If UFC fans didn't like Brock because he was a 'sports entertainer', they are going to boo Punk out of the building. This basically gives Dana a license to print money for at least one PPV.
This is just tremendous. This is a complete embarrassment to Vince, Triple H, and the entire WWE. I hope Punk does well, and I haven't exactly been a card carrying member of his fan club.
I can see Triple H laughing his head off at this, calling up his buddy Kev and making jokes about how Punk thinks he's a tough guy. The irony that he's mocking the toughness of someone while on the phone with Kevin Nash would be lost on him, of course, but that's the H's for ya!
I generally detest UFC/MMA but I'll probably watch a Punk fight. Very surprising news. Good for him if it's what he wants to do but I don't really see how he'd beat anyone of any worth with his late start.
I've read a lot of MMA purists on cm punk joining the ufc and they are bitching about it nonstop. I wish these fucking idiots would realize it's about a huge buyrate for a ppv and bringing in new fans.
I don't get the complaints. Either he goes in and gets his ass kicked and proves these so-called "purists" right or he goes in and wins and, as long as his opponent isn't some useless hobo, he has earned respect.
At least Brock had a solid foundation of being a nearly Olympic level amateur wrestler and entered MMA at 29. Punk won't have his first fight until he's 37 and has no actual competitive athletic background.
The question is, won't Dana be throwing money away if he doesn't hype Punk's debut as some sort of main event? In other words, if Punk is stuck way down the card it seems like it would be a waste of everybody's time.
It's not about getting wrestling fans to pay to see the wrrstler, it's about getting fans of "real" sports to pay to see the "fake" guy get his ass kicked.
I mean, 2002-2004 Brock was nowhere near as popular as 2011-2014 Punk, but Brock still went on to become UFC's top draw. He may not have been a big star in wrestling, but UFC fans were lining up to see him get beat by a "real" fighter.
Granted, Punk is no Viking Space Lord, he'll probably be used as more of a side-show attraction to pad the undercard, but just knowing that he was a decently popular pro-wrestler should be enough for UFC fans to open their wallets and root for blood. I'm sure that the novelty will wear off quickly, and I doubt that he'll have any real success, but they can definitely use him to draw some buys.
You want a license to print money? Let Punk cut some heel promos while wearing a "Best In The World" shirt. UFC will be salivating to see him get his ass kicked.
I don't think so. Why would Dana bring in Punk besides for his name value? That's not a bad thing, but, if that is the case, why wouldn't he be put front and center on the hype machine?
He's NEVER fought professionally before and he's gonna be 37 next year. He just wants to compete, get paid and stick it to Vince/HHH.
He's a confident dude but he knows enough about the sport to know FOR A FACT that he'd get seriously hurt if he gets in the ring with a title contender, let alone a UFC champion.
Probably not enough time for Punk's first fight to be the Saturday night before Mania, right? Would be hilarious to see that show fuck up Mania's buyrate.
You're insane if you think he doesn't get smashed the second he steps up in competition. He won't get thrown into a UFC title fight without fighting a top contender first.
Basically if Punk could win that first fight (aka they find him the right tomato can), then this will be a pretty big success no matter what happens after that. Wrestling fans will be psyched, UFC fans will be frothing at the mouth wanting Punk dead, and the second fight will be way bigger than the first. So yeah, a win in that first fight would be huge.
More people in the world knew who Brock was when he entered UFC than people would know Punk right now. Selling a bunch of TV shirts is great but it doesnt mean folks outside of wrestling know who or what the hell a CM Punk is....
I'd say that's a lock. People keep comparing him negatively to Lesnar and while Brock is more of an attraction, Punk has a much more dedicated and rabid fanbase.
He won't outdraw Lesnar because Brock competed at the highest level of the sport, but he's gonna be a huge draw.
Christ if he manages to win that first fight and then cuts a full on "I'm better than you" heel post fight promo--- that second fight would be a monster.
Unless you want to see him die. The fake Lesnar match was probably an underrated contributor to the end of Punk's career. The real one would be the contributor to the end of his life.
Point being, Chael got a completely undeserved title shot simply because he could shoot his mouth off. He had 0 LHW fights and lost his most recent fight at WW. If there's any kinda opening, Dana's taking it.
Eh, that should be his marketing strategy. He WANTS UFC fans to hate him. It's exactly what Lesnar did there at his peak. ( including cutting some very pro wrestling style promos.)
No, the trick with Punk is to have the fans like Punk first THEN have him go heel.
Punk doing the humble guy routine first, win a couple of matches, THEN have him go heel on everyone's ass.
UFC purist might hate Punk, but unlike Brock, Punk can be likeable if not downright charming when he wants to be. Which makes the hammer fall all the more bitterly when he goes bad guy on everyone......
They aren't anywhere near the same weight class so that isn't a possibility. Lesnar fights at 265 and Punk's talking about fighting at Middleweight or Welterweight so he's looking at 170-185.
Anybody that expects Punk not to get his ass handed to him right off the bat probably also thought that James Toney and Kimbo Slice were going to dominate the UFC a few years ago (and keep in mind that Toney and Kimbo were both better strikers and certainly less injury prone than Punk).
Whoever his opponent's going to be, the strategy should be obvious: Go after the legs. There'ss no way he'll be able to get out of a heel hook without re-injuring one of his knees.
Alright, out of all former WWE champions, besides Lesnar, who do you think would have done well in MMA? I'm going to go with Backlund and Angle. Which former WWE champion would I have wanted to see compete in MMA? The Ultimate Warrior. "LOAD THE OCTOGON WITH THE FUEL! LOAD IT WITH THE WARRIORS!"
It would've been really interesting if Angle had chosen to go into MMA rather than pro wrestling. He certainly had the work ethic necessary to move from amateur wrestling into MMA, and had the UFC been a bigger deal in the late 90's, I suspect he would've made the jump.
Del Rio had a number of MMA fights in low-level promotions plus a few fights in Pride where he got destroyed (albeit against big names). Backlund and the Iron Sheik (former Olympic wrestler for Iran) are the only other two guys besides Del Rio, Lesnar and Angle that could've realistically done something in MMA.
Angle in UFC around 1998 and he could have run roughshod. He had more wrestling ability than Coleman and had much better conditioning. He could have been a great.
This is a clear sign Punk is never going back to wrestling, because if he loses his first fight and get humiliated like we expect then WWE has absolutely no reason to resign him. He'll be completely worthless as a draw and any aura he had about himself as a performer will be gone. The guy is either getting a shit ton of money out of this or he's lost his fucking mind by taking a short-term payout instead of looking at the money he could make over the long haul by milking merchandise and one last run with WWE in another two years.
I can't wait for the UFC purists (I can't believe that's a thing) to lose their minds over this. Then the die hard wrestling fans will be talking about what a legit tough guy Punk is and how he'll be great. The truth, of course is somewhere in the middle. He probably has some skill, but he's too old to make a real go of this. Let's all see this for what it is, another pay day for Dana White.
"The UFC officially announced one of the MMA industry’s worst-kept secrets – a six-year partnership with Reebok to be the exclusive apparel provider for the UFC, thus eliminating fight-night sponsorships, walkout T-shirts, sponsor banners, the whole deal."
That's what I'm wondering. Punk made a statement saying his wrestling is over and this is his new career. I find that slightly ridiculous. I mean what serious chance does he have at going to the top in UFC? And if you're not there to try and be a champion then what's the point? I will be incredibly surprised if Punk never goes back to wrestling.
It was pretty clear that he didn't agree with the business model.
In a way, that's a step beyond Hogan & Hart. Hogan was only away for a decade because he found a new game in town and eventually got it to #1... not because he hated the business. Hart was away for a decade because he hated Vince... not because he ever hated the business.
You left out Danny Hodge. He would have kicked everyone's ass and won every title in every weight class and he would have done it without even breaking a sweat.
Apparently he didn't get that the UFC doesn't have a dress code. Hell, the owner of the company dresses like a change vendor at an arcade, I'm pretty sure Punk can wear whatever he wants in that atmosphere.
Oh sure, I agree with the money part, but if he keeps losing he'll have diminishing returns on that front. Dana is going to have to feed him chumps all the time like Mick did for Rocky in Rocky III.
Love that Undertaker tried to make Punk abide by the dress code in 2009, a full two years after they had gotten rid of the code the first time: "Vince, Punk is not following a non-existent code. I think we need to punish him."
Question: Who does Vince send in to interrupt Punk's first post-match interview to try and set up an angle, like he did with the Undertaker and Lesnar?
I love how in the first Cabana interview, Punk brushed off WWE's insistence for a no-compete clause specifically targeting the UFC as if there was no chance of it happening.
"I consider John McCain the guy who started the UFC. If it wasn't for McCain I wouldn't be here right now. What people don't understand about mixed martial arts and the UFC is, what [McCain] was saying to the old owners is that you cannot put on fights in states that aren't sanctioned. It's illegal. You can't do it. You have to be sanctioned by an athletic commission, which we agreed with him on 100 percent. John McCain wasn't saying this thing shouldn't happen, or it shouldn't be running. He was saying, if 'You're going to do it, it has to be sanctioned by an athletic commission.' We agree."-Dana White
McCain invents UFC, Gore invents internet. How has this match not been booked at a mania yet?
There would have been no outrage for that in UFC because everyone dresses like that for interviews. The reaction would be along the lines of "Eh, jean shorts. Whatever." whereas if wore that in the current WWE, Vince would be outraged one week and then he would make Roman Reigns wear the exact same clothes one week later.
He might still use "Cult Of Personality" for his music but I think "Heterosexual Man" by The Odds would be a far more fitting song for him at this point.
It'll be worse, because at least Brock had a legitimate amateur wrestling background. Punk getting in the ring will produce heat like when Bobby 'The Brain' Heenan would step in the ring for a match.
This is actually a work between Dana and Vince.....They are running a WWE invasion angle against UFC. All hell will break loose when Cena hits Dana will Silly String at the next UFC Press conference.
"Wow... so he's really going for it. I mean--so okay, if he fights as a light heavyweight, that'll be... boy I don't know about that. Because at 185... but then that means... you know? I think--boy oh boy, that's really hard because... and it's not like everyone hasn't said, but if he and Dana had this idea... but okay, at the end of the day it's his--and I think the point of it... but on the other hand... wow, that's gonna take... at 37 you've gotta think--and believe me, those guys know this... well, it is what it is. I guess we'll see."
"Breaking the internet" has become the new "EPIC FAIL". I cannot wait for people to get tired of that phrase and move onto the next nonsensical phrase.
"Given Punk's age (36) and noted health problems, the chances of him becoming a top-level fighter seem slim, but given that this will put the screws to McMahon, more power to him."
Why is him putting the screws to McMahon such a big deal? Did a business owner molest your dog at some point? =)
Punk will be more protected in UFC than he was in WWE.
I suspect the first 2-3 fights will be setups. Punk might get like 5 fights before he probably retires and then goes back to WWE or whatever else is on his bucket list.
Actually, if anything I think it would make HHH feel better. It would be one thing if Punk had told HHH off, *stayed* and given Vince a list of opponents he would be better off working with, ideas, etc. etc. that showed he still "loved the business". At this point I would think he probably has just written off Punk as always hating the business, like an "I told you so".
I view the presumption that a 37 year old man with no fighting training is going to get destroyed in his first fight is less "overly dramatic and pretentious" and more "probably in the bounds of reasonable deductive logic".
If UFC fans didn't like Brock because he was a 'sports entertainer', they are going to boo Punk out of the building. This basically gives Dana a license to print money for at least one PPV.
ReplyDeleteStraight Dead Society.
ReplyDeleteShows what a joke UFC is. He's a glorified gymnast!
ReplyDeleteThis is just tremendous. This is a complete embarrassment to Vince, Triple H, and the entire WWE. I hope Punk does well, and I haven't exactly been a card carrying member of his fan club.
ReplyDeleteCould be huge if they get Punk to teach these guys promo skills.
ReplyDeleteI can see Triple H laughing his head off at this, calling up his buddy Kev and making jokes about how Punk thinks he's a tough guy. The irony that he's mocking the toughness of someone while on the phone with Kevin Nash would be lost on him, of course, but that's the H's for ya!
ReplyDeletePunk wouldn't even be able to beat Bart Gunn.
ReplyDeleteI generally detest UFC/MMA but I'll probably watch a Punk fight. Very surprising news. Good for him if it's what he wants to do but I don't really see how he'd beat anyone of any worth with his late start.
ReplyDeleteGreat, Vince will never try to push anyone ever again. THEY ALL GO TO UFC EXCEPT CENA!
ReplyDeleteEven in the era where they purposely book people to not become crossover stars Punk breaks that wall down.
ReplyDeleteRoman Reigns may not be getting that push after alll......
ReplyDeleteI've read a lot of MMA purists on cm punk joining the ufc and they are bitching about it nonstop. I wish these fucking idiots would realize it's about a huge buyrate for a ppv and bringing in new fans.
ReplyDeleteWow. This will either be amazing, a disaster, or an amazing disaster. I'll be watching for sure though.
ReplyDeleteRIP Farva
How soon will he quit because he isn't allowed to headline PPVs and the does a podcast ripping apart Dana White?
ReplyDeleteI don't get the complaints. Either he goes in and gets his ass kicked and proves these so-called "purists" right or he goes in and wins and, as long as his opponent isn't some useless hobo, he has earned respect.
ReplyDeleteCM Punk didn't draw huge buyrates in WWE so I'm not sure why UFC would expect him to draw buys for them.
ReplyDeleteHis internet geek wrestling fans will probably illegally stream it anyway
I don't know anything about UFC. Is Punk/Lesnar even a remote possibility for this?
ReplyDeleteDifference: Kevin Nash has never given a fuck about how tough he looks/is, just as long as he gets paid
ReplyDeleteI can't decide whose tears are tastier right now, MMA fans or wrestling fans.
ReplyDeleteLesnar didnt draw huge buyrate for wwe either
ReplyDeleteLesnar didn't draw jack shit and went on to become the biggest draw in MMA history.
ReplyDeleteNo, they'd be in completely different weight classes. It could have happened in early UFC though.
ReplyDeleteWe will see
ReplyDeleteCM PUNK! CM PUNK! CM PUNK!
ReplyDeleteNever.
ReplyDeleteImagine poor Triple H. Some 1-0 or 2-1 no-name is a more desirable opponent than you, and he didn't even have to politick for the spot.
ReplyDeleteBecause all the MMA fans would pay to see the fake pro rassler get his ass kicked by a real fighter.
ReplyDeleteWho's the current champion in Punk's weight class right now?
ReplyDeleteAh, that's what I figured. Thought maybe it would be a decent gimmick bout if they were somewhat evenly matched skill-wise.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure Dana would like to change the rules around to get that match.
ReplyDeleteBrock Lesnar would murder him in 10 seconds
ReplyDeleteI wish PRIDE was still around and Punk was 10 years younger.
ReplyDeleteIm a huge cm punk mark but I really dont think this is gonna work out for him at all. Am I the only one who thinks he doesn't stand a chance?
ReplyDeleteYes. No one else has said they don't think Punk would do well in MMA
ReplyDeleteDetermined or not, I'm sure Vince and HHH are pretty pissed right now.
ReplyDeleteComparing Lesnar, a legit amateur wrestling champion and genetic super freak, to Punk, who has no background as a legit athlete, is laughable.
ReplyDeleteMaybe he'll get buys from hardcore UFC guys who want to see him get his ass kicked, but in no way is Punk in Lesnars league
Lesnar's PPVs did well.
ReplyDeleteNah.
ReplyDeleteSo... You don't like CM Punk, huh?
ReplyDeleteTo me, this seems like Punk fulfilling something on his bucket list and flipping the middle finger to Vince and HHH.
ReplyDeleteYea. There was an increase in buys when Lesnar fought
ReplyDeleteI didn't even consider it until this guy brought it up. I haven't seen anyone mention it anywhere.
ReplyDeleteNah.
ReplyDeleteCompared to who?
ReplyDeleteIs Punk going to bitch backstage if someone breaks his ribs?
ReplyDeleteYeah, it was those millions of amateur wrestling fans buying those UFC PPVs and not wWE fans.
ReplyDeleteWhen he came back, shows with him did a noticeable uptick
ReplyDeleteI haven't seen a joke like that made at all. This thread is brimming with originality and non biased opinions. Really fun stuff.
ReplyDeleteI'll go n record with th prediction: he has exciting fights, gets a title shot, goes 3-2 and retires and draws very well.
ReplyDeleteAt least Brock had a solid foundation of being a nearly Olympic level amateur wrestler and entered MMA at 29. Punk won't have his first fight until he's 37 and has no actual competitive athletic background.
ReplyDeleteNice knowing ya, Punk
No chance Punk ever gets a title shot and I don't think that something he's even interested in.
ReplyDeleteI thought the "Nice knowing ya, Punk" was a tad overly dramatic and pretentious, but I enjoyed the majority of this comment.
ReplyDeleteLove him as a wrestler. Laugh at the idea of him being a UFC murder victim.
ReplyDeleteWhat is he interested in?
ReplyDeleteThanks for your approval?
ReplyDeleteLesnar would tear his arms off and beat him to death with them.
ReplyDeleteStill overly dramatic and pretentious.
ReplyDeleteHogan for champion, brother. UFC CHAMPION, BROTHER!
Hey, you earned it.
ReplyDeleteWhatever happens here, I actually hope that it works out.
ReplyDeleteThe question is, won't Dana be throwing money away if he doesn't hype Punk's debut as some sort of main event? In other words, if Punk is stuck way down the card it seems like it would be a waste of everybody's time.
ReplyDeleteIt's not about getting wrestling fans to pay to see the wrrstler, it's about getting fans of "real" sports to pay to see the "fake" guy get his ass kicked.
ReplyDeleteI mean, 2002-2004 Brock was nowhere near as popular as 2011-2014 Punk, but Brock still went on to become UFC's top draw. He may not have been a big star in wrestling, but UFC fans were lining up to see him get beat by a "real" fighter.
Granted, Punk is no Viking Space Lord, he'll probably be used as more of a side-show attraction to pad the undercard, but just knowing that he was a decently popular pro-wrestler should be enough for UFC fans to open their wallets and root for blood. I'm sure that the novelty will wear off quickly, and I doubt that he'll have any real success, but they can definitely use him to draw some buys.
Finally, a fight I'll happily pay to see
ReplyDeleteCompeting and sticking it to the WWE and not necessarily in that order.
ReplyDeleteCompeting? Not being the best? Not being champion? Please.
ReplyDeleteI agree, and whatever happens, somebody is going to be making money.
ReplyDelete2004 Brock was much more popular than 2014 Punk. More people watched wrestling then
ReplyDeleteThis whole thread is full of dick lickers.
ReplyDelete??? Don't get your gimmick, brother
ReplyDeleteYou're thinking of it wrestling terms. MMA is a whole different beast.
ReplyDeleteIf the matches are entertaining. That's all that matters to most fans.
ReplyDeleteYou want a license to print money? Let Punk cut some heel promos while wearing a "Best In The World" shirt. UFC will be salivating to see him get his ass kicked.
ReplyDeleteIf he wins his first couple of fights and draws well, you're insane if you don't think he is getting a title shot.
ReplyDeleteNope.
ReplyDeleteI don't think so. Why would Dana bring in Punk besides for his name value? That's not a bad thing, but, if that is the case, why wouldn't he be put front and center on the hype machine?
ReplyDeleteHe's NEVER fought professionally before and he's gonna be 37 next year. He just wants to compete, get paid and stick it to Vince/HHH.
ReplyDeleteHe's a confident dude but he knows enough about the sport to know FOR A FACT that he'd get seriously hurt if he gets in the ring with a title contender, let alone a UFC champion.
He will. But hype and promotion isn't dictated by placement on the card like pro wrestling is.
ReplyDeleteProbably not enough time for Punk's first fight to be the Saturday night before Mania, right? Would be hilarious to see that show fuck up Mania's buyrate.
ReplyDeleteYou're insane if you think he doesn't get smashed the second he steps up in competition. He won't get thrown into a UFC title fight without fighting a top contender first.
ReplyDeleteExposure and popularity aren't the same thing -otherwise, Bill Demott is more popular than Punk, just because more people saw the show that he was on.
ReplyDeletePunk moved a LOT more merch, even with the smaller audience.
Depends how long he's seriously been training.
ReplyDeleteBasically if Punk could win that first fight (aka they find him the right tomato can), then this will be a pretty big success no matter what happens after that. Wrestling fans will be psyched, UFC fans will be frothing at the mouth wanting Punk dead, and the second fight will be way bigger than the first. So yeah, a win in that first fight would be huge.
ReplyDeleteIf he fights at Middleweight - Chris Weidman.
ReplyDeleteFunny thing is that back in the Hogan era, he didnt go on last when headlining house shows...
ReplyDeleteYeah April seems way early. Either way I bet his first UFC show gets more buys than Romania 31.
ReplyDeleteTriple H will be in the corner of Punk's opponent....
ReplyDeleteI called this a dumb rumor earlier today. Nice to see it elevated to a dumb story.
ReplyDeleteMore people in the world knew who Brock was when he entered UFC than people would know Punk right now. Selling a bunch of TV shirts is great but it doesnt mean folks outside of wrestling know who or what the hell a CM Punk is....
ReplyDeleteYou make a really good point. Have a great evening.
ReplyDeleteI'd say that's a lock. People keep comparing him negatively to Lesnar and while Brock is more of an attraction, Punk has a much more dedicated and rabid fanbase.
ReplyDeleteHe won't outdraw Lesnar because Brock competed at the highest level of the sport, but he's gonna be a huge draw.
Never, on account of the fact it's not Dana's fault if he doesn't win his way to the main event--it is his.
ReplyDeleteWhat a bullshit false equivalency
Then be fined for the athletic commission rules he's probably violating.
ReplyDeleteYup, and throw in how this looks to be the weakest Mania in god knows how long, I think it's a given.
ReplyDeletePunk would get absolutely destroyed fighting a champion.
ReplyDeleteBut Wideman is an easy opponent to market against Punk
Probably not, what with wrestling being pretend and an expectation to protect your opponent existing that isn't there in MMA
ReplyDelete+1 for Bubsy reference
ReplyDeleteRomaina
ReplyDeletethat is fucking brilliant
Ok, I know there were stories going around for a while now, but I didn't actually think it would, you know, HAPPEN. *This* I gotta see.
ReplyDeleteWho are you to doubt Bart Gunn?
ReplyDeleteI dunno, Sonnen got a title shot immediately upon moving to LHW due to his mouth and nothing else. I wouldn't put it past Dana.
ReplyDeleteExactly. I'll bet that Punk can get a UFC crowd more pissed than the MMA crowd from the movie Bruno's Straight Dave's Man Slamming Maxout.
ReplyDeleteThe following blog post has been paid for by The NEW New World Order.
ReplyDeleteApathy.
ReplyDeleteCould something like this light a fire under WWE to make the product better?
ReplyDeleteChael had over 40 MMA fights under his belt, Punk doesn't.
ReplyDeleteHis weigh-in promos should be glorious.
ReplyDeleteYou're a funny guy.
ReplyDeleteChrist if he manages to win that first fight and then cuts a full on "I'm better than you" heel post fight promo--- that second fight would be a monster.
ReplyDeleteOnly if Punk challenges HHH to a match in the Octagon.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely. They'd have to assign him security.
ReplyDeleteNah, they'll make some snarky remarks and continue to put on a massively shitty show.
ReplyDeleteUnless you want to see him die. The fake Lesnar match was probably an underrated contributor to the end of Punk's career. The real one would be the contributor to the end of his life.
ReplyDeleteHe needs to walk a fine line though because if he goes too "pro wrestling" with his interviews it could turn people off to him.
ReplyDeleteNot true. Lesnar was out of the picture for awhile beforehand.
ReplyDeletePoint being, Chael got a completely undeserved title shot simply because he could shoot his mouth off. He had 0 LHW fights and lost his most recent fight at WW. If there's any kinda opening, Dana's taking it.
ReplyDeleteBut he might DIE in there!
ReplyDeleteEh, that should be his marketing strategy. He WANTS UFC fans to hate him. It's exactly what Lesnar did there at his peak. ( including cutting some very pro wrestling style promos.)
ReplyDeletePunk and Lenar fights on the same UFC card at some point?
ReplyDeleteNo, the trick with Punk is to have the fans like Punk first THEN have him go heel.
ReplyDeletePunk doing the humble guy routine first, win a couple of matches, THEN have him go heel on everyone's ass.
UFC purist might hate Punk, but unlike Brock, Punk can be likeable if not downright charming when he wants to be. Which makes the hammer fall all the more bitterly when he goes bad guy on everyone......
No; expect Vince/HHH to have their minions slag Punk by claiming how he ran out after a huge losing streak, to cowardville (IE UFC).
ReplyDeleteIf they don't have them fight each other, that's money being left on the table.
ReplyDeleteWonder if that drifter that just lost a boxing match to Mickey Rourke is available.
ReplyDeleteThey aren't anywhere near the same weight class so that isn't a possibility. Lesnar fights at 265 and Punk's talking about fighting at Middleweight or Welterweight so he's looking at 170-185.
ReplyDeleteHE'S MURDER MEAT OUT THERE!
ReplyDeleteI'm sure he's being paid pretty well for this. Colt should have a disgruntled MMA fighter on his podcast.
ReplyDeleteAnybody that expects Punk not to get his ass handed to him right off the bat probably also thought that James Toney and Kimbo Slice were going to dominate the UFC a few years ago (and keep in mind that Toney and Kimbo were both better strikers and certainly less injury prone than Punk).
ReplyDeleteWhoever his opponent's going to be, the strategy should be obvious: Go after the legs. There'ss no way he'll be able to get out of a heel hook without re-injuring one of his knees.
And did you know they have WOMEN fighting in there now?
ReplyDeleteAlright, out of all former WWE champions, besides Lesnar, who do you think would have done well in MMA? I'm going to go with Backlund and Angle. Which former WWE champion would I have wanted to see compete in MMA? The Ultimate Warrior. "LOAD THE OCTOGON WITH THE FUEL! LOAD IT WITH THE WARRIORS!"
ReplyDeleteYes, but if anyone goes for his legs he'll just put them in the go-to-sleep.
ReplyDeleteIt would've been really interesting if Angle had chosen to go into MMA rather than pro wrestling. He certainly had the work ethic necessary to move from amateur wrestling into MMA, and had the UFC been a bigger deal in the late 90's, I suspect he would've made the jump.
ReplyDeleteDel Rio had a number of MMA fights in low-level promotions plus a few fights in Pride where he got destroyed (albeit against big names). Backlund and the Iron Sheik (former Olympic wrestler for Iran) are the only other two guys besides Del Rio, Lesnar and Angle that could've realistically done something in MMA.
I feel like if Shelton Benjamin trained for MMA, he'd have done very well. Both the Steiners too. Maybe even Swagger.
ReplyDeleteIt's not exactly easy to pull that off when the opponent isn't cooperating.
ReplyDeleteAngle in UFC around 1998 and he could have run roughshod. He had more wrestling ability than Coleman and had much better conditioning. He could have been a great.
ReplyDeleteThis is a clear sign Punk is never going back to wrestling, because if he loses his first fight and get humiliated like we expect then WWE has absolutely no reason to resign him. He'll be completely worthless as a draw and any aura he had about himself as a performer will be gone. The guy is either getting a shit ton of money out of this or he's lost his fucking mind by taking a short-term payout instead of looking at the money he could make over the long haul by milking merchandise and one last run with WWE in another two years.
ReplyDeleteWell, at least he'll fulfill his life long dream of being able to put sponsors on his gear. I'll definitely be watching
ReplyDeleteI can't wait for the UFC purists (I can't believe that's a thing) to lose their minds over this. Then the die hard wrestling fans will be talking about what a legit tough guy Punk is and how he'll be great. The truth, of course is somewhere in the middle. He probably has some skill, but he's too old to make a real go of this. Let's all see this for what it is, another pay day for Dana White.
ReplyDeleteViolent Gentleman walk out shirts... can't wait.
ReplyDeleteNope.
ReplyDelete"The UFC officially announced one of the MMA industry’s worst-kept secrets – a six-year partnership with Reebok to be the exclusive apparel provider for the UFC, thus eliminating fight-night sponsorships, walkout T-shirts, sponsor banners, the whole deal."
That's what I'm wondering. Punk made a statement saying his wrestling is over and this is his new career. I find that slightly ridiculous. I mean what serious chance does he have at going to the top in UFC? And if you're not there to try and be a champion then what's the point? I will be incredibly surprised if Punk never goes back to wrestling.
ReplyDeleteIt was pretty clear that he didn't agree with the business model.
ReplyDeleteIn a way, that's a step beyond Hogan & Hart. Hogan was only away for a decade because he found a new game in town and eventually got it to #1... not because he hated the business. Hart was away for a decade because he hated Vince... not because he ever hated the business.
CM Punk hates the business.
Those were the dark ages of MMA though, banned everywhere and the UFC was on life support.
ReplyDeleteIf Kurt came around 5 years later then he'd never have been a pro wrestler i think.
True. But, there are no turnbuckles to do the Macho Man elbow drop off of, so his options are limited.
ReplyDeleteThe Condom Depot has been waiting for this very moment.
ReplyDeleteSo did The Ultimate Warrior, but he came back.
ReplyDeleteWarrior didn't hate the business as much as he felt Vince was fucking him over.
ReplyDeleteRibbed For Her Pleasure
ReplyDeleteBROUGHT TO YOU BY PEPSI!!!!
ReplyDeleteHave to go to bed, kiddies. Goodnight,
ReplyDeleteYou left out Danny Hodge. He would have kicked everyone's ass and won every title in every weight class and he would have done it without even breaking a sweat.
ReplyDeleteCM Punk wore a suit for the interview. That's one more time than he ever wore one for WWE.
ReplyDeleteThe Undertaker forced him to.
ReplyDeleteDana White has been one of the most brilliant business men of the past 10 years.
ReplyDeleteAJ?!
ReplyDeleteChance of going to the top? Slim.
ReplyDeleteChance of making money? Good.
Shhh.....don't say that around Vince and HHH
ReplyDeleteApparently he didn't get that the UFC doesn't have a dress code. Hell, the owner of the company dresses like a change vendor at an arcade, I'm pretty sure Punk can wear whatever he wants in that atmosphere.
ReplyDeleteIron Sheik was a badass.
ReplyDeleteThat's true I guess, I guess I meant he was more in it for the money then actually being a wrestling fan.
ReplyDeleteI wonder how the reaction would be if A.J. Lee walked out with Punk?
ReplyDeleteOh sure, I agree with the money part, but if he keeps losing he'll have diminishing returns on that front. Dana is going to have to feed him chumps all the time like Mick did for Rocky in Rocky III.
ReplyDeleteLove that Undertaker tried to make Punk abide by the dress code in 2009, a full two years after they had gotten rid of the code the first time: "Vince, Punk is not following a non-existent code. I think we need to punish him."
ReplyDeletePunk should have walked out in jean shorts for the interview.
ReplyDeleteQuestion: Who does Vince send in to interrupt Punk's first post-match interview to try and set up an angle, like he did with the Undertaker and Lesnar?
ReplyDeleteI love how in the first Cabana interview, Punk brushed off WWE's insistence for a no-compete clause specifically targeting the UFC as if there was no chance of it happening.
ReplyDeletePunk is one sly dog. Good luck to him.
"I consider John McCain the guy who started the UFC. If
ReplyDeleteit wasn't for McCain I wouldn't be here right now. What people don't
understand about mixed martial arts and the UFC is, what [McCain] was
saying to the old owners is that you cannot put on fights in states that
aren't sanctioned. It's illegal. You can't do it. You have to be
sanctioned by an athletic commission, which we agreed with him on 100
percent. John McCain wasn't saying this thing shouldn't happen, or it
shouldn't be running. He was saying, if 'You're going to do it, it has
to be sanctioned by an athletic commission.' We agree."-Dana White
McCain invents UFC, Gore invents internet. How has this match not been booked at a mania yet?
There would have been no outrage for that in UFC because everyone dresses like that for interviews. The reaction would be along the lines of "Eh, jean shorts. Whatever." whereas if wore that in the current WWE, Vince would be outraged one week and then he would make Roman Reigns wear the exact same clothes one week later.
ReplyDeleteTwo fights tops. That's all the money he makes. Why? Because once he gets his face smashed in the second time, no one will care.
ReplyDeleteActually on second thought, maybe Punk shouldn't get involved in this... he might be killed!
ReplyDeleteHell, bring AJ in too, she can take on Rousey. Of course, they'd either have to make Rousey crazy or a slut.
ReplyDeleteHHH, naturally. The hilarity.
ReplyDeleteHe might still use "Cult Of Personality" for his music but I think "Heterosexual Man" by The Odds would be a far more fitting song for him at this point.
ReplyDeleteSo that happened.
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to hear and read all the whining from MMA fans like they did with Brock.
That just shows how happy he is to be there. A slap in the face to WWE.
ReplyDeleteYep, even though Brock brought them greater mainstream publicity.
ReplyDeleteHH doesn't want to possibly die, he would nevee step into the Octogon, even to kick Punk's skinny/fat ass.
ReplyDeleteI think the better Punk's mood is, the better it reflects in his wardrobe. He dressed like a bum when he was WWE Champion.
ReplyDeleteIt'll be worse, because at least Brock had a legitimate amateur wrestling background. Punk getting in the ring will produce heat like when Bobby 'The Brain' Heenan would step in the ring for a match.
ReplyDelete"Goddammit pal, you can't step into the Octogon, they'll murderize ya! Just give me a hug and forget it!"
ReplyDeleteI just bet my cousin $20 Punk wins his first fight. Gonna make that paper!
ReplyDeleteThis is actually a work between Dana and Vince.....They are running a WWE invasion angle against UFC. All hell will break loose when Cena hits Dana will Silly String at the next UFC Press conference.
ReplyDelete(Runs out of the room and hides)
Yep and HBK's gonna come out of retirement any day now. Right.
ReplyDeleteYou got it all right, except instead of Cena with silly string, it'll be Ambrose with ketchup and mustard bottles. And a hologram.
ReplyDeleteDave Meltzer on Punk signing with UFC*:
ReplyDelete"Wow... so he's really going for it. I mean--so okay, if he fights as a light heavyweight, that'll be... boy I don't know about that. Because at 185... but then that means... you know? I think--boy oh boy, that's really hard because... and it's not like everyone hasn't said, but if he and Dana had this idea... but okay, at the end of the day it's his--and I think the point of it... but on the other hand... wow, that's gonna take... at 37 you've gotta think--and believe me, those guys know this... well, it is what it is. I guess we'll see."
(* not really.)
CM Punk in the UFC is admittedly more out of place than Billy Zane in a Hillside Stranglers movie.
ReplyDeletePretty soon there will be no internet left to break
ReplyDelete"Breaking the internet" has become the new "EPIC FAIL". I cannot wait for people to get tired of that phrase and move onto the next nonsensical phrase.
ReplyDeleteAhh, Bubsy. The poor man's 16 bit mascot.
ReplyDeleteSo AJ was in Vegas tonight too, posing with her hubby in front of the UFC logo.
ReplyDeleteBurial incoming...
Hopefully MMA fans that were upset about Brock realize how starved the UFC has become for stars. I'm a huge fan of both sports so I'm good to go.
ReplyDeleteLOL.
ReplyDelete"Given Punk's age (36) and noted health problems, the chances of him becoming a top-level fighter seem slim, but given that this will put the screws to McMahon, more power to him."
Why is him putting the screws to McMahon such a big deal? Did a business owner molest your dog at some point? =)
That sounded close enough for me to take it as a gospel quote
ReplyDeletePunk will be more protected in UFC than he was in WWE.
ReplyDeleteI suspect the first 2-3 fights will be setups. Punk might get like 5 fights before he probably retires and then goes back to WWE or whatever else is on his bucket list.
That business owner had to be Dave Schrer. That poor dog.
ReplyDeleteEven tune-up fights with tomato cans don't always go as planned.
ReplyDeleteJust ask Kimbo Slice, Chuck Liddell and Mike Tyson.
Out of curiosity what for? Did he slip out of a no-compete?
ReplyDeleteActually, if anything I think it would make HHH feel better. It would be one thing if Punk had told HHH off, *stayed* and given Vince a list of opponents he would be better off working with, ideas, etc. etc. that showed he still "loved the business". At this point I would think he probably has just written off Punk as always hating the business, like an "I told you so".
ReplyDeleteDid I wake up in a universe where Brock didn't get an almost immediate title shot after fighting a few cans and also LOSING a fight?
ReplyDeleteWho was the Chuck Liddell tomato can?
ReplyDeleteFunny you ask: an actual tomato can. I lost $10,000 on that fight.
ReplyDeleteKeith Jardine.
ReplyDeleteI view the presumption that a 37 year old man with no fighting training is going to get destroyed in his first fight is less "overly dramatic and pretentious" and more "probably in the bounds of reasonable deductive logic".
ReplyDelete