From Tokyo Sports, 1/5:
Quote:
WWE Warrior(s) to Participate in PRIDE's February Event in Las Vegas
PRIDE is poised to form a monster tag team with the world's biggest wrestling organization, the WWE.
Both PRIDE, seeking for expansion into the US market, and WWE, which has an interest in MMA, have similar thoughts. At the end of last November, DSE's President and WWE's President Vince McMahon had a conference in the US.
Sakakibara: "We discussed how we can mutually cooperate with each other"
That news was big enough to immediately go up on WWE's website. It's said that the schedule for the next meeting is decided. There is a reason too. It's to battle against the UFC, an MMA organization that has been growing at reckless speed.
The UFC was in the Top 10 for number of contracts, placing more programs in the rankings than the WWE. Using its abundance of capital, they have assembled fighters from throughout the world. Last year's PRIDE OWGP Mirko Crocop also made a shocking transfer to the UFC.
If the tie-up materializes, a WWE combatant would be dispatched to PRIDE. The likelihood is that the WWE fighter would participate in the Super Heavyweight division (=SH, 125kg+) that will be established this year.
The SH division could start as early as 2.24.07, at the PRIDE33 (Las Vegas) event. There are plans to hold a Monster GP (temporary name) next year. Currently, SH fighters in PRIDE include Mark Hunt and James Thompson. There is not enough fighters.
Sakakibara: "WWE figher appearance? That's also likely. Already, we have been flying around the world looking for yet-to-be-known monsters"
The WWE has fighters suitable for MAA such as the Undertaker, Batista, and Umaga, so it's prepared for a combat mission in PRIDE anytime.
Sakakibara: "This year we will take the offensive"
You can't take your eyes off PRIDE in 2007.
Quote:
WWE Warrior(s) to Participate in PRIDE's February Event in Las Vegas
PRIDE is poised to form a monster tag team with the world's biggest wrestling organization, the WWE.
Both PRIDE, seeking for expansion into the US market, and WWE, which has an interest in MMA, have similar thoughts. At the end of last November, DSE's President and WWE's President Vince McMahon had a conference in the US.
Sakakibara: "We discussed how we can mutually cooperate with each other"
That news was big enough to immediately go up on WWE's website. It's said that the schedule for the next meeting is decided. There is a reason too. It's to battle against the UFC, an MMA organization that has been growing at reckless speed.
The UFC was in the Top 10 for number of contracts, placing more programs in the rankings than the WWE. Using its abundance of capital, they have assembled fighters from throughout the world. Last year's PRIDE OWGP Mirko Crocop also made a shocking transfer to the UFC.
If the tie-up materializes, a WWE combatant would be dispatched to PRIDE. The likelihood is that the WWE fighter would participate in the Super Heavyweight division (=SH, 125kg+) that will be established this year.
The SH division could start as early as 2.24.07, at the PRIDE33 (Las Vegas) event. There are plans to hold a Monster GP (temporary name) next year. Currently, SH fighters in PRIDE include Mark Hunt and James Thompson. There is not enough fighters.
Sakakibara: "WWE figher appearance? That's also likely. Already, we have been flying around the world looking for yet-to-be-known monsters"
The WWE has fighters suitable for MAA such as the Undertaker, Batista, and Umaga, so it's prepared for a combat mission in PRIDE anytime.
Sakakibara: "This year we will take the offensive"
You can't take your eyes off PRIDE in 2007.
