Sharpshootin' with The Franchise

Mixed bag: Elite XC’s inaugural show came and went last week and I am guessing that Showtime would love to have a do-over. There was some good, some bad and some really ugly. Let’s break it down:

• The ugly: Quite simply - Charles “Krazy Horse” Bennett. I will be happy if I never have to watch this joker fight again. I can’t imagine anyone thought it would be a good idea to walk out talking on cell phone and strolling to the cage like he was going to get his morning coffee. Then, in the ultimate sign of disrespect, he refuses to touch gloves with his opponent, KJ Noons. Look, I get showmanship, but this was pure bush league. Unfortunately, he won his bout but I would love to see him pull that crap against true 155-pounders like Sean Sherk or Jens Pulver.
• The bad: Frank Shamrock vs. Renzo Gracie. Elite XC dodged a major bullet when Shamrock struck Gracie twice in the back of the head with his knee. Shamrock was rightfully disqualified for his actions even though he claimed his blows weren’t illegal. This was the worst possible outcome for their inaugural show where they're trying to promote the brand to the general public who probably aren’t that familiar with MMA. No one seemed to know how to handle the stoppage including the referee and the announcers. Hopefully, things turn out a little better when they meet up again sometime this fall.
• The good: Gina Carano defeating Julie Kedzie. I'll be the first to admit that I'm not a big fan of women fighting. That being said, this clearly was the fight of the night. Carano has all the makings of being a huge star. I predict that she will do more for her sport than Danica Patrick or Laila Ali will ever do for theirs. Not only is she extremely attractive but she is damn talented too.
  

Showtime has to be happy with the fact that approximately 365,000 viewers tuned in last Saturday night. Especially, considering they were going up against the Mosley fight on HBO. The true test, though, will come with show #2 when they have to come up with new fighters and not the same handful of established guys (and girls) they used this past week. The next show is tentatively scheduled for May 5th. If you think that date sounds familiar, you’re right. Some guys named Mayweather and De La Hoya are fighting that night. Stay tuned.

Across the pond: The UFC officially announced this week that on April 21st they will be holding their first show in Great Britain since 2002. It's going to be in Manchester. No word yet if it's PPV or not but the UK’s own Michael “The Count” Bisping as well as Mirko CroCop will be on the card.

The end of the road?: As I have mentioned here before, Hulk Hogan was supposed to return to WWE action at Wrestlemania 23. The plan was for him to represent Donald Trump in his “billionaire battle” against Vince McMahon. However, those plans have been scrapped after Hogan went on the “Bubba The Love Sponge” radio show and revealed the list of wrestlers being considered for this year’s WWE Hall of Fame class. Once Vince McMahon got hold of the fact that Hogan released confidential information he decided against using him at ‘Mania. His decision was a little surprising since this angle had been in the works for a while. Yes, I know McMahon and Hogan have had more than their fare share of issues (Hogan even testified against him in Federal Court during McMahon’s 1991 steroid trial) so I don’t expect this break-up to last all that long. I actually think this will turn into a positive for the company because it seems like they will be aligning ECW Heavyweight Champion, Bobby Lashley, with Donald Trump, and Lashley could use the press. By the way, Trump challenged McMahon to a hair vs. hair match meaning the losing billionaire will have to shave his head.

Return of a Legend: Ring of Honor announced that WWF legend, Bruno Sammartino, will appear at their March 30th show in Detroit, MI which just so happens to be the same weekend and city as Wrestlemania 23. I love the fact that one of the greatest performers in the history of wrestling will be appearing for an upstart promotion and not for World Wrestling Entertainment in Motown. WWE has invited him back several times, including offering him a place in their Hall of Fame, but Sammartino has never been shy in sharing his feelings that McMahon has bastardized the business he helped create.

Welcome Back: Speaking of legends returning, “Rowdy” Roddy Piper made a surprise appearance on RAW this week. This was his first public appearance since being diagnosed with Lymphoma Cancer a few months ago. From all of us at No Mas - good luck Hot Rod.

Love Hurts: This week in wrestling history brings us back to February 14, 1999. The feud between WWE CEO Vince McMahon and Stone Cold Steve Austin reached its breaking point when the employee met his boss in a cage match at the “St. Valentine’s Day Massacre” PPV in Memphis. This was by far one of the greatest angles in WWF/E history and I thought McMahon more than held his own considering he was around 55-years-old at the time of the match. Great ending too - check it out: