2014 Pro Wrestling Thread

Hilarious isn't the word, but he's damn good -- like TD said -- on the mic. The man can talk.

 

He actually talks too much and seems a little dramatic! Of course that's typical in this area of sports...

 

But the dramatic part is supposed to be part of his character ...

 

This week’s Observer notes:

- Bryan’s injury is about as legit as these things can be guaranteed to be, and he was scheduled for “minor” neck surgery on May 15 (today). He could be gone up to eight weeks, at least from the initial estimates, and he’s definitely out for Payback on June 1, where he was going to face Kane in a Buried Alive match. He could be back for Money in the Bank on June 29.

It’s believed that the surgery was recommended after he had a routine exam sometime between May 5 and May 12 (Monday’s Raw). His injury wasn’t known before Raw, so they had to re-write the show that afternoon. WWE has announced that they’re going to reveal what they’re going to do at the May 19 Raw, and it’s unknown what their plans are now.

- The Ring of Honor show on May 10 got rave reviews; it was a sell out with higher than expected iPPV numbers too. Kevin Steen did give a “goodbye” sort of speech, and he’s under consideration for a WWE shot, but nothing has been made official. His RoH contract expires in July, so it could be a setup for him actually leaving or for a re-signing angle.

- Year to year (March 2013 to March 2014), TNA has declined 13.9 percent in ratings and 17.5 percent in paid attendance audience. In the same timespan, Raw stayed even in paid attendance audience and dropped about 5.8 percent in ratings, which is seen as OK given the general TV trends.

- Kurt Angle has another knee operation, which is expected to keep him out until mid-October, after his TNA contract expires in September. His future plans are unknown; WWE has no interest in him as a wrestler, and while he would probably make a great trainer or agent, it would be a huge pay cut for him, even if he was on-air talent in some way. As a result, he’s seen as more likely going to Jarrett’s promotion or even re-signing with TNA.

TNA is down to 33 performers under contract, after deals with Chris Sabin, Kazarian and Hernandez expired this week. The company’s high was 60 two years ago. Angle and Jeff Hardy are the guys making the most, allegedly, with Abyss, Bully Ray, Ken Anderson, Roode, James Storm and Samoa Joe also believed to be making good money. Anderson and Storm re-signed recently.

Also, TNA production employees hadn’t been paid since March. They had to threaten to walk out, at which point Dixie Carter finally cut them checks. Talent also gets checks days to a week late, all of which is contributing to the “dead man walking” feeling at the promotion. TNA talent has been quietly contacting ROH and Jarrett.

- Kenta Kobayashi will start in WWE development in Orlando over the summer before being transitioned to either NXT or the main roster. Prince Devitt also confirmed on his Twitter that he was done with New Japan after eight years. He’s believed to be signed by the WWE, but no official word on it yet. He is rumored to be debuting in August.

- New Japan could be in some trouble, even though they’re doing a ton of business right now. Their two biggest draws both have severe back issues, and apparently, they only have 3 guys in their version of a development program.

The money is still good in Japan, but not as good as it used to be, and the WWE is keeping more experienced guys than it used to because they have more TV time to fill. As a result, there are less experienced wrestlers for them to pluck from America and Mexico, and less financial incentive for those guys to go to Japan and work that super stiff style.

- Eugene “Buck” Zumhofe, a star in the 1980s AWA, was sentenced to about 25 years in prison for sexually assaulting his daughter, starting when she was 15 in 1999. For more details: http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/2014/05/09/wrestler-buck-zumhofe-sentenced-jail-25-years-sex-crimes/8896275/ - Another 80s star, Steve “Gatorwolf” Ketcher, turned himself into Colorado authorities this week. He’s also being charged with sexual assault.

- Jim Ross will be calling boxing on FS 1 on May 26. It’s seen as a tryout for Ross, who hasn’t done a non-wrestling event live since the XFL in 2001. Ross is interested in branching out, and FOX is willing to use him in other stuff if it goes well.

- Speaking of Ross, he normally does about 10 minutes at the beginning of each of his podcasts on a “state of wrestling” sort of thing, talking about what he likes and doesn’t like in WWE, ROH, TNA. Well, Dixie Carter didn’t like him putting TNA creative on blast. A fake Jim Ross Twitter account mocked her, and she replied with, “It’s official. You know as little as the real J.R.” She took it down later and then apologized to Ross, but it was seen internally and externally as her shooting the messenger.

- Mickie James is pregnant, which is why she’s momentarily off the indies scene. She’s due in September.

- A bill to legalize MMA in New York passed their state senate, but it’s done that four years in a row before stalling in the house, thanks to speaker Sheldon Silver blocking it. NY is very pro-union, and UFC isn’t. The session closes on June 19. UFC is believed to be interested in running at least three shows a year in NY, and really, really, REALLY wants to get into MSG.

- Jimmy Papa, who was the Jim Johnston for WCW, settled a lawsuit with the WWE before the launch of the network. That’s why you hear some WCW themes now, at least, more than in the older DVD releases.

- Lawler is kind of, sort of working with WWE to sell them the rights to the Memphis tape library. It’s apparently a god damn mess, as Lawler and various friends of Lawler have sold the rights multiple times, with tons of bankruptcies amongst the various companies from the 1970s to late 1990s. The last company to hold them in the late 1990s went bankrupt, with nobody acquiring their assets. Nobody knows who actually has the rights now, and whether Lawler can legally sell them, or if they’re in the public domain.

Spoilery stuff:

- Lesnar will return for programs at SummerSlam and Night of Champions, because that’s when the initial six-month commitment for the Network will expire for a lot of people.

- Matches they’re working toward for Payback: Cena vs. Wyatt, last man standing; Shield vs. Evolution, may be an elimination match; Usos vs. Harper and Rowan for the tag titles; Swagger vs. Adam Rose.

- Internally, the Rose gimmick has been seen as a flop the two times they’ve done it on Raw, and might be on thin ice already.

- Hogan is booked for the UK Smackdown, because ticket sales were slow and he’s still a big draw in the UK. Since he’ll be in town, he might also be at Raw.

- Roode is off TNA TV until at least June 19, unless they rip up or splice up shows they’ve already taped. There is no real reason for him to be off TV; they just didn’t have anything for him. Brooke Tessmacher and Taryn Terrell (Tiffany) returned for the May 9 and 10 tapings, and will be in angles and what not.

- Christopher Daniels and Kazarian will be wrestling at the June 22 Ring of Honor PPV. So far, they’re the only ones signed up, since New Japan has a PPV the same weekend and their wrestlers aren’t available.

- Alexa Bliss made her WWE TV in-ring debut, pinning Alicia Fox on NXT. Bliss has a great look, because she’s smoking hot, but she’s also super raw.

 

Zumhofe is used to wearing jumpsuits, he'll fit in just fine in prison. What a sick piece of shit.

And it's inexcusable for TNa not to pay their production people. Without them there is no TV show.

 

AMC has greenlit a reality series from Billy Corgan, the network announced Friday. The as-yet untitled project from the Smashing Pumpkins front man will focus on the Chicago-based wrestling league Resistance Pro, where Corgan is the creative director. The show will give a behind the scenes look at how storylines are created, fights choreographed and intense personalities managed.

No premiere date has been set for the eight episode series, produced by Left/Right, which also produces “Small Town Security” and “Mob Wives,” as well as the short-lived but ambitious TV version of “This American Life.”

http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/chi-billy-corgan-reality-show-amc-20140516,0,2343226.story

 

Hope none of you fellas bought stock above $30. Yikes.

 

According to Forbes, Vince lost $350 million. Yeesh.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/danalexander/2014/05/16/wwe-ceo-vince-mcmahon-no-longer-billionaire-after-losing-340-million-in-a-day/?partner=yahootix

I guess Stefanie no longer is the billion dollar princess and we're going to be saved from having Linda run for 7 more Senate campaigns.

Attitude Era II, here it comes!

 

Everything is cyclical, especially wrestling. Maybe it's time for another shift in tone. The kid-friendly Cena-led product is a decade old or so. I'm not saying I want the Attitude Era again, because that was a product of its time and would be a sad retread now. But it would be nice to not feel like I'm watching a kids' show at times. Some of that is starting to show in the ratings, as segments with The Shield grow the numbers. Cena may move merchandise, but there are signs that three bad ass faces/tweeners are breathing a bit of fresh air into things. The main problem is that The E builds someone up, then cools them off. Why? This is why we don't have breakout stars, no matter if they're more TV-PG or more TV-14. Too much cooling off of talents. Why does this even happen? I don't get it.

I think another big change that needs to happen is the announcing team. I see a character like Adam Rose and find it hilarious on NXT, then I hear Michael Cole's commentary and start cringing at the same thing I liked just a few weeks ago. Lawler and JBL are even worse, and I've been wanting Lawler gone for a while. I know that they're fed lines, so is it the personalities or the writing? Both, for me anyway. The announcing style should also go back to one play-by-play guy and one color guy. I recall reading some lame excuse that play-by-play isn't needed for wrestling because everyone knows the moves and two guys doing commentary tells a better story. I don't agree with that. The PbP guy helps tell the story by calling the move and explaining the strategy, while the color guy provides insight into characters, their motivations, their strengths, their weaknesses. And it's always worked best with a face PbP guy and a heel-ish color guy. Monsoon-Ventura worked. Ross-Lawler worked. Jesus, even Schiavone-Heenan worked to an extent. Of course, Heenan could work with anyone as long as he was motivated.

I think the level of talent is fine, and I like how the majority of characters aren't too over the top. Obviously, production quality of the shows is top notch.

Or, just throw everything and see what sticks like WCW did. Hotshot the title every week!

 

The "zomg they lost $350m" story is stupid.

The stock value got pumped up to ridiculous levels based on the assumption that the TV deal would be triple what it used to be. Instead it was only 50% bigger, so the stock value plummetted.

The TV deal is still 50% bigger. The product doesn't need major changes.

 

Agree with this. Vince only "lost" money on paper, because the stock was way too high. The company itself is fine.

 

They often cool off guys because they want them to stay humble, for whatever reason. Problem is, they cool guys off to the point where fans don't care about them as much, or at all. While they don't need to have everyone on a Goldberg-like streak, they tend to let the backstage BS interfere a little too much.