Support NeoGAF

[Xaero Gravity]

Really enjoyed that Rumble. Thought the Brock portion led to a great moment with McIntyre, marked out for Edge despite the rumors spoiling his return, and seeing McIntyre get his big Rumble win was just plain awesome to see. Been a huge fan of his since his initial Smackdown debut. Hopefully they pull the trigger at Mania.

 

[GreatnessRD]

First WWE PPV I've seen since attending Mania last year. And only watched it to get away from the horrible events of earlier that day. I came in on the end of Corbin/Roman. From what I've seen it was a solid show. Happy for both Rumble winners and think WWE got it right. And what a moment with Edge coming out. Didn't know it was almost a decade that he hadn't wrestle. Man, how time flies! But I'll end with this...

Charlotte and Asuka are still the class of the women's division
Chad Gable deserves way better
And I wanted Brock to win

 

[Hinedorf]

I've never liked nor rooted for Drew, the moment he sent Brock out he was the guy I was rooting for. Now I'm actually happy for him and excited to see a match with Brock as it's something they can definitely sell.

Skipped the Roman vs Corbin match because it's Roman, I like Corbin on the mic, all Roman fights go the same way - about 7 different moves utilized though the course of any fight, couple super man punches/spears and we're good

Becky vs Asuka was a good match

Fiend vs Daniel Bryan was a solid waste of time

Charlotte winning the rumble was such a waste when Baszler would've been a far more refreshing finish and future for WM. They've been building the Becky/Charlotte for so long it's just over with already to me. My favorite moment of the night had to be Santina poking himself out of the ring, had me genuinely laughing

-NXT Worlds Collide..... I really don't like NXT at all, it's just filled with midgets jacked up on HGH with elongated heads. This to me starts with Adam Cole, if not for his long hair you'd recognize what a freakishly enlarged cranium he has. Everything about him and his crew is completely boredom for me and I just cannot embrace it.

Keith Lee seems cool and clearly does not belong in NXT, needs promotion. Whoever Walter is should be a primary heel in the WWE, dunno wtf is going on there, he's an immediate draw and should be on the main show.

 

[Richard Packer]

So I went over to the asylum to try to find a gif of the Kairi Marry Poppins entrance and I stumbled upon this gem.

JANUARY WRASSLIN' |OT| ALL EYES ON TOKYO / / LET'S GET READY TO RUMBLE

Oh, so this happened: At what point do the people here that says that care about anti-racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia and so on are going to stop watching this racist, sexist, homophobic, transphobic, Trump enabler company? Are mere hours of "quality entertainment" worth it? Is it...

www.resetera.com

That's quite the reaction.

The rumble was alright. Once Brock was eliminated it got so much better.

 

[OmegaSupreme]

So I went over to the asylum to try to find a gif of the Kairi Marry Poppins entrance and I stumbled upon this gem.

JANUARY WRASSLIN' |OT| ALL EYES ON TOKYO / / LET'S GET READY TO RUMBLE

Oh, so this happened: At what point do the people here that says that care about anti-racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia and so on are going to stop watching this racist, sexist, homophobic, transphobic, Trump enabler company? Are mere hours of "quality entertainment" worth it? Is it...

www.resetera.com

That's quite the reaction.

The rumble was alright. Once Brock was eliminated it got so much better.

Lol that post barely got a reaction. The hypocrisy over there is amazing.

 

[Dthomp]

What a weird PPV last night.

Non rumble matches, didn't care at all about Roman/Corbin and never will. I enjoyed Bryan/Fiend and because I'm a giant Bryan fan was into that one, but problem is it's hard to really get into a match that the outcome is 100% known, although my wife was totally into the near falls and the Lebell Lock, I wish I could feel like that again.

Becky/Asuka just doesn't do it for me for some reason, and I found myself checked out of this one pretty hard (Could be because we knew who won the womens rumble). We should be celebrating one of the greatest runs of a champion in this run Becky has had, but I can't recall one meaningful feud this whole year.

Charlotte? Really? The person who didn't win last year and got put in the match anyway? NONE of the title options for Mania are good. I'm beyond sick of Charlotte in general, but her and Becky has been done to death, as has her and Bayley. I'd had rather seen Shayna come out earlier and pull it out (I hate people winning at 30). This rumble was a joke, and may as well just been 100% NXT women since it was them, Charlotte, and a few jobbers. They have SOOOOO many women on the roster and none get any sort of development at all on the main roster for their characters. WWE gave up on the womens division the second Ronda left.

Mens rumble was boring as fuck during the Brock half, should have lasted the first 10 maybe, loved the Drew spot as I'm a huge Drew fan since he was the Chosen One, miss his OG theme. Edge was cool, but that shit was leaked weeks ago, and man he looks old (I know he is). The second half was pretty great for the most part, although I hate that Roman is there at the end every year, and how do they decide who wrestles singles matches on the card but then gets to be in the rumble? I was pulling for Drew, but had that awful pit in my stomach that Roman was winning, and who knows, maybe the boos for his singles entrance and rumble entrance swayed the Drew win since there is always the next PPV to set up the other title match.

Gotta say though, after the Bryan match....I'm way more invested in him finally overcoming the Fiend then Roman and his 5 superman punches and 6 spears that will be the end of the fiend. Bryan and Bray work so well together and there is so much mind games stuff they could play off. From a strictly wrestling point of view I was really hoping for a Bryan win and he'd defend against Roman so at least if I gotta stomach Roman it'll be a good match.

Let us enjoy Vince getting bored of Drew not keeping super momentum for the next 3 months til Mania now....

 

[VertigoOA]

MVP is such a goddamn waste of tv time. He sucks. Like really sucks. He needs to be off tv asap. Forever jobber status

The rumble was good. The men’s match was thoroughly entertaining. I enjoyed Brock steamrolling all the jobbers like Kofi.

Drew is awesome. I met him too at an evolve show. I actually made it onto the Ppv on that show carrying out Gulak after a beat down he received. He fucking dead weighted me and scolded me saying he wasn’t going to carry himself out. I appreciated being worked... to then take him to the back and find out he was in legit pain regardless and lost feeling in his legs.

I’m semi retired after a type 3 ac separation in my shoulder and a girlfriend that destroyed my life for a bit but I’m getting the itch again. That and I’m a bit inspired by Shinsuke clearly havIng Ac separation in both goddamn shoulders.

I was trained by Matt Striker and indie hardcore legend Grimm Reefer. The NYC wrestling scene is the greatest.

My greatest all time memory is smoking bud with Nash and Hall. Razor and Savage were my all time favorites and being able to watch the show and bullshit with hall and Nash behind the curtain was incredible. Later that night Nash took a few of us out to a strip club. ... “put your money away kid, I just got paid to sit and sign pictures all night.” Drinks were on him.

Scariest moment? Volunteering to pick up Scott Steiner from La Guardia and complaining that I wasn’t driving fast enough. I thought he was gonna kill me but I was trying to hide my hysterical laughter the entire ride.

second funniest moment? after my first match I hit the bar at the elks lodge to find Hacksaw drinking captain and coke for his wife and daughter to approach him and scold him for drinking before his match, while the two of them also reeked of booze.

“how you doing hacksaw.”

he replies ... “Eh, I’m alright ... all my friends are dead”

 

[DKehoe]

MVP is such a goddamn waste of tv time. He sucks. Like really sucks. He needs to be off tv asap. Forever jobber status

He seems like a nice guy so I wish him no ill. And he’s a fun name to bring back for one offs for stuff like the Rumble. But I don’t get why you would bring him back regularly when your roster is so deep.

 

[VertigoOA]

He seems like a nice guy so I wish him no ill. And he’s a fun name to bring back for one offs for stuff like the Rumble. But I don’t get why you would bring him back regularly when your roster is so deep.

He did some good work in TNA going full hood. I loved that. It was a bit too much for modern PC audiences I’d imagine tho.

 

[VertigoOA]

Holy shit. Man, every time Asuka says EZ-PZ in her madness... i pee myself a little. She’s so amazing

 

[Bullet Club]

 

[DKehoe]

Whoever Walter is should be a primary heel in the WWE, dunno wtf is going on there, he's an immediate draw and should be on the main show.

Walter has said that he has no interest in living in the US. So I don’t see him being on the main roster any time soon. Who knows. maybe WWE makes some huge offer that changes his mind. He’s fantastic.

 

[Bullet Club]

 

[Constant Flux]

I’d just like to say it’s fucking awesome that Edge is back. Also, McIntyre winning the Rumble was great. I marked out loudly when Ricochet kicked Brock in the balls and McIntyre Claymore’d that piece of shit over the top rope.

 

[Xaero Gravity]

I’d just like to say it’s fucking awesome that Edge is back. Also, McIntyre winning the Rumble was great. I marked out loudly when Ricochet kicked Brock in the balls and McIntyre Claymore’d that piece of shit over the top rope.

You should say it to his face, mark.

 

[brap]

I’d just like to say it’s fucking awesome that Edge is back. Also, McIntyre winning the Rumble was great. I marked out loudly when Ricochet kicked Brock in the balls and McIntyre Claymore’d that piece of shit over the top rope.

Brock is based. Really wish he just eliminated everybody himself. Then #30 is Pat Patterson and knocks him over the rope somehow.

 

[Bullet Club]

 

[chillinggamers_]

lol. Oh AEW, why do you try so hard?

 

[Bullet Club]

 

[Bullet Club]

Here's some WOR news from Squared Circle.

WOR News & Notes for 1/30/20

• Ronda Rousey will not be wrestling at Wrestlemania. Her discussion on Corey Graves podcast is not a hint for anything in the future.
• AJ Styles looks to be out 4 to 6 weeks with a separated shoulder. Is trying to get back in time for Wrestlemania. Claims AJ says it is no one’s fault but his own as he was trying to sell Edge’s spear and landed on his shoulder wrong.
• During a discussion with DDT and Noah working together Dave drops this ominous line: “For AEW and NJPW, this is the strongest they have been interested in together. That doesn’t mean anything is intimate but this is the strongest the two have been together.”
• Dave claims that the Impeachment trial, Kobe Bryant’s final game re-airing, and real lack of interest in the Rumble itself is why the post-Rumble RAW episode did poorly with the ratings. Was still surprised Edge did not give a significant boost despite holding him as a main event and gave the angle an overrun.
• Dave also claims that while the Edge/Orton segment on RAW was the best segment of theirs in a long time...The Aldis/Scrull segment to end this week’s NWA Powerr was the best thing he saw this past week. Says Nick Aldis might be the best promo right now in the industry, even taking over people like Jericho and Cody.

 

[Bullet Club]

"That horrible day in 2007" and it's not Benoit.

 

[Bullet Club]

WWE stock plummets after shareholders learn some matches might be rigged

The stock price of World Wrestling Entertainment suffered a “bodysmash” of its own this week after leaked documents revealed to shareholders that the outcomes of some of the company’s bouts may be pre-determined. Company stock “choke-dropped” by more than 20 percent on Friday after allegations...

www.kayfabenews.com

 

[DKehoe]

MLW working with Dragon Gate is a smart move. Those guys have a really fun style and it's something that can help MLW stand out a bit more.

 

[OmegaSupreme]

EC3 deserves better. He should really head back to impact or go to AEW. He'd be treating like a main event star again.

 

[DKehoe]

EC3 deserves better. He should really head back to impact or go to AEW. He'd be treating like a main event star again.

Or send him back to NXT. It’s odd, of all the NXT guys that have gone to the main roster EC3 seemed the most like a “Vince guy” A jacked guy that can talk. And yet he’s the one that Vince seems to be actively disinterested in.

 

[DKehoe]

 

[NickFire]

I've been enjoying WWE again. Absolutely stoked for Drew v. Brock. Only 1 worry though - please do not have Drew start pandering to crowd in cheesy ways. Keep him organic. Do not ruin his momentum like Seth's was ruined with the old fashion couldn't do it without crowd nonsense.

Also - Edge and Orton - great story line.

And Seth as the Monday Night Messiah - great heal character. love it.

 

[brap]

Did they really switch from Into The Fire to a Pantera song? Yeah, that 90s song really goes with the yummy 80s studio wrestling /s

 

[Bullet Club]

-- Raw last night did 2.17 million viewers, which would be among the lowest non-holiday and non-football numbers in the history of the show.

The only non-holiday Raw shows that weren't against major football competition in modern history that were lower were two episodes last year against major NBA playoff games. For a non-holiday show without major sports competition, it was the lowest in the last 23 years.

It was down 10 percent from last week's post-Royal Rumble episode and down 14 percent from the same week last year. WWE did have the top three spots in the 18-49 demo on cable, but were down 12 percent to 0.67 in that demo from last week.

With the news coverage of the Iowa caucus, Raw was in 12th place overall, trailing news shows.
The first-to-third hour drop of 13 percent was at normal levels. The drop was 20 percent in women 18-49. The drop was less pronounced with men at eight percent. Teenage girls were down six percent from the first to third hour, teenage boys dropped two percent, and over 50 dropped eight percent.
The three hours were:

• 8 p.m. 2.32 million viewers
• 9 p.m. 2.16 million viewers
• 10 p.m. 2.02 million viewers

Did they really switch from Into The Fire to a Pantera song? Yeah, that 90s song really goes with the yummy 80s studio wrestling /s

You're right, it doesn't fit as well as Into The Fire.

Into The Fire >>> I'm Broken

 

[DKehoe]

It’s cool to see Eddie Kingston getting a platform. He’s been one of the best promos in the business for years now.

 

[brap]

MELTZER MAGOO AND CORNY JIM ARE ARGUING ON TWITTER AGAIN

 

[Bullet Club]

MELTZER MAGOO AND CORNY JIM ARE ARGUING ON TWITTER AGAIN

A lovers tiff over Kenny.

 

[Bullet Club]

Isaac Yankem's wife

 

[DKehoe]

MELTZER MAGOO AND CORNY JIM ARE ARGUING ON TWITTER AGAIN

Cornette working his gimmick for his podcast. He’ll be back on Observer Radio at some point talking about how he and Meltzer are such good friends.

 

[Bullet Club]

 

[VertigoOA]

NXT was great last night. AEW continues to be disappointing and TNA redux.

I can’t believe how great that Tyler Breeze match was. They were firing on all cylinders. Super crisp.

 

[Bullet Club]

Vince McMahon considering 'transformative' changes for WWE Network

On Thursday's investors conference call, WWE chairman Vince McMahon said the company has had advanced talks with major OTT players about changes to the WWE Network that could mean a significant revenue increase for the company.

McMahon called the potential deal(s) "transformative".

Those changes could be content rights with marquee events like WrestleMania and the Royal Rumble or perhaps a different distribution model for the WWE Network altogether. McMahon said if a change is made, it will be announced this quarter as the talks are that far along.

When asked about the plans for the Network, McMahon said they have a lot of options. One is to remain as they are now with a free and paid tier while the other is to distribute more content to "the majors". He later clarified "majors" as OTT companies.

"There's no better time as of right now to exercise the selling of our rights," he said.

In a follow-up answer, interim CFO Frank Riddick said that while the devil is in the details, there is nothing that would stop them from selling those rights if they chose to.

McMahon was asked about whether they would consider adding advertising to the Network and he said they would be interested if they kept the model as is. If they brought on other partners, that decision would be up to them.

As of last quarter, the WWE Network had 1.43 million subscribers, a 10% drop from the previous quarter, and generated $184.6 million in yearly revenue, down $15 million from 2018. The company predicted a modest increase for Q1 2020 for 1.47 million.

WWE signed two massive five-year TV deals with both Fox (SmackDown) and NBCUniversal (Raw), giving the company $2.35 billion from 2019-2024.

Vince McMahon considering 'transformative' changes for WWE Network

On Thursday's investors conference call, WWE chairman Vince McMahon said the company has had advanced talks with major OTT players about changes to the WWE

www.f4wonline.com

 

[brap]

 

[Bullet Club]

 

[Bullet Club]

 

[NickFire]

Vince McMahon considering 'transformative' changes for WWE Network

On Thursday's investors conference call, WWE chairman Vince McMahon said the company has had advanced talks with major OTT players about changes to the WWE Network that could mean a significant revenue increase for the company.

McMahon called the potential deal(s) "transformative".

Those changes could be content rights with marquee events like WrestleMania and the Royal Rumble or perhaps a different distribution model for the WWE Network altogether. McMahon said if a change is made, it will be announced this quarter as the talks are that far along.

When asked about the plans for the Network, McMahon said they have a lot of options. One is to remain as they are now with a free and paid tier while the other is to distribute more content to "the majors". He later clarified "majors" as OTT companies.

"There's no better time as of right now to exercise the selling of our rights," he said.

In a follow-up answer, interim CFO Frank Riddick said that while the devil is in the details, there is nothing that would stop them from selling those rights if they chose to.

McMahon was asked about whether they would consider adding advertising to the Network and he said they would be interested if they kept the model as is. If they brought on other partners, that decision would be up to them.

As of last quarter, the WWE Network had 1.43 million subscribers, a 10% drop from the previous quarter, and generated $184.6 million in yearly revenue, down $15 million from 2018. The company predicted a modest increase for Q1 2020 for 1.47 million.

WWE signed two massive five-year TV deals with both Fox (SmackDown) and NBCUniversal (Raw), giving the company $2.35 billion from 2019-2024.

Vince McMahon considering 'transformative' changes for WWE Network

On Thursday's investors conference call, WWE chairman Vince McMahon said the company has had advanced talks with major OTT players about changes to the WWE

www.f4wonline.com

If they take away the PPV's from WWE Network, I have a feeling I will be one of many who are done with much more than just the WWE Network.

 

[brap]

KRATOS VS ZEUS
ONE MORE MATCH
ONE LAST LEG DROP BROTHER

 

[Bullet Club]

Impact are trying to get Dixie & Russo for the WM TNA show.







Creepy midget Asuka likes to watch you have a shower.

 

[Hinedorf]

Impact are trying to get Dixie & Russo for the WM TNA show.







Creepy midget Asuka likes to watch you have a shower.

Shocking to think EC3 went from getting a mild push to being removed entirely. He was one of the few new additions I liked, would be happy to see him get a chance in AEW.

Looks like Rock's daughter just signed on with WWE so naturally they have to get rid of more established talent for somebody elses kid. Every time I hear Charlotte attempt a Woo I get reminded that charisma isn't a genetic trait.

 

[Bullet Club]

 

[OmegaSupreme]

Wow. The rocks daughter looks just like him... Then again they got Blaszer on the roster.

 

[Hinedorf]

Wow. The rocks daughter looks just like him... Then again they got Blaszer on the roster.

I mean..... I don't wanna be a dick, but this is show business and the Rocks daughter needs some serious surgery or it's just not gonna work, that's not a show business face...

 

[cryptoadam]

If they take away the PPV's from WWE Network, I have a feeling I will be one of many who are done with much more than just the WWE Network.

Network isn't bringing in many subs. I think they would be better rethinking it. Especially with NXT on USA.

Free network version with ads. You get about 60-80% of the content that rotates in and out. Example all RAW from 93-96, then a few months later 93 is dropped and 97 is added. etc...
Premium Network -5.99. All content, no ads (or limited ads) maybe add in some indies like EVOLVE etc that they have been teasing.

So its kinda like Hulu with an ad and ad free version.

License the PPV's to another OTT service. Right now most of these services don't have a unique live "sport" programming. WWE could fill that niche. If they could get 5-10 million off PPV license its probably better than what they get from Network Subs when you consider probably 20-30% of subs are "free" subs.

Since they are talking about the Peacock service, they get WWE and NXT PPV's to have "live sports" programming. The big 4 could either be part of that or sold off individually. So we could get WM on FOX, RR on NBC U, Survivor and Slam on Netflix etc... Or package them with PPV's. Slam and Survivor come with 4 PPV's. RR comes with NXT and 2 PPV's etc... There is probably more money in licensing the PPV's then in the network itself.

Its seems that they aren't seeing the growth in the network numbers. Disney+ comes in with 10 million subscribers and the OTT space is getting more and more crowded. There are services that keep launching and fewer people are going to want 20 different services.

The big one could be RAW being streamed live on Peacock. Since NBC U owns USA that could be enticing. Peacock gets live Raw which will give them a nice bullet point against other streaming services.

The Network would still have the docu series and cheap WWE shows like table for 3 etc... and you can ramp up the "specials" like the saudi shows or the televised house shows they do to try and get more people in at 5.99.

 

[NickFire]

Network isn't bringing in many subs. I think they would be better rethinking it. Especially with NXT on USA.

Free network version with ads. You get about 60-80% of the content that rotates in and out. Example all RAW from 93-96, then a few months later 93 is dropped and 97 is added. etc...
Premium Network -5.99. All content, no ads (or limited ads) maybe add in some indies like EVOLVE etc that they have been teasing.

So its kinda like Hulu with an ad and ad free version.

License the PPV's to another OTT service. Right now most of these services don't have a unique live "sport" programming. WWE could fill that niche. If they could get 5-10 million off PPV license its probably better than what they get from Network Subs when you consider probably 20-30% of subs are "free" subs.

Since they are talking about the Peacock service, they get WWE and NXT PPV's to have "live sports" programming. The big 4 could either be part of that or sold off individually. So we could get WM on FOX, RR on NBC U, Survivor and Slam on Netflix etc... Or package them with PPV's. Slam and Survivor come with 4 PPV's. RR comes with NXT and 2 PPV's etc... There is probably more money in licensing the PPV's then in the network itself.

Its seems that they aren't seeing the growth in the network numbers. Disney+ comes in with 10 million subscribers and the OTT space is getting more and more crowded. There are services that keep launching and fewer people are going to want 20 different services.

The big one could be RAW being streamed live on Peacock. Since NBC U owns USA that could be enticing. Peacock gets live Raw which will give them a nice bullet point against other streaming services.

The Network would still have the docu series and cheap WWE shows like table for 3 etc... and you can ramp up the "specials" like the saudi shows or the televised house shows they do to try and get more people in at 5.99.

I've been paying 120 a year, give or take, for all 12 PPV's. I'd be fine cancelling the network and paying something comparable for Hulu, etc., but I highly doubt licensing the PPV's will result in them being included in a regular subscription with comparable pricing. Complete fail for customers if the price gets jacked up for PPV's in my opinion, and the end of my run paying attention to any of it if that happens. The magic of the late 90's just does not exist enough to justify cost, and will never exist thanks to corporate concerns.

 

[cryptoadam]

I've been paying 120 a year, give or take, for all 12 PPV's. I'd be fine cancelling the network and paying something comparable for Hulu, etc., but I highly doubt licensing the PPV's will result in them being included in a regular subscription with comparable pricing. Complete fail for customers if the price gets jacked up for PPV's in my opinion, and the end of my run paying attention to any of it if that happens. The magic of the late 90's just does not exist enough to justify cost, and will never exist thanks to corporate concerns.

I don't see them going back to actual PPV and charging 50 bucks, outside of maybe RR and WM, but even thats a long shot.

WWE just had a horrible quarter, fired their CFO and their stock tanked. So clearly something financially is not going the right direction. So it seems like they want to try and change the network because its been stuck at the same numbers for years and the OTT market is getting saturated.

We have to see what kind of deal they can come up with, but since the mentioned partnering with other OTT services, and they have been testing a free network, this is the way I see things going.

Maybe they make it a value add, like get Peacock and pay 5.99 for network PPV's or something. I don't know. But I think we will see a free version of the Network without PPV's and then some version of the Network attached to another OTT service.

Keep in mind NBC owns USA, so WWE programming on Peacock makes a ton of sense, and live programming can give the service something unique that Netflix/Disney/WB/Amazon don't have. Its all about the $$$ for WWE. they sold their souls for sweet Saudi blood money. So if they can sign some sort of licensing deal with another OTT for X $ for X amount of PPV's over X years i think it probably makes more financial sense then hoping network subs will jump up to 5 million all of a sudden. Its not happening. So gotta find another way to monetize the content.