WWE is absolutely fukked once the part timers are unable to compete.

[Jmare007]

To be fair, streaming hadn't fully taken over yet 4 years ago and they got a shytty deal the last time their TV contract was up so it's reasonable to think they couldn't get a deal like this.

The only reason FOX even has the money to make this deal is because Disney just handed them 70 million and they need more programming.

Nobody thought they would get a better TV contract, most thought the "TV deal bubble" would burst after the UFC/Fox deal. At best, people were expecting a similar/slightly better deal, and WWE got a HUGE increase.

The last part of your post is exactly what I'm saying. Nobody saw that merger coming, nor FOX looking at wrestling after throwing UFC to the bushes. So who the hell knows what will be the landscape in 2023.

 

[JerseyBoy23]

The last point you made is something I’ve thought about for a long time. They keep trying to put genies back in bottles but you can’t; after 97, you can’t go backwards. Vince and co keep trying to go back to the 80s style of booking but without the good writing and logic built into it. But rather than move wrestling forward they’re stuck in trying to power up the Delorean. And I get it. I get why you play it safe when you’re basically too big to fail. There’s no need in their eyes to innovate anything or try a different set of raw, which has been the same for 20 years, or actually listen to the fans because their getting our money either way.

If you turn off raw, I bet you’re still watching smack down. If you watch neither, you’re probably watching nxt meaning you’re a network subscriber. Then you’ve got the number of arenas they sell out and the stadiums they sell out for mania every year; it’s the super bowl now. Doesn’t matter who’s on the card people love the experience of being there and to say “damn I was there” and in a world where everyone cares about posting flicks of everything they do, that shyt is powerful.

Like it’s been said in this thread and on this board before, WWE is the star. The brand is bigger than anyone until a legitimate number 2 infiltrates. And by legitimate I mean one who’s getting tv deals to compete with wwe, not just streaming deals. There has to be an option and a choice, not just for the fans but for the wrestlers as well. All In was a great first step but what’s next?

This actually brings up a thread idea I've had for a while, which was whether there's even enough wrestling fans to support a viable 2nd option.

 

[Mantis Toboggan M.D.]

This actually brings up a thread idea I'd had for a while, which was whether there's even enough wrestling fans to support a viable 2nd option.

It’s something that concerns me a lot. Most of the fans I know stopped following entirely when the E went to shyt or when WCW and ECW folded. It’s tough to get a fan back into something like that.

 

[MushroomX]

Word. I mean in history how many companies have actually succeed from a monopoly? I’m sure there are a few. I thought of the NFL and the NBA but they didn’t really monopolize football or basketball. Professionally yeah to an extent but if I really want to get paid to play ball I can go out of the country or play for a minor league. And as a consumer I can watch college sports. College football is probably the second most popular sport in the country.

Standard Oil/Carnegie Steel were the only ones, but that was because Rockefeller and Carnegie found the Golden Loopholes. But even then their empire started to crumble from the changes in time.

All Empires fall at some point, doesn't mean they can't come back, but usually it means they evolve into something new.

I believe HHH is that evolutionary mind with NXT, but Vince is handcuffing him. NJPW is growing, and Cody is proving you can make more WWE money but Wrestle less.

A good empire would learn, copy, and kill the groundswell. Vince doesn't care, but HHH does, and WWE might go the way of AOL or Blockbuster if they don't stop to look around.

 

[Mantis Toboggan M.D.]

Standard Oil was the only one, but that was because Rockefeller found the Golden Loophole. But even then, when he got older his empire started to crumble.

All Empires fall at some point, doesn't mean they can't come back, but usually it means they evolve into something new.

I believe HHH is that evolutionary mind with NXT, but Vince is handcuffing him. NJPW is growing, and Cody is proving you can make more WWE money but Wrestle less.

A good empire would learn, copy, and kill the groundswell. Vince doesn't care, but HHH does, and WWE might go the way of AOL or Blockbuster if they don't stop to look around.

He needs to get control sooner rather than later. Stephanie has many of Vince’s worst qualities as a promoter and none of his good ones, so her at the very top would be more of the same in a bear case scenario. While he has plenty of issues and is far from perfect himself, at the core of things, he’s a fan of pro wrestling and wants to put on a good show. He’s a lifelong fan of the sport, so I can’t imagine him booking in a manner that insults the audience so flagrantly or that expresses nothing by contempt for the crowd the way Vince does. I don’t think he’s going to neglect the product to try to make a movie studio or start a bodybuilding or football league to try proving something to everyone else.

 

[RammerJammer]

Once again the narrative is Roman is holding the entire roster back and is responsible for all the ills of the WWE

Too bad he isn’t injury prone, a pill popping junkie, or a complete a$$hole.

It's not Roman's fault, stop it, I never said that.

I said that Vince's determination to get him over is hurting the other guys.

The point is, they put so much into their overpushed projects and part timers that they have nothing for the rest of the roster, they can't individually grow their brand like back in the day. Too Cool wouldn't be nearly as popular if they debuted in 2018. You got dudes out here that can name a random WWF Heat midcarder but probably couldn't name half the champions in WWE today.

So again, Roman himself isn't the problem, it just speaks to a bigger issue.

 

[MushroomX]

He needs to get control sooner rather than later. Stephanie has many of Vince’s worst qualities as a promoter and none of his good ones, so her at the very top would be more of the same in a bear case scenario. While he has plenty of issues and is far from perfect himself, at the core of things, he’s a fan of pro wrestling and wants to put on a good show. He’s a lifelong fan of the sport, so I can’t imagine him booking in a manner that insults the audience so flagrantly or that expresses nothing by contempt for the crowd the way Vince does. I don’t think he’s going to neglect the product to try to make a movie studio or start a bodybuilding or football league to try proving something to everyone else.

Stephanie is great at PR, but should have no influence on the inner workings.

 

[Mike the Executioner]

Can't believe I'm reading about HBK and Taker on Raw in 2018



It's actually been 8 years lol. 9 by the time Mania rolls back around

No, I meant the HIAC match at WrestleMania 28. That one was back in 2012.

But either way, none of this shyt should be happening at all.

 

[JerseyBoy23]

Stephanie is great at PR, should be only a figurehead, but should have no influence on the inner workings.

Agreed. She should be what Linda was to the company before she left for politics. If I'm not mistaken she ran the money side of things from when Vince got indicted to when she finally left.

 

[MushroomX]

Agreed. She should be what Linda was to the company before she left for politics. If I'm not mistaken she ran the money side of things from when Vince got indicted to when she finally left.

She was the actual CEO, Vince was President. Vince really cares to work with his Wrestlers rather than being in board meetings. He loves to make money, but he wants to be hands on to make it work.

Its why people like Vince, but not the Company.

 

[dh86]

What's Charlotte's headline match at the PPV?

Charlotte is the current women’s champion, announcing her match may spoil the upcoming match with Becky.

 

[dh86]

Cena has another 10 years of popping up. So does Brock. As part timers in their 50s fade away, there’s a whole generation of guys they can bring in sporadically.

 

[JerseyBoy23]

Cena has another 10 years of popping up. So does Brock. As part timers in their 50s fade away, there’s a whole generation of guys they can bring in sporadically.

After Brock, Randy and Cena who else you got?

 

[Jmare007]

After Brock, Randy and Cena who else you got?

Bautista, Jericho will show up to wrestling events until Young Ash leaves the house and goes to college

Punk in 2028 or something

 

[dh86]

After Brock, Randy and Cena who else you got?

Today's top stars.