WWE Offering One Week Free Trial of the Network Starting February 24th
http://www.wwe.com/inside/wwe-network-to-launch-feb-24-26174061
WWE "Hall of Fame" Ceremony Will Air on the WWE Network in it's Entirety
http://www.f4wonline.com/more/more-top-stories/96-wwe/35396-note-on-this-years-hall-of-fame
TNA Wrestler Returning to Television Shortly?
Kenny King is currently filming vignettes in Las Vegas so they seemingly have plans to bring him back to television.
Credit Mike Johnson, PWInsider.com
http://www.wwe.com/inside/wwe-network-to-launch-feb-24-26174061
WWE "Hall of Fame" Ceremony Will Air on the WWE Network in it's Entirety
http://www.f4wonline.com/more/more-top-stories/96-wwe/35396-note-on-this-years-hall-of-fame
TNA Wrestler Returning to Television Shortly?
Kenny King is currently filming vignettes in Las Vegas so they seemingly have plans to bring him back to television.
Credit Mike Johnson, PWInsider.com
WWE getting nervous about the Network.
ReplyDeleteIn retrospect, they will kick themselves for not having it ready to launch as soon as they announced it. How many people would have signed up that night that may not now?
(raises hand)
ReplyDeleteThe fact that you can get WrestleMania for a six-month commitment is a pretty good incentive to sign up though.
ReplyDeleteMinor Threadjack:
ReplyDeleteThe second disc of my Bill Alfonso shoot is not working for me so if I can't get that to work, I will be reviewing the Danny Doring shoot, which was the runner up in the poll.
No they aren't.
ReplyDeleteI would.. LOL
ReplyDeleteEh, I don't see that working though. ADR's pretty much a black hole of heat himself at this point--- can't see the crowd getting all worked up because they're dying to see Del Rio get beat up. Hell, I'm expecting ADR to get lots of "Si" chants and be on the "yay" end of the boo/yay exchanges at Elimination Chamber.
ReplyDeleteAnd all that aside, once the calendar turns to Feb 24 and the story is Batista vs Randy Orton, there's gonna be nothing else that matters: the fans will absolutely reject that
Fair enough. I'd still argue that HHH is a bigger star than everyone not named John Cena on the regular roster. I get your point tho
ReplyDeleteFree trial = more plugs on TV in the next couple weeks. Oh joy!
ReplyDeleteIt's probably not the most apt comparison, but whats been going on lately reminds of that period of time during Nitro when the audience would just scream for Flair and WCW was like "fuck you, here's more nWo".
ReplyDeletePathologically ignoring your paying customers for an extended period of time HAS to be a terrible idea. Right?
So we get the entire hour long Ultimate Warrior acceptance speech!!! I wonder who will have the balls to cut him off.. Vince wouldn't dare do it himself..
ReplyDeleteI agree with the emailer and disagree with Scott's interpretation of this being 50/50 booking. I think it's a tough argument to make that Reigns' push is an example of 50/50 booking. I also think Punk was booked to look very strong, even though he bailed on the promotion afterward. I actually think the emailer's point is an effective strategy. The match takes the equivalent of 3 normal PPV matches, so why not use it to put 3 guys over?
ReplyDeleteand more flashy videos on how to hook up your TV set. Next they'll be showing us how to surf the net too!!
ReplyDeleteIshii has been on such a roll lately. He's had ****+ matches with Tanahashi, Shibata, and now Naito. The crowd loves him too even though he is supposed to be a heel.
ReplyDeleteKenny King vignettes = NO BUYS!!!
ReplyDelete24/7 access to good-quality version of JCP PPVs? Wrestlemania is a bonus.
ReplyDeleteCool.
ReplyDeleteCool.
...Cool?
You are way more down on Batista than I am. If they can somehow separate him from the Bryan backlash I think he'll be ok. He's a top guy not named John Cena. He was a legit main event player who was over when he left. If you'd ask this blog and the WWEs general audience 6 months ago if they'd welcome back Batista, I'd bet 85% would say yes. The Bryan backlash is such a black hole on top it kills anyone in the backlash
ReplyDeleteVince: "Well, the fans rejected necrophilia and incest... PEDOPHILIA, that's it! Hey Dolph, head to Wardrobe, I've got a GREAT idea for you."
ReplyDelete(Dolph now wrestles in a "pedobear" costume.)
How many Delaware people do we HAVE here? (UD, 89-93)
ReplyDeleteTruthfully, there are so many draws that the network has there is something for everyone. Its a must for any wrestling fan.
ReplyDeleteIt's a shame i can't voice my opinion without you and kjbone chiming in. He's a life smark, and you well I like you most times but we seem to not agree on the shittiness of meekin.
ReplyDeleteWhen did batman turn gay?
ReplyDeleteIs anyone watching the Olympics right now? Johhny Weir is wearing a Lacey see through blouse and lipstick while his hair is in huge curls like a girl before her prom. I saw him in the pink blazer and leather leggings, and with the braid in his hair, and I saw him once in LA wearing heels and carrying a purse but this could be the gayest outfit in history. I love this kid just strolling around backwards Russia like he's the queen of the gay day parade. Good for him
ReplyDeleteYeah, but at this point you CAN'T separate him from the Bryan backlash because he's challenging for the title as a face, and the fanbase sees that as Bryan's spot. Short of Batista being screwed out of his title shot (which isn't gonna happen), I can't see him getting over as a face. And once they put that belt on him at Mania, it's totally over.
ReplyDeleteMy thought is that WWE just way overestimated Batista's actual popularity. Aside from outliers like the Undertaker matches, Batista had a pretty uninspiring injury-plagued run as a babyface. He completely lived off that hot Evolution angle for years. Was the current fanbase really licking their chops to relive the amazing Batista babyface era?
He's not The Rock-- he doesn't have that catalogue of amazing memories that people still talk about. He didn't go out and make himself more popular in the years away from the ring--- he basically faded into obscurity. He doesn't cut particularly good babyface promos. I dunno, I just don't see it.
The main thing though is I think WWE also underestimated how much their audience might want to just MOVE ON. They want their new guys, not rehashes of "the glory years." Especially when you have cases like Batista, where the glory years weren't all that glorious. The fanbase is officially turning on the "same old shit", and Batista has fairly or unfairly become the posterboy for said shit.
1939.
ReplyDeleteI hear it in football/baseball games occasionally, but I can't even remember the last time I heard it on a wrestling show. Might have been the original ECW.
ReplyDeleteIt will. There's not a million people out there that want this.
ReplyDeleteEXCELLENT analysis, couldn't have said it any better myself. Hell, make up something. Yeah the smarks will probably still chant, but for the many more marks in the audience, at least they'll have a better understand and just won't wonder why this guy just randomly dropped off the face of the earth.
ReplyDeleteHe was interviewed on CNN before the Olympics and he wore a shirt that looked exactly like Stalin's military garb, except tight and gay and with the top three buttons undone. He's the best.
ReplyDeleteAlmost every single subscription based company that ever existed offers free trials or offered free trials at one point in time (usually when they are starting).
ReplyDeleteHulu Plus offers free trials. Netflix offers free trials. Credit monitoring companies offer free trials. The Columbia record club used offer free trials. Coffee of the month clubs offer free trials. Time/Life books offered free trials. Lookout Mobile Security offers free trials. cable TV networks offer free trials. Internet porn companies offer free trials.
It's not a sign of anybody getting nervous about anything. It's a sign that WWE is doing what every other company does in order to get subscriptions.
I dunno, the introduction of Dawn & Angel's annoying as shit kid both rubbed me the wrong way.
ReplyDeleteWhat makes you so sure that one million is the be-all, end-all target number? Have we heard what the target is?
ReplyDeleteSt. Louis is the greatest town in the United States and kids these days realize this. I mean we have the St. Louis Cardinals, we had Wrestling at the Chase, A freaking Arch, a giant river, Imos Pizza we truly are all that is right in this country.
ReplyDeleteMeek and I are on the same boat with each other; we're not exactly gaga about each other's work, but we respect each other as a person.
ReplyDeleteBut isn't it also a shame that Meek can't express his without you chiming in? I just never understood reading a person's work whom you don't dig.
I agree hes not the Rock, and that its gonna be hard separating him from the Bryan backlash. I really do think you are underestimating him. Did wwe overestimate him, probably. But outside of Cena, who on the active roster would you place him behind WHEN they we're negotiating his return. Nobody really. I can't blame them for bringing him in. Just terrible timing. I think Batistas return is definitely a net gain for wwe over 2 years
ReplyDeleteWhen you think about it, you're buying WM up front, which most fans buy anyway, and getting the archive for free. It's insane, you can't not buy it.
ReplyDeleteI follow skating at all, but a friend from high school is a huge Weir fan and I have been getting a kick out of all of her Facebook posts about him in Sochi. The LBGT vs Russia feud is the most interesting part of these Olympics.
ReplyDeletePsh, sure he did, if you consider going from the Rock to Scott Hall (circa 2002) a step back, which I can't imagine anyone does.
ReplyDeleteIts a great strategy and you will always have first run programming on the network too, with archived footage added as it progresses. They have done a great job presenting the network to fans.
ReplyDeleteI think it can be a net gain if they turn him heel now and have him put over a few guys that the fanbase actually likes (Bryan, Reigns, maybe Cesaro). Then at that point they can have him re-do the original Evolution turn and just turn face on HHH again, and at that point it could be ok.
ReplyDeleteBasically, they need to create a reason that teh current fanbase would want to cheer him. Simply having him show up, grunt, and display a nose ring isn't enough.
He's a star, obviously. He has value. But he's not the conquering beloved babyface that they thought he was gonna be. And if they don't admit their mistake and right the ship soon (heel turn before Mania, or screw him out of the title shot) it's going to absolutely fail and they won't get any real value out of him. They basically need to not be stubborn about this, because I just don't see where the current fanbase's affection for Batista is gonna come from.
And remember, shit like this spreads quickly nowadays. Once it becomes seen as the cool thing to do is shit on Batista, everyone will want to do that. (And that's exactly what is happening.) They need to fix it, or he's gonna be a two year albatross.
I honestly don't see a downside to the Network at all. I'd love for any of the haters to explain what the problem is.
ReplyDeleteI don't get it either. As a fan, why would you not want this? The price is more than fair and the content is massive.
ReplyDeleteLol. Yea, we're watching over lunch. Fucking awesome. If he'd just start doing crotch chops or bj innuendos it'd be phenomenal. Love this guy
ReplyDeleteI liked Dexter season 5 a lot more upon second viewing. First time through though, good lord did I want to throw a brick at Julia Stiles' face. Plus, "evil motivational speaker" was kind of a lame villain.
ReplyDeleteHe's got a pet dog named "Bon-Bon". Haha
ReplyDeleteExcept they didn't give them Flair for what six months? Even though the chants were loud it didn't affect business any and correct me if I'm wrong but wasn't 1998 the most profitable year for a pro wrestling company to date at that point? All that with an audience screaming for a guy for six months. So really we would like to think so but pro wrestling fans have proven a million times over they'll pay TO scream for somebody but they still pay and they still watch no matter who is or isn't there.
ReplyDeleteThis is the greatest work in pro wrestling history!!!
ReplyDeleteThe only thing that worries me about the Network is how well the stream is going to hold up on the night of Wrestlemania.
ReplyDeleteHe jobbed to Rock twice. He jobbed to Cena on Raw. He jobbed to Taker. He jobbed to Brock. He was going to job to Triple H.
ReplyDeleteFTFY.
I didn't hear about a free one week trial, just the 6 month commitment.
ReplyDeleteThat's a story for another time.....
ReplyDeleteIt's certainly possible that it will fail. But the fact that they're offering free subscriptions is not a sign of that in any way, shape, or form.
ReplyDeleteSo in your mind, you legit think he was being buried and getting a horrible push??
ReplyDeleteI've seen others talk about how company behind the streaming technology are the same ones behind the MLB's streaming service, which is reportedly incredibly robust. But having the entire streaming audience watching the same thing is probably quite different than MLB where people in different regions all tend to watch different things.
ReplyDeleteLol. That's fucking hysterical
ReplyDeleteLike I said, probably not the most apt comparison.
ReplyDeleteIn my defense, I didn't remember the time frame or the details at all, only that it happened. By 98 I was watching RAW, recording Nitro and then only watching the tape if I read something interesting happened on the results.
But yeah, you're right. As long as a segment of the audience claims to be unhappy, chants their dissatisfaction, yet still financially supports the product, nothing will change. The WWE probably knows what's sustainable (because there's no question the audience has dwindled to pre-Attitude Era lows) and just keeps chugging along.
Oh, totally agree, I'm not saying every (or even most) winner/s should be from very early spots. I think the sweet spot would be, say, between #17 and #23 - still a later entrant where the odds are in their favor, but long enough for the win to look credible. There have been FAR too many winners lately that basically didn't do anything.
ReplyDeleteWhich CAN work if the booking is strong (such as ADR basically just waltzing in and winning it, since he was supposed to be their brand new main-event heel), but a guy like Batista being booked as the "returning hero" only to get the win after such a short, terrible showing, well, results in the entire audience shitting on it.
Again, I'm not saying every win should be identical - certain situations warrant the first entrant winning, other situations warrant the last entrant winning - but the one universal rule is that the booking has to be solid. There have been far more misses than hits lately.
Ryback isn't that bright.
ReplyDeleteIf it crashes it's going to be the end of the Network. Seriously, it'd be such a terrible PR blunder for the company that I don't think the Network could recover unless they gave everyone another free month on their subscriptions or something.
ReplyDeleteOn TV in front of millions of fans in the US and Worldwide > On TV in front of 10,000 people Nationwide.
ReplyDeleteI would say that Triple H will do a run-in and Pedigree him, but as we saw at WrestleMania 12, the Warrior would just no-sell it.
ReplyDelete... you seem to love to cherrypick, and mislead.
ReplyDeleteYou forget that the "most profitable year" was followed by the rather quick and ugly death of the promotion within 2 1/2 years, which included several of the stars that fans HAD been cheering for jumping ship to their rival. And the ones left, still pushed on top, no longer drew shit. See: WCW buyrates in 1999 and 2000.
That's the funny part about the wrestling business: Yeah, you'll get away with ANYTHING in the short term when you're hot... but the moment you start to cool off, you go FRIGID.
As noted here by several others, WWE has done one wise thing in trying to lop off the tops of the peaks and valleys, for a more stable product financially. Even if that product, as a result, is less satisfying in almost all other aspects. No, WWE going frigid won't kill them, barring something like pro wrestling/sports entertainment being banned worldwide.
And the chances of that happening are the chances I have of being elected Pope of the Catholic Church. Technically possible, but I'm not going to invest in Popemobiles and large hats.
I don't even understand why they are doing that. Do they not understand that people already have to have their gaming systems plugged in to their TV in order to make them work in the first place?!!?
ReplyDeleteI only said they COULD have gotten him out of it if they wanted to. For example, in 2008, Cena won the Rumble and "cashed in" his shot at the February PPV.
ReplyDeleteMy point is, they wanted to push Reigns but they half-assed it, so it really did nothing for him except tell fans, "We want to push this guy...just not yet."
Well wtf is the point of that? Is business so on fire they can't take a chance on Reigns right now?
Fans are openly revolting against Orton/Batista/Cena -- they want new blood, the "angry" crowd in Pittsburgh was chanting for Reigns...why the hell not go all the way?
Please explain how Reigns isn't ready yet. Other than it's the BS that the suits backstage are saying to keep the status quo in place.
ReplyDeleteHow do you know if a guy is ready if he never gets a chance??
That is right next door to WCW Special Forces
ReplyDeleteThe booking 97 & 99 was superb - at least the follow up. In 97, they did a **** match on the February PPV, though it ended up being for a title due to HBK.
ReplyDeleteAnd in 1999, it led to the first Vince/Austin match in a cage.
Which is what they'll do to keep people on. The extra month probably wouldn't kill them, and they'll hold on to some customers.
ReplyDeleteNah.. as bad as that would be the network could recover. Giving a free month would be great, and quite frankly most people would be locked into a six month commitment.. that's more than enough time needed to fix any issues. BUT they definitely should have tested the network's capabilities on the Elimination Chamber first and get the kinks out the system..
ReplyDeleteThey somehow think that the WWE Network is actually going to be the reason people get one of these devices I think. I don't know who doesn't have at least a computer already, or who would buy a gaming system just to have the WWE Network.
ReplyDeleteReigns winning also would have been a surprise and new. The past, what, five years have all had obvious winners.
ReplyDeleteI just think it would be REALLY bad because WrestleMania is the first pay-per-view they are streaming via the Network. I agree with you that they should've used Elimination Chamber as a test. Fewer people would be freaking out over a poor Elimination Chamber stream than WrestleMania.
ReplyDeleteI assume they have every confidence in the Network's streaming capabilities if they're starting with Mania. If they were worried AT ALL, they would start with Extreme Rules and work their way through to WrestleMania next year.
ReplyDeleteBecause when you try to put 3 people over in the same match, you essentially put 0 people over.
ReplyDelete33/33/33 booking is even worse than 50/50 booking!
I agree but at the same time although television viewers have decreased they have more international deals, they have mor profitable TV deals these days, they are involved in movies, they're a publicly traded company. Now with the network their stock has put the company worth at over a billion dollars. So attendance has dwindled but they have become MUCH more efficient on making a profit. Really with the CM Punk thing it sounds like he was leaving in July anyway and these same fans that are chanting for him now would be chanting for him then. Or I would think so since he would be leaving then under his own terms and he left now under his own terms. The Punk chants will die down eventually and so far it doesn't seem to be affecting television ratings or any other part of their business. They have done a masterful job at promoting the brand to the point where it doesn't matter who is or isn't with the company they chug right along.
ReplyDeleteAgreed. It used to be a big deal fora guy to enter at #1 and last 20+ minutes. I remember when Monsoon and Piper really put over Bret Hart's 1991 Rumble performance when he entered at #1 and lasted until the Undertaker tossed him after he came out at #18.
ReplyDeleteBrock - I understand wanting to keep him fresh, but he's the Viking Space Lord! He could have entered at # -1 (yes, negative one) and still been victorious.
ReplyDeleteBatista - If the guy can't go more than thirty seconds without blowing up, they probably shouldn't have booked him to win the "Rumble" and headline WM. That's Vince's own stupidity.
As for the rest, yes, using "real world" logic, of course the last guy is the most likely to win. This is pro-wrestling, however, where story trumps logic. Faces should generally fight their hearts outs from early positions, heels should generally weasel their way to victory from late positions. What you said about some of the early-entrants being good choices while others were not is basically the same thing I'm saying about the late-entrants - sometimes it's good, sometimes it's not.
That brings me to another subject.. Does anyone know what type of customer support the WWE Network has in place. When a PPV goes down, people can call their providers, but do we think the WWE has enough staff working phones to cover thousands of calls on a Sunday night???
ReplyDeleteI would have loved Reigns winning. And if they still had two "world" titles, it would have been a possibility this year. But without that second title, you can't give the title shot to someone on a lower tier and hope it sells WrestleMania. Reigns just isn't ready for that.
ReplyDeleteWhat if Warrior is doing all this just so he can have a mic to get revenge for "Self Destruction of The Ultimate Warrior"?
ReplyDeleteAnd it only adds up to 99!
ReplyDelete... because he's just starting to show signs of being OVER? Because his moveset is a Superman Punch and a Spear? Because he's never been in a singles role, at all?
ReplyDeletePush him too soon, and the backlash could damage him permanently. He's young, and has PLENTY of time. Give him a few months, let him rebuild the IC/US title with a good dominant reign, let his character breathe and grow.
That's one of the big reasons I was in favor of two titles - maybe Reigns isn't ready to be THE guy, but a Rumble victory followed by a WHC-shot/-reign is a great rub to give.
ReplyDeleteI like how Meltzer LOVES these matches but hates chairshots to the head. I'd think a chairshot would be less impactful than a frickin' headbutt or five.
ReplyDeleteReally good question. They'd be stupid not to have lots of people on a support line for WrestleMania. I know that they are supposed to have lots of people on the phones when the Network launches.
ReplyDeleteGod.. I hope so... Is the world ready for an Ultimate Warrior pipebomb?? By all rights he should go up there and trash the shit out of Vince and his whole company.. take the ring and throw into the audience...
ReplyDeleteMillions... take that s off and you're accurate.
ReplyDeleteEhh, they could easily have set it up by having Ryback about to announce his decision, only for ADR (or someone else, if they wanted a different match) to attack him from behind.
ReplyDeleteI dunno, maybe Ryback doesn't have to decide until the "Elimination Chamber" PPV, where ADR drops the title to Show (or Henry, whomever), with Ryback wanting to prove that he's the biggest, strongest guy.
Just some rough ideas.
*dials number*
ReplyDelete-Who the hell is this??? What the hell do you want??
i think 'blowing on the cartridges' is one of Patterson's official duties.
ReplyDeleteWhat you're saying makes no sense to the argument. I'm saying that Ric Flair was gone for six months out of their most PROFITABLE year ever. Meaning that fans chanted his name for six months but they still paid.
ReplyDeleteRic Flair being gone had ZERO to do with that company going out of business. So I'm not sure what your point is. A company that had its most profitable year ever went out of business three years later? Well three years before that most profitable year they were in debt and being kept alive on Turners dime. Three years before the WWE start "winning" again they were on virtual life support with a skeleton roster.
Three years is an eternity in pro wrestling. My point stands. Ric Flair wasn't in WCW for six months of their most profitable year. Which means that Ric Flair being gone resulted in minimal at best business decline that year. It also had nothing to do with them going out of business since Flair was back with and had been back in the company for 2 1/2 years when they went out of business.
You really have the weakest argument ever. "You love to cherry pick mention how they went out of business THREE years after this". They went out of business because Turner wasn't doing wrestling on their channel its that simple. Flair had nothing to do with their best financial year just like he had nothing to do with them going out of business. That was my point is that those fans chanting Flair should have stayed home, stopped watching or done something else and THEN WCW wouldn't have had such a profitable year and then you could say that eventually Flair being gone hurt them. However Flair was gone for half of the year and they still had the greatest financial year ever up until that point.
Totally agree - Reigns definitely has the potential, but pull the trigger too early, and you get another Swagger/Sheamus situation.
ReplyDeleteI don't think that necessarily has to be the case. Look at the highly-regarded 1992 Rumble. I think Sid got just as much of a bump from that match as Flair did. Same think in 1994 with Diesel/Bret/Luger (even though I concede the duel winner scenario was dumb...both guys were still over). As for this year's Rumble, it's crazy to say Reigns isn't more well-positioned now than he was before the Rumble.
ReplyDeleteI actually didn't mind three of those situations, but just... GAH!... that stupid 2006 clusterfuck where Rey gets a title match for being sad.
ReplyDeleteI think a problem with the WWE's model is more long-term than short-term. As several have pointed out before, the company does have some new revenues stream (i.e. the Network), but that is taking money from the same pool of wrestling fans that is growing smaller and not larger. Eventually you are not going to have that demographic to pull from as it dwindles/dies off or finally loses interest.
ReplyDelete"Vince is out of date" and "Patterson is gay"... Beautiful.
ReplyDeleteI don't know, I had MLB's playoff package and the games ran as smooth as could be. Not sure how many were watching at any given time, but I never had slow down issues.
ReplyDeleteJyahn Cenaaaaaa is the 1%
ReplyDeleteNot that it's on the same level, but I finally bought a "Roku" right after the announcement.
ReplyDeleteFun Fact: blowing in the carts actually does more harm than good, it's the 10NES lockout chip (which can easily be disabled) that causes the problems.
ReplyDeleteReally? You learn something new every day!
ReplyDeleteI'm getting more and more convinced that BigNasty works for a PPV company.
ReplyDeleteAnd you missed my point by a mile.
ReplyDeleteFlair being gone didn't do obvious, immediate damage. I agree with you on that. But, in the long run, WCW bled off its fanbase, via many, many stupid decisions, INCLUDING the multiple "burials" of one Ric Flair... hell one of the burials was just that, a LITERAL burial in the desert.
The fans that WERE PAYING AND CHANTING DID QUIT PAYING, but those "losses" could not be immediately evident. (This next line is NOT LITERAL, JUST AN EXAMPLE). For example, a house show that might have drawn 5000 paying customers who spent the night chanting and screaming for Flair might, months down the line, would only draw 3000 to the same building. (Back to normal)
PPVs that were getting >1.0 buyrates started dropping off... TVs that were selling out now struggled to fill the arenas with crowds that were 50% (or more) papered over... TV ratings dropped quite hard, to the point where shows were cancelled... The company was eventually buried by Time Warner, and a guy named Jamie Kellner.
Yes, it took time. Any business their size, with their success, will not vanish or die overnight. BUT, bad decisions taken in the glow of those successes, ones that might not show results immediately, will STILL DO DAMAGE at some point.
I think he was on the receiving end of a triple powerbomb right when Sheamus came in, but the camera missed it. So I have no problem with him selling that + fatigue for several minutes.
ReplyDeleteA-Bed?
ReplyDeleteGotta love a blow to the head that you can see travel down to their feet, it hits so hard. Can't be good for the ol'
ReplyDeleteYep. Nintendo kind of fucked up with that one, not only did it not prevent outside companies from making games (there were about 90 unlicensed games released in the U.S., and that's not counting all the HK/Taiwan bootlegs), but that's what causes the blinking screen thing. As I said, it's pretty easy do disable (look on YouTube, of if you have a retro video game store nearby they'll do it for pretty cheap, should only take a half hour or so), or just get the top-loading NES, which omitted the chip as a cost-cutting measure. Good luck even finding a top-loader for under 100$ though, and it will be a lot more is you want it CIB.
ReplyDeleteOr just do what I do and play that shit on an emulator.
No it's the opposite of a shame. He does thise qotd to get responses and people talking positively or negatively. When you put yourself out to a community, you have to expect a least a little criticism. He knows he sucks, he admitted it with his sarcastic qotd jumping the shark comment.
ReplyDeleteROH does equal or even better ratings than TNA in most markets that can get ROH.
ReplyDeletethey now reside in pity city
ReplyDeleteThe problem is with being on TV. With ROH, he was at least on TV regularly and featured heavily. In TNA, he's barely on. I assume he wants to raise his profile in wrestling and sitting around at home isn't doing that.
ReplyDeleteI still don't see how it will even be profitable. You're giving away 6 PPVs for the price of one, and you'd have to think this will kill DVD sales. Unless there's going to be a shitload of ads or something.
ReplyDeleteAre you saying if they main event Wrestlemania or come close semi main event whatever it is that the fans will react how they reacted at the Royal Rumble or just how they had a tiny CM Punk chant going in Omaha? Because if you're saying they revolt like the RR then I say again that we should bet because I'm saying there is no chance the fans react like that no matter where that match is on the card.
ReplyDeleteWhere the Hell where you 25 years ago when I needed that information??
ReplyDeleteThe pins also have to connect. Most of the issues were resolved when they released the NES which allowed you to top load the cartridge.
ReplyDeletehttp://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e0/NES-101-Console-Set.jpg
Where the hell was *I* 25 years ago when I needed it? Oh yeah, the internet didn't really exist yet, at least certainly not for a poor kid like me. I only learned about this a couple years ago.
ReplyDeleteOh, I see you have this covered.
ReplyDeleteI actually bought one of the Ouyas and played the hell out of it. If they ever figure out how to make better controllers I'd be thrilled.
Bignasty's right about the target number...they said at a Conference Call Q & A that for the Network to succeed, they needed a minimum of 1 million viewers. If they were able to get close to 2 million, it'd be considered a massive success (and honestly, it sounds like that's the number Vince needs for this to truly succeed).
ReplyDeleteI have a little bit the same skepticism Bignasty has, but it's a little surreal that having doubts about the Network is getting such harsh, negative feedback on the Blog. It's not like this is Dougie making generally negative statements, Bignasty typically has a opinion and backs it up. I know I'll be getting the Network, but it will be very interesting to see how the general populous reacts if there is poor Network support and poor Customer Service.
True, the overall design of the NES didn't help matters either, this is what happens when you build a console but don't want it to look like a console. Chances are if you see someone that regularly plays the OG hardware the 72-pin connector inside the NES has probably been replaced (another relatively cheap and simple fix).
ReplyDeleteIf you ever had a Game Genie, and a lot of people did, then that fucked up the 72-pin connector too.
Triple H. He'll enter 1st, and Pedigree everybody.
ReplyDeleteIt's best for business.
Does this trial account for WM week?
ReplyDeleteI used to have one of those NES/SNES/Genesis 3-in-1 clones. Piece of shit, a lot of the games didn't even work. There's a Famiclone that will take the original controllers, but I don't know who makes it, I don't bother with clones anymore.
ReplyDeleteI just don't understand the negativity about the network, as it
ReplyDeletesounds like a great deal, and a great service for fans to use. It seems like they have their bases covered with things, which is good.
I'm hoping it all works for the best, because I'm looking forward to perusing the Network's wares during down times.
I've stayed away from those "clones"... just paid $300 for a boxed SNES (the version with Griffey Baseball), and six games still in boxes: Link To The Past (I think I could get the whole price for just that game, with the condition it's in), Sim City, Pilotwings, Ms. Pac Man, Monopoly, and some bowling game.
ReplyDeleteI would imagine they would require people to be signed up for WrestleMania.
ReplyDelete"
ReplyDeleteWWE getting nervous about the Network.
In retrospect, they will kick themselves for not having it ready to launch as soon as they announced it. How many people would have signed up that night that may not now?"
That is just speculation and I do not know how you can even back that up right now.
In my case, it's not negativity about the network, but overall unhappiness with WWE... and I am willing to "put my money where my mouth is", by not spending money on the company.
ReplyDeleteNo, you need a six month commitment to get WrestleMania
ReplyDeleteYeah, I'd think PPVs are not part of any "free trial".
ReplyDeleteI am SUPER curious about that too. Like, how are they addressing Wrestlers' compensation at the PPV events? How will the profits from the Network affect Wrestlers' (past and present) compensation?
ReplyDeleteI'm on board with putting your money where your mouth is about the current product - don't buy merch, don't order Elimination Chamber, don't watch the programming and don't go to live events. That all makes sense.
ReplyDeleteBut the Network isn't the current product. It's the product you like and miss. I'm betting the WWE will be able to track what gets the most views on the Network and, hopefully, when they see what is the most popular, they can make an adjustment to the current product to attract more eyes.
I know I'm being overly optimistic, but while the current product isn't the all-time best, I don't loathe it enough to keep me from getting the stuff I DO like. That's just cutting off my nose to spite my face.
According to eBay LTTP is going for between $75-$150. Still, you got a deal and a half there.
ReplyDeleteA few years back I got a CIB NEO-GEO CD with 7 games for $60, it's probably worth 15x that now. I don't even play it, in fact I store it at my mom's house where I know it will stay safe.
If you think about it, RAW gets about 4 million viewers a week and to reach a million subscrivers, you would be a quarter of those viewers to hit that goal. It does seem reasonable.
ReplyDeleteIsn't the six-month commitment mandatory when you sign up? That was my impression.
ReplyDeletePlus, once they open it up to international customers, it will hit that goal easy.
ReplyDeleteDamn, that's nice. And while I do have NES/SNES/GEN emus with close to full collections, there are times I just prefer a controller and a TV to playing on the laptop.
ReplyDeleteAlso, the occassional multiplayer.
Am I going to have to pay for 6 months upfront? Or will they just automatically charge me every month for 6 months?
ReplyDeleteIf the WWE were Smart I could think of one or two ways a couple of topics in the news could be transposed into exciting sports entertainment.
ReplyDeleteDo you think Rock's 'Roast' speech was the first pipe bomb?
ReplyDeleteI watched the MLB package a couple of times at my Dad's and it looked fantastic. I'm definitely planning to get it this year...how do the playoffs work? I assume I have to pay more but they do offer playoff coverage with it?
ReplyDeleteFrom what I gather, you get billed monthly for those six months
ReplyDeleteI have a NES, SNES, Genesis, 32X, Vectrix (all with complete libraries), Sega CD, N64, 2600, and a Gamecube (doesn't really work, my computer just isn't powerful enough) on my laptop.
ReplyDeleteI love my little Ouya. I like the controller too!
ReplyDeleteAnd I slightly disagree... they'll treat EVERY Network subscription as a "Wrestlemania buy", or a "vote of confidence" in the current product/direction, and use it to justify whatever direction they really want to go in.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I'm not drawn to "see these old events in SHINY, CLEAR formats."... I don't need to be able to count the needle holes on 80's WWF wrestlers to enjoy the product. :)
I hope he breaks out all the classics. Long rambling sentences that are hard to follow, needlessly complicated words, anti-gay comments, threatening to kill Hogan, I hope he has a list of everyone who mocked him on the Self-Destruction DVD and rips them one by one...
ReplyDeleteWhen I was living in Massachusetts and Chicago, I used MLB.tv for Yankees games. Never had a problem and loved every minute of it.
ReplyDeleteI would still use the service today instead of ordering cable if it weren't for the blackout restrictions. I'm not sure how the playoffs work with blackouts, but I believe they're included in the package.
Speaking as someone that works in technology, you can have every confidence that something is going to work and still have it flame out in a blaze of failure... not saying that will happen or is even likely here, but it is never out of the question.
ReplyDeleteSide Note: You are off the hook, you won't have to scar your soul with Dominos... though I may have to scar Stranger's soul in some way...
I tried a Sega CD emu once, for Shining Force CD... it was okay. The others I don't care about (32X and Vectrix), or really would prefer in controller and console form (N64, GC)... I do need to get an N64 one of these days, my old one conked out years ago. It's pretty much the last console I'm interested in getting.
ReplyDeleteThat's a smart move, $10 a month just to have it there for however often I end up watching it is doable.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I don't care about seeing 1980s action in HD, but getting it through my iPad, iPhone, laptop or PS3 without the problems inherent to a YouTube video is totally worth the $10.
ReplyDeleteI thought about getting one of those, with the emu support it has.
ReplyDeleteWTF is a Vectrix?
ReplyDeleteWoo! Saving $10! On a related note, my gf and I lived in Chicago for a couple years and she just recently discovered that her favorite deep dish pizza place delivers nationwide. That was what she wanted for Valentine's Day. So I ordered a deep dish, Chicago-style pizza from Lou Malnati's. The package was delivered to work today and now most of my coworkers think my gf is pregnant because of the request.
ReplyDeleteNo, not at all.
ReplyDeleteOn a completely unrelated note, Derek Jeter just announced on his Facebook page that he will retire at the end of the 2014 season.
ReplyDeleteSo long, Cap'n. Hats off to you, and thanks for the memories! Guess I'm definitely buying some Yankees tickets this season.
Well I do quite often ...hmmm in WWE2K14
ReplyDeleteIt's an early 80s video game system that used vector-based graphics (The original Star Wars Arcade, for example), and not the usual pixel-based graphics most of us grew up on.
ReplyDeleteIt was BIG in Europe for a while, because the system was built with a monitor, and most Euro households during this era only owned one television.
LOL that is funny... and she sounds pretty low maintenance if all she wanted for V-Day was a pizza... I would have also found it funny had you ended up having to get your girlfriend the same thing you were going to get me for Valentine's Day... I actually tried to tell this story to someone but I couldn't recall for the life of me what the bet was... do you recall?
ReplyDeleteHell no.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.videogameconsolelibrary.com/pg80-vectrex.htm#page=reviews
ReplyDeleteNothing really special today, but fucking amazing technology when you consider it came out the same year I was born.
I'm a Red Sox fan, so I spent a long time hating him, but when it comes down to it, how can you not like Derek Jeter? Just a great player. I think it was A-Rod joining the Yankees that really made me appreciate how classy a player Jeter really was. I didn't know what a true asshole was until I saw A-Rod.
ReplyDeleteI honestly have no idea what the bet was over, but I know it was decided fairly quick.
ReplyDeleteTo be fair, you have to order two pizzas, and the package cost $60. Plus, I got comped tickets to a production of Twelfth Night (her favorite Shakespearean play) for Friday afternoon, so it worked out pretty well for me.
Yeah, but we're spitballing the idea of getting the trial, and having it fall during WM week, where someone could theoretically get WM for "free".
ReplyDeleteUnless Corporate's COMPLETELY lost their marbles, PPV's will be "locked" during free trials.
Friends of mine who haven't watched wrestling in YEARS want to get this service. I'm sure many here with similar friends can say the same thing. Not to mention every family that watches is probably going to get this for their kids.
ReplyDeletethere are emulators available for many other system, too. for example, I never had any Sega system but started playing them on the PS2.
ReplyDeleteYou get an upvote to show that there can be detente between Yankee fans and Red Sox fans!
ReplyDeleteI can see it as a reason to push someone over the edge to get a device if they've been contemplating getting one, just not as a sole reason heh.
ReplyDeleteThe Genesis emulator also include 32X, Sega CD, Master System, and Game Gear (forgot about those 2) support. Might also support SG-1000/2000 games too for all I know. I only have 3 or 4 Sega CD games because they're 650MB each, but I have the complete (U.S.) 32X library, it's only 35 games or so. The Vectrix comes with all the games and it's a pretty small file.
ReplyDeleteYou can buy adapters that will let you hook up a N64 controller to a PC. I have one of those Logitech USB controllers that looks like a PS2 pad. Works great, but having to change the button assignments for every N64 game is a pain in the ass. I feel the N64 has REALLY not aged well, the graphics in most games are almost painful to look at.
Beat me to it, as I just saw it on Deadspin.
ReplyDeleteI've never liked Jeter, from the Jeffrey Maier bullshit, to the basic fact that he was a Yankee. But he was good enough to at least earn my respect, eventually.
A buddy of mine has an original X-Box with every system from the N64/PS1 on back in emulator form. I haven't a clue how you would mod an X-Box to do that, and seeing how I sold mine it's kind of a moot point.
ReplyDeleteIt was a package deal. It wasn't all the playoff games, I think it was the division series, then the NL only championship series. Anyway, it worked fine.
ReplyDeleteWhat was the first pipe bomb? Hogan at BATB 96, maybe?
ReplyDeleteTJ: speaking of MLB, Jeter just announced that this will be his last season.
ReplyDeleteOne of the few Yankees I don't hate. It's him, Pettite, and Rivera, basically.
ReplyDeleteIf you're not going to hate three Yankees, those are the three to choose, I think.
ReplyDeleteDrop Pettite and you have my "non-despised" Yankees. Although, in fairness, the current crop are more in the "don't give a shit" category, other than the suspended one of course. He's just trash.
ReplyDeleteIt was definitely announced from the start. The only thing I didn't know for sure was whether to get the free week, you had to sign up for it when it launches, or if you could sign up at any time and get the first week free. I seriously doubted the latter as that would result in people basically cashing in for a free Wrestlemania and then canceling without having to pay for six months.
ReplyDeleteLol.. I want to go back to feuding with you because it was at least thought provoking and new.
ReplyDeleteThey are about four years behind the times so we shouldn't count on that happening. They still think Justin Bieber is an innocent squeaky clean guy.
ReplyDeleteI'm wondering why a company with a roster as paper thin as TNA would need to take someone off TV in the first place.
ReplyDeletethat's why they need about one million subscribers to break-even.
ReplyDeleteyou got to keep in mind that at least in the US the producers of ppv content only get about 40% of the paid ppv price.
I can't find the numbers for 2013, but in 2012 the WWE made about 54 million dollars in ppv revenue for the first six months (keep in mind that this is their stronger half because WrestleMania). so let's just assume they make about 80 mio. dollars in the whole year in ppv revenue.
but one million subscribers for one year however equal about 120 mio. dollars.
we can even factor in dvd sales: the three highest selling releases of the last year (WrestleMania, Best of Nitro 2, Goldberg) made about 12 mio. dollars. (and that would be only if we assume everyone paid 30$ for each release, which many people don't).
so at least for someone like me (who really doesn't know that much about this kind of "corporate stuff") this makes perfectly sense.
There were a few good episodes once Michael left, but we're really only talking maybe 3 or 4. For some reason they decided that instead of trying to go a new way with Andy, they'd just turn him into Michael. Then they got a cast of writers who write the show in almost parody form.
ReplyDeleteOh look, Dwight is doing something insanely far-out and wacky! Let's ditch the very likeable character of Jo Bennet and get this weird, creepy guy who's suppose to take up for Michael while we're busy retooling Andy! Ah ha, he's sexually over-bearing!
Fuck Derek Jeter.
ReplyDeleteJeter is the one who didn't move to 3B even though A-Rod was the better player and Jeter sucks on defense.
ReplyDeleteI think the feeling is less that he's being skeptical or questioning whether it will be successful, but rather that he's rooting for it to fail. ,That may not be an accurate statement, but that may be how people are interpreting it.
ReplyDeleteI just stumbled across Mutah vs. Liger from 1996. This is good, yeah?
ReplyDeleteNobody knows. They haven't told the wrestlers that yet. Allegedly that's one of the reasons why Punk walked out.
ReplyDeleteI've been wondering about payoffs too. Maybe that's a factor in Punk quitting (assuming it's not a work, and it probably is), if he's taking a pay cut (almost typed "cunt" there...) on top of all the other bullshit I don't blame him for walking out.
ReplyDeleteI think there's a legitimate reason to question whether it will be successful.
ReplyDeleteA possible scenario: people like us, who dislike the current content and are mainly getting it for old content, go nuts and pig out on old content for 3-4 or 6 months. We Then we realize that we've seen all the old stuff we want to see for a while and cancel our subscription and don't come back.
And there's some question about the economics of it. Will the subscription income make up for lost revenue from PPV buys, DVD sales, TV ratings, etc.
And this one between Muta and Hogan where there's a rope ladder! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MxEDfufiwto
ReplyDeleteWill I get a gift basket with an autographed baseball?
ReplyDeleteBut this is WWE, they had every confidence that the WBF, XFL, WWF New York, and WWE Films were going to be hugely successful as well.
ReplyDeleteYou can go to an Urban Outfitter and fine one of those systems that play both the NES and SNES now.
ReplyDeleteYour logic is slightly questionable. While they may treat 'network subscriptions' as 'buys' from a PR standpoint, they'll be able to tell how many people are streaming what.
ReplyDeleteWe mention it below... they're not exactly "trustworthy" systems...
ReplyDeleteIt'll be an orange painted like a baseball.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I typed that in, scrolled down, and said "Well, shit. There's goes the planet."
ReplyDeleteThey will... and they'll do with that info whatever the hell they want. Once the money's in their pocket, they don't have to worry about a damn thing, until it's time to renew.
ReplyDeleteSorry, but based on their history I cannot just accept the "they'll do the 'right' thing" line of thought.
Yes, but i'd wager that it's on in a lot fewer markets.
ReplyDelete