Seth doesn't belong on that list (he was the top guy in ROH!), but Big E does
WWE is here to stay regardless of AEW being a success. But let's assume that AEW gains mainstream ubiquity, how does that affect a WWE that isn't facing the same challenges that it did when it was fighting for its survival in the mid 1990's?Advantages:
Disadvantages:
- Have the most talented roster they've ever had top to bottom
- Tons and tons of guaranteed money from TV deals and money in the bank
- WWE Network is ahead of the game and has given them stability in their PPV business where it would have been tanking otherwise.
- Global international TV exposure/marketing machine/social media followings
- Global brand/name brand where marks from overseas will fly in and sell out Wrestlemania instantly.
- Smackdown deal on Fox will get good marketing push from Fox on NFL games, etc.
- Tons of experienced producers/agents and trainers both on the main roster and at the performance center
- WWE front office has a lot of top notch people
- Performance Center idea is good in theory and very well-funded
- Production team is fantastic at promo packages and making the show look major league.
- Vince is a 73-year old man who's losing it and changes things at the last second with no regard to continuity or telling a story
- Way too many people involved in creative
- Scripted promos and bad characters hurt talent and make everything feel inauthentic.
- Not a lot of big "superstars" due to booking and the pipeline being full of indie wrestlers who may not have "it" to be a transcendent star.
- Most of the roster already buried by bad booking and it's a big uphill climb to salvage them
- Talent constantly forced to be a square peg going in a round hole and not booked to strengths. Everyone must cut scripted English promos in the middle of the ring to be a star.
- NXT/Performance Center does a poor job training homegrown talent for the main roster compared to the budget/# of people signed. Wrestlers need to get out and work shows regularly but those spots are taken by indie all-stars. Most of their successes have been getting indie talent comfortable in WWE system before they get called up.
- Overexposed product, especially with 3 hour Raws.
- Overproduced announcers who sound like corporate shills.
- Kevin Dunn's production quirks are annoying for long-term fans who notice them.
We already know that this is no.And do you expect any "Billionaire Tony" skits in the next few years?
They're not an existential threat, but if they take off and keeping gaining clout on social media, they could put a dent in WWE's popularity—ratings-wise and in the public sphere.What existential threat does a successful AEW pose for WWE even if they're not directly taking jabs at them on the air like Eric Bischoff did?
AEW becomes a threat to WWE by simply existing and being successful at anything beyond TNA levels. It's got a big bankroll behind it and a major network supporting it.WWE is here to stay regardless of AEW being a success. But let's assume that AEW gains mainstream ubiquity, how does that affect a WWE that isn't facing the same challenges that it did when it was fighting for its survival in the mid 1990's?
Would you say that HHH and Stephanie are aware of this or are they either too insulated to care or do they recognize their current rout but are constrained by Vince McMahon's stubborn direction?
I remember Mick Foley mentioned in his first book that Vince had an epiphany that allowed people like HHH, Bob Holly, Billy Gunn and others to shed their lame pre-Attitude Era gimmicks and repackage themselves.
What existential threat does a successful AEW pose for WWE even if they're not directly taking jabs at them on the air like Eric Bischoff did?
And do you expect any "Billionaire Tony" skits in the next few years?
WWE is here to stay regardless of AEW being a success. But let's assume that AEW gains mainstream ubiquity, how does that affect a WWE that isn't facing the same challenges that it did when it was fighting for its survival in the mid 1990's?
Would you say that HHH and Stephanie are aware of this or are they either too insulated to care or do they recognize their current rout but are constrained by Vince McMahon's stubborn direction?
I remember Mick Foley mentioned in his first book that Vince had an epiphany that allowed people like HHH, Bob Holly, Billy Gunn and others to shed their lame pre-Attitude Era gimmicks and repackage themselves.
What existential threat does a successful AEW pose for WWE even if they're not directly taking jabs at them on the air like Eric Bischoff did?
And do you expect any "Billionaire Tony" skits in the next few years?
Janela promo in front of a casket
Yuka Sakazaki vs Riho vs Nyla Rose
Shawn Spears promo. He's signed
Darby Allin promo
Did someone say Yuka Sakazaki?! I'll gladly pay double the price to stream this show.
😍😍😍
Ok, fine. I'll pay triple!
Janela promo in front of a casket
Yuka Sakazaki vs Riho vs Nyla Rose
Shawn Spears promo. He's signed
Darby Allin promo
Just saw the whole episode, loved seeing Matt Riddle and Drew , Darby is one crazy son of a bitch.Darby Allin segment on Viceland:
It starts around 9:16
Phil is just a big Halloween mark.
AEW becomes a threat to WWE by simply existing and being successful at anything beyond TNA levels. It's got a big bankroll behind it and a major network supporting it.
I still don't fully believe WWE is here to stay and if AEW wants to someday succeed or "beat" WWE they simply need to weather the storm and let WWE burn itself out, kind of similarly to how WCW burnt itself out
WWE has enough money from the Saudis and Fox/NBC to last a few more decades, they're not going anywhere
So assuming that WWE stays the same, uses the scripted promos, overmanufactured commentators, keeps the PG rated storylines, ect, what are the long term ramifications in the face of AEW if they stay true to delivering a more sincere, cutting edge alternative? One that showcases the athleticism of their talent and allows for more mature, contemporary storylines? Not on the level of Vince Russo or even the Attitude Era, but storylines that are logical, engaging, and relatable to the fans? I'd like to see a return of a thriving tag team division and heel managers. But I'm also eager to see what their supercards will entail? Should they have overarching gimmicks like Royal Rumble and War Games? Or should they be regular 9 match events like a Summerslam or Great American Bash?
One thing to keep in mind is during the AE there were logical story lines in that they had actual story telling, but a lot of them were pure trash in terms of context. They got by entirely on break neck pace so you were forced to tune in because anything could happen. Additionally, people keep saying "PG story" but there is nothing wrong with this. You can tell perfectly fine stories with PG (also bear in mind PG in 2019 is not PG from 1995), the issue is the complete sterilness in the delivery of the story. Every single aspect of the shows are scripted and needed to hit their marks. The way that commentators can so quickly go from "OMG THAT MOVE...and we'll be right back" is proof in point of this. Combine this with the sheer volume of content hours and it's so clear why the product is suffering worse than it ever has (New Gen hates be damned, that period is great).
It remains to be seen what AEW can do with weekly TV and their PPV schedule, but if they're allowing some creative flexibility in how wrestlers present their story and keeping show hours to a much smaller minimum than I think it's safe to say it's going to be on a good footing.
IF AEW is proven to have a successful formula in the next 18 months, do you see HHH or Stephanie being more tenable to change? Would the change come from them or a possible migration of their talent to AEW, NJPW, ROH, and others? Or do you simply see WWE staying the course for whatever reason? I have to imagine that HHH would never want to have had to contend with these sorts of limitations had he never married into the McMahon family. Can you imagine him being saddled with the Greenwich snob gimmick but on top of that being scripted to deliver his promos?
But above and beyond that, I would hope that he's thinking long term enough to realize that their current formula is a dead end for their talent, tv sponsors notwithstanding.
yup. That's the major difference between late WCW and WWE. WWE is making more money than any wrestling promotion in history while WCW was losing more money than any promotion in history. WWE's main source of income is the TV Rights, and until that dries up (which I don't see happening since TV networks are panicking) they are going to be in great shape even with failing ratings.WWE has enough money from the Saudis and Fox/NBC to last a few more decades, they're not going anywhere
The Buy In show on ITV 4, the Double or Nothing pre-show, did 74,000 viewers, which for a Saturday night at midnight would be a good number, but not a great number. For comparison, for numbers the next week in the U.K., Raw did 42,500 viewers, Smackdown did 63,000, and MLW did 24,900. Impact did 14,900 on UK Fight Night on Showcase, but their largest audience would come on 5USA and we don't have that figure
There was a question regarding Jericho's entrance music, "Judas," not playing on the streaming replay [of NJPW Dominion] when it had in all of his previous matches with the company. What happened was, unbeknownst to Jericho, Sony had contacted New Japan and wanted a $2,500 rights fee for usage of the music. New Japan turned it down and instead put over a cover song. Jericho said that if he would have known about it, he'd have paid the $2,500 himself.
I'm guessing Omega vs. Moxley, in order to further boost the buzz for All Out before tickets go on sale tomorrow.
I'm going to try to get tickets too. Probably gonna be in the nosebleedsAll out is gonna be pretty hype. I'm thinking of grabbing tix and making the trip
All out is gonna be pretty hype. I'm thinking of grabbing tix and making the trip
If you guys are going to try to get tickets tomorrow, this might help for you to do this in advance:I'm going to try to get tickets too. Probably gonna be in the nosebleeds