Some Wrestling News & Rumours 2019 Thread ***NO CHAT***

rovert

CastorTroy wrote: »

Do find it strange though that after Sasha being heel for so long in NXT, she gets brought up as a face. Though nothing to say she'll stay that way.

My understanding is that the Diva's division built from the Bellas on down. The Bellas will "always" be heels. So Sasha will never be the top heel so could be the top babyface though.

CastorTroy wrote: »

So who should replace them in NXT if, for example, they had another 4 way with Becky and Bayley? Emma and ??? I know they'll probably try and push Dana more

That's a big question. I know she hasn't stood out in NXT TV work but Jessie McKay can fill that NXT Takeover slot right now. The rest either need more time or probably will never get to that point. In a bind talking about it too much but Athena seems to have done well at the NXT tryout the other month. She's super flashy and could tear the house down.

Stereomaniac

Are they still high on Becky? I didn't even realise that she had an injury until this past week's episode of NXT. I hope she's in the match with Sasha Banks when TakeOver comes around, continuing her steady upward trajectory since she's been on television. Just stuck on the second half of Total Divas there, and wondered are they going to maybe throw Eva Marie into the NXT title picture. They could just turn her heel after the reaction she got recently.

diusmr8a504cvk

These are apparently the notes for commentators, I'm sure Rovert can say whether he thinks they're real or not.
http://imgur.com/a/NW1WG

rovert

Emilee Petite Underclass wrote: »

These are apparently the notes for commentators, I'm sure Rovert can say whether he thinks they're real or not.
http://imgur.com/a/NW1WG

Ah it is real just 5-6 years old so it isn't current.

gerrybbadd

Emilee Petite Underclass wrote: »

These are apparently the notes for commentators, I'm sure Rovert can say whether he thinks they're real or not.
http://imgur.com/a/NW1WG

I despise these instructions. We've all known for a while the level of control Vince has exercised in relation to banning words like "Strap" etc. But jesus, that's dire.

I genuinely cannot wait for a time when Vince isn't in the headsets anymore, because at this stage, I feel he is harming the product. He's assuming that people are stupid, and need to have their hand held. Or that the commentators need to talk to the audience like it's every bodies first time watching the product, just in case there are new viewers watching.

I thin Michael Cole did a good job on the "Beast in the East" show, without Vince being in his ear. Sure, he made some mistakes, but at least he tried to impart valid knowledge regarding past promotions wrestlers were in, and he actually called the action in the ring.

Stereomaniac

A lot of what is outlined in those notes still appears to be in place with today's announce teams.

rovert

Stereomaniac wrote: »

A lot of what is outlined in those notes still appears to be in place with today's announce teams.

This might be a new one:

While not confirmed, it looks as if Vince McMahon may have banned the term “back breaker” from WWE TV. During Sheamus’ match on Raw last night, he used his “Irish Curse Back Breaker,” but Michael Cole simply called it a “knee to the spine”. It’s not confirmed, but this is something WWE has been known to do with certain move names in the past. More on the story as it develops. [Credit: wrestlezone.com]

diusmr8a504cvk

Paige apparently shooting on Eva Marie.
https://twitter.com/RealPaigeWWE/status/618636722910441472

J. Marston

Didn't know Eve Marie was 30. Seems fairly late to start training seriously.

Pentecost

I'm sure I read before that Eva Marie is decidedly unpopular with the rest of the ladies in WWE.

rovert

Pentecost wrote: »

I'm sure I read before that Eva Marie is decidedly unpopular with the rest of the ladies in WWE.

What would be from me. I am really surprised at how positive Wrestling Observer and PWInsider have been about Eva Marie and her in ring. Not just scoops wise (Eva does have nuclear heat trust me) but just on the basis of Wrestling Locker Room 101 common sense. All these perks and not training with the other girls in NXT. Paige spent nearly 2 1/2 years in developmental. While Bayley is currently down there for the same length of time. There's a lot of women on the main roster misused too.

Stereomaniac

rovert wrote: »

This might be a new one:

Oh man, it just keeps getting better. It's ridiculous to think that Vince has gotten so conscious of what his detractors will say that he's editing big parts of the wrestling (oh sorry SPORTS ENTERTAINMENT) vernacular. We're already seeing highlight videos of Seth Rollins winning the belt (TITLE/CHAMPIONSHIP) edited.

rovert

Stereomaniac wrote: »

Oh man, it just keeps getting better. It's ridiculous to think that Vince has gotten so conscious of what his detractors will say that he's editing big parts of the wrestling (oh sorry SPORTS ENTERTAINMENT) vernacular. We're already seeing highlight videos of Seth Rollins winning the belt (TITLE/CHAMPIONSHIP) edited.

There's a fair few concussion and Wrestler health lawsuits flying about to be fair. Breaking, bending and crushing could be a thing of the past. Corporate Wrestling is a weird beast.

A lot of the directives and suggestions in the document may not just come from Vince and Kevin Dunn but from USA Network, sponsors, legal, charities and focus groups. TNA did a focus group once and essentially were shown one taped IMPACT and one taped IMPACT that was aired live you know with the word LIVE in the corner of the screen. Barely anyone realised either show was aired live. Mad stuff like that spawn directives like "people don't remember dates".

savemejebus

rovert wrote: »

Eva does have nuclear heat trust me.

is the heat from being brought up to quickly or other stuff like attitude etc.?

rovert

savemejebus wrote: »

is the heat from being brought up to quickly or other stuff like attitude etc.?

Attitude and all the perks she has.

Hangballlouie

What's the craic with Piper now accusing Austin of getting his legends contract cancelled? Any truth to that?

Rowdy really is off the wall.

Riddle101

Hangball Doughboy wrote: »

What's the craic with Piper now accusing Austin of getting his legends contract cancelled? Any truth to that?

Rowdy really is off the wall.

Apparently Roddy had Will Sasso on his podcast doing a Stone Cold impression, which Austin drew issue with and got it pulled from Podcast One. Austin himself admitted to it as well.

Austin admitted that he didn't like the podcast, noting that it "had some business of a personal nature that I didn't care to have floating around there being downloaded in cyberspace, so I had it removed from rotation."

Another thing is, Roddy is now saying Austin is the reason WWE have dropped him from his legend's contract. Whether or not this is true, I don't know.

Hangballlouie

Riddle101 wrote: »

Apparently Roddy had Will Sasso on his podcast doing a Stone Cold impression, which Austin drew issue with and got it pulled from Podcast One. Austin himself admitted to it as well.



Another thing is, Roddy is now saying Austin is the reason WWE have dropped him from his legend's contract. Whether or not this is true, I don't know.

I tried listening to Roddys podcast before but it is excruciating. I'd say they dropped him because he is **** at hosting tbh.

diusmr8a504cvk

Hangball Doughboy wrote: »

I tried listening to Roddys podcast before but it is excruciating. I'd say they dropped him because he is **** at hosting tbh.

I agree, he spends a lot of the time cackling over nothing.

Stereomaniac

rovert wrote: »

There's a fair few concussion and Wrestler health lawsuits flying about to be fair. Breaking, bending and crushing could be a thing of the past. Corporate Wrestling is a weird beast.

A lot of the directives and suggestions in the document may not just come from Vince and Kevin Dunn but from USA Network, sponsors, legal, charities and focus groups. TNA did a focus group once and essentially were shown one taped IMPACT and one taped IMPACT that was aired live you know with the word LIVE in the corner of the screen. Barely anyone realised either show was aired live. Mad stuff like that spawn directives like "people don't remember dates".

Do you know who or what Kasama or Big (per VKM edict) are, listed in those notes?

rovert

Big is likely John Gaburick now at TNA and was "Big" on the original series of Tough Enough. No idea on Kasama.

diusmr8a504cvk

Any update on Sunny doing porn with Vivid?

leggo

gerrybbadd wrote: »

I despise these instructions. We've all known for a while the level of control Vince has exercised in relation to banning words like "Strap" etc. But jesus, that's dire.

I genuinely cannot wait for a time when Vince isn't in the headsets anymore, because at this stage, I feel he is harming the product. He's assuming that people are stupid, and need to have their hand held. Or that the commentators need to talk to the audience like it's every bodies first time watching the product, just in case there are new viewers watching.

I thin Michael Cole did a good job on the "Beast in the East" show, without Vince being in his ear. Sure, he made some mistakes, but at least he tried to impart valid knowledge regarding past promotions wrestlers were in, and he actually called the action in the ring.

Some of the rules are weird (as rovert said, corporate demands) but I liked a lot of the direction. It's much better than commentators just winging it trying to throw in insider terms that take away from the match itself, e.g. Matt Striker is way to 'in' and trying to be the fans mate or impress them with random knowledge for my taste. You lose focus from the match and go, "Hmmm that was interesting", which should never be the case with commentary. He was good with WWE direction while doing all of that stuff.

I love stuff like the belt being won or lost rather than 'changing hands'...that's such a smart little thing that makes a difference. It's easy to hate on Vince, but he knows and understands so much more about wrestling than most.

Jerichoholic

It's easy to hate on him because most of the stuff on that list is ridiculous

rovert

What Eric Van Wagenen said about #LuchaUnderground season 2 on Austin's podcast

El Rey has absolutely wants us back. They've given us an offer on the table, they want us back 40 more episodes, 'we'd love to have you start airing in October. We want you back.' Now, what we're trying to do as an organization, is we're trying to maintain this certain level of production value. There's the amount of money El Rey is giving us, and then there's this amount of money that we need to spend in order to keep the same level of quality that we've established. [...] It's a high production value, we put a lot of emphasis on the production value, we don't cut any corner. So now, what we are doing is, myself and the other El Rey executives and the investors and Mark Burnett and the people who work at the United Artist Media group - there is a combined effort to bridge that gap, between the money El Rey is giving us and the money we need. All options are on the table, whether that's Netflix, iTunes, a secondary broadcast partner, or DVD sales, merchandise, you name it, everything’s on the table. The money guys are trying to close that gap, and once we have that gap closed, we're announcing.

Austin asked who's the ultimate decision maker.

"This is a partnership, Lucha Underground is a partnership. There are about four key players, they all have to be on the same page at the same time. That's not always easy, they're powerful guys, they're used to having their way, they're important people in television in both United States and Mexico. As part of the United Artists Media group, which is a massive massive company, they handle the foreign sales, they handle the product integrations. I'm the guy who says - this company wants to come in, but you have to get rid of the man versus women matches, you have to get rid of the blood, you can't have any bad language, and I'm the guy who says 'let's fight for our differences, let's not fall victim to keeping it G rated, let's make an edgy product for adults.'"

*Prays*

diusmr8a504cvk

Former Straight Edge Society member Serena Deeb has announced she's retiring from wrestling at the age of 29 after her final match in Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan tomorrow (Friday the 10th).
She posted on her Facebook page:

Tomorrow I wrestle at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo. This will be my final match. I have opted to peacefully and humbly close my career, with the deep honor & respect that I was brought up with. I infinitely thank OVW for raising me in such a way in this business- it is a lost art. I am so grateful to every person who I have formed memories with over the past 10 years. So many of you are my family.
I fell in love with pro wrestling when I was very young. I experienced many incredible moments, as well as countless heartbreaks. I got to have my Wrestlemania moment in front of 72,000 people. I have been blessed with 7 trips to Japan & I have chosen to close this chapter of my life in this beautiful country.
There is no remorse in this decision. I have simply grown. I love you all. Thank you. - Serena Deeb

leggo

Jerichoholic wrote: »

It's easy to hate on him because most of the stuff on that list is ridiculous

Ah now...that reminds me of when people used to slag off Alex Ferguson's team selections. He knows a thing or two that we mightn't like...

A Primal Nut

rovert wrote: »

This might be a new one:

Regarding the backbreaker, Cole used the term later in the show in the Cena-Cesaro match. The original rumour started when Meltzer said that Cole didn't call the Sheamus move a backbreaker in that show.

rovert

https://twitter.com/MLW/status/619343129162989569

The next quarterly report and WWE Network numbers will be interesting.

ERG89

Didn't I read somewhere that Brian Gerwitz is gone too?
http://www.cagesideseats.com/wwe/2015/7/9/8925403/brian-gewirtz-leaves-wwe-for-a-job-with-the-rock
Got a job as an Exex in The Rock's production company.

rovert

ERG89 wrote: »

Didn't I read somewhere that Brian Gerwitz is gone too?
http://www.cagesideseats.com/wwe/2015/7/9/8925403/brian-gewirtz-leaves-wwe-for-a-job-with-the-rock
Got a job as an Exex in The Rock's production company.

Why the confusion, ERG89? He was the Rock's joke writer essentially in WWE.

Ageyev

LuchaUnderground on Netflix would be cool but probably not much scope for growth on it

Stereomaniac

I would love it if it went onto Netflix. I really want to watch the whole thing from the beginning.

Agent Coulson

El Rey already has a deal in place with Netflix for the From Dust till Dawn series which it airs weekly around it's regions.


So you never know if Netflix pick up season 1 of Lucha and it's a ratings hit for them maybe they will look to to screen it weekly.

Ageyev

There is very little wrestling or MMA on netflix. The North American regions get some WWE DVDs now and then, Mexico netflix had some CMLL and UFC was on a few of the American regions. I don't know what kind of numbers it would do and netflix are getting very stingy with dropping titles that don't get the hits. It'd be a great addition for international fans though.

Itssoeasy

rovert wrote: »

https://twitter.com/MLW/status/619343129162989569

The next quarterly report and WWE Network numbers will be interesting.

And yet Kevin Dunn still remains. My opinion is that when Vince retires/dies that Kevin Dunn is gone aswell as Stephanie and hunter will want their own people and I think nxt has shown that HHH will change the product to some degree when he's the boss. I'ts amazing how far saving tapes from a car will get people even though it was apparently his dad not Kevin that saved the tapes.

MitchKoobski

Itssoeasy wrote: »

I'ts amazing how far saving tapes from a car will get people even though it was apparently his dad not Kevin that saved the tapes.

What's this about?

Ageyev

His aul fella saved some tapes from a burning car which netted Dunn Jr a job and loyalty from VKM.

diusmr8a504cvk

That bucky Beaver motherf*cker as Jim Cornette would call him

Chain Smoker

It's a bit of a cheap shot to always tear into Kevin Dunn. Some of his opinions are terrible and it is (likely) his fault that they stick with some dated stuff like the way everything backstage is shot. But, in a lot of ways, the WWE's production is very very good (I mean, how often does the camera miss something important in a match? The success rate is absolutely ridiculous for live television) and he has to get some kind of credit for those parts too, potentially quite a lot of the credit.

A lot of the criticism people level towards him sounds more like they find him to be a pretty intolerable person rather than an inept one. Someone like Cornette's opinion is totally worthless once you factor in just how little he knows about making a competently produced TV show.

jaykhunter

I don't think anyone's ever complained about WWE's production values (#1 in the live entertainment business imo) and Dunn's TV talents can't be understated. But then there's the wildly negative influence he chokes WWE with. In a nutshell, he hates wrestling, he's a TV guy. He hates women and portrays them as manipulative b**ches whose only strength is the size of their breasts. I'm not sure how true it is but I heard he buries any of Triple H's NXT guys/staff so he doesn't look so bad. Former Creative writer Alex Greenfield had something on it, you can read it here: https://www.reddit.com/r/SquaredCircle/comments/29rwp9/former_wwe_head_writer_alex_greenfield_says_kevin/

Ageyev

I hate WWE's TV production these days. Too many quick cuts, goofy angles, shakey camera, zooms, too much boom camera, red and blue crowd lights, too many LED lights on screen causin pixelation. It's wrestling not a Michael Bay film.

The recent broadcast from Japan was a breath of fresh air (it wasn't flawless but fewer gimmicks means less distractions, commentary was an improvement too).

Alexis Sanchez

Ageyev wrote: »

I hate WWE's TV production these days. Too many quick cuts, goofy angles, shakey camera, zooms, too much boom camera, red and blue crowd lights, too many LED lights on screen causin pixelation. It's wrestling not a Michael Bay film.

What about those long, awkward pauses at the end of interviews? Can't believe you didn't mention them.

J. Marston

The recaps are the worst.

BMMachine

Raw needs to not be 3 hours

Riddle101

BMMachine wrote: »

Raw needs to not be 3 hours

Yep, when you consider the amount of shows WWE airs, one has to wonder why they need a third hour added to Raw. Talk about overkill.

Realpaul

Riddle101 wrote: »

Yep, when you consider the amount of shows WWE airs, one has to wonder why they need a third hour added to Raw. Talk about overkill.

$$$$$$$$

Chain Smoker

jaykhunter wrote: »

In a nutshell, he hates wrestling, he's a TV guy. He hates women and portrays them as manipulative b**ches whose only strength is the size of their breasts. I'm not sure how true it is but I heard he buries any of Triple H's NXT guys/staff so he doesn't look so bad.

All of that could easily just be where Vince stands on it all, it's not like Vince is above throwing a talent to the wolves just to prove he was right.

Alexis Sanchez wrote: »

What about those long, awkward pauses at the end of interviews? Can't believe you don't mention them.

I never get why they aren't a constant source of parody, they're absolutely awful. Have heard a few different things about that though. Definitely heard a podcast with some former member of creative in that past though where they said Stephanie was insisting on it so that people saw the emotions of the performer (this could easily be nonsense Dunn has made them all believe, of course), someone else said that was something of a rib that they do to amuse themselves.

J. Marston wrote: »

The recaps are the worst.

That's really one where it bothers people like us far more than it probably does most.When you consider how many of their millions and millions of viewers must only half watch it with their brain on standby or while flicking between other stations, it does make sense to recap like crazy ...of course, if you made it more engrossing you wouldn't have to do that.

rovert

I won't be surprised if Dunn is pushed under the bus quite soon the way things are going.

leggo

Itssoeasy wrote: »

And yet Kevin Dunn still remains. My opinion is that when Vince retires/dies that Kevin Dunn is gone aswell as Stephanie and hunter will want their own people and I think nxt has shown that HHH will change the product to some degree when he's the boss.

I don't think we'll see WWE as revamped under Triple H as we think it will be now. Triple H knows NXT is an indy-haven and I'd say it's a passion project where he gets to book wrestling the way he wants to. The only audience he has to please there is the likes of us so he can narrow down the way he has to do things and tailor it to suit one audience's needs. But WWE is a different beast altogether and I'd say he's well indoctrinated in Vince's way of doing things.

Chain Smoker wrote: »

I never get why they aren't a constant source of parody, they're absolutely awful. Have heard a few different things about that though. Definitely heard a podcast with some former member of creative in that past though where they said Stephanie was insisting on it so that people saw the emotions of the performer (this could easily be nonsense Dunn has made them all believe, of course), someone else said that was something of a rib that they do to amuse themselves.

I think the official logic I heard explained behind it is to 'let the segment breath'. I don't watch much Impact aside from YouTube nowadays, but when I did I definitely saw a need for what WWE do: their segments then were all cut and edited very quickly together to look 'alternative', but they just came across as rushed and you wouldn't process them before they were over. But WWE are too extreme on the other side, there has to be a middle ground.

You'd think that surely they'd hire someone experienced in TV production who could remedy this, but when you think about it wrestling television is so unique (blending acting, ongoing storylines, engaging both a live and TV audience and audience interaction that can alter where the story goes) that there is nobody more experienced than WWE. They're the market leaders in vignettes, unless someone can think of something similar (sitcom comedy isn't because the script is the script regardless, aside from the odd bit of improv or changing specifics in jokes). So they need to evolve that idea somewhat IMO, but working in production myself often that has to occur naturally via a eureka moment and you have to run with the best bad option until then.

That's really one where it bothers people like us far more than it probably does most.When you consider how many of their millions and millions of viewers must only half watch it with their brain on standby or while flicking between other stations, it does make sense to recap like crazy ...of course, if you made it more engrossing you wouldn't have to do that.

Nail on the head here, WWE ratings live and die based on catching people channel surfing and engaging them immediately while also getting them to follow along the storylines that are playing out in front of them. All of us are watching regardless. Again this is the best bad option to tick the boxes they need ticked.

I don't think Raw needs to switch back to 2 hours, but they're maybe a year or two out from nailing down the formula for how 3 hours works. It all has to click, the same as any show, and that comes with all of the eureka moments spoken about above happening naturally to suit all purposes. Until then we're left with these annoying isms. And in a year or two, it'll click for a while, then we'll grow tired of that, then it'll evolve and then we'll be right back here complaining about a new set of best bad options. It's just how it is and I think WWE realise this, which is why they're not freaking out trying to fix all of these issues ASAP.