Read on for my thoughts on last night's Raw.
Tuesday, November 13, 2018
Monday, November 12, 2018
Live Schiavone podcast, Interviews with Arquette/Matt Hardy, and a Question on booking Brock
Tony Schiavone did a live "What Happened When" podcast in North Carolina.
David Arquette spoke to TMZ Sports about his wrestling work.
Matt Hardy had a Q&A during his racing appearance.
For my take on yesterday's PWInsider.com question:
1.a. This was basically one long question, so I'll treat it as such. I'd love to see Brock work like he has in the past. He was a lot more fun to watch before Suplex City, but they've got something that works to make him look like an indestructible beast (incarnate).
1.b. I definitely think WWE could book Brock's matches in a way that he wins but his opponents still look strong. The key is the followup, i.e. the talent losing needs to mean more three months after the match than they meant going into it. There's definitely a problem where some talents are "S tier" and even if an "A tier" talent hangs with them/beats them, they go right back to working with more "A tier" talent and those matches are about as even as they would have been previously. I think one of the big problems in WWE now is the concern with everyone outside that "S tier" has to go 50-50 with others in their tier and have strong matches at the expense of someone really going over. In other words, strong wrestling is increasingly seen as the end in of itself rather than building talents up as stars.
More wrestling tomorrow.
David Arquette spoke to TMZ Sports about his wrestling work.
Matt Hardy had a Q&A during his racing appearance.
For my take on yesterday's PWInsider.com question:
1.a. This was basically one long question, so I'll treat it as such. I'd love to see Brock work like he has in the past. He was a lot more fun to watch before Suplex City, but they've got something that works to make him look like an indestructible beast (incarnate).
1.b. I definitely think WWE could book Brock's matches in a way that he wins but his opponents still look strong. The key is the followup, i.e. the talent losing needs to mean more three months after the match than they meant going into it. There's definitely a problem where some talents are "S tier" and even if an "A tier" talent hangs with them/beats them, they go right back to working with more "A tier" talent and those matches are about as even as they would have been previously. I think one of the big problems in WWE now is the concern with everyone outside that "S tier" has to go 50-50 with others in their tier and have strong matches at the expense of someone really going over. In other words, strong wrestling is increasingly seen as the end in of itself rather than building talents up as stars.
More wrestling tomorrow.
Main Event and Ring Warriors Reax - 11/10/18
Read on for my thoughts on yesterday's Main Event and Ring Warriors.
Sunday, November 11, 2018
WWE Network content updates, Cody hurt, Ronda as executive producer, the history of British wrestling, and Questions on the logistics on NJPW stars in ROH, The Elite getting creative control in WWE, Creative pitching ideas from other media, ROH's creative structure, and whether we'll see Roman in WWE soon
WWE Ride Along after Raw will feature The Riott Squad as well as Edge and Christian. E&C should be entertaining.
WWE Marquee Matches this week will feature:
- Randy Orton vs. Shawn Michaels from Survivor Series 2007 on Tuesday
- The Rock and John Cena vs. The Miz and R-Truth from Survivor Series 2011 on Thursday. It's wild to remember how over Miz and Truth were as top names then.
- Brock Lesnar vs. AJ Styles from Survivor Series 2017 on Friday
WWE Chronicle with Dean Ambrose debuts Saturday.
AJ Styles will be on WWE 365 after Survivor Series.
Cody has pulled out of Global Wars Toronto due to a knee issue. He will undergo an MRI this week to diagnose what happened. We'll see if he's able to fulfill his remaining ROH commitments before his deal ends to conclude 2018.
Ronda Rousey will be the executive producer for an upcoming CW show. That sounds pretty fascinating actually.
Finn Balor and Alexa Bliss visited Rome's soccer club before Raw's live event there.
The BBC covered the history of British wrestling. It's good to see wrestling thriving there.
For my take on yesterday's PWInsider.com questions:
1. As valuable as NJPW stars are to ROH, I think it's more of a case of NJPW telling them what they can and can't do with their talent booking-wise and ROH goes off that.
2.a. There is absolutely a dollar amount that would get those talents to WWE, and, as valuable as they are, they can get some concessions other talents wouldn't get as far as their gimmicks and what they do. I don't even really think they dislike WWE as much as they like making the money they're making now without having to compromise their vision.
2.b. As for ROH becoming major competition to WWE, that's more in Sinclair's hands than on the shoulders of any particular talent, although certainly names like the Young Bucks make a big difference. WWE is more concerned with keeping NJPW from being at their league given the success of that company in multiple markets.
3. Yes, talents and writers pull things from other media. As was mentioned, Vince probably doesn't "get" most of the references, and will probably want to put his own spin on them, so the people bringing up the idea need to sell their vision.
4. Delirious is in charge, but the others contribute. The former wrestlers work as producers, helping put the matches together in a way that gets the talent over and elevates their work. Or in Bully's case, keeps himself in the spotlight at their expense.
5. Outside of occasional convention appearances and such, I don't think we'll see Roman much. Joe Anoa'i will take precedence over Roman Reigns, as should be the case.
More wrestling tomorrow.
WWE Marquee Matches this week will feature:
- Randy Orton vs. Shawn Michaels from Survivor Series 2007 on Tuesday
- The Rock and John Cena vs. The Miz and R-Truth from Survivor Series 2011 on Thursday. It's wild to remember how over Miz and Truth were as top names then.
- Brock Lesnar vs. AJ Styles from Survivor Series 2017 on Friday
WWE Chronicle with Dean Ambrose debuts Saturday.
AJ Styles will be on WWE 365 after Survivor Series.
Cody has pulled out of Global Wars Toronto due to a knee issue. He will undergo an MRI this week to diagnose what happened. We'll see if he's able to fulfill his remaining ROH commitments before his deal ends to conclude 2018.
Ronda Rousey will be the executive producer for an upcoming CW show. That sounds pretty fascinating actually.
Finn Balor and Alexa Bliss visited Rome's soccer club before Raw's live event there.
The BBC covered the history of British wrestling. It's good to see wrestling thriving there.
For my take on yesterday's PWInsider.com questions:
1. As valuable as NJPW stars are to ROH, I think it's more of a case of NJPW telling them what they can and can't do with their talent booking-wise and ROH goes off that.
2.a. There is absolutely a dollar amount that would get those talents to WWE, and, as valuable as they are, they can get some concessions other talents wouldn't get as far as their gimmicks and what they do. I don't even really think they dislike WWE as much as they like making the money they're making now without having to compromise their vision.
2.b. As for ROH becoming major competition to WWE, that's more in Sinclair's hands than on the shoulders of any particular talent, although certainly names like the Young Bucks make a big difference. WWE is more concerned with keeping NJPW from being at their league given the success of that company in multiple markets.
3. Yes, talents and writers pull things from other media. As was mentioned, Vince probably doesn't "get" most of the references, and will probably want to put his own spin on them, so the people bringing up the idea need to sell their vision.
4. Delirious is in charge, but the others contribute. The former wrestlers work as producers, helping put the matches together in a way that gets the talent over and elevates their work. Or in Bully's case, keeps himself in the spotlight at their expense.
5. Outside of occasional convention appearances and such, I don't think we'll see Roman much. Joe Anoa'i will take precedence over Roman Reigns, as should be the case.
More wrestling tomorrow.
Saturday, November 10, 2018
Top indie name injured, WWE karaoke, WWE digital awards, Ambrose on Network series, Impact audience, NXT live event note, and Questions on changing Impact management, the Aries-Johnny Impact angle, talents criticizing Evolution booking, who would return for an ECW reboot, and Batman in WWWF
Joey Ryan has torn a pectoral muscle, making his in-ring future questionable. I hope he doesn't miss much time.
WWE's Carpool Karaoke episode has hit Apple TV.
Mixed Match Challenge and Xavier Woods picked up awards from Cynopsis.
Dean Ambrose will be featured on WWE Chronicle.
Impact Wrestling drew 129,000 viewers Thursday night, so fans are starting to migrate to the new timeslot.
Xia Li returned to NXT live events for the first time in a month, losing to Chelsea Green on November 9 in Florida.
For my take on yesterday's PWInsider.com questions:
1. While I certainly don't think you can entirely blame Callis and the other names put in place at the beginning of 2018, the audience has definitely dropped from last year, with notable declines leading into the timeslot change. If it was Dixie, Bischoff, Hogan, Russo, etc. or Vince and Kevin Dunn in charge with those declines, fans and journalists would be calling for their heads. All that said, a lot of wrestling shows have declined this year, as have a lot of non-wrestling shows, as fans have found more compelling options in sports, cable news, etc. Additionally, Impact's relevance and talent roster have been dropping for years since they left Spike. Even in the best scenario, that wasn't going to be turned around in a year.
2. Impact deliberately did a "worked shoot" angle between Aries and Johnny, presumably to try to get people talking as the product's relevance was stalled (to say the least) and Aries' contract came to a close. Again, if it was someone like Russo doing that, fans would be in an uproar.
3. Let's just say I doubt WWE is changing any plans based on those tweets. At least not for the better. The last thing they want is their own talent critiquing the show!
4. The (re)reboot would more likely be "in the style of" the original ECW rather than focused on people who wrestled there, but they could supplement the new roster with names like Rhyno, Tommy Dreamer, Stevie Richards, Little Guido, 2 Cold Scorpio, Super Crazy, and Tajiri (if Tajiri would be willing to leave Japan).
5. Since the Internet didn't exist then and neither DC nor WWE were the major force they are now, WWE was able to slip things by.
More wrestling tomorrow.
WWE's Carpool Karaoke episode has hit Apple TV.
Mixed Match Challenge and Xavier Woods picked up awards from Cynopsis.
Dean Ambrose will be featured on WWE Chronicle.
Impact Wrestling drew 129,000 viewers Thursday night, so fans are starting to migrate to the new timeslot.
Xia Li returned to NXT live events for the first time in a month, losing to Chelsea Green on November 9 in Florida.
For my take on yesterday's PWInsider.com questions:
1. While I certainly don't think you can entirely blame Callis and the other names put in place at the beginning of 2018, the audience has definitely dropped from last year, with notable declines leading into the timeslot change. If it was Dixie, Bischoff, Hogan, Russo, etc. or Vince and Kevin Dunn in charge with those declines, fans and journalists would be calling for their heads. All that said, a lot of wrestling shows have declined this year, as have a lot of non-wrestling shows, as fans have found more compelling options in sports, cable news, etc. Additionally, Impact's relevance and talent roster have been dropping for years since they left Spike. Even in the best scenario, that wasn't going to be turned around in a year.
2. Impact deliberately did a "worked shoot" angle between Aries and Johnny, presumably to try to get people talking as the product's relevance was stalled (to say the least) and Aries' contract came to a close. Again, if it was someone like Russo doing that, fans would be in an uproar.
3. Let's just say I doubt WWE is changing any plans based on those tweets. At least not for the better. The last thing they want is their own talent critiquing the show!
4. The (re)reboot would more likely be "in the style of" the original ECW rather than focused on people who wrestled there, but they could supplement the new roster with names like Rhyno, Tommy Dreamer, Stevie Richards, Little Guido, 2 Cold Scorpio, Super Crazy, and Tajiri (if Tajiri would be willing to leave Japan).
5. Since the Internet didn't exist then and neither DC nor WWE were the major force they are now, WWE was able to slip things by.
More wrestling tomorrow.
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