Just days after the WWE's biggest event on the wrestling calendar, rumors began to swirl about the potential television deal for All Elite Wrestling, the group founded by the Young Bucks and Cody Rhodes, and funded by the billionaire Khan family. All Elite sold out its first pay-per-view, Double or Nothing, a spin off of last year's All-in event, a few months ago in mere minutes. Next month, the MGM Grand in Las Vegas will host the kickoff PPV as the new promotion officially launches. Considering the money behind it and the talent already inked for the project, this is probably the biggest chance at a true alternative in the professional wrestling industry since WCW shut down.
Warner Media, which was included in a merger purchase by AT&T last year, has a complex history through its acquisitions, sales, and mergers. However, the point being that networks such as, TBS, TNT, and HBO are under that umbrella. As reported by the Fight Oracle on Twitter, Warner Media is scheduled to promote All Elite Wrestling at its "upfronts"next month for potential advertisers. A television-based term, "upfronts" is essentially a conference that allows networks to sell commercial time to different advertisers and sponsors. For Warner, it gives them a chance to secure revenue and guarantee that revenue prior to a show's debut. For advertisers, it gives them the best possible price to get that slot for the commercial time because obviously, higher rated shows demand a higher price for advertisements. So, in theory, it's a win-win situation for everyone involved. That being said, this showcase and more specifically, the initial response to it could give an indication if AEW could be a main stream success.
One of the main reasons that WWE is the publicly-traded global company that it is today is based on its ability to generate multiple revenue streams. As reported a lot, the promotion will have record-setting revenue and profits next year because of the new TV contract that starts in October of this year. Networks wanted live sports to attempt to offset DVR viewing and were willing to invest major cash because despite any complains about the shows, WWE delivers a consistently solid ratings in terms of the television business. The WWE network subscriptions, merchandise, live event tickets, international TV deals, and ad revenue are among the other revenue streams for the company. Main stream sponsorships from Snickers, and licensing deals from Mattel not only generate money, but also add to the intrinsic value of the organization, which helps the stock price.
The point being, AEW or any other entity that attempts to be a major force in the sports entertainment industry simply can't rely on just ticket sales and pay-per-view buys to be successful. All Elite's ability to secure decent money to produce their television show and to garner advertisers are some of the keys to success for the organization. You can produce the best wrestling show on TV, but if networks aren't willing to pay for it, and it's not easily accessible to fans, what difference does it make?
Don't get me wrong, All Elite has the talent and the funding, but distribution might be the biggest piece of the puzzle for them. Remember when ECW went out of business? Ultimately, what tanked ECW? The fact that they spent themselves into debt to produce a TV show that didn't do anything to generate money beyond the platform to further promote live event tickets or pay-per-view buys. When TNN cancelled ECW, how exactly was the company supposed to advertise there was going to be an event in a specific city? Even with television, the promotion of live events or pay-per-view isn't an automatic success, which was proven by TNA's dismal numbers during their run on Spike TV.
Ironically, since TBS and TNT are a part of the same cable package, both channels yield nearly 80% television clearance, which is comparable to the now-Paramount Network, formerly Spike TV. Assuming that the speculation is true and AEW would land under the Warner Media banner, that would give their show main stream exposure and the easy accessibility for the promotion to get off the ground. Furthermore, if the "upfronts" of Warner show that advertisers want to invest commercial time into the product, that's a solid indication of stability for the project on a long term basis. Keep in mind, as great as the All-In and MGM sellouts were, it's very different to book a company successfully on a continuous base than booking individual shows based on dream matches.
Some have already jumped to the conclusion that All Elite Wrestling is already competition for the WWE, but those fans are very misguided. The WWE empire has decades of history and establishment behind it. As I've mentioned several times before, success for AEW shouldn't be measured by competition against Vince McMahon, but rather its ability to generate revenue and become profitable. From a business prospective, profitability is the only measure of success that matters. With HBO under the Warner umbrella, some speculation surfaced that perhaps a few AEW specials might land on the channel, and while it would be unique, I doubt it will happen. HBO, which had 45 years of boxing coverage in its history, was more or less pushed out of the boxing business by DAZN's mega offers to Canelo Alvarez, Gennady Golovkin, and Anthony Joshua, as well as the Top Rank/ESPN deal that brought boxing bouts to that network on a regular basis. HBO could use a spark in terms of its sports-based programming, but if AEW is going to run on any type of premium platform, it makes sense to broadcast on pay-per-view to maximize the potential revenue from the event.
When and where AEW lands on TV remains to be seen, but this story and the potential impact it could have on the structure of the industry is one of the most intriguing scenarios of the past decade and a half. There's a promotion with a stacked roster and a TV deal to at least put them in the same conversation as the WWE, which was something that didn't seem possible just a few years ago. While it's under different ownership, it's still somewhat ironic that the same channels that broadcast WCW, Vince McMahon's last legitimate competition, might be the same network to showcase the next alternative in the industry.
Friday, April 12, 2019
Wednesday, April 10, 2019
Wrestlemania 35 review
The marathon that was Wrestlemania 35 is in the books, and as with most things in sports entertainment, there are varying opinions on what was or wasn't a success at the event that saw 80,000 fans in attendance at the venue. Since it would be rather difficult to cover each of the 12 matches on the main card in-depth, I will attempt to generally summarize the action and how the results could impact the product.
The jump start of Brock Lesnar vs. Seth Rollins to open the show was smart because it allowed for the match to be spotlighted while the crowd was fresh. The match itself was solid, and while it wasn't anything spectacular with just 10 minutes on the card, it was good enough to give Seth Rollins a boost going forward. If that scenario suited Brock's extended run as champion is a different matter. I wrote nearly two years ago that Lesnar's "rare appearance" schedule had led to diminishing returns so I think the overall positive that can be taken from this bout is that Raw might actually be able to use the champion to book a compelling product on a more regular basis. At the same time, I'm not sure the victory over Brock necessarily does anything to establish Rollins as a bigger star than he was previously. As far as momentum goes, much of Rollins' career was halted at various times because of injuries and that almost typecast him at a certain level in terms of star power. Just two weeks ago, during an interview to promote Wrestlemania, Rollins mentioned that he's working through some injuries. The point being that at a relatively young age, Seth already has a lot of miles on his body and the argument could be made that he's injury prone. Don't get me wrong, Rollins is one of the most talented in-ring performers of the modern era and he certainly brings a lot to the table, but historically, Wrestlemania is usually a platform to further establish a performer. That's not really what happened for Seth Rollins at the event.
The two four-way tag title matches seemed like they were booked more to get as many performers on the card as possible than anything. One four-way might've been okay, but with so many teams thrown into the mix, it almost takes away from the division in some ways because feuds aren't directly built between teams for the titles.
The AJ Styles/Randy Orton bout was solid, but nothing too spectacular. In truth, I expected more from this match, mostly because of the caliber of both athletes. AJ Styles doesn't seem to have a lesser gear, but Orton's effort at various times throughout his career might be questionable. Make no mistake about it, Orton has top-tier ability, but it rarely shows through, depending on what match he's booked for. Perhaps, Orton is just working smart because at 39, maybe he wants to avoid any potential injury while he continues to be one of the highest paid on the roster. Furthermore, the build to this contest was rather minimal so the fact that Styles won doesn't really make a difference for his status in the company.
Speaking of potential injuries, Samoa Joe/Rey Mysterio was a very short match because Rey was injured on the previous week's Raw. All things considered, there's nothing wrong with this finish, as it made Joe look like a monster on a big stage, and Rey is over to the point that it doesn't matter if he wins or loses. That said, it's concerning that Rey is already dealing with another injury this early in his return to the company. Hopefully, he will work a lighter schedule because it would be very disappointing if a major injury ended his career. I'd rather see him retire with a proper farewell than the risk of an injury to finish his run.
The Miz/Shane match was overbooked, but they got the highlight reel moment with the suplex so it's probably mission accomplished. I understand that they were going for heat when Shane attacked Miz's dad, but instead of heat, it looked like a rather lame attempt at comedy. Was Miz's dad in the ring really needed for this angle? More than anything, on a show that had several weapons and tables used, was this match more than the previously mentioned suplex spot?
The WWE title match was an example of tremendous story-telling and the results of when the fans are emotionally invested in an angle. This heel run continued to prove why Daniel Bryan will be known as one of the best to ever lace up a pair of boots when his run in the sport concludes. After management fumbled his return to the ring last year, Bryan was able to make the most of a heel turn and become one of the most over villains in the company after he was the most over babyface just a few years earlier. I've written several times that when a competitor gets over organically and spontaneously, the audience is emotionally invested in them. That emotional investment is the key to drawing money in sports entertainment. When Kofi Kingston had a chance to win the WWE title at the Elimination Chamber, it was a night that elevated his status. The fans know that Kofi worked over a decade to reach that level and rallied to see him win it. The defeat at the chamber only set up for a bigger moment for a win at Wrestlemania. It's often said that sports entertainment is about moments, and when Kofi embraced the New Day with his kids, it was a very emotional moment in the ring. It's obvious how much it meant to the members of the New Day and what it represented for the fans.
The Roman Reigns/Drew McIntyre match was decent, but aside from the entrances, this match was something that could've been seen on Raw. That said, there's probably not any contest that could've gotten a reaction after the emotional conclusion to the WWE title match. However, as mentioned earlier, in theory, Wrestlemania is supposed to be a stage where performers are bigger stars afterward. Again, I don't think this scenario did anything to elevate McIntyre or Reigns in the company.
The Triple H/Batista match was another on the card that was overbooked and went too long, especially when you consider that it took place roughly four hours into the show. It appears that they tried to use weapons to camouflage the fact that two part-time wrestlers near 50 went almost 25 minutes at the biggest show of the year. Ironically, this match was the longest bout on the card. Kurt Angle's retirement match followed this and was short enough, considering the physical wear that Angle has shown recently, but I don't know why Baron Corbin had to go over. Does Corbin have the potential for a major run in the future? After that, Finn Balor defeated Bobby Lashley for the IC title, and it was probably the best a match can be when it's given less than 5 minutes on the show.
The main event was solid and it was the right decision to book Becky Lynch to win the titles. I've read conflicting reports about if Ronda was supposed to keep her shoulder off the canvas for the finish or if it was a botch. If the shoulder up was planned, it's almost counterproductive to the entire angle. If WWE brass is going to put Lynch over, why not put her off as much as possible? Why not use the stage of a historic main event to make her the biggest star possible?
Overall, Wrestlemania 35 was a solid event that had some entertaining matches. However, the biggest takeaway from this event is that the show is way too long. The show went 5 and a half hours, there's no way that management doesn't see the pitfalls of this. Wrestlemania should be entertaining, not tedious chores to watch for the audience. Too often on this show, you just wanted to be able to fast forward through the cannon fodder and get to the matches that were important on the event.
The jump start of Brock Lesnar vs. Seth Rollins to open the show was smart because it allowed for the match to be spotlighted while the crowd was fresh. The match itself was solid, and while it wasn't anything spectacular with just 10 minutes on the card, it was good enough to give Seth Rollins a boost going forward. If that scenario suited Brock's extended run as champion is a different matter. I wrote nearly two years ago that Lesnar's "rare appearance" schedule had led to diminishing returns so I think the overall positive that can be taken from this bout is that Raw might actually be able to use the champion to book a compelling product on a more regular basis. At the same time, I'm not sure the victory over Brock necessarily does anything to establish Rollins as a bigger star than he was previously. As far as momentum goes, much of Rollins' career was halted at various times because of injuries and that almost typecast him at a certain level in terms of star power. Just two weeks ago, during an interview to promote Wrestlemania, Rollins mentioned that he's working through some injuries. The point being that at a relatively young age, Seth already has a lot of miles on his body and the argument could be made that he's injury prone. Don't get me wrong, Rollins is one of the most talented in-ring performers of the modern era and he certainly brings a lot to the table, but historically, Wrestlemania is usually a platform to further establish a performer. That's not really what happened for Seth Rollins at the event.
The two four-way tag title matches seemed like they were booked more to get as many performers on the card as possible than anything. One four-way might've been okay, but with so many teams thrown into the mix, it almost takes away from the division in some ways because feuds aren't directly built between teams for the titles.
The AJ Styles/Randy Orton bout was solid, but nothing too spectacular. In truth, I expected more from this match, mostly because of the caliber of both athletes. AJ Styles doesn't seem to have a lesser gear, but Orton's effort at various times throughout his career might be questionable. Make no mistake about it, Orton has top-tier ability, but it rarely shows through, depending on what match he's booked for. Perhaps, Orton is just working smart because at 39, maybe he wants to avoid any potential injury while he continues to be one of the highest paid on the roster. Furthermore, the build to this contest was rather minimal so the fact that Styles won doesn't really make a difference for his status in the company.
Speaking of potential injuries, Samoa Joe/Rey Mysterio was a very short match because Rey was injured on the previous week's Raw. All things considered, there's nothing wrong with this finish, as it made Joe look like a monster on a big stage, and Rey is over to the point that it doesn't matter if he wins or loses. That said, it's concerning that Rey is already dealing with another injury this early in his return to the company. Hopefully, he will work a lighter schedule because it would be very disappointing if a major injury ended his career. I'd rather see him retire with a proper farewell than the risk of an injury to finish his run.
The Miz/Shane match was overbooked, but they got the highlight reel moment with the suplex so it's probably mission accomplished. I understand that they were going for heat when Shane attacked Miz's dad, but instead of heat, it looked like a rather lame attempt at comedy. Was Miz's dad in the ring really needed for this angle? More than anything, on a show that had several weapons and tables used, was this match more than the previously mentioned suplex spot?
The WWE title match was an example of tremendous story-telling and the results of when the fans are emotionally invested in an angle. This heel run continued to prove why Daniel Bryan will be known as one of the best to ever lace up a pair of boots when his run in the sport concludes. After management fumbled his return to the ring last year, Bryan was able to make the most of a heel turn and become one of the most over villains in the company after he was the most over babyface just a few years earlier. I've written several times that when a competitor gets over organically and spontaneously, the audience is emotionally invested in them. That emotional investment is the key to drawing money in sports entertainment. When Kofi Kingston had a chance to win the WWE title at the Elimination Chamber, it was a night that elevated his status. The fans know that Kofi worked over a decade to reach that level and rallied to see him win it. The defeat at the chamber only set up for a bigger moment for a win at Wrestlemania. It's often said that sports entertainment is about moments, and when Kofi embraced the New Day with his kids, it was a very emotional moment in the ring. It's obvious how much it meant to the members of the New Day and what it represented for the fans.
The Roman Reigns/Drew McIntyre match was decent, but aside from the entrances, this match was something that could've been seen on Raw. That said, there's probably not any contest that could've gotten a reaction after the emotional conclusion to the WWE title match. However, as mentioned earlier, in theory, Wrestlemania is supposed to be a stage where performers are bigger stars afterward. Again, I don't think this scenario did anything to elevate McIntyre or Reigns in the company.
The Triple H/Batista match was another on the card that was overbooked and went too long, especially when you consider that it took place roughly four hours into the show. It appears that they tried to use weapons to camouflage the fact that two part-time wrestlers near 50 went almost 25 minutes at the biggest show of the year. Ironically, this match was the longest bout on the card. Kurt Angle's retirement match followed this and was short enough, considering the physical wear that Angle has shown recently, but I don't know why Baron Corbin had to go over. Does Corbin have the potential for a major run in the future? After that, Finn Balor defeated Bobby Lashley for the IC title, and it was probably the best a match can be when it's given less than 5 minutes on the show.
The main event was solid and it was the right decision to book Becky Lynch to win the titles. I've read conflicting reports about if Ronda was supposed to keep her shoulder off the canvas for the finish or if it was a botch. If the shoulder up was planned, it's almost counterproductive to the entire angle. If WWE brass is going to put Lynch over, why not put her off as much as possible? Why not use the stage of a historic main event to make her the biggest star possible?
Overall, Wrestlemania 35 was a solid event that had some entertaining matches. However, the biggest takeaway from this event is that the show is way too long. The show went 5 and a half hours, there's no way that management doesn't see the pitfalls of this. Wrestlemania should be entertaining, not tedious chores to watch for the audience. Too often on this show, you just wanted to be able to fast forward through the cannon fodder and get to the matches that were important on the event.
Thursday, April 4, 2019
What sells Wrestlemania?
The biggest show of the year, Wrestlemania is just a few days away and somehow there seems to be less buzz around the show than usual. Maybe it's the tedious and uninspiring booking ahead of the top show on the WWE calendar, considering that Baron Corbin worked the main event segment on the "go home" edition of Raw this week. Aside from a few particular bouts on the show, I'm not really looking forward to this card and can't choose a specific reason.
As I mentioned in an article a few months ago, the structure of the WWE business model promotes the brand ahead of any specific star, a strategy that has its positives and negatives. On one hand, building the WWE brand into a global entity gives the company leverage with licensing deals, TV contracts, and brand recognition. Let's not forget, Wrestlemania became an event that cities bid on to host and is considered one of the most valuable events in sports in terms of the economic boost it brings to the venue. When the organization begins to collect $2.4 billion on its new television deal later this year, much of that was possible because networks want live sports content and WWE programming has a dedicated viewing audience. Even the name value of Wrestlemania itself sells most of the tickets months before a card is announced. Fans buy tickets based on the history of the show and the chance to attend the spectacle, not necessarily because of what performers are booked on the card. In much the same way, pay-per-view isn't really sold based on the card, more so the value of the Wrestlemania name, because with just $10 a month for a network subscription, the event doesn't have to justify the traditional $50 cost as it did in years past, but rather just the usual $10 for the network subscription. The downside of this is that WM, from a PPV revenue standpoint became just another pay-per-view instead of a premium show in the past.
Post-WCW, when the business wasn't fueled by competition within the industry, Vince McMahon was able to present his empire as the example of professional wrestling in the United States. The letters WWE became the primary draw, not the stars on the show. The plus side for the publicly-traded company is that if someone get injured, their business doesn't take a major dive. Another aspect is that if a performer threatens to leave, the company isn't forced to meet their demands. The flip side of that is that when competitors basically become interchangeable, that's possible because their level of star power usually plateaus with the popularity of the company. This might be a drastic example, but when Raw and Nitro set ratings records, it was based on the stars that the audience tuned in to watch, which was emphasized when viewers switched between channels to watch specific stars.
How many wrestlers currently on the WWE roster truly move the numbers? How many under contract right now are legitimate money-drawing stars? That's not a jab at the current generation either. The argument could be made that there's more in-ring talent with more potential under WWE deals now than any other time in history. However, the structure of the product with the 50/50 booking and some of the cringe worthy segments almost hinder the process of competitors that become major stars. The example I used previously, Seth Rollins is a bigger star than Mojo Rawley, but would it really make a difference if Finn Balor was booked to wrestle Brock Lesnar at Wrestlemania instead? Don't get me wrong, Rollins and Balor are two of the most talented athletes of their generation, but in terms of star power, would one sells more tickets than the other? Keep in mind, Rollins worked the same IC title picture for most of last year that Finn is booked for now. So, the question is, did Rollins vs. Lesnar sell WM or did the name itself sell the tickets? Again, when the organization is more of a draw than the performers, the popularity of individual stars will plateau under the glass ceiling. More often than not, competitors get lost in the shuffle until they are booked for a relatively short push then regulated to 50/50 mediocrity.
When you look at the main card with a dozen matches, it's no coincidence that the few matches that stand out are the bouts that feature performers that haven't been lost in the shuffle of the sports entertainment empire. Becky Lynch has maximized her minutes on TV and if it's presented right, she could be one of the few to move the numbers in 2019. Kofi organically and spontaneously got over at the Elimination Chamber, and while the writing team has tried to shoehorn the narrative of a repeat of Daniel Bryan's WM run from 2014, it's a safe bet that when the bell ring, Bryan and Kofi could set the stage for a career-making moment to elevate Kofi as a main event star. Surprisingly, Batista/Triple H is probably the best booked feud ahead of the show with only a few weeks to build it. How the match with two part-time wrestlers near 50 will go remains to be seen, but this angle proves that it doesn't take 38 writers with over-scripted promos to provide a compelling storyline. Batista is a tremendous heel and has heat based on the Ric Flair attack. Triple H is the babyface in this scenario that will try to get revenge for his friend. It's a rather simple situation if the right elements are used. At the same time, this bout is somewhat diluted when you consider that Triple H seems to inconspicuously switch from baby face to heel depending on the show. The whole "career on the line" stipulation seems rather silly, considering that Shawn Michaels worked a match less than six months ago.
That leaves another nine matches on the card, and while nothing jumps out as a potential train wreck, it almost guarantees that a portion of the night gets lost in the shuffle and solid matches could be overlooked simply because the show is too long. I've said it several times before and I will say it again, a longer show doesn't automatically translate to a better show. In this situation, a potential six-hour marathon could actually do more to takeaway than add to the event. Realistically, how are moments supposed to stand out during a six hour show? That lends to another key point, if nearly every wrestler on the roster is booked for the show, how exactly is a spot on the card prestigious?
Granted, much of this moot because the tickets are already sold and the previously mentioned TV deal is signed. Next year will bring record-setting revenue and profit for the company. Still, it's somewhat disappointing that a major portion of the show seems skippable. Finn/Lashley was already on Raw several times, the tag matches seemed to shoehorn as many teams as possible just to get more wrestlers on the card, Kurt Angle looked to be physically worn down in recent weeks, and does anyone really care if Shane McMahon is a heel? Maybe I'm too jaded, but considering the talent under WWE contract, it just seems like there should be more hype for this event. More than anything, this might be an indication that the structure that generated several hours of programming might actually hinder the quality of the product.
As I mentioned in an article a few months ago, the structure of the WWE business model promotes the brand ahead of any specific star, a strategy that has its positives and negatives. On one hand, building the WWE brand into a global entity gives the company leverage with licensing deals, TV contracts, and brand recognition. Let's not forget, Wrestlemania became an event that cities bid on to host and is considered one of the most valuable events in sports in terms of the economic boost it brings to the venue. When the organization begins to collect $2.4 billion on its new television deal later this year, much of that was possible because networks want live sports content and WWE programming has a dedicated viewing audience. Even the name value of Wrestlemania itself sells most of the tickets months before a card is announced. Fans buy tickets based on the history of the show and the chance to attend the spectacle, not necessarily because of what performers are booked on the card. In much the same way, pay-per-view isn't really sold based on the card, more so the value of the Wrestlemania name, because with just $10 a month for a network subscription, the event doesn't have to justify the traditional $50 cost as it did in years past, but rather just the usual $10 for the network subscription. The downside of this is that WM, from a PPV revenue standpoint became just another pay-per-view instead of a premium show in the past.
Post-WCW, when the business wasn't fueled by competition within the industry, Vince McMahon was able to present his empire as the example of professional wrestling in the United States. The letters WWE became the primary draw, not the stars on the show. The plus side for the publicly-traded company is that if someone get injured, their business doesn't take a major dive. Another aspect is that if a performer threatens to leave, the company isn't forced to meet their demands. The flip side of that is that when competitors basically become interchangeable, that's possible because their level of star power usually plateaus with the popularity of the company. This might be a drastic example, but when Raw and Nitro set ratings records, it was based on the stars that the audience tuned in to watch, which was emphasized when viewers switched between channels to watch specific stars.
How many wrestlers currently on the WWE roster truly move the numbers? How many under contract right now are legitimate money-drawing stars? That's not a jab at the current generation either. The argument could be made that there's more in-ring talent with more potential under WWE deals now than any other time in history. However, the structure of the product with the 50/50 booking and some of the cringe worthy segments almost hinder the process of competitors that become major stars. The example I used previously, Seth Rollins is a bigger star than Mojo Rawley, but would it really make a difference if Finn Balor was booked to wrestle Brock Lesnar at Wrestlemania instead? Don't get me wrong, Rollins and Balor are two of the most talented athletes of their generation, but in terms of star power, would one sells more tickets than the other? Keep in mind, Rollins worked the same IC title picture for most of last year that Finn is booked for now. So, the question is, did Rollins vs. Lesnar sell WM or did the name itself sell the tickets? Again, when the organization is more of a draw than the performers, the popularity of individual stars will plateau under the glass ceiling. More often than not, competitors get lost in the shuffle until they are booked for a relatively short push then regulated to 50/50 mediocrity.
When you look at the main card with a dozen matches, it's no coincidence that the few matches that stand out are the bouts that feature performers that haven't been lost in the shuffle of the sports entertainment empire. Becky Lynch has maximized her minutes on TV and if it's presented right, she could be one of the few to move the numbers in 2019. Kofi organically and spontaneously got over at the Elimination Chamber, and while the writing team has tried to shoehorn the narrative of a repeat of Daniel Bryan's WM run from 2014, it's a safe bet that when the bell ring, Bryan and Kofi could set the stage for a career-making moment to elevate Kofi as a main event star. Surprisingly, Batista/Triple H is probably the best booked feud ahead of the show with only a few weeks to build it. How the match with two part-time wrestlers near 50 will go remains to be seen, but this angle proves that it doesn't take 38 writers with over-scripted promos to provide a compelling storyline. Batista is a tremendous heel and has heat based on the Ric Flair attack. Triple H is the babyface in this scenario that will try to get revenge for his friend. It's a rather simple situation if the right elements are used. At the same time, this bout is somewhat diluted when you consider that Triple H seems to inconspicuously switch from baby face to heel depending on the show. The whole "career on the line" stipulation seems rather silly, considering that Shawn Michaels worked a match less than six months ago.
That leaves another nine matches on the card, and while nothing jumps out as a potential train wreck, it almost guarantees that a portion of the night gets lost in the shuffle and solid matches could be overlooked simply because the show is too long. I've said it several times before and I will say it again, a longer show doesn't automatically translate to a better show. In this situation, a potential six-hour marathon could actually do more to takeaway than add to the event. Realistically, how are moments supposed to stand out during a six hour show? That lends to another key point, if nearly every wrestler on the roster is booked for the show, how exactly is a spot on the card prestigious?
Granted, much of this moot because the tickets are already sold and the previously mentioned TV deal is signed. Next year will bring record-setting revenue and profit for the company. Still, it's somewhat disappointing that a major portion of the show seems skippable. Finn/Lashley was already on Raw several times, the tag matches seemed to shoehorn as many teams as possible just to get more wrestlers on the card, Kurt Angle looked to be physically worn down in recent weeks, and does anyone really care if Shane McMahon is a heel? Maybe I'm too jaded, but considering the talent under WWE contract, it just seems like there should be more hype for this event. More than anything, this might be an indication that the structure that generated several hours of programming might actually hinder the quality of the product.
Wednesday, March 27, 2019
Will Conor McGregor retire?
Just two weeks ago, I penned an article about Conor McGregor's most recent blunder outside of the octagon that saw the former UFC Lightweight champion arrested on charges of strong-armed robbery, stemming from an incident where he allegedly smashed someone's phone after they took a picture of him as he left a Miami club. Earlier this week, the Dublin native tweeted that he retired from mixed martial arts, despite an appearance on the Jimmy Fallon show when he discussed fighting earlier that day. This "retirement" announcement isn't new for McGregor, considering that he claimed that he retired in 2016 before he fought again when UFC management negotiated a new contract for him to return to the octagon.
Conor reemerged in the cage against Khabib Nurmagovedv at UFC 229, losing via submission in the fourth round last October. The one-sided defeat was followed by the infamous post-fight brawl between members of each corner. The anticipated grudge match generated a record-setting 2.4 million pay-per-view buys.
With the recent announcement of the UFC pay-per-view to start as an exclusive to the ESPN+ streaming service, fans will still pay the usual $65 to access to PPV cards, but must be ESPN subscribers for the opportunity to order the events. Considering the major money the network spent to secure MMA content for the seven-year deal, it's understandable they want to maximize their chance to use it as a way to solidify their streaming service. At the same time, it was still surprising that UFC brass was willing to departure from that traditional pay-per-view platform that garnered the promotion the majority of its revenue. It's not uncommon for certain headliners of particular cards to get a percentage of a PPV buyrate, but how that will be determined under the ESPN+ platform remains to be seen. Depending on the actual numbers and what type of deal the UFC has for the streaming service, fighters might not necessarily make as much money on PPV points.
Ironically, a few weeks ago, Conor McGregor claimed that he wanted a percentage of the entire company as a part of a deal for him to compete for the WME-owned group again. Make no mistake about it, this latest "retirement" from the brash Irishman is nothing more than a stunt to attempt to garner a bigger payday to put the gloves on again. On the surface, it might seem like Conor, who also has a lucrative endorsement deal on a new whiskey brand, is trying to maximize his value when the opportunity presented itself. It's no secret that he's the top draw for the organization, and with the unpredictability of Jon Jones, the argument could be made that McGregor is the only guaranteed major draw for them. The perceived leverage that Conor would have to make such lofty demands as a share in the company is that through a series of retirements and injuries, the UFC lacked star power in most divisions. As I've written about before, even some of management's decisions on how to handle certain divisions were counterproductive to the process of new stars being made as more established competitors made an exit.
Most importantly, UFC management shouldn't fold to the demands of Conor McGregor.
Even if it meant that the former two-division champion didn't fight again, UFC brass can't set a precedent of fighters getting an ownership of the company as apart of their contract to compete in the company. If management allows that for McGregor, any fighter that achieves any level of major success in the future would attempt to make similar demands, which would eventually lead to a total debacle in the organization. During an interview with TMZ, Dana White basically called McGregor's bluff and said that it would make sense for him to retire because of the mega payday from the Floyd Mayweather boxing match. Dana also mentioned that new stars would emerge for the organization.
Part of Dana's job is the promotional spin on news like this, but he's actually correct when he says that new stars will be on the horizon. Keep in mind, ESPN has saddled much of the potential success of their digital service to the success of UFC events so one of the top networks in cable has quite literally a vested interest to discover and market new stars. Believe it or not, another major star will be made under the ESPN banner that fans will pay to watch fight and will thus draw numbers for the UFC.
That's not to discount McGregor's ability to sell himself, but rather that the sport had different stars throughout various eras and will have more stars in the future. As I wrote a few weeks ago, Conor is really at a pivotal point in his career because he was dominated in a boxing match and then dominated in his return to the octagon. If he would lose again, it's very possible that much of the shine of his star power could wear off if he's exposed as more sizzle than substances in the cage. As surprising as it might sound, McGregor is overvaluing himself in this scenario. Don't get me wrong, I hope that fighters can make as much money as possible and they have every right to try to negotiate the best deal possible for their contract. At the same time, the former 155 LBS champion made a request to own a percentage of the company just to fight, which would mean that he would have a financial stake that's affected when his possible opponents are promoted under the UFC banner, which could be considered a conflict of interest, especially for other fighters that negotiate contracts.
The bottom line is, Conor McGregor isn't bigger than the UFC, and as mentioned previously, it's somewhat concerning that he could be on the path to become another cautionary tale, especially considering that he's in the prime of his career, but he has made more headlines outside of the octagon than for his accomplishments in the sport.
Conor reemerged in the cage against Khabib Nurmagovedv at UFC 229, losing via submission in the fourth round last October. The one-sided defeat was followed by the infamous post-fight brawl between members of each corner. The anticipated grudge match generated a record-setting 2.4 million pay-per-view buys.
With the recent announcement of the UFC pay-per-view to start as an exclusive to the ESPN+ streaming service, fans will still pay the usual $65 to access to PPV cards, but must be ESPN subscribers for the opportunity to order the events. Considering the major money the network spent to secure MMA content for the seven-year deal, it's understandable they want to maximize their chance to use it as a way to solidify their streaming service. At the same time, it was still surprising that UFC brass was willing to departure from that traditional pay-per-view platform that garnered the promotion the majority of its revenue. It's not uncommon for certain headliners of particular cards to get a percentage of a PPV buyrate, but how that will be determined under the ESPN+ platform remains to be seen. Depending on the actual numbers and what type of deal the UFC has for the streaming service, fighters might not necessarily make as much money on PPV points.
Ironically, a few weeks ago, Conor McGregor claimed that he wanted a percentage of the entire company as a part of a deal for him to compete for the WME-owned group again. Make no mistake about it, this latest "retirement" from the brash Irishman is nothing more than a stunt to attempt to garner a bigger payday to put the gloves on again. On the surface, it might seem like Conor, who also has a lucrative endorsement deal on a new whiskey brand, is trying to maximize his value when the opportunity presented itself. It's no secret that he's the top draw for the organization, and with the unpredictability of Jon Jones, the argument could be made that McGregor is the only guaranteed major draw for them. The perceived leverage that Conor would have to make such lofty demands as a share in the company is that through a series of retirements and injuries, the UFC lacked star power in most divisions. As I've written about before, even some of management's decisions on how to handle certain divisions were counterproductive to the process of new stars being made as more established competitors made an exit.
Most importantly, UFC management shouldn't fold to the demands of Conor McGregor.
Even if it meant that the former two-division champion didn't fight again, UFC brass can't set a precedent of fighters getting an ownership of the company as apart of their contract to compete in the company. If management allows that for McGregor, any fighter that achieves any level of major success in the future would attempt to make similar demands, which would eventually lead to a total debacle in the organization. During an interview with TMZ, Dana White basically called McGregor's bluff and said that it would make sense for him to retire because of the mega payday from the Floyd Mayweather boxing match. Dana also mentioned that new stars would emerge for the organization.
Part of Dana's job is the promotional spin on news like this, but he's actually correct when he says that new stars will be on the horizon. Keep in mind, ESPN has saddled much of the potential success of their digital service to the success of UFC events so one of the top networks in cable has quite literally a vested interest to discover and market new stars. Believe it or not, another major star will be made under the ESPN banner that fans will pay to watch fight and will thus draw numbers for the UFC.
That's not to discount McGregor's ability to sell himself, but rather that the sport had different stars throughout various eras and will have more stars in the future. As I wrote a few weeks ago, Conor is really at a pivotal point in his career because he was dominated in a boxing match and then dominated in his return to the octagon. If he would lose again, it's very possible that much of the shine of his star power could wear off if he's exposed as more sizzle than substances in the cage. As surprising as it might sound, McGregor is overvaluing himself in this scenario. Don't get me wrong, I hope that fighters can make as much money as possible and they have every right to try to negotiate the best deal possible for their contract. At the same time, the former 155 LBS champion made a request to own a percentage of the company just to fight, which would mean that he would have a financial stake that's affected when his possible opponents are promoted under the UFC banner, which could be considered a conflict of interest, especially for other fighters that negotiate contracts.
The bottom line is, Conor McGregor isn't bigger than the UFC, and as mentioned previously, it's somewhat concerning that he could be on the path to become another cautionary tale, especially considering that he's in the prime of his career, but he has made more headlines outside of the octagon than for his accomplishments in the sport.
Sunday, March 24, 2019
The AEW brand
Last weekend at AAA's Rey De Reyes event that was streamed live on the Mexican promotion Twitch channel, The Young Bucks challenged and won the AAA tag team titles, defeating the Lucha Brothers in an impromptu main event. This was done as a way to further the angle that was set up at the All Elite Wrestling ticket event last month. Cody, one of the Vice Presidents of AEW, was also at the event, which solidified the group's working agreement with All Elite.
This stop south of the boarder is just the most recent in a series of appearances from AEW management, as they have made surprise appearances at various independent shows since the announcement of All Elite in January. Granted, AAA had various peeks and valleys in its history, and the argument could be made that The Bucks' unadvertised match does much more for them then AAA's platform could do for the Bucks, but this could simply be apart of a more important process to the overall status of AEW.
Make no mistake, traditional television is still and will remain the standard for main stream distribution, mostly because it remains the easiest and a sufficient way to access content. From a technological stand point, TV and the physical cable lines that are used for installation provide more stability than the WiFi signal often used for streaming devices. There's a reason that web-based services such as Netflix and Prime Video were integrated into some cable company platforms as additional options for customers, because the vast majority of the general public still uses traditional TV as the most direct way to access content.
While TV and more specifically what network signs AEW is a key to success for the new league, that doesn't discount the power of the internet to create a buzz ahead of the launch of the project. Obviously, the Young Bucks and Cody used social media to build their "Elite brand" to get to this point. It goes without say that if The Bucks didn't push themselves as over-the-top new age professional wrestlers through Twitter and their Youtube shows, AEW wouldn't exists today. This speaks most importantly to the Bucks' ability to market themselves with a persona that complimented their in-ring style and to extend their association with the Bullet Club beyond just an angle within a wrestling promotion. Matt and Nick Jackson are amazing aerial talents, but their ability to develop entertaining characters are what will ultimately allow them the possibility to reach a mainstream audience when All Elite debuts on TV in the United States. You also have to give props to Cody Rhodes, he bet on himself and he won. Cody knew the prime of his career was being floundered in the shuffle of WWE, and thought he could do better outside of the rigid structure of sports entertainment. He could've easily stayed under contract to the biggest promotion in the world and made big money to do it with the trade being his potential to reach a different level within the sport. He walked away from that to prove himself, and his passion for the industry is one of the reasons fans have embraced his new venture. Perhaps the biggest takeaway from all of this is that it's definitely possible to become a legitimate star outside of the WWE, which wasn't the case just ten years ago.
As mentioned, streaming is increasing in popularity, but cable remains the standard and "cord cutting" isn't nearly as relevant as some might guess as far as content distribution. Part of the reason for that is simply that the concept of WiFi and streaming is still a relatively new concept. Keep in mind, two decades ago the internet was considered more of a novelty item and actual computers just began to be more of a household item. It depends on what poll you search for, but roughly 25% of the United States had internet access in 1998 and that number jumped to just 40% by 2000. So, the point is, those that want to discount traditional TV and the value of a strong TV deal for a promotion in favor of "cord cutting" should realize that the development of technology will still need time to evolve within that particular industry.
That being said, streaming does give niche products increased exposure and a bigger platform. For example, independent shows can be streamed live to a wider audience. Just 15 years ago, that level of indy show had to be ordered through the mail and fans would have to wait weeks after the event took place to watch it. For the Bucks, similar to how they used Twitter to build a foundation that they used to propel themselves to a bigger level, they can use the social media platform to build a buzz around the launch of AEW. In theory, they can market the start of the new promotion through the internet and then hopefully, that buzz can translate to a wider audience with the main stream distribution of the AEW television deal. Remember, every time the Bucks make a surprise appearance at an independent event and it trends on Twitter, that's a chance for someone to discover why the names are trending and get information about All Elite. The bottom line is, getting the name All Elite Wrestling as much as exposure as possible ahead of the start of the promotion will increase its chances of success when a major network broadcast the show to the general public.
Obviously, it takes many pieces of the puzzle to fit into place for a pro wrestling project to find major success. Sometimes it can be a matter of timing so a lot will depend on if AEW management has the right place at the right time. Regardless of the results of AEW, you must give credit to those involved because they have put the money and the resources in place to take a chance at the biggest level possible in the business. That will ultimately give All Elite the best chance to get off the ground because management is willing to risk the money and in some ways, the status they've already achieved in the sport to potentially change the status of the industry. Does that mean that AEW will become bigger than WWE? No, the McMahon empire has decades of establishment behind it, but if All Elite gets off the ground, it could shift the paradigm of the business and force WWE to take a different path than the complacency that often develops for the publicly traded company. From a business prospective, the success for AEW won't be based on if they garner Raw level ratings, but if they can generate revenue and a profit. If I had to guess, I'd say that AEW has the best chance of being an established national promotion within a few years that actually makes an impact in the industry since the existence of WCW. Furthermore the AEW project has provided the most intrigue for professional wrestling in the United States since that time and it will be extremely interesting to see the status of All Elite this year.
This stop south of the boarder is just the most recent in a series of appearances from AEW management, as they have made surprise appearances at various independent shows since the announcement of All Elite in January. Granted, AAA had various peeks and valleys in its history, and the argument could be made that The Bucks' unadvertised match does much more for them then AAA's platform could do for the Bucks, but this could simply be apart of a more important process to the overall status of AEW.
Make no mistake, traditional television is still and will remain the standard for main stream distribution, mostly because it remains the easiest and a sufficient way to access content. From a technological stand point, TV and the physical cable lines that are used for installation provide more stability than the WiFi signal often used for streaming devices. There's a reason that web-based services such as Netflix and Prime Video were integrated into some cable company platforms as additional options for customers, because the vast majority of the general public still uses traditional TV as the most direct way to access content.
While TV and more specifically what network signs AEW is a key to success for the new league, that doesn't discount the power of the internet to create a buzz ahead of the launch of the project. Obviously, the Young Bucks and Cody used social media to build their "Elite brand" to get to this point. It goes without say that if The Bucks didn't push themselves as over-the-top new age professional wrestlers through Twitter and their Youtube shows, AEW wouldn't exists today. This speaks most importantly to the Bucks' ability to market themselves with a persona that complimented their in-ring style and to extend their association with the Bullet Club beyond just an angle within a wrestling promotion. Matt and Nick Jackson are amazing aerial talents, but their ability to develop entertaining characters are what will ultimately allow them the possibility to reach a mainstream audience when All Elite debuts on TV in the United States. You also have to give props to Cody Rhodes, he bet on himself and he won. Cody knew the prime of his career was being floundered in the shuffle of WWE, and thought he could do better outside of the rigid structure of sports entertainment. He could've easily stayed under contract to the biggest promotion in the world and made big money to do it with the trade being his potential to reach a different level within the sport. He walked away from that to prove himself, and his passion for the industry is one of the reasons fans have embraced his new venture. Perhaps the biggest takeaway from all of this is that it's definitely possible to become a legitimate star outside of the WWE, which wasn't the case just ten years ago.
As mentioned, streaming is increasing in popularity, but cable remains the standard and "cord cutting" isn't nearly as relevant as some might guess as far as content distribution. Part of the reason for that is simply that the concept of WiFi and streaming is still a relatively new concept. Keep in mind, two decades ago the internet was considered more of a novelty item and actual computers just began to be more of a household item. It depends on what poll you search for, but roughly 25% of the United States had internet access in 1998 and that number jumped to just 40% by 2000. So, the point is, those that want to discount traditional TV and the value of a strong TV deal for a promotion in favor of "cord cutting" should realize that the development of technology will still need time to evolve within that particular industry.
That being said, streaming does give niche products increased exposure and a bigger platform. For example, independent shows can be streamed live to a wider audience. Just 15 years ago, that level of indy show had to be ordered through the mail and fans would have to wait weeks after the event took place to watch it. For the Bucks, similar to how they used Twitter to build a foundation that they used to propel themselves to a bigger level, they can use the social media platform to build a buzz around the launch of AEW. In theory, they can market the start of the new promotion through the internet and then hopefully, that buzz can translate to a wider audience with the main stream distribution of the AEW television deal. Remember, every time the Bucks make a surprise appearance at an independent event and it trends on Twitter, that's a chance for someone to discover why the names are trending and get information about All Elite. The bottom line is, getting the name All Elite Wrestling as much as exposure as possible ahead of the start of the promotion will increase its chances of success when a major network broadcast the show to the general public.
Obviously, it takes many pieces of the puzzle to fit into place for a pro wrestling project to find major success. Sometimes it can be a matter of timing so a lot will depend on if AEW management has the right place at the right time. Regardless of the results of AEW, you must give credit to those involved because they have put the money and the resources in place to take a chance at the biggest level possible in the business. That will ultimately give All Elite the best chance to get off the ground because management is willing to risk the money and in some ways, the status they've already achieved in the sport to potentially change the status of the industry. Does that mean that AEW will become bigger than WWE? No, the McMahon empire has decades of establishment behind it, but if All Elite gets off the ground, it could shift the paradigm of the business and force WWE to take a different path than the complacency that often develops for the publicly traded company. From a business prospective, the success for AEW won't be based on if they garner Raw level ratings, but if they can generate revenue and a profit. If I had to guess, I'd say that AEW has the best chance of being an established national promotion within a few years that actually makes an impact in the industry since the existence of WCW. Furthermore the AEW project has provided the most intrigue for professional wrestling in the United States since that time and it will be extremely interesting to see the status of All Elite this year.
Friday, March 15, 2019
The Conor McGregor Situation
Earlier this week, the UFC's top star, Conor McGregor was arrested after an incident where he allegedly smashed someone's phone outside of a club in Miami, Florida. The former two-division champion was charged with a felony, strong-armed robbery and criminal mischief, and was taken into custody before he was released on $12,500 bond.
This latest incident puts doubt around his return to the octagon, with recent rumors suggesting potential opponents for his next bout in the cage.
Reportedly, the confrontation started because someone took a picture of the MMA fighter as he was leaving the club, which prompted McGregor to grab the phone and smash it on the ground. Unfortunately, this isn't the first felony he was charged with, as the brash Irishman was initially charged with a felony offense, stemming from the infamous bus incident last April in Brooklyn. That arrest resulted from when McGregor threw a moving dolly through a bus window that transported the fighters booked on that weekend's card, and there were injuries that caused event to be shuffled. Eventually, the charges were reduced and Conor pleaded no contest to disorderly conduct, which saw him ordered to complete community service.
Footage of the bus incident was later used in commercials to promote the Conor McGregor vs. Khabib Nurmagomedov bout at UFC 229, which generated a record-setting 2.4 million buys.
As was well-documented, after Khabib won via submission in the fourth round of a mostly one-sided contest, he jumped over the octagon and fought members of McGregor's corner. A complete brawl began when people from Nurmagomedov's team stormed the cage to attempt to attack Conor. The McGregor and Khabib fight teams continued to brawl while security attempted to restore order in the building. Post-fight, Khabib cited Conor's previous comments about his family as the reason for the outburst after the victory. Granted, McGregor's antics are just to sell the pay-per-view, but Khabib took it as a serious insult. Both fighters were retroactively suspended in January, but realistically, neither suspension delayed when each competitor was expected to compete again.
However, the post-fight brawl and this latest incident are apart of a pattern that suggests that McGregor might think that he can get away with these ridiculous antics because of his status in combat sports.
Make no mistake about it, Conor McGregor draws major money, and that "buys" him a certain amount of latitude, similar to how he can buy a savvy lawyer to navigate this legal jeopardy for him. It also allows him to remain an important fixture of the UFC's business plan because the organization needs star power to sell its $65 pay-per-view events. The lack of star power on the roster resulted from a combination of retirements, shaky structure within particular divisions, and a general over saturation of shows during the Fox deal. But, the ESPN contract allows for a more productive schedule and increased exposure for a new generation of fighters so it's definitely possible that more fighters will have a platform to make a name for themselves.
With Conor's arraignment on these most recent charges scheduled in a few weeks, there are several questions about the future of the former 155 LBS champion. While there's no doubt that the $100 million payday from his Floyd Mayweather boxing match in 2016 along with sponsorships and UFC bouts provided him with financial security, what direction does McGregor's career go from here? At the very least, something as petty as a smashed phone will delay him from competition in the prime of his career.
The problem could arise that McGregor will become more sizzle than substance, an aspect that some MMA purist will already point toward despite his success in the sport. While he's undoubtedly a talented striker, the Dublin native lacks a solid ground game and his four career defeats are via submission. UFC brass carefully promoted and marketed McGregor as the top star in the organization, allowing him the opportunity to win championships in two divisions. But, he never defended either belt and was stripped because of his hiatus from MMA. He took two years away from the octagon for the mega fight against Floyd, which saw him stopped by TKO in the tenth round. His anticipated return to the cage last October ended a lopsided contest with a submission defeat. Fans haven't seen Conor victorious in combat sports in two and half years, with no indication of when he will fight again. Does that mean his popularity will plummet? No, but if he loses his next bout, much of the shine could fade from the star of Conor McGregor. Keep in mind, there was a time when Ronda Rousey's meteoric rise in MMA looked unstoppable but when the hype around her was derailed by one-sided defeats, her stock dropped in MMA. The point is, the buzz even around McGregor could decrease if he can't remain competitive in the sport. Obviously, another court case won't be beneficial to the preparation of his next fight in the UFC.
More than anything, the biggest takeaway from this latest incident is that Conor McGregor should make better decisions and he's smart enough to know better than to get involved in something this petty. He's smart enough to create a Ric Flair-inspired brand and market it to the main stream, but he gets himself charged with a felony because someone took a picture of him in public. The previously mentioned ESPN deal is a major step to cement UFC as something more than just a modern trend, but rather a prominent addition to main stream sports in the United States. Some of Conor's outrageous antics reinforce some of the negative stereotypes that were around the sport prior to the exposure of mainstream television. There are numerous examples of cautionary tales in sports and some of the biggest names in history had a fall from stardom. Conor McGregor should make smart decisions in the future before his antics outside of the octagon overshadow his accomplishments in the sport.
This latest incident puts doubt around his return to the octagon, with recent rumors suggesting potential opponents for his next bout in the cage.
Reportedly, the confrontation started because someone took a picture of the MMA fighter as he was leaving the club, which prompted McGregor to grab the phone and smash it on the ground. Unfortunately, this isn't the first felony he was charged with, as the brash Irishman was initially charged with a felony offense, stemming from the infamous bus incident last April in Brooklyn. That arrest resulted from when McGregor threw a moving dolly through a bus window that transported the fighters booked on that weekend's card, and there were injuries that caused event to be shuffled. Eventually, the charges were reduced and Conor pleaded no contest to disorderly conduct, which saw him ordered to complete community service.
Footage of the bus incident was later used in commercials to promote the Conor McGregor vs. Khabib Nurmagomedov bout at UFC 229, which generated a record-setting 2.4 million buys.
As was well-documented, after Khabib won via submission in the fourth round of a mostly one-sided contest, he jumped over the octagon and fought members of McGregor's corner. A complete brawl began when people from Nurmagomedov's team stormed the cage to attempt to attack Conor. The McGregor and Khabib fight teams continued to brawl while security attempted to restore order in the building. Post-fight, Khabib cited Conor's previous comments about his family as the reason for the outburst after the victory. Granted, McGregor's antics are just to sell the pay-per-view, but Khabib took it as a serious insult. Both fighters were retroactively suspended in January, but realistically, neither suspension delayed when each competitor was expected to compete again.
However, the post-fight brawl and this latest incident are apart of a pattern that suggests that McGregor might think that he can get away with these ridiculous antics because of his status in combat sports.
Make no mistake about it, Conor McGregor draws major money, and that "buys" him a certain amount of latitude, similar to how he can buy a savvy lawyer to navigate this legal jeopardy for him. It also allows him to remain an important fixture of the UFC's business plan because the organization needs star power to sell its $65 pay-per-view events. The lack of star power on the roster resulted from a combination of retirements, shaky structure within particular divisions, and a general over saturation of shows during the Fox deal. But, the ESPN contract allows for a more productive schedule and increased exposure for a new generation of fighters so it's definitely possible that more fighters will have a platform to make a name for themselves.
With Conor's arraignment on these most recent charges scheduled in a few weeks, there are several questions about the future of the former 155 LBS champion. While there's no doubt that the $100 million payday from his Floyd Mayweather boxing match in 2016 along with sponsorships and UFC bouts provided him with financial security, what direction does McGregor's career go from here? At the very least, something as petty as a smashed phone will delay him from competition in the prime of his career.
The problem could arise that McGregor will become more sizzle than substance, an aspect that some MMA purist will already point toward despite his success in the sport. While he's undoubtedly a talented striker, the Dublin native lacks a solid ground game and his four career defeats are via submission. UFC brass carefully promoted and marketed McGregor as the top star in the organization, allowing him the opportunity to win championships in two divisions. But, he never defended either belt and was stripped because of his hiatus from MMA. He took two years away from the octagon for the mega fight against Floyd, which saw him stopped by TKO in the tenth round. His anticipated return to the cage last October ended a lopsided contest with a submission defeat. Fans haven't seen Conor victorious in combat sports in two and half years, with no indication of when he will fight again. Does that mean his popularity will plummet? No, but if he loses his next bout, much of the shine could fade from the star of Conor McGregor. Keep in mind, there was a time when Ronda Rousey's meteoric rise in MMA looked unstoppable but when the hype around her was derailed by one-sided defeats, her stock dropped in MMA. The point is, the buzz even around McGregor could decrease if he can't remain competitive in the sport. Obviously, another court case won't be beneficial to the preparation of his next fight in the UFC.
More than anything, the biggest takeaway from this latest incident is that Conor McGregor should make better decisions and he's smart enough to know better than to get involved in something this petty. He's smart enough to create a Ric Flair-inspired brand and market it to the main stream, but he gets himself charged with a felony because someone took a picture of him in public. The previously mentioned ESPN deal is a major step to cement UFC as something more than just a modern trend, but rather a prominent addition to main stream sports in the United States. Some of Conor's outrageous antics reinforce some of the negative stereotypes that were around the sport prior to the exposure of mainstream television. There are numerous examples of cautionary tales in sports and some of the biggest names in history had a fall from stardom. Conor McGregor should make smart decisions in the future before his antics outside of the octagon overshadow his accomplishments in the sport.
Monday, March 11, 2019
Ronda Rousey on Raw
Ronda Rousey is trying too hard to play "bad guy" wrestler.
After social media tussles with Becky Lynch in recent weeks and the in-ring segment on Raw last week, Ronda Rousey posted an addition to her video series on Youtube where she claimed she wasn't going to "follow the script" anymore. The profanity-laced rant saw the former UFC Women's Bantamweight champion insult the WWE fan base and the sports entertainment genre. Unfortunately, Ronda's attempt to rebel against pro wrestling is more cringe worthy than cutting-edge.
Make no mistake about it, Ronda will do exactly what she's told to do and this attempt to "shoot" on the wrestling business is management's attempt to garner interest in a Wrestlemania card that is lukewarm so far. While the idea of a former UFC champion going "off script" provides a certain level of intrigue, it will ultimately have a much more negative effect on the rest of the card.
It must be said that Ronda has certainly done well during her run in the squared circle, considering her level of experience. In some ways, it's a double-edged sword because her notoriety from MMA is what allowed her to transition to a prominent spot in WWE, but there's also a degree of scrutiny that goes along with that spot. Other top acts are held to the same standard so it's not just demands being made of the former judo Olympic medalist.
It should be noted that much of the criticism toward Rousey was based on her over exaggerated tacky promos. Instead of intensity, Ronda on the mic often resulted in the audience rolling their eyes after Rousey's cliches. In many ways, the profanity in the Youtube series is a cheap replacement for her lack of substance on the mic otherwise. It's ironic that Ronda is inspired by the legendary Roddy Piper, but resorted to crude language to try to get a point across for an angle. Piper specifically mentioned in various shoot interviews before his passing that he didn't use much profanity in his promos because he thought it was a lack of talent. Aside from the language, Ronda referred to Becky Lynch by her real name, Rebecca Quin so Rousey "broke the fourth wall" because she could find Lynch's wikipedia page?
In theory, the point of this angle is Ronda trying to "sell" the fact that she's not going to cooperate with her opponents so when she waits for a spot, such as for Charolette's moonsault, how exactly is that a shoot? Doesn't the slightest look of cooperation make Ronda's proclamation look foolish? Unless she defeats her opponent in 30 seconds, which she should be able to do as a professional MMA fighter that is in the ring with a "sports entertainer" then how exactly will it look like Rousey isn't following the script? And if that one-sided brief match happens in an effort to follow through on the "shoot" scenario build up then that's not much of a show at Wrestlemania.
The totality of the situation really insults the intelligence of the audience. Granted, it's well-known that professional wrestling is a show, but when the fans are directly told on an open platform that the product is a work, it takes away from the viewing experience. When Criss Angel makes a bus disappear within seconds, the director of the show doesn't walk on stage prior to the illusion and say, "hey folks, the bus isn't disappearing, we're simply putting a curtain in front of it after Criss waves his hands in front of it." The fans buy tickets to the show to see the spectacle, the same way the larger than life characters in sports entertainment are booked to attempt to create memorable moments.
So when Ronda basically says, "the rest of this stuff is phony, I'm the real deal" and management is going to run with that selling point, how exactly are the fans supposed to invest in any of the other matches on the show? If Seth Rollins vs. Brock Lesnar is openly acknowledged the "fake match" on the card while Ronda's match is "real" then why should the fans care what happens to the universal title match?
I'd suggest that this attempt to go "behind-the-scenes" is being used as a poor substitute for compelling booking and an intriguing television product as a build up to the biggest show of the year. It's almost comical that WWE brass tailors much of its business strategy to be considered mainstream entertainment, but the structure of actual product is often counterproductive to that. Ronda Rousey as a former MMA "real" fighter is given priority over the rest of the card, which sends the message that the sports entertainment product that WWE is trying to sell is secondary. That wouldn't be the case if management allowed for an atmosphere where true star power could flourish and where legitimate money-drawing stars could be established.
Perhaps, this lame attempt to "go off script" could've been avoided if Ronda was better on the mic, but again, make no mistake, Rousey will follow exactly what she's told to do and when it looks like she's working with her opponents, this entire "real fight" angle will look silly. I'm not sure how management will generate a major buzz about Wrestlemania, but it definitely isn't this angle to build the show.
After social media tussles with Becky Lynch in recent weeks and the in-ring segment on Raw last week, Ronda Rousey posted an addition to her video series on Youtube where she claimed she wasn't going to "follow the script" anymore. The profanity-laced rant saw the former UFC Women's Bantamweight champion insult the WWE fan base and the sports entertainment genre. Unfortunately, Ronda's attempt to rebel against pro wrestling is more cringe worthy than cutting-edge.
Make no mistake about it, Ronda will do exactly what she's told to do and this attempt to "shoot" on the wrestling business is management's attempt to garner interest in a Wrestlemania card that is lukewarm so far. While the idea of a former UFC champion going "off script" provides a certain level of intrigue, it will ultimately have a much more negative effect on the rest of the card.
It must be said that Ronda has certainly done well during her run in the squared circle, considering her level of experience. In some ways, it's a double-edged sword because her notoriety from MMA is what allowed her to transition to a prominent spot in WWE, but there's also a degree of scrutiny that goes along with that spot. Other top acts are held to the same standard so it's not just demands being made of the former judo Olympic medalist.
It should be noted that much of the criticism toward Rousey was based on her over exaggerated tacky promos. Instead of intensity, Ronda on the mic often resulted in the audience rolling their eyes after Rousey's cliches. In many ways, the profanity in the Youtube series is a cheap replacement for her lack of substance on the mic otherwise. It's ironic that Ronda is inspired by the legendary Roddy Piper, but resorted to crude language to try to get a point across for an angle. Piper specifically mentioned in various shoot interviews before his passing that he didn't use much profanity in his promos because he thought it was a lack of talent. Aside from the language, Ronda referred to Becky Lynch by her real name, Rebecca Quin so Rousey "broke the fourth wall" because she could find Lynch's wikipedia page?
In theory, the point of this angle is Ronda trying to "sell" the fact that she's not going to cooperate with her opponents so when she waits for a spot, such as for Charolette's moonsault, how exactly is that a shoot? Doesn't the slightest look of cooperation make Ronda's proclamation look foolish? Unless she defeats her opponent in 30 seconds, which she should be able to do as a professional MMA fighter that is in the ring with a "sports entertainer" then how exactly will it look like Rousey isn't following the script? And if that one-sided brief match happens in an effort to follow through on the "shoot" scenario build up then that's not much of a show at Wrestlemania.
The totality of the situation really insults the intelligence of the audience. Granted, it's well-known that professional wrestling is a show, but when the fans are directly told on an open platform that the product is a work, it takes away from the viewing experience. When Criss Angel makes a bus disappear within seconds, the director of the show doesn't walk on stage prior to the illusion and say, "hey folks, the bus isn't disappearing, we're simply putting a curtain in front of it after Criss waves his hands in front of it." The fans buy tickets to the show to see the spectacle, the same way the larger than life characters in sports entertainment are booked to attempt to create memorable moments.
So when Ronda basically says, "the rest of this stuff is phony, I'm the real deal" and management is going to run with that selling point, how exactly are the fans supposed to invest in any of the other matches on the show? If Seth Rollins vs. Brock Lesnar is openly acknowledged the "fake match" on the card while Ronda's match is "real" then why should the fans care what happens to the universal title match?
I'd suggest that this attempt to go "behind-the-scenes" is being used as a poor substitute for compelling booking and an intriguing television product as a build up to the biggest show of the year. It's almost comical that WWE brass tailors much of its business strategy to be considered mainstream entertainment, but the structure of actual product is often counterproductive to that. Ronda Rousey as a former MMA "real" fighter is given priority over the rest of the card, which sends the message that the sports entertainment product that WWE is trying to sell is secondary. That wouldn't be the case if management allowed for an atmosphere where true star power could flourish and where legitimate money-drawing stars could be established.
Perhaps, this lame attempt to "go off script" could've been avoided if Ronda was better on the mic, but again, make no mistake, Rousey will follow exactly what she's told to do and when it looks like she's working with her opponents, this entire "real fight" angle will look silly. I'm not sure how management will generate a major buzz about Wrestlemania, but it definitely isn't this angle to build the show.
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