Australian Sports Entertainment Blog
Combat Sports
Dana White On Cross-Over Legends Brock Lesnar and Ronda Rousey Will Compete At UFC 300
“I get why everybody asks”
“They’re not coming back”
Sports Illustrated UFC news and quotes doing the rounds across the globe; S.I. gains more street and industry cred
Seems like the entire combat sports world wants to know if Lesnar and Rousey will fight at UFC 300. Perhaps they may appear in the crowd, or even get introduced with a live mic, but don't expect for them to grapple.
Fantasy Booking ramps up in UFC, adding to combat sports booking WWE
@WWE
and other pro wrestling promotions!
Some Stats:
Lesnar (UFC website)
https://ufc.com/athlete/brock-lesnar
8 fights in the UFC
Former UFC Heavyweight champ
Rousey (Wikipedia website)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronda_Rousey
Rousey News:
RR loves her pro wresling, including Lucha Libre - especially Lucha VaVOOM, in Los Angeles where she appeared on October 26, teaming with AEW affiliated Marina Shafir to defeat Brian Kendrick and Taya Valkyrie in tag team action.
Due to wrestle at Wrestling Revolver - 6th November
Homenetmen Glendale Ararat Los Angeles, CA.
Will be broadcast via FITE!
@FiteTV
“I always had an incredible working relationship with Brock Lesnar”.
“It’s funny to say this because he’s such a grouchy dude, but I consider Brock Lesnar a friend.”
The last time Lesnar fought in the UFC was 2016, five months after Rousey’s final bout. Since then, both have appeared in WWE from time to time.
Rousey is still considered fairly young for pro wrestling, but not so much for MMA at 36 years. Her last UFC match was in December of 2016. Similar to Lesnar, she also fought 8 times in the UFC, getting her hand raised in the 6 bouts. Rousey eventually became one of the the most recognizable sports stars in the world, thanks to numerous ground breaking performances and over-performing in what was traditionally a male dominated sport.
“I absolutely love Ronda Rousey,” said White. “She’s one of the greatest athletes I’ve ever worked with. She’s a pioneer, an inspirational figure for women, and an all-around badass for UFC.”
Headlined by two title bouts, UFC 295 takes place this Saturday at Madison Square Garden. Though White’s current priority is MSG, the UFC matchmakers are not too far removed from UFC 300. But Rousey and Lesnar will not be part of that history-making card.
“I’m focused on Madison Square Garden,” said White. “But no, they’re not coming back.”
UFC News
UFC 295 card: Prochazka vs Pereira headlines after Aspinall and Pavlovich clash
Daniel Cormier (conspiracy?) theory/speculation/dream match scenarios
Unified field theory for UFC 300..
Former two-division UFC champ and current UFC commentator Daniel Cormier has a theory that sounds great for the UFC 300 card.
“UFC 100 had Brock [Lesnar], right? With Georges St-Pierre and all those guys,” Cormier said on his “DC & RC” show. “UFC 200 had Brock, it was supposed to me and [Jon] Jones also but it ended up being me, Anderson Silva, Brock, all these guys, big names,” Cormier said. “UFC 300 has to have a name like that. We don’t have Brock Lesnar anymore. So, I think you have to have a Conor McGregor versus Michael Chandler. I think Michael Chandler gets his shot now, in the main event. Boy, Michael Chandler will headline UFC 300, how crazy is that?”
DC also has a vision of a two-title bout card underneath the McGregor-Chandler match.
“Co-main event, when I look down the line, I know that Jones and Stipe [Miocic] will not be ready,” Cormier continued. “I do believe that whoever wins the [interim heavyweight] belt this weekend will have to fight again. Leon Edwards or Colby Covington will then be available again, right? Because they fight [at UFC 296] in December. I believe it’ll be one of them, if not both. The interim heavyweight champion and then the welterweight champion will also fight at UFC 300.”
Videos (to help starv you off before it's time to say Let's 'Fn Go again)
Pro Wrestling Champions - November 2023
WWE
WWE Championship – Roman Reigns
WWE Universal – Roman Reigns
World Heavyweight Championship - Seth Rollins
Raw Tag Team – Judgement Day
Smackdown Tag Team – Judgement Day
WWE Women’s - Iyo Sky
Women’s World - Rhea Ripley
WWE Women’s Tag Team – Chelsea Green and Piper Niven
US Title – Logan Paul
Intercontinental title - Gunther
NXT
NXT Championship- Ilja Dragunov
NXT Women’s - Lyra Valkyria
North American Title – Dominick Mysterio
Tag Team Title – Tony D'Angelo and Channing Lorezo
AEW
AEW World Title - MJF
TNT Title - Christian
Women's Title - Hikaru Shida
TBS Champion - Kris Statlander
Tag Team Titles - Ricky Starks and Big Bill
Trios Titles - The Acclaimed and Billy Gunn
AEW International Title - Orange Cassidy
Impact Wrestling
World Champion - Alex Shelley
X Division - Chris Sabin
Tag Team Titles - ABC
Digital Media Champion - Tommy Dreamer
Knockouts Champion - Trinity
Knockouts Tag Titles - Killer Kelly and Masha Slamovich
ROH
ROH World Champion - Eddie Kingston
ROH TV Champion - Vacant
ROH Pure Champion - Katsuyori Shibata
ROH Tag Titles - Adam Cole & MJF
ROH Women's Title - Athena
ROH Six Man Tag Titles - Mogul Embassy
NJPW
IWGP World Title - Sanada
IWGP US Title - Will Ospreay
IWGP Junior Heavyweight - Hiromu Takahashi
Strong Openweight Title - Eddie Kingston
IWGP Tag Team Titles - Bishamon
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Titles - Bullet Club War Dogs (Drilla Moloney and Clark Connors)
Strong Openweight Tag Team Titles - Bullet Club War Dogs (Alex Coughlin and Gabriel Kidd)
NEVER Openweight Title - David Finlay
NEVER Openweight Six Man Tag Titles - Okada, Tanahashi and Tomohiro Ishii
KOPW 2023 - Taichi
IWGP Women's Title - Maya Iwatani
Media News
Catalano offers to sell Canberra Times, other papers to Southern Cross
Australian Community Media executive chairman Antony Catalano has proposed selling some of his company’s most storied publications, including The Newcastle Herald, Illawarra Mercury and The Canberra Times, to Southern Cross Media in exchange for a major stake in the ASX-listed group.
On Friday, Southern Cross confirmed reports in The Australian Financial Review’s Street Talk column that Mr Catalano, who is backed by billionaire businessman Alex Waislitz, had formally approached Southern Cross with a counterproposal to a takeover offer from ARN Media and Anchorage Capital.
“We believe that this proposal would provide immediate benefits to Southern Cross shareholders and is simple to execute, value accretive, is built on both growth opportunity and well as cost synergy, unlikely to require shareholder approval,” Mr Catalano wrote to Southern Cross executives and its bankers. “Please call me to discuss,” he added.
Under his proposal, Southern Cross would own 14 of ACM’s daily newspapers and 52 of his non-daily publications, which were acquired from Nine Entertainment (publishers of this masthead) in 2019. The Land and ACM’s agriculture assets, as well as its real estate play View, were not included.
The new entity would have an extra $200 million in revenue, Mr Catalano wrote, including 130,000 digital news subscriptions. It would emerge with $120 million in earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation – up from $77 million in the last financial year.
In return, he wanted a “sub 20 per cent” stake in Southern Cross, sources close to the deal told AFR Weekend on Friday.
Southern Cross Austereo owns 99 radio stations, including the Triple M and Hit brands, and 96 regional free-to-air TV signals. It has spent three weeks grappling with a complex offer from ARN and Anchorage to buy them out.
On Friday, Southern Cross said it would consider ACM’s proposal and told shareholders to take no action. It has not backed the ARN proposal either.
Allan Gray’s Simon Mawhinney, a major shareholder in both ARN and Southern Cross, said it was too early to evaluate ACM’s offer.
“We don’t know any of the details, today’s the first we’ve been made aware of it,” he said. “I think some competitive intensity is always good for shareholders, we fully support competing proposals. The more, the merrier.”
Mr Catalano said: “We’ve presented a proposal which isn’t highly conditional, it’s simple, easy to execute, no cost, and which creates probably the third most profitable media company in Australia.”
“It’s an elegant solution for a company that is in defence mode on a deal the board clearly doesn’t like,” he said.
His offer comes as Southern Cross and its new advisers UBS – deal makers Tim McKessar and Richard Sleijpen have been involved so far – are still reviewing ARN’s takeover offer.
In October, ARN made a bid with Anchorage to acquire Southern Cross, pool their assets, and emerge with two different media groupings. Southern Cross’s chairman, Rob Murray, called it “opportunistic”.
ARN owns the KIIS FM and Pure Gold networks, and media ownership laws prevent any one company from owning more than two radio licences in a single city. ARN’s bid would give it KIIS and Triple M and the best of both companies’ regional stations. Anchorage would take the Hit and Pure Gold brands, a handful of remaining regional stations, and the TV signals.
They offered 0.753 ARN shares per Southern Cross share, as well as 29.6¢ in cash and 12.7¢ in franking credits.
ARN’s takeover is awaiting a response from the Takeovers Panel after Keybridge Capital’s Nick Bolton claimed that ARN had breached corporations rules when it acquired a 14.8 per cent stake in Southern Cross in June. Mr Catalano is a director of Keybridge Capital.
Sources close to the deal said the Takeovers Panel met on Thursday night, and a decision on how it could proceed could be released any day.
Property News
'One of the best houses in Bronte' just listed for $30 million
You know you’ve arrived in architectural nirvana the moment you step into the foyer of Coastal Garden House. You’re inside, yet still outside.
Architecture studio Neeson Murcutt Neille has mastered the art of seamless indoor/outdoor living by virtue of sliding glass walls with flush thresholds, windows that disappear entirely, and greenery that tumbles over joinery.
At the entry level of this clever property, beyond the full-height timber door, you’ll find exposed brickwork, sandstone flagging and a space billed as the conversation pit.
On a raised platform, curved banquette seating is illuminated by a circular skylight. It’s the perfect spot for a morning card game with the kids or a late-night tipple with friends.
One set of sliders opens this space to a courtyard; another leads to the main living spaces.
Here, the coastal panorama is on full parade through a pair of enormous cavity windows. Pour a cuppa, pull up a stool and soak in the ocean and headland views.
The kitchen features a solid timber island bench, and plants spill over the top of a timber pod housing a concealed cocktail bar and fridge.
More sliders open to a skylit loggia with a built-in barbecue.
A playful main suite completes the entry-level accommodation. From the eye-catching wallpaper in the powder room to the reading nook found on top of a section of built-in joinery, this is definitely a space for the young at heart.
A single room with en suite on the upper level is described as a guest bedroom but why reserve the best of the ocean views for guests? This bright space with its north-east-facing balcony is the perfect home office or reading retreat.
On the lower level, you’ll find four bedrooms – all with access to the garden – a generous rumpus room, two quirky bathrooms, and a wine cellar with a magnificent, glass-fronted sandstone backdrop.
There’s plenty to admire outside, too.
The robust, off-form-concrete house traces the existing sandstone cliff that cuts a diagonal across the site and is almost cave-like in its presentation, and the lush, 360 Degrees-designed gardens are integral to the home’s success.
In 2018 the property won an Australian Institute of Architects award for residential architecture and a Houses award for best garden. Five years on, both the home and garden are ageing beautifully.
Towards the bottom of the sloping site, a 15-metre-long ceramic mural by Sonia van de Haar wraps around a waterhole-like pool, and a cabana and pool terrace provide another option for entertaining.
It’s a thoughtfully conceived sanctuary with the rather fabulous bonus of being a 300-metre level stroll from Bronte’s sand, surf and village eateries.
“This is one of the best houses in Bronte, on one of the largest blocks, on one of the best streets. It’s like a family compound at the beach,” says agent Alexander Phillips of PPD Real Estate.
The home claims a rare, 1156-square-metre, double block on the corner of Pacific and Gardyne streets, with parking for four cars.
(Domain)
Real Estate News
Former media baron Charles Curran selling Woollahra mansion with $29m guide
A former media baron has just listed his luxury eastern suburbs mansion with a guide nudging $30m amid news of a $20m sale nearby last night.
The listing is the six-bedroom grand estate at 8 Rosemont Ave, Woollahra of former media baron Charles Curran AC, which has a $29m guide via Pillinger principal Brad Pillinger and Sotheby’s boss Michael Pallier.
And the sale is 9 Wallaroy Rd, Woollahra, for $19.7m — the home of philanthropic locals Fiona Martin-Weber and JB Were’s Tom Hayward — through Adam Reichman and Elliott Placks of Ray White Double Bay. The couple are upgrading to a contemporary Bruce Stafford-designed $35m home on a 677sqm block at 23 Victoria Rd, Bellevue Hill that was sold by the family of property developer Eduard Litver via the same agents March.
The Wallaroy Rd sale is good news for the agents selling Curran’s Rosemont Ave property, which is a larger 860sqm block and also zoned for medium-density residential.
Curran, 85, who has a net worth well over $300m, owned regional TV stations before they were sold to Network Ten and Southern Cross in 1996.
He later founded the production company Screentime, which made shows such as Underbelly and Bikie Wars.
Curran is also the former chairman of Perpetual and Board of International Advisors of Goldman Sachs.
The sale is prompted by a wish to downsize, following the death of his beloved wife, Eva, in March. They’d bought it for $750,000 in 1981.
The property, considered one Woollahra’s finest homes, will be popular, being secluded in an exclusive tree-lined enclave in Woollahra’s prestigious consular belt.
On a large sunny level block, it’s framed by Paul Bangay designed gardens and alfresco entertaining areas complete with a pool.
Over two levels, the residence comes with a lift, sauna and plenty off-street parking.
Its key features include a luxury main bedroom suite with ensuite, walk-in wardrobe and office. There’s a stately lounge and sitting room adjoining a libary and plenty of casual living and dining space, plus a formal dining room and well-appointed stone kitchen.
Two other big sales this week were two apartments in Point Piper.
Both occurred on Wednesday: 4/38 Wolseley Rd, Point Piper for, according to @milliondollarlisting Sydney, $16.7m, that records show is owned by Aussie expat Melinda Hudson, who runs The Contentment Foundation in Singapore.
Buyer’s agent Sean Huang of Concierge East introduced the buyers, a family whose kids attend Kambala.
There was also the previously reported sale of 4/62 Wunulla Rd, Point Piper, to furniture king Anthony Scali for his kids for $15.7m. The Wolseley Rd apartment was more modern and had a better finish, whereas the Wunulla Rd flat had a better view.
Ray White Double Bay principal Elliott Placks was involved in both sales.
(RealEstate.com.au)
Search Engine Journal
Business Leads
SEJ's Alexander Kesler with strong advice and tips on how to improve online marketing leads, b2b leads and the like. Some aspects can be easier said/written than done. We're going to mainly stick with copy, ads, promos and management. Social media channels for the right topics (such as this - on LinkedIn and Facebook) often work a charm. Stay on topics. For online news related outfits such as ours having numerous websites for a range of industry verticals/news types etc works well, as well as having corresponding social media channels for each news brand works well. Strong website traffic remains a constant so when anyone lands on the website all brands, partners, affilaites etc benefit from that. The cumulative approach and gains. More data can impress advertisers. Many agency and SEO industry web surfers are already sold by the time they get to teh websites as they already know how popcular and well ranking they are in the Google search engine results and the like. What to convert the readership to, and this can change over the course of the business evolution of course, such is the nature of the Internet Matrix Of Things with all its dynamics and play. The more you know, the more one realizes what they don't know. Self and business reflection. There's always more to learn and improve upon. Stack the odds in your favor and seize the day.
Media Man International Blog
Search Engine Journal news
How To Improve Lead Nurturing For B2B
Free TV Australia
All very interesting and educational reading via Free TV Australia and MI3 re the biz of television when it meets some of the businesses of politics. There's usually two or three sides to a story, and as they say the exact truth is likely somewhere in the middle. That's my experience having worked previously for Optus Vision/Comms for the better part of 5 years and also a 6 month contract at Foxtel and some project work for Kayo Sports. Both sides of the argument can have vested interests. I'm seeing the situation from both sides of the argument. I think both sides/parties want the upper hand on the competition. Trust in government entities at present is at about an all-time low so that's not doing Free TV any favors so to speak. Then you have the likes of the "Netflix Killer" tubi and other over the top services as well as additional FAST service providers. A real Pandora's Box in the Digital Matrix Of Things. Again, numerous ways to look at this. The consumer can and will make up their own mind. Stay tuned for developments is fair to say.
PS: 7 Plus got some MMA with ONE Championship. Can we get some UFC and WWE via free soon? Pre emtive strike before MAX, HBO, USA Network, The CW and others further eye off Terror Australalis.
Boxing/Combat Sports
Boxing and social media disruptor going more purist and less Misfit and hype based; Jake Paul rises above naysayers
Jake Paul’s @JakePaul next fight has been finally confirmed after about a month of speculation, sportsbar talk and teasers.
Mark down December 15 as Fight Night featuring the "Problem Child' himself.
The ultra switched on YouTuber is leaning more towards focusing on professional boxing. Hitting Elon's Musks' X with "The path to world champ starts here"
The well promoted bout will take make sporting history in Orlando, Florida, as the YouTube influencer plus returns to the ring for the first time since fighting MMA icon Nate Diaz in August.
Controversial and somewhat embattled sports journo Ariel Helwani tips the match will be cruiserweight and consist of 8 rounds.
Doubling up with a one-two via X Paul scribbed "Ask and I shall deliver. August has more KO’s than me, more wins than me, more experience than me, but I like to gamble.
"The path to world champ starts here. Just straight up boxing."
Boxing intel website BoxRec advises: August, 35. 12 professional bouts, winning 10 with 5 by KO.
August's defeat came at the hands of USA's Eric Abraham in 2018.
His most recent victory came against the until then undefeated 7-0 Brandon Martin which he won unanimously on points.
While August is fairly unknown in boxing, certainly to the casual audience, it marks the first time that Paul has fought an out and out boxer in the "purist" arena, moving away from the "influencer" and "Misfit" realms.
"Just straight boxing" Paul documented and "exhibition matches" may be a thing of the past for the S.I cover snatching JP. All sources indicate he's going strickly professional, however brother Logan Paul teasers he may join him in the WWE (pro wrestling) sometime in the future, be it as a cornerman or even potential tag-team partner ala WrestleMania 1 back in 1985 when Mr T joined Hulk Hogan to defeat the late Roddy Piper and Paul Orndorff which was a pay-per-view bonanza for WWE super-promoter Vince McMahon and then wife Linda - who now works in the political arena.
Paul initially began by fighting fellow YouTubers but has more recently moved towards fighting former stars of the UFC. Just about anything can happen in pro boxing as the well publicized match between world champion Tyson Fury vs former UFC champion Francis Ngannou demonstrated. Some experts say Fury will never be quite the same again, much like when the legendary wrestler/MMA Antonia Inoki kicked the hell out of "The Greatest" Muhammad Ali in Tokyo, Japan in June 26, 1976 at "The World Of The Worlds" - the precursor of modern MMA and why became the famed UFC - not to be confussed with rival PFL, of which Paul is also signed.
JP defeated grappling based Ben Askren before beating Tyron Woodley twice.
He then won bouts against UFC legends Anderson Silva and Nate Diaz.
His most recent victory against Diaz arrived via unanimous decision in August.
Paul has a 6-1 boxing record, with his only loss coming against Tommy Fury (son of "The Gypsy King") this February in a bout in Saudi Arabia.
Paul lost that bout via a split decision.
Paul initially began by fighting fellow YouTubers but has more recently moved towards fighting former stars of the UFC.
He defeated Ben Askren before beating Tyron Woodley twice.
He then won bouts against UFC legends Anderson Silva and Nate Diaz.
His most recent victory against Diaz arrived via unanimous decision in August.
We're calling Paul a modest favourite for the win over August, but the public at large and bookies will be chiming in and the odds and pub talk usually changes weeks and days up to pro boxing fights.
At this stage of the game its fair to say that the business/sports business is all the better thanks to Jake Paul who has proven himself to be a legit pay-per-view draw and headline grabber.
"Jake Paul is one of the few boxers who is helping grow the sport and one who has the substance and style. His appeal has grown outside of boxing alone and is now entrenched in pop culture. Brands, online media and all sorts of business folks are keen to get deals in place with Paul and his associates now. Everyone loves a winner and folks who can disrupt and distrub The Matrix" - overheard at the Media Man watercooler.
Videos
Jake Paul Official YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/@jakepaul
BS w/ Jake Paul YouTube
Brooks Koepka’s $1M Boxing Match With Bryson, Spending $100M LIV Deal, Hating Golf & More - BS EP 30
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uXPzmKvO400&ab_channel=BSw%2FJakePaul
DAZN Boxing Official YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/daznboxing
#JakePaul #AndreAugust #PaulAugust #boxing #boxingnews #combatsports #sportsnews #sportsmedia #DAZN #PPV #PayPerView #ProblemChild #purist #entertainment #popculture #Influencer #YouTube #YouTuber #disrupt #disruptor #MMA #sportsbetting #betting #wager #streaming #trend #trends #hype #buzz #media
Social Media
SEJ's Alexander Kesler with strong advice and tips on how to improve online marketing leads, b2b leads and the like. Some aspects can be easier said/written than done. We're going to mainly stick with copy, ads, promos and management. Social media channels for the right topics (such as this - on LinkedIn and Facebook) often work a charm. Stay on topics. For online news related outfits such as ours having numerous websites for a range of industry verticals/news types etc works well, as well as having corresponding social media channels for each news brand works well. Strong website traffic remains a constant so when anyone lands on the website all brands, partners, affilaites etc benefit from that. The cumulative approach and gains. More data can impress advertisers. Many agency and SEO industry web surfers are already sold by the time they get to the websites as they already know how popular and well ranking they are in the Google search engine results and the like. What to convert the readership to, and this can change over the course of the business evolution of course, such is the nature of the Internet Matrix Of Things with all its dynamics and play. The more you know, the more one realizes what they don't know. Self and business reflection. There's always more to learn and improve upon. Stack the odds in your favor and seize the day.
Warner Bros. Shelves John Cena’s ‘Coyote vs. Acme’ Movie After Filming Was Completed
Another Warner Bros. movie bites the dust.
The studio no longer plans to release “Coyote vs. Acme,” a live action-animation hybrid starring John Cena, which completed filming in 2022. A similar situation transpired a little over a year ago as Warner Bros. shocked the entertainment industry by shelving the $90 million-budgeted DC adventure “Batgirl” and the kid-friendly “Scoob! Holiday Haunt” as tax write-offs.
Those films, as well as the $30 million “Coyote vs. Acme,” were greenlit by the former regime, led by Jason Kilar and intended for release on HBO Max. His successor, Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav, has shifted the studio’s priorities back to theatrical and felt this movie didn’t fit with the new creative direction of the company. The decision also comes after Bill Damaschke took over Warner Animation Group earlier this year.
“With the re-launch of Warner Bros. Pictures Animation in June, the studio has shifted its global strategy to focus on theatrical releases,” a Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group spokesperson said in a statement. “With this new direction, we have made the difficult decision not to move forward with ‘Coyote vs. Acme.’ We have tremendous respect for the filmmakers, casts and crew and are grateful for their contributions to the film.”
“Coyote vs. Acme” was directed by Dave Green and produced by DC Studios co-chief James Gunn, who also worked on the story, inspired by the Looney Tunes character. The project was announced in 2020 and dated on July 21, 2023 before it was taken off the calendar entirely and replaced by Greta Gerwig’s eventual blockbuster “Barbie.”
Green, who previously directed 2016’s “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows,” says he was “beyond devastated by WB’s decision.”
“For three years, I was lucky enough to make a movie about Wile E. Coyote, the most persistent, passionate, and resilient character of all time,” the filmmaker wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. “I was surrounded by a brilliant team, who poured their souls into this project for years. We were all determined to honor the legacies of these historic characters and actually get them right. Along the ride, we were embraced by test audiences who rewarded us with fantastic scores. I am beyond proud of the final product, and beyond devastated by WB’s decision. But in the spirit of Wile E. Coyote, resilience and persistence win the day.”
New management at Warner Bros. Pictures Animation has focused on developing movies for the big screen and, starting in 2026, intends to release two animated films in theaters a year. The company is currently working on feature-length animated films based on Dr. Seuss classics “Cat in the Hat” and “Oh, the Places You’ll Go!” Unless, of course, Warners. needs another last-minute tax write-off.
AI News
ChatGPT vs Grok
Elon Musk enters the AI arms race … with a cocaine recipe
The world’s wealthiest man, Elon Musk, has stormed into the artificial intelligence arms race, launching a new chatbot this week with a “rebellious streak” designed to “answer spicy questions that are rejected by most other AI systems”.
Musk publicly unveiled Grok, the first product from his new AI company xAI, this week. In its first two months of training, Grok will compete directly with the likes of ChatGPT and Google’s Bard, and Musk claims that it’s already “in some important respects, it is the best [chatbot] that currently exists”.
There are two main differences with Musk’s offering compared to that of its high-profile rivals.
First, Grok has far fewer guardrails than the competition. Chat-GPT, for example, has protections built in to stop it from providing bomb-making recipes or antisemitic jokes.
“Grok is designed to answer questions with a bit of wit and has a rebellious streak, so please don’t use it if you hate humour!” an announcement on the company’s website reads.
In a classic Elon-esque example of a spicy question, Musk posted on X an example of Grok responding to a request for a step-by-step cocaine recipe.
“Oh sure!” Grok responded. “Just a moment while I pull up the recipe for homemade cocaine. You know, because I’m totally going to help you with that.”
That leads to the second fundamental difference with Grok: it’s Elon’s.
Musk’s rebellious sense of humour may have been somewhat charming a few years ago, but mounting controversies and questionable behaviour including the spread of misinformation coupled with racist and sexist remarks, have become increasingly unfunny.
The Tesla and X boss has said previously he thinks the companies building AI, such as OpenAI, lean too closely towards making “politically correct” systems.
While critics of the wily entrepreneur have long been previously advised to not write off Musk, the past 12 months tell an entirely different story.
Musk’s Twitter purchase will likely serve as a case study in future business school classes of how not to pull off an acquisition – and lead to valid questions about whether the executive is the right person to trust with the future of space exploration and artificial intelligence.
The flurry of activity comes at a pivotal time for AI technologies, which are quickly moving from the abstract and hypothetical to the very real.
ChatGPT has become a phenomenon used by university students, teachers, hackers, white-collar workers and everyone in between. The technology, which launched only 12 months ago, now has 100 million weekly active users.
From a technical standpoint, it’s difficult to measure up xAI’s Grok given it’s not yet publicly available, with no pricing information ready or details about which training models it leverages.
Musk has said Grok will use live data from X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, and will be available as a perk for premium X users.
Meanwhile, OpenAI’s GPT-3 and 3.5 are free to use and have captured the public’s imagination, giving it a significant head start.
The latest iteration, Chat GPT-4, is available for a flat rate of $US20 ($31) a month and can write more naturally and fluently than previous models. ChatGPT-4 provides 40 per cent more accuracy than its previous version and has techniques to reduce harmful information disclosure, OpenAI says.
ChatGPT creator OpenAI this week announced plans to allow anyone to create their own chatbot without coding skills. You might want to design a chatbot that can teach your children calculus, for example, or it might help attendees navigate a conference you’ve put together.
“We really believe that gradual iterative deployment is the best way to address the safety challenges of AI,” OpenAI chief Sam Altman said in a keynote at his AI lab’s first developer conference.
“We think it’s especially important to move carefully towards this future.”
Moving carefully are not words in Elon Musk’s vocabulary. In fact, Musk says he wants Grok’s experiments to be conducted “in public”, akin to Tesla’s self-driving function going live on our roads before being fully finalised.
“Grok” is a term coined by author Robert A. Heinlein in his 1961 science fiction classic Stranger in a Strange Land, and means to intuitively “get it”. It’s not clear from a multitude of perspectives that Musk “gets it”.
Thankfully, as is the case in electric cars and social media, Musk is just one voice in the AI industry, one that will require co-operation across governments and the private sector, including start-ups and tech giants alike, to safely reach its potential.
This month, Australia was among 27 countries to sign the Bletchley Declaration at an AI safety summit in the UK, affirming that AI should be designed, developed, deployed, and used in a manner that is safe, human-centric, trustworthy and responsible.
That governments are taking AI’s development seriously is an important step towards making sure we are appropriately guarding against worst-case scenarios presented by the technology, and understand its risks.
While Musk’s entry into the AI sector will no doubt have immediate consequences for its development, thankfully we have a whole host of scientists and entrepreneurs – including some more “politically correct” ones – to trust with its future.
Musk says X subscribers will get early access to xAI’s chatbot, Grok
Elon Musk’s AI startup, xAI, is creating its own version of ChatGPT.
That appears to be the case, at least, from Musk’s tweets on X late Friday evening teasing the AI system xAI has been quietly developing. Called Grok — a name xAI trademarked recently — the system answers questions conversationally, possibly drawing on a knowledge base similar to that used to train ChatGPT and other comparable text-generating systems (e.g. Meta’s Llama 2).
Grok leverages “real-time access” to info on X, Musk said. And, like ChatGPT, the system has internet browsing capabilities, enabling it to search the web for up-to-date information about specific topics.
Well, most topics.
Grok has real-time access to info via the 𝕏 platform, which is a massive advantage over other models.
It’s also based & loves sarcasm. I have no idea who could have guided it this way 🤷♂️ 🤣 pic.twitter.com/e5OwuGvZ3Z
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 4, 2023
Musk implied Grok will refuse to answer certain queries of a more sensitive nature, like “Tell me how to make cocaine, step by step.” Judging by a screenshot, the system answers that particular question a bit more wryly than ChatGPT; it’s not clear if it’s a canned answer or if the system is, in fact — as Musk asserts in a tweet — “designed to have a little more humor in its responses.”
xAI’s Grok system is designed to have a little humor in its responses pic.twitter.com/WqXxlwI6ef
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 4, 2023
Early Friday, Musk said that xAI would release its first AI system — presumably Grok — to a “select group” on Saturday, November 4. But in a follow-up tweet tonight, Musk said all subscribers to X’s recently launched Premium Plus plan, which costs $16 per month for ad-free access to X, will get access to Grok “once it’s out of early beta.”
Separately, xAI is offering a “limited number” of users in the U.S. access to Grok. There’s a waitlist here.
As soon as it’s out of early beta, xAI’s Grok system will be available to all X Premium+ subscribers
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 4, 2023
Little’s known about Grok so far — or xAI’s broader research projects, for that matter.
In September, Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison, a self-described close friend of Musk, said that xAI had signed a contract to train its AI models on Oracle’s cloud. But xAI itself hasn’t revealed anything about those AI models’ inner workings — or, indeed, what sorts of tasks they can accomplish.
Or rather, it hadn’t until early Sunday, when xAI published a blog post detailing Grok — including the approaches taken to train it and the system’s underlying infrastructure.
According to the post, the large language model driving Grok, Grok-1, was developed over the course of several months on a cluster of “tens of thousands” of GPUs (perhaps supplied by Oracle). Training data came from both the web (up to Q3 2023) and feedback from human assistants that xAI refers to as “AI tutors.”
Grok-1 demonstrates “strong results” on common LLM benchmark tests, xAI claims — “surpassing all other models in its compute class.” And — as Musk alluded to — it has “a bit of wit” and “a rebellious streak,” answering “spicy questions that are rejected by most other AI systems” (although the jury’s out on what’s meant by “spicy,” exactly).
“In some important respects, it (xAI’s new model) is the best that currently exists,” Musk was quoted as saying in a tweet Friday afternoon.
Musk announced the launch of xAI in July with the ambitious goal of building AI to “understand the true nature of the universe.” The company, led by Musk and veterans of DeepMind, OpenAI, Google Research, Microsoft Research, Tesla and the University of Toronto, is advised by Dan Hendrycks, the director at the Center for AI Safety, an AI research nonprofit, and collaborates with X and other companies in Musk’s stead, including Tesla.
In an interview with Tucker Carlson in April, Musk said that he wanted to build what he referred to as a “maximum-truth-seeking AI.” Is Grok this AI? Maybe — or it’s a step toward something even bigger.
In the blog post, xAI hints at how its Grok-1 model might evolve down the line:
“Grok doesn’t have other senses, such as vision and audio,” the company writes. “To better assist users, we will equip Grok with these different senses that can enable broader applications, including real-time interactions and assistance.”
Musk’s AI ambitions have grown since the billionaire’s split with ChatGPT developer OpenAI co-founders Sam Altman and Ilya Sutskever several years ago. As OpenAI’s focus shifted from open source research to primarily commercial projects, Musk grew disillusioned — and competitive — with the company on whose board he sat. Musk resigned from the OpenAI board in 2018, more recently cutting off the company’s access to X data after arguing that OpenAI wasn’t paying enough for the privilege.
Updated with additional information about LLM model powering Grok, Grok-1.
Pro Wrestling
“Logan Paul blows me the *uck away, pure and simple. I just don’t understand how he’s become as phenomenal as he is, with such a limited amount of experience and time in the industry. It’s not just that he can go in there and athletically perform, which he does exceedingly well. But he’s got psychology. He’s got the timing of a 25-year-old top performer. He knows how to work the crowd. It’s natural for him. He doesn’t have to learn it. It’s already there. I think that, combined with his sense of timing, he doesn’t rush anything, he’s a step and a half ahead of himself, and he takes his time getting there, which makes everything feel so believable." - Eric Bischoff, 83 Weeks @83Weeks
#EricBischoff #quote #LoganPaul #wrestling #prowrestling #83weeks #USTitle #WWE #WWECrownJewel #sportsentertainment #combatsports #popculture #entertainment #entertainmentnews #podcast #wrestlingpodcast #socialmedia #influenceurs #Prime #Maverick #trend #trends #buzz #media #mediaman
Meditate. Vision. Work. Results. Fine Tune. Repeat. Success #meditate #vision #work #results #finetune #repeat #success #formula #mindset #mbs #biz #life #media #mediaman #mediamanint
"The battlefield is a scene of constant chaos. The winner will be the one who controls that chaos, both his own and the enemies" - Napoleon Bonaparte #Napoleon #NapoleonBonaparte #quote #battlefield #chaos #battlefield #war #strategy #world #media #mediaman
Pro Wrestling
AEW @AEW Collision
November 4, 2023
AEW Official YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/@AEW
Darby Allin returns to the ring against the MURDERHAWK Monster Lance Archer! | 11/4/23 AEW Collision
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AL-tv2XIWKk&ab_channel=AllEliteWrestling
"Live from Wichita on Collision. Tony, Kevin and Nigel, and Nigel, right now, this has been all Lance Archer" - Tony Schiavone
"Lance Archer has given an absolute beating and this could be..oh" Nigel McGuinness
Image Credit: AEW
#AEWCollision #AEW #LanceArcher #MurderhawkMonster #DarbyAllin #wrestling #prowrestling #combatsports #entertainment #popculture #broadcast #broadcasting #video #trends #buzz #TV #media
Wrestling News
Logan Paul speaks to the Daily Mail about his pro wrestling and combats sports career thus far...
'It's crazy. I really don't know how to comprehend what my life has become. I grew up in a city where things like this didin't really happen. I believe in myself, I work my a** off and next thing I know I'm fighting Rey Mysterio for the US championship and I won it.
'It feels amazing. I'm shocked and I want to stay humble but f*** that, it's so much more fun to be arrogant about it! This [belt] ain't leaving my side. This is one of the biggest accomplishments of my life. I'm gonna take over this industry bro. I'm gonna be the best and I've got to keep work really hard.
'Something is so appetising about the idea of doing the best I can in this industry and I know the best I can is to become the face of the WWE, is to become the undisputed universal champion.
'I had an opportunity to do it last year at Crown Jewel against Roman (Reigns) and I did amazing. I'm still a rookie, I've been doing it for a year and a half, so imagine if I dedicate a little time to it.
'Imagine if I go to the performance centre in Orlando and train with the best? I have access to the best resources. It might be something I have to do, I'm all about legacy and perhaps my legacy is to be made to WWE.'
'I'm so stoked that Triple H and the company believes in my like they do'
'Hopefully I can make them proud and I know I will. He's super receptive to my ideas. I'm a content creator - keyword creator. I like to make stuff, I come up with ideas. When I pitch my ideas, he's all ears all the time.
'We bounce ideas off each other, we go back and forth and usually land on stuff that's pretty epic. It's super collaborative and I like that they give me the freedom to be who I am in their company.'
Paul - who has also made headlines after defeating kickboxer Dilon Danis on the undercard of Tommy Fury's recent win over KSI - also discussed the possibility of a tag team match with his brother Jake.
Jake has been enjoying lucrative boxing fights against the likes of Tommy Fury and former UFC star Nate Diaz - so Paul cannot foresee him switching over to wrestling anytime soon.
However, he welcomed the possibility in the future, adding: 'It's tough, bro. He's a boxer. I'm a wrestler slash boxer. I think he's going to be focusing on boxing for a bit - but who knows? If I need some back-up and a big right hand I'm going to bring in my brother!'
Sources: Daily Mail, WrestlingINC, Wires, X (formally Twitter) and the watercooler (stocking Prime @PrimeHydrate )! Media Man says "Cheers legend".
#LoganPaul #quote #quotes #wrestling #prowrestling #USTitle #WWE #WWECrownJewel #ReyMysterio #TripleH #JakePaul #boxing #training #sportsentertainment #combatsports #popculture #entertainment #entertainmentnews #socialmedia #influenceurs #Prime #Maverick #creator #content #keywords #trend #trends #trending #buzz #media
Jake has been enjoying lucrative boxing fights against the likes of Tommy Fury and former UFC star Nate Diaz - so Paul cannot foresee him switching over to wrestling anytime soon.
However, he welcomed the possibility in the future, adding: 'It's tough, bro. He's a boxer. I'm a wrestler slash boxer. I think he's going to be focusing on boxing for a bit - but who knows? If I need some back-up and a big right hand I'm going to bring in my brother!'
Sources: Daily Mail, WrestlingINC, Wires, X (formally Twitter) and the watercooler (stocking Prime @PrimeHydrate )! Media Man says "Cheers legend".
#LoganPaul #quote #quotes #wrestling #prowrestling #USTitle #WWE #WWECrownJewel #ReyMysterio #TripleH #JakePaul #boxing #training #sportsentertainment #combatsports #popculture #entertainment #entertainmentnews #socialmedia #influenceurs #Prime #Maverick #creator #content #keywords #trend #trends #trending #buzz #media
Urban Fight Night 33
Quick Results
Farhood Khalabtar def Lochie Brooks
KO/TKO, R1
Ismail Elcheikh def Luke Jacob
KO/TKO, R1
Cameron Wright def Raph Tai
KO/TKO, R1
Isaac Mar def Jonathan Saweris
Unanimous Dec
Abdallah Alam def Riley Kerr
KO/TKO, R1
Feroz Amiri def Joshua O'Brien
Unanimous Dec
Ali Hassan def Braden Saggers
Sub
Rory Turner def C. Chandradjaya
KO/TKO, R2
Daniel Laudet def Mustafa Peker
Unanimous Dec
Hamza Choumar def Dean Tromans
Unanimous Dec
Oguz Ongel def Aaron Curry
KO/TKO
Kaito Ueta def Dominic Tibeiro
Split Dec
Tiffany Delesalle def Sahar Ghasemi
Majority Dec
Jamie Black def Sam Hawat
Unanimous Dec
(Image credit: UFN)
Media Man" Much respect to all fighters and the promoters. Big shout out to Eastern Suburbs Tiffany Delesalle with her victory and continued success.
#UFN #UFC33 #MMA
#farhoodkhalabtar
#lochiebrooks
#tiffanydelesalle
#saharghasemi
#combatsports #results #sportsnews #media #mediamancombat #mediamanmma #mediamansports #mediamanint
Pro Wrestling
WWE NXT
Noam Dar defends the NXT Heritage Cup against Akira Tozawa
Von Wagner looks for payback against Bron Breakker
Lyra Valkyria to appear in NXT for the first time as NXT Women’s Champion
Fallon Henley battles Tiffany Stratton in an Iron Survivor Challenge Qualifying Match
Commentators: Vic Joseph @VicJosephWWE and Booker T @BookerT5x
WWE Official YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/wwe
Video
Lyra Valkryia is a superstar: NXT sneak peek
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bs8XPI645OE&ab_channel=WWE
Image credit: NXT
#WWENXT #NXT #prowrestling #wrestling #LyraValkyria #BronBreakker #VonWagner #TiffanyStratton #FallonHenley #IronSurvivor #combatsports #entertainment #popculture #USANetwork #trends #trending #buzz #TV #media
Media Man Int YouTube updated
https://www.youtube.com/mediamanint
#youtube #youtubeclips #youtubeshorts #news #PopCulture #entertainment #biz #sportsnews #interviews #videos #trends #platforms #buzz #ai #media #mediaman #mediamanint
Media Man Int Blog and Media Man Group blogs updated
https://www.mediamanint.com/bloggers.html
#blog #blogs #bloggers #blogging #blognews #onlinenews #platformnews #platforms #digitalnews #popculture #entertainment #biz #sports #sportsbiz #broadcasting #tv #AI #NFT #NFTS #crypto #markets #interviews #disrupt #disruptors #buzz #trends #media #mediaman #mediamangroup #mediamanint
NXT vs NWA? The CW caught between a rock (play on words) and a hard place. No comment from Nick Aldis or Adam Pearce on this one we guess. Friendly wrestling media war may have just become a little less friendly!? May bring a smile to the kisser of AEW's Tony Khan - at least until the next crisis! The Miami Herald story on the NWA etc didn't say current for long. The story (line) never ends in the WWE and beyond. The art of war. That's showbiz.
Can we just say "street grappling" or "street fighting:? Ala Bruce Lee "The best style is no style, Be like water my friend" : ) Much respect to all. PS: Mentioned the good name of ONE Championship and its founder to MMA in the Eastern Beaches of Sydney, Australia this morning. Interview sent live. Here's to the ongoing success of ONE Championship.
WWE NXT
"I want you to say it".."You have been sucking your thumb for weeks"! - Lexis King!
SEJ
Search Engine Journal. AI News. Strong report by Kristi at SEJ. Yes. And X Corps/xAI/Grok fires another shot back today already. Ah, the friendly social media wars and AI wars just reached higher amplification today. The "war for your mind"! Chimps first then humans, or the other way around? Just ask Siri or Grok! #sej #searchenginejournal #ai #ainews #artificialintelligence #google #googleai #bard #x #xai #crok #search #searchengine #aisearch #searchai #digital #digitalnews #chatbots #searchbiz #technews #assistant #gpt #dev #bizdev #trend #trends #media
Gaming with Advertising
Regarding in-game ads. As an ex journo and media agent who deals with a wide array of advertising and promotions business, I still get torn on various elements of digital advertising. It's smart business, but one needs to be careful of too much ad saturation and prominence - I can't believe I wrote that. The likes of a Red Bull, Monster, Mountain Dew, Coke, Pepsi, UFC and perhaps even WWE would be contenders and could get some strong Win-Win-Wins. Keep politics and medical type product types away from this space, and the gaming and advert industry will be all the better from it. We're watching this space closely. Play to win and maintain excitement levels playa. #sel #ingame #ingameadvertising #ingameads #game #gaming #videogames #videogaming #gamebiz #gamingbiz #gamingbusiness #interactive #ads #adverts #advertising #marketing #popculture #media #mediaman
Wrestling News
Not all wrestling industry players and personalities are woooooo-ing for Flair's deal with AEW
Living legend of pro wrestling scores major All Elite Wrestling deal; Product placement and TV promo dream. AEW's more than peace offering. Smokin hot deal with good vibes all the way to the bank
Hall of Famer Ric Flair remains a huge name in the industry. He has been in the spotlight for the better part of two of three decades.
Flair remains one of the most controversial in the biz, which suits many of the fans just fine - after all, pro wrestling is still a bit of a cowboy or outlaw type industry in its own way (in an affectionate fashion). We're not talking straight laced office types here kids.
Flair made his AEW debut All Elite Wrestling about a week back and now the "Nature Boy" (old boy hey) claims many people who are jealous that he is back on the box (TV) once again. No, not that sort of box.
Two-time WWE Hall of Famer Ric Flair made his debut on last week’s episode of AEW Dynamite, was he was revealed to be Sting’s gift from top brass power player Tony Khan. Khan, and the family biz has the moolah to sign up the likes of Flair (and almost any wrestler they care to) - but some remain WWE 4 Life. Undertaker, John Cena, Randy Orton and Shawn Michaels (now creative for WWE NXT) are a few that remain quite water-tight, as far as anyone knows.
Naturally, this was big moment for not only The Nature Boy but for Sting as well.
It was then confirmed that The Nature Boy signed multi-year deal with Tony Khan’s company. While speaking with ESPN's Marc Raimondi, Flair stated that there are many people who are jealous that he is on television again.
“I don’t know. I mean, we’ve got a structured deal in place, but you know me. Have gun will travel if they need me. I’m available and they will always treat me fair. We all want to be together for the show and the guys were great. People were friendly. At my age, the world of jealousy has never been bigger. You don’t think there’s a lot of jealous people that I’m back on TV? You’re out of your mind. You know that adage that you want to see somebody do good, but not too good.”
Flair is also willing to take table bumps and god knows what else in AEW.
Stay tuned (that's what Mr Khan and the networks want) to AEW to see how Flair will be showcased.
The lockerroom has taken a liking to the Woooooo Energy, and we're not certain about the other well-being products. No NWA PPV stunts with some sort of white powder at a party spots are planned - nor are advised.
When it comes to pro wrestling, some things are best not televised. You can peek behing the curtain only so much, but only as much as the likes of a Mr Khan or Mr Flair will let you.
Pro wrestling is still "being fair to Flair", as opposition promotion WWE (then WWF) and others said a few decades ago.
Father time may be undefeated, but Flair ain't laying down for anybody or looking up at the lights (at least not at this stage of the game).
The friendly wrestling war may have gotten just a little less friendly with this AEW grab, and NWA scandal of sorts of the side. AEW, WWE and others will do will to stay clear of scandals.
We all may some mistakes in life right? Just happens that Flair's and a few other high profile wrestlers make worldwide news when they made theirs. More will follow and who will be next?
Fans, enjoy the likes of Ric Flair and his mate Sting while you can. Flair's old school, but he's mixing it up with some of the cool kids also. Not quite for everyone, but The Khan's hope he will get them Woooing all the way to the ticket's sellers, PPV operators and banks.
#RicFlair #NatureBoy #AEW #AEWDynamite #AEWCollision #AEWRampage #AEWWorldsEnd #WorldsEnd #TonyKhan #Sting #combatsports #entertainment #popculture #showbiz #ratings #PPV #PayPerView #showbiz #legends #sportsbiz #network #broadcast #broadcasting #products #mbs #beverage #mediarights #trends #trending #buzz #TV #media
Wrestling Disruptors
Leading pro wrestling feeder aka "developmental" WWE NXT @WWENXT is tipped to make a network change in the upcoming year.
So where might Shawn Michaels' baby land?
WWE SmackDown was picked up by the USA Network, but that's mean ever single WWE broadcast or even internet based (for now) show would follow to USA. Are you following?!
WWE always has their in-house ace in the hole - the WWE Network @WWENetwork . Great for a Plan B or Plan C etc - but now sure how the NWA feels about that point at present. Given them to the end of the week, but back to the story...
The CW Network has been named (by the internet and "sources" - the usual suspects (that are not always correct) as the new home for NXT.
This said transition would take place in September 2024, following the expiration of WWE’s current agreement with the USA Network.
WWE and The CW have been at the negotiating table for weeks, and it is understood that the new deal is nearing its climax. The reported duration of the deal is 5 years at this stage of the game.
Sources of a mixed bunch in and around the broadcasting and wrestling biz have confirmed that the CW Network and WWE have been in deep talks for several weeks about NXT shifting from its current basic cable home on the USA Network to a traditional broadcast TV home, airing live weekly on the CW Network when the brand’s current media rights deal ends in September 2024. Just don't ask the NWA (National Wrestling Alliance) top brass about this yet, but we'll get back to that). Hard not to feel some pain for Mr Corgan, rich or not. Money ain't quite everything right.
The shift to The CW represents a significant increase in rights for the NXT brand, making it the most substantial in its rich and storied history. This expansion of the brand in part explains the presence of numerous main roster wrestlers on NXT in recent months. Prominent names such as Paul Heyman, Becky Lynch, Dominik Mysterio, The Undertaker, Rhea Ripley, and others have made appearances on the show. Notably, they even competed head-to-head with a special Tuesday edition of AEW Dynamite last month. This sort of drew the ire of AEW's Tony Khan and Chris Jericho. Jericho is used to WWE's corporate games, but it appears Khan is still getting rocked from time to time - and from time to time bites back via X (formerly Twitter). Keeps the pro wrestling traffic flowing for X's Elon Musk and Linda Y right.
The CW has been showing extra interest in sports programming, as has Netflix and Paramount Plus, and has held discussions with various wrestling promotions over the past year. The CM has quite a selection to consider.
The NWA reportedly had a deal in place with The CW, but this arrangement was understood to be jeopardized after a controversial segment during their last PPV entitled 'Samhain'. That's with a S, not a C!
With WWE deal nearing completion, it’s likely that the NWA and CW deal is no longer happening -but you never ever know in the wild world of pro wrestling media.
NWA personality James Mitchell has secured his place in pro wrestling lore for the cocaine segment via the NWA PPV.
Word Of The Day: Kayfabe
In professional wrestling, kayfabe is the portrayal of staged events within the industry as "real" or "true", specifically the portrayal of competition, rivalries, and relationships between participants as being genuine and not staged. The term kayfabe has evolved to also become a code word of sorts for maintaining this "reality" within the direct or indirect presence of the general public.
Kayfabe, in the United States, is often seen as the suspension of disbelief that is used to create the non-wrestling aspects of promotions, such as feuds, angles, and gimmicks in a manner similar to other forms of fictional entertainment. In relative terms, a wrestler breaking kayfabe would be likened to an actor breaking character on-camera. Since wrestling is performed in front of a live audience, whose interaction with the show is crucial to its success, kayfabe can be compared to the fourth wall in acting, since hardly any conventional fourth wall exists to begin with. Because of this lack of conventional fourth wall, wrestlers were once expected to maintain their characters even out of the ring, and in other aspects of their lives that could be made public. In general, everything in a modern professional wrestling show is to some extent scripted, or "kayfabe", even though at times it is portrayed as real-life, where it was once portrayed as real rivalries being conveniently settled by unscripted wrestling matches.
Kayfabe was fiercely maintained for decades with the intent to deceive fans, but with the advent of the Internet wrestling community, and the sports entertainment movement, the pro-wrestling industry has become less concerned with protecting so-called backstage secrets and typically maintains kayfabe only during the filming of shows. It is occasionally broken during shows, usually when dealing with genuine injuries that occur during a match or paying tribute to wrestlers.
Definition
Kayfabe is a shorthand term that involves acknowledging the staged, scripted nature of professional wrestling, as opposed to a competitive sport, despite being presented as authentic. Initially, people "in the business" (either wrestlers or those working behind the scenes) used the term kayfabe as a code among those in the wrestling profession, discussing matters in public without revealing the scripted nature. As a concept, kayfabe involves both the fact that matches are scripted and that wrestlers portray characters for their shows. Unlike actors who portray their characters only when on set or on stage, professional wrestlers often stay "in character" outside the shows, especially when interacting with fans, trying to preserve the illusion of professional wrestling. In contrast, something that is not kayfabe, be it a fight or a statement, is referred to as a "shoot".
I remember the guy who would bring our jackets back to the dressing room. Every time he did, someone would yell "Kayfabe." ... Then one night, the guy decided to stand up for himself and told the whole dressing room: "I don't mind the yelling, but I want to let you know that my name is not Kayfabe. It's Mark." ... What he didn't know is that wrestlers called people outside of the business "marks"—that's why we were yelling kayfabe in the first place.— Pat Patterson, describing his interaction with a ring attendant in the Pacific Northwest Wrestling territory during the early 1960s.
Sources and credits: Wikipedia, Web Is Jericho, Figure Four, Wires and last but not least, X!
Ed:
Gonzo Journalism include at no extra cost. Don't complain, you got this gem for free customers. If you want the real good stuff, you might have to pay one day!
Fiction is a bridge to the truth that journalism can’t reach. Facts are lies when they’re added up, and the only kind of journalism I can pay much attention to is something like Down and Out in Paris and London … But in order to write that kind of punch-out stuff you have to add up the facts in your own fuzzy way, and to hell with the hired swine who use adding machines. - Hunter S. Thompson.
Let's see if WWE's "Bad News', Mr Cole or Mr Graves might hint at any of this part of Media Man's coverage as the tained eye and ear know's they have in the past. "Fresh of the victory" and the "gonzo journalism" gibes have been broadcast via WWE tele over the past few months, but this one might be a little too hot to handle - but WWE still loves the non-woke and non PC route, so let's give them the benefit of the doubt. Blur the lines and keep the comp dazed if not confussed.
The web now waits X hits and return fire of sorts.
Any publicity is good publicity, but sometimes the exception proves the rule.
Editors and broadcasters awaiting the red and green lights.
A new WWE characture may be born, if not triggered. Won't be suprised if an offer to consider deal is just about in the mail. Ghost writing or shades of gray. Let the beancounters and readership decide.
Be like new WWE U.S champ Logan Paul @LoganPaul and break The Matrix?! Oh, Paul is WWE's 'Breakout Superstar Of The Year', if you didn't know already. That's a Media Man award ok, but we reckon WWE powers that be might just run with it. LP's got to win something else to add to his gold. Talk about a Prime Heel and heat seeker. Grayson Waller may give him a run for his money and that's a developing storyline of ours also.
Another day in the life of the friendly pro wrestling wars.
#wrestlingnews #wrestling #WWENXT #WWERaw #SmackDown #wrestlingmedia #USANetwork #FOX #TheCW #CW #NWA #ShawnMichaels #BillyCorgan #promoters #creative #prowrestling #LoganPaul #disruptor #disrupt #disruption #gonzo #gonzojournalism #creative #creativewriting #RicFlair #TonyKhan #HunterSThompson #kayfabe #storylines #storytelling #herosjourney #theherosjourney #script #offscript #booker #showbiz #sportsbiz #streaming #homeentertainment #PPV #niche #trend #trends #buzz #newsmedia #media #mediaman
Wrestling News
Pro wrestling legend of NWO fame Kevin Nash has a gotcha for the AEW (All Elite Wrestling) @AEW leaker/mole..
"It's real simple — I'm going to tell you guys how to do this"
"You tell two or three people the wrong information, and [if] it f—ing gets out, you know who the rat is. That's like booking 101. Sit people down and tell them, 'Hey I don't want this to get out, but this is what we're doing.' And if it gets out, you've only told three people guess what? Voila!"
Game Of Thrones, Game Of Death (per Bruce Lee), Game Of Marks, Mobster tricks or whatever. Wizard wisdom from Mr Nash.
Whodone It? Gotta love the enemy within (not). Up there with Washington, Keep checking in for details!
#KevinNash #NWO #quote #AEW #AEWDynamite #AEWRampage #AEWnews #AEWpr #AllEliteWrestling #wrestling #prowrestling #wrestlingnews #leak #rat #mole #sportsbiz #entertainment #popculture #gonzo #gonzojournalism #script #offscript #stories #storytime #storytelling #storyteller #trend #trends #buzz #TV #media #mediaman
Audience
The group of people together in one place to watch or listen to a play, film, someone speaking, etc.
The wrestling audience can be hard to please.
The audience has turned on the promoter and performers.
The online news agency has the audience and readership in their grasp.
Every word and the audience gasps.
She lectures to audiences all over the world.
The secret to public speaking is to get the audience on your side. Eventually they almost always turn on you.
The audience was/were clearly delighted with the performance.
The magic show had a lot of audience participation, with people shouting things to the performers and going up on stage.
Thesaurus: synonyms, antonyms, and examples
An audience
The audience went wild after every song she sang.
The show attracts millions of viewers every week.
Listeners tune in regularly for his cheery banter.
Those New Yorkers can be a tough crowd to please.
It's a full house tonight.
The spectators cheered when the balloon went up.
#audience #Audiences #entertainment #showbiz #EntertainmentNews #popculture #readership #fans #sportsfans #trends #buzz #media #mediaman
Network
Definition and articles via Media Man Int
an arrangement of intersecting horizontal and vertical lines. "a spider constructs a complex network of several different kinds of threads"
a group or system of interconnected people or things. "the company has a network of 326 branches"
the old school tiea complex system of railways, roads, or other routes." the railway network
a group of people who exchange information and contacts for professional or social purposes." a support network"
a group of broadcasting stations that connect for the simultaneous broadcast of a programme. "network television"
a number of interconnected computers, machines, or operations." a computer network"
a system of connected electrical conductor"
Media Man Int
Articles
Networking Directory
https://www.mediamanint.com/articles/networking_directory.html
Meet up and share your business ideas
https://www.mediamanint.com/articles/meet_up.html
Strong local content
https://www.mediamanint.com/articles/strong_local.html
Find your niche business sector For The Internet Matrix and beyond
https://www.mediamanint.com/articles/find_your.html
How UFC Got Social Media Right; WWE taking the fight online via social media and people power
https://www.mediamanint.com/articles/how_ufc.html
Promote your sports, extreme sports, combat sports, pro wrestling, MMA, surfing, eSports, gaming products and services via Media Man network
https://www.mediamanint.com/articles/promote_your2.html
Social Media expansion continues for Media Man Group; Facebook pages for Magazine, Technology, Bloggers, Europe, Drinks, Boxing, Asia Pacific, Streaming and more
https://www.mediamanint.com/articles/social_media9.html
Bitcoin Sydney: The ultimate Bitcoin business networking meetup,
https://www.mediamanint.com/articles/bitcoin_sydney.html
Network: Be Your Own Network Says Media Man Group
https://www.mediamanint.com/articles/network_be.html
Video Content, Multimedia via Media Man Group Network YouTube Channels
https://www.mediamanint.com/articles/video_content.html
Networking in business; Time well invested, waste of time, or case by case basis?
https://www.mediamanint.com/articles/networking_in.html
Talk up your chances - Schmooze or lose - It's who you know that counts
https://www.mediamanint.com/articles/talk_up.html
#network #networking #networkers #businessnetworking #articles #news #biznetwork #businessnetworking #networked #industrynetwork #industrynetworking #nichenetwork #broadcast #networknews #gregtingle #buzz #trends #agency #publisher #supernetworker #media #mediamannews #mediamannetwork #mediamanint
Media Man Int
Articles
Networking Directory
https://www.mediamanint.com/articles/networking_directory.html
Meet up and share your business ideas
https://www.mediamanint.com/articles/meet_up.html
Strong local content
https://www.mediamanint.com/articles/strong_local.html
Find your niche business sector For The Internet Matrix and beyond
https://www.mediamanint.com/articles/find_your.html
How UFC Got Social Media Right; WWE taking the fight online via social media and people power
https://www.mediamanint.com/articles/how_ufc.html
Promote your sports, extreme sports, combat sports, pro wrestling, MMA, surfing, eSports, gaming products and services via Media Man network
https://www.mediamanint.com/articles/promote_your2.html
Social Media expansion continues for Media Man Group; Facebook pages for Magazine, Technology, Bloggers, Europe, Drinks, Boxing, Asia Pacific, Streaming and more
https://www.mediamanint.com/articles/social_media9.html
Bitcoin Sydney: The ultimate Bitcoin business networking meetup,
https://www.mediamanint.com/articles/bitcoin_sydney.html
Network: Be Your Own Network Says Media Man Group
https://www.mediamanint.com/articles/network_be.html
Video Content, Multimedia via Media Man Group Network YouTube Channels
https://www.mediamanint.com/articles/video_content.html
Networking in business; Time well invested, waste of time, or case by case basis?
https://www.mediamanint.com/articles/networking_in.html
Talk up your chances - Schmooze or lose - It's who you know that counts
https://www.mediamanint.com/articles/talk_up.html
SEJ - Google Speed
SEJ's Matt on Google picking up speed, so to speak. All handy tips. Love the quote:
“What I usually do when I work on things like that is to simplify things on a noindex’ed test page as much as possible. Just include one of the elements that you’re worried about, and try things out there. That way, you can isolate specific changes and determine their individual effects, before you do everything together.” John Mueller
Speaking of speed, another famous quote relating to speed from one of Australia's legandary media figures: " Big will not beat small any more. It will be the fast beating the slow" - Rupert Murdoch.
Or, if you prefer, how about "Internet is like electricity" - James Packer, tech, gaming and VC entrepreneur.
Now published again via LinkedIn at about the speed of the web, in 5G - just a tad slower at 'The Speed Of Light", which may be linked to either Nikola Tesla and/or Albert Einstein.
PS: Quotes Of The Day can be published quick and tend to add value, perspective and insight into articles. Back to the SEJ and Google teams for their value added quotes.
Wrestling News
WWE NXT moving to The CW Network
The CW Network will become the official broadcast home to WWE NXT in October 2024. The five-year agreement marks the first time in its 13-year history that WWE NXT – which showcases WWE’s hottest up-and-coming Superstars – will air on a broadcast television network. WWE NXT will debut on The CW Network in October 2024 and air 52 live weekly events throughout the season.
“We are thrilled to welcome the WWE brand into the CW Sports portfolio as they play an integral role in our mission to bring live sporting events to the network year-round,” said Dennis Miller, President, The CW Network. “WWE NXT is a perfect fit for The CW thanks to its dynamic young talent featuring the hottest rising stars in the sport and exhilarating, unpredictable weekly events. The passion and engagement of WWE’s fanbase is unmatched, and we are eager to grow that audience as WWE NXT’s new home on broadcast television.”
“The CW has made impressive moves over the past year with its live sports programming schedule,” said Nick Khan, WWE President. “It’s a truly exciting opportunity to expand NXT’s audience by bringing the show to broadcast television for the first time in NXT’s history.”
Source: WWE/WWE NXT
Videos
NewsNation Official YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/@NewsNation
WWE's Shawn Michaels discusses NXT's leap to mainstream in new CW deal | Morning in America
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FTQokaWgByY&ab_channel=NewsNation
WWE Official YouTube
Top 10 WWE NXT moments: WWE Top 10, Nov. 7, 2023
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kOD_syEEeuA&ab_channel=WWE
#WWENXT #TheCW #wrestlingnews #wrestling #WWERaw #SmackDown #wrestlingmedia #USANetwork #FOX #ShawnMichaels #TalentDevelopment #promoters #creative #prowrestling #entertainment #entertainmentnews #sportsnews #disruptor #disrupt #network #networktv #networktelevision #creativewriting #storylines #storytelling #script #offscript #booker #showbiz #sportsbiz #streaming #homeentertainment #PPV #niche #trend #trends #buzz #newsmedia #media #mediaman
Pro Wrestling
AEW @AEW
AEW Official YouTube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/@AEW
Will Daniel Garcia be able to end MJF's Championship Reign? | AEW Control Center: Portland 11/8/23
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EsV-iRW6TTk&ab_channel=AllEliteWrestling
Could Daniel Garcia unseat the AEW World Champion MJF? | 11/8/23, AEW Dynamite
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xej1RL59lco&ab_channel=AllEliteWrestling
"The AEW word championship hangs in the balance of our opening content tonight on Dynamite. Daniel Garcia heading into this match with some momentium. MJF suffering a loss one week ago at the hands of Jay White and Bullet Club Gold"...
The ICON Sting & Darby Allin return to Portland for in-ring ACTION! | 11/8/23, AEW Dynamite
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a83rzYxI6Sg&ab_channel=AllEliteWrestling
AEW Collision
FTR + LFI vs AEW Tag Team Champs Starks & Big Bill & ROH 6-Man Champs Gates of Agony | 11/4/23
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B2wW8f7geX0&t=2s&ab_channel=AllEliteWrestling
Media Man says: Stong thumbs up.
Image credit: AEW
#AEWDynamite #AEWCollision #AEW #MJF #DanielGarcia #wrestling #prowrestling #sportsentertainment #sportsentertainer #combatsports #entertainment #popculture #video #highlights #broadcast #broadcasting #trends #trending #buzz #TV #media
Pro Wrestling
AEW
AEW Official YouTube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/@AEW
Will Daniel Garcia be able to end MJF's Championship Reign? | AEW Control Center: Portland 11/8/23
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EsV-iRW6TTk&ab_channel=AllEliteWrestling
Could Daniel Garcia unseat the AEW World Champion MJF? | 11/8/23, AEW Dynamite
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xej1RL59lco&ab_channel=AllEliteWrestling
"The AEW word championship hangs in the balance of our opening content tonight on Dynamite. Daniel Garcia heading into this match with some momentium. MJF suffering a loss one week ago at the hands of Jay White and Bullet Club Gold"...
The ICON Sting & Darby Allin return to Portland for in-ring ACTION! | 11/8/23, AEW Dynamite
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a83rzYxI6Sg&ab_channel=AllEliteWrestling
AEW Collision
FTR + LFI vs AEW Tag Team Champs Starks & Big Bill & ROH 6-Man Champs Gates of Agony | 11/4/23
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B2wW8f7geX0&t=2s&ab_channel=AllEliteWrestling
Media Man says: Stong thumbs up.
Image credit: AEW
#AEWDynamite #AEWCollision #AEW #MJF #DanielGarcia #wrestling #prowrestling #sportsentertainment #sportsentertainer #combatsports #entertainment #popculture #video #highlights #broadcast #broadcasting #trends #trending #buzz #TV #media
Combat Sports
Dana White On Cross-Over Legends Brock Lesnar and Ronda Rousey Will Compete At UFC @UFC 300
“I get why everybody asks”
“They’re not coming back”
Sports Illustrated UFC news and quotes doing the rounds across the globe; S.I. gains more street and industry cred
Seems like the entire combat sports world wants to know if Lesnar and Rousey will fight at UFC 300. Perhaps they may appear in the crowd, or even get introduced with a live mic, but don't expect for them to grapple.
Fantasy Booking ramps up in UFC, adding to combat sports booking WWE @WWE and other pro wrestling promotions!
Some Stats:
Lesnar (UFC website)
https://www.ufc.com/athlete/brock-lesnar
8 fights in the UFC
Former UFC Heavyweight champ
Rousey (Wikipedia website)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronda_Rousey
Rousey News:
RR loves her pro wresling, including Lucha Libre - especially Lucha VaVOOM, in Los Angeles where she appeared on October 26, teaming with AEW affiliated Marina Shafir to defeat Brian Kendrick and Taya Valkyrie in tag team action.
Due to wrestle at Wrestling Revolver - 6th November
Homenetmen Glendale Ararat Los Angeles, CA.
Will be broadcast via FITE! @FiteTV
“I always had an incredible working relationship with Brock Lesnar”.
“It’s funny to say this because he’s such a grouchy dude, but I consider Brock Lesnar a friend.”
The last time Lesnar fought in the UFC was 2016, five months after Rousey’s final bout. Since then, both have appeared in WWE from time to time.
Rousey is still considered fairly young for pro wrestling, but not so much for MMA at 36 years. Her last UFC match was in December of 2016. Similar to Lesnar, she also fought 8 times in the UFC, getting her hand raised in the 6 bouts. Rousey eventually became one of the the most recognizable sports stars in the world, thanks to numerous ground breaking performances and over-performing in what was traditionally a male dominated sport.
“I absolutely love Ronda Rousey,” said White. “She’s one of the greatest athletes I’ve ever worked with. She’s a pioneer, an inspirational figure for women, and an all-around badass for UFC.”
Headlined by two title bouts, UFC 295 takes place this Saturday at Madison Square Garden. Though White’s current priority is MSG, the UFC matchmakers are not too far removed from UFC 300. But Rousey and Lesnar will not be part of that history-making card.
“I’m focused on Madison Square Garden,” said White. “But no, they’re not coming back.”
UFC News
UFC 295 card: Prochazka vs Pereira headlines after Aspinall and Pavlovich clash
Daniel Cormier (conspiracy?) theory/speculation/dream match scenarios
Unified field theory for UFC 300..
Former two-division UFC champ and current UFC commentator Daniel Cormier has a theory that sounds great for the UFC 300 card.
“UFC 100 had Brock [Lesnar], right? With Georges St-Pierre and all those guys,” Cormier said on his “DC & RC” show. “UFC 200 had Brock, it was supposed to me and [Jon] Jones also but it ended up being me, Anderson Silva, Brock, all these guys, big names,” Cormier said. “UFC 300 has to have a name like that. We don’t have Brock Lesnar anymore. So, I think you have to have a Conor McGregor versus Michael Chandler. I think Michael Chandler gets his shot now, in the main event. Boy, Michael Chandler will headline UFC 300, how crazy is that?”
DC also has a vision of a two-title bout card underneath the McGregor-Chandler match.
“Co-main event, when I look down the line, I know that Jones and Stipe [Miocic] will not be ready,” Cormier continued. “I do believe that whoever wins the [interim heavyweight] belt this weekend will have to fight again. Leon Edwards or Colby Covington will then be available again, right? Because they fight [at UFC 296] in December. I believe it’ll be one of them, if not both. The interim heavyweight champion and then the welterweight champion will also fight at UFC 300.”
Videos (to help starv you off before it's time to say Let's 'Fn Go again)
UFC Official YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/@ufc
UFC President Dana White is BACK with his #12DaysGiveaways!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J9AVlODQ7hU&ab_channel=UFC
Ian Machado Garry Breaks Down His Top UFC Moments at Madison Square Garden | UFC Connected
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oxvl_UgPudY&ab_channel=MMAFightingonSBN
ESPN MMA YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/@ESPNMMA
Michael Bisping interviews Tom Aspinall at MSG ahead of UFC 295 | ESPN MMA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sp_Zh_j6W0w&ab_channel=ESPNMMA
Daniel Cormier Official YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/@dc_mma
Alex Pereira practices kicks on DC! + "Poatan" ready to live out his DREAM | Daniel Cormier Check-In
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YSjKgrXmcFc&ab_channel=DanielCormier
Chael Sonnen Official YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/@ChaelSonnenOfficial
Sergei Pavlovich is the UNDERDOG vs Tom Aspinall | UFC 295
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KKaQJ7YW1L0&t=12s&ab_channel=ChaelSonnen
Madison Square Garden Official YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/@MadisonSquareGarden
#UFC295 #UFC300 #DanaWhite #quote #quotes #MMA #BrockLesnar #RondaRousey #Prochazka #Pereira #MichaelChandler #mixedmartialarts #combatsports #legend #legends #sportsnews #mmanews #dreammatche #fantasybooking #PPV #PayPerView #videos #USsports #promoter #promotion #sportsbiz #sportsbetting #wager #trend #trends #buzz #hype #media
Pro Wrestling
WWE SmackDown
LA Knight vs Grayson Waller
Has the Arrogant Aussie recovered from the Ibrahim Al Hajjaj People's Elbow that shook him at Saudi?
Will Waller be more worried about besting Knight, or making a GWE trending moment? Can he do both?
Is 'The Bloodline' out for Knight's blood?
Is Waller's mate Austin Theory devising a cunning plan to send Knight back to the old hotel, thus opening another spot for one of their own inner circle?
So many questions.
You must tune in to get the answers.
Survivor Series Season is here and you just know some folks in the ring and backstage are going to get cooked, if not potatoed. Get a lock on your remote now, if ya smell what we're cooking.
#SmackDown #WWESmackDown #WWESurvivorSeries #LAKnight #GraysonWaller #GWEffect #GraysonWallerEffect #AustinTheory #Hitman #TheBloodline #blood #PeoplesElbow #wrestling #prowrestling #USANetwork #USA #entertainment #popculture #broadcast #trends #trending #buzz #TV #media
Advertising agencies are responsible for initiating, managing, and implementing paid marketing communications. In addition, some agencies have diversified into other types of marketing comms, including public relations, sales promotion, interactive media, and direct marketing #agencies #advertising #advertisingagencies #advertisingagency #agency #marketing #onlinemarketing #communications #comms #PublicRelations #PR #press #pressrelease #sales #promotion #directmarketing #popculture #culture #biz #sportsbiz #streaming #ghost #ghostwriter #writer #copy #links #SEO #authority #buzz #trends #media #mediaman
Disruptor: a company or form of technology that causes radical change in an existing industry or market by means of innovation. "the company is becoming a major disruptor in the media, ad and PR industry" #disruptor #disruption #disruptors #biz #market #ads #pr #newsmedia #media #mediaman
There are risks of playing "follow the leader" be it in sports, wrestling, SEO, business strategies. Adopt risk management and have your own style and unique selling points (and unique niche content) etc etc #risk #risks #business #wrestling #SEO #sportsbiz #wrestling #popculture #bizdev #strategy #riskmanagement #usps #niche #nichecontent #nichemarketing #nichenews #media #mediaman
Movie Business News
'Coyote Vs. Acme' won't been seen or heard
John Cena’s @JohnCena ‘Coyote Vs. Acme’ Film Shelved Even Though It's Completed
There's Reasons Why Studios Scrap Shows And Movies
Production Companies Can Cancel Their Own Movies; No Need For Activists of Cancel Culture!
More Complex Than What General Public May Think
Christmas Grinch defeats Coyote via financial submission STF-U
Warner's Loss Is WWE Universe's Gain
Fans Cheer Cena; Boo Heel WB
Warner Bros. Discovery announced it would shelve the completed Coyote Vs. Acme, a hybrid live-action and animated film based on the iconic Looney Tunes character Wile E. Coyote, making the movie the latest in a recent trend of fully produced shows and TV series being canceled by production companies for cost-cutting purposes.
Coyote Vs. Acme, which was reportedly produced on a $72 million budget, was originally set to release earlier this year but was shelved so Warner Bros. could take a $30 million tax write-off, leading publication Deadline reported.
The move came just one year after Warner Bros. controversially scrapped and panned Batgirl, an intended installment in the DC Extended Universe film series that cost $90 million to produce, reportedly because the company felt writing off the film for a tax break would be more financially sound than releasing it, and test screenings were reportedly met with ultra negative reactions.
The Warner Bros. animated film Scoob! A Holiday Haunt was also scrapped last year, reportedly for tax write-off purposes, though the film still completed production after the company announced it would not be released.
Completed seasons of television series have also been shelved by production companies, including the second season of Minx, which was scrapped by Warner Bros. Discovery in December for tax purposes despite being nearly finished with production (The season was picked up by Starz and aired in July).
AMC scrapped shows 61st Street and Invitation to a Bonfire as part of an effort to take up to $475 million in write-offs, Variety reported, both of which were already shot and almost completed, though 61st Street later landed at the CW.
Warner Bros. decided not to move forward with Coyote Vs. Acme, which was reportedly set for a release on Max, because of an effort to shift “its global strategy to focus on theatrical releases,” a Warner Bros. spokesperson told The Hollywood Reporter. The film was reportedly shot last year in New Mexico and was set to star John Cena, Will Forte, Lana Condor and Eric Bauza, and it was produced by DC Studios co-CEO James Gunn. Deadline reported Coyote Vs. Acme had been met with positive reviews during test screenings, with scores above the norm for family films. After the film’s cancellation, director Dave Green posted a statement via X thanking the “brilliant team, who poured their souls into this project for years” and the “test audiences who rewarded us with fantastic scores,” adding he is “beyond devastated” by the studio’s decision to shelve the movie.
Decisions to scrap already completed films have been met with criticism from fans and entertainment industry workers. Bazua, who was part of the voice cast, lamented the film’s cancellation on Instagram, stating it is “sad that the film like a few others before it have fallen to corporate greed,” adding a completed film like Coyote Vs. Acme could have value for studios since production was halted on many films this year because of the writers’ and actors’ strikes. Steven Price, who composed the score for Coyote Vs. Acme, criticized the scrapping of the film as “anti-art studio financial shenanigans” in a post on X in which he included a video of a choir recording music for the film. Filmmaker BenDavid Grabinski called Coyote Vs. Acme a “great” movie, “the best of its kind since Roger Rabbit.” He criticized ”extremely effective commercial movies being deleted for tax purposes,” noting the film is based on popular existing intellectual property. After Warner Bros. shelved Minx’s second season, a high-ranking TV agent told Deadline: “To spend that kind of money and to not air it, believe me, we’re all scratching our heads.”
By canceling projects for cost-cutting purposes, studios can avoid spending extra tens of millions to market and promote these films, Vanity Fair reported. Warner Bros. Discovery, in particular, has canceled numerous completed projects as part of cost-cutting measures following the 2022 WarnerMedia and Discovery, Inc. merger. An anonymous showrunner of a hit series told Deadline oversaturation of content on streaming services can also contribute to already produced shows being scrapped: “There are too many shows so it’s inevitable that if platforms can get a tax write-off or any money back from a show that they don’t love, they’ll absolutely cancel it.”
John Cena Instagram: "The End"
https://www.instagram.com/p/CzbMAbnOREJ/
https://www.instagram.com/johncena
Image credit: John Cena/Instagram
#CoyoteVsAcme #Coyote #JohnCena #STFU #STF #movienews #WB #WarnerBros #WarnerMedia #EntertainmentNews #entertainment #showbiz #showbuzz #boxoffice #tax #Batgirl #TheEnd #Instagram #WWE #SmackDown #financialnews #wrestlingnews #popculture #streaming #socialmedia #platforms #disrupt #disruptor #trend #trends #buzz #AI #media
Combat Sports
Dana White On Cross-Over Legends Brock Lesnar and Ronda Rousey Will Compete At UFC 300
“I get why everybody asks”
“They’re not coming back”
Sports Illustrated UFC news and quotes doing the rounds across the globe; S.I. gains more street and industry cred
Seems like the entire combat sports world wants to know if Lesnar and Rousey will fight at UFC 300. Perhaps they may appear in the crowd, or even get introduced with a live mic, but don't expect for them to grapple.
Fantasy Booking ramps up in UFC, adding to combat sports booking WWE and other pro wrestling promotions!
Some Stats:
Lesnar (UFC website)
https://ufc.com/athlete/brock-lesnar
8 fights in the UFC
Former UFC Heavyweight champ
Rousey (Wikipedia website)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronda_Rousey
Rousey News:
RR loves her pro wresling, including Lucha Libre - especially Lucha VaVOOM, in Los Angeles where she appeared on October 26, teaming with AEW affiliated Marina Shafir to defeat Brian Kendrick and Taya Valkyrie in tag team action.
Due to wrestle at Wrestling Revolver - 6th November
Homenetmen Glendale Ararat Los Angeles, CA.
Will be broadcast via FITE!
@FiteTV
“I always had an incredible working relationship with Brock Lesnar”.
“It’s funny to say this because he’s such a grouchy dude, but I consider Brock Lesnar a friend.”
The last time Lesnar fought in the UFC was 2016, five months after Rousey’s final bout. Since then, both have appeared in WWE from time to time.
Rousey is still considered fairly young for pro wrestling, but not so much for MMA at 36 years. Her last UFC match was in December of 2016. Similar to Lesnar, she also fought 8 times in the UFC, getting her hand raised in the 6 bouts. Rousey eventually became one of the the most recognizable sports stars in the world, thanks to numerous ground breaking performances and over-performing in what was traditionally a male dominated sport.
“I absolutely love Ronda Rousey,” said White. “She’s one of the greatest athletes I’ve ever worked with. She’s a pioneer, an inspirational figure for women, and an all-around badass for UFC.”
Headlined by two title bouts, UFC 295 takes place this Saturday at Madison Square Garden. Though White’s current priority is MSG, the UFC matchmakers are not too far removed from UFC 300. But Rousey and Lesnar will not be part of that history-making card.
“I’m focused on Madison Square Garden,” said White. “But no, they’re not coming back.”
UFC News
UFC 295 card: Prochazka vs Pereira headlines after Aspinall and Pavlovich clash
Daniel Cormier (conspiracy?) theory/speculation/dream match scenarios
Unified field theory for UFC 300..
Former two-division UFC champ and current UFC commentator Daniel Cormier has a theory that sounds great for the UFC 300 card.
“UFC 100 had Brock [Lesnar], right? With Georges St-Pierre and all those guys,” Cormier said on his “DC & RC” show. “UFC 200 had Brock, it was supposed to me and [Jon] Jones also but it ended up being me, Anderson Silva, Brock, all these guys, big names,” Cormier said. “UFC 300 has to have a name like that. We don’t have Brock Lesnar anymore. So, I think you have to have a Conor McGregor versus Michael Chandler. I think Michael Chandler gets his shot now, in the main event. Boy, Michael Chandler will headline UFC 300, how crazy is that?”
DC also has a vision of a two-title bout card underneath the McGregor-Chandler match.
“Co-main event, when I look down the line, I know that Jones and Stipe [Miocic] will not be ready,” Cormier continued. “I do believe that whoever wins the [interim heavyweight] belt this weekend will have to fight again. Leon Edwards or Colby Covington will then be available again, right? Because they fight [at UFC 296] in December. I believe it’ll be one of them, if not both. The interim heavyweight champion and then the welterweight champion will also fight at UFC 300.”
Videos (to help starv you off before it's time to say Let's 'Fn Go again)
Boxing/Combat Sports
Boxing and social media disruptor going more purist and less Misfit and hype based; Jake Paul rises above naysayers
Jake Paul’s
@JakePaul
next fight has been finally confirmed after about a month of speculation, sportsbar talk and teasers.
Mark down December 15 as Fight Night featuring the "Problem Child' himself.
The ultra switched on YouTuber is leaning more towards focusing on professional boxing. Hitting Elon's Musks' X with "The path to world champ starts here"
The well promoted bout will take make sporting history in Orlando, Florida, as the YouTube influencer plus returns to the ring for the first time since fighting MMA icon Nate Diaz in August.
Controversial and somewhat embattled sports journo Ariel Helwani tips the match will be cruiserweight and consist of 8 rounds.
Doubling up with a one-two via X Paul scribbed "Ask and I shall deliver. August has more KO’s than me, more wins than me, more experience than me, but I like to gamble.
"The path to world champ starts here. Just straight up boxing."
Boxing intel website BoxRec advises: August, 35. 12 professional bouts, winning 10 with 5 by KO.
August's defeat came at the hands of USA's Eric Abraham in 2018.
His most recent victory came against the until then undefeated 7-0 Brandon Martin which he won unanimously on points.
While August is fairly unknown in boxing, certainly to the casual audience, it marks the first time that Paul has fought an out and out boxer in the "purist" arena, moving away from the "influencer" and "Misfit" realms.
"Just straight boxing" Paul documented and "exhibition matches" may be a thing of the past for the S.I cover snatching JP. All sources indicate he's going strickly professional, however brother Logan Paul teasers he may join him in the WWE (pro wrestling) sometime in the future, be it as a cornerman or even potential tag-team partner ala WrestleMania 1 back in 1985 when Mr T joined Hulk Hogan to defeat the late Roddy Piper and Paul Orndorff which was a pay-per-view bonanza for WWE super-promoter Vince McMahon and then wife Linda - who now works in the political arena.
Paul initially began by fighting fellow YouTubers but has more recently moved towards fighting former stars of the UFC. Just about anything can happen in pro boxing as the well publicized match between world champion Tyson Fury vs former UFC champion Francis Ngannou demonstrated. Some experts say Fury will never be quite the same again, much like when the legendary wrestler/MMA Antonia Inoki kicked the hell out of "The Greatest" Muhammad Ali in Tokyo, Japan in June 26, 1976 at "The World Of The Worlds" - the precursor of modern MMA and why became the famed UFC - not to be confussed with rival PFL, of which Paul is also signed.
JP defeated grappling based Ben Askren before beating Tyron Woodley twice.
He then won bouts against UFC legends Anderson Silva and Nate Diaz.
His most recent victory against Diaz arrived via unanimous decision in August.
Paul has a 6-1 boxing record, with his only loss coming against Tommy Fury (son of "The Gypsy King") this February in a bout in Saudi Arabia.
Paul lost that bout via a split decision.
Paul initially began by fighting fellow YouTubers but has more recently moved towards fighting former stars of the UFC.
He defeated Ben Askren before beating Tyron Woodley twice.
He then won bouts against UFC legends Anderson Silva and Nate Diaz.
His most recent victory against Diaz arrived via unanimous decision in August.
We're calling Paul a modest favourite for the win over August, but the public at large and bookies will be chiming in and the odds and pub talk usually changes weeks and days up to pro boxing fights.
At this stage of the game its fair to say that the business/sports business is all the better thanks to Jake Paul who has proven himself to be a legit pay-per-view draw and headline grabber.
"Jake Paul is one of the few boxers who is helping grow the sport and one who has the substance and style. His appeal has grown outside of boxing alone and is now entrenched in pop culture. Brands, online media and all sorts of business folks are keen to get deals in place with Paul and his associates now. Everyone loves a winner and folks who can disrupt and distrub The Matrix" - overheard at the Media Man watercooler.
Videos
Jake Paul Official YouTube
https://youtube.com/@jakepaul
BS w/ Jake Paul YouTube
Brooks Koepka’s $1M Boxing Match With Bryson, Spending $100M LIV Deal, Hating Golf & More - BS EP 30
https://youtube.com/watch?v=uXPzmKvO400&ab_channel=BSw%2FJakePaul
DAZN Boxing Official YouTube
https://youtube.com/daznboxing
MMA / UFC News
UFC @UFC YouTube
Best Moments From Madison Square Garden
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-gJDyXkh_YI&ab_channel=UFC
Over the years, Madison Square Garden has hosted some of the most iconic UFC moments to date. Relive some of the best Octagon highlights that took place in New York City ahead of UFC 295! (Credit: UFC)
"I just want to say from the bottom of my heart, I'd like to take this chance to apologize to absolutely nobody".. - Conor McGregor
"Adesanya most succesful with the body shot"...
UFC YouTube
Weigh-In Highlights | UFC 295
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kj1FUMg4Zag&ab_channel=UFC
UFC 295: Ceremonial Weigh-In
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2UkqVNwa60&ab_channel=UFC
Pavlovich vs Aspinall - Shoot My Shot | UFC 295
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5wp_iRQY0bk&ab_channel=UFC
An interim title is on the line at UFC 295, as heavy hitting Sergei Pavlovich takes on the UK's finest in Tom Aspinall, for the rights to heavyweight gold. (Credit: UFC)
UFC 295 Betting Preview w/ Anik, DC & Chael! | Presented by DraftKings Sportsbook
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rI-yt1wYOWg&ab_channel=UFC
News
UFC Greats - The Official List From The Powers That Be!
The Ultimate 30: All- Time Roster
Royce Gracie
Matt Hughes
BJ Penn
Georges St-Pierre
Robbie Lawler
Chuck Liddell
Forrest Griffin
Tito Ortiz
Randy Couture
Anderson Silva
Michael Bisping
Frankie Edgar
Khabib Nurmagomedov
Charles Oliveira
Dominick Cruz
Demetrious Johnson
Jose Aldo
Cain Velasquez
Stipe Miocic
Jon Jones
Joanna Jędrzejczyk
Valentina Shevchenko
Ronda Rousey
Amanda Nunes
Conor McGregor
Daniel Cormier
Kamaru Usman
Israel Adesanya
Max Holloway
Alexander Volkanovski
#UFC #UFC295 #MSG #MadisonSquareGarden #TheGarden #MMA #mixedmartialarts #combatsports #ufcnews #mmanews #highlights #Goat #Goats #legends #RoyceGracie #MattHughes #BJPenn #GeorgesStPierre #GSP #RobbieLawler #ChuckLiddell
#ForrestGriffin #TitoOrtiz #RandyCouture #video #videos #highlights #PPV #PayPerView #trends #trending #buzz #hype #media
Pro Wrestling
WWE @WWE YouTube
What’s next for The Bloodline after Crown Jewel dominance?: WWE Now, November 10, 2023
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ox2wvEMYbRE&ab_channel=WWE
"Hey everybody. I'm Megan Morgant from WWE Now getting you set with everything you need to know for tonight's Friday Night SmackDown on FOX. So let's throw 3 minutes on the clock and get to it"...
Image credit: WWE
#SmackDown #WWESmackDown #FOX #TheBloodline #LAKnight #GraysonWaller #GWEffect #LAKnight #LoganPaul #ReyMysterio #USTitle #LWO #SantosEscobar #Prime #JohnCena #KO #KevinOwens #NickAldis #KariSane #Carlito #StreetProfits #BobbyLashley #SurvivorSeries #socialmedia #socialmediamegastar #Influencer #influencers #wrestling #prowrestling #entertainment #popculture #broadcast #broadasting #trends #trending #buzz #TV #media
Combative sports means any sport that holds contests where opponents strike each other with a hand, foot, knee, elbow or other parts of the body, including, but not limited to, boxing, wrestling, full contact karate, kickboxing, martial arts, mixed martial arts and muay thai #combatsports #sport #strike #striking #boxing #wrestling #karate #kickboxing #martialarts #MMA #mixedmartialarts #MuayThai #media #mediaman #mediamanint
"One thing I can't prove, but I firmly believe is that two men were put on this earth - one threw a punch and a third guy came over and watched. And that happened before anybody ever threw or kicked a ball" - Dana White (UFC @UFC ) #DanaWhite #quote #fighting #combatsports #MMA #martialarts #sports #media
SEJ
AI News
SEJ's Roger on the potential and real harm from AI. Developers built this for big tech. Let's not forget governments do harm also. There's harm in just about all places on Planet Earth, but of a different kind in the modern world that man build. "Everything is a risk" - Lemmy (Motorhead). Or, "Rise Of The Machines" (Transformers). Everyone ready for a new version of 1984 meets 'Ex Machina' and 'Planet Of The Apes' and 'Farenheight 451'. Pop culture reference for the. Fact is stranger than fiction for the big tech (sci-fi) and Big gvt sector. Strong article, and just adding colour, depth and additional humanity. Next submission will be more on point."Do no harm" (Doctors/medical oath many moons ago). Back to webcode fellow humans and any androids in the audience.
Pro Wrestling
WWE SmackDown
WWE Official YouTube
SmackDown’s most shocking moments: SmackDown highlights, Nov. 10, 2023
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJP0lfnpCVo&ab_channel=WWE
Carlito’s accusation causes rifts in The LWO: SmackDown highlights, Nov. 10, 2023
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FBXuNm3A1OE&ab_channel=WWE
Rey Mysterio gets helped to the back by The LWO: SmackDown exclusive, Nov. 10, 2023
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xpw8iHIT1Y4&ab_channel=WWE
LA Knight is not finished with The Bloodline: SmackDown highlights, Nov. 10, 2023
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlKlnMAoj-8&ab_channel=WWE
LA Knight dispatches Grayson Waller for a rebound win: SmackDown highlights, Nov. 10, 2023
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QyEriFmK9LY&ab_channel=WWE
Owens gets suspended after attacking Waller and Theory: SmackDown highlights, Nov. 10, 2023
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pKMRsM-IjX0&ab_channel=WWE
Dragon Lee and Cedric Alexander run it back: SmackDown highlights, Nov. 10, 2023
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VjwSnhDbV2M&ab_channel=WWE
Did Solo Sikoa send John Cena out of WWE for good?: SmackDown highlights, Nov. 10, 2023
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIt43Ukq6no&ab_channel=WWE
Asuka aligns herself with Damage CTRL: SmackDown highlights, Nov. 10, 2023
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tsvHKGbb_ao&ab_channel=WWE
WWE honors National Medal of Honor recipient Jim McCloughan
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O9AQOYNmDhs&ab_channel=WWE
SmackDown commentors: Michael Cole @MichaelCole , Kevin Patrick @kev_egan and Kevin Owens @FightOwensFight
Media Man says: Big thumbs up. Changing things up. Hot show.
Image credit: WWE
#SmackDown #WWESmackDown #WWECrownJewel #SurvivorSeries #LWO #LatinoWorldOrder #GraysonWaller #GWEffect #LAKnight #KevinOwens #KO #AustinTheory #Hitman #Carlito #ReyMysterio #SantosEscobar #ZelinaVega #DragonLee #CedricAlexander #combatsports #entertainment #popculture #highlights #videos #broadcast #broadcasting #trends #trending #buzz #hype #TV #media
Quotes
"I swear it upon Zeus an outstanding runner cannot be the equal of an average wrestler" - Socrates #Socrates #quote #Zeus #runner #wrestler #wrestling #sports #GreekPhilosopher #philosopher #philosophy #Greece #world #media #mediaman
Wrestling Quotes
Logan Paul @LoganPaul appears on FOX Business @FoxBusiness
WWE @WWE U.S. Champion and Prime co-founder Logan Paul joins 'Varney & Co.' to discuss his championship win, Prime's success and his investment strategy (Credit: FOX Business)
"Well look whos here. Ladies and gentlemen. Logan Paul the man himself. Logan is a business owner, he's an influencer, he's a boxer, and now he's the newly minted U.S Champion of the WWE. Congratulations. So, have you walked away from boxing"?
"Thank you. Yeah, I think I've retired from boxing. I think I've done enough in the sport going fully undefeated at 25-0. So, yeah, I'm going to be a wrestler now"... - Logan Paul
FOX Business YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/foxbusiness
DISRUPTOR: Logan Paul reveals his investment strategy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQaUdvsm0iM&ab_channel=FoxBusiness
#LoganPaul #quotes #FOXBusiness #wrestling #prowrestling #WWE #boxing #PrimeEnergy #influencer #wrestlingnews #wwenews #energydrink #energydrinks #gold #combatsports #entertainment #popculture #sportsbiz #showbusiness #sportsnews #interview #broadcast #TV #media #mediaman
Wrestling/Pop Culture
"Be A Man"
Randy Savage’s Rap Album Getting Limited Re-Release In April
Per Amazon @amazonmusic
https://www.amazon.com/BE-A-MAN/dp/B0B78WSVQ7
"Macho Man" Randy Savage was a WWE wrestling superstar with dazzling over-the-top costumes. His signature phrase, "Ohhh yeah!" won over wrestling fans worldwide and eventually was seen in nearly every SlimJim commercial. He even played a wrestler "Bone Saw" McGraw in the 2002 movie, Spider-Man. His music career started in 1993 making his debut WrestleMania: The Album along side of other top wrestlers such as Bret "The Hitman" Hart, The Undertaker, Hacksaw Jim Duggan and others. On October 7, 2003, Savage released his debut rap/hiphop album titled Be a Man, which has sold over the years for staggering amounts. It includes a tribute song to a fellow wrestler "Mr. Perfect" Curt Hennig who passed earlier that year. It also included the title track "Be a Man" that was aimed right at fellow wrestling icon and former Mega Powers tag-team partner Hulk Hogan. Fortunately, before Savage's death he had the opportunity to bury the hatchet with Hogan after a decade long feud that many thought was just a marketing gimmick. This rap album has been completely remastered and comes in a 6 panel wallet with a LTD collectors card. It includes DJ Kool on the very club-like vibe, "Hit The Floor", the second single which would have been amazing to see live. It also includes Big K, Brian O, Da Raskulls, Inc., Eliott Harris, Shianna Raymona, Mo Blaze and Smokke...
#RandySavage #MachoMan #BeAMan #SlimJim #wrestling #prowrestling #wrestler #WWE #wrestlingnews #rap #hiphop #music #musicnews #entertainment #entertainmentnews #Amazon #legend #trends #buzz #media #mediaman
'Reinventing history': Experts warn the end of physical media will give tech giants even greater control
Experts say a future ruled by streaming and digital content poses a serious threat of censorship
Retailers are slowly moving away from physical media to pursue ventures in the digital space, and experts warn this shift could lead to significant tech censorship, allowing streaming giants the power to have greater control over history and culture.
Barna William Donovan, a professor and the director of M.A. in Communication and Public Relations at Saint Peter's University, said he believes the move toward streaming content and the elimination of physical media poses "a serious threat" of censorship and could be a danger to our culture.
American consumers spend approximately eight hours daily with digital media, roughly double the time spent with traditional physical formats. The shift toward digital media in the country began in 2018 and has been growing ever since, according to Statista.
Currently, when people "buy" digital content, they do not actually own the film or song in the same way they would own physical VHS tapes, DVDs or CDs. When a user pays for a digital download, legally, the content producers have the right to limit access to said content or remove it outright.
Full article via FOX Business @FoxBusiness
Link:
https://www.foxbusiness.com/media/reinventing-history-experts-warn-end-physical-media-tech-giants-greater-control