Wanderlei Silva confronted Chael Sonnen in a pro wrestling-type promotional video which is posted on his YouTube channel. Silva confronted Sonnen at the Mr. Olympia exhibition held this past weekend in Las Vegas.
The video has over 548,000 views on Silva’s YouTube channel.
Payout Perspective:
Is this something that MMA fans want to see? Its a classic pro-wrestling promo held outside the UFC so as to prove how real the hate is between Silva and Sonnen. Obviously we think about pro wrestling because Chael Sonnen is involved. Silva is a master at self-promotion. Many will remember his April Fool’s Day joke this year in which he tweeted that he was going to take on Gegard Mousasi. He’s cut two promos in his “feud” with Sonnen but this video actually involves Sonnen. Can these videos actually add fans for Silva? The bigger question is does something like this motivate a fan to actually pay to see this fight?
“Can these videos actually add fans for Silva?”
– Yes… especially younger fans, they’ll eat it up.
“The bigger question is does something like this motivate a fan to actually pay to see this fight?”
– That’s the thing… the age group of people this appeals to will just download the torrent for free.
Definitely good promotion for Wandy and Chael though… whether it converts to money in the UFC’s pocket is another thing.
Here is how they should have done it pro-wrestling style:
Wanderlei should have shown up and interfered in Sonnen’s recent wedding. Then, at the next UFC event, in the cage OF COURSE, he and his wife could have repeated the wedding; that’s when Wandy and the Nogueira brothers could have come in and attacked them with chairs. To the help could have come, wearing red white and blue, Chris Weidman (slow walk towards cage with signature music) and, because they are in their show lobby commentating the whole thing for FOX Rashad Evans and Brian Stann come storming down. In the mix-up, while helping his broadcast colleague and next opponent, Rashad gets hit with a chair and “injured”. In the fallout Chael can’t fight against Rashad and so he fights Wandy right away. Weidman, as the divisions champion, approves. Oh, and Wandy wins the match. The End.
@michael
I think you have described the Macho Man-Elizabeth wedding from WWF days.
@Leon
I really wouldn’t be surprised if the whole thing was scripted as in Chael knew that Wandy was looking for him. And I do agree that young fans that like this conflict and the “reality” of it will eat it up.
There is no doubt about it. This was set up by both guys. as a big Chael fan his action were out of character. He doesn’t get heated like that. He always has a more sophisticated approach. When put in a situation like that. Well just watch how he handled the Wandy situation in the van. Now of course Chael can get push to far like anyone else. But what did Wandy did? Just watch up to him? lol I don’t think so. He never got close enough to give Chael a reason to be mad. Also how was Chael about to understand what he was saying during the scrum with “emotions running”? Even the viewers need subtitles.
That said. I don’t understand why everyone wants to call this “Pro Wrestling Inspired”. This is what is called a publicity stunt. Has been going on much longer than Pro Wrestling was every created. Only a pro wrestling fan would try to relate everything to pro wrestling. If this was 2 actors getting into a fake fight at a movie premiere it would be called a publicity stunt. Not Pro Wrestling. So why does that Change when it is fighters? These are not pro wrestlers! Boxers have been doing this for the last 20 years at press conferences and weigh ins and interviews. Anyone remember Tyson/Lewis? Rahman/Lewis? That’s just actual scuffles off the top of my head. Almost every match has as much as we see here. Its fake most of the time in boxing too.
I personally don’t like it. The one reason I never minded Chaels trash talk is because, even though he doesn’t mean it, he isn’t “clearing it” with his opponent and is willing to take an ass whooping for it. Something that isn’t the case in Pro Wrestling. There is actually consequences to his actions and he accepts it. But this is just nothing real about it. But the problem is just like in Boxing. Everyone knows its fake but they cant stop buying the fight. It gets people talking about the fight and the next thing you know everyone cant wait to see it. So as much as I hate it. I cant deny it works. Even those who know its fake will still buy the fight. The “encounter” will get the talk started on the fight that people wont be able to resist.
But Boxing reached a point where it was happening every fight and it got stale. So not everyone can pull this off and they will have to pick their spots. I do feel better that its the fighters doing this rather than the UFC setting it up. That wouldn’t be a good idea at all. But with fighters paid based on PPV buys. The fighters have the incentive to do this and the UFC will never have to get involved.
@ Jason
I read somewhere before the Chael/Rashad announcement that Wandy turned down the fight with Chael in December because he wanted PPV points. Maybe he’s going to negotiate those points before a future encounter with Chael… if so, he’s smarter than he looks 😉
White is pond scum.