Sharpshootin' with The Franchise
(This is the inaugural edition of a new column on No Mas, a look at the week that was and the week to come in the world of Professional Wrestling and Mixed-Martial-Arts. It's brought to you by The Franchise, aka Ariel Helwani. Look for him right here every Thursday.)
Here to stay: Originally considered a pretty weak card, last week's UFC Fight Night Live turned out to be both entertaining and unpredictable. Ed Herman proved, at least for the time being, that he belongs in the UFC, while Heath Herring and Spencer Fisher suffered pretty big upsets to “Irish” Jake O’Brien and Hermes Franca respectively. Fisher took the loss like a man but Herring’s post-fight complaint that he didn’t come to the UFC to sit on his back and wrestle was lame. After the win, Franca took a page out of Georges St. Pierre’s book by getting on his knees and begging UFC President Dana White to grant him a Lightweight title shot against champion Sean Sherk. It worked – look for that match in July. However, Ultimate Fighter 2 winner, Rashad Evans, definitely stole the show with a 2nd round KO over Sean Salmon. By far one of the most devastating right-kicks I have ever seen. At 205, Evans is definitely the real deal and should be contending for Chuck Liddell’s Light Heavyweight title sooner rather than later.
Drug Bust: The Nevada State Athletic Commission announced that WEC fighter, Kit Cope, tested positive for the steroid boldenon before his 1/20 fight against “Razor” Rob McCullough. Cope is not the first MMA fighter to be caught using this steroid. Former UFC heavyweight Josh Barnett tested positive for it in 2002 as did Stephan Bonnar last summer.
Been there done that: Wrestling Society X finally made its debut on MTV to very mixed reviews. In my opinion you just can’t put on a proper wrestling show in 30 minutes. The show felt rushed and the jump-cut bombardment was annoying. Plus, the announcers never stopped SCREAMING. They definitely have great wrestlers to build around - Jack Evans, Matt Sydal and Teddy Hart - but the hokey backyard wrestling genre is played.
Rumble Dead Man Rumble: The Undertaker won his first ever Royal Rumble last Sunday, outlasting 29 other men to get a title shot at Wrestlemania. While ‘Taker has certainly been around for a while, the victory was somewhat surprising. Unless plans change, he will now challenge Batista for the World Heavyweight Championship at Wrestlemania 23 in April. Cena vs. Umaga was the bloodbath everyone expected to be but I think with every match he wrestles John Cena is proving that he really can carry this promotion on his back.
Raw is Trump: Donald Trump finally made an appearance on the WWE’s flagship show to call out his billionaire buddy Vince McMahon. The angle between the two will lead to a Wrestlemania 23 where a wrestler of McMahon’s choosing will go up against a wrestler of Trump’s choosing.
End of an era: Samoa Joe announced yesterday that, effective March, he will be leaving Ring of Honor. Details are a bit unclear as to why he is leaving but it appears as though he wants to focus solely on TNA. Joe owes everything to ROH - they made him into the star that he is. Hopefully TNA doesn't mess this one up (HINT: Stop making him lose!!!).
All or Nothing: UFC 67 goes down this Saturday with some very interesting matches. Some will make the case that Travis Lutter has a fighter's chance of making Middleweight champion Anderson Silva tap out but I don’t see that happening. I am looking for a first round KO for "The Spider". Obviously, the reason I will be ordering this PPV is to witness the much-anticipated UFC debuts of Mirko CroCop and Quentin “Rampage” Jackson. These two former Pride fighters will breathe some much-needed fresh air in the Heavyweight and Light Heavyweight divisions. And speaking of the “Croatian Cop Killer” check out The Franchise’s Vault below for one of his greatest finishes. This one’s from September 10, 2006 against Wanderlei Silva at Pride’s Final Conflict Absolute. Anyone know how to say "go to sleep" in Croatian?
Here to stay: Originally considered a pretty weak card, last week's UFC Fight Night Live turned out to be both entertaining and unpredictable. Ed Herman proved, at least for the time being, that he belongs in the UFC, while Heath Herring and Spencer Fisher suffered pretty big upsets to “Irish” Jake O’Brien and Hermes Franca respectively. Fisher took the loss like a man but Herring’s post-fight complaint that he didn’t come to the UFC to sit on his back and wrestle was lame. After the win, Franca took a page out of Georges St. Pierre’s book by getting on his knees and begging UFC President Dana White to grant him a Lightweight title shot against champion Sean Sherk. It worked – look for that match in July. However, Ultimate Fighter 2 winner, Rashad Evans, definitely stole the show with a 2nd round KO over Sean Salmon. By far one of the most devastating right-kicks I have ever seen. At 205, Evans is definitely the real deal and should be contending for Chuck Liddell’s Light Heavyweight title sooner rather than later.
Drug Bust: The Nevada State Athletic Commission announced that WEC fighter, Kit Cope, tested positive for the steroid boldenon before his 1/20 fight against “Razor” Rob McCullough. Cope is not the first MMA fighter to be caught using this steroid. Former UFC heavyweight Josh Barnett tested positive for it in 2002 as did Stephan Bonnar last summer.Been there done that: Wrestling Society X finally made its debut on MTV to very mixed reviews. In my opinion you just can’t put on a proper wrestling show in 30 minutes. The show felt rushed and the jump-cut bombardment was annoying. Plus, the announcers never stopped SCREAMING. They definitely have great wrestlers to build around - Jack Evans, Matt Sydal and Teddy Hart - but the hokey backyard wrestling genre is played.
Rumble Dead Man Rumble: The Undertaker won his first ever Royal Rumble last Sunday, outlasting 29 other men to get a title shot at Wrestlemania. While ‘Taker has certainly been around for a while, the victory was somewhat surprising. Unless plans change, he will now challenge Batista for the World Heavyweight Championship at Wrestlemania 23 in April. Cena vs. Umaga was the bloodbath everyone expected to be but I think with every match he wrestles John Cena is proving that he really can carry this promotion on his back.Raw is Trump: Donald Trump finally made an appearance on the WWE’s flagship show to call out his billionaire buddy Vince McMahon. The angle between the two will lead to a Wrestlemania 23 where a wrestler of McMahon’s choosing will go up against a wrestler of Trump’s choosing.
End of an era: Samoa Joe announced yesterday that, effective March, he will be leaving Ring of Honor. Details are a bit unclear as to why he is leaving but it appears as though he wants to focus solely on TNA. Joe owes everything to ROH - they made him into the star that he is. Hopefully TNA doesn't mess this one up (HINT: Stop making him lose!!!).
All or Nothing: UFC 67 goes down this Saturday with some very interesting matches. Some will make the case that Travis Lutter has a fighter's chance of making Middleweight champion Anderson Silva tap out but I don’t see that happening. I am looking for a first round KO for "The Spider". Obviously, the reason I will be ordering this PPV is to witness the much-anticipated UFC debuts of Mirko CroCop and Quentin “Rampage” Jackson. These two former Pride fighters will breathe some much-needed fresh air in the Heavyweight and Light Heavyweight divisions. And speaking of the “Croatian Cop Killer” check out The Franchise’s Vault below for one of his greatest finishes. This one’s from September 10, 2006 against Wanderlei Silva at Pride’s Final Conflict Absolute. Anyone know how to say "go to sleep" in Croatian?
15 Comments:
Franchise, great stuff, but Samoa Joe is hardly a legend. When you think of legends, you got HBK, Hogan, Flair; not some bum with a bigger gut then Jerome Bettis. If I wanted to give a jobber legendary status, I got Brooklyn Brawler on Speed dial.
When is St. pierre expected back??
I like the reference to the Brooklyn Brawler but I think you are wrong about Samoa Joe. Watch his match tonight against AJ Styles. I defy you to find any big man in wrestling history that moves like him.
As for my boy GSP, he was supposed to fight Matt Sera this Saturday at the ppv but he injured his knee training with Keith Jardine so now it looks as though that fight will go down 4/7 in Houston. If he wins that one and Matt Hughes wins on 3/3 against Chris Lytle (which I expect both to happen) they will go at it sometime late summer in the greatest city in the world: Montreal...Quebec...Canada. Book it.
Montreal greatest city in the world??? your nuts, you've taken too many chair shots from Mankind...
so what if some idiot doesnt know who Samoa Joe is, if you want a big man who can move, Big Boss Man and the other Twin Tower Akeem the Dream....they are like poetry in motion...
I never liked the Undertaker but I gotta say the last ten minutes of the Rumble between HBK and him were amazing. Can’t wait to see Rampage in the UFC. Watch out Iceman....
St. Pierre won't be back for a while, his knee looks baaaad. Franchise, keep bringin' it homeboy.
HBK and 'Taker are old and washed up....St Pierre does look messed up, I read that his preparation might take a long time...Franchise, When's Demolition going to make a comeback??
I don't think we'll be seeing Demolition any time soon. Unless the Repo Man decides to come back. GSP will be ok. He came off an injury to beat Matt Hughes's ass so I am not worried about him. Whenever they finally get it on in the MTL the Bell Centre will be rocking like the Forum was after a late Boom Boom Geoffrion goal in the '60s.
Speaking of Akeem the Dream anyone remember what he was also known as in the WWF?
It's nice to see that I'm not the only wrestling/MMA freak around these parts.
akeem was one of the dancers at my bar mitzvah
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ONE MAN GANG.
i hear he was a real killer on the hoops court too.
Good work, AC.
Ya, he showed true fire on the court night in and night out.
i guess thursdays will be popular from now on.
teddy hart = all talent and no brains
I never could figure out Teddy Hart. Not only does he have insane amounts of talent, he also has the legacy of the Hart name backing him up. I guess, in some ways, that is part of his problem. As always, he was impressive on WSX but I hear Vince is waiting for his contract to expire with them and then they will finally sign him and recreate the Hart Foundation. They have already signed Harry Smith (Bulldog's son), Nattie Neidhart (Anvil's daughter) and TJ Wilson (Nattie's fiance and grew up with the Harts for most of his life)...should be interesting.
lil harry looks just like his dad minus the steroid problem.
was the dynamite kid sterile?
Hopefully he doesn't follow in Davey Boy's footsteps.
Not sure about Dynamite Kid but if you want to read a good book showcasing the messed up world some of these wrestlers lead pick up "Pure Dynamite" by Tom Billington aka The Dynamite Kid. (The guy is in a wheelchair after all the 'roids and crazy bumps)
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