Filed under: UFC, NewsThe “best in the world” will team up with the “undefeated and undisputed UFC middleweight champion” on Jan. 28 at the United Center in Chicago.
World Wrestling Entertainment champion CM Punk will escort Chael Sonnen to the cage p…
The “best in the world” will team up with the “undefeated and undisputed UFC middleweight champion” on Jan. 28 at the United Center in Chicago.
World Wrestling Entertainment champion CM Punk will escort Chael Sonnen to the cage prior to Sonnen’s fight against Mark Munoz live on FOX, according to sources close to Sonnen’s camp. When reached for a comment, both Sonnen and Punk, a proud native of Chicago, as well as a long-time MMA fan, would not confirm the story, which was first reported by MMA.tv poster FrontRowBrian Tuesday night.
The pairing makes sense considering Punk’s strong ties to the Chicago-area and love of MMA, plus Sonnen’s interest in the world of professional wrestling. Still no word on whether Sonnen will come out to Punk’s theme song, “Cult of Personality,” by Living Colour.
According to the same sources, Punk will not corner Sonnen during the fight. He will simply walk Sonnen to the cage, much like former WWE champion Batista did with Manny Pacquaio prior to “Pac Man’s” May 2009 bout against Ricky Hatton.
Punk was recently a guest on The MMA Hour, talking about the relationship between MMA and pro wrestling. You can watch his appearance here.
As everyone knows, Brock Lesnar got knocked out pretty fast in his comeback fight Friday night. In fact, it was like Brock wasn’t even fighting and instead it was a poorly trained clone. Almost immediately after his defeat Lesnar&nb…
As everyone knows, Brock Lesnar got knocked out pretty fast in his comeback fight Friday night. In fact, it was like Brock wasn’t even fighting and instead it was a poorly trained clone.
Almost immediately after his defeat Lesnar announced during the pay-per-view telecast that he was retiring, and as many of you have read, since then people have been anticipating his return to World Wrestling Entertainment.
I actually wrote an article yesterday as to why the company or fans don’t need him back (from a business not a personal standpoint).
However, this article isn’t about whether he should return; it’s about the recent remarks made by the first Undisputed Champion, Chris Jericho.
Odds are Jericho is just working people and trying to get everyone off his back in regards to who the mystery man that will be returning tomorrow night on Raw. Plus, it’s Chris Jericho, this is what he does!
However lets just imagine for a second that Jericho wasn’t trying to blow smoke and actually might believe Lesnar took a dive. Hypothetically of course.
Anything is possible.
Lesnar is by no means old, but he sure has had a few rough years with his health and he’s not the dominate fighter he once was, he had a decent run for someone who entered the sport much later in life than most do and maybe he realized that he just didn’t need or want to continue to train 6-10 months a year for one fight that he could possibly lose and be a laughing stock. Maybe he realized that he could make much more money for a months work while being almost universally cheered and still looked at like a monster.
If you haven’t understood what I’m getting at, I’m saying maybe Lesnar took a dive to actually go back to the one place he seemed to hate…..professional wrestling.
The last six months seem way too coincidental and I don’t believe in coincidences.
In June, CM Punk mentions Brock Lesnar during his shoot promo.
Lesnar then appeared in the new WWE 12 video game. This is the first time Lesnar had been associated with a WWE product in years.
Then during during a pre-fight press conference, Lesnar made some (in hindsight) interesting remarks where he said “Wrestling is fake” and “I am Brock Lesnar the UFC fighter.”
Just a few hours later he was Brock Lesnar the retired UFC fighter.
Now as I said, Jericho is probably just working everyone and he knew what he tweeted would go viral…and it did! But do you (the reader) think what he said has any merit to it? Do you think Brock took a dive so he could go make more money for one match then just disappear forever.
People will remember him much more as a dominate force if he goes back to WWE and destroys people compared to getting his butt kicked in UFC. No man likes to be remembered as someone who loses.
Update:
It appears that I need to clarify the subject of the article because apparently some people have been getting upset and taking the idea of this article to the extreme.
This was just a scenario I put together, I never said Jericho was right or that Lesnar took a dive, it was all a hypothetical situation in which I asked you (the reader) to chime in and ask whether you thought it was possible.
What I wrote here was not my personal opinions, it was just a topic to get people to throw out ideas and talk.
WWE superstars CM Punk and Triple H have two drastically different views on the UFC and the entire sport of mixed martial arts. It was only last week that Triple H was quoted as saying that he believed that the UFC needed to evolve, but that the WWE di…
WWE superstars CM Punk and Triple H have two drastically different views on the UFC and the entire sport of mixed martial arts.
It was only last week that Triple H was quoted as saying that he believed that the UFC needed to evolve, but that the WWE did not. But CM Punk had an answer for the man who defeated him on Sunday night’s WWE Night of Champions in their no-disqualification match-up.
“Triple H just doesn’t get mixed martial arts. He doesn’t watch it either,” Punk told MMAFighting’s Ariel Helwani. I think he’s missing the picture that UFC is evolving. There’s only one other sport entity in the world that has production rights to their own material on network and that’s the NFL. UFC has just bartered a huge deal [with FOX]. That’s evolution.”
In addition to Punk’s belief that the UFC is evolving already, he was also in disagreement with Triple H on the point that WWE does not need to evolve themselves.
“I think that’s absolutely insane,” Punk proclaimed. “Any human being, any business, any sport needs to constantly evolve. I’m not a big football guy, but look at the NFL, they’re constantly evolving. Whether it’s good or it’s bad, they’re evolving. And if you don’t evolve, you die.”
The WWE has taken quite a bit of criticism from fans and analysts in recent years because of their lack of evolution. It has become so bad, in fact, that many believe that the large drop-off in viewers that the WWE has sustained over the past 10 years can largely be credited to fans leaving the pro wrestling organization to begin watching the UFC.
“UFC is entertainment. WWE is entertainment,” Punk said. “And regards to people spending their money on it. It’s definitely a competition. I think the way things are in our economy, there’s a billion pay-per-views between UFC, [other MMA pay-per-views] and the WWE, we’re competing for each other’s dollars, absolutely.”
While Punk disagrees with Triple H who doesn’t believe that the UFC is a competitor, he also believes that every other form of entertainment is a competitor.
“I wouldn’t say [MMA has] ‘hurt’ us, I think that might be a little harsh of a term, but to deny that UFC is our competition is a little ridiculous,” Punk told MMAFighting’s Ariel Helwani. “Cirque du Soleil is our competition. Mad Men and Breaking Bad is our competition. I think everything that people spend their time on and their money on is our competition and to blatantly say that mixed martial arts has no bearing on what’s good or bad in our business, is silly. It’s closed-minded. You’re putting a band-aid on a gunshot wound.”
WWE pro wrestler CM Punk strongly disagrees with WWE executive senior advisor and on-screen “COO” Triple H’s remarks in a recent Moviefone interview where he stated, “I don’t think we (the WWE and pro wrestling) have to evolve” and “if anybody needs to evolve, it’s [the UFC].”
The 32-year-old Punk, one of the most popular pro wrestlers today and a longtime MMA fan, appeared on this past Monday’s The MMA Hour and explained that although Triple H’s comments might be the WWE’s corporate stance, that’s not the case with him.
“Triple H just doesn’t get mixed martial arts. he doesn’t watch it either,” said Punk. “Saying the UFC needs to evolve, I guess he’s not wrong, but I think he’s missing the picture that UFC is evolving. There’s only one other sport entity in the world that has production rights to their own material on network and that’s the NFL. UFC has just bartered a huge deal [with FOX]. That’s evolution.”
Further, Punk made it clear he shared a completely different opinion from Triple H’s comment that the WWE does not need to evolve.
“I think that’s absolutely insane,” Punk said. “Any human being, any business, any sport needs to constantly evolve. I’m not a big football guy, but look at the NFL, they’re constantly evolving — whether it’s good or it’s bad, they’re evolving. And if you don’t evolve, you die.”
WWE Chairman and CEO Vince McMahon has stated over the years that UFC is not a competition to the WWE. However, consistently strong UFC pay-per-view buys and tumbling WWE numbers would state otherwise. Punk believes fans can enjoy both products, but it would be impractical to say both products aren’t competition for the consumer’s time and money.
“I wouldn’t say [MMA has] ‘hurt’ us, I think that might be a little harsh of a term, but to deny that UFC is our competition is a little ridiculous,” Punk explained. “Cirque du Soleil is our competition. Mad Men and Breaking Bad is our competition . I think everything that people spend their time on and their money on is our competition and to blatantly say that mixed martial arts has no barring on what’s good or bad in our business, is silly; it’s close-minded. You’re putting a band-aid on a gunshot wound.”
In a relatable way that the UFC went through and is still continuing an education process to explain many of the basic elements of the sport and overcome negative preconceptions to the unconverted, that’s perhaps what the WWE execs need, according to Punk.
“Pro wrestling as a whole in my opinion has a lot to do to get to where I would like it to go,” Punk said. “I think the people who discredit mixed martial arts in pro wrestling have very antiquated ideas and honestly, I think it’s an education thing. I’ve had many conversations with Triple H about mixed martial arts, and he just doesn’t get it. ”
In that same regard, Punk finds humor in the way people have come to embrace or reject professional wrestling.
“It’s funny, because pro wrestling many people don’t get, and there’s an old saying, “Pro wrestling is religion. They’re very similar in regards that if you’re trying to explain to somebody who doesn’t get it, there is no explanation that will get them to get it. But someone who gets it, there is no explanation needed. It’s just very black and white.
On the business end, whether MMA purists would admit it or not, the UFC has followed and expanded on WWE’s early business models. On the most basic level, both have television shows to drive interest in selling pay-per-views and what the UFC and WWE are in essence — entertainment-based products. And with that, there’s only so much money to go around for everyone.
“UFC is entertainment. WWE is entertainment,” Punk said. “And regards to people spending their money on it. It’s definitely a competition. I think the way things are in our economy, there’s a billion pay-per-views between UFC, [other MMA pay-per-views] and the WWE, we’re competing for each other’s dollars, absolutely.”
WWE pro wrestler CM Punk strongly disagrees with WWE executive senior advisor and on-screen “COO” Triple H’s remarks in a recent Moviefone interview where he stated, “I don’t think we (the WWE and pro wrestling) have to evolve” and “if anybody needs to evolve, it’s [the UFC].”
The 32-year-old Punk, one of the most popular pro wrestlers today and a longtime MMA fan, appeared on this past Monday’s The MMA Hour and explained that although Triple H’s comments might be the WWE’s corporate stance, that’s not the case with him.
“Triple H just doesn’t get mixed martial arts. he doesn’t watch it either,” said Punk. “Saying the UFC needs to evolve, I guess he’s not wrong, but I think he’s missing the picture that UFC is evolving. There’s only one other sport entity in the world that has production rights to their own material on network and that’s the NFL. UFC has just bartered a huge deal [with FOX]. That’s evolution.”
Further, Punk made it clear he shared a completely different opinion from Triple H’s comment that the WWE does not need to evolve.
“I think that’s absolutely insane,” Punk said. “Any human being, any business, any sport needs to constantly evolve. I’m not a big football guy, but look at the NFL, they’re constantly evolving — whether it’s good or it’s bad, they’re evolving. And if you don’t evolve, you die.”
WWE Chairman and CEO Vince McMahon has stated over the years that UFC is not a competition to the WWE. However, consistently strong UFC pay-per-view buys and tumbling WWE numbers would state otherwise. Punk believes fans can enjoy both products, but it would be impractical to say both products aren’t competition for the consumer’s time and money.
“I wouldn’t say [MMA has] ‘hurt’ us, I think that might be a little harsh of a term, but to deny that UFC is our competition is a little ridiculous,” Punk explained. “Cirque du Soleil is our competition. Mad Men and Breaking Bad is our competition . I think everything that people spend their time on and their money on is our competition and to blatantly say that mixed martial arts has no barring on what’s good or bad in our business, is silly; it’s close-minded. You’re putting a band-aid on a gunshot wound.”
In a relatable way that the UFC went through and is still continuing an education process to explain many of the basic elements of the sport and overcome negative preconceptions to the unconverted, that’s perhaps what the WWE execs need, according to Punk.
“Pro wrestling as a whole in my opinion has a lot to do to get to where I would like it to go,” Punk said. “I think the people who discredit mixed martial arts in pro wrestling have very antiquated ideas and honestly, I think it’s an education thing. I’ve had many conversations with Triple H about mixed martial arts, and he just doesn’t get it. ”
In that same regard, Punk finds humor in the way people have come to embrace or reject professional wrestling.
“It’s funny, because pro wrestling many people don’t get, and there’s an old saying, “Pro wrestling is religion. They’re very similar in regards that if you’re trying to explain to somebody who doesn’t get it, there is no explanation that will get them to get it. But someone who gets it, there is no explanation needed. It’s just very black and white.
On the business end, whether MMA purists would admit it or not, the UFC has followed and expanded on WWE’s early business models. On the most basic level, both have television shows to drive interest in selling pay-per-views and what the UFC and WWE are in essence — entertainment-based products. And with that, there’s only so much money to go around for everyone.
“UFC is entertainment. WWE is entertainment,” Punk said. “And regards to people spending their money on it. It’s definitely a competition. I think the way things are in our economy, there’s a billion pay-per-views between UFC, [other MMA pay-per-views] and the WWE, we’re competing for each other’s dollars, absolutely.”
Filed under: UFC, MMA Fighting Exclusive, News, VideosThe MMA Hour has finally reached 100 episodes, and we’re bringing out the big guns for our centennial episode. Here’s who will be stopping by the show Monday afternoon.
The MMA Hour has finally reached 100 episodes, and we’re bringing out the big guns for our centennial episode. Here’s who will be stopping by the show Monday afternoon.
* And Jake Ellenberger will discuss his big knockout win against Jake Shields at UFN 25.
Of course, we’ll be taking your calls. Give us a shout at: 212-254-0193, 212-254-0237 or 212-254-0714.
*** You can also stream the show live on your iPhone or iPad by clicking here.
Watch the show live below beginning at 1 p.m. ET / 10 a.m. PT. Subscribe to The MMA Hour on iTunes: audio feed here; video feed here. Download previous episodes here. Listen to the show via Stitcher here.
(Editor’s note: Today’s show is now over, but the video should be available Tuesday or Wednesday).
The “best in the world” will team up with the “undefeated and undisputed UFC middleweight champion” on Jan. 28 at the United Center in Chicago.
As everyone knows, Brock Lesnar got knocked out pretty fast in his comeback fight Friday night. In fact, it was like Brock wasn’t even fighting and instead it was a poorly trained clone. 
WWE pro wrestler 
The MMA Hour