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Post by Nathan "T-Rex" Williams on Nov 17, 2006 10:57:01 GMT -6
WWE.com has learned that WWE officials and members of the group PRIDE have a meeting scheduled later this morning at WWE global headquarters in Stamford, Conn. The meeting will focus on the possibility of the two groups doing some form of business together in the future. World Wrestling Entertainment is a multimedia conglomerate with presence in films, music, and sports-entertainment around the world. Known for its unique brand of competition, PRIDE is a major championship mixed martial arts organization based in Japan. Check back with WWE.com for updates on WWE and the PRIDE organization. Taken from wwe.com |
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Post by Head Booker on Nov 17, 2006 12:26:50 GMT -6
I guess Emperor Vince is seein' the TNA/UFC combo as a legit threat...plus PRIDE needs anythin' it can to help them out finiancally...with all it's allegated ties to the Yakuza they have taken a serious hurtin'...
Tate
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Zachary Sharp
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Post by Zachary Sharp on Nov 17, 2006 14:35:00 GMT -6
Hmm... cool. I don't mind that at all.
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Post by Head Booker on Nov 19, 2006 13:23:29 GMT -6
As reported by WWE.com earlier, WWE and PRIDE are in talks about working together in the future.
The following is according to Dave Meltzer.
- The two sides have had interest in working together for at least a month.
- The original plan was to promote Bob Sapp as a pro-wrestler and MMA fighter, but that plan seems to have been axed awhile ago.
- There is no way there will be a joint WWE/PRIDE show in the U.S. with wrestling and MMA since no athletic commission here would approve it plus it wouldn't work infront of a U.S. audience.
According to Meltzer, the only viable options for the two to work together would be for WWE to take over part ownership in PRIDE and get the promotion a timeslot on USA Network, possibly Mondays after RAW. It should be noted that pretty much everyone in WWE including Vince McMahon is clueless about MMA. The other option would be to cross promote certain performers. This would involve wrestlers participating in MMA fights, possibly fixed fights in Japan, to get them over, and PRIDE fighters working WWE matches, to make them bigger stars.
WWE and PRIDE could fix matches involving wrestlers in Japan since there is no athletic commission. Doing so in the U.S. could get WWE in serious trouble. WWE doesn't really have anyone other than Lashley who could possibly hold his own in a legit fight.
PRIDE working with WWE, on the surface, seems to be a total desperation move since associating with a pro-wrestling company could ruin their credibility in the MMA community.
The main thing that unites WWE and PRIDE is that they both view UFC as their #1 competitor. PRIDE can't compete with UFC in the U.S. without a TV timeslot and WWE is getting killed by UFC when it comes to PPV buyrates, sometimes as high as 5-to-1. While this isn't a huge deal on the surface, the media often compares the two which is upsetting WWE, especially since the media often portrays UFC as the "new company" that is beating WWE which is usually portrayed as the "old company."
Credit: WrestlingObserver.com
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Zachary Sharp
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Post by Zachary Sharp on Nov 19, 2006 19:17:27 GMT -6
I've been patiently awaiting a UFC/PRIDE combo show.
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