PUNK + SQUASH MATCHES = $
If I ran UFC, I’d book C.M. Punk like Tully Blanchard got booked whenever he first entered a territory: SQUASH MATCHES.
UFC isn’t fixed. At least, we don’t think so.
So, Dana White should initially put Punk in bouts he has a good chance of winning. Against jobbers. UFC got jobbers, too. They’re called GUYS WITH LOSING RECORDS.
Giving Punk a few wins will pull some WWE fans to UFC. That’s the primary goal of this. Perhaps the lone goal. UFC didn’t hire Punk to create a new MMA legend. They got him because he can, hopefully, sell merch and draw money.
After a while, give Punk tougher opponents. If he can fight, that will increase his drawing power still further.
I have no idea how tough Punk is. Neither do you. Neither does UFC. Neither does Punk, not yet, not really. His MMA background is obviously limited.
Punk will doubtless throw himself into UFC 100 percent. Heart and soul.
All that might get him is knocked out.
Booking Punk against good competition right away could be the start of one of MMA’s biggest stories ever. Or, more likely, one of its shortest.
WTF IS…
“Brie Mode”? Somebody explain. What, exactly, is “Brie Mode”? Brie Bella gets mad, and then she kicks ass? Is that it?
She’s a 5-foot-6 woman who looks more like a model than an MMA fighter. “Brie Mode” or no, she’s about as threatening as a glass of milk.
But it’s a catch phrase, and it’s a T-shirt. That’s what counts most.
Just another example of WWE “creativity” being done by rote.
Same thing with “Lunatic Fringe” being attached to Dean Ambrose. Ambrose’s histrionics have done nothing but make him look silly. Brian Pillman and Terry Funk acted INSANE. Ambrose is just acting.
But the announcers bleat on and on: “Lunatic Fringe.” “Lunatic Fringe.” “Lunatic Fringe.” “Brie Mode.” “Apex Predator.” “Lunatic Fringe.” They sound like parrots. They should squawk, not talk.
Throughout the history of entertainment, the root of creativity has always been DOING SOMETHING DIFFERENT.
WWE just keeps doing things the same. Catch phrase? CHECK. T-shirt? CHECK. Overly scripted promo? CHECK. Destroy all individuality. CHECK.
Follow Mark on Twitter: @MarkMaddenX
