Between people who can't / won't turn up during lockdown and some random (mostly pointless) call-ups yeah, they don't have a lot to work with right now.
Between people who can't / won't turn up during lockdown and some random (mostly pointless) call-ups yeah, they don't have a lot to work with right now.
The ongoing global health crisis and Empty Arena Era has fundamentally changed the way many view professional wrestling, with WWE Chairman and CEO Vince McMahon among that number.
This is according to a new Wrestling Observer Newsletter writeup from Dave Meltzer, whose sources closest to the situation claim that Vince's mentality towards everything in the promotion has changed since the situation kicked in, with McMahon seemingly abandoning an old mentality that was "all about the future."
Things like Paul Heyman as Raw Creative Director, the XFL's return, and NXT's expansion into Europe and Japan were long-term plays. Now, Vince is only thinking about the here and now. That the company will be more profitable this year than ever before doesn't factor into McMahon's switch towards short-termism.
It is also stated that Vince is frustrated with what he perceives to be a lack of fresh, young talent being pushed and promoted across his brands, though the lack of crowds makes it difficult to tell what is connecting and what isn't.
Good to see he hasn't lost his sense of humour.
Not sure how hiring Heyman can ever be considered long term. He lasts 2 years tops before he A) gets blamed for shitty booking decisions made by Vince and gets fired or B) makes the show too good and gets fired out of jealousy.
I assumed he only hired people to 'run' (ie defer to him on all matters) those shows solely so he could fire them to placate networks / cover up shitty ratings.
Didn’t realise Heyman was already gone when I posted that.
That's an unhealthy amount of "piss" though, surely?
Vince: not enough fresh new talent why is viewership low wah wah wah
Also Vince: LOLOLOLOL THE MIDDLE AGED MAN JUST THREW PISS HAHAHAHA SUCH GOOD SHIT
EDIT: Styles and Bryan got nearly 40 minutes? Crikey.
Last edited by Ian; 13-06-2020 at 08:12 AM.
"HE'S GONNA PISS!"
As for the piss amount, I pissed in a bottle after my accident and the hospital took that for samples. They err ... didn't televise it, though.
AJ / Bryan was superb. I don't like matches where they spend so much time working to set up a submission and then don't have that involved in the finish, and I thought the selling of the limb focus was a little selective at times but those are my only two minor gripes. Really good stuff.
Everyone ready for THE GREATEST WRESTLING MATCH EVER?
Meltzer wont know what's hit him.
New Japan starts tomorrow mate.
Not sure why they're bothering.
Lashley and Drew were having a terrific match why fuck it all up with the shitty Lana finish? Ugh.
A comedy cinematic match, how fun...
Wasn't the greatest ever, obviously, but Edge/Orton was actually really good. It took me a bit to get into it mainly due to the pumped in crowd noise and the silent live crowd but I loved it.
Great finish too.
Ibushi v ZSJ
Sho v Shingo
Goto v Takahashi
@Disco
Last edited by Queenslander; 15-06-2020 at 02:09 AM.
There's a show today but I don't know what's on it. I don't care at this stage, it's getting injected into the eyeballs as soon as I get home.
Japanese social distancing is interesting. Milano Collection clearly needing a little screen to keep him separated from Liger who is weirdly video linking in from somewhere else in the same building.
Toggle Spoiler
Still, we opened with Gabriel Kidd so all is well.
Production nerd chiming in. They either originally planned for 2 people closer together instead of 3 or during commentary both will sit at one table hence the need for a screen. Once they introduced a third they won't have been able to find a wide angle lens that could fit all 3 without showing you all the background so this was the solution.
There's a second screen to the left, they could all have sat together. As it is you get the odd glimpse of Liger sat on his own like a right no-mates.
I hope it's just an illusion and Liger lifts the TV frame out the way to reveal he was there all along.
They might be short on staff as well, to be fair.
Backlash was largely a bit meh. The main event was alright but all the window dressing and the fucking length of it was a bit much. That's an hour and twenty minutes they've 'wrestled' in two matches. Jesus Christ.
The Pissing Contest was better than I expected but McIntyre vs. Bobbo was the highlight of the night. I'd have liked a better finish to it but you have to wonder how it took these cretins three years (or whatever it is) to realise that this is what Lashley should be when it was apparently everybody else from day one.
They could have cut some time but I enjoyed it when I got past the piped in crowd noise with a largely mute live crowd.
The Street Profits/Viking Raiders cinematic "match" was absolute horseshit and they need to stop. It should be used to protect legends that don't have it anymore to make them look better.
What doesn’t help orton vs Edge is that no matter how good they have been, the story is utter shite.
“You might get hurt wrestling so I’m gonna prevent that by... hurting you”.
“Ok you survived all that stuff that was meant to kill you but can you survive.... A WRESTLING MATCH!”
Yeah their reverse-order feud is weird. I look forward to their grand feud-ending blowoff being a hellacious contract signing.
And I didn't watch a second of Profits vs. Fridge Raiders. I refused.
Is Christian wrestling again? Him and Orton was always a great combination.
Just one more match...
I seem to be at odds with every other WWE fan for anything that isn't them just getting some talented people in the ring and letting them work stuff.
I thought Edge / Orton (even aside from its crap build) was fine but I hated the presentation and while I didn't mind the story of Orton being sharper than Edge unfortunately they achieved it by having Edge fuck up in ways that just made him look like an idiot.
I don't remember anybody whiffing an arm-drag and taking a bump, or when he attempted the headlock and missed or when he tripped and fell all the way out the fucking ring. One of the Wrestletalk guys is arguing it's WWE's best main roster match of 2020 when it's not even WWE's best match last week.
EDIT: I also didn't buy into any of the "other guys' finisher" spam either. It was like a weird tribute to how WWE presents an EPIC rather than actually doing a good match on its own merits.
I also forgot to mention Boatman's amazingly daft "Strowman Express" stuff in the entrance. It was terrible and I loved every minute of it. Bless WWE coming up with shit and making all the merch and THEN worry about getting it over.
Last edited by Ian; 16-06-2020 at 09:14 AM.
USA Network apparently pissed off at WWE for replacing Heyman.
So WWE aren't allowing anyone with a mask in their 'crowds'. Still a bunch of carnie fucks I see, what a lovely company.
Dynamite was fun again this week. Sammy Guevara is so bloody good!
NXT setting up the potential of Lee as double-champ but I bet they ruin it.
That actually sounds like a great idea on paper.
In before the shitty DQ finish.
The Nia vs Asuka thing is yet more shit booking.
“She was going to lose by DQ but then she lost anyway but it might have been a slightly fast count so.... REMATCH”.
Just watched last weeks NXT.
El Hijo del Fantasma/Santos Escobar
That little storyline leading to the turn must be the most predictable they've done in a while.
It was but the actual reveal was done well.
Breezango's entrance this week, stunning.
https://twitter.com/ExposeWrestling
Wrestling's finally doing the #metoo thing, something it should surely have been leading the way with
Yeah there's lot of stuff flying about revealing some decidedly creepy people in wrestling. Who knew.
Just a bunch of ring rats amirite?