Dear Ken,
You are due to face Kimbo Slice in the main event of the EliteXC Circus in October. At this stage of your career, you have faced the best of the best and have nothing left to prove to anyone, other than the beast inside that all top competitors have.
This beast is indomitable, and it has given you victories when lesser men have faded. It has also made you one of the most recognizable faces in MMA ever. You were one of the original few that brought MMA, and indeed UFC, to a greater audience, and you deserve credit where credit is due.
Since your debut with Pancrase Hybrid Wrestling in 1993, you have won several titles, including the UFC super-fight title. In short Ken, you are one of the most respected men to set foot in a ring or an octagon.
But that was then...this is now.
Ken, of your incredible 41 fights in your MMA career, you have won 26 and lost 13. Of the 13 you have lost, eight were in your last 10 fights.
The mind is willing, but the body is getting old. Ken, you're 44 now. Having had a fantastic career, money should not be an issue. I hope it's not. But every sportsman face's the conundrum you face now.
- B/R Ticket Guide
You were great, you know you've got one more great performance in you, and you want to go out on your terms. But only a few get to make that choice, Ken.
The chances of you receiving a serious head injury are reduced in MMA, but the chance is still there. Don't become our Muhammad Ali, please.
I've read your interview of the upcoming fight against Kimbo Slice. You can still talk the talk. And what you say about his style may be right. And I'm sure that Ken Shamrock of 10 years ago would have taken him apart, hell even the Ken of five years ago could've beaten this guy.
But you're neither of these guys now. You're Ken Shamrock, you're 44, you're older, slower, and hopefully wiser. And you've lost your last five in a row.
You may have guessed that I don't want you to fight. You'd be right. But now that you've signed upon the dotted line, I hope you win. Then I hope you retire.
You see Ken; you can still fulfill your need to participate in a contact sport. One of the main reasons UFC is so popular now is the time you spent with WWE. You introduced the sport we love to a wider audience. That audience still loves you. And you should take advantage of it. You can make really good money by making the short trip from ExciteXC to either WWE or TNA.
Personally I'd like to see you in TNA; it's already set up for you. You'd walk straight into a program with Kurt Angle and Frank Trigg. This could see you heavily involved in the direction of the company. It could also inspire other fighters to make the trip to be with you. Yes, Ken, you are that respected.
I hope your future career is successful Ken. I hope I've made a bit of sense. I hope you don't get hurt.
Regards,
Willie
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2 months ago
good article willie.
i dont think anyone wants to see anyone get hurt, and i think ken shamrock will beat slice, but his time as a force in mma is at an end
2 months ago
In my opinion Ken Shamrock did a lot to damage his reputation while he was involved in the promotion and fights with Tito Ortiz. His behavior was that of a spoiled bully who met his match, but refused to admit it until Ortiz beat him badly the second time. It was only then that he had no choice but to admit Tito Ortiz was the better fighter. I wanted KS to beat the outspoken Ortiz, but it was too little too late for Shamrock. It's time for Ken Shamrock to hang it up while he still has a shred of dignity left. He was good for the sport when his fighting did the talking for him, but every time he opens his mouth he diminishes his great accomplishments.
from 2 months ago
i agree with you about shamrocks ego getting in the way of his fights with ortiz, its probably his ego that is pushing him now.
thanks for reminding me of that. i'd have added that into the article if i'd thought of it at the time.
2 months ago
did you guys see the last fight that kimbo had??? he was practically dead in the 3rd round and i honestly believe that the ref saved his ass!!! he was going to die of a heart attack in that last round!!! if shamrock could last that long he will beat kimbo!!!!
yeah i agree that shamrock is old but i think that he can possibly beat kimbo. right now kimbo is one of the most popular fighters out there due to his time on YOUTUBE, and shamrock is a smart guy to go after him due to the audience and also the paycheck!!!!
from 2 months ago
I think the fight will in during the first round no matter who wins it.
2 months ago
Ken Shamrock will make Kimbo tap out a la' Brock Lesnar in his first UFC fight, and then there will likely be a rematch. I hope to see Shamrock in either the WWE or TNA when his career in MMA is over.
from 2 months ago
I think it would be good for Ken and fans alike for him to finish his MMA career and move to WWE or TNA
2 months ago
I was with you all the way up until you mentioned fake wrestling. This article starts nicely but ends up being insulting to Ken Shamrock. I'm sure you didn't mean it to sound like that but thats the impression I get. I agree Ken Shamrock is way past his prime. But I think the reasons why he should not fight should be explained in a way that is less "you suck you lost your last few fights also you're an old man, why don't you go to WWE". Thats basically what this article is saying. I don't know if it was your intention.
Also on the fake wrestling topic. How is that safer? Yes he can do the whole Hulk Hogan thing but it is still very tough on ones body as well as disrespectful for him if he truly is to be remembered as a MMA fighter.
from 2 months ago
But if Ken was alredy in the WWF/WWE how can this disrespect him?
from 2 months ago
I'm sorry that you feel the article was insulting to Ken, Ron. I have a massive amount of respect for Shamrock and at no point was this letter meant to be de-meaning. But that statistics line up. Ken has lost 8 of his last 10, he is almost a spent force and I don't get any enjoyment from seeing the man who introduced me to MMA getting beaten and not knowing the right time to retire.
Pro Wrestling is tough on the body, you make a valid point. But the whole idea of pro wrestling is not to hurt your opponent, otherwise it could effect both of your abilities to make money.
I think Ken going to WWE or TNA could revive him.
The point you raise about Pro Wrestling being fake are wide of the mark.
Nobody on earth except my 4 year old thinks that Pro Wrestling is real. But... to participate in it you need very real skills. At this stage of his career, if Ken wants to retire from MMA and still make good money WWE/TNA is the way to do it.
My point on the article is this...
When you look at Muhammad Ali today, what do you see?
I see an elderly man with Parkinsons disease, from not knowing when to stop.
Nobody should have to go through that. Especially someone who is one of the all time great sportsmen.
What would Ali be like today, if someone had taken him aside and said "Ali, you've just got to stop. You can make good money at something else"
2 months ago
Ken needs $$$, a man gotta eat.
2 months ago
Thank You Dorothy, I knew someone would bring that up. The difference is Finishing in "fake wrestling" when you were known as one of the greats in actual fighting sport. Take for example the show "the surreal life." Have you seen it? It's a bunch of "has been" celebrities that go on that show and completely humiliate and negate what role they once played in Television and Cinema, and are remembered as a joke instead of...what they once were actors/actresses, and in Shamrocks case (a legend of the sport of MMA).
2 months ago
Ken handed his dignity in a long time ago. Did you see the way he acted with Ortiz on TUF? And while I'm certain most of that was to hype his Ortiz fights, fighters with dignity usually don't resort to that kind of behavior. Unfortunately, Kimbo will beat Ken. Badly.
from 2 months ago
i agree with you that Ken should have handled himself better in hyping the fight with T.O. and id like to see him beat kimbo.
but ExciteXC have got the MMA star they needed tohype their federation. its a win win situation for them.
if kimbo wins he defeated a legend giving creedence to EXC.
if ken wins they get him until hes eventually beaten.
its all about money and ratings.
2 months ago
Willie, it obviously depends on a persons point of view, whether Shamrock should go to fake wrestling or not. And I use the term "fake wrestling" because then I don't have to swear about how much I hate fake wrestling. Pro wrestling is insulting to the English language. So you see it depends on how you feel about fake wrestling. And yes I do realize "most" people know that fake wrestling is fake. ...Fake! Wrestling!
from 2 months ago
i can appreciate your attitude towards wrestling.
theres an old saying about wrestling that applies to the two of us.
for those who believe, no excuse is needed.
for those who don't, no excuse is good enough.
i do appreciate your feedback. thanks ron.
2 months ago
Great letter Willie! Says it all doesn't it?
from 2 months ago
thanks Zyla,
glad you liked it.
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