Connect with us

Articles of 2008

The WWE Gig: Money In McMahon-Land

Published

on

So I was watching WWE Raw last night, and have a report on the action, in case some of you Money Mayweather fans were curious what Floyd's been up to in the first leg of his two year hiatus from TSS.

It's been awhile since I tuned in to rasslin' but I don't pretend that I didn't spend many a Saturday AM checking out Bruno, and the Samoans and Superfly getting his head conked with a coconut.

I can report that while the players have changed, the game is much the same. They still trot out a bad guy, and the crowd vents their woes against this cowardly, despicable heel. Then they trot out the good guy, who takes a whuppin', but then summons a hidden well of energy and strength to beat back the black hat, and restore this topsy turvy world on its correct axis for a brief span.

Usually, that's the recipe.

But I see that in the WWE, the recipe has been tweaked for Money Mayweather. Seems they have him playing a heel, playing up his money-obsessed persona, bragging about his piles of cash and homes and cars and generally opulent lifestyle that all the recession-fearing watchers would love to mimic if only they could. And they have him playing off another heel, the massively built baddie Big Show, who weighs 441 pounds, if we are to believe the reading on the scale that viewers saw on Monday evening.

Mayweather was also present at the weigh in presided over by Vince McMahon's son, Shane McMahon, who apparently convinced his pop to bring boxing's marquee name into the rasslin' sphere, and play the role perfected by Ted Dibiase, the vile Million Dollar Man who inflamed the fans in McMahon's WWF in the 1980s with his garish displays of obscene wealth. Money, by the way, weighed in at 159 pounds (and carried the extra heft quite well, look out Kelly Pavlik!).

So it seems like two bad guys are pitted against each other, and it looks to me like the fans are having a hard time deciding how to react. Big Show is cruel, and constantly uses his tremendous size advantage to maul athletes much tinier than he. But his athleticism is nothing to write home about, and the audience response to him is somewhere between tepid and mildly irked.

Money, meanwhile, is no wiz on the stick in this setting, and his braggadocious braying is minimized somewhat by his baby face appearance, as well as his petite physique. Certainly, Money has his share of haters among TSS converts–I myself don't pretend that I haven't raked him over the coals a time or two, but most of that stems from his fighting style. His lack of risk-taking in fights and hesitance to close the show are his most annoying traits to many. His trash talking has never risen past mediocre, I'm afraid, mostly because he usually threatens to do severe damage to a foe, and then he winds up putting on a technical, clinical dissection, rather than the promised obliteration.

So, I'm mildly curious–though not enough to pony up for the Wrestlemania PPV, I'll leave that to another volunteer, if I can find one–to see how this Mayweather in WWE experiment plays out.

If the skit I saw on Monday is an indication, it's looking like Big Show will transition totally to babyface, and let Floyd play the bad guy all by his lonesome.

That's a guess. I'm alos uncertain if this gamble by the McMahon's will pay off. The crowd cheered Show a bit when he was on the stick, rather than reacting with their usual jeers.  But when Floyd took the mike, and started throwing bills at Show, they didn't react that much at all. When he reminded Show that he broke his nose, and promised to break his jaw at the upcoming PPV they buzzed a little bit. There was a distinct lack of heat building.

When Show piched up Money, and threw him out of the ring, to be caught by Show's rassler posse, the crowd got a bit more heated.

Mayweather then stood up, and he was clutching his right elbow, as though it were shattered into chalk.

“This has added fuel to the fire,” the announcer Jim Ross said, and his partner Jerry Lawler helped the pitch to buy the PPV, saying he could not wait to see what goes down between Show and Money at Wrestlemania 24 on March 30.

Maybe Money will play up the injury, and turn face when he wears a cast, and Show draws heat when he bullies the little guy, now sympathetic because of his injury.

Anyway, I'm not buying the hype that Money will take home the advertised $20 mill for this gig. The math, in my opinion, doesn't check out, considering other athletes have to get theirs, and many lifers probably wouldn't dig their cut being diminished by an interloper like Mayweather. If I had to guess, and this is truly a guess, I have no WWE mole, I'd say Money was getting a couple mill for the month of work.

Enjoy the gig Money.

And when you're done, and ready to get back to your true vocation, do us a favor, and sign a contract for a truly Big Show: fight Miguel Cotto.

Share The Sweet Science experience!
Continue Reading
Advertisement
Ekow-Essuman-Upsets-Josh-Taylor-and-Moses-Itauma-Blasts-Out-Mike-Balogun-in-Glasgow
Featured Articles4 weeks ago

Ekow Essuman Upsets Josh Taylor and Moses Itauma Blasts Out Mike Balogun in Glasgow

Newspaperman-Playwright-Author-Bobby-Cassidy-Jr-Commemorates-his-Fighting-Father
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Newspaperman/Playwright/Author Bobby Cassidy Jr Commemorates His Fighting Father

A-Night-of-Mismatches-Turns-Topsy-Turvy-at-Mandalay-Bay-Resendiz-Shocks-Plant
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

A Night of Mismatches Turns Topsy-Turvy at Mandalay Bay; Resendiz Shocks Plant

Avila-Perspective-Chap-330-Matchroom-in-New-York-plus-the-latest-on-Canelo-Crawford
Featured Articles6 days ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 330: Matchroom in New York plus the Latest on Canelo-Crawford

in-A-Trubute-Wedded-to-Memorial-Day-Boxing-Writer-David-Avila-Pays-Homage-to-Absent-Friends
Featured Articles4 weeks ago

In a Tribute Wedded to Memorial Day, Boxing Writer David Avila Pays Homage to Absent Friends

Vinny-Paz-is-Going-into-the-Boxing-Hall-of-Fame-Hey-why-Not-Roger-Mayweather?
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Vinny Paz is Going into the Boxing Hall of Fame; Hey, Why Not Roger Mayweather?

Remembering-the-Under-Appreciated-Body-Snatcher-Mike-McCallum,-a-Conusmmate-Pro
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Remembering the Under-Appreciated “Body Snatcher” Mike McCallum, a Consummate Pro    

Avila-Perspective-Chap-228-Viva-Las-Vegas-Back-in-the-Boxing-Spotlight
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 228: Viva Las Vegas, Back in the Boxing Spotlight

Opetaia-and-Nakatani-Crush-Overmatched-Foes-Capping-Off-a-Wild-Boxing-Weekend
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Opetaia and Nakatani Crush Overmatched Foes, Capping Off a Wild Boxing Weekend

Pacquiao-is-Back,-Fabio-in-England-and-More.jpg
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Avila Perspective, Chap 329: Pacquiao is Back, Fabio in England and More

Results-and-Recaps-from-Las-Vegas-Where-Melikuziev-Nipped-Fulghum-in-a-Fierce-Fight
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Results and Recaps from Las Vegas Where Melikuziev Nipped Fulghum in a Fierce Battle

Fabio-Wardley-Comes-from-Behind-to-KO-Justis-Huni
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Fabio Wardley Comes from Behind to KO Justis Huni  

Angelo-Leo-Retains-His-Featherweight-Title-Before-a-Hostile-Crowd-in-Osaka
Featured Articles4 weeks ago

Angelo Leo Retains His Featherweight Title Before a Hostile Crowd in Osaka

Delving-Into-'Hoopa'-With-Notes-on-Books-by-George-Plimpton-and-Joyce-Carol-Oates
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Delving into ‘Hoopla’ with Notes on Books by George Plimpton and Joyce Carol Oates

Local-Fan-Favorites-Terri-Harpet-and-Maxi-Hughes-Victorious-in-Doncaster
Featured Articles4 weeks ago

Local Fan Favorites Terri Harper and Maxi Hughes Victorious in Doncaster

The-Shafting-of-Blair-the-Flair-Cobbs-a-Familar-Thread-in-the-Cruelest-Sport
Featured Articles1 week ago

The Shafting of Blair “The Flair” Cobbs, a Familiar Thread in the Cruelest Sport

Catching-Up-with-Clay-Moyle-Who-Talks-About-His-Massive-Collection-of-Boxing-Books
Featured Articles4 days ago

Catching Up with Clay Moyle Who Talks About His Massive Collection of Boxing Books

Richardson-Hitchins-Batters-and-Stops-George-Kambosos-at-Madison-Square-Garden
Featured Articles5 days ago

Richardson Hitchins Batters and Stops George Kambosos at Madison Square Garden 

A-Fight-Fan-and-Teremoana-Samson-Junior-Leon-Teremoana
Featured Articles2 days ago

A Fight Fan and Teremoana Samson Junior Leon Teremoana

Brian-Norman-Jr-Bombs-Out-Jin-Sasaki-with-a-Frightful-Left-Hook
Featured Articles16 hours ago

Brian Norman Jr Bombs Out Jin Sasaki with a Frightful Left Hook

Brian-Norman-Jr-Bombs-Out-Jin-Sasaki-with-a-Frightful-Left-Hook
Featured Articles16 hours ago

Brian Norman Jr Bombs Out Jin Sasaki with a Frightful Left Hook

A-Fight-Fan-and-Teremoana-Samson-Junior-Leon-Teremoana
Featured Articles2 days ago

A Fight Fan and Teremoana Samson Junior Leon Teremoana

Catching-Up-with-Clay-Moyle-Who-Talks-About-His-Massive-Collection-of-Boxing-Books
Featured Articles4 days ago

Catching Up with Clay Moyle Who Talks About His Massive Collection of Boxing Books

Richardson-Hitchins-Batters-and-Stops-George-Kambosos-at-Madison-Square-Garden
Featured Articles5 days ago

Richardson Hitchins Batters and Stops George Kambosos at Madison Square Garden 

Avila-Perspective-Chap-330-Matchroom-in-New-York-plus-the-latest-on-Canelo-Crawford
Featured Articles6 days ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 330: Matchroom in New York plus the Latest on Canelo-Crawford

The-Shafting-of-Blair-the-Flair-Cobbs-a-Familar-Thread-in-the-Cruelest-Sport
Featured Articles1 week ago

The Shafting of Blair “The Flair” Cobbs, a Familiar Thread in the Cruelest Sport

Opetaia-and-Nakatani-Crush-Overmatched-Foes-Capping-Off-a-Wild-Boxing-Weekend
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Opetaia and Nakatani Crush Overmatched Foes, Capping Off a Wild Boxing Weekend

Fabio-Wardley-Comes-from-Behind-to-KO-Justis-Huni
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Fabio Wardley Comes from Behind to KO Justis Huni  

Pacquiao-is-Back,-Fabio-in-England-and-More.jpg
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Avila Perspective, Chap 329: Pacquiao is Back, Fabio in England and More

Delving-Into-'Hoopa'-With-Notes-on-Books-by-George-Plimpton-and-Joyce-Carol-Oates
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Delving into ‘Hoopla’ with Notes on Books by George Plimpton and Joyce Carol Oates

Remembering-the-Under-Appreciated-Body-Snatcher-Mike-McCallum,-a-Conusmmate-Pro
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Remembering the Under-Appreciated “Body Snatcher” Mike McCallum, a Consummate Pro    

A-Night-of-Mismatches-Turns-Topsy-Turvy-at-Mandalay-Bay-Resendiz-Shocks-Plant
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

A Night of Mismatches Turns Topsy-Turvy at Mandalay Bay; Resendiz Shocks Plant

Results-and-Recaps-from-Las-Vegas-Where-Melikuziev-Nipped-Fulghum-in-a-Fierce-Fight
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Results and Recaps from Las Vegas Where Melikuziev Nipped Fulghum in a Fierce Battle

Avila-Perspective-Chap-228-Viva-Las-Vegas-Back-in-the-Boxing-Spotlight
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 228: Viva Las Vegas, Back in the Boxing Spotlight

Vinny-Paz-is-Going-into-the-Boxing-Hall-of-Fame-Hey-why-Not-Roger-Mayweather?
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Vinny Paz is Going into the Boxing Hall of Fame; Hey, Why Not Roger Mayweather?

Newspaperman-Playwright-Author-Bobby-Cassidy-Jr-Commemorates-his-Fighting-Father
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Newspaperman/Playwright/Author Bobby Cassidy Jr Commemorates His Fighting Father

Ekow-Essuman-Upsets-Josh-Taylor-and-Moses-Itauma-Blasts-Out-Mike-Balogun-in-Glasgow
Featured Articles4 weeks ago

Ekow Essuman Upsets Josh Taylor and Moses Itauma Blasts Out Mike Balogun in Glasgow

Angelo-Leo-Retains-His-Featherweight-Title-Before-a-Hostile-Crowd-in-Osaka
Featured Articles4 weeks ago

Angelo Leo Retains His Featherweight Title Before a Hostile Crowd in Osaka

in-A-Trubute-Wedded-to-Memorial-Day-Boxing-Writer-David-Avila-Pays-Homage-to-Absent-Friends
Featured Articles4 weeks ago

In a Tribute Wedded to Memorial Day, Boxing Writer David Avila Pays Homage to Absent Friends

Local-Fan-Favorites-Terri-Harpet-and-Maxi-Hughes-Victorious-in-Doncaster
Featured Articles4 weeks ago

Local Fan Favorites Terri Harper and Maxi Hughes Victorious in Doncaster

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

Trending