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Post by Kliquid on Jan 20, 2011 5:43:32 GMT -5
I know I posted this in Pro Wrestling - Other Feds as well, but I think MMA fans would actually care about this more, so I'm going to post it here as well. Comments appreciated! ------------------------- Kimbo Slice Quits Boxing for Pro Wrestling: 10 Reasons He’ll Be a Bigger StarThe news came down earlier this week that Kevin “Kimbo Slice” Ferguson would be foregoing—or at least delaying—his professional boxing career for a run in pro wrestling. It was officially announced on Tuesday that Slice would be making his pro wrestling debut in Japan under the Inoki Genome Federation banner at the “Genome 14” event on Feb. 5. The event will take place in Fukuoka, Japan and Slice is scheduled to take on former Sumo wrestler Shinichi Suzukawa in the first round of the IGF Championship Tournament. Suzukawa perhaps the organization’s most pushed wrestler and recently had a controversial match with former UFC champion Mark Coleman, who has some experience in pro wrestling himself. According to Coleman’s friend and fellow MMA star Phil Baroni, Suzukawa refused to follow the pre-determined finish to the match. It will be interesting to see who is booked to win the match between Slice and Suzukawa but while Slice’s professional boxing debut was anticipated by many, his pro wrestling debut may be even more electrifying. It just makes sense. The guy is a superstar in every way, but pro wrestling can make him an even bigger star— and here’s how. |
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Post by nexusonnen on Jan 20, 2011 6:04:52 GMT -5
Kimbo needs to make his f*cking mind up, then regardless, not do it and GTFO of the mainstream.
Marketable, yes. Worth it, no.
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s13driver
Superstar
UFC ZoMBiE FrEaK!!
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Post by s13driver on Jan 20, 2011 17:01:32 GMT -5
Dude is too old.
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PdW2kX
Main Eventer
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Post by PdW2kX on Jan 20, 2011 18:47:52 GMT -5
I have absolutely zero interest in pro wrestling nowadays, but I have to admit it's a novel concept and you raise some pretty good points. I always thought Kimbo was a victim of his own hype and EXC's rush to promote him, the person beneath the beard seems like a pretty genuine guy.
Kimbo Slice may have been nothing but a great personality, but Kevin Ferguson gained my respect during TUF 10 and he's more or less managed to keep it. Plus, pro wrestling is all about the great personality, so who's to say he won't be successful?
Haters gon' hate, but Kimbo made his money and I can't fault him for it. Hell, I even wish him well.
Nice read Kliq.
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Post by Mr. Orange on Jan 20, 2011 19:49:20 GMT -5
I hate Kimbo. He'll be a good/great character in wrestling(enforcer, tough guy, etc), but as a wrestler, he'll be awful. I see him taking the Bob Sapp route. Become a big character, but not do a hell of a lot wrestling wise.
I was kinda hoping he'd go into boxing like he said he would, just so I could see him get knocked out over and over. That would have been great.
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Post by 1992 on Jan 20, 2011 20:38:05 GMT -5
Is that sh*t about Bob Sapp being like Japan's Hulk Hogan true? I'd never heard that before. Veeery interesting.
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s13driver
Superstar
UFC ZoMBiE FrEaK!!
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Post by s13driver on Jan 20, 2011 21:05:32 GMT -5
I don't hate Kimbo. I did before I saw how humble and nice of an individual he was on TUF but I just wish he woulda got into fighting at a younger age. If he had good cardio and a strong work ethic then he would be a great athlete in whatever sport he chose to do. I wish him luck though. If he ever makes his way to mainstream pro wrestling like WWE or TNA then I'm sure he'd be very entertaining to watch.
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Post by Mr. Orange on Jan 20, 2011 21:46:32 GMT -5
Is that sh*t about Bob Sapp being like Japan's Hulk Hogan true? I'd never heard that before. Veeery interesting. I don't think he's Japans Hulk Hogan. Antonio Inoki in my opinion is that guy. But Sapp was/is HUGE over in Japan. He is 10-10 in K-1 and something like 11-6 in MMA fights, but he won the IWGP Heavyweight Title in wrestling, so that's a huge accomplishment. Around 2003ish he was everywhere. He was on commercials, has a music CD, figures and stuff. The people over there love him because he's entertaining and has that larger than life character. |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 20, 2011 22:02:22 GMT -5
I've always been a fan of Kimbo and thought that he could make it in Professional Wrestling. Very interested to see how this plays out. I also wonder if he will ever at least make an appearance in either TNA or WWE.
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Post by K5 on Jan 21, 2011 1:37:11 GMT -5
i personally disagree. i could see the wwe using him as a character, a bodyguard, or enforcer or special guest host of sorts, but to actually try to train him to compete within the wwe? not a chance. the guy would rather injure himself or another person. i personally think he'd 'blow it' and the consequences could be large.
as a character, he could help whatever promotion he's involved in. but as an actual wrestler, he would be a risk. at best he would be a bill goldberg, and quite frankly as much as goldberg helped wcw, he wasn't worth the career of bret hart.
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Post by K5 on Jan 21, 2011 1:38:50 GMT -5
Is that sh*t about Bob Sapp being like Japan's Hulk Hogan true? I'd never heard that before. Veeery interesting. that's a huge stretch. sapp is definitely famous - he appears in many different commercials and has a lot of involvement in japanese culture - but he is by no means their 'hulk hogan'. hogan was on a level of fame that sapp has by no means met. |
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Post by Patrick Bateman (original) on Jan 21, 2011 3:32:49 GMT -5
I wish Kimbo all the best. He is just such a likeable guy. I don't think the UFC game him a fair shake (firing after a 1-1 record). Honestly if the UFC was smart they would of kept him a put him on fight nights to boost ratings. Love him or hate him, people are drawn to and want to see him.
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Fury
Main Eventer
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Post by Fury on Jan 21, 2011 18:27:00 GMT -5
I wish Kimbo all the best. He is just such a likeable guy. I don't think the UFC game him a fair shake (firing after a 1-1 record). Honestly if the UFC was smart they would of kept him a put him on fight nights to boost ratings. Love him or hate him, people are drawn to and want to see him. Agreed, I really grew to like Kimbo during his TUF run and was unjustly fired. As for his pro wrestling prospects, there will be something short term for him, he'll probably be brought in for a quick ratings pop by one of the big 2. I don't think he has any long term future though or any championship reigns in him. |
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Post by The Immortal Antichrist on Jan 21, 2011 20:06:30 GMT -5
I wish Kimbo the best . I wish he would have had a few more fights in the UFC though before he was fired.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 21, 2011 21:15:43 GMT -5
Interesting read, not that I'm a huge fan of Kimbo, but respect what he's tried to do in the world of MMA; learn as much as possible before being cut by the UFC.
I could see him being involved in someway with the WWE, but nothing long term. As for the point about American-born stars in Japan, Stan Hansen is up there with Vader and Bruiser Brody, you'd have to say.
Thanks for posting.
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Post by SteveHulk on Jan 21, 2011 23:21:01 GMT -5
I wish Kimbo all the best. He is just such a likeable guy. I don't think the UFC game him a fair shake (firing after a 1-1 record). Honestly if the UFC was smart they would of kept him a put him on fight nights to boost ratings. Love him or hate him, people are drawn to and want to see him. This. It's as though UFC brought him in just to say "see - he's no good", then got rid of him as soon as possible...  |
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Post by Mike Bockwinkel on Jan 21, 2011 23:32:45 GMT -5
He can go back to punching dudes in scripted amature porn.
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Post by Kliquid on Jan 22, 2011 2:58:19 GMT -5
Thanks for all the responses, guys.  |
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Post by tnafan17: The Total Package on Jan 22, 2011 10:59:45 GMT -5
Nice article there Kliquid. I could see Kimbo in pro wrestling but idk how soon he would make it to the Pro Ranks in America.
Maybe he has potential to be the next Ezekial Jackson?
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