#CancelWWENetwork was trending for hours internationally after the end of the Royal Rumble. There were so many people canceling, users had trouble loading the page to actually cancel it. That's quite the level of fan discontent. I hope WWE takes note of it going forward and has a Plan B (Rollins or Ambrose cashing in?) for WM31.
Update: Time covered the hashtag trending. WWE's definitely on troubled waters right now in a number of ways.
Update: So far, there doesn't seem to have been a significant drop in Network subscribers, despite all the fan outcry. It's definitely been noticed by WWE, but apparently wasn't enough to cause as much concern as the protesters hoped. Not only did WWE lose some people already subscribed to the Network, but they lost some people who might have subscribed or resubscribed in the future. I hope they consider that.
TNA "firing" Velvet Sky was a case of her contract legitimately coming to a close and not being renewed. So, no, she won't be back in the UK unless she works out a new deal. For those of you keeping score, the Knockouts division is now down to Angelina Love, Awesome Kong, Brooke, Gail Kim, Havok, Madison Rayne, Rebel, and Taryn Terrell. That's not too bad, honestly.
Everything else from yesterday is after the break.
Bully Ray/Bubba Ray Dudley thanked the fans for their support after the Royal Rumble.
While TNA tried to get at least Ray back, it doesn't look like that's
happening. As for him going to WWE, time will tell. It's worth noting
Devon wasn't at the Rumble. I think The Dudleys vs. The Ascension would
be great for Mania.
WWE put out a press release about Arnold Schwarzenegger going into the Hall of Fame. I wonder what the odds are of him being physically involved in some way at Mania? I don't think I'd mind him KOing someone like Heath Slater in a throwaway backstage segment.
Daniel Bryan commented on the ending of the Royal Rumble, and the fan support he got. Sorry Daniel, but HHH, Sting, Brock, and Taker are more important than the guy busting his ass every week. I think those four names really add to Mania, but it sucks they're pushed at the expense of the stars of today.
Top NXT name Finn Balor has an ankle injury. That sucks. He's already making a lot of waves, and is better than some names who've been on the main roster a while.
Adam Pearce is back at NXT as a trainer. Just hire the guy already!
Update: Despite reports to the contrary, Pearce is just a guest trainer for this week. He's not under contract as of this moment.
WWE confiscated C.M. Punk signs at Royal Rumble. If WWE was doing their jobs right, there wouldn't be any need to chant for someone who's been gone a year. Actually, if they did their jobs right when he was there, he wouldn't have walked out and sued for so much money.
Impact's audience Friday was 517,000 viewers. That's actually incredible for DA, and not nearly the drop from Spike we've seen in other weeks. Maybe TNA will do just fine going forward after all?
WWE announced a casket match between Daniel Bryan and Kane for Smackdown. That could be pretty fun. I wouldn't assume WWE's going to give Bryan a big push, but that'd be optimal.
Also announced on Raw for the upcoming Fast Lane PPV:
- Triple H calls out Sting.
- John Cena vs. Rusev
I'm curious to see how the U.S. Title plays into (or doesn't play into) Cena vs. Rusev. I'd be quite surprised to see Rusev still have it at Mania, since it's usually reserved for people lower on the card than the people who face Cena.
Dolph Ziggler challenged Daniel Bryan via Twitter to a match at WrestleMania. Bryan accepted. I wouldn't assume that's the official plan. I'm sure it'd be a great match, but I don't know if it's really happening.
There was a rumor of Daniel Bryan being upset after being eliminated at the Royal Rumble due to going to the back right after being eliminated. There's nothing to this. Bryan was just getting quickly out of the way of the camera so as not to be the focus when the next entrant(s) came out. As much as part of me would love for guys like Bryan and Ziggler to form a group and storm the offices of guys like Vince to demand to be pushed, that's not what happened.
For my take on yesterday's PWInsider.com questions:
1. They're using the people they still have control over to be upset about someone being able to escape the system.
2. Reigns has family connections and is presentable. That's pretty much it, I think. They can work around the rest to SOME degree with camera angles, editing, coaching, etc.. I also want to see Bryan, Ziggler, etc. in his place, but that's why they push him. They think he's got the right look and moves to be their next guy. Maybe Vince would rather have an ex-football player than someone who "learned bad habits on the indies" or whatever.
3. Not as many in WWE, but definitely elsewhere.
4. That's definitely the most popular theory right now if Taker can work this year.
5. When a company puts two sides feuding, it makes sense for them to interact a lot. But I agree as far as it being tiresome seeing the same matches repeatedly.
More wrestling tomorrow.
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