Okay, I love a broadway finish, I'll admit it openly. I also love a five round championship war for a belt, but what's also amazing to witness in the UFC is the blazing fast unexpected clip on the chin knockout. There will be a moment in the first round, where a calm and ready fighter throws a technically exquisite right or left punch or kick and just drops his opponent. We don't get finishes like that in the sports entertainment business because they're too fast, but building a guy up on Superstars that way with a finish he can hit out of nowhere, or a literal punch or kick with a knockout--means you can cultivate a new star with legitimacy attached to them by showing that occasionally they can drop an opponent with a move that maybe is over -- like a DDT, or a sleeper that's basically altered to be a guillotine choke (not a big stretch, because to most WWE fans they look very similar) -- and it doesn't take long for the guy to go out. The ref comes over, and drops the hand three times and puts a stop to the match. I'd love to see them bring in and build a guy like a Chris Hero (won't happen) or even take a guy like Damien Sandow and give him that decided edge because he's so intelligent, he starts studying opponents. He starts bullying guys who aren't superstars -- that's right, bring back squash matches and jobbers -- and have him dominate over them. But when it comes time for the 'hero' or 'real badass' to step to him, buck tradition, and shut down the first opponent with a crazy fast finish. People will start talking about the guy -- and you could literally put anyone in that position -- though Wade Barrett would be a real gem in that role as a legitimate bareknuckle fighter -- and it would be box office gold. The best example of this would be from way back in UFC 1 -- when Ken Shamrock was defeated by Royce Gracie via submission in a short amount of time or with the surprise finish of the Weidman vs. Silva fight. Common knowledge said Silva would just toy with Weidman and destroy him. But out of nowhere, BAM, new champion. Not a fluke, because a legitimate punch knocked out Silva, and the ref stopped it when he couldn't respond to the strikes following it. Even after the match, Weidman says to Silva 'You were playing around too much.' -- so life imitates art? But it's art that should be imitating or at least reflecting reality. And that brings me to the key point and problem the WWE has.
Dan has taken a chairshot to the face from Ballz Mahoney. He grew up in Tampa, mere blocks from the Sportatorium, watching wrestling and taking it all in. He's a writer, and a professional illustrator.
