WWE News: Vince McMahon Lays the Hammer Down on CM Punk’s UFC Plans

As many are aware, WWE champion CM Punk was scheduled to accompany his friend and UFC fighter, Chael Sonnen, to the Octagon on January 28.The upcoming event—the UFC on FOX 2 special—will emanate from Chicago, the hometown of Punk.Given the …

As many are aware, WWE champion CM Punk was scheduled to accompany his friend and UFC fighter, Chael Sonnen, to the Octagon on January 28.

The upcoming event—the UFC on FOX 2 special—will emanate from Chicago, the hometown of Punk.

Given the location, Punk’s presence at the show was to simply show support and rally the crowd behind Sonnen before his bout with Mark Munoz.

In fact, Punk had already gotten approval from the WWE to make the appearance and everyone, especially him, was under the impression it was going to happen.

However, all it took was one man to curtail Punk’s plans to show up at the UFC broadcast—and one is more than enough if your name is Vince McMahon.

According to F4WOnline, McMahon’s refusal to allow CM Punk to attend the show, let alone show his face on FOX TV, came out of the blue:

Dave Meltzer writes about the situation in detail:

It is extremely unlikely that C.M. Punk will be walking Chael Sonnen to the octagon on the 1/28 show in Chicago.  Punk, in fact, has been told that he shouldn’t even be at the show.  Front Row Brian, a noted poster on message boards including ours, who broke all aspects of this story from the beginning, first noted yesterday that Punk was told by Vince McMahon that he couldn’t walk Sonnen to the ring and that he didn’t want him at the show.  Punk also confirmed to Ariel Helwani yesterday that he would not be allowed to walk Sonnen to the ring. 

We contacted two people very close to the situation, one who noted that officially nothing was 100% but that they would be surprised if it happened.  The other noted that Punk got the official word yesterday after pretty much being told on Monday and described it as Vince just being in one of his moods.  Punk and Sonnen had become friends, which makes sense given that Punk is a pro wrestler who overachieved from a marketing standpoint including by learning from MMA, and Sonnen is an MMA fighter who overachieved from a marketing standpoint from learning from pro wrestling.  Sonnen had asked Punk to accompany him since it was in Chicago and Punk and Sonnen both got it cleared.  But when it became a news story, WWE had a change of heart.

Being a consummate businessman, it is perplexing that McMahon would suddenly forbid Punk from escorting Sonnen to the Octagon.

Logically, there are only good things that would result from the current WWE champion hobnobbing with one of the UFC’s top stars.

The most invaluable benefit is the exposure—from both UFC die-hards and the casual mainstream audience—Punk would garner.

And more than just being highlighted on a hyped, nationally-televised event is the legitimacy the “Straight Edge” superstar would reap via his association with a “real” combatant in Sonnen.

In addition, any fears that Punk—and by extension, the WWE—would be undermined by the UFC announcers are unfounded. If such were the case, UFC president Dana White wouldn’t have allowed Brock Lesnar to partner with the WWE regarding the video game WWE ’12. In reality, White didn’t have to share his top draw with the WWE, but he did.

Consequently, the only possible reason for McMahon’s decision is that he does not want any member of his roster to transcend the WWE brand.

For example, after having to endure Steve Austin’s retirement, The Rock’s Hollywood dreams and Lesnar’s abrupt exit, McMahon may be paranoid about relying on his talent—and their whims—to carry the company.

Instead, by reinforcing the WWE global brand as a singular entity, superstars become relatively interchangeable in an organization wherein the whole exceeds the sum of its parts.

Follow me on Twitter @ImaanJK

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

UFC on Fox 2: CM Punk Will Not Accompany Chael Sonnen to the Octagon

According to MMAFighting.com, Chael Sonnen will no longer be accompanied to the Octagon at UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) on Fox 2 by WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment) superstar and champion CM Punk. Apparently, WWE chairman Vince McMahon was o…

According to MMAFighting.com, Chael Sonnen will no longer be accompanied to the Octagon at UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) on Fox 2 by WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment) superstar and champion CM Punk.

Apparently, WWE chairman Vince McMahon was opposed to the idea of Punk making his way to the steel cage with Sonnen in tow and has thus put a halt to it.

This latest news was verified by Punk himself.

Once word got around that two of the most polarizing figures in professional wrestling and MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) were set to share centre stage at the Jan. 28 event, it went viral.

And that was regardless of Punk’s minor role of just escorting Sonnen to his co-main event matchup against Mark “The Filipino Wrecking Machine” Munoz.

Add to the equation that the event itself is being held in Punk’s native Chicago, then the furor culminated by their expected appearance in tandem was understandable.

Both Sonnen and Punk are at the top of their respective games with regards to entertainment value but, more importantly, their innate oratory skills which have thrust them into the public’s stratosphere more so than many of their contemporaries.

With that said, the main event features Rashad Evans and Phil Davis, with the former requiring a win to keep him in contention for the UFC light heavyweight title currently held by Jon “Bones” Jones.

Sonnen, on the other hand, needs to secure a victory against Munoz if he’s to stand any chance of a rematch with 185-pound kingpin Anderson “The Spider” Silva sometime later this year.

UFC on Fox 2 is set for Jan. 28, 2012 at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois.

 

For additional information, follow Nedu Obi on Twitter.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

Chael Sonnen and CM Punk: Another Smart Move from Chael Sonnen

Chael Patrick Sonnen is set to be accompanied to the Octagon by his doppelgänger (oratory-wise that is) CM Punk in his matchup with Mark Munoz at UFC on Fox 2 later this month. Ever since the lead up to and the aftermath of his failed attempt at U…

Chael Patrick Sonnen is set to be accompanied to the Octagon by his doppelgänger (oratory-wise that is) CM Punk in his matchup with Mark Munoz at UFC on Fox 2 later this month.

Ever since the lead up to and the aftermath of his failed attempt at UFC glory back at UFC 117, Sonnen the self-proclaimed “American Gangster” has upped the ante in ways other mere mortal combatants could only wish.

What emerged during that period was Uncle Chael the businessman and to boot, the entertainer.

His trash-talking and gift of the gab has placed him the public stratosphere like no other mixed martial artist, especially one who has achieved so little in his given sport.

For his troubles, he’s now a regular on Michael Landsberg’s show OTR (Off the Record), he co-hosted the 2011 World MMA Awards and in the fewest possible words, he’s just in constant public demand.

And what is his claim to fame?

Beating up on UFC middleweight champion Anderson “The Spider” Silva for almost five rounds, before succumbing to a submission via triangle armbar.

That loss, however, did nothing to shut the all mighty mouth that is Sonnen, if anything it spurred him on to the extreme—his antagonism towards Silva finally paid dividends and a second tilt at UFC gold looms ever so large.

Still, with three-weeks to go before his slated match with Munoz, this latest move by Sonnen, to have the WWE Champion CM Punk alongside him as he makes his entrance to the Octagon, isn’t just another smart move—it’s a stroke of pure Sonnen genius.

The publicity garnered with the announcement that one of the WWE’s most charismatic characters not only making an appearance at UFC on Fox 2, but will also be ushering in the most vocal and controversial of MMA fighters/personalities, will send both ticket and pay-per-view sales through the roof—and that’s a given.

Add to the equation that the event is happening in CM Punk’s own backyard of Chicago— then it’s a recipe for success.

Brock Lesnar has left the building and Georges St-Pierre still has the mass pulling clout, but Sonnen, he’s in a league of his own.

Perish the thought that by some sort of divine intervention, he should upend Munoz and do likewise to Silva—Sonnen will go viral both on a colossal monetary and publicity scale.

The wordsmith provocateur and entertainer personified is hell-bent on furthering his celebrity to new heights and beyond, and his next move is anyone’s guess.

 

For additional information, follow Nedu Obi on Twitter.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

5 Reasons Having CM Punk Appear in the UFC Will Benefit the Company

Chael Sonnen certainly knows how to work a crowd. As if his constant stream of one-liners weren’t enough self-promotion, Mr. Sonnen is going to get help from a world champion.Not from a UFC champion, but from the WWE champion, CM Punk.For years MMA fan…

Chael Sonnen certainly knows how to work a crowd. As if his constant stream of one-liners weren’t enough self-promotion, Mr. Sonnen is going to get help from a world champion.

Not from a UFC champion, but from the WWE champion, CM Punk.

For years MMA fans have tried to distance themselves from their WWE cousins, but there’s no denying that there’s a distinct group of fans that were or still are WWE fans and love to watch the UFC as well.

There’s a certain audience set for both sports but there’s also a lot of crossover in fanbases. If you don’t believe me just look at the MMA career of Brock Lesnar.

Sonnen doesn’t really need the help of Punk in building his name, but the UFC should capitalize on one of the biggest stars in wrestling appearing on their show for a number of reasons.

Begin Slideshow

UFC/WWE News: WWE Champion CM Punk to Accompany Chael Sonnen at UFC on FOX 2

How many times have MMA fans sat back and thought something along the lines of “Man, Chael Sonnen would make a great character in the WWE?”Probably more than a few, but the latest news about the controversial UFC middleweight links him with a high-prof…

How many times have MMA fans sat back and thought something along the lines of “Man, Chael Sonnen would make a great character in the WWE?”

Probably more than a few, but the latest news about the controversial UFC middleweight links him with a high-profile professional wrestler.

WWE Champion CM Punk will accompany Sonnen to the Octagon during his UFC on FOX 2 bout with Mark Munoz on the 28th of this month, according to Twitter user FrontRowBrian, later verified by MMA Weekly

Punk and Sonnen have apparently become friends over the past few months, and it is arguable that he is looking for some home crowd appeal.

Punk, whose real name is Phil Brooks, was born in Chicago, Illinois and UFC on FOX 2 takes place at the United Center (located in Chicago, Illinois). 

Sonnen vs. Munoz is expected to be a title eliminator, with the winner getting a shot at UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva this summer.

Meanwhile, Punk is a big MMA fan, to the point where his finishing move, “The Anaconda Vise,” is actually a modified arm triangle choke.

If Sonnen should be defeated Munoz, perhaps Punk could get him in touch with WWE Chairman Vince McMahon about a potential contract there….

In all seriousness, an interesting piece of news to go along with an already intriguing fight. 

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

Hump Day Headlines with Stephanie Ann Cook

WWE Champion, CM Punk is rumored to escort Chael Sonnen to the octagon for his fight against Mark Munoz at UFC on Fox 2. Dana White tells TMZ that Fedor [Emelianenko] sucks. Drunk Dana White.

WWE Champion, CM Punk is rumored to escort Chael Sonnen to the octagon for his fight against Mark Munoz at UFC on Fox 2.

Dana White tells TMZ that Fedor [Emelianenko] sucks.

Drunk Dana White says Brock Lesnar can go back to WWE.

UFC on Fuel TV 2 will take place in Stockholm, Sweden on April 14th.

Junior dos Santos vs. Alistair Overeem to go down in Summer of 2012.

Meisha Tate doesn’t think Ronda Rousey has yet proven to be title-shot worthy.

Urijah Faber says sister, Michaella is at 100 percent recovery.