What was thought by many to be a publicity stunt by the UFC’s featherweight champion and promotional "golden goose", Conor McGregor, has turned out to be just that. Earlier this week McGregor tweeted out, “I have decided to retire young. Thanks for the cheese. Catch ya’s later.”, sending MMA fans and the internet into a spiral.
While many thought that the whole thing was a publicity stunt, some thought there could be some legitimacy to the tweet seeing as McGregor recently attended an MMA event in Ireland and watched as Joao Carvalho eventually died from injuries suffered during his match.
Carvalho was only 28 years old and some thought the 27 year old McGregor who said watching "a young man doing what he loves, competing for a chance at a better life, and then to have it taken away is truly heartbreaking", could have been moved to hang the gloves up by the tragedy.
After his tweet, UFC president Dana White pulled his champ from the UFC 200 card and said "Conor did not want to come to Las Vegas and film the commercial and be a part of the marketing. Is Conor retiring? Only he can answer that question. I don’t know."
Fast forward a couple of days and McGregor posts a message on Facebook saying that he’s not retiring and that he still wants to fight Nate Diaz at UFC 200 to avenge his loss.
"I am just trying to do my job and fight here," McGregor wrote on Facebook. "I am paid to fight. I am not yet paid to promote. I have become lost in the game of promotion and forgot about the art of fighting. There comes a time when you need to stop handing out flyers and get back to the damn shop."
McGregor’s focus can be respected. He is coming off of his first loss in the UFC, although at a heavier weight class than his 145 lb. featherweight championship. Before his loss to the stronger, taller Nate Diaz, McGregor would often speak of weight not being a challenge and how a champion should be able to move up and down weight classes. All of that is great for pre-fight promotion but eventually he found out that knockout power at 145, isn’t knockout power at 170. Losses like that can be sobering for a champion known for being the biggest mouth in the UFC, and respectfully backing it up.
The problem is that marketing is part of the deal. Drama and promotion build up the excitement of the fight. And although some think this stunt is actually building the fight up even more, I disagree. No one wants to see this rematch more now, than they did last week.
Let’s be honest, this is a non-title fight for McGregor against an opponent who isn’t even that good at his weight class. The only thing making this fight interesting is McGregor trying to avenge a loss and prove he can fight at 170. Even if he wins he should stay at 145 where he can dominate for the next couple of years.
But here is the real problem. According to Dana White the UFC has pulled McGregor from UFC 200. For McGregor to fight Dana White is going to have to officially put him back on the card. That wouldn’t be a problem. It’s only been a couple days since the whole retirement fiasco happened. The question is would he put him back on the card and allow him to bypass the promotional duties his fighters are required to fulfill.
I don’t think so.
Dana White has two options right now: keep McGregor off the card due to his refusal to perform his promotional responsibilities, or put him back on the card and allow him to balk on said responsibilities.
I wouldn’t bet on White letting McGregor back on without performing the promotional duties. It sets a bad precedent with other fighters and that’s never been his style. My money is on McGregor falling in line and doing what he needs to do in all areas to continue on to July 9th and fight at UFC 200.
McGregor loves attention and money. He’s never met a microphone he doesn’t like. By refusing to promote the fight according to his contractual duties it’s obvious he understands the magnitude of this rematch and moving up in weight.
This might be the first time in McGregor’s career that he realizes he can’t talk his way to a knockout.
The Weekend 3 Count is brought to you by Triple Threat CLE. This week I bring you all the news and rumors around the WWE, TNA, GFW and the Independent wrestling scene for March 2nd - March 8th.
*** Weekend Flashback ***
- Growing up, my favorite wrestling family to watch were the Von Erich's. I remember watching the old WCCW episodes on ESPN and cheering them on every week. My favorite of the family was and will always be Kerry Von Erich. I remember it hit me hard the day I found out Kerry took his own life. Here was one of my childhood idols that passed away and now knowing I'd never see him wrestle ever again. I'm going back to 1984, one day after my sixth birthday. Ric Flair defended the NWA World Heavyweight Championship against Kerry Von Erich.
*** WWE News and Rumors ***
- Where oh where will Brock Lesnar end up in April?? Last week, Lesnar, stormed out of WWE, apparently upset over the offer that Vince McMahon gave him on a new contract. Last Saturday night, Lesnar, was present at UFC 184 to watch the fights. UFC President, Dana White, stated that Lesnar was there to just watch the fights and White not once talked contracts with him. White, however, stated that Lesnar mentioned Frank Mir and whether or not Mir truthfully stated he wanted to fight Lesnar again. Rumors surfaced a few months back at White pushing for Lesnar vs. Mir 3 in UFC. May the best promoter win.
- With Lesnar walking out of the RAW that he was scheduled to appear at, WWE is planning on making Lesnar make up that missed date. Lesnar has made no comment on when or if he plans on making up the date that WWE says he owes now.
- Comedy Central's own Jon Stewart, showed up at RAW last week to confront Seth Rollins. Check out my recap of RAW to see how that went down.
- Another inductee into the 2015 WWE Hall of Fame was announced this past RAW. Former WWE Women's Champion, Alundra Blayze (aka Madusa in WCW), was announced as the newest inductee. Correct me if I'm wrong, but did WWE forget all about Blayze's stunt she pulled, tossing the WWE Women's Championship in the garbage on WCW Nitro?? Blayze, was one of the last women I figured would ever get in the Hall of Fame.
The Madusa Stunt:
- As of now, the 2015 WWE Hall of Fame class is as follows: "Macho Man" Randy Savage, Rikishi, The Bushwackers, Alundra Blayze and Arnold Schwarzenegger.
- This past Monday on RAW, A.J. Lee, made her return to the company.
- Bray Wyatt is bringing The Undertaker's urn to RAW, tomorrow night. The past few weeks, Wyatt, has used druids, caskets, Taker's theme music and has torched a casket, to try to draw out the deadman for Wrestlemania. Wyatt has failed so far.
- 15 Time WWE World Heavyweight Champion, John Cena, will be inducted into the Springfield College Athletic Hall of Fame on Saturday, April 18.
- Sources have said that Samoa Joe is in fact negotiating with the WWE. Joe is currently contract obligated to work a few Ring of Honor shows at the moment. Joe has stated that the rumors are true and he has been in talks with WWE.
- Independent wrestler, Uhaa Nation, is headed to WWE. Nation, who was on WWE's radar since the late summer, has official signed and we be appearing in NXT soon.
- As of March 1st, if you have WWE Network, you are now no longer allowed to have the Network streaming on two seperate devices. Only one device at a time can be used to watch the Network.
- Rapper Wiz Khalifa has been announced as a special guest for tomorrow's RAW live from his hometown of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
- NXT trainer, Bill DeMott has been the talk of the company this week. Many current and former NXT/WWE superstars have opened up about Bill DeMott and his unprofessionalism, while training the new NXT talent. Many have stated that Demott, was very abusive, physically and mentally to the NXT talent. Former WWE developmental talent, Kevin Matthews, sent a copy of a letter he wrote on his experiences with Bill DeMott. You can read Matthews' letter HERE./
- As of Friday March 6th, DeMott, officially resigned from the company. Makes you think that all the complaints were true. As of now, Matt Bloom (aka Albert, Tensai) has been announced as DeMott's intern head trainer.
*** TNA News and Rumors ***
- This week on Impact, The Wolves became 2-Time TNA World Tag Team Champions, as they defeated James Storm and Abyss.
- Also on Impact, Kurt Angle became the new #1 Contender to the TNA World Heavyweight Championship. Angle defeated Eric Young and Bobby Roode in a triple threat match.
- TNA Impact has taken a hit in ratings, two weeks in a row now, as viewership has dropped back to back weeks.
- TNA longtime producer, Bryan Edwards and producer/editor Stu Marchetti have left TNA.
*** GFW News and Rumors ***
- Quiet week in Jeff Jarrett land with GFW.
*** Other Wrestling News ***
- Rey Mysterio has officially announced he will be returning to the promotion that made him famous when he was young, AAA Mexico.
- Phil "CM Punk" Brooks has been recently spotted with a camera crew, following him around. Sources are saying that Punk has been filming a documentary on his switch from professional wrestler to MMA fighter.
-Punk recently had his first MMA scrimmage fight, preparing him for his first UFC bout.
- Jonny Candido, the brother of the late Chris Candido, is making a documentary. The documentary, currently being titled "No Gimmicks Needed", will be about his brother, Chris and Chris' life in professional wrestling before his life ended too soon.
- Chris Dickinson of Beyond Wrestling, is making news this week and not in a good way. Beyond Wrestling had an Intergender Match this past weekend at their "King of Arts" show, with Chris Dickinson facing female star Kimber Lee. At the end of the match Dickinson, low blows Lee, hits her in the head with a chair, then delivers a viscious "Outsiders Edge" power bomb, that causes Lee to slide under the bottom rope and almost smacking her head on the steel ring post. The company is under fire now for the viciousness of how female performers are being treated and Dickinson himself is under fire on social media for committing the violent actions. You can check out the closing moments of that match below, but viewer discretion is advised.
- Kimber Lee was interviewed a day after the match, had no regrets and didn't blame Dickinson at all for how the ending of the match went. You can read that interview HERE.
And that is this weekend's 3 Count. Join me every Sunday afternoon, where I give you the major stories in WWE, TNA, GFW and the independent wrestling scene. Till next time, tap or snap.
