the "best" because Vince McMahon approved the script.
Not surprisingly, this scenario to "make Roman look really strong" only increased the hostility toward him because it's the exact reason why fans boo him in the first place. As I wrote earlier this week, winning scripted matches doesn't sell fans on a particular star in 2018. When the audience knows that the office makes the decisions and WWE documentaries even shine a light behind the scenes, the crowd is aware of when their voices are ignored. It's a completely different dynamic than in years prior that makes it even more important that a sports entertainer identify with the audience. The biggest stars in the history of the industry were major draws because they connected with the fans that paid to see them. Austin was the anti-hero that stood up to the authority figure, something that the general public could identify with and rally around him. Dusty Rhodes was the blue collar hero that made others believe that they won when he won. Daniel Bryan had a passion for the industry that the fans appreciated, and they knew that he appreciated their support as much as they appreciated him.
There are several other examples, but the common theme is that there was a spontaneous and organic connection with the audience. The crowd identified with those stars and were willing to spend money to follow their journey. There's nothing organic about the Roman superman push because the audience didn't get a chance to cast their vote on it. In fact, the decision to present Reigns as the next John Cena was made long before the forced push started.
This past week on Raw, the writing team tried to spin the narrative to suddenly portray Reigns differently a head of Wrestlemania.
Now, Roman Reigns cut a promo to imply that he's the "dedicated" WWE star that shows up when Brock Lesnar decides to stay home because his contract allows him to work part-time. This is basically the exact same type of promo that Cena cut against The Rock during their pair of Wrestlemania matches. The difference being that Cena already had a track record of nearly a decade as the company workhorse, proving the point. Management publicly acknowledged that Brock's deal was for limited appearances in the past so it wasn't much of a revelation. On one hand, it's a wise move to vilify Lesnar because he might be done with the company after his current deal expires so winding his profile down makes sense. On the other hand, the fans aren't going to buy Roman as the one that had to claw his way to the top either. As mentioned in the article earlier this week, Reigns was signed to a WWE developmental deal because of his last name. Furthermore, the only reason that Roman pursued professional wrestling is because he failed at a career in the NFL.
Don't get me wrong, he works hard and puts in the effort, but he had a relatively easy road to get to this point in his career. While other athletes work years just to get a WWE tryout, he started in the WWE system because of his last name. He was given the keys to the castle and more pushes after failure than anyone else in recent memory so what tough road did he travel? Sure, Brock is given a lighter schedule because of the star power he brings to the table, but Roman was handed just as much, if not more, without the proven track record that Lesnar has in his career.
Keep in mind, the fans rejected Roman because they are aware that the office wants to shove him as the top guy and for the same reason, the crowd will notice this attempted spin for its lack of credibility. In the view of the fans, Reigns hasn't "earned" his spot, and at this point, trying to sell that he has will be viewed as another attempt to force him as the top star. I could be wrong, but I don't think the audience will embrace Reigns at this point because management has done too much that caused resentment toward him. The bottom line is, Roman was given more than anyone else on the roster and it's difficult to expect the audience to rally behind that. Reigns has the stain of failure upon him and it remains to be seen if WWE brass can erase it. The superman push won't get over and it's doubtful that the "dedicated" Roman narrative will get over because both angles lack credibility.
How the WWE handles the hostility at WM 34 remains to be seen, but it might all be a moot point. As I wrote before, without competition, WWE has reached a certain level of complacency. The lack of competition and domination of the market in the United States allows for corporate agendas, not demand to dictate business. Vince McMahon says Roman Reigns should be the top star so "Big Dawg" will main event WM for the fourth year in a row. The ripple effect remains to be seen, but clearly, others that have the momentum to be elevated as bigger stars will be kept at a level below Reigns so that he can celebrate with confetti around him again this year.
The fans will remain hostile and it won't make a difference because it won't affect revenue. However, it's certainly disappointing that the company has arguably the best roster in over a decade in a half, but the product often remains stagnant. So, WWE brass will try to spin a new angle for Roman Reigns, but it won't get over, the same way the super push didn't get over the past few years.
Monday, February 26, 2018
Lesnar vs. Reigns
Roman Reigns is the best wrestler in the WWE.
Don't believe it? Well, it doesn't matter because Vince McMahon owns professional wrestling in the United States, and if he says that fans will watch Roman Reigns as the top guy then they will watch him.
As most predicted months ago, Roman will officially challenge Brock Lesnar for the Universal title at Wrestlemania 34 after he won the Elimination Chamber match to become the number one contender. The eventual victory for the belt at WM will be yet another culmination of the Reigns super push that has continued over the past four years. In the expected fashion, Braun eliminated the competition from the chamber, implying that he's the unstoppable monster, but that build up was simply to further highlight Roman as the only one in the field of top stars that could pin the monster.
Very similar to the way Braun was built throughout the chamber match to be fed Roman, the Universal champion is on the same path. After Lesnar beat Goldberg, who had an unexpected run as a result of the tremendous reaction he received during his return, at WM 33 to claim the championship, he was promoted as the unbeatable champion. Brock beat Samoa Joe, Strowman, and Kane in various matches throughout the rest of his current title run to emphasize his dominance. The momentum that both Joe and Strowman had earlier this year were used to build the status of Brock, who will ultimately be used to push Roman with the title win at WM 34. The conclusion of Wrestlemania will be a plan that was a year in the making, an aspect that further demonstrates the glass ceiling that exist within the WWE landscape. An athlete can work their way to the spot of the most over star on the roster, the way Braun is right now, and it will be secondary to the plans for Reigns.
WWE brass is "all-in" on Roman Reigns, and no amount of booing from the fans will change that plan.
The reason why is very simple, until it affects revenue, and it won't, there's no reason for management to change their path. It's common knowledge to even the most casual fan that Roman Reigns is the featured WWE star, and earlier this month during a conference call, management touted record-setting revenue of $801 million and profits of nearly $40 million. Clearly, Vince is doing something right. At the very least, Reigns isn't enough to make fans decide to stop spending money on the product. So, from a business prospective, the Roman Reigns push is successful. Keep in mind, drawing money is the entire point of any business. Vince doesn't care if fans pay to cheer Reigns or if they pay to boo him, as long as they buy tickets and network subscriptions, the goal is accomplished.
Granted, the direction of sports entertainment industry was dictated by the fans in the past because they voted with their dollars. If fans didn't approve of what they saw on Raw, they could change the channel to Nitro. As I wrote a few weeks ago, the lack of competition within sports entertainment led to complacency for the WWE. If Vince still battled Ted Turner for ratings and pay-per-view buys, would Roman get another WM push after three failed attempts? It's a harsh reality, but if the general public wants to watch pro wrestling then they will watch WWE. Yes, there are independent promotions, but casual fans are a different demographic and the WWE has 95% of the market. Now, management tells the fans what product is there, and in most cases, wrestling fans will find something they enjoy to justify the time they invest in the product.
The most vocal objections to Reigns are from the diehard fans because those fans are the most aware of the reasons why he gets the forced push. However, their objections are moot because diehard fans follow the product regardless so until the general public rejects Roman, there's no reason to halt his push. Again, business is about money and WWE just had the highest revenue in the history of the company so why change anything?
The other major factor is that Roman Reigns is the prime example of the WWE system because he was trained from scratch after he signed a developmental deal in 2010 because of his last name. If management throws in the towel on Roman as the next John Cena, what does that say about their system to build talent? An entire performance center was built with the theory that the WWE machine can make stars.
So, make no mistake about it, "Big Dawg" will beat Lesnar for the title at WM and he will continue to be the most pushed competitor on the roster. Will the fans suddenly embrace him? Probably not, but it won't make a difference. You can't blame Reigns either, he works hard and he's just doing what he's told, and it's disappointing that the writing team doesn't help the situation. At the same time, the fans have every right to be hostile as well because they've made it more than clear that they don't approve of the anointed champion. It doesn't matter how many scripted matches he wins, the fans don't think Reigns has "earned" his spot. If he has or not depends on who you ask, but if Joe AnoaŹ»i didn't fail at a football career, would Roman Reigns be granted the top spot? His last name is legendary, but the bottom line is, Reigns is only a sports entertainer because he didn't make it in the NFL.
Braun might be the most over star on the roster, but it doesn't matter because he's not Reigns. As mentioned, the company is making major cash so Roman at the top isn't a problem now. But, if missing the boat on several talents during the super push leads to a lack of money-drawing stars in a few years is a different situation. Essentially, the opportunity cost to force the Reigns push is the chance to capitalize on the popularity of other stars when they have the momentum to be elevated to the next level. Strowman got over organically and spontaneously, which is the exact opposite of the road that Roman took to the top spot. Arguably, it's Braun's time to become a big star and he should be the one to take the title from Lesnar at WM 34. On the flip side, WWE brass has too much invested in Reigns to change plans and at this point, if he doesn't work the main event scene, what else is he going to do? He already had the "consolation prizes" of the US and IC belts between main event title runs. Plus, the Shield reunion already happened to try to build him up just prior to the start of the road to Wrestlemania.
The demand might be to see Braun vs. Brock, or maybe anyone else that was in the chamber to get the main event spot of Wrestlemania, but Vince McMahon decided that Roman Reigns is the "best" option for the company so there will be another lackluster conclusion to the biggest show of the year.
Don't believe it? Well, it doesn't matter because Vince McMahon owns professional wrestling in the United States, and if he says that fans will watch Roman Reigns as the top guy then they will watch him.
As most predicted months ago, Roman will officially challenge Brock Lesnar for the Universal title at Wrestlemania 34 after he won the Elimination Chamber match to become the number one contender. The eventual victory for the belt at WM will be yet another culmination of the Reigns super push that has continued over the past four years. In the expected fashion, Braun eliminated the competition from the chamber, implying that he's the unstoppable monster, but that build up was simply to further highlight Roman as the only one in the field of top stars that could pin the monster.
Very similar to the way Braun was built throughout the chamber match to be fed Roman, the Universal champion is on the same path. After Lesnar beat Goldberg, who had an unexpected run as a result of the tremendous reaction he received during his return, at WM 33 to claim the championship, he was promoted as the unbeatable champion. Brock beat Samoa Joe, Strowman, and Kane in various matches throughout the rest of his current title run to emphasize his dominance. The momentum that both Joe and Strowman had earlier this year were used to build the status of Brock, who will ultimately be used to push Roman with the title win at WM 34. The conclusion of Wrestlemania will be a plan that was a year in the making, an aspect that further demonstrates the glass ceiling that exist within the WWE landscape. An athlete can work their way to the spot of the most over star on the roster, the way Braun is right now, and it will be secondary to the plans for Reigns.
WWE brass is "all-in" on Roman Reigns, and no amount of booing from the fans will change that plan.
The reason why is very simple, until it affects revenue, and it won't, there's no reason for management to change their path. It's common knowledge to even the most casual fan that Roman Reigns is the featured WWE star, and earlier this month during a conference call, management touted record-setting revenue of $801 million and profits of nearly $40 million. Clearly, Vince is doing something right. At the very least, Reigns isn't enough to make fans decide to stop spending money on the product. So, from a business prospective, the Roman Reigns push is successful. Keep in mind, drawing money is the entire point of any business. Vince doesn't care if fans pay to cheer Reigns or if they pay to boo him, as long as they buy tickets and network subscriptions, the goal is accomplished.
Granted, the direction of sports entertainment industry was dictated by the fans in the past because they voted with their dollars. If fans didn't approve of what they saw on Raw, they could change the channel to Nitro. As I wrote a few weeks ago, the lack of competition within sports entertainment led to complacency for the WWE. If Vince still battled Ted Turner for ratings and pay-per-view buys, would Roman get another WM push after three failed attempts? It's a harsh reality, but if the general public wants to watch pro wrestling then they will watch WWE. Yes, there are independent promotions, but casual fans are a different demographic and the WWE has 95% of the market. Now, management tells the fans what product is there, and in most cases, wrestling fans will find something they enjoy to justify the time they invest in the product.
The most vocal objections to Reigns are from the diehard fans because those fans are the most aware of the reasons why he gets the forced push. However, their objections are moot because diehard fans follow the product regardless so until the general public rejects Roman, there's no reason to halt his push. Again, business is about money and WWE just had the highest revenue in the history of the company so why change anything?
The other major factor is that Roman Reigns is the prime example of the WWE system because he was trained from scratch after he signed a developmental deal in 2010 because of his last name. If management throws in the towel on Roman as the next John Cena, what does that say about their system to build talent? An entire performance center was built with the theory that the WWE machine can make stars.
So, make no mistake about it, "Big Dawg" will beat Lesnar for the title at WM and he will continue to be the most pushed competitor on the roster. Will the fans suddenly embrace him? Probably not, but it won't make a difference. You can't blame Reigns either, he works hard and he's just doing what he's told, and it's disappointing that the writing team doesn't help the situation. At the same time, the fans have every right to be hostile as well because they've made it more than clear that they don't approve of the anointed champion. It doesn't matter how many scripted matches he wins, the fans don't think Reigns has "earned" his spot. If he has or not depends on who you ask, but if Joe AnoaŹ»i didn't fail at a football career, would Roman Reigns be granted the top spot? His last name is legendary, but the bottom line is, Reigns is only a sports entertainer because he didn't make it in the NFL.
Braun might be the most over star on the roster, but it doesn't matter because he's not Reigns. As mentioned, the company is making major cash so Roman at the top isn't a problem now. But, if missing the boat on several talents during the super push leads to a lack of money-drawing stars in a few years is a different situation. Essentially, the opportunity cost to force the Reigns push is the chance to capitalize on the popularity of other stars when they have the momentum to be elevated to the next level. Strowman got over organically and spontaneously, which is the exact opposite of the road that Roman took to the top spot. Arguably, it's Braun's time to become a big star and he should be the one to take the title from Lesnar at WM 34. On the flip side, WWE brass has too much invested in Reigns to change plans and at this point, if he doesn't work the main event scene, what else is he going to do? He already had the "consolation prizes" of the US and IC belts between main event title runs. Plus, the Shield reunion already happened to try to build him up just prior to the start of the road to Wrestlemania.
The demand might be to see Braun vs. Brock, or maybe anyone else that was in the chamber to get the main event spot of Wrestlemania, but Vince McMahon decided that Roman Reigns is the "best" option for the company so there will be another lackluster conclusion to the biggest show of the year.
Monday, February 19, 2018
The career of Lee Moriarty
As a commentator around the Pittsburgh independent scene, I have the chance to call the matches of a variety of athletes with different levels of experience and varying degrees of potential. Some are well established veterans that have the skills, but just weren't at the right place at the right time to get the major spotlight. Instead, those seasoned grapplers have respectable careers within their area and give back to the industry as a resource for younger talent. On the other end of the spectrum, there will inevitably be dreamers that aren't skilled enough or dedicated enough to make it so they float around local shows until eventually they move on to a new hobby. There are also those that you can tell from the moment they step into the ring that they have the "it factor" to make it big in an often unforgiving industry.
Locally, the Western PA scene has several outlets to showcase several talented athletes. Before he put on the headset to broadcast Raw weekly as Corey Graves, Sterling James Keenan was a mainstay of the iron city. The ability to entertain extended through family ties, and Graves' brother, Sam Adonis is currently one of the biggest heels in Mexico for CMLL. Plus, prior to rejuvenating the X-Division on Impact, DJ Z polished his skills around the Pittsburgh area. But, who is the next breakout star?
Granted, there are several factors that play a role in the path a wrestler takes in their career, but based on pure skill alone, there is a clear answer for who could represent the steel city next on the main stream stage. When I first talked to Lee Moriarty at a Pro Wrestling Express event, he was a quiet, respectful student of one of the most respected veterans of Pittsburgh, Brandon K. When Brandon told me, "Lee is going to be really good," I knew the endorsement meant that the young trainee must've done well learning the basics. However, when I called the action for his debut match in late-2015, it was clear that Lee Moriarty was well beyond basic. Just 22 years old at the time, the rookie carried himself in the squared circle at the level of an athlete with years of experience. He absorbed professional wrestling knowledge as quickly as the sport itself consumed him just over a decade ago when he discovered it.
"I was home alone channel surfing and come across The Boogeyman. His entrance was enough to make me stop and watch what was going to happen next. I immediately became obsessed from that moment on. Nothing else came close to keeping my interest like wrestling has," Lee explained.
However, professional wrestling wasn't his first exposure or interest in athletics. Moriaty played sports extensively throughout his school years, which allowed him to use that athleticism to transition to the sports entertainment genre.
"I studied Tae Kwon Do for a bit around the same time I started watching wrestling, and played on my high school rugby team. Both sports helped me prepare for wrestling mentally and physically because both sports require thick skin and discipline."
As his career progressed throughout 2016, he won championships and elevated his profile with every in-ring performance, impressing fans and contemporaries. His rise through the ranks wasn't without setbacks, as he suffered a serious shoulder injury that required surgery to repair a torn labrum in June of that year, putting him on the shelf for six months. The healing process was as challenging mentally as it was physically.
"I couldn't stay away. I never considered quitting but I did fall into a deep depression my time out. The only thing that would pull me out was still going to training to watch my friends grow and improve," Moriarty said.
It wasn't the first time that the talented athlete had to overcome an obstacle. A few years into his Tae Kwon Do training, his family couldn't afford for him to continue the lessons during his time in high school years so he continued to practice what he learned on his own. Around the same time, he discovered one of his heroes and biggest influences, the legendary Bruce Lee.
"Bruce Lee created his own version of martial arts called Jeet Kune Do that boils down to removing limitations. That always stuck with me. Removing the mindset that I can't do something and changing it to I don't know how to do it yet, but I can learn has helped me through my life. Especially in wrestling. Flipping in the air and landing on my back wasn't something natural to me. Thankfully, I had a mindset to get past those mental blocks. The way I wrestle now is completely different than when I started because of that mindset," he explained.
When Moriarty returned to action inside the ring ropes in early 2017, he was more focused than ever and wanted to expand upon the lessons that he learned from extensive film study of styles used around the world. Soon, he began wrestling for more groups around the tri-state area and his ability earned him an invitation to add international experience to his resume. The previously mentioned DJ Z was impressed with Moriarty's skills and arranged for him to tour Mexico in May of last year. He considers the two weeks he spent south of the boarder to be extremely valuable and one of the highlights of his career so far.
"He set me up with one of his friends, who is a worker named Low Rider, to help me out while down there. He and his wife, Sadika took really good care of me and helped me a ton. I even got to train under a lucha legend named El Oriental. The experience was amazing and I wouldn't trade it for anything."
When he returned to the United States, his momentum continued throughout the year with a series of stellar bouts and culminated when he won a tournament to become the first Grand Champion of his trainer's organization, Ryse Wrestling.
Still the current Ryse champion for Brandon K's promotion, Lee hopes to continue and grow as an athlete in 2018. Perhaps the main quality that will lead to success for him is his humble approach to the sport and his desire to continue to learn as much as possible.
"I think my entire 2017 is a highlight. Between touring Mexico and becoming the first Ryse Grand Champion, I've been very blessed. My overall goal is to make this my primary living. My dream is to do it as a regular competitor in Japan. I just want to thank everyone for their support and help. I honestly didn't expect things to go this well this fast in my career," he said.
Professional wrestling is an unpredictable business, but talent is talent and Lee Moriarty has the skills to become a major star within the industry. All things considered, it might be just a matter of time before this Pittsburgh protege makes his way onto national television, similar to others that had their start in the steel city before they become known to the main stream audience.
Locally, the Western PA scene has several outlets to showcase several talented athletes. Before he put on the headset to broadcast Raw weekly as Corey Graves, Sterling James Keenan was a mainstay of the iron city. The ability to entertain extended through family ties, and Graves' brother, Sam Adonis is currently one of the biggest heels in Mexico for CMLL. Plus, prior to rejuvenating the X-Division on Impact, DJ Z polished his skills around the Pittsburgh area. But, who is the next breakout star?
Granted, there are several factors that play a role in the path a wrestler takes in their career, but based on pure skill alone, there is a clear answer for who could represent the steel city next on the main stream stage. When I first talked to Lee Moriarty at a Pro Wrestling Express event, he was a quiet, respectful student of one of the most respected veterans of Pittsburgh, Brandon K. When Brandon told me, "Lee is going to be really good," I knew the endorsement meant that the young trainee must've done well learning the basics. However, when I called the action for his debut match in late-2015, it was clear that Lee Moriarty was well beyond basic. Just 22 years old at the time, the rookie carried himself in the squared circle at the level of an athlete with years of experience. He absorbed professional wrestling knowledge as quickly as the sport itself consumed him just over a decade ago when he discovered it.
"I was home alone channel surfing and come across The Boogeyman. His entrance was enough to make me stop and watch what was going to happen next. I immediately became obsessed from that moment on. Nothing else came close to keeping my interest like wrestling has," Lee explained.
However, professional wrestling wasn't his first exposure or interest in athletics. Moriaty played sports extensively throughout his school years, which allowed him to use that athleticism to transition to the sports entertainment genre.
"I studied Tae Kwon Do for a bit around the same time I started watching wrestling, and played on my high school rugby team. Both sports helped me prepare for wrestling mentally and physically because both sports require thick skin and discipline."
As his career progressed throughout 2016, he won championships and elevated his profile with every in-ring performance, impressing fans and contemporaries. His rise through the ranks wasn't without setbacks, as he suffered a serious shoulder injury that required surgery to repair a torn labrum in June of that year, putting him on the shelf for six months. The healing process was as challenging mentally as it was physically.
"I couldn't stay away. I never considered quitting but I did fall into a deep depression my time out. The only thing that would pull me out was still going to training to watch my friends grow and improve," Moriarty said.
It wasn't the first time that the talented athlete had to overcome an obstacle. A few years into his Tae Kwon Do training, his family couldn't afford for him to continue the lessons during his time in high school years so he continued to practice what he learned on his own. Around the same time, he discovered one of his heroes and biggest influences, the legendary Bruce Lee.
"Bruce Lee created his own version of martial arts called Jeet Kune Do that boils down to removing limitations. That always stuck with me. Removing the mindset that I can't do something and changing it to I don't know how to do it yet, but I can learn has helped me through my life. Especially in wrestling. Flipping in the air and landing on my back wasn't something natural to me. Thankfully, I had a mindset to get past those mental blocks. The way I wrestle now is completely different than when I started because of that mindset," he explained.
When Moriarty returned to action inside the ring ropes in early 2017, he was more focused than ever and wanted to expand upon the lessons that he learned from extensive film study of styles used around the world. Soon, he began wrestling for more groups around the tri-state area and his ability earned him an invitation to add international experience to his resume. The previously mentioned DJ Z was impressed with Moriarty's skills and arranged for him to tour Mexico in May of last year. He considers the two weeks he spent south of the boarder to be extremely valuable and one of the highlights of his career so far.
"He set me up with one of his friends, who is a worker named Low Rider, to help me out while down there. He and his wife, Sadika took really good care of me and helped me a ton. I even got to train under a lucha legend named El Oriental. The experience was amazing and I wouldn't trade it for anything."
When he returned to the United States, his momentum continued throughout the year with a series of stellar bouts and culminated when he won a tournament to become the first Grand Champion of his trainer's organization, Ryse Wrestling.
Still the current Ryse champion for Brandon K's promotion, Lee hopes to continue and grow as an athlete in 2018. Perhaps the main quality that will lead to success for him is his humble approach to the sport and his desire to continue to learn as much as possible.
"I think my entire 2017 is a highlight. Between touring Mexico and becoming the first Ryse Grand Champion, I've been very blessed. My overall goal is to make this my primary living. My dream is to do it as a regular competitor in Japan. I just want to thank everyone for their support and help. I honestly didn't expect things to go this well this fast in my career," he said.
Professional wrestling is an unpredictable business, but talent is talent and Lee Moriarty has the skills to become a major star within the industry. All things considered, it might be just a matter of time before this Pittsburgh protege makes his way onto national television, similar to others that had their start in the steel city before they become known to the main stream audience.
Friday, February 16, 2018
The marketing of Conor McGregor
Conor McGregor, the brash Dublin native that fought Floyd Mayweather in a boxing match last August, is still widely regarded as the top star of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, the promotion that the WME group bought for $4.2 billion in 2015. McGregor, the current Lightweight champion, formerly held the 145 LBS belt before he vacated the title to defend the championship of the 155 division. It was quite the promotional tool, one that UFC brass delightfully shoehorned into each division, as Conor received a shot at the Lightweight title before he ever defended the Featherweight championship he won after he defeated Jose Aldo.
Clearly, management wanted to market Conor as the two-division champion. But, the marketing monster that they created might come back to bite them.
When management saw their two-division project completed, McGregor posed on top of the octagon with two championships after he defeated Eddie Alvarez at UFC 205. Ronda Rousey suffered her second career loss and was TKO'ed into retirement a month later, cementing Conor as the top star in the organization by a large margin.
The problem is, the Irishman took his status as the top draw in mixed martial arts to the sport of boxing to make exponentially more cash for the previously mentioned Floyd fight than he made in the octagon prior to that. The rumored $100 million payday gave him much leverage in negotiations with UFC president, Dana White. Conor hasn't fought in the cage since he posed with those two championships in November 2016, and questions remain about his status in the company.
Since the McGregor/Mayweather super fight, Max Holloway claimed the Featherweight belt after a pair of wins against Aldo, while Tony Ferguson beat Kevin Lee to win an interim Lightweight title last October. Theoretically, that would set up a Conor/Ferguson contest to determine a unified 155 LBS champion, but Khabib Nurmagomedov is scheduled to fight Ferguson at UFC 223 in April. Khabib, an undefeated contender with a record of 25-0, impressed the UFC pay-per-view audience just a few months ago when he won a lop-sided decision against tough challenger Edson Barboza at UFC 219. It remains unclear if McGregor will be stripped of the title or will be scheduled to fight the winner of Khabib/Ferguson.
To further complicate this situation, a video was posted on social media of Floyd as he walked into the octagon, implying a Mayweather/McGregor rematch could be in the future. On a recent edition of UFC Tonight, Dana suggested a rematch was possible. If Floyd actually signs to fight in the cage and/or if it would sell as well as the boxing pay-per-view is another discussion for another time. The point is, another "super fight" would take McGregor out of the championship conversation and halt the entire division for another extended period of time if he isn't stripped of the belt. On the flip side, if he eventually is stripped, he will go from a two-division champion to a a non-champion without any title defenses, which would dilute the UFC's original marketing plan.
The bottom line is, the UFC pushed Conor as THE fighter of the organization, and it's debatable if the return will be worth the investment. The opportunity cost was the ability to build other legitimate, money-drawing stars while both 145 LBS and 155 LBS divisions were halted so that Conor could fight Floyd in boxing for a mega paycheck. In some ways, that boxing match made McGregor bigger than the UFC because the payoff gave him the financial security to retire if he didn't want to fight in the octagon again. It also forces the UFC to increase the money they offer him to step into the cage again. Basically, the UFC needs Conor more than he needs the organization right now. While management put the pieces in place to give him the opportunity to win two belts, other talented fighters weren't given the same chance to become major stars for the company. Outside of Stipe and Cormier, a bout that is penciled in for July, what UFC regulars truly boost numbers on pay-per-view? The price of UFC events was increased to $65 so who on the roster is really a draw to the casual fan? Keep in mind, diehard MMA fans will watch and appreciate the other talented fighters regardless, but the key to major money in any genre is the ability to draw the general public.
There can be tremendous action on a fight card, but if there aren't stars to motivate the general public to buy the event then from a business prospective, the show isn't as successful as it could be. A prime example is the event from last weekend, Rockhold vs. Romero for an interim belt. The show took place in Australia and featured some entertaining bouts, but the event isn't expected to do major numbers because mostly unknowns were on the card. Rockhold and Romero are well known among fight fans for their impressive skills, but neither athlete is necessarily known to the general public. Ironically, very similar to the lightweight division, the middleweight rankings are left unresolved because Georges St. Pierre was given a title shot four years after he vacated the welterweight title. GSP won the MW title and promptly vacated it, which made the entire title shot pointless.
The sum of all this is, that it's no coincidence that the only major stars currently on the UFC roster are Stipe and Cormier because they fight in divisions that aren't diluted or halted. Sure, one could make the argument that Demetrius Johnson or Cyborg stand out in their respective divisions, but there's not enough depth there to create bouts that are anything more than glorified exhibition contests. On the flip side, the lightweight division has the depth to create intriguing fights, but the ranks are halted because there are questions about if McGregor will actually defend a championship.
Khabib is a marketable star and the persona of the Russian grappler fighting the lavish McGregor could create an intriguing dynamic. The UFC invested a lot of promotional work into the process to market Conor as the top draw in the sport so at least at this point, a McGregor pay-per-view fight is the biggest draw the company has right now. After last year saw a decline in buys, it remains to be seems if the company can cash in the star power of McGregor this year.
Clearly, management wanted to market Conor as the two-division champion. But, the marketing monster that they created might come back to bite them.
When management saw their two-division project completed, McGregor posed on top of the octagon with two championships after he defeated Eddie Alvarez at UFC 205. Ronda Rousey suffered her second career loss and was TKO'ed into retirement a month later, cementing Conor as the top star in the organization by a large margin.
The problem is, the Irishman took his status as the top draw in mixed martial arts to the sport of boxing to make exponentially more cash for the previously mentioned Floyd fight than he made in the octagon prior to that. The rumored $100 million payday gave him much leverage in negotiations with UFC president, Dana White. Conor hasn't fought in the cage since he posed with those two championships in November 2016, and questions remain about his status in the company.
Since the McGregor/Mayweather super fight, Max Holloway claimed the Featherweight belt after a pair of wins against Aldo, while Tony Ferguson beat Kevin Lee to win an interim Lightweight title last October. Theoretically, that would set up a Conor/Ferguson contest to determine a unified 155 LBS champion, but Khabib Nurmagomedov is scheduled to fight Ferguson at UFC 223 in April. Khabib, an undefeated contender with a record of 25-0, impressed the UFC pay-per-view audience just a few months ago when he won a lop-sided decision against tough challenger Edson Barboza at UFC 219. It remains unclear if McGregor will be stripped of the title or will be scheduled to fight the winner of Khabib/Ferguson.
To further complicate this situation, a video was posted on social media of Floyd as he walked into the octagon, implying a Mayweather/McGregor rematch could be in the future. On a recent edition of UFC Tonight, Dana suggested a rematch was possible. If Floyd actually signs to fight in the cage and/or if it would sell as well as the boxing pay-per-view is another discussion for another time. The point is, another "super fight" would take McGregor out of the championship conversation and halt the entire division for another extended period of time if he isn't stripped of the belt. On the flip side, if he eventually is stripped, he will go from a two-division champion to a a non-champion without any title defenses, which would dilute the UFC's original marketing plan.
The bottom line is, the UFC pushed Conor as THE fighter of the organization, and it's debatable if the return will be worth the investment. The opportunity cost was the ability to build other legitimate, money-drawing stars while both 145 LBS and 155 LBS divisions were halted so that Conor could fight Floyd in boxing for a mega paycheck. In some ways, that boxing match made McGregor bigger than the UFC because the payoff gave him the financial security to retire if he didn't want to fight in the octagon again. It also forces the UFC to increase the money they offer him to step into the cage again. Basically, the UFC needs Conor more than he needs the organization right now. While management put the pieces in place to give him the opportunity to win two belts, other talented fighters weren't given the same chance to become major stars for the company. Outside of Stipe and Cormier, a bout that is penciled in for July, what UFC regulars truly boost numbers on pay-per-view? The price of UFC events was increased to $65 so who on the roster is really a draw to the casual fan? Keep in mind, diehard MMA fans will watch and appreciate the other talented fighters regardless, but the key to major money in any genre is the ability to draw the general public.
There can be tremendous action on a fight card, but if there aren't stars to motivate the general public to buy the event then from a business prospective, the show isn't as successful as it could be. A prime example is the event from last weekend, Rockhold vs. Romero for an interim belt. The show took place in Australia and featured some entertaining bouts, but the event isn't expected to do major numbers because mostly unknowns were on the card. Rockhold and Romero are well known among fight fans for their impressive skills, but neither athlete is necessarily known to the general public. Ironically, very similar to the lightweight division, the middleweight rankings are left unresolved because Georges St. Pierre was given a title shot four years after he vacated the welterweight title. GSP won the MW title and promptly vacated it, which made the entire title shot pointless.
The sum of all this is, that it's no coincidence that the only major stars currently on the UFC roster are Stipe and Cormier because they fight in divisions that aren't diluted or halted. Sure, one could make the argument that Demetrius Johnson or Cyborg stand out in their respective divisions, but there's not enough depth there to create bouts that are anything more than glorified exhibition contests. On the flip side, the lightweight division has the depth to create intriguing fights, but the ranks are halted because there are questions about if McGregor will actually defend a championship.
Khabib is a marketable star and the persona of the Russian grappler fighting the lavish McGregor could create an intriguing dynamic. The UFC invested a lot of promotional work into the process to market Conor as the top draw in the sport so at least at this point, a McGregor pay-per-view fight is the biggest draw the company has right now. After last year saw a decline in buys, it remains to be seems if the company can cash in the star power of McGregor this year.
Thursday, February 8, 2018
Book Review:WWE and politics
When I was asked to write a book review about the Donald Trump/WWE connection, I was skeptical. I've written reviews for documentaries and pay-per-view specials, but this was unique territory. As divisive as the past few years have been on the political landscape, I wondered if this assignment was more hassle than it was worth. Depending on someone's political stance, they would either enjoy or despise the tale this book told. In my opinion, the government is more of a work than professional wrestling so I usually subscribed to the wise words of the legendary George Carlin to avoid any high blood pressure.
Still, the similarities between the world of sports entertainment and politics are almost undeniable. Both genres attempt to identify with the audience and motivate them to action. Bill Clinton drew people to the polls the same way that Ric Flair drew crowds to the box office. Regan motivated people to vote, while Bill Watts motivated fans to buy tickets. Another major similarity is that figures from both landscapes attempt to convince the audience that they have the power to impact the results of a particular contest. Barack Obama inspired voters that they cleared the way for "hope and change," which is the same premise Dusty Rhodes used two decades earlier when he told fans their support helped him overcome "hard times."
On the flip side, the blunders from government can be equally compared with some of the more infamous moments of pro wrestling. For example, Anthony Scaramucci's run in the White House was shorter than Al Snow's stint as the Avatar persona in the WWF in 1995. Former Press Secretary, Sean Spicer verbally stumbled his way through press conferences almost as effectively as Mike Adamle's run on WWE TV. Plus, the recent announcement of the return of the XFL might be the biggest mistake since Hillary decided to delete those e mails.
However, when Lavie Margolin, author of over two dozen books about various aspects of career building, sent a copy of "TrumpMania," it was a nice surprise to see the direction the book took on the controversial figure. The author cleverly weaves through the political red tape to trace the origins of the Trump/McMahon friendship in this nonpartisan literary compilation.
So, how exactly did the "battle of the billionaires start?
Margolin goes in-depth with impressive research to give readers solid background information about the way the future President became involved in the sports entertainment game nearly three decades ago. From an extremely wealthy and influential family, Donald Trump always looked for ways to expand his real estate empire. In the early 80s, Trump partnered with Harrah's for the construction of the Trump Plaza Casino, which opened in 1984, the same year that Hulkamania began to run wild, launching the "Rock N Wrestling" era. By 1986, he bought Harrah's share of the complex to gain full control of the establishment. But, he needed entertainment to draw gamblers to his tables. As he touts so often today, Trump negotiated a deal. In 1987, he made an umbrella payment of $3.2 million to book the Gerry Cooney/Michael Spinks boxing match for Trump Plaza. Cooney was an underdog ahead of the bout, as his opponent was undefeated at that point. Cooney was dropped to the canvas in the fifth round before the referee stopped the fight, and gamblers dropped an estimated $7.2 million inside the casino that weekend. Clearly, Trump's "gamble" to use sports to draw players to the tables paid off.
The following year, the WWF rode the wave of momentum of Wrestlemania III, an event that saw over 90,000 spectators in attendance, to fuel anticipation for the fourth edition of the trademark event. As the author explained quite well, the usual procedure to book venues was not the case for Wrestlemania IV. Instead of McMahon's rental of a building and the collection of ticket revenue, Trump actually paid Vince a base price to bring his premiere event to Atlantic City, and collected the box office money himself. It was a win-win situation for everyone, as the financial risk was reduced for McMahon, who still made his normal percentage of pay-per-view buys. At the same time, Trump received ticket revenue and the increase in gambling at his casino.
From a booking prospective, the event was usually viewed negatively because the highly anticipated Hogan/Andre rematch ended in a disappointing double disqualification mid-way through a tournament to determine a new WWF champion. The tournament format that featured over a dozen matches didn't lend itself to a live broadcast. But, the most important aspect of the event, the business side of the collaboration, was extremely successful. The 1988 edition drew nearly 20,000 fans and the same event was already booked at Trump Plaza the next year. After two consecutive years of collaboration, the McMahon/Trump tag team certainly proved successful.
However, there were other moments from pro wrestling that are often forgotten from Trump's Atlantic City empire. GLOW, the original women's group from the 80s, was booked for a non-televised event at a smaller Trump venue. The show was free for spectators in an attempt to draw more gamblers into the building, and Trump was featured in a hokey taped skit that aired in front of the live audience. There was also the little known attempt at a WCW pay-per-view, that was scheduled for a Trump-owned building, but was later moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The Turner event was relocated because Trump had another pay-per-view event planned, a one-on-one game of basketball between NBA legends, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Julius Erving. While the basketball event on PPV flopped, the more infamous blunder from the same time period was the initial WBF pay-per-view that was held at the Trump Taj Mahal in 1991. The WBF folded the following year, and many of Trump's buildings in Atlantic City closed since his days of hosting high profile sports there.
Aside from a pair of Wrestlemania events in the 80s, Donald Trump's involvement in sports entertainment is often associated with his appearance at Wrestlemania 23, where he did a storyline with Vince McMahon for a hair vs. hair match. Margolin highlighted some of the promotional work the real estate mogul did for the event and did some digging to tell an interesting story about Stone Cold's involvement in the match. The McMahon/Trump showdown did good business, as it was one of the most lucrative Wrestlemania events in the history of the company.
Fast forward to his political campaign in 2016 and the former reality TV star, much as he did during his time on "The Apprentice," borrowed from the sports entertainment playbook to get his agenda across to the public. With a Hogan-level tan, the orange newcomer to the political scene held rallies that resembled pro wrestling promos from the 80s. He chanted, he had catchphrases, and there were occasional punches thrown in the audience. Basically, Trump played the role of the "pro wrestling villain," which isn't necessarily a negative depending on a person's political stance. Keep in mind, there is always a segment of the audience that wants to cheer for the villain in the movies. Similar to how a heel would break the rules in a match, Trump promised to "break the rules of Washington" with a pledge to "drain the swamp." He even insulted his challengers with names such as "Lyin' Ted," "Little Marco," and "Crooked Hillary."
Raven, the brooding grappler from ECW fame, once explained in an interview that "it's better to be loved or hated because nobody cares if you're in between." Trump certainly found that element of human psychology and exploited it to the fullest. Regardless of the opinion of his claims, Trump's election debates provided compelling television. In the past, the mild-mannered Bob Doyle generated about as much emotion at the podium as a Verne Gagne promo. When Trump's rhetoric garnered jeers from the audience, he scolded those in the crowd, similar to a typical wrestling heel. Plus, maybe Nikolai Volkoff did help him win the election?
As the book progresses, it covers Linda McMahon's appointment to Washington as a member of Trump's cabinet in a role as the administrator of the Small Business Administration. Margolin detailed Linda's two previous attempts to win a Senate seat, which costs her an estimated $100 million combined. However, Linda's contribution of $6.5 million to Trump's presidential bid was enough to get her a spot in his administration. Ted Dibiase was right, everyone has a price.
In the year since Trump's victory, the political scene had more swerves than a Russo WCW storyline. Reports of corruption within the DNC seemed to suggest that Hillary might not have been the unstained candidate she claimed to be during her campaign. Several from the Trump team were future endeavored, and Trump appears to be avoiding Robert Muller more than JTG avoids a phone call from Johnny Ace.
Overall, the book is an entertaining look at some of the over-the-top promotions of Trump and the WWE. The only major criticism toward the book is that while its nonpartisan view allows it to be enjoyed by a wider audience, that same approach can lack substance at times. Still, it provides an enjoyable read about a subject that too often results in nonsensical arguments on social media.
Still, the similarities between the world of sports entertainment and politics are almost undeniable. Both genres attempt to identify with the audience and motivate them to action. Bill Clinton drew people to the polls the same way that Ric Flair drew crowds to the box office. Regan motivated people to vote, while Bill Watts motivated fans to buy tickets. Another major similarity is that figures from both landscapes attempt to convince the audience that they have the power to impact the results of a particular contest. Barack Obama inspired voters that they cleared the way for "hope and change," which is the same premise Dusty Rhodes used two decades earlier when he told fans their support helped him overcome "hard times."
On the flip side, the blunders from government can be equally compared with some of the more infamous moments of pro wrestling. For example, Anthony Scaramucci's run in the White House was shorter than Al Snow's stint as the Avatar persona in the WWF in 1995. Former Press Secretary, Sean Spicer verbally stumbled his way through press conferences almost as effectively as Mike Adamle's run on WWE TV. Plus, the recent announcement of the return of the XFL might be the biggest mistake since Hillary decided to delete those e mails.
However, when Lavie Margolin, author of over two dozen books about various aspects of career building, sent a copy of "TrumpMania," it was a nice surprise to see the direction the book took on the controversial figure. The author cleverly weaves through the political red tape to trace the origins of the Trump/McMahon friendship in this nonpartisan literary compilation.
So, how exactly did the "battle of the billionaires start?
Margolin goes in-depth with impressive research to give readers solid background information about the way the future President became involved in the sports entertainment game nearly three decades ago. From an extremely wealthy and influential family, Donald Trump always looked for ways to expand his real estate empire. In the early 80s, Trump partnered with Harrah's for the construction of the Trump Plaza Casino, which opened in 1984, the same year that Hulkamania began to run wild, launching the "Rock N Wrestling" era. By 1986, he bought Harrah's share of the complex to gain full control of the establishment. But, he needed entertainment to draw gamblers to his tables. As he touts so often today, Trump negotiated a deal. In 1987, he made an umbrella payment of $3.2 million to book the Gerry Cooney/Michael Spinks boxing match for Trump Plaza. Cooney was an underdog ahead of the bout, as his opponent was undefeated at that point. Cooney was dropped to the canvas in the fifth round before the referee stopped the fight, and gamblers dropped an estimated $7.2 million inside the casino that weekend. Clearly, Trump's "gamble" to use sports to draw players to the tables paid off.
The following year, the WWF rode the wave of momentum of Wrestlemania III, an event that saw over 90,000 spectators in attendance, to fuel anticipation for the fourth edition of the trademark event. As the author explained quite well, the usual procedure to book venues was not the case for Wrestlemania IV. Instead of McMahon's rental of a building and the collection of ticket revenue, Trump actually paid Vince a base price to bring his premiere event to Atlantic City, and collected the box office money himself. It was a win-win situation for everyone, as the financial risk was reduced for McMahon, who still made his normal percentage of pay-per-view buys. At the same time, Trump received ticket revenue and the increase in gambling at his casino.
From a booking prospective, the event was usually viewed negatively because the highly anticipated Hogan/Andre rematch ended in a disappointing double disqualification mid-way through a tournament to determine a new WWF champion. The tournament format that featured over a dozen matches didn't lend itself to a live broadcast. But, the most important aspect of the event, the business side of the collaboration, was extremely successful. The 1988 edition drew nearly 20,000 fans and the same event was already booked at Trump Plaza the next year. After two consecutive years of collaboration, the McMahon/Trump tag team certainly proved successful.
However, there were other moments from pro wrestling that are often forgotten from Trump's Atlantic City empire. GLOW, the original women's group from the 80s, was booked for a non-televised event at a smaller Trump venue. The show was free for spectators in an attempt to draw more gamblers into the building, and Trump was featured in a hokey taped skit that aired in front of the live audience. There was also the little known attempt at a WCW pay-per-view, that was scheduled for a Trump-owned building, but was later moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The Turner event was relocated because Trump had another pay-per-view event planned, a one-on-one game of basketball between NBA legends, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Julius Erving. While the basketball event on PPV flopped, the more infamous blunder from the same time period was the initial WBF pay-per-view that was held at the Trump Taj Mahal in 1991. The WBF folded the following year, and many of Trump's buildings in Atlantic City closed since his days of hosting high profile sports there.
Aside from a pair of Wrestlemania events in the 80s, Donald Trump's involvement in sports entertainment is often associated with his appearance at Wrestlemania 23, where he did a storyline with Vince McMahon for a hair vs. hair match. Margolin highlighted some of the promotional work the real estate mogul did for the event and did some digging to tell an interesting story about Stone Cold's involvement in the match. The McMahon/Trump showdown did good business, as it was one of the most lucrative Wrestlemania events in the history of the company.
Fast forward to his political campaign in 2016 and the former reality TV star, much as he did during his time on "The Apprentice," borrowed from the sports entertainment playbook to get his agenda across to the public. With a Hogan-level tan, the orange newcomer to the political scene held rallies that resembled pro wrestling promos from the 80s. He chanted, he had catchphrases, and there were occasional punches thrown in the audience. Basically, Trump played the role of the "pro wrestling villain," which isn't necessarily a negative depending on a person's political stance. Keep in mind, there is always a segment of the audience that wants to cheer for the villain in the movies. Similar to how a heel would break the rules in a match, Trump promised to "break the rules of Washington" with a pledge to "drain the swamp." He even insulted his challengers with names such as "Lyin' Ted," "Little Marco," and "Crooked Hillary."
Raven, the brooding grappler from ECW fame, once explained in an interview that "it's better to be loved or hated because nobody cares if you're in between." Trump certainly found that element of human psychology and exploited it to the fullest. Regardless of the opinion of his claims, Trump's election debates provided compelling television. In the past, the mild-mannered Bob Doyle generated about as much emotion at the podium as a Verne Gagne promo. When Trump's rhetoric garnered jeers from the audience, he scolded those in the crowd, similar to a typical wrestling heel. Plus, maybe Nikolai Volkoff did help him win the election?
As the book progresses, it covers Linda McMahon's appointment to Washington as a member of Trump's cabinet in a role as the administrator of the Small Business Administration. Margolin detailed Linda's two previous attempts to win a Senate seat, which costs her an estimated $100 million combined. However, Linda's contribution of $6.5 million to Trump's presidential bid was enough to get her a spot in his administration. Ted Dibiase was right, everyone has a price.
In the year since Trump's victory, the political scene had more swerves than a Russo WCW storyline. Reports of corruption within the DNC seemed to suggest that Hillary might not have been the unstained candidate she claimed to be during her campaign. Several from the Trump team were future endeavored, and Trump appears to be avoiding Robert Muller more than JTG avoids a phone call from Johnny Ace.
Overall, the book is an entertaining look at some of the over-the-top promotions of Trump and the WWE. The only major criticism toward the book is that while its nonpartisan view allows it to be enjoyed by a wider audience, that same approach can lack substance at times. Still, it provides an enjoyable read about a subject that too often results in nonsensical arguments on social media.
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