Booker T. is being advertised for a May tour of Brazil with the Raw brand, while Mick Foley is advertised for a May tour of Mexico with Smackdown. I hope their use brings in ticket sales and works in favor of the current crew.
Speaking of tours, Curt Hawkins and Tyler Reks continued work on the Smackdown tour in Europe over the weekend of 4/20 despite being "fired" on NXT. Percy Watson also worked there.
For my take on the 4/22 PWInsider.com questions:
1. I would think that if he wanted to go in before he dies, he'd have put himself in already. He's certainly had plenty of chances to do so!
2. While I disagree that he's having horrible performances, he's certainly on WWE's bad list. His girlfriend Maryse has made comments about her release being WWE's loss, and that hasn't done him any favors either. That said, he did get the pin at Mania this year.
After the break, I go into everything else from 4/22. Next up, a question on Lord Tensai.
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
Questions on Angle turning face, Universal Studios, the Olympics, and Divas, Hogan wants TNA live, TNA house show profiled, and a "squash" match gets someone noticed
Not much news on tap for 4/21, but it starts with my take on PWInsider.com's questions:
1. Characters change over time. I'll judge Angle's face turn on what I see the character do from here. If it works, it's the right idea. If not, it isn't. TNA has been inconsistent with a lot of characters, though.
2. This isn't quite the same thing, but I do know that there are certain regulations they have to follow there that they wouldn't elsewhere. They can't do anything with fire, for instance, and I'm fairly sure they can't charge for tickets.
Nothing to add to 3, but for 4. Not very good. As they alluded to, he's taken a lot of bumps in his decade-plus of wrestling and that would have ultimately really played against him.
Not much to add to 5 either. They just have other priorities, as they generally do. When they think they can draw ratings and money with the Divas somehow, they'll use them more. If fans want to see more Divas, they should buy more Diva merch and tune in for more Diva matches, etc..
After the break, I go into everything else from 4/21, starting with what Hulk Hogan thinks would improve TNA.
1. Characters change over time. I'll judge Angle's face turn on what I see the character do from here. If it works, it's the right idea. If not, it isn't. TNA has been inconsistent with a lot of characters, though.
2. This isn't quite the same thing, but I do know that there are certain regulations they have to follow there that they wouldn't elsewhere. They can't do anything with fire, for instance, and I'm fairly sure they can't charge for tickets.
Nothing to add to 3, but for 4. Not very good. As they alluded to, he's taken a lot of bumps in his decade-plus of wrestling and that would have ultimately really played against him.
Not much to add to 5 either. They just have other priorities, as they generally do. When they think they can draw ratings and money with the Divas somehow, they'll use them more. If fans want to see more Divas, they should buy more Diva merch and tune in for more Diva matches, etc..
After the break, I go into everything else from 4/21, starting with what Hulk Hogan thinks would improve TNA.
Austin interview, Questions on World Titles, future endeavoring, kayfabe shirts, haircuts, and Francine, another Lockdown-theaters update, why Del Rio was moved, Ryan profiled, Stooge demeans Raw experience, more on Edge-WWE, 4/19 Impact rating, and Z! TLIS #63
Stone Cold Steve Austin was interviewed by the UK Sun. No way would Mania have "failed" without HHH vs. Taker. They had Punk vs. Jericho and Cena vs. Rock. I do agree that WWE needs to push some new guys into the main event scene with the careers of HHH, Taker, etc. slowing down, and also think if Punk became more intense he could be a true top guy like Cena.
For my take on the 4/20 PWInsider.com questions:
1. I also don't consider it a "World" Title like the AWA and NWA Titles. Flair's still the guy with the most World Titles in my book.
2. It's got to be coming eventually, right? Especially with new FCW call-ups waiting in the wings and some returning faces. Not only did WWE trademark it; they sell Future Endeavored T-shirts! It is pretty ridiculous.
3. Yeah, they're going for $9.99. Maybe they should add "botch" to the list? The audience who knows and cares about what those terms mean isn't huge enough to warrant that many shirts being made apparently.
After the break, I go into everything else from 4/20. Next up, wrestlers getting haircuts.
For my take on the 4/20 PWInsider.com questions:
1. I also don't consider it a "World" Title like the AWA and NWA Titles. Flair's still the guy with the most World Titles in my book.
2. It's got to be coming eventually, right? Especially with new FCW call-ups waiting in the wings and some returning faces. Not only did WWE trademark it; they sell Future Endeavored T-shirts! It is pretty ridiculous.
3. Yeah, they're going for $9.99. Maybe they should add "botch" to the list? The audience who knows and cares about what those terms mean isn't huge enough to warrant that many shirts being made apparently.
After the break, I go into everything else from 4/20. Next up, wrestlers getting haircuts.
Smackdown thoughts - 4/20/12
This Smackdown is just 9 nights from Extreme Rules, where Sheamus faced Daniel Bryan in a 2 out of 3 falls match. What went down? Read on for my thoughts on the show as it happened.
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Christian returns to the ring and other European tour notes, Questions on a new nWo, retiring titles, Johnny Rodz, storage, and the Hall of Fame, Miz in GED ad, when Jericho's current run will end, Brazilian house show canceled, more on Bourne, Foley/Ambrose update, Edge's contract expiring, and WWE signs an indie name but not Miss USA
Christian returned to the ring for WWE at the 4/18 live event.
Speaking of those live events, William Regal returned home from the tour because of a family emergency and was replaced by Brodus Clay. I hope all's well with the wily Brit.
For my take on the 4/19 PWInsider.com questions:
1. I don't really see it. Otunga's not an "outsider" for one. The time for nWo comparisons, to me, was when Miz and R-Truth were wreaking havoc and being fired.
2. Supposedly HHH wants to rebuild the tag team division, but that hasn't gotten especially far if that's the case. I'd be a little surprised if they retired a title that's always been a part of the company (without replacing it with something else like they did the Women's Title). That being said, they're certainly not high up on the company's priority list. Look at how big of a deal the first TLC match was vs. where Primo and Epico were slotted at this year's Mania.
They've got 3 and 4 pretty covered, so after the break I'll go into the ever-popular "who should go into the Hall of Fame?" and the rest of the day's news.
Speaking of those live events, William Regal returned home from the tour because of a family emergency and was replaced by Brodus Clay. I hope all's well with the wily Brit.
For my take on the 4/19 PWInsider.com questions:
1. I don't really see it. Otunga's not an "outsider" for one. The time for nWo comparisons, to me, was when Miz and R-Truth were wreaking havoc and being fired.
2. Supposedly HHH wants to rebuild the tag team division, but that hasn't gotten especially far if that's the case. I'd be a little surprised if they retired a title that's always been a part of the company (without replacing it with something else like they did the Women's Title). That being said, they're certainly not high up on the company's priority list. Look at how big of a deal the first TLC match was vs. where Primo and Epico were slotted at this year's Mania.
They've got 3 and 4 pretty covered, so after the break I'll go into the ever-popular "who should go into the Hall of Fame?" and the rest of the day's news.
Superstars and Impact Wrestling thoughts - 4/19/12
On the 4/19 edition of Superstars, former World Heavyweight and ECW Champion shows how consistent WWE is with pushes by competing on an international and web-only show against R-Truth. Then, on the 4/19 Impact Wrestling we get the fallout from TNA Lockdown with Bobby Roode, James Storm, and Garett Bischoff. Kurt Angle faces AJ Styles, and Hulk Hogan has an announcement! Read on for my thoughts on the shows as they happen.
Sunday, April 29, 2012
Traci leaves TNA, more shots by Steiner, MLB player wanted to be WWE star, Questions on WWE beating TNA in Florida, Brock apologizing, alternate plan for Brock vs. Cena, Jericho looking weak, and Bryan going back to ROH, update on Kazarian, more Gut Checks, WWE mocks Lilian again, Dillon interview, TNA on the air in Poland, and a Bourne injury update
Traci Brooks' TNA contract expired. She wasn't really doing anything in the company, so that makes sense.
Scott Steiner claims that TNA Lockdown only got 2500-3000 attending, with a good part of that crowd being from free tickets. He also took more shots at Hogan and Bischoff. There are definitely some changes that need to take place in the company to bump numbers higher.
Eric Thames of the Toronto Blue Jays mentioned wanting to be a WWE star when he was younger. That's not as common of a goal as it was when he was that age.
Here's my take on the 4/18 PWInsider.com questions:
1. I think they should, though perhaps they shouldn't be surprised given how much higher WWE's business is and that that taping was the night after WrestleMania. Everyone was talking about Rock and Lesnar being in town, and TNA doesn't have anyone who has that much appeal in 2012.
2. That is a pretty good point, but I don't see it happening. Lesnar would have to really go out of his way to win over the younger guys given the big difference between his contract and theirs. The best apology he could do might very well be giving WWE higher PPV buyrates, which would give those performers more money.
After the break, I go into everything else from 4/18. Next up, a question on Brock attacking Rock instead of Cena.
Scott Steiner claims that TNA Lockdown only got 2500-3000 attending, with a good part of that crowd being from free tickets. He also took more shots at Hogan and Bischoff. There are definitely some changes that need to take place in the company to bump numbers higher.
Eric Thames of the Toronto Blue Jays mentioned wanting to be a WWE star when he was younger. That's not as common of a goal as it was when he was that age.
Here's my take on the 4/18 PWInsider.com questions:
1. I think they should, though perhaps they shouldn't be surprised given how much higher WWE's business is and that that taping was the night after WrestleMania. Everyone was talking about Rock and Lesnar being in town, and TNA doesn't have anyone who has that much appeal in 2012.
2. That is a pretty good point, but I don't see it happening. Lesnar would have to really go out of his way to win over the younger guys given the big difference between his contract and theirs. The best apology he could do might very well be giving WWE higher PPV buyrates, which would give those performers more money.
After the break, I go into everything else from 4/18. Next up, a question on Brock attacking Rock instead of Cena.
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