Official WWE/TNA Wrestling Thread

I don't know for sure but I'd have to guess there's a NFL & NHL package out there similar to the MLBtv one. I'd be pretty surprised if there's not.

But you're right, as long as you don't mind seeing the HBO/Showtime etc shows live and waiting the 5 or 6 months to buy or get the DVD from Netflix then it totally might be worth just dumping cable and using Hulu/Netflix etc.

If the WWE Network is a success it could be the beginning or the end of cable TV or if nothing else perhaps cable prices will decrease or they will finally let people pay for channels they want.

 

Directv issued a statement regarding WWE's announcement. Essentially saying they will re-evaluate their business with them. In other words, they are threatening to pull PPVs.

Most likely an empty one.

 

Pffftttt well then, hooters, buffalo wild wings and the WWETv will be getting even more customers. DTV can suck it. They monopolize everything and can kiss my ***.

 

I'd have to think the WWE wouldn't care all that much. With the new Network it's so much cheaper just to get a 6 month subscription then to buy 2 PPVs in HD.

 

Vince himself has already stated that he thinks it would be silly for DTV to do this and that the consumers should have a choice. Basically said it is free money for them. He...doesn't seem concerned. Lol.

 

Nor should he be. He's got everyone buzzing about the Network and rightfully so. Seriously as much as people, myself included, hammers his current product, this Network is such a fantastic idea and literally this is what any wrestling fan could ever dream of. Plus I'm sure with the launch coming at the end of February, the WWE will try to step up their current product to really sell why the causual fan should invest in the Network.

 

Really the only negative of the WWE Network from the WWE's side of things is with so much available to watch it might turn away from their current product (which could force the WWE to step it up creatively so the negative could be a postive). If their current product sucks and with over 1000 hours of old PPVs and shows available, fans could simply say screw RAW tonight I'd rather watch Superbrawl 4 or King of the Ring 1996 tonight instead. And again that negative might end up being a positive for us fans.

 

The only negative I can see is if the stream quality is awful, or lags at all. Barring that (especially on live PPV broadcasts), this is as close to a lock as you can get.

 

Piper is apparently trying to pitch a Punk/Piper vs. Cena/Hogan tag team match at WM. Please no.

 

There is talk of unifying the US and IC titles at Elimination Chamber PPV. I think this is a good idea since the US title is basically being used as a paper weight for Ambrose since he won the thing.

Also Ryback has been tweeting that he got released by the WWE, then deleted the tweet, then tweeted he's going to quit, then tweeted he had his last match. Kind of strange.

 

Sounds like a misunderstanding about a routine traffic stop that he decided to run with.

He said he was "released," meaning from the cop who let him go. Fans jumped on it as him being released from WWE. Seems like RyBack is just having fun with everyone for misinterpreting what he meant.

 

Nothing like a guy who the company is down on for various reasons joking about getting released. I guess he wants some attention for some reason.

 

Jericho is being advertised for WWE events in March in Canada, perhaps this is another leak ala Batista. Jericho has been denying he's coming back to the WWE for WM this year but he's known for "lying" about this stuff. If he is coming back you have to wonder where he fits in the WM card.

 

Ultimate Warrior is your first HOFer for 2014. The Cold War is over.

Now...who the hell inducts him?

Also, the New Age Outlaws leaving Punk seems to point towards HHH vs. Punk at WM.

 

New Age Outlaws? Is Billy Gunn and Road Dogg back?

 

...And Kofi just beat Orton clean.

 

Well that was quick...glad they came to their senses. It wasn't working in any way.

 

Yes. At least temporarily to help get us to Punk-HHH

And that was probably the hottest end of show crowd they have had in over a decade.

 

So, I've been doing some googling. And, according to Wrestlezone, Kofi's getting repackaged and pushed. Should be interesting.

Honestly, I wonder if they have the nerve to shake up the WM main event.

 

And Bryan was not even in his home town. Wow never seen ANYONE... ANYONE over as much as he is now. crazy!

 

Austin popped crowds way louder (and way bigger) than tonight's. Rock too. But that crowd tonight was prime Attitude era. It's been a LONG time since a crowd reacted like that.

I honestly wouldn't be surprised if this changes plans for WM, if he wasn't already penciled in.

 

The crowd was great once they sensed Bryan was going to turn on the Wyatts but overall it wasn't as good as Miami the day after WM28 or NY the day after WM29 as they were pretty normal crowd for the whole show. But it was loud as hell no doubt about it. I'm glad Bryan is once again a face but it just goes to show you how the WWE is shooting from the hip right now and have no clue where they're going right now.

 

In terms of crowd reaction? Like Samphin said guys like Austin, Rock, Hogan, Brock and even Cena once upon a time have gotten reactions like that. Bryan, as much as I love him, isn't close to being as over as those guys were/are in terms of bringing in $ to the business. Punk was extremely over during his "Summer of Punk", he just didn't have a great catchphrase like Bryan does.

 

Sounds like Jake "The Snake" Roberts, as long as he stays sober, and Paul Bearer are headed to the HOF this year as well.

As far as who inducts the Warrior? Geez no idea, maybe Mean Gene or Vince?

Hopefully Macho Man is inducted next year.

 

I think the WWE is missing a great opportunity to have an actual Physical Hall of Fame.....

They can pack the place each and every day...

they should start building it right now...put it in a tourist trap area...maybe Las Vegas ..or Orlando...

 

Rumors were universal Orlando city walk, but that went down.

 

that place is PERFECT. They would be packed 24/7

 

I think eventually a physical WWE HOF will be built, probably in the Orlando area near their training camp. But for now what the WWE should do is have the WWE Axxess week long event for WM at the other big PPVs like the Royal Rumble, Summer Slam and Survivor Series (which means they actually have to treat Survivor Series like a big time PPV event again) but maybe just run it from Friday to Sunday or something like that.

Although I am a little unsure of if having a physical HOF would bring in a lot of money over time. For the first year or so sure but after who knows.

 

HHH's vision of a HOF is actually pretty compelling. To paraphrase, it would be boring to have a Hall Of Fame that has grown men's underwear on display.

But what if, with the technology now here, you could step into a physical ring with holograms of your favorites like Andre The giant! Yokozuna, etc.? Getting to experience the actual size of these men (gross).

A interactive experience where fans can be intently more involved than just "looking at stuff."

I can't find the interview, but what he said, made a ton of sense to me. I think they will eventually find a place to house the Hall, but I think they know what they want to do and until they know for sure they can do it, they aren't going to proceed.

 

Also, I read a scenario the other day about how WWE wants to be more like Disney and less like UFC, with regards to global branding. With that in mind, and having the WWE Network, would it surprise anyone of they started gobbling up international federations in and effort to further globalize their brand? Having a European WWE, a Japanese WWE, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Africa and so on and so forth. They could have their own angles, own story lines and own regional champions, with one, TRUE world champion to go after. Whoever that Champion is (Randy Orton for now) would then have to travel, or have the wrestler travel to him, to defend his title.

And, this allows WWE to capitalize on their own international stars. Running a big show in Mexico? Send Del Rio and Misterio to help pump it up. Want to open a WWE India? Send Khali to be the face of it.

It's a huge undertaking, but I wouldn't be surprised of this is where they are headed long term. Or some variation of this. And with having their own network, they can house ALL of the programming in one area. So if you want to watch WWE Puroresu, you can on the network.

Sure, there would be language barriers and some cultural clashes that would have to be ironed out, but I think it could work, and it gives absolute meaning back to the titles. A US Champion is truly that. As would an Intercontinental, European, etc.

 

Could change the face of wrestling and sports entertainment forever.

The classic "Monday/Thursday/ppv" we are used to could be out the window soon.

 

In theory it makes sense but what at least 80% of the world or higher already gets WWE programing in their country anyway so I'm not sure what the interest would be in those countries, especially the smaller ones. When the WWE does their yearly tours of those countries they do big business. With the WWE Network it will further do that. I just think it would be too costly to do and there would probably be zero appeal in the US markets to watch what would be viewed as "lesser promotions". I think the risk/reward wouldn't be worth it. On paper, sure it makes sense but business wise I don't know. Maybe it would work if it was simply by continent/region so you have WWE Europe, WWE Japan, WWE South America, WWE Africa.

Remember as big as Disney is their non-US theme parks don't do that great business wise and struggle at times making profits. Part of the appeal of Disney, especially their parks, is that people make it an event/vacation to go there. Much like the WWE where people travel from all over the world to go to WM or when the WWE comes to their country they do well at the gates because its a rare event.

 

Something the WWE seems to be done with and I absolutely hate....

NO Programs are built around the lessor titles. it is an actual possibility that the ONLY belt defended at WM will be the world title.

Think about that..

Why isn't there a IC Belt program...a US Title Program..and a Tag Belt program....

 

I don't know if that will ever change in the US. I just don't think the normal US fan would really care about WWE Japan for instance. The normal US fan doesn't even care about TNA and they're familiar with a lot of that roster. I think it would be hard for people to get into and watch a new promotion with guys they have never seen or heard of before.

I mean serious question out there, you're a big wrestling fan and YouTube has seemingly unlimited of matches from New Japan or AAA or old promotions like the USWA or AWA etc. How many hours do you spend watching matches from those promotions?

 

Well, I am pretty sure that they meant with the furthering of their global branding, as opposed to actually replicating what Disney has done (or hasn't done) in other areas of the world.

The cost really wouldn't be bad, other than the initial cost of purchasing other promotions. If they forked over cash for AAA in Mexico or New Japan in...Japan, you would be looking at the initial cost, of re-doing their presentation and stuff like that, but the talent is already in place, as is the structure for how to tour those countries (building agreements, television rights, etc.) plus, those promotions aren't considered lesser federations in their native countries,a nd wouldn't be presented as such, globally. At least not in how this is envisioned.

And if the North American market doesn't watch...so what? As long as the regional people do, then it works out since they are paying for the service too.

It is a long way off from happening, if it ever does, but it is an interesting growth proposition.

 

BTW...is there something wrong with me?

Orton attacks Cena's father..and I cheer and shout.."RKO!" My wife looks at me like I am demented. My Buddy laughs his *** off.

 

Well the tag team titles were given a big program with the Rhodes and Shield during the fall but since then you're right. I used to know every single IC and tag team champion in order, backwards and forwards, and just the other day I couldn't even remember who the current IC champion or US champion was because those titles are never defended.

Titles are just props now and certainly aren't what they used to be in the heyday. Imagine a wrestler refusing to drop the title now?

 

Ok you're talking about buying a current promotion, I was thinking the WWE would just start their own from the bottom up so they can control everything from the start hence the "lesser promotion" at first at least.

 

You're right. To be fair, I have tried the last few weeks to watch TNA and its borderline impossible to watch. Its ****ing terribly produced. Aj Styles is a wreck on the mic, Dixie land....? Is lame. The crowd is freezing cold.

Cool matches, Angle is old.....I like seeing some of the other guys like Hardy and Angle....but eh.....can't stand it.

 

Same here, the product is just bad for the most part. And to be honest, I'll maybe watch a random match from Japan here or there but old outside of old WWF, WCW, ECW and sometimes GWF, AWA, and NWA, I just don't watch anything other than the WWE.