Why pay for the milk when you can get the cow for free? Or was it a goat? Or was it cheese?
I'm not good with cliches.
Anyway, just a handful of weeks after their biggest, most watched, most publicized event - which I paid $45 for - the entire thing, including matches that didn't air on the live pay-per-view, ran for free on Spike TV last night.
The reason, Strikeforce had it's dream match of Gina Carano vs. Cris "Cyborg" Santos on Showtime.
The build for that bout started more than a year ago with the Elite XC promotion. That group died an ugly death and Strikeforce picked up these two key pieces since UFC does not have a women's division. And make no mistake, it has all the potential in the world to be an excellent fight.
Back to me, the same thing happened the last time I bought a UFC pay-per-view.
It also happened to be a Brock Lesnar fight and I believe it was aired for free to oppose an Affliction show. If you haven't guessed by now, the former WWE superstar is a MAJOR influence on my recent UFC addiction. That dude is awesome.
If UFC doesn't eventually air full or partial cards for free, it doesn't take long for the best fights to end up on its "Unleashed" highlights show.
That's the way it's been for years. I'm all for some free fight goodness, but to turn around and show Lesnar vs. Frank Mir and Dan Henderson vs.
Michael Bisping just five weeks after the ppv is crazy.
As little as I know about business, let alone the fight game, I fully understand why UFC is doing this. I also know that if people want to see a fight bad enough, they'll buy the ppv.
And few if any fans will stop buying ppvs because of this.
And for almost any other show, I'm willing to accept that. But to give away UFC 100 - a true milestone for the company and the sport itself - in just five short weeks doesn't seem right to me. Mostly because I'm a grumpy, old tightwad.
But UFC President Dana White is mad. Fighting mad at Strikeforce and the management team of Fedor Emelianenko. White made them an offer they shouldn't have refused and when they did, well, I guess he decided to take the gloves off.
I'm not saying I'll never buy another ppv, in fact, I'm inviting a couple of the guys here in the office over to share the beatings, and cost, and hopefully create a couple of new fans.
◊◊ ◊
The two favored fighters in last weeks UFC 101 show came out on top and did so in convincing fashion.
BJ Penn looked fit and smooth in his fourth-round submission of Kenny Florian and should erase questions about his heart and dedication after losing to Georges St.
Pierre a few months ago.
Anderson Silva, stepping up in weight class, made short work of the lovable and punchable Forrest Griffin. The knockout was bad enough that Griffin bailed out of the arena and post-fight press conference.
After a couple of recent lackluster fights Silva came back with a vengeance. The question now is who will challenge for his middleweight title?
White has stated Henderson would get the shot, but Silva and his camp indicated Nate Marquardt should be the next in line. Both of those sound like good fighting to me and both guys would like a chance to avenge their losses to Silva.
Again, this is why UFC has become the new pro wrestling.
A simple war of words like with Lesnar and Mir or avenging losses - it all makes me want to see these guys settle it with swift and blinding violence.
TNA Champion, Olympic gold medalist jailed Saturday
Kurt Angle, TNA's and America's wrestling champion, was jailed Saturday morning for driving on a suspended license, harassment, prohibited acts and possession, according to WPXI.com out of Pittsburgh, Penn.
According to the story, Angle's ex-girlfriend - also a TNA wrestler known as Rhaka Khan - had filed a protection from abuse order against Angle that was served to him on Saturday.
She later spotted him at a Starbucks and phoned police.
Angle waspulled over and cited for the listed charges.
Police also found two vials of Hygetropin, also known as Human Growth Hormone.
On the f4wonline.com site, Dave Meltzer and Bryan Alvarez reported that Angle was still in jail Saturday evening and it is possible he will not be in the main event of tonight's "Hard Justice" ppv in Orlando, Fla.
Nice bit of irony considering the name of tonight's show.
In the grand scheme of things, not working a wrestling show is really small potatoes compared to possession of HGH and stalking your ex.
The WPXI story stated Angle told police he had a prescription for the HGH.
The main event was to feature a three-way for the title between Angle, Sting and Matt Morgan.
Meltzer and Alvarez, both veteran pro wrestling and MMA journalists, speculated that AJ Styles might be put in Angle's place. It is to be assumed that TNA will strip Angle of the title. As of press time Saturday, Meltzer and Alvarez said their sources at TNA had no idea if Angle would be able to perform tonight.
This portion of Fighting Words started out WAY more lighthearted before all this mess happened so that's why the rest of this nonsense seems out of place.
Mick Foley is defending the TNA Legends title against Kevin Nash. It would have been nice to see these guys go at it 12 years ago when they were at their physical peaks.
But Foley will work his plaidcovered haunch off, Nash will make money, and fans should be entertained.
Homicide defends the X-Division title against another favorite of mine, Samoa Joe. This should be the show stealer.
The rest of the card includes: Team 3-D vs. Booker T and Scott Steiner for the TNA tag team titles; TNA Knockouts Champion Angelina Love vs.
ODB; New Japan/IWGP tag team champions The British Invasion vs. Beer Money; No.
1 contender match for the heavyweight title Hernandez vs. Big Rob; $50,000 bounty match Abyss vs. Jethro Holliday; and a domed cage match for the No. 1 contender for the X-Division title featuring Suicide, Chris Sabin, Amazing Red, Alex Shelley, Black Machismo, Daniels and Consequences Creed.
It's a lot of wrestling to cram into three hours, and that might end up being the downfall of this card. Former WWF/E and WCW and current TNA head writer Vince Russo has a tendency to over do things a bit. Sometimes his "crash TV" style works. Last week the warring factions in TNA fought all over the place using all kinds of plunder and whatnot on each other's heads. And it was a lot of fun to watch.
But too many times there's convoluted stories and stipulations that don't stick or flow from week to week. And even though this is pro wrestling, it still should make a little sense.
TNA is also having an identity crisis of sorts. The company's been around for seven years and still can't figure out if it's a WWE/WCW knock off or a wrestling innovator like the independent promotion Ring of Honor.
I do know they have some great wrestling talent on both ends of the age spectrum.
Molding that mass of humanity into a viable No. 2 promotion and rival to the WWE is no easy task. Their TV ratings have never been better, but their ppv numbers are dipping dangerously low.
With all the personal drama going on backstage between founder Jeff Jarrett, Angle and Angle's ex-wife - and now Angle's arrest - there's no telling where the direction of this company will go.
Hate Canada
So the bulk of Monday's "Raw" was spent trying to make the Canadian wrestling fans in attendance look like a bunch of beer-swilling doofuses.
OK, even more than the WWE usually does to its fans.
During their two hour show the WWE teased the return of Canadian wrestling legend Bret Hart - only to bring out American wrestling grandpa "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan - and teased Celine Dion singing their national anthem, which actually drew a ton of boos, as it should. The WWE also failed to turn Chris Jericho, who is a notorious bad guy in most places, against his beloved Canadian fans.
Why was all this effort wasted on shaking up the peace and wrestling loving fans to our north? Because 12 years ago Vince McMahon legitimately double crossed Hart out of the WWE title and he can't seem to get over it. Never mind how long ago that was or how much the fans up there actually love the product - McMahon has to rub it in their faces.
For me, the highlight of "Raw" was the return of Shawn Michaels. The three segments were on par with the Canadian stuff in the ridiculous category, but when he super kicked a bratty 8-year-old girl and salad went flying everywhere I did chuckle.
This Monday Freddie Prinze Jr. is the guest host. Freddie spent a few months on the WWE's writing team and has been a fan for a long time.
That's all well and good, but I'd rather see the Honky Tonk Man then that clown.
It's also the last "Raw" before the big "SummerSlam" show.
So instead of building up interest in the card, the WWE will feature a prettyboy former staff member.
Maybe instead Michaels can super kick some Fox News broadcasters. At least I'd chuckle.
◊◊ ◊
Chad Eiler is a page designer for the Benton County Daily Record and does not super kick his children. The opinions are those of the writer.
News, Pages 7 on 08/16/2009