This is probably behind the paywall on the Observer site, but basically WWE managed to cut the losses down to 1.6 million due to massive cost-cutting that offset all the money they're wasting on movies and such. TLC set the new bar for PPV at 39,000 worldwide buys, but Royal Rumble translated to about 270,000 new Network subscriptions, so that's clearly a success. No indication of current subscribers, so it probably dropped below a million again. Network will be expanding to all of Canada sometime in March.
Only things of note in the questions was someone asking about NXT and Vince basically admitting that, yeah, they're throwing the hardcore nerds who subscribe to the Network a bone with it. Also, someone asked about the Rumble reaction and Vince got all butt-hurt, likening it to fans getting upset that the babyface didn't win right away. Even though, you know, the babyface DID win.
"Also, someone asked about the Rumble
ReplyDeletereaction and Vince got all butt-hurt, likening it to fans getting upset
that the babyface didn't win right away. Even though, you know, the
babyface DID win."
Silly Scott. They're telling stories! Let it play out and see where it goes.
Call me a hardcore nerd if you want, Vince, but when I see the initials WWE anymore, the names that come to mind are Sasha Banks, Sami Zayn, etc. A main roster guy doesn't show up until 5th or 6th.
ReplyDeleteThat's the the thing with WWE, they are never at fault as it is always us customers who are in the wrong.
ReplyDelete"Am I so out of touch?
ReplyDelete...
No, it's the children that are wrong."
"Royal Rumble translated to about 270,000 new Network subscriptions, so that's clearly a success."
ReplyDeleteTune in next month to see how many of those new subscriptions weren't renewed, because of how the show ended!
I know Reigns is currently pegged as the guy, but I'm pretty sure Vince is going to lose interest in him by the end of the year and start pushing someone else.
ReplyDeleteNo wonder they've pushed the boat out and started using pyro on Raw again. Cash money y'all!
ReplyDeleteThis has become the template of the last five years.
ReplyDelete"I know _____ is currently pegged as the guy, but I'm pretty sure Vince is going to lose interest in him by the end of the year and start pushing someone else."
"You see, there was a spot in the Rumble match where Roman Reigns was to eliminate Titus and break the record for shortest time in the Rumble, but that damn millennial Titus fucked it up and fans started booing because they didn't see a record broken that night."
ReplyDeleteNah Reigns will still be handsome by the end of the year. Only HBK in his prime could avert Vince's loving gaze (gays)
ReplyDeleteJust to head it off.
ReplyDeleteBecause WWE.
Only nerds like great wrestling matches and coherent stories. The masses demand their sports entertainment and still can't get over just how big the Big Show really is.
ReplyDeleteHHH vs Vince in a winner take all match... http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v629/JohnnyDA/gifs/url_zpsuxyegykv.gif
ReplyDeleteVince used the term 'vocal minority' again when discussing #CancelWWENetwork trending. He really doesn't get it, someone needs to tell him that internet access is now widespread.
ReplyDeleteOh shit, so the Rumble was my fault then. My bad Vince! I'll be sure to cheer for people I don't like next time.
ReplyDeleteHe used "vocal minority" because I don't think you can use "whiny butthurt marks" in an earnings call.
ReplyDeleteAh yes, the vocal minority of people who actually PAY for his product, as opposed to the majority of people who watch it for free on USA and never go to a show. Because why would you listen to the paying customer?
ReplyDeleteHere's the thing. He does get it. Just cause #cancelwwenetwork trended doesn't matter. Mainly because trending doesn't matter. It only takes about 100 people to start a trend. The same 100 losers Michael Cole creams about because #usosfartonmizdow is trending every Monday night.
ReplyDeleteHe's big, but I wouldn't say he's BIG big.
ReplyDeleteI get what you're saying, but it takes more than 100 people talking about something to get something trending world wide. With that said, just b/c you tweeted "CancelWWENetwork" doesn't really mean you cancelled WWE Network.
ReplyDeleteI'm really, REALLY curious as to how they're doing PPV payouts with regards to the Network. As a bonus to that, I wonder if anything had changed as to how the talent is compensated for toys and such.
ReplyDeleteYou should see him in person.
ReplyDeleteSoon enough there will be "CHEER" and "BOO" signs.
ReplyDelete(Big Show will keep his "YES!" sign)
The way things are going, the E doesn't have to worry about it. And then if things ever get better, nobody will remember it by then.
ReplyDeleteFrom what we've heard the tl;dr version is that talent is taking it up the ass on payouts. Nobody has anything network related in their contracts so WWE is just paying out the PPV bonuses scaled back to where buys are now and using the saved money to prop up the network.
ReplyDeleteToys/shirts etc the deal is apparently same as it ever was.
At some point some star, Punk v.2016 will have to quit or raise a huge stink about the talent getting network payouts of some kind but it hasn't happened yet and nobody is a big enough star at this point besides Cena to try it.
All indications point to there being no change. It's not like PPV buyouts were an exact science anyway. Vince basically paid you what he felt like.
ReplyDeleteCurt Hawkins in his shoot said the WWE2K cheque used to be the biggest of the year but then the bottom fell out ( Not in the actual sales of the game mind you just the payouts)
I'd feel bad for the roster but they're such spineless automatons nowadays it's almost hard to.
I was at a RAW in 2013 and during a 4 way tag match about 10 minutes in they flickered the lights on and off above the ring (out of the sight of TV) for the audience to start clapping and cheering.
ReplyDeleteStock price is somewhere between holding steady and slightly moving north so the remaining investors are taking this as mostly good news (as am I).
ReplyDeleteVince handled things about as well as he could have, tbh.
He couldn't ignore that there was backlash. He couldn't just wave his hand at it. He addressed it and talked his way out of it as a storyline matter as best as could be done. There really wasn't anything else he could have done unless he decided to make a stand and scream and shout which ends badly for him 99 times out of 100.
You know who's great? Totally employed, cool guy contrarian anti-smarks!
ReplyDeleteSO COOL!
I don't care about Twitter, more the fact that Vince is in denial that there is a widespread sense of disillusion with the product.
ReplyDeleteWas everyone in the arena at the Rumble the vocal minority too? Same vocal minority at last years Rumble? Those vocal minorities really get around.
As I suspected they view NXT as a product for niche rasslin crowds not realizing that particular base is larger than they think and the casual audience would take to it better than the shit they pump out now. NO ONE calls ir "sports entertainment." Just they do.
ReplyDeleteDON'T WORRY PAL, WE FIRED SHELTON BENJAMIN FOR FUCKING UP THE RUMBLE! WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN!!!!!
ReplyDeleteNah, I just don't so bent out of shape when I don't get my way and have to throw a temper tantrum. So much more important things to worry about.
ReplyDelete#cancelwwenetwork was the #1 trend worldwide on Twitter. That's way more than 100 people.
ReplyDeleteI'd say since late 2013 zayn has been my favorite dude. I am a hard core wrestling nerd but I still don't know what the rest of the wwe is supposed to be catered to? Mentally handicapped people. Bored fat people working an anti smark gimmick to kill time between trips to the drive through? Deaf blind people?
ReplyDeleteIdiot children. Their parents will buy them all the Cena merchandise they can hang on their idiot bodies but will they sign up to the network for them?
ReplyDeleteThey were supposed to lose between 50 to 60 million in 2014 and they only lost 30. That does show Vince still is down to tighten the belt which is cool but they are probably just going to be treading water for a few years and then they will get bought out.
ReplyDeleteI get that, but as I've been alluding to before, the layout of the Network may make Vince not "feel" like giving the talent what they deserve, especially if he has to use that cash to make the E look profitable amongst the cuts and expenditures.
ReplyDeleteIf this keeps up, since PPV payouts weren't an exact "science", they may never go back to that model. That's what concerns me.
So little kids. I can see that but it just doesn't match any of there demographics so actually that would make perfect sense.
ReplyDeleteDisposable television.
ReplyDeleteNo different than watching Exterminators on A&E or Swamp People on History. Just something to pass the time.
It didn't used to be this way and it doesn't have to be this way.
Viva La Levesque!
I can picture Vince in a retirement home some day with a black orderly trying to help him and Vince screaming "DAMMT SHELTON, I CAN DO IT MYSELF!" at him.
ReplyDelete"Bored fat people working an anti smark gimmick to kill time between trips to the drive through? "
ReplyDeleteThat made me laugh
no way it'll happen. The McMahons own the controlling stock and Vince will never let the company go. If he dies, maybe it happens
ReplyDeleteThe RF Hawkins shoot is fucking gold too. I recommend that to everyone
ReplyDeleteQuestion, when Vince eventually retires (or dies), does anyone think they'll take the company back private again?
ReplyDeleteIts not going private again
ReplyDeleteThat's also one kinda diabolically brilliant result of making sure no one is big enough is that it prevents any of the talent from having clout enough to complain. You either take it or you find another line of work (unless you're one of the few that can walk away comfortable like Punk, or move to another promotion like Del Rio or AJ Styles).
ReplyDeleteOnly losing 1.6 million is actually.. really pretty impressive. Someone there knows what they're doing at least.
ReplyDeleteDoes he go more into the payouts there? Hard to imagine it's gotten better since he was there.
ReplyDeleteWho says they wouldn't sell it. They just need to find a another venture to move into. They hate wrestling more than the average person.
ReplyDeleteThe market cap of the company is now back above $1 Billion as of right this moment. Where would they get that kinda cash to buy it back?
ReplyDeleteHuh. They have the Internet on computers now.
ReplyDeleteThey are the shits creatively right now but they can weather losses well and will likely turn a profit soon.
ReplyDeleteI suppose for some people that milquetoast background noise is what they want.
ReplyDeleteMaybe he's a fan of shitty Green Day?
ReplyDeleteDidn't know it was north of $1 billion, yeah that would pretty much eliminate that option unless they get a group of investors to take it private.
ReplyDeleteWell, they lost 30 million total in 2014
ReplyDeleteThat still isn't all that bad.
ReplyDeletePeople asking Vince about crowd reactions during a financial conference call tells you a lot about wrestling fans.
ReplyDeleteYeesh.
They slashed all the costs. That is impressive for sure. Unless you work there...
ReplyDeleteUpgrading the stock to don't sell
ReplyDeleteAgreed but on the other hand that is really the only time he's captive enough to ask him a question like that.
ReplyDeleteWe just had a nice big round of layoffs. So I get what you mean.
ReplyDeleteVince: "THAT'S ENOUGH, PAL!! DUNN, TAKE THAT FUCKING BONE BACK!!!"
ReplyDeleteWell that's exactly what they would do, but imagine paying back $ 1 billion plus interest?
ReplyDeleteThe business would have to fucking explode for a decade long run just for them to start even making a true profit after paying back all those sharks.
It's definitely time for a brass ring on a pole match.
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of bones - Vince, where do you see Seth Rollins in a year?
ReplyDeleteI understand, but for fuck's sake leave the guy alone. That's a pretty self serving gesture.
ReplyDeleteStocks are all about self serving. If I were a shareholder I would damn sure ask why the crowds are seemingly turning on the product.
ReplyDeleteWho cares about crowds? It all comes down to $.
ReplyDeleteYes, but they're connected. Alienate the people long enough and you lose live gates
ReplyDeleteLOL @ the irony of the statement about Vince.
ReplyDeleteYou can't honestly think that was the motive for asking that question.
ReplyDeleteHere's the thing: those crowds that are "turning" are paying to do it and if the Internet is any indication, will continue to do so. That's what a financial conference call is about: business and earnings, not creative direction.
ReplyDeleteMe too
ReplyDeleteTell that to WrestleMania that will sell out even if Reigns vs. Lesnar is the main event.
ReplyDeleteMost crowd reactions are started by a handful of people. Vocal minority is a perfect phrase for them.
The internet hates Cena, yet he's the highest merchandise seller. It's not hard to put two and two together.
The WWE's been "
ReplyDeleteThe WWE is McDonald's or Nike now. Yeah people are finding out that the product sucks and at times is bad for you but they still come back even if there is a new product out there that is better.
ReplyDeleteAre you saying an important enough stock holder to be on the call was bitching about Daniel Bryan?
ReplyDeleteWell this is where making NXT a viable alternative helps, because TNA ain't getting the job done.
ReplyDeleteAny stockholder can get in the call. How do you think they quantify who's "important enough" and who isn't?
ReplyDeleteIf people started booing the latest Marvel movie and walking out demanding refunds, Disney investors would probably ask questions too.
ReplyDelete"Lord of the Ring" match! BOOK IT!!
ReplyDeleteIf they get to talk, they're important.
ReplyDeleteAlright, I'll rephrase then: how do you think they decide who gets to talk and who doesn't?
ReplyDeleteEveryone just bitches too much and wants to hear their own voice.
ReplyDeleteI would imagine by who has the biggest stake.
ReplyDeletePrivate equity firm would be the only way, but the McMahons wouldn't want to lose that much control and wrestling lacks billionaire money marks that buy football teams.
ReplyDeleteIncorrect.
ReplyDeleteThe pole is John Cena's cock and the only way to grab it is with your mouth
ReplyDeleteMaybe. I'm not on the board. I'm sure they field calls from the major analyst groups, banks etx first.
ReplyDeleteUndertaker passed the torch?
ReplyDeleteIf those people have questions to ask on the call, but those people generally get their questions answered via e-mail because they have that direct line of communication. The average public investors call simply puts the calls in a basic queue.
ReplyDelete'The torch' is what they call the Undertaker's cock
ReplyDeleteAnd you think they wouldn't screen out anything relating to a certain bearded gnome.
ReplyDeleteIs that how Nikki Bella got the Divas title?
ReplyDelete...or how Seth got the MitB briefcase?
It's not about money and buys dammit, it's about brass rings!
ReplyDeleteThe third biggest show of the year that ends with the fans booing and trending #1 on Twitter about cancelling the network and you think it is just fans "bitching" as to why it got brought up?
ReplyDeleteSeth Rollins' wiener suit on a pole.
ReplyDeleteI love watching you talk stock, it's always interesting.
ReplyDeleteHe's a human being. It isn't a question of 'if' he dies, but 'when.'
ReplyDelete"Can I get those rings in brass?"
ReplyDelete"...worked there."
ReplyDeleteFTFY
I have a subscription to ThomsonOne for work and it includes transcriptions for almost every publicly traded company's conference calls. I think Mike Tyson worked on the WWE's call -- Austin is referred to as "Cold Stone Steve Austin"....
ReplyDeleteThat and the top rope belly to Bailey were awesome.
ReplyDeleteor . . . does she . . . bend over backwards to stay employed?
ReplyDeleteI don't think Fit has been in charge of the Divas in years.
ReplyDeleteThe Melina match against Beth at RR09 is awesome if only for the spot where Beth bends Melina so that she is kicking herself in the back of the head.
ReplyDeletelol yeah true
ReplyDeleteOnce again, it's just WWE actively antagonizing their fans as this feud carries on. WWE started this feud, and just can't leave it alone. This "Reality Era" is horrible for business since it's worked shoot nonsense.
ReplyDeleteThey clearly didn't hear me during 2010-2014, then.
ReplyDeletethats when you start by offering a "back rub"
ReplyDeleteNever seen that match, I'll check it out. Beth and Melina also had a decent match at ONS '08.
ReplyDeleteTrump. Didn't he already buy it once?
ReplyDeleteJoking, of course.
So the questions are did Paige choke? Did she have matches laid out for her? Was she led through her matches by Emma, etc? Do the WWE divas not know how to work?
ReplyDeleteTed Turner?
ReplyDeleteMostly kidding, of course, but there are people out there. Definitely not as many as pro sports, however
Hoss' original nickname! Wow!
ReplyDeleteDID YOU KNOW
ReplyDeleteThe wwe has 10,000,000 times as much money as Google, Walmart, Microsoft, Saudi Arabia, and all professional sports leagues combined!
Somehow my factoid is still more believable than there one that claimed they had 10 million female fans.
ReplyDeletetell that to the papered sold out crowd at wm ok.
ReplyDeleteClaiming the people who are booing the vocal minority is pretty funny seeing the ratings this past weekend and the crowd reactions to reigns. Oh its a small group sure it is
According to this article, he is. http://www.wrestlingrumors.net/wwe-officials-reportedly-happy-finlays-work-divas/
ReplyDeleteAre we forgetting Charlotte/Nattie from just a few months ago?
ReplyDeleteOr you do what people have always done in that situation and unionize. There's no one big enough NFL or MLB player either. (Not really.) And yet they do fairly well for themselves.
ReplyDeleteDID YOU KNOW:
ReplyDeleteThe WWE rejected my totally legitimate job application to become a staff writer.
The ones with monocles talk first.
ReplyDelete$2,700,000 more then for the month. Pretty good.. For the one PPV. Just for a quick and dirty math exercise let's see. WWE, got about 50% of PPV revenue. So with a million subscribers that's $10,000,000 brought in for the month. In PPV form, what does that equal? I figured that to get 10,000,000 they would need to actually generate $20,000,000 giving half of the earnings to the cable company. Then if you divide by 50, you get 400,000 buys. Does that look right to anyone else?
ReplyDeleteHHH: Hey, you keep your finger off that switch, Dunn!
ReplyDeleteas hilarious as that was I LOVED how he always referred to HBK as "Haaaaaht Break!"
ReplyDeleteThat's how they made the tag titles.
ReplyDeleteThe last three way match on DA was really neat also
ReplyDeleteArent PPV's 59 in HD?
ReplyDeleteDisagree.
ReplyDeleteThat was hilarious! Same with his horrible crotch chop that crossed at the elbows.
ReplyDeleteTrish/Lita v Torrie/Stacy, Bra and Panties at Invasion. Watching that match live I gave it a standing erection... uhhhhhhh- I mean a standing OVATION. Yes, that.
ReplyDeleteAhem.
One of my favorite women joshi Kana, she is stiff as fuck : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vVwjepQzBh8 (here against Del Ray in Shimmer)
ReplyDeleteI think the Sasha Banks one topped even that one.
ReplyDeleteOk, that would put it at 340,000 buys.
ReplyDeleteHaving never strayed too far from North American wrestling during my fandom, this match at NXT Rival is probably my favourite women's match ever
ReplyDeleteHIRED!
ReplyDeleteWe're all to blame. I think the natural step is for WWE to prompt us with simple hashtags to tweet like #CheerForRoman or #ApplaudNow during matches.
ReplyDeleteVince cares about twitter except for the times when he doesn't care about twitter when it doesn't work for him.
ReplyDeleteYeah, the CFO and whoever decided to fire a bunch of people and cut back on production values. Whoooo corporations!
ReplyDeleteIt's not a coincidence that the "smark darlings" are the most popular guys on the roster.
ReplyDeleteSadly I don't have Destination America so I'm out of the Impact loop.
ReplyDeleteVince got all butt-hurt, likening it to fans getting upset that the babyface didn't win right away. Even though, you know, the babyface DID win.
ReplyDelete*drops mic*
The Network number at the end of the 4th Quarter was 721,000. So, the Rumble must have been a big success for them.
ReplyDeleteHere's how I would book the next few weeks of NXT if I was a crazy, senile, out of touch man in his 60's. Next week in a non-title match, Kevin Owens loses to Baron Corbin after Sami Zayn distracts him by standing at the top of the ramp. The following week, Sami Zayn loses to Bull Dempsey when Kevin Owens' music hits and Zayn momentarily loses his concentration. Who wouldn't want to see Owens & Zayn go at it again after that?
ReplyDeleteWomen's matches should be the first one to cook her man supper wins.
ReplyDeletethat was before anyone actually watched the Rumble. I wonder how much affect #cancelWWE had if any
ReplyDeleteMeltzer had a write up about it in the observer how it had no effect at all.
ReplyDeleteif you keep in mind stuff like the Michaels/Bryan story from the Jericho podcast (= the idea of no followup after HBK superkicked Bryan) I have no trouble believing they are really TRYING to be appeal to other demographics, they are just failing at it.
ReplyDeleteThat's what happens when you apply for "Heel GM" position.
ReplyDeleteSami Zayn >>> El Generico.
ReplyDeleteDude, I totally get you. Zayn was so great in PWG and PWG was fun, too. We're seeing the same thing with NXT. Zayn is great and the rest of NXT is great. In other words, it's not just Zayn but he's being surrounded by promotions that support him. The WWE proper is not the same kind of supportive environment.
ReplyDeleteYeah. My guess is the Rumble added a lot to the Network numbers because I can't imagine 279,000 subscribers coming from just the UK. I can't wait to see the 1Q number to see how they held up through Wrestlemania weekend.
ReplyDeleteThere's an insane hardcore match from Shine (I think) with Cheerleader Melissa and someone who's name I can't remember off hand from a couple years ago, that's my pick. But asking me my favorite womens match is like asking me what my favorite country song is.
ReplyDeleteIm sure in WWE land the way to get the black demographic is to introduce a rapping former basketball player who dances to the ring and wrestles in hopes of finding the father he never knew.
ReplyDeleteShine is full of great wrestling. I don't watch it as often as I would like, but it's really fun.
ReplyDeleteI gotta agree. When I first started getting into Puro, I loved the standard AJPW fare, but what really blew me away was stuff like this : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DU2ixSTFwN8 . It's Aja Kong vs Meiko Satomura from 2006, and it's goddamn amazing.
ReplyDeleteI'd say some of the best workers of the past thirty years came out of Joshi, no question.
279,000 actually seems like a larger number period. Seems strange for that many people to all of a sudden get interested in something that's been around for a year
ReplyDeleteNot quite. They Averaged 721,000 subs over the entire 4th quarter but the actual number of subscribers at the end of December 31st was 816,000.
ReplyDelete- U.S. subscribers: 772,000 on Dec. 31 to 871,720 on Jan. 27 (increase of 13%, 99,720 total added).
ReplyDelete- Int'l subscribers: 44,000 on Dec. 31 to 129,750 on Jan. 27 (increase of 195%, 85,750 total added).
- Total Subscribers: 816,000 on Dec. 31 to 1,001,470 on Jan. 27 (increase of 23%, 185,470 total added).
Also worth considering is a percentage break down...
- U.S. subscribers: 94.6 percent of total subscribers on Dec. 31; 87.0 percent on Jan. 27.
- Int'l subscribers: 5.4 percent of total subscribers on Dec. 31; 13.0 percent on Jan. 27.
She is awesome.
ReplyDeleteGoing month to month makes the WWE Network even MORE risky, as if that was possible. Like, you put on a shitshow like the Rumble and everyone cancels...there's no guarantee they come back.
ReplyDeleteIt's pretty awesome that by going month to month, they essentially reduced the price for the casual fan to watch WrestleMania from $60 to $10.
The Network was never going to work, but at least with a six-month commitment, it had potential if the WWE was red-hot or something. The hardcore market (who buy for the old stuff) is a sliver, WWE 24/7 pegged that at around 300,000, and now they are at the whims of casual fans who have proven for about 10 years they don't care about 95% of the PPVs.
If they go thru with Reigns/Lesnar (I can't imagine they can), things would get so ugly. But every time I think, "WWE cannot be that stupid," they show me otherwise.
Women's wrestling is just not my thing, but that match was the shit. I wish I could remember who the other girl was, I'm pretty sure she was in ROH.
ReplyDeleteThe problem is that there were never enough of you to make it successful.
ReplyDeleteForever and a day -- if they put everything on the Network EXCEPT WrestleMania, it would have been fine. The break-even would be way less & it would not ruin the company if/when it failed.
I mean, WrestleMania was doing 1 million+ buys every year. Why they tossed that away is something I will never, ever understand. Who makes a $50-60 million guaranteed money-maker go away??
You don't think the Disney CEO or CBS CEO has to answer for shitty shows or movies??
ReplyDeleteAnyone ever see a women's match where someone ends up with a crimson mask?
ReplyDeleteHey, Big Show needs to feed his family too.
ReplyDeleteso why not get her off the main shows then? this "sink or swim" attitude is stupid anyways, there are tons of workers who needed several "attempts" before they got good/over.
ReplyDeleteI remember Lita accidentally bleeding at one of the Survivor Series shows.
ReplyDeletethere were dozens of others that might not have been "amazing" but at least "good" (and a lot better than what we usually get to see in the WWE). for example, I liked the "Last Knockout Standing" match between Taryn Terrell and Gail Kim.
ReplyDeleteI always thought that was a joke spot. Maybe not. Damn.
ReplyDeleteugh... that horrible WWE "cruiserweight division", which was so different from what we had come to love in WCW. f**k you, Vince and goons!
ReplyDeleteHis hands are like frying pans.
ReplyDelete...and if only this company was actually good at producing sports entertainment, they'd been nicely focused!
ReplyDeleteBut Finlay was also in charge during the Trish/Lita era. I'd say Vince tells him how he wants the divas matches to go and he's simply following orders.
ReplyDeleteI've suggested this before but: BRING BACK THE NITRO GIRLS.
ReplyDeleteLet the current "Divas" become the Nitro Girls (assuming any of them can dance.) That way, you get your T&A. You get your pee break. Don't even bother having a Diva's Belt.
Re-start the Women's division. Have the wrestlers who can wrestle...wrestle. Short, clear matches that are well laid out to show athleticism and competition. They don't dress like Divas, they don't get storylines like Divas...they are all about wrestling and battling for the Women's Championship.
You can have some of the Divas think they can wrestle. At first, they should get destroyed quickly. Then, they can have the redemption angle where they train (MONTAGE!) and stop being Divas and become an actual wrestler capable of putting on an entertaining match.
The Divas can be involved in storylines...dating superstars...feuding with each other...acting as valets... They can be on posters...they can even still have Total Divas. They just should stop pretending to be wrestlers unless they're capable of being wrestlers. They're there to dance once or twice a show.
Start small. Make it compelling. Make the belt worth fighting for.
(Actually, that's good advice for the rest of the main roster issues, too...)
After Mickie left and McCool retired great women's matches have been few and far between. Most girls on the main roster can't work. Others are not given any time. And a few simply give up on having good matches.
ReplyDeleteI think Summer Rae holds the record for 0 to fuck this as I always heard she had good matches in NXT but I haven't seen her have at least a decent one since she was called up.
There was a great AJ/Natalya match on main event about a year ago that's been buried under the endless botches and 90 second matches this year.
I still wanna see Sara Del Ray have a short run on the main roster as Sister Abigail.
ReplyDeleteMegumi Kudo vs. Combat Toyoda 5/5/96 FMW No rope electrified barbed wire explosion match.
ReplyDeleteNo question.
5 stars easy. Greatest women's match iv ever seen with some of thr greatest emotion in a wrestling match iv ever seen.
If either of those are the best women's match you've ever seen you must only watch WWE. Any Sara Del Rey or Cheerleader Melissa match is better,not to mention Japan.
ReplyDeletemakes sense then
ReplyDeleteThey definitely both need losing streak gimmicks.
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't call that tag match indy style at all.
ReplyDeleteIndy tag matches are all about tag team maneuvers these days, the only big one I saw in this show was the pop up neckbreaker
If raw actually appealed to anyone you'd have a point.
ReplyDeleteI thought the main event was good. **** is fair.
ReplyDeleteI'm assuming they didn't go all out with this one so they have something for round two. If you've never seen their match from Final Battle 2010 Google it now. They had the intensity you were looking for in spades.
Oh wow. I read that wrong. Thank you for the correction!
ReplyDeleteYou did the Lord's work.
ReplyDeleteSteen's offence was like 20% finishers.
ReplyDeleteMan made it work though. Over bearing offence was basically his gimmick
Cosign every word.
ReplyDeleteIsn't that the only position they have?
ReplyDeleteI applied there once as a janitor... in the application, it said "must be available to serve as heel GM"
Did you ever watch a soap opera?
ReplyDeleteThe most surprising news was the increase in live gate attendance,albeit a slight one.
ReplyDeleteExcept they weren't making $50-60 million on WrestleMania off of the PPV revenue. They don't get anywhere near 100% of the $60 that people pay on PPV.
ReplyDeleteI think the point more is the fact Zayn was practically knocked out, and Owens was opening up on him while he was defenceless, then instead of pinning him or submitting him, he just decided to repeatedly powerbomb him until he was unconscious.
ReplyDeleteNot many people have actually done that in WWE, if you think about it...
You really have to see him live to appreciate how big his grocery bills must be.
ReplyDeleteYes, someone out there is HAVING FUN, MAGGLE!
ReplyDeleteYea, they split with the cable company 50/50 I believe. Still not sure if that would be better though. Depends on how many keep. The network contingent on WrestleMania.
ReplyDeleteDoes Dallas count?
ReplyDelete