The W
June 7, 2009 - birthdaybritney.jpg
Views: 179008887
Main | FAQ | Search: Y! / G | Calendar | Color chart | Log in for more!
28.3.24 0945
The W - Pro Wrestling - The Royal Rumble 2014 (Page 4)
This thread has 73 referrals leading to it
Register and log in to post!
Thread rated: 5.83
Pages: Prev 1 2 3 4 5 Next
(1883 newer) Next thread | Previous thread
User
Post (99 total)
Amos Cochran
Lap cheong








Since: 28.8.09

Since last post: 3375 days
Last activity: 3375 days
#61 Posted on | Instant Rating: 4.91
    Originally posted by Dr Unlikely
    Wow, a lot of negativity here. I think everyone is ignoring the fact that...HHH may still decide to dodge the bullet and have Kane lose to Punk at Wrestlemania in his place.

    Heh.


YES. Oh God I picked up on that too. The fact that Hunter is still playing tweener douchenozzle and hasn't even interacted with Punk yet is a massive alarm bell.

Other places are saying that Meltzer's claimed the Bryan stuff is a totally planned work, that Foley is a part of it and that it's building to something big for him at Mania. I don't get the audio show - is that accurate?
Mr Shh
Lap cheong








Since: 9.1.02
From: Monmouth County, NJ

Since last post: 1295 days
Last activity: 1294 days
#62 Posted on | Instant Rating: 7.39
    Originally posted by Amos Cochran
      Originally posted by Dr Unlikely
      Wow, a lot of negativity here. I think everyone is ignoring the fact that...HHH may still decide to dodge the bullet and have Kane lose to Punk at Wrestlemania in his place.

      Heh.


    YES. Oh God I picked up on that too. The fact that Hunter is still playing tweener douchenozzle and hasn't even interacted with Punk yet is a massive alarm bell.

Forget direct interaction with Hunter. Nash was in the Rumble. That set off an alarm bell with me. Fully expected Nash-Punk interaction to lead into the HHH program, but nothing.

I'm more disappointed that the Kane deal last night probably means he's not a mole.

    Originally posted by steven87gill
    I finally give in, there is no grand plan. They just flat out don't want Bryan as *The Guy*.

As far as I'm concerned, this isn't about viewing Bryan as *The Guy* anymore, this is about building up to a Moment at WM. I don't care if Bryan wins the title at WM, then loses it to Batista the next night in 8 seconds, it's all about the WM Moment.

Raw is going to be glorious tonight. Spoiler alert.




You askew my mirror. I askew yours.
Behold, my plunger.
Anagrams posted to http://twitter.com/paragonSMASH
FLRockAndLaw
Kishke








Since: 2.1.02
From: Central Florida, somewhere between Orlando and Tampa, U.S.A.

Since last post: 2979 days
Last activity: 2294 days
#63 Posted on | Instant Rating: 2.26
Here are some more thoughts from a demented mind in Central Florida:
Wow, if you were/are a friend or former stable-mate of HHH, last night was a great night for you.

* Kevin Nash gets a spot in the Rumble. The fact that Nash is still getting work in a wrestling ring in 2014 is baffling. You want a true feel-good surprise Rumble entrant? Have Jake "The Snake" Roberts come in, DDT someone, and then get eliminated, maybe taking someone with him.
* Sheamus is back... and makes it to the Final Three. Of all of these examples, this is the one I had the least issue with.
* Batista is back - and wins the Rumble. We've already gone over this ad infinatum.
* Orton retains the WWE World Heavyweight Championship.
* As a huge New Age Outlaws fan from 1998-1999, having Billy Gunn and Jesse Jammes win the tag team titles clean over the Rhodes Boys baffles me. This is a team that hasn't been relevant for about seven years. Unless the plan is they drop it to the Usos in the next week or so... why these guys?

    Originally posted by Amos Cochran
    Other places are saying that Meltzer's claimed the Bryan stuff is a totally planned work, that Foley is a part of it and that it's building to something big for him at Mania. I don't get the audio show - is that accurate?


Two words: spin control. I hope the WWE's post-production guys are going to get paid overtime for all the crowd overdubbing they'll need to do for putting this PPV on DVD. The crowd made Goldberg-Lesnar at WM XX seem like Savage-Steamboat from WM III.

I can't even see any argument left about Bryan not being The Guy anymore. Too small? Eddie Guerrero in 2004 and Rey Mysterio in 2006 would like a word with you (to say nothing of that guy we can't mention anymore). Also, take another look at the backstage promo between Orton and Vince McMahon from TLC. McMahon is thicker and bulkier than Orton. Your 68-year-old promoter is more imposing than your world champion, a man less than half the promoter's age. People handed out flyers promoting Smackdown returning to Pittsburgh in June, and they've got a characture of Bryan's beard as the only illustration on the flyer. I've heard three wrestlers get reactions comparable to what Daniel Bryan is getting right now:
1) Hulk Hogan circa 1986-1987
2) Steve Austin circa 1998
3) John Cena circa 2004-early 2005

The Wyatt-Bryan match was pretty good, though I have to admit, I was a little uncomfortable with the Sister Abigail outside the ring where Bryan hit his head against the barrier. If there was any report of a new concussion, I'd be willing to give them a little slack, but concussed people don't tweet about the show they were in less than three hours after getting a concussion.

I've got tickets to two separate house shows this weekend. I know I'll be leading whatever Daniel Bryan cheers I can get going, and bringing signs. I know the Orlando Smackdown taping after Wrestlemania XXVIII was pretty vocal for him. I can only hope Orlando's just as vocal this Saturday night.



Why yes, I am both a musician and a lawyer. Thanks for asking. :)
Parts Unknown
Lap cheong








Since: 2.1.02
From: Darkenwood

Since last post: 1763 days
Last activity: 1448 days
#64 Posted on | Instant Rating: 10.00
I used to be one of the guys who believed there was some magical "long game" behind the scenes each time WWE made an absolutely retarded decision like Batista winning the Rumble.

Used to be.

You guys know damn good and well - or you should by now - that WWE utterly fails at the long game. This is not leading to Bryan getting a big WM moment. Take that to the bank.



DirtyMikeSeaver
Bockwurst








Since: 19.5.02
From: Toronto

Since last post: 1592 days
Last activity: 1592 days
#65 Posted on | Instant Rating: 5.95
If that Meltzer report is true, then that is one of the funniest things I've read in a long while:

"Hey, let's just openly antagonize our paying audience, because let's face it, these lemmings will keep coming (what are they going to do, watch TNA?) and when we do finally 'give in' and give the title to Bryan, we'll just say it was all a part of the plan and we'll be hailed as geniuses!"

The funny thing is, they are right. No group of fans is easier to satiate or pacify than wrestling fans. I just read on this thread someone that would be satisfied just a WM moment. It went from "Make him the top face!" to "Hey, just let him win a match!".

None of this even matters anyway. We'll come here and complain and complain, and then 8 pm hits and we all watch. Honestly, if there wasn't a straw man that we would complain about, I don't know what the IWC would do. 6 months ago, Mark Henry was in the 'greatest angle of all time' and now no one cares about him. 3 years ago, we were all chanting "CM Punk" and wanting a HHH/Punk match as bad as possible and now it's an 'undercard' match because we're all obsessed with the other guy. I don't necessary blame the WWE for not listening, because fans are so fickle. Remember this?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ErnmSGIMRrk

The fans were listened to then and look what happened. And yes, I get it, Hulk Hogan isn't Daniel Bryan, but hey, Daniel Bryan isn't Hulk Hogan (it makes sense when you think about it).

Bryan will get his time in the sun. He'll be champion and all will be 'right with the world' and we will all pat ourselves on the back because 'we' made it happen. Then 2 years from now, when he's wrestling Rey Misterio on the opening match of Wrestlemania, we'll be too busy arguing whether Dean Ambrose should get the "Undertaker Match" to really care.



Kevin Kelly: "Mr. Austin, would you like to comment on Wade Keller's Take that endorsing the XFL hurts your anti-authority character?"

Steve Austin: "Oh shit, he actually said that? I thought the boys in the back were ribbing me!"

Kelly: "No, he really said that. Did they tell you the part about you sitting in the stands, looking all skeptical?"

Austin: "AHAHAHAHAHAHA. Yeah... oh man that was too much."
BigDaddyLoco
Scrapple








Since: 2.1.02

Since last post: 327 days
Last activity: 327 days
#66 Posted on | Instant Rating: 4.82
    Originally posted by FLRockAndLaw
    Wow, if you were/are a friend or former stable-mate of HHH, last night was a great night for you.

    * Kevin Nash gets a spot in the Rumble. The fact that Nash is still getting work in a wrestling ring in 2014 is baffling. You want a true feel-good surprise Rumble entrant? Have Jake "The Snake" Roberts come in, DDT someone, and then get eliminated, maybe taking someone with him.
    * Sheamus is back... and makes it to the Final Three. Of all of these examples, this is the one I had the least issue with.
    * Batista is back - and wins the Rumble. We've already gone over this ad infinatum.
    * Orton retains the WWE World Heavyweight Championship.
    * As a huge New Age Outlaws fan from 1998-1999, having Billy Gunn and Jesse Jammes win the tag team titles clean over the Rhodes Boys baffles me. This is a team that hasn't been relevant for about seven years. Unless the plan is they drop it to the Usos in the next week or so... why these guys?




Yeah also HBK and Flair were on the panel. Did XPac and Helmsley have a falling out? If we are going to do this let's do it right.
JayJayDean
Scrapple








Since: 2.1.02
From: Seattle, WA

Since last post: 2985 days
Last activity: 2562 days
#67 Posted on | Instant Rating: 7.62
    Originally posted by lotjx
    Its not just Pittsburgh, we have seen fans just crap all over anything that isn't Bryan. Remember Seattle? That is not an East Coast Smark town.


Seattle is essentially Daniel Bryan's hometown, so it would be easy to assume WWE chalked up Bryan's over-ness at Raw that night to that, just like CM Punk's epic over-ness in Chicago or Bret Hart's in Canada.



Holy fuck shit motherfucker shit. Read comics. Fuck shit shit fuck shit I sold out when I did my job. Fuck fuck fuck shit fuck. Sorry had to do it....

*snip*

Revenge of the Sith = one thumb up from me. Fuck shit. I want to tittie fuck your ass.
-- The Guinness. to Cerebus



"I have enough people telling me I suck online" -- lotjx




TheGreatWhiteBob
Linguica








Since: 5.3.11
From: England

Since last post: 2609 days
Last activity: 2585 days
#68 Posted on
I dunno. Maybe Vince is a genius. I can honestly say that I'm looking forward to watching RAW tonight more than I have done in many a year. Not because I'm expecting anything good. I don't think for a second, they're gonna cave in and give the fans what they want. But I'm looking forward to the train wreck. I'm looking forward to the audience hijacking the show and outright rejecting everything that isn't Daniel Bryan in the Main Event.

Vince doesn't care why fans watch RAW. All he cares about - and as a businessman, all he SHOULD care about - is that they do. I'll be watching, as I'm sure everyone else will be.

Maybe we're all underestimating Vince here. Or maybe we're not. I don't know. The man is either (still) a promotional genius, or a senile old man who has completely lost touch with reality. But I do know that the "fans and Daniel Bryan vs the corporate machine" - whether a happy accident or the result of genuine ineptitude - is a perversely entertaining thing to watch unfold, and a fun phenomenon to be a part of. And so long as it's fun, I'll continue to watch.



"That's some shameful shit..."
thecubsfan
Scrapple
Moderator








Since: 10.12.01
From: Aurora, IL

Since last post: 947 days
Last activity: 328 days
#69 Posted on | Instant Rating: 9.35

    Other places are saying that Meltzer's claimed the Bryan stuff is a totally planned work, that Foley is a part of it and that it's building to something big for him at Mania. I don't get the audio show - is that accurate?


Kind of. Dave's been talking the last few weeks about a new WWE directive for people to get attention on Twitter - I don't remember if the stuff with Ryback and Sheamus made it here, but that's what it was about - and figures what you read last night might have been the same thing. Bryan wouldn't be posting on Twitter about the crowd reaction and people holding him down unless he got permission from those people who are holding him down.* He was less sure about the Foley comments, generally noting that even he's having a hard time figuring out what's real and what's planned with this stuff right now (and then noted that's a good thing.)

But Meltzer was also sure they booked the entire Rumble PPV because of what they had planned for WrestleMania, not as a sneaky way to get the crowd behind Daniel Bryan even more. Bryan lost to Wyatt because Wyatt is planned to face Cena at WrestleMania and Wyatt needed a big win before then, not to get sympathy for Bryan.** Byran's scheduled to face Sheamus, and Sheamus has to turn heel before that could start, so they probably didn't think they needed to have Bryan in the rumble.

That was yesterday. Today, who knows. After a night like the Rumble, there's always a 50/50 chance of insanity on RAW. Should be awesome.

* - oh man the Grantland column on this show is going to have so many "Reality Era" references

** - Wyatt was getting a big win at Rumble no matter what happened with Bryan - so I'm thinking the Outlaws won the tag team titles because Bryan & Wyatt were no longer together to do so.

(edited by thecubsfan on 27.1.14 1135)


thecubsfan.com - luchablog
lotjx
Scrapple








Since: 5.9.08

Since last post: 1681 days
Last activity: 1520 days
#70 Posted on | Instant Rating: 1.31
    Originally posted by TheGreatWhiteBob
    I dunno. Maybe Vince is a genius. I can honestly say that I'm looking forward to watching RAW tonight more than I have done in many a year. Not because I'm expecting anything good. I don't think for a second, they're gonna cave in and give the fans what they want. But I'm looking forward to the train wreck. I'm looking forward to the audience hijacking the show and outright rejecting everything that isn't Daniel Bryan in the Main Event.

    Vince doesn't care why fans watch RAW. All he cares about - and as a businessman, all he SHOULD care about - is that they do. I'll be watching, as I'm sure everyone else will be.

    Maybe we're all underestimating Vince here. Or maybe we're not. I don't know. The man is either (still) a promotional genius, or a senile old man who has completely lost touch with reality. But I do know that the "fans and Daniel Bryan vs the corporate machine" - whether a happy accident or the result of genuine ineptitude - is a perversely entertaining thing to watch unfold, and a fun phenomenon to be a part of. And so long as it's fun, I'll continue to watch.


This is fun?! Its fun to waste money. Its fun to see an entire crowd full of people who paid anywhere from $50 to $500 for their seat leave pissed off. Not included parking and food. That is fun? Its fun to waste $35 to $40 for this PPV which turned into a cluster fuck. This is fun? Must be nice to be rich.

The truth is, I no longer watch this show live. I have Hulu mainly for Shield and that is where I watch when something interesting happens. There a ton of wrestling sites that give you info or twitter or anything that is not the WWE machine to give you info.

To me, Metzler is as close as WWE PR as you can get. I can almost guarantee to the crowd shitting on the PVV, Batista's meltdown and the utter hatred towards this is not part of the plan. Mike is sorta right, we will come back, but not all of us. The ratings from 10 years ago are down, the ratings from two years ago are down. Batista got them a big number, good. Its one week out of 52. I am curious to see if they pull a bigger number again, they probably will. What about the next week when the curiosity is gone, what is the rating then. The reality is not all of us come back and you have to wonder if putting all their eggs in the Network basket won't bite them in the ass. Why would you get on the launch day when you won't get a PPV til April. Why would you want it for February and March? Those months are practically worthless. Even if you get the network later on, all the old matches will be there. Just be patient.

(edited by lotjx on 27.1.14 1208)


The Wee Baby Sheamus.Twitter: @realjoecarfley its a bit more toned down there. A bit.
JustinShapiro
Scrapple
Moderator








Since: 12.12.01

Since last post: 1764 days
Last activity: 1416 days
#71 Posted on | Instant Rating: 8.98
    Originally posted by Amos Cochran
    Other places are saying that Meltzer's claimed the Bryan stuff is a totally planned work, that Foley is a part of it and that it's building to something big for him at Mania. I don't get the audio show - is that accurate?


I believe the gist was that Bryan running with it on Twitter has been by design, the company is going to be promoting the YES movement, and that they just booked Seattle for Extreme Rules as a direct response to the Raw that was hijacked. He says they're building to a big payoff of some fashion there (or setting up their ultimate revenge), but they did not intend at all for the crowd to ruin the Rumble PPV. So he doesn't know if they'll stick hard with the Wrestlemania plans (which are "safer" for the big important show) if the crowds are going to try to shout down everything until then.

    Originally posted by Heims
    Batista did indeed do a short mock YES at the top of the ramp on his way out, after flipping that guy off for whatever reason. He may complete the "half-assed token babyface run" portion of his return in record time.


Oh that's right! Good catch. It seemed good-natured to me, or at least a guy trying to act like a good sport.

    Originally posted by Super 7-Up
    Oh man. It just occurs to me. They missed a prime opportunity to create a number one heel for life if at number 30 they played DB's music for a few seconds and then Bad News Barrett walks out...


Yeah, I thought for sure the decorum tower would've risen up to tell someone, anyone that they weren't going to Wrestlemania.

(edited by JustinShapiro on 27.1.14 1310)
TheGreatWhiteBob
Linguica








Since: 5.3.11
From: England

Since last post: 2609 days
Last activity: 2585 days
#72 Posted on
    Originally posted by lotjx
      Originally posted by TheGreatWhiteBob
      I dunno. Maybe Vince is a genius. I can honestly say that I'm looking forward to watching RAW tonight more than I have done in many a year. Not because I'm expecting anything good. I don't think for a second, they're gonna cave in and give the fans what they want. But I'm looking forward to the train wreck. I'm looking forward to the audience hijacking the show and outright rejecting everything that isn't Daniel Bryan in the Main Event.

      Vince doesn't care why fans watch RAW. All he cares about - and as a businessman, all he SHOULD care about - is that they do. I'll be watching, as I'm sure everyone else will be.

      Maybe we're all underestimating Vince here. Or maybe we're not. I don't know. The man is either (still) a promotional genius, or a senile old man who has completely lost touch with reality. But I do know that the "fans and Daniel Bryan vs the corporate machine" - whether a happy accident or the result of genuine ineptitude - is a perversely entertaining thing to watch unfold, and a fun phenomenon to be a part of. And so long as it's fun, I'll continue to watch.


    This is fun?! Its fun to waste money. Its fun to see an entire crowd full of people who paid anywhere from $50 to $500 for their seat leave pissed off. Not included parking and food. That is fun? Its fun to waste $35 to $40 for this PPV which turned into a cluster fuck. This is fun? Must be nice to be rich.

    (edited by lotjx on 27.1.14 1208)


It has nothing to do with being rich or poor (I'm not rich for the record) and I'm not really talking about PPV, which is a different beast (and one that after Elimination Chamber, won't even be a factor with the Network coming into play), but do I think live RAWs where the crowd reject the status quo and make their voices heard, to the detriment of everything the WWE have planned, is fun? Yes. ("Yes! Yes! Etc!").

And whether it's fun or not, is really beside the point. I watch these shows because I think it's fun to be a part of them, you seemingly watch them so you can subsequently complain about them. To Vince, it makes no difference why we watch, only that we do.



"That's some shameful shit..."
BigDaddyLoco
Scrapple








Since: 2.1.02

Since last post: 327 days
Last activity: 327 days
#73 Posted on | Instant Rating: 4.82
    Originally posted by JustinShapiro


      Originally posted by Super 7-Up
      Oh man. It just occurs to me. They missed a prime opportunity to create a number one heel for life if at number 30 they played DB's music for a few seconds and then Bad News Barrett walks out...


    Yeah, I thought for sure the decorum tower would've risen up to tell someone, anyone that they weren't going to Wrestlemania.

    (edited by JustinShapiro on 27.1.14 1310)


Bad News Barrett at 30 would have been awesome and caused a near riot, but at least they would be doing a wink wink nudge nudge with the audience. Instead they tried to cover the disappointing fact of no Bryan with old fan favorite Rey Rey and it failed miserably. Which kind of shows they aren't sure what they are doing.
FLRockAndLaw
Kishke








Since: 2.1.02
From: Central Florida, somewhere between Orlando and Tampa, U.S.A.

Since last post: 2979 days
Last activity: 2294 days
#74 Posted on | Instant Rating: 2.26
Here are some more thoughts from a demented mind in Central Florida:
    Originally posted by TheGreatWhiteBob
    To Vince, it makes no difference why we watch, only that we do.


Therein lies the problem. It's expecting us to watch and to keep watching without giving us a good reason to keep watching. You've gotta give your audience a reason to be loyal to the brand, other than, "Because we're the brand." You can be happy that we watch, but unless you're drawing the inescapable conclusions from both buyrates and ratings being down (and now your live crowds openly turning on your product) and then go about correcting the problem, you're losing money. WWE is in a serious game of chicken with its fans, hoping that the Bryan supporters will blink first. The problem is, Bryan supporters blinking first may also mean, "I'm gone, and I'm no longer watching, and I'm not buying the Network, and I'm not buying any more Bryan shirts or merch." They can spin it all they want for the stockholders, but I can't believe that someone out there with enough shares who attends these meetings won't notice, and ask, "Ummm... why are you alienating the fans of the most popular guy on your roster, and the most popular guy you've had in about a decade? How is this maximizing shareholder wealth when revenues and ratings drop?" (Answer: Hollywood accounting. SPIN! SWERVE!)

Those who're looking forward to watching RAW tonight (Spoiler: I won't be. Even if I had TV, I've got other plans.) sound an awful lot like those who kept watching Nitro to the bitter end - particularly, those fans who were enjoying watching the ship catch fire and sink to the bottom of the ocean.



Why yes, I am both a musician and a lawyer. Thanks for asking. :)
PowerPB13
Sujuk








Since: 25.4.02
From: Belleville, IL USA

Since last post: 732 days
Last activity: 509 days
#75 Posted on | Instant Rating: 3.65
I'm more into indy wrestling than any of the "mainstream" promotions these days. Haven't been to a live WWE show in a few years. Only watch PPVs if a friend invites me to watch(either at a sports bar or at his place).

It's just nice to know that it's not "just me".



-PB
Then: http://www.nwwwo.com/
Now: http://www.facebook.com/patrickab7
GRL
Frankfurter








Since: 13.7.02
From: Austin

Since last post: 1690 days
Last activity: 1527 days
#76 Posted on | Instant Rating: 7.76
Lots of consternation around the horn about Batista winning. To which I say, go here and share your thoughts:
http://www.wwe.com/main-help/contact-us/show-feedback

I don't buy into the argument that Daniel Bryan isn't going to be "The Guy." He already is, if you look at or listen to the crowd. Didn't we also just get a report TWO WEEKS AGO about the rumors saying Vince "wants 70,000 people doing the 'Yes!' chant at the same time" for Mania?
Stefonics
Frankfurter








Since: 17.3.02
From: New Jerusalem

Since last post: 2396 days
Last activity: 261 days
#77 Posted on | Instant Rating: 6.18
    Originally posted by DirtyMikeSeaver
    If that Meltzer report is true, then that is one of the funniest things I've read in a long while:

    "Hey, let's just openly antagonize our paying audience, because let's face it, these lemmings will keep coming (what are they going to do, watch TNA?) and when we do finally 'give in' and give the title to Bryan, we'll just say it was all a part of the plan and we'll be hailed as geniuses!"

    The funny thing is, they are right. No group of fans is easier to satiate or pacify than wrestling fans. I just read on this thread someone that would be satisfied just a WM moment. It went from "Make him the top face!" to "Hey, just let him win a match!".

    None of this even matters anyway. We'll come here and complain and complain, and then 8 pm hits and we all watch. Honestly, if there wasn't a straw man that we would complain about, I don't know what the IWC would do. 6 months ago, Mark Henry was in the 'greatest angle of all time' and now no one cares about him. 3 years ago, we were all chanting "CM Punk" and wanting a HHH/Punk match as bad as possible and now it's an 'undercard' match because we're all obsessed with the other guy. I don't necessary blame the WWE for not listening, because fans are so fickle. Remember this?

    http://www.youtube.com/​watch?​v=ErnmSGIMRrk

    The fans were listened to then and look what happened. And yes, I get it, Hulk Hogan isn't Daniel Bryan, but hey, Daniel Bryan isn't Hulk Hogan (it makes sense when you think about it).

    Bryan will get his time in the sun. He'll be champion and all will be 'right with the world' and we will all pat ourselves on the back because 'we' made it happen. Then 2 years from now, when he's wrestling Rey Misterio on the opening match of Wrestlemania, we'll be too busy arguing whether Dean Ambrose should get the "Undertaker Match" to really care.


All I can do is nod in agreement. Well said.
SchippeWreck
Banger








Since: 26.3.03
From: Glendale, CA

Since last post: 2106 days
Last activity: 176 days
#78 Posted on | Instant Rating: 7.86
    Originally posted by PowerPB13
    I'm more into indy wrestling than any of the "mainstream" promotions these days. Haven't been to a live WWE show in a few years. Only watch PPVs if a friend invites me to watch(either at a sports bar or at his place).

    It's just nice to know that it's not "just me".

I want to piggyback on this and weigh in on the "vote with your wallet" argument. I've already been doing that for years. I haven't bought a PPV since WM 26. (I've watched PPVs at other people's houses maybe twice a year since.) I haven't attended a live show since 2003. I give Raw and Smackdown my full attention only sporadically. But I still follow the sport fairly religiously (mostly through here and other sites).

That said, I am going to pay for the Network, despite my opposition to how Daniel Bryan is being treated. I don't think the two things necessarily go hand-in-hand. I see it as the company finally offering their current (and past) product at a reasonable price point. Once I do become a "paying customer" again, though, I will be certain to voice any displeasure I have with the product through the appropriate channels.

(Quick aside on the subject of talent use: Can we get a friggin' push for Antonio Cesaro already? The guy is killing it. He even made people care about Swagger and Zeb, for chrissakes!)



"It's magic! We don't need to explain it!"
HMD
Andouille








Since: 8.6.02
From: Canada

Since last post: 2541 days
Last activity: 2541 days
#79 Posted on | Instant Rating: 8.14
    Originally posted by FLRockAndLaw
    Therein lies the problem. It's expecting us to watch and to keep watching without giving us a good reason to keep watching. You've gotta give your audience a reason to be loyal to the brand, other than, "Because we're the brand." You can be happy that we watch, but unless you're drawing the inescapable conclusions from both buyrates and ratings being down (and now your live crowds openly turning on your product) and then go about correcting the problem, you're losing money. WWE is in a serious game of chicken with its fans, hoping that the Bryan supporters will blink first. The problem is, Bryan supporters blinking first may also mean, "I'm gone, and I'm no longer watching, and I'm not buying the Network, and I'm not buying any more Bryan shirts or merch." They can spin it all they want for the stockholders, but I can't believe that someone out there with enough shares who attends these meetings won't notice, and ask, "Ummm... why are you alienating the fans of the most popular guy on your roster, and the most popular guy you've had in about a decade? How is this maximizing shareholder wealth when revenues and ratings drop?" (Answer: Hollywood accounting. SPIN! SWERVE!)


But they ARE the brand. They just are. If you want American pro wrestling, you're going to watch WWE. You're not seriously going to watch TNA or ROH. There is no chance of those territories overtaking Titan. WWE has a market share they probably can't blow no matter what they do. When the NFL started making rules changes everyone called them the "no fun league" and went right on watching them. WWE is closer to a "sport" in the sense of the brand (read: team) loyalty that it seems to invoke in its fans in a way pure entertainment products, without at least an element of sport/competition etc, don't.

I don't know what they've done here necessarily costs them any money. We can't say they should ignore Batista popping a rating, and ignore the lack of ratings success that Punk and now Bryan have had, and pretend we're being reasonable. So my only argument is this looks bad. And if the crowds are booing your main events, even if it doesn't immediately tank your revenues, and even if it doesn't really dampen the stardom of your Cenas and Ortons immediately, it sure makes the product and everyone associated look like shit. Your crowd ought to look like it's enjoying itself. We all love a trainwreck, as smarks, but to a casual fan it's just bizarre and distracting.



(edited by Hogan's My Dad on 27.1.14 1204)


Quiet, Or Papa Spank!
PowerPB13
Sujuk








Since: 25.4.02
From: Belleville, IL USA

Since last post: 732 days
Last activity: 509 days
#80 Posted on | Instant Rating: 3.65
Sadly, I'm out on the Network. Don't have enough interest for that sort of thing any more.



-PB
Then: http://www.nwwwo.com/
Now: http://www.facebook.com/patrickab7
Pages: Prev 1 2 3 4 5 Next
Thread rated: 5.83
Pages: Prev 1 2 3 4 5 Next
Thread ahead: RAW 1079
Next thread: He's Baaaaaack!
Previous thread: I know what you did next, Summer
(1883 newer) Next thread | Previous thread
The only problem i had with the main event was Charlotte again saying something along the lines of "you will never beat me" again. The first time she said that and lost it was special. When she said it Monday I knew she was going to lose.
Related threads: What's your favorite Rumble *moment*? - Royal Rumble Prediction Thread - What's your favorite Rumble? - More...
The W - Pro Wrestling - The Royal Rumble 2014 (Page 4)Register and log in to post!

The W™ message board

ZimBoard
©2001-2024 Brothers Zim

This old hunk of junk rendered your page in 0.329 seconds.