Read on for coverage and analysis of WWE's recent financial information.
Wednesday, May 11, 2016
Tuesday, May 10, 2016
TNA vs. NXT angle online, NXT injury update, more WWE releases coming?, Enzo update, Heenan recovering, title match set for Extreme Rules, Cameron on release, Ciampa note, WWE stars' charity update, what happened after Global Wars, Corino vs. Whitmer update, Andre movie coming, New Day ice cream, Batista on facing Goldberg, Liger hurt, and Questions on WWE going Extreme, Sasha as Women's Champion, Ryback's manifesto, a new name for PPVs, and the IC Title picture
EVOLVE posted footage of their recent "TNA vs. NXT" angle. I think that's a brilliant way to play off real events. The best villains have real grievances and believe themselves to be in the right.
NXT's Kenneth Crawford was not seriously injured with his recent fall from the top rope at a live event. While he might be kept out of the ring for a while longer, it was thankfully just a really scary spot and not a career-ender.
WWE is expected to announce further releases later this month. There are definitely some talents I can see the company declaring lost causes and letting go. They could also work out deals similar to the one with Barrett where talents end their contracts a few months before they're set to expire without renewal. I hope they make the right moves.
Enzo Amore is not booked for this week's TV, as WWE continues to evaluate his status.
Bobby Heenan is out of the hospital and back at home. I hope he recovers well.
Kalisto vs. Rusev was made official for Extreme Rules during the day Monday. We knew Rusev was challenging for the title, but it hadn't officially been set for the PPV yet.
The now-former Cameron discussed her WWE career. I do think things would have worked out better for her if she would have gotten to train more before coming to the main roster, but that wasn't her decision. WWE wanted her as an entertainer and reality TV star more than they wanted her to train to improve as a wrestler.
Tommaso Ciampa worked an independent show in Illinois this weekend, so his NXT deal doesn't prevent him from taking outside bookings. If he ever joins the main roster, I suspect he'll "lose" his first name. I'd be all for that given how much of a hassle it is to remember how many M's and S's there are. I have a similar problem with Deonna Purrazzo.
The charity of Kevin Owens and Tyler Breeze to assist families affected by the fires in Fort McMurray, Canada, has raised more than $30,000. They're now aiming to raise $100,000. That's incredible, and both men should be lauded for their efforts.
After Global Wars, the Bullet Club celebrated with fans. Colt Cabana said he didn't lose the match and still wants a title shot. That could make things interesting going forward.
Mr. Wrestling III was not at ROH's TV tapings due to a flash drive BJ Whitmer gave him Sunday night. So, that angle will continue. I'm kind of ready for it to progress to the next level.
ROH has already released a Bullet Club themed Adam Cole shirt. That's a good idea! I can't say I blame ROH for latching onto an incredibly over act.
An Andre the Giant biopic is in the works. That should be really interesting.
Before Raw, a local ice cream shop made a New Day flavor in celebration of the W. W. E. TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS!!! I love those guys.
Batista commented on facing Goldberg at Wrestlemania. I'm a fan of both guys, and I'm sure YouTube would love it, but I don't see it being any kind of classic.
Jushin Liger was pulled from wrestling ROH's TV taping after a scary spot at Global Wars. I hope he turns out OK. More updates as they come in.
A number of recently-released WWE performers are working the WrestlePro/GFW event on June 11 in New Jersey, along with Booker T.
For my take on yesterday's PWInsider.com questions:
1. It looks like they wanted to capitalize on the sympathy for Bret Hart by having Natalya compete for his honor and the women's championship in a re-creation of an NXT feud. They couldn't have done that without Charlotte winning at WM32. Hopefully it pays off when they do have someone beat Charlotte. If it's not Sasha, it might be Bayley as the only Horsewoman Charlotte can't beat.
1. It looks like they wanted to capitalize on the sympathy for Bret Hart by having Natalya compete for his honor and the women's championship in a re-creation of an NXT feud. They couldn't have done that without Charlotte winning at WM32. Hopefully it pays off when they do have someone beat Charlotte. If it's not Sasha, it might be Bayley as the only Horsewoman Charlotte can't beat.
2. The show's name is WWE Extreme Rules, and it has matches that are extreme by WWE standards, so I don't think it's an issue. If it was called WWE TV-14 Bloodbath or something, then I'd see the point.
3. Pretty much the first half of what they said. Obviously everyone wants to be in that Cena spot pay-wise, but the fact is the show needs people in more minor roles, too. Someone's got to work Superstars, Main Event, and Kickoff shows.
4. The Network is still fairly new, and just picking up steam in a lot of the world. PPV hasn't been edged out of the picture yet. They do need a new name to reflect the new era, though. Maybe Supershow to play off the Superstar branding?
5. I all-but-expect a multi-man match between Miz, Cesaro, Owens, and Zayn.
More wrestling tomorrow.
Monday, May 9, 2016
Superstars Reax - 5/8/16, NXT and WWE live event notes, Global Wars dark matches, Interview with HHH, and Questions on the WWE releases, the next brand extension, Balor on the main roster, and Jeritroll
Superstars:
- Young vs. Sandow:
I wasn't ready for these feels.
This has some solid wrestling early. Both men can always be counted on for that. You know, in case TNA wants to pick someone from this match up now that he's been released.
Sandow's just talented all around. Yeah, I'm a little upset he's gone.
Nice to see both men really show us what they can do. I miss NXT:Redemption era Darren Young.
- Crews vs. Slater:
I'm really glad they didn't release any of the Outcasts. Especially the One Man BAAAAAAAAND. Speaking of which, I kind of want to see a teaming of Slater and the Drifter from NXT playing off the band theme.
Slater's a good all-around performer. He has the "it" factor that makes a match more than just moves.
This is pretty good for giving Crews a longer match.
Apollo could easily be a future important player in WWE. He's already the smiling five mvoes of doom babyface. That doesn't mean he's not talented and athletic, though.
Some notes from NXT in Oklahoma:
- Murphy lost a tooth in a match with No Way Jose. Maybe he'll gain a lot of weight and turn that into a Mick Foley gimmick?
- Alexa Bliss was busted open in her match with Asuka. The women's champ doesn't play around!
A note from WWE in South Dakota:
- Colin Cassady defeated Diego of Los Matadores. The previous night he beat both of them. I wonder how you spell SAWFT in Spanish...
Some notes from WWE in New Mexico:
- Sin Cara beat Fernando. So, that's where el otro matadore was.
- Becky Lynch teamed with Sasha Banks to beat Emma and Lana.
- Goldust beat Viktor with R-Truth as the referee.
- The Hype Bros beat Curtis Axel and Bo Dallas. I wouldn't be surprised if Mojo's called up to the main roster by the end of the year. He definitely connects with the crowd.
Dark matches from Global Wars:
- Kelly Klein with BJ Whitmer beat Mary Dobson.
- Juice Robinson and Kamaitachi beat Silas Young and Beer City Bruiser, as well as ANX in a three-way tag match.
Triple H talked to promote the upcoming NXT tour of the UK. June's going to be important for NXT with that tour and another Takeover special.
For my take on yesterday's PWInsider.com questions:
1. There's really nothing to add here, other than obviously WWE "didn't see" Sandow and some of the others in bigger roles. They're the one "doing the casting," and they didn't want to use those stars as important players. Obviously not everyone can be featured/pushed, but it was clear some of those names really had talent and fan support. Hopefully they have brighter futures in what they do next. One specific note, though: Barrett wants to take a break from wrestling. That could have easily still been true had they given him a big push.
2. For some of those names, it was time for Spring Cleaning since they were getting paid to not do much of note, and there were no plans to use them further. This wasn't a big cost-cutting measure as much as shuffling the roster as they presumably prepare for more NXT callups and signings.
3. So, it doesn't look like there will be a brand extension. At least, not right now. We'll see what happens going forward with Shane and Stephanie trying to co-exist. The idea's worth a shot, since they have a lot of talented people and only so many spots since a lot of people are on TV on Raw and Smackdown pretty regularly. A brand split would allow more character development for some of the unsung heroes of the roster. Plus, it would keep some stars from crossing paths too many times. When Cena and Batista first feuded, it was a really big deal because they had been kept apart for years as each side got pushed and titles.
4. He could also side with Anderson and Gallows to turn on AJ. They definitely need to treat him as special considering how long he was champion in NXT. They've been building him up on that stage for quite some time. In contrast to Crews and Corbin, they need to have a plan for him joining the roster beyond "hey, here's a new guy!"
5. I actually like Jericho keeping us on our toes in a society when some (notably that "IWC" Dave pretends not to know about) have to know everything about everyone. HE'S HAVIN FUN MAGGLE HAHA I LOVE IT. Anyway, I definitely think Ambrose should be in the WWE Title picture before too much longer, especially once Seth Rollins returns. A Shield triple threat headlining PPVs would be great.
More wrestling tomorrow.
- Young vs. Sandow:
I wasn't ready for these feels.
This has some solid wrestling early. Both men can always be counted on for that. You know, in case TNA wants to pick someone from this match up now that he's been released.
Sandow's just talented all around. Yeah, I'm a little upset he's gone.
Nice to see both men really show us what they can do. I miss NXT:Redemption era Darren Young.
- Crews vs. Slater:
I'm really glad they didn't release any of the Outcasts. Especially the One Man BAAAAAAAAND. Speaking of which, I kind of want to see a teaming of Slater and the Drifter from NXT playing off the band theme.
Slater's a good all-around performer. He has the "it" factor that makes a match more than just moves.
This is pretty good for giving Crews a longer match.
Apollo could easily be a future important player in WWE. He's already the smiling five mvoes of doom babyface. That doesn't mean he's not talented and athletic, though.
Some notes from NXT in Oklahoma:
- Murphy lost a tooth in a match with No Way Jose. Maybe he'll gain a lot of weight and turn that into a Mick Foley gimmick?
- Alexa Bliss was busted open in her match with Asuka. The women's champ doesn't play around!
A note from WWE in South Dakota:
- Colin Cassady defeated Diego of Los Matadores. The previous night he beat both of them. I wonder how you spell SAWFT in Spanish...
Some notes from WWE in New Mexico:
- Sin Cara beat Fernando. So, that's where el otro matadore was.
- Becky Lynch teamed with Sasha Banks to beat Emma and Lana.
- Goldust beat Viktor with R-Truth as the referee.
- The Hype Bros beat Curtis Axel and Bo Dallas. I wouldn't be surprised if Mojo's called up to the main roster by the end of the year. He definitely connects with the crowd.
Dark matches from Global Wars:
- Kelly Klein with BJ Whitmer beat Mary Dobson.
- Juice Robinson and Kamaitachi beat Silas Young and Beer City Bruiser, as well as ANX in a three-way tag match.
Triple H talked to promote the upcoming NXT tour of the UK. June's going to be important for NXT with that tour and another Takeover special.
For my take on yesterday's PWInsider.com questions:
1. There's really nothing to add here, other than obviously WWE "didn't see" Sandow and some of the others in bigger roles. They're the one "doing the casting," and they didn't want to use those stars as important players. Obviously not everyone can be featured/pushed, but it was clear some of those names really had talent and fan support. Hopefully they have brighter futures in what they do next. One specific note, though: Barrett wants to take a break from wrestling. That could have easily still been true had they given him a big push.
2. For some of those names, it was time for Spring Cleaning since they were getting paid to not do much of note, and there were no plans to use them further. This wasn't a big cost-cutting measure as much as shuffling the roster as they presumably prepare for more NXT callups and signings.
3. So, it doesn't look like there will be a brand extension. At least, not right now. We'll see what happens going forward with Shane and Stephanie trying to co-exist. The idea's worth a shot, since they have a lot of talented people and only so many spots since a lot of people are on TV on Raw and Smackdown pretty regularly. A brand split would allow more character development for some of the unsung heroes of the roster. Plus, it would keep some stars from crossing paths too many times. When Cena and Batista first feuded, it was a really big deal because they had been kept apart for years as each side got pushed and titles.
4. He could also side with Anderson and Gallows to turn on AJ. They definitely need to treat him as special considering how long he was champion in NXT. They've been building him up on that stage for quite some time. In contrast to Crews and Corbin, they need to have a plan for him joining the roster beyond "hey, here's a new guy!"
5. I actually like Jericho keeping us on our toes in a society when some (notably that "IWC" Dave pretends not to know about) have to know everything about everyone. HE'S HAVIN FUN MAGGLE HAHA I LOVE IT. Anyway, I definitely think Ambrose should be in the WWE Title picture before too much longer, especially once Seth Rollins returns. A Shield triple threat headlining PPVs would be great.
More wrestling tomorrow.
Saturday, May 7, 2016
NXT and WWE live event notes, Hathaway update, more Raws coming to Network, looking at Cabana-ROH, Owens and Breeze assist Canada after fire, Cruiserweight qualifiers, EVOLVE surprises, and Questions on LoN vs. the Horsemen, overusing tanning beds, NJPW ratings on AXS, the Bullet Club trademark, and rope breaks in no-DQ matches
NXT live event notes from Florida:
- Kenneth Crawford was stretchered out after slipping on the top rope when attempting a springboard move. He was immediately rolled up after the miscue to end the match so he could get medical attention. I really hope he's OK. That's a scary situation.
- Indian talent Kishan Raftar worked the show in a loss.
- Mojo Rawley won a singles match. No Zack Ryder.
- The former TMDK headlined the event, losing to The Revival.
-- At the second NXT live event in Florida this weekend, The Vaudevillains beat The Revival. That could easily be the last time Simon and Aiden work an NXT live event as they move to the main roster.
Stokely Hathaway worked this weekend's EVOLVE events. He's becoming pretty important there. I assume he's still working ROH for the time being.
WWE Network is adding Raw episodes from 2004 and 2005 this week. They continue to fill out their massive library of "vintage" weekly shows.
PWInsider did a feature on Colt Cabana coming back to ROH. I'm excited to see a fresh face and style in the company. It's needed pretty badly.
Some WWE live event notes:
- Darren Young and Mark Henry teamed in a loss to Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows. No Bob Backlund in the face corner despite the vignette on Smackdown. This was Henry's first match since WM32. He's in the twilight of his career, but he's not done just yet.
- Colin Cassady beat Los Matadores in a handicap match. Cass already getting that mastadon push. I'm not really complaining; he's a hard worker and agile for his size.
Kevin Owens and Tyler Breeze are working with the Red Cross to assist victims of fires in Fort McMurray, Canada. That's a great use of their celebrity status. Commendations are in order for both men.
TJ Perkins and Drew Gulak qualified for The Cruiserweight Classic at EVOLVE's latest iPPV.
Drew Galloway and Ethan Carter III, the latter in a surprise appearance, worked an anti-WWE/anti-NXT angle at an EVOLVE iPPV this weekend to massive heat. EC3 insulted the company, HHH, and Bill DeMott in a scathing promo. That's a clever idea to get people talking. I'm interested to see how it plays out. WWE definitely missed the ball on both individuals. Can they pick up the now-former Damien Sandow, too? He'd be perfect for the role.
For my take on yesterday's PWInsider.com questions:
1. I'd much rather JBL oversell the faction than bury them or spend his time on commentary insulting Byron and making forced/outdated sports analogies.
2. I would imagine it's much easier to abuse alcohol and prescription medication than tanning beds. It's definitely something to be careful with, though.
3. I don't believe AXS has enough of a footprint to be measured by Nielsen. The same goes for ROH's home, Comet.
4. They haven't. Even if they did, a court would almost certainly say they were infringing on NJPW's trademarks. Otherwise Burger King could call itself #McDonalds or something.
5. Roman putting his foot on the rope broke up the three count. It wasn't an attempt to get an unfair advantage, so it wouldn't be a DQ. That said, they usually say rope breaks don't count for submissions in no-DQ matches. Either way, they REALLY protected AJ in that loss. It took two restarts and some interference for Roman to get the win.
More wrestling tomorrow.
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