Brock Is Back So Now What?

Brock Lesnar kicked off Wrestlemania week with a bombshell going on ESPN to announce he is retired from MMA and had re-signed the night before with WWE. He stated that Vince McMahon made him an offer he couldn’t refuse.

Some interesting things he stated were that he had been training for MMA for the last two months. He claimed his appearance at the Rousey fight in L.A was to be back in the UFC environment.  He also said he has been struggling with this decision for about a year. He had a bad taste in his mouth, in regards to how his career ended in MMA with UFC as a fighter. He went out on a losing streak and was dealing with recovering from diverticulitis. In the end, he felt that returning to the WWE and retiring from MMA was the best choice to make for his family.

Brock still hates to travel and by his comments it appears he has resigned for the same or similar part-time schedule. He also stated that he is the only one that gets to work part-time hours for full-time pay.  Which makes you wonder how wise this was for WWE given their new finically reality with the WWE Network.

While Brock claimed ignorance to angling for this deal with WWE that seems hard to believe. In fact, you can go back far before his latest moves with showing up at UFC to him playing the UFC and WWE against one another. I recall Paul Heyman doing an interview with Ariel Helwani noted MMA journalist that Brock would still watch UFC fights and tell Heyman that he could beat this guy and that guy. The subtle seeds had been planted about Brock having interest in returning. Heyman is back in the WWE based completely on his friendship with Lesnar. He would never say anything without the blessing of Brock in such a public setting. Heyman would never speak about C.M Punk’s issues prior to Punk making his reasons for leaving public. Punk also is close with Heyman and the loyalty Heyman shows has been shown in this situation as well.

While having Brock back will be seen as the big story in reality the fact this will almost guarantee Heyman’s presence on television is an even bigger deal for WWE. He has been an MVP for this company in the last year with his tremendous promos in selling angles and matches tied to Lesnar and others in the last year. He single handedly sold the Lesnar vs. Taker match a year ago. He was the driving force in selling the Lesnar against John Cena match at Summerslam and the re-match between the two.

In the end, Brock can say what he likes. He played this situation perfectly to be paid. He claims to enjoy wrestling in the ring and his just not a fan of travel. This is consistent to why he left originally to try out for the Minnesota Vikings in the NFL. Still to me, he will always be a mercenary that is out to be paid and is not necessarily a fan of the business. He is when it is convent to be and isn’t when it is not in his best interest to be. Bottom line Brock Lesnar is not a mark for the business he is a mark for himself at whatever he does.

The biggest loser in all of this likely will be Roman Reigns, as he now likely seems to be the odd man out. The chosen one to take the title from Lesnar now likely will not. Most felt that if Lesnar would be under contract prior to Sunday he likely will retain his title. This of course remains to be seen but seems highly likely and ultimately turn Lesnar officially babyface and have him continue his run with the title.

Even worse, a program he could have had, as a heel champion with The Rock likely now becomes The Rock against Brock Lesnar at Wrestlemania 32 in AT&T Stadium. A program with Roman against his more famous cousin would have been a great thing for Reigns getting to another level as an attraction.

WWE can now breathe easy and can do what is BEST FOR BUSINESS if they want too. It isn’t to say they will mind you, as Lesnar in reality doesn’t care if he wins or loses on Sunday as much as he does that the check clears the bank for showing up.

Brock Lesnar Turns Up Heat On WWE By Showing Up At UFC 184

After walking out on Raw on Monday, on Saturday Brock Lesnar the current WWE Champion walked into the Staples Center to watch Ronda Rousey make history. Rousey would watch him capture the WWE Heavyweight Title in the same building smashing John Cena. It may be a decision the WWE will really regret.

Dana White the UFC president before Dave Meltzer could ask the question as to why Brock was there he asked it for him. In answering his own question, he said that Lesnar was in town and wanted to see the fights. White also said that Brock is under contract to WWE and he said the day after that contract ends he expects to hear from Lesnar.

White has been hinting at conversations he has had with Lesnar but because of the obvious threat of a tampering legal action from WWE will say with a twinkle in his eye that Brock and I are friends and did not talk business. This is about as believable as Nikki Bella joining the UFC and defeating Ronda Rousey in the Octagon.

It has been rumored the dispute on Monday was about a new contract Brock wanted with WWE that would allow him to fight for UFC. Dana White offered no comment, or was asked, if he would be on board for such a scenario as has been rumored. Bellator the competitor to the UFC has had former WWE star and current TNA wrestler Bobby Lashley fight for their organization while under contract with TNA. The WWE is not TNA though and it would be unlikely they ever agree to such an arrangement. 

White made a lot of news announcing that C.M Punk signed with the UFC in December and would fight at some point in 2015 in the UFC.

The idea the WWE keeps trying to push that they are not in direct competition with the UFC is becoming even more of a joke by the day. Lesnar is next scheduled to appear for the WWE on March 9th and if he doesn’t you have to wonder if he would pull a C.M Punk like move and walkout if he does get what he wants with a new deal allowing him to work for both UFC and WWE. This would throw the Wrestlemania main event that had been already in trouble due to fans rejection of Roman Reigns into a tailspin.

The more likely is Lesnar plays out his contract and signs with the UFC practically moments after he is pinned to the mat by Roman Reigns. Dana White seems very confident that he will have Brock back as soon as that match is over. Rumors of a Ronda Rousey appearance at Wrestlemania have been out there as well. She will not be fighting anytime soon as she is booked to do another movie. So maybe, Dana should just tag along and he can sign Brock, as he makes his exit from the ring while the fireworks are going off for Roman Reigns.

In any case the WWE has be pretty pissed to see their Champion on the UFC PPV and not even recognized as being a part of the WWE. In fact, just as a former UFC legend. WWE often feared C.M Punk would be made to look foolish in his appearances as a fan when he worked for the company. They rejected him permission to walk out for a fight with his friend Chael Sonnen in Chicago.

Add in the fact that the WWE has been taking heat for not using their women correctly and we had a UFC show draw a larger gate than Summerslam in the same venue with a show headlined by two women’s matches. It all adds up to a big in your face to Vince McMahon and the WWE.

Brock is as good as gone at this point. 

CM Punk signs with UFC

Well, if you asked me 10 days ago would Punk be in the UFC? I would tell you that your nuts, but coming out of last night's "UFC 181" PPV, CM Punk officially sign a multi-fight contract with the UFC and expects to start fighting in 2015. Obviously CM Punk has been the talk of the entire world over the last two weeks and as to the big elephant in the room, Can CM Punk fight? Is this worth it? Well in this piece I will give you my thoughts on this signing and what can we expect from CM Punk in 2015?

As one of CM Punk's biggest fans I'm happy to see that Punk is doing what makes him happy. You can see it in his eyes in this video above with Joe Rogan, Punk speaks about having the fire he has insides when someones says that he can't accomplish anything. If you ever known CM Punk, he's always been the person to percivere through roadblocks no matter how big that particular roadblock is. Punk said he expect to fight in the middleweight division and fight around 170-185 weight class. Many professional wrestlers and MMA fighters reacted to this mega decision.

Big respect to @CMPunk! Do whatever you want to do champ and give the critics something to talk about.
— Bobby Lashley (@fightbobby) December 7, 2014

Just as Lesnar brought many wrestling fans to @ufc to see him lose, Punk will being newer & younger fans to @ufc out of curiosity/ to win.
— Jim Ross (@JRsBBQ) December 7, 2014

WHA?!?!?! @CMPunk!!?!!!!?!! #cantwait
— Ronda Rousey (@RondaRousey) December 7, 2014

As far as the WWE is concern, I'm getting a big shuckle out of how this effect the company in anyway. In todays society it's all about coming up with ways to degrade the WWE and they're the worst company in the world. Say what you want about the WWE, but they don't care because UFC is not their competition. With Brock Lesnar possibly heading to the UFC after WrestleMania 31, man UFC seems to get off the desperate wagon because now they can get their special PPV buys that they haven't been getting in the last couple of years and makes MMA relevant again. CM Punk was already a big name in the mainstream media over the last three years and does this make this signing a publicity stunt from both Punk and UFC. I don't believe that's true, but people are going to pose that question just due to the nature of CM Punk professional background.



This wouldn't be the first time that CM Punk has been involved with the UFC. Punk has been an active attender of many UFC fights over the years and CM Punk has become popular with the MMA fanbase with his annual interviews with Ariel Helwani from MMAfighting.com. Helwani had his concerns about this decision, but as you see in the video above CM Punk he wants to do this and this is a full circle kind of moment for him because he's had previous MMA style of training with the Gracie's and doing Kempo in Chicago while he was training to become a professional wrestler. In this video above Helwani does bring up alot of topics that alot of hardcore MMA fans have, Can he fight? Are you trying to outdo Brock Lesnar? Are you part of a certain camp? Why didn't Punk get his MMA start in another fighting company? When will his first fight happen? Punk has gone on to say in his press conference that he knows that he's going to have his critics, but he said he's been motivated to step into the octogan for a long while now and now it's about training and continuing to prove people wrong. I would think personally his fight would be in Chicago, UFC has been bringing their "UFC on FOX" Show to the United Center over the last three years. Who knows maybe the UFC brings a PPV for the first time since UFC 90 and that's where he makes his debut.


As we look towards the future as 2015 approaches it's good time to be a MMA fan. I'm personally happy for CM Punk and hope he makes the best out of this opportunity and he proves his doubters wrong. Hard work pays off for people that bust their ass and don't let other's opinions drag them down. Do I think he will be successful in MMA? I'm not sure, but I do think that he's going to give it his all and that's all I can ask for as a fan of Phil "CM Punk" Brooks. Do the WWE have to make a move after this decision? No because UFC is not their competition and people can't accept that fact, but their not their competition. So Punk has move on to the next phase in his professional life and we'll see what happens. Follow me on Twitter @JoshLopezCSR

Stephanie McMahon Gets Iced by Ronda Rousey and Horsewomen

This is pretty epic and you got to hand it to Stephanie McMahon she took the Ice Bucket Challenge and was iced by Ronda Rousey and the 4 horsewomen. In her wrestling outfit from last night no less. Roll the video footage:




Ronda Rousey and he 4 horsewomen were all over the place last night and Summerslam and Rousey if you didn't catch it was flashed the 4 horsewomen/men sign from Steph and was wearing Bray Wyatt's hat when appearing on Camera. Jon Jones who recently had his fight scrapped with Daniel Cormier was also there and sent out a video via Instagram with the New WWE and Former UFC Champion Brock Lesnar.

Wonder what Dana White is thinking about all of this. Rousey even did an interview with WWE.com as well.To quote the great philosopher George Costanza WORLD'S ARE COLLIDING!!! Let the speculation begin on if Rousey appears at Wrestlemania (as mentioned by Stephanie above that will take place in the Bay area in Northern California at Levi's Stadium in Apri)l. 


 

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Triple H Says UFC is not Competition of the WWE

For the WWE and Triple H to draw the conclusion that UFC is not their competition is somewhere between a flat out lie and ignorance.Triple H tried to make several points to back up this ridiculous claim. The things he stated more explain the differences between the two than it explains why they are not competition. If you would like to see his full comments in context head over to Between the Ropes article on this a few days ago.

At the end of the day, WWE and UFC are competing for that all-important 18-35 male demographic. While WWE looks to other demos beyond that one, like children, they also try to attract women but so does UFC and have a stronger draw to do it. Ronda Rousey is taken more serious by the UFC than any woman is in the WWE. The one place I believe WWE has an advantage is with older demos as they have been less inclined to embrace the UFC over traditional boxing.

I keep hearing who the WWE thinks it’s competition isn’t, the same Triple H was tied to a quote a while back that not only was TNA not competition for WWE that they had zero interest in anyone in that company. Just who is the WWE’s competition by their standards? It has to be someone does it not.  There is a reason people are not giving you their $9.99 a month you would have to figure. There is a reason people with the option of the network are still paying 40 to 50 dollars more to watch some UFC pay-per-views.

The two companies currently are promoting the same type of fight. John Cena against Brock Lesnar this Sunday is very similar to the match-up of Jon Jones and Daniel Cormier. The build up for that UFC fight that has looked much like pro wrestling with the two fighters getting into a brawl at the presser. Neither of them suffered an injury so the fight is still on. A security member for UFC did end up with damaged ribs. In reality, you believe these guys want to kill each other. That may not be true and this might be, as much theatre as the WWE, but it is perceived as real hatred by most.

Triple H will make the argument that Cena against Lesnar war is more compelling because they can make it as such. We all know this is in the end, is a booked fight that is designed to be entertaining. In the UFC, you never know what you are going to get. You could have a situation like you had in which Ronda Rousey destroyed Canadian Alexis Davis in less than 30 seconds or a five round war like we saw in Toronto with Jones and his originally scheduled opposition Alexander Gustafsson. Some felt Jones lost that fight and he was set to have the much anticipated and hyped re-match with Gustafsson who had to pull out of the fight due to injury.

While John Cena and Brock in all likelihood go for 20-30 minutes in a designed to be compelling match with false finishes and moments that we as an audience are, suppose to question the outcome along the ride we are taken on. The winner of the match is known long before it ever happens by the competitors and the powers than be in the WWE. This is not breaking news or anything wrestling has been out of the closet for many years on it being any kind of a legitimate sporting contest. It is, as they like to say sports entertainment.

Isn’t the UFC in a sense in that same type of business with the lone difference being they do not manipulate their results. While you will not have ridiculous skits and some of the high jinx of the WWE, the goal of the UFC is to be both a sport and compelling entertainment. Even on a larger scale, haven’t all sports kind of sold out and become entertainment to some degree. I mean why is it when they have a big sporting event I have to sit through a pre-game or halftime rock concert that I did not ask to attend. That is they trying to add entertainment to go along side their sport. Just as I had no need for "Flo Rida" on Raw it is the same for whoever the band will be the plays before the opening game of the NFL season or at halftime at the NBA All-Star Game.

While the WWE tries to claim everyone is not their competition the simple fact is they likely are there competition and to state publicly otherwise is just foolish.  Paul Lévesque I do not consider a foolish man at the end of the day. Just look at the way he has over hauled the developmental system for this company as proof of his intelligence. I think he knows that the UFC is indeed a competitor for the WWE. Some would even be as bold as to claim a direct competitor as these two companies are really fighting for the same hearts and minds in terms of an audience.

Here is something to consider in closing which speaks to what a horrible job the WWE has done with their network roll out. More people will purchase a pay-per-view for the UFC headlined by the Jon Jones and Daniel Cormier fight. That is my prediction for what it will draw which means over 700,000 pay-per-view buys for the UFC and roughly 40 to 50 dollars more a pop. Floyd Mayweather did sell 2.2 Million on pay-per view, which I believe an even slightly higher price tag. While WWE claims that pay per view is dead, it really is not for the right events. It just might be dead in terms of who is willing to spend a high price for wrestling content on a monthly basis.

WWE can make all the claims they like about whom they are in competition with and who they are not. The reality is they do not decide that as much as the marketplace decides that for them. What are potential WWE fans spending their money on now?  Here would be a survey that would interest me greatly. The high point of wrestling was the Monday Night Wars and the “Attitude Era” for the WWE. I would love to know what all those fans who left the product are spending their money on these days. Would it shock anyone if many of them were now contributing their dollars to the UFC?

For the WWE to say they are not in direct competition with the UFC is about as crazy as McDonald is saying they are not in competition with Burger King because the Big-Mac is different from the Whooper. WWE is in competition with the UFC more than anyone else has a claim to be. TNA or Ring of Honor is not a serious threat to the WWE. It would be quite insane at this point to think they likely would be in the future.

Is Ronda Rousey a bigger star than John Cena, or will she be after this summer? You think someone in WWE is not thinking about that. You think the WWE would not welcome the UFC Woman Bantamweight Champion into the fold with open arms to be a part of an event like Summerslam or Wrestlemania.  They would in a heartbeat, but Dana White is not going to allow it. Does this sound like two businesses’ that are not in direct competition to you?

Dana knows this as well as Paul Lévesque knows this they in many cases are looking to earn the same dollars from the same people’s pockets more and more. Something for both to consider is the amount of people that class themselves, as fans of both is growing larger and larger by the day. Not unlike in the “Attitude Era” when many just simply were fans of both WWE and WCW and wanted to watch whoever gave them the best show.

The UFC lost the early battle when they launched UFC Fight Pass at the same time as the WWE Network. People were saying look at how much better the WWE Network was in comparison. Looking back now it seems the UFC had the right idea with a relatively low risk product which attracted the craziest loyal portion of its fan base and have little risk to the overall product. WWE has put almost its entire company’s future tied to this network and has suffered for doing so.

It is not to say the WWE cannot turn it around, but it has been a much rocky road for them. At the end of the day should they survive it, the UFC can say that looks like a hell of an idea why do not we do that too. Difference being they have not taken the hits the WWE has in being the first to do something so revolutionary but can easily be the second and made a nice profit while doing so. UFC also being a private company never has to answer to shareholders or reveal keep numbers about its successes or failures.

If Triple H honestly believes, he is not in competition with the UFC he is about as ignorant as TNA thinking that they are in competition with him. He knows they are, but tried in my view unsuccessfully, to make what in the end is a bogus argument to make in the first place. What does the WWE gain from it really? Not a heck of a lot if you ask anyone if they really care about this the answer would be no. 

Lesnar vs. Cena and Jon Jones vs. Cormier are about as similar in nature of main attractions as the companies have had. WWE bills Lesnar against Cena as the biggest fight of the summer. Many will say that it is going to be Jones and Cormier with that biggest fight that takes place on September 27th a little after summer is over, so WWE is not technically lying. How these two events do will be interesting to watch.

Game on, even if “The Game “says it isn’t a game at all.

ROH Facing More Challenges Is Nothing New For Them.

About a month ago, Ring of Honor was the hot topic of the wrestling world, about to head to live pay-per-view for the first time. A month later there doesn’t seem to be the buzz or follow-up you would have hoped for.

Kevin Steen has just 6 days left in effect as a member of ROH which is significant. He is for lack of a better comparison the John Cena of this promotion. He is nothing like Cena in many ways, but he is in the sense he is the companies biggest star. He sells the most merchandise for the promotion and has been a huge part of storylines since his return to the company in 2012. He became the champion of the promotion and even after losing it like John Cena would basically be the semi-main event even without the belt. This alone is a huge blow for ROH to recover from. They have done this so many times before though, so it is something they have a great deal of experience with. The best handling of the situation was perhaps when C.M Punk left the promotion which is referenced as “The Summer of Punk” and a watershed moment for the promotion. Other big names have left too like Samoa Joe, A.J Styles, Daniel Bryan and a list that could go on for a long time.

Steen is now off to get his chance to try and make it in the WWE like so many ROH performers have, with a decent success rate. Based on his body type, some likely saw Steen as an independent scene “lifer” and not someone the WWE would consider. Steen getting himself into better shape by his standards, along with the success of Bray Wyatt and a tryout down in Florida that impressed have all led to this opportunity. He, like his friend El Generico (better known as Sami Zayn to WWE audience) should have a good chance at making it.

Ring of Honor was hoping to figure out a way to have Steen appear at their Field of Honor show in New York City.  The event at MCU Park in Brooklyn on August 15th is a huge deal for Ring of Honor as they have basically replaced TNA who use to run this event annually. Unfortunately nothing could be worked out with Steen it would appear as rumours have had him reporting to WWE developmental as early as August 1st.

What might be as significant a blow for Ring of Honor is the news that U-Stream is phasing out live pay-per-view as part of their company. ROH made a successful return to I-Pay-Per-View back in May leading up to their debut on conventional Pay-Per-View in June with co-promoted shows with New Japan Pro Wrestling which also uses the service and it would appear is no longer going to be moving forward.

Before this news came out the plan for ROH was to run several I-PPV offerings before returning to conventional pay-per-view in December with Final Battle. That now appears not to be possible with U-Stream out of the picture. Well at least not with them, which is a big deal given ROH’s issues in the past with I-PPV with another provider that was a complete disaster from the company. It forced them out of PPV business for awhile in any form.

There has been no official word on how the conventional PPV did in terms of numbers other than it was on pace to meet or even exceed the modest goals that ROH had set of somewhere around 9000 buys. Dave Meltzer reported that ROH did out draw the Glory Kickboxing event on the same weekend on the Saturday. This is all pretty impressive when you consider the lack of mainstream advertising for the event in June.

So where exactly ROH heads from here remains a question mark to a large degree. Added into that concern would be where the now former ROH Champion Adam Cole is heading after 2014. His contract is set to expire at the end of the year and many feel it would almost be criminal at this point for the WWE to not give him a look. Cole is just killing it both in the ring and out of it with promos as you can see for yourself below.



Cole is heading to Japan along with Michael Bennett and ReDragon in early August. This is part of the on going relationship with the two promotions. Speaking of Bennett he too will have his contract come due around the same time with ROH in December. He is set to be married in the fall to his manger and fiancée former WWE Diva Maria Kanellis. Bennett has always been pegged as a guy with the look for WWE and a return with Maria could be possible depending on how the wind blows with WWE at the time. Maria had talked about a return to the WWE being thwarted by the Bella Twins some time ago. If the pair found their way to WWE it wouldn’t be a huge surprise. Add in the fact that C.M Punk may not be with company might play a role in this positively or negatively based on Maria’s past relationship with Punk. WWE had a lot of success with a real life love triangle with Edge, Lita and Matt Hardy back in 2006. It is something in theory you could do with this situation. This of course would be under the large assumption that Punk would be involved in company by the time Bennett debuts on the main roster if given a developmental deal. 

Speaking of Matt Hardy, as Michael Bennett speculated on our podcast with him Matt Hardy is in fact still working with Ring of Honor and in fact worked a match with the New ROH World Champion Michael Elgin for the title in Hopkins, Minnesota.  So it would appear Hardy’s appearance on TNA was just at least for the moment just being part of the tapings in New York City the week after the ROH Best In the World Pay-Per-View.

Kevin Steen one the first of his three final matches against Tommaso Ciampa and Silas Young set to face Steen next won a four corners match to earn a shot at the ROH title in the future. For a complete rundown of the results you can check it out at Wrestling Oseverer.com with this link.

The event was dubbed “Aftershock” and ROH has had some of those since their debut on PPV. Unfortunately they have not all been positives for the company and to some extent the follow up to the event has been weak. TNA is always labelled as the company that keeps on surviving, but in reality that promotion has been Ring of Honor they always have found a way to keep things alive no matter what obstacles have been thrown in its path.

It would be really out of the box idea but what if Ring of Honor used the WWE Network for instead of I-PPV. Before you cast of the idea as crazy maybe it makes sense. The UFC with fight pass has taken on Invicta FC a female MMA promotion to air it’s events on Fight Pass. If ROH was able to cut some sort of a deal with WWE it might make some sense.

Why would the WWE do such a deal? They might be inclined if it allowed them access to the ROH archives to have on the WWE Network as well. It is no secret that the WWE is considering anything and everything for the WWE Network. If the right deal could be reached it would give ROH some extra cash to keep moving forward. WWE has declared that pay-per-view is a dying industry, so if they are serious, than ROH to remain on it might not be the stumbling block one would think at first. The chance to see guys like CM Punk, Daniel Bryan, Cesaro Seth Rollins and others via the WWE Network would have some appeal you have to figure for the WWE.

This is all mere speculation on my part, but could a deal of this sort happen you can at least see the foundation for the two companies to have a discussion. Maybe even going as far as having a yearly event with NXT vs. ROH could be a huge draw for both companies if they were willing to work together. It is likely just a wrestling fan’s" pipedream," but it does make a lot of sense if you look at where the UFC is going with their online platform with Fight Pass.

In any case, it will be a very interesting 6 months or so for Ring of Honor as they head towards 2015. They could even be classed as the number two promotion legitimately if TNA is unable to come to terms with Spike-TV on a new T.V deal.

I have more faith in ROH’s survival than I do in TNA. I also have more love for ROH as they unlike TNA offer a true alternative product to the WWE.

 

Condo on the Moon is on Twitter and Facebook and check out our weekly podcasts Every Friday! If you have questions/comments for our NEW Weekly Google+ Show Live Thursday's 8pm EST use hashtag #AskMachoMoon. You can find us now at Condoonthemoon.com. 

Added Note July 14th: After Publication of this article Dave Meltzer of Wrestling Observer reported that U-Stream has told all their clients that September 30th will be the end to their usage as an I-PPV provider. Based on this info in theory ROH still could have a show on I-PPV between now and that time. 

Ronda Rousey In WWE Might Be Closer To Reality Thanks Indirectly To ROH?

Has UFC Fighter Tom Lawlor opened the door to Ronda Rousey and the 4 horsewomen riding into WWE? Lawlor was in the corner of Ring Of Honor Tag-Team Red Dragon who regained their ROH Titles defeating the defending champions Nick and Matt Jackson the Young Bucks.

Lawlor was said to be already attending the event as fan. He like Rousey and the horsewomen loves his wrestling. You can argue he is an even bigger fan of it but I don’t wish to get arm-barred by anyone. Already having bought a ticket Lawlor was asked if he wanted to be part of the show and corner Red Dragon. He agreed after getting the blessing and approval from the UFC.

I’ll be honest with you I have no idea if Dana White knows what Ring of Honor is or was at the time the UFC was approached. The point is now the door swings wide open for Ronda to make an appearance on a larger scale in the WWE perhaps. Safe to say that Ronda or her management can now point to this appearance by Lawlor as justification for being allowed to do it. The event was on I-PPV as well so if Dana or the UFC was going to use that as an excuse still some room to say they already let it happen.

All due respect to Tom Lawlor but in terms of mass appeal Ronda Rousey is on a different planet in terms of fame. WWE took a butt kicking on Wall Street last week. Ronda is set to make her next title defence at UFC 175 against Alexis Davis July 5th, 2014 . Summerslam is scheduled to take place in Ronda’s backyard in L.A on August 17th,2014.

So it fits as far as Ronda’s fight schedule goes. Not sure how it works with the other 3 ladies that make up her horsewomen but you have to wonder if this marriage could take place. Rousey now as some leverage to say she is entitled to work with WWE as long as it would be in some capacity where she would not be competing in the ring. A show that likely would see the first appearance from Brock Lesnar since breaking the Undertaker’s streak at Wrestlemania as well. Just another reason a Rousey appearance might make some sense to draw over the UFC crowd in bigger numbers to see Summerslam.

It seems all to good to be true but a basis for how it can happen may have been established this weekend. There has been a lot of faction based storylines in the WWE of late perhaps the biggest real life faction coming in for an appearance might make some sense for all parties involved.

Let the speculation begin. If not for Summerslam, Wrestlemania 31 will also be in California up the coast in the Bay Area.

WWE World Championship What Do You Do In The Wake Of Daniel Bryan Injury?

What in the world will the WWE do about the WWE World Championship? They have fought kicking and screaming but finally put Daniel Bryan over  with the title at Wrestlemania. As luck would have it we have Daniel Bryan going under the knife for neck surgery. The results of that will likely determine if there is need to be a new WWE World Champion?  In storyline Bryan has had the belt taken from him so many times and now he may have to legitimately forfeit  the title?

In the UFC they try to avoid this practice of stripping an injured champion of a belt. They will create an interim championship for the time the actual champion is healing. This has never been something that has been done in the WWE and to the best of my knowledge in the pro wrestling business on any grand stage.

Normally the idea I would never even dream of the WWE doing such a thing. But the fact in storyline they have killed Bryan so many times could they honestly do it again in a real circumstance and not totally crush his momentum?

Does the whole thought process change with whatever happens with this neck procedure. Even if this is a fairly standard thing does it make people wonder about the longevity of him as a performer. There is a long history of WWE stars that have had to call it quits due to neck issues. Big names like Steve Austin and Edge are just two that come to mind.

The other question becomes who exactly would become the new WWE World Champion. It is a tough time for the WWE with established stars that are not exactly over with fans. They have a lot of rising talents that are over but really not exactly ready for the top spot at the moment.

Sure Roman Reigns, Cesaro and Bray Wyatt all one day I could picture as WWE Champion but not today. Maybe I am wrong and there is a way you can make it make sense. Adam Cole when the tournament to replace an injured Jay Briscoe as champion might not have been my first choice. He became a heel during that tournament and had it climax at the point that he became the champion.

I think I have stumbled onto an idea perhaps. Who is to say that you could not book the reverse to happen for Cesaro. The seeds of a baby face turn have already been planted. Why not pour some water on them.

So let’s just explain this a little. Cesaro is competing in this tournament and in each match along the way Paul Heyman seems to have done something to sabotage Cesaro in every match. Right before the finals of the tournament it is announced that the winner will defend the title against Brock Lesnar. Cesaro in backstage hears this announcement and walk away from Paul Heyman. He enters the ring alone and fights whoever they other finalist is. Heyman comes out during the match trying to support Cesaro but in the final spot he tries to nail Cesaro with the belt after the ref had been taken out. Cesaro ducks and Heyman connects with the other man. Cesaro pulls Heyman in the ring and gives him the giant swing. Heyman takes the bump and the opponent and ref start to come back around. Cesaro hit’s the Neutralizer and that is that 1-2-3 your new baby face WWE World Champion Cesaro.

If and when Daniel Bryan is ready to come back you can have him challenge Cesaro or have Brock win the title and have Bryan face him to regain or unify the titles. Looks good on paper anyway.

The best case scenario is Daniel Bryan is ok and able to continue his title reign. If he isn’t a whole lot could change. Time will tell.