e of the UFC ownership Ive got both belts, a chunk of money, a little family on the w

The balancing act that has to be maintained after a major pay-per-view is challenging, to say the least. Stitched Jerseys Wholesale . Major rivalries often reach their peak or even conclusion, leaving several top stars needing opponents.At the same time, you dont want to throw away all of the hard work, time and effort youve put into the build-up to a show like that, especially if its one of the biggest pay-per-views of the year, like WrestleMania or, in this case, SummerSlam. Sometimes the answers arent so clear-cut.SmackDown Live finds itself in a much different position from Raw in its first show back from SummerSlam. Tuesdays show didnt have to deal with losing a top champion to injury for up to six months the night after introducing a new title, but it did have to take on a few more subtle challenges.An underwhelming world championship at SummerSlam, the time?Dean Ambrose and Dolph Ziggler had to tell a story and a laundry list of other issues left its two competitors heading in different directions. Ambrose came out smelling like a rose, every bit the champion hes asserted to being, and Ziggler was seemingly left to return and languish in some nebulous position between the midcard and the main event.Within the first two minutes of Tuesdays episode of SmackDown Live, it became clear they were going to address some of those issues. The show opened with several superstars aimlessly hanging around the locker room. Enter AJ Styles, the conquering hero (or villain, depending on your perspective) who dispatched John Cena in a 23-minute match that stole the show Sunday night in Brooklyn. As popular as Styles has been since his January debut at the Royal Rumble, and through multiple title matches with Roman Reigns and several other high-profile opponents, nothing quite elevated The Phenomenal One like pinning Cena in the middle of the ring, no strings attached, at one of the biggest WWE shows of the year.Styles wore the Never Give Up headband Cena ceremoniously left behind in the middle of the ring after their epic clash and immediately set about telling anyone who would listen that he was now The Face that Runs the Place, taking up Cenas mantle. Ziggler sat dejectedly in his seat as this went on, but when Styles got in his face, it was all he could take, triggering a brawl between the two that spilled through the next two hours.The pair fought through the end of the presentation of the two new SmackDown-exclusive titles and set up general manager Daniel Bryan to lay down the law; Styles victory was an impressive enough showing that he had earned his way into a WWE world championship match against Ambrose at Backlash, but Ziggler had shown himself worthy enough to have a chance to earn his way in -- and beating Styles would be his ticket.This main event match featured much of what makes a showdown between two dynamic and physically gifted wrestlers great -- high-risk maneuvers, incredible agility and styles that mesh well together. There was also a simple story to follow -- either Ziggler would redeem himself and earn another shot at Ambrose or Styles would notch yet another impressive victory and further confirm his status as clear-cut No. 1 contender with a one-on-one opportunity at the champion.Styles picked up the victory, and it once again came in a straightforward manner without a hint of cheating or nefariousness -- leaving no doubt as to his position. For Ziggler, it seems hes only just begun to experience the downward spiral that almost certainly lies ahead -- and with each loss, the chatter of his inability to win the big one will only grow louder.Introducing the SmackDown womens championship and tag-team championshipsSummerSlams introduction of the Universal championship checked about every box on reactions that are best avoided at all costs. That didnt just apply to the reaction to the bright new red belt -- a clear variant of the existing WWE world championship -- but that vitriol disrupted an otherwise compelling match between Finn Balor and Seth Rollins.SmackDown seemed to avoid that with the introduction of its new womens and tag-team championship titles. First off, they were out on display rather than set up for a big reveal. There was no promise for a particularly crazy design, and therefore they didnt have impossible expectations to meet.Second, and perhaps most importantly, these alterations offered either a lateral move (in the case of the SmackDown womens championship) or a significant upgrade over the originals (the SmackDown tag-team championships) over their Raw counterparts. In the case of the latter, the titles currently held by the New Day, which feature copper plates on a black leather belt, have long been derided as the least visually pleasing among all of the WWE titles.The method by which each championship is to be decided added further excitement to the reveal. The tag-team tournament is a great touch, allowing all of the teams an opportunity to show off, setting up a chance for the victor to claim superiority over the entire division. It also fills the need for some must-see content each week on SmackDown, leading to its first brand-exclusive pay-per-view, Backlash.If you doubt how well a tournament format like this works, just look at the CWC and the impact it has had through its first six weeks.The womens championship six pack challenge makes each woman a legitimate title threat right off the bat, presenting a chance to establish a true hierarchy in the division among the six participants.Hits and missesHeath Slater made an appearance toward the tail end of the ceremony celebrating the reveal of the new titles and staked his claim for a shot. Even as a three-time WWE tag-team champion, Slater was once again forced to jump through hoops for the chance of a contract. This time around, hed have to find a partner and, with that done, win the entire tournament.While there werent nearly as many failed attempts throughout Tuesdays broadcast, it was a well-executed rule of threes as Slater unsuccessfully asked both The Miz and Arn Anderson to be his partner. Finally, Rhyno, who had previously prevented Slater from winning a contract, offered his services as a tag-team partner to lock the pair into a spot in the tournament.Randy Orton vs. Bray Wyatt is a compelling direction to go in for both men. After Wyatts involvement with Ambrose and Ziggler seemingly fizzled out, at least for now, he was left off the SummerSlam card entirely. Orton had an unfortunate ending to his showdown with Brock Lesnar, and both superstars are angling for a move to bigger and better things. Each has something to prove, and if this works out correctly they should both get the chance.SmackDowns first match (out of just four actual bouts on the show) was a short showdown between Becky Lynch and Alexa Bliss. While it seems Bliss still needs some work on moving more smoothly in the ring, she hit a few spots over the course of the match that showed her potential. The match scheduled between Carmella and the returning Nikki Bella never began, as Carmella attacked Nikki from behind to start what increasingly seems like a more sinister turn of character for the Princess of Staten Island. More on that later.Two of the four opening-round matches in the SmackDown tag-team championship tournament took place Tuesday night, with the prohibitive favorites to win the tournament each advancing to the semifinals. It started with The Usos grabbing a victory from The Ascension, which was followed by a somewhat surprisingly compelling match between American Alpha and Breezing. Rather than feeling like a throwaway situation, the seeds for the beginnings of the tag-team division on the blue brand can be tied back to conscious efforts at SummerSlam, even in something as seemingly innocuous and disposable as a 12-man tag-team rematch.EXCLUSIVE: We didnt come here to have great matches, we came here to WIN TITLES! @WWEGable @JasonJordanJJ #SDLive https://t.co/FBmeirMHcU- WWE (@WWE) August 24, 2016The insinuation of a future showdown between Lesnar and Shane McMahon could be among the most compelling possibilities for the future, given the right circumstances.Talking Smack is on fireTalking Smack, the 30-minute post-show for SmackDown Live hosted by Daniel Bryan and Renee Young that airs every week on the WWE Network, has taken significant and worthwhile steps toward completing two noteworthy tasks -- getting fans to head back to the WWE Network to watch new and live original content and blurring the lines between whats real and whats fake.On Tuesday, it began with Nikki Bella casually discussing the severity of her neck injury in great detail until she was blindsided by yet another attack from Carmella. They were followed by the Usos, who discussed a wide variety of topics, including the acknowledgement of how being paired with Roman Reigns has affected their crowd reaction.@WWEDanielBryan says @MikeTheMiz wrestles like a coward. And the IC Champ explodes on #TalkingSmack! #SDLive https://t.co/hgarcKmuj4- WWE Network (@WWENetwork) August 24, 2016It all led up to The Miz and Maryse invading the Talking Smack set. Having not been used for anything on Tuesdays broadcast, other than a quick spot in Slaters comedic search for a tag partner, Miz came out guns blazing demanding an answer as to why that would be the case for the Intercontinental champion. After Bryan took some seemingly cheap shots at Miz, he unleashed a tirade proclaiming his value to the company. In the process, he used the word coward, which was part of Bryans initial comedic response. The Miz cut one of the most memorable promos of his career on Bryan and eventually left him walking off the set.Its exactly the kind of content the WWE craves -- the kind that goes viral and tests the boundaries of real and fake. Clearance NFL Shop . Oaklands loss to Seattle clinched the ALs best record for the Red Sox with one day to spare in the regular season. "I think everybody was kind of watching," catcher David Ross said. "Demp (Ryan Dempster) came out before he went to the bullpen and was just yelling that they lost. Football Jerseys Outlet . There are surprises among the Vezina candidates, but most of the others are standard top-tier performers, even if the two Hart Trophy runners-ups have never been quite as good as they have been through the first half of the season. http://www.cheapnfljerseyswholesale.com/ . Ibaka equaled a career high with 20 rebounds, adding four blocked shots and 15 points as the Thunder smothered the Milwaukee Bucks offence in a 92-79 victory Saturday night.Will the critics finally be silenced? Whats next? Heres what we learned after Conor McGregor created history by adding Eddie Alvarezs lightweight title to his existing featherweight prize. McGregor KOs Alvarez Second world title win on New York City debut How does McGregors achievement compare?A legion of cage legends have not even attempted to make the gargantuan leap into a second weight category, much less challenge the No 1 fighter from the division above. In rolling the dice and staggeringly hitting the jackpot, McGregor has gone above and beyond the landmark achievements of Georges St-Pierre, Anderson Silva or Jon Jones. McGregor has not defended either of his belts, unlike that esteemed trio of UFC greats, so that must be taken into consideration. But equally, in measuring McGregors bravery to jump up by 10lbs, it must be noted that St-Pierre, Silva and Jones never considered it wise to embark on a meaningful run outside of the safe-haven divisions that they owned.BJ Penn and Randy Couture held UFC titles in two weight divisions at separate times but McGregor has even trumped them by wearing gold on each shoulder. To have done so within the space of a year (and finding time to fit in a double-header against Nate Diaz at welterweight, a third weight division) is an accomplishment at the forefront of anything that any UFC fighter could boast.Isnt McGregor supposed to struggle against wrestlers?The perceived method of defeating McGregor (take him down, hold him down) received another slap in the face as Alvarezs accomplished wrestling credentials failed to impose themselves. Its not the first time McGregor has beaten a wrestler so will this theory crumble, as Alvarez did? The first time the Irishman overcame the grappling acumen of an American opponent, his victim was Chad Mendes in the summer of 2015, yet critics refused to shy away. Mendes was a last-ditch replacement for the injured Jose Aldo and, although he successfully dragged McGregor to the canvas for extended periods, eventually succumbed to a knockout.The short-notice arrangement of that fight meant McGregor was castigated in some quarters for benefiting from Mendes lack of fitness. This time around, nullifying Alvarezs take-downs must carry more weight. Alvarez enjoyed a full training camp of planning how to put McGregor on his back yet never came close to doing so.The snake-hips and constant threat of a counter-punch from the featherweight champion means he is becoming an increasingly difficult target to wrestle to the ground.Why has nobody found an answer for his trademark punch?The vicious left fist of McGregor - the same weapon that yielded his first UFC title, and previously dragged him up the ladder of contenders - accounted for the durable Alvarez. They know its coming, but they cant get out of the way. A skilled puncher who stands southpaw is a rare commodity in the world of MMA so McGregors stance has a uniqueness that is even more pronounced than it would be inside a boxing ring. The left hand is almost always delivered perfectly straight (he doesnt often throw hooks or uppercuts) and comes from an angle that opponent after opponent has found too difficult to suss. It possesses a power which means that one strike can befuddle the victim - Alvarez was never the same after surviving the first knock-down - meaning a repeat becomes likelier and likelier. Watch NOW TV Watch Sky Sports for just ￡6.99. No contract. But the real key behind McGregors punching style, honed in Irish boxing gyms before he ever removed his shoes to step into a cage, is his unrivalled accuracy. Alvarez has made a career of throwing wide, powerful hooks (thats how he dethroned Rafael dos Anjos to become champion) but they are energy-sapping efforts that infrequently find the perfect home. McGregor throws short and straight, and nobody yet has found an escape route.. NFL Store Online. Can McGregor box? Exclusive investigation into his boxing credentials Is McGregor the top pound-for-pound fighter in the world?The official rankings before Saturday night had McGregor fourth - behind No 3 Daniel Cormier, second-placed Dominick Cruz and top dog Demetrious Mighty Mouse Johnson. Can any of that trio claim to be better than McGregor now that he is a two-weight champion?McGregors sole UFC defeat to Nate Diaz must come into play here, because it represents an imperfect resume. However, light-heavyweight champion Cormier has also lost to Jon Jones so McGregor must automatically leapfrog him, at the very least. Cruz and Johnson, the bantamweight and flyweight champions respectively, are a sensational duo who arent automatically demoted due to McGregors increasing brilliance. They have fought each other, with Cruz winning, so Johnson also has one UFC blemish on his record. The pair are masters of their craft who blend all aspects of the sport seamlessly while rarely taking damage, but neither have put a run together that compares to McGregors.The looming return of Jones, the exiled former light-heavyweight champion, adds to the competition for the fantasy No 1 spot but he cant be considered until his suspension ends. As it stands, the argument for keeping McGregor off the top spot has dwindled to sheer bias.When will he be back?Another fascinating layer of intrigue surrounding the Irishmans story is how frequently we see him inside the cage. He has managed to fit 10 fights into a mere three-and-a-half year UFC stint, including turning around from his Diaz defeat within five short months. He still rushed back, the prospect of creating history in New York City proving too tempting.Yet a post-fight announcement that his girlfriend is expecting their first child (imagine the ferocity of a mini-McGregor running around in a couple of decades) implies that Conor Sr is approaching his first major break since his remarkable takeover began. Watch Conor McGregors post-fight press conference He has already indicated that a potential return could be as far more than a mere fighter. McGregor, fully aware of his status as the UFCs most popular star, has indicated that the companys new owners must invite him into the boardroom if they want to appease his ambition. People have shares in the company, celebrities. Conan OBrien owns the UFC nowadays, so where is my share? Where is my equity? If Im the one thats bringing this. I mean, theyve got to come talk to me now, thats all I know. McGregor: I want my UFC stake Star has demanded a share of the UFC ownership Ive got both belts, a chunk of money, a little family on the way. If you want me to stick around and you want me to keep doing what Im doing, lets talk.But I want ownership, I want equal share, I want what I deserve, I want what Ive earned.His grand plan would represent a breakthrough in what any sportsperson has ever been capable of, yet is remains a pipe-dream. His last pipe-dream? Three years ago, he claimed hed become a UFC two-weight world champion… Also See: McGregor KOs Alvarez Can McGregor box? ' ' '