2014 Pro Wrestling Thread

AP story on this had a couple of other interesting notes:
1) WWE lost $14 million in the last quarter, but could make as much as $120 million next year if the Network meets expectations internationally.
2) Because of the losses, WWE is laying off 7 percent of its employees. Article didn't specify if that was all in-ring talent, office staff, or a mix of both.
3) Payment terms are changing in August for Network subscribers. They'll be able to pay $19.99 per month, with no commitment, or re-up for another six months at $9.99 per.

 

He should've flicked a toothpick at the kid to officially become the greatest heel of all-time.

 

He's often been quoted as saying that he's in the wrestling business, not the friendship business, and that he's paid to wrestle, not be a nice guy. Bret Hart told a story in his book about a young kid who was waiting for Hall to finish eating for a long time, then Hall motioned the kid over to sign, then looked at Bret and told him he didn't have to sign autographs for anyone and walked away from the kid.

 

Ha! The thing is, I'm sure that's an awesome story for that kid to be able to tell now. However, I doubt that was what Hall was thinking at the time. And yeah, while the newsletter didn't mention anything about him being drunk this week, he was getting back into the habit of no-showing a couple times in the previous months.

 

Holy shit, regarding those Network numbers. That sounds bad. I read one story that said the Canadian version of the Network would be a pay TV channel. I wonder if WWE goes crawling to the cable companies, Dish, and Direct in the US, or do they keep with the "over the top" Internet thing? If they go as a pay TV channel in the future, I would hope that they keep the online version. Otherwise, I have to get cable again. That would suck. Another victory for cable, a loss for cable cutters.

Are the numbers out for PPV buys? Because I'm curious to hear from people willing to drop $60 on a PPV but not $10 for the Network. Do they realize they get the PPV for $50 less? Maybe I don't understand this way of thinking because I live on a tight budget, but it seems absurd to buy PPVs and not get the Network.

 

by the way, those of us who heard Benoit's theme music in Ambrose's theme music, we're not off by much. Someone on YouTube did a mashup of the themes. They're practically the same music.

Coincidence or plagiarism?

http://youtu.be/nA8jDHjQGug

(And, no, I'm not the Bradley who made this and posted it. Just a weird coincidence.)

 

Maybe it's a hidden message, like Ambrose is so nuts that someday, he'll go off and kill his wife and kid.

 

That's one of the main reasons I'll keep the Network at its $10 a month price. Even if you just buy a couple of PPVs a year, you're coming out even or ahead, and that's if you don't watch another minute of its programming.
I haven't been watching the Network regularly, but have watched the PPVs and the occasional random old match. At that price, it's a tremendous deal. Quite frankly, if you're a wrestling fan and don't have it, you're doing yourself a disservice.

 

So close to getting their first action figure.

WWE releases:

http://www.f4wonline.com/more/more-top-stories/96-wwe/38270-update-on-wwe-releases-

 

Totally agree.

 

So, if anyone cares, I was watching Prime Time Sports here in Canada on The Score. Elliotte Friedman was on the show, and was asked if he could go in the Wrestling vault which match he would watch and he mentioned Muraco vs Snuka. He says he can recite the match by heart.

Just thought it was pretty funny. Carry on.

 

Two pedigrees. Damn. Steph is my favorite heel right now.

And a Raw without either the champ or challenger for the WWE WHC or even Paul Heyman? Instead, a video package showing us how Brock is going to murder Cena (live on the WWE Network for $9.99), then promote a match from two years ago showing us that Brock is beatable.

The bits with Ambrose distracting Rollins was fun. Surprised that Slater got a pin rather than have him just run out the clock.

And Kane gave up his mask, again. He's like that one dramatic friend who shuts down their social media accounts when something goes bad, then shows back up like nothing happened a few weeks later.

The SummerSlam card so far (which you can watch live on the WWE Network for only $9.99) is lining up the way it was prognosticated by many for a while, but that's fine.