Please continue any discussion on wrestling here.

nXt is so good its crazy. They always deliver. 

Next AEW show has a free stream:

https://www.si.com/wrestling/2019/06/11/watch-aew-fyter-fest-br-live-free-streaming

Cain Velasquez looked damn good in the ring!   WWE should get on that before AEW scoops him up!

 

1 hour ago, Brandon said:

Cain Velasquez looked damn good in the ring!   WWE should get on that before AEW scoops him up!

 

He was paired up with Cody so AEW might already have an inside track.  Cain has a few more shows booked with AAA so sticking with them is also an option for him.

Considering the limited amount of pro training he's had... I dare say he was already more entertaining then guys like Bobby Lashley and Brock Lesnar.     Also looked very off the juice which I guess is a good thing?

On 2019-05-29 at 9:36 AM, JCon said:

Word is that it was between 100k and 200k. That's a huge variance but if it is between them, it's a really, really good number. 

DoN did 111,000 buys.  Which is considered a success.  

All Out is trending to be slightly lower. I think losing Mox definitely hurt some buys.  

The AEW Countdown to All Out special that aired on TNT the Friday before had 390,000 viewers which is very good under the circumstances.  It’s raised expectations in some circles that their debut could draw 800,000 or so. I think that’s a bit high but everything AEW has been breaking expectations so you never know. 

By the way, I was in Vegas for DoN and it was tremendous.  As was the special US screening of the Kenny doc during Starrcast.  For what it’s worth I thought All Out was really good with Kenny/PAC and the ladder match being the best. 

Luchasaures is going to be a star. 

Jericho winning was the right call and him losing the actual belt in Tallahassee was....something lol 

Look who came back!  

I was just going to post I saw some ads for a local show that looked decent... wasn't PCW but the other group. 

2 hours ago, The Unknown Poster said:

DoN did 111,000 buys.  Which is considered a success.  

All Out is trending to be slightly lower. I think losing Mox definitely hurt some buys.  

The AEW Countdown to All Out special that aired on TNT the Friday before had 390,000 viewers which is very good under the circumstances.  It’s raised expectations in some circles that their debut could draw 800,000 or so. I think that’s a bit high but everything AEW has been breaking expectations so you never know. 

By the way, I was in Vegas for DoN and it was tremendous.  As was the special US screening of the Kenny doc during Starrcast.  For what it’s worth I thought All Out was really good with Kenny/PAC and the ladder match being the best. 

Luchasaures is going to be a star. 

Jericho winning was the right call and him losing the actual belt in Tallahassee was....something lol 

Welcome back!

2 hours ago, Brandon said:

Look who came back!  

I was just going to post I saw some ads for a local show that looked decent... wasn't PCW but the other group. 

Just imagine Eric Bischoff’s wwe theme playing for me

There are a few now.  Us (PCW), CWE. And two new groups. WPW and WrestleMax.  I am not a fan of WPW but wrestlemax is definitely trying to do something different.  I’m curious to see how it works out.  Super Crazy vs Mentallo headlines for them. 

We’re back in a couple weeks with Chikara founder Mike Quackenbush. 

1 hour ago, SpeedFlex27 said:

Welcome back!

Thank you kindly!  

Latest numbers have All Out trending slightly below Double or Nothing.  But DoN did above expectations so its not a big surprise.  Losing Mox vs Kenny didn't help.  And I'd agree with those who felt the Jericho/Page build up wasn't good enough.  Keeping in mind, AEW has been doing all this with no TV at all, its impressive.   Buys were up in the UK.

What can they draw on TNT?  I was originally thinking 500,000...now Im closer to 750,000 and I've seen industry people predicting 800,000+.

For what it's worth Impact is drawing 5000-10000 on their US station.  Yikes.

AEW's next PPV will be interesting.  They'll have a month of TV and will feature Cody vs Jericho and Kenny vs Mox.  

37 minutes ago, The Unknown Poster said:

Latest numbers have All Out trending slightly below Double or Nothing.  But DoN did above expectations so its not a big surprise.  Losing Mox vs Kenny didn't help.  And I'd agree with those who felt the Jericho/Page build up wasn't good enough.  Keeping in mind, AEW has been doing all this with no TV at all, its impressive.   Buys were up in the UK.

What can they draw on TNT?  I was originally thinking 500,000...now Im closer to 750,000 and I've seen industry people predicting 800,000+.

For what it's worth Impact is drawing 5000-10000 on their US station.  Yikes.

AEW's next PPV will be interesting.  They'll have a month of TV and will feature Cody vs Jericho and Kenny vs Mox.  

Have they released any info on Canadian TV? 

2 hours ago, bigg jay said:

Have they released any info on Canadian TV? 

Nothing yet.  Im under the impression TSN is the leading candidate.  Word is they are in negotiations with whomever and intend to have it for the debut.  I do know Bell loved the idea of the Kenny doc when they saw ratings that wrestling docs were drawing in the US (Flair, Andre etc).  And they loved the Kenny doc so the idea of AEW would certainly be something they'd be positive on.

In a move that was expected but is still pretty shocking under the circumstances, Anthem Sports, owned by Leonard Asper, bought majority interest in HD Net

HD Net includes AXS. 

Anthem is the parent of Impact so Impact will be moving to AXS and it’s a Deal Asper always wanted to get the fight network in the US. 

Featuring Steve Austin’s return to MSG

 

Why would WWE think that a retired wrestler would up the ratings? Even if it's Stone Cold. 

24 minutes ago, SpeedFlex27 said:

Why would WWE think that a retired wrestler would up the ratings? Even if it's Stone Cold. 

I'd assume it's a tie in because Steve Austin has a new show starting this week

7 hours ago, Brandon said:

I'd assume it's a tie in because Steve Austin has a new show starting this week

That is why he was brought back. To promote his new show. Hey, I loved Steve Austin back in the day but I wouldn't tune in specifically to see him deliver a Stone Cold Stunner to AJ Styles today. Or to see Hulk Hogan "hulking up" in the ring, brutha.  But Austin interviewing Dale Earnhardt Jr? That makes as much sense as Bob Costas interviewing Donald Trump or Vladimir Putin. Why? I liked Austin's podcast he used to have but WWE canned it.  

7 hours ago, Brandon said:

I'd assume it's a tie in because Steve Austin has a new show starting this week

It already started 3 weeks ago. 

8 hours ago, The Unknown Poster said:

Featuring Steve Austin’s return to MSG

 

Monday Night Football debut. Raw was pretty good. 

2 hours ago, Goalie said:

Monday Night Football debut. Raw was pretty good. 

Yup. Down much more than usual against NFL though.  RAW has been better since Paul Heymans been booking more of it.  

Austin opening the show was not a great idea.  

Everything changes in a month. Maybe. 

2 hours ago, SpeedFlex27 said:

That is why he was brought back. To promote his new show. Hey, I loved Steve Austin back in the day but I wouldn't tune in specifically to see him deliver a Stone Cold Stunner to AJ Styles today. Or to see Hulk Hogan "hulking up" in the ring, brutha.  But Austin interviewing Dale Earnhardt Jr? That makes as much sense as Bob Costas interviewing Donald Trump or Vladimir Putin. Why? I liked Austin's podcast he used to have but WWE canned it.  

I think the idea has merit. But Austin should have been saved til later in the show to see if fans would stay tuned in for it.  

Problem is wwe is very formulaic even with the big stars of the past. And Austin was back pretty recently. 

Ultimately it wasn’t going to persuade NFL fans to not watch the game. 

It will be interesting to see if the rapid declines are due to fan apathy in general or wwe apathy specifically.   Once SD is on FOX and AEW debuts, give it a few months and we’ll know for sure. 

16 hours ago, The Unknown Poster said:

I think the idea has merit. But Austin should have been saved til later in the show to see if fans would stay tuned in for it.  

Problem is wwe is very formulaic even with the big stars of the past. And Austin was back pretty recently. 

Ultimately it wasn’t going to persuade NFL fans to not watch the game. 

It will be interesting to see if the rapid declines are due to fan apathy in general or wwe apathy specifically.   Once SD is on FOX and AEW debuts, give it a few months and we’ll know for sure. 

I wonder if the Monday night wars return like 20 years ago. If all Eric Bischoff is remembered for is the (original) NWO then that is quite a legacy. Mandy Rose fat shaming Nikki Cross & calling her ugly was cringe worthy. Even the crowd didn't know how to react. There was stunned silence. The WWE says it stand for anti bullying then maybe someone should let the writers know.

Some news & notes (most courtesy Dave Meltzer)

The big news:

- Anthem (parent of Impact Wrestling and owned by Winnipeg's own Leonard Asper) bought AXS & HD Net Movies channels.  Former owner Mark Cuban and new partner Steve Harvey are minority partners but Anthem controls the channels.

- Anthem promptly cleaned house, including removing the VP who brokered the deal and was the driving force behind bringing New Japan to AXS (which has been big for them as New Japan has increased its viewership every quarter even as AXS was reduced in terms of availability in the US).  That VP, Adam Swift, became producer of the New Japan show and made it more modern for US audiences, including hiring Mauro Renallo (until WWE hired him away) and then Jim Ross (until WWE banned him from doing the show).  This was a major reason for New Japan doing well in the US Market and they are now under the control of Anthem (contract expires Jan. 2021.  

- The deal includes HD's library of wrestling (including some ROH, New Japan) and MMA.  ROH was on HD Net for years, a deal that likely saved them from closing before Sinclair Broadcasting bought the company a few years ago.  AXS financed a lot of smaller MMA shows.

- Given the ratings, its doubtful Anthem would want to cancel New Japan but who knows...they might want a strategic partnership (as Impact did previously, but New Japan did not).  Impact really wanted to work with New Japan but New Japan has been loyal to their relationship with ROH and has been hot at Impact ever since Okada was sent there and not treated well.  Don Callis works for both, though.

Other news:

- Impact has basically iced Killer Kross.   He wanted to re-negotiate his deal (I think its like $40,000 per year and with the new wrestling landscape he could get a ton more).  Impact offered him a raise but not what he wanted and they want him to work his contract.  They feel he's violated the non-disparagement deals in his contract as well.  Kross is popular and a bunch of talent isnt happy with the situation.  Kross was asked to blade recently and declined, though Impact said they had no issue with that and used fake blood.  His gf Scarlett asked for her release when he did and her's was granted.

- RVD signed a new deal with Impact.  Ken Shamrock is in.  Johnny Swinger is also in.  Joey Ryan is also in which I think is a solid get for them.

- AEW's next PPV "Full Gear" (Im not crazy about that name) is Cody vs Jericho for the World Championship, Kenny vs Mox.  Probably PAC vs Page.  And more not yet announced.

- All Out was up in the UK but down in the US compared to DoN.  Somewhat significantly down.  Generally blamed on losing Mox.

- TSN is the station AEW has been talking to about wrestling.  WWE had angered TSN back when they had the deal and key people at TSN didnt like wrestling.  But its a different down and they have the multiple channels now.  I'd have to think its a no-brainer with Jericho and Kenny.  I know they are planning a Canadian tour.
 

- California passed a bill that could impact Wrestling & MMA that classifies independent contractors as employees under certain conditions (that would apply to most wrestling/MMA right now).  WWE (and others) could just choose not to run Cali but I think this is just the beginning of this issue and other states will follow suit.  Someone is going to eventually make the move of classifying their talent as employees. 

- Flair is suing WWE over the term "The Man."  Flair has the trademark for "To be the man" and thinks that covers "the man" as well.  Apparently, WWE blew him off.  And Charlotte is hot at Ric over it.

- Shane McMahon missed time due to jury duty.

Weekly news round up (thanks Dave Meltzer etc)

- NXT debuted their new live show on USA Network last night.  Havent seen it yet as we dont get in Canada but it will be on the WWE Network today and sounds like it was awesome

- Impact moving to AXS in October, as expected since their parent company Anthem (owned by Leonard Asper) bought the channel (with Mark Cuban & Steve Harvey as minority partners)

- New Japan's US tv show airs on AXS and people believed it might lead to a relationship with Impact (which would be great for Impact).  New Japan is reportedly still loyal to ROH but the relationship doesnt seem to be doing well.  The obvious thing would be New Japan working with AEW but there are some burned bridges there that would need to be mended.

- Impact helped AAA (from Mexico).  A lot of hoopla was made when AAA announced they were running MSG but it didnt exactly turn out that way.  They needed to use Impact's license and ended up running the Hulu theater at MSG Complex.  AAA does boast Cain Velsasquez who both WWE & AEW want.  It was aired on national PPV but believed to do under 60 total buys.  Ouch.  AXS will be airing the event.

- Live event tickets are slowing down this fall, even for AEW.

- Big Cass had a meltdown at a WrestlePro show in New Jersey.  It seemingly began when Cass threatened AEW's Joey Janela because Janela had got into a fight with Enzo a few weeks back.  Oddly, the night before Janela and Cass worked a different show with no issue.  But Cass was "off" in Jersey and acting like a bully all night.  The promotion moved Janela to another room.  Cass then accused guys of stealing his sweater and spit in the face of the promoter/wrestler Pat Buck, so Buck dropped him with one shot.

Bad idea for Cass as not only was Janela there but AEW's SCU (Daniels and Kaz, Daniels being head of talent relations for AEW).  And Buck is moving on to WWE.  Enzo later posted a letter from Cass apologizing and saying he's getting help.

- NWA signed Jim Cornette to do colour commentary at their TV tapings.

- AEW revealed their tag team brackets.  Interesting matches include Bucks vs Private Party and Lucha Bros vs A Boy & his Dinosaur.  Id assume SCU comes out of the other side

- SD on FOX got a lot of mention during NFL games.  Its Brock vs Kofi on the debut show with the draft a week later.  Intention is to have totally exclusive rosters on each brand, including unique announce teams with Cole on SD.

- FOX had re-runs in the upcoming SD timeslot and drew just under a million viewers, so WWE would have to *really* do poorly to be a disaster.  Though FOX wants better ratings then SD has been getting.

- WWE has 129 wrestlers on the roster and 136 in training.  Big roster.

- Reminder, Chikara founder Mike Quackenbush is in Winnipeg this week, Saturday night at Doubles Bar.