WWE/NXT/AEW/NJPW Thread

[kookoo]

AEW isn't going to do anywhere near WWE numbers for a while. The company has been around for 70 years now (in many different names) and has had that time to grow an insane sized audience. And they put out 7 hours of content on a weekly basis plus on a PPV week it's something like 12 hours of content. Even if you don't watch NXT that's still 5-10 hours. AEW puts out 5 hours a week as well spread out over 3 days so if you want to watch all of televised north american wrestling live, we're talking 12 hours a week without a PPV. That's a huge time suck. So AEW has sustained on average 800k viewers for the last 5 years, which isn't awful. They definitely need to improve their marketing. But diehard WWE fans absolutely hate anything outside of WWE so the target needs to be 'wrestling' fans. The fact that they're still surviving is the best thing for wrestling right now. It makes WWE better too.

That being said, TV ratings are kind of stupid because people stream everything so viewership is pretty much based on cable boxes and live viewings. So it doesn't tell the whole story (for either company). If it was the 90s, this number would be more conclusive but in 2024 where even people in the slums of Mumbai have access to the internet, streaming numbers can be very different to hard wired cable.

 

[LennoxLewis]

What's funny is that Nakamura was used fine in WWE... until he wasn't.

He had an awesome NXT debut and a really fun one-year run there.

He had a good main roster debut. He beat Cena clean in August to get a title shot... then they didn't put him over Jinder.

Then they heated him back up by having him win the Rumble and eliminating Roman clean... then they didn't put him over Styles and also turned him heel.

And that was basically it. They had two chances to make the guy and didn't take either one of them.

Turned him heel and I don't remember him doing meaningful as a heel either.

They had the perfect opportunity to have him beat Seth for the belt, especially with the injury angle. After that kinda figured he'll probably never hold a main belt.

 

[ticon12389]

Make that bag from AEW first

 

[JDailey23]

Make that bag from AEW first

Stay in AEW as long as you’d like.

 

[bigfoot5415]

Your last paragraph is exactly what was needed.
Him joining the Wolfpack ended it for me. As you mentioned the nWO storyline went way too long and that whole Wolfpack thing was garbage. (Although, I thought their theme music went hard)
I was a huge Sting fan. Loved his battles for the TV title with Muta. Will never forget being a kid and jumping for joy when he countered the figure four with a small package and beat Flair for the title.

Also totally agree with you on him needing to sign some guarantees when he signed with WWE. The match against HHH was fun from a nostalgic standpoint but they could have used it to spring board the Mania dream match everyone wanted… The Icon vs The Phenom.

Icon vs Phenom at WM in Arlington would have sold out the venue. In my mind I booked it with Sting going over Taker (since Brock ending the streak was meaningless). Similar to how DX vs NWO came out in Stings match just make it WCW & WWF guys: DDP, Booker, DX, Kane,and NWO. Then among the chaos, Sting and Taker team up to clear the ring for them to settle their business.

Would have been epic.

 

[ticon12389]

Crazy good promo from Cody tonight. If he doesn’t win at Wrestlemania you could make a case for it being the worst booking decision in wrestling history. It has to happen.

 

[LennoxLewis]

At this point, it's more he needs to win because finishing his story would get more annoying if he doesn't do it.

 

[FrontPageNews]

I’m confused on this mania tag match. So if Cody and Seth win then the bloodline can’t interfere? Like what’s keeping them from keeping their word?are they going to be fired or suspended? Is the Cody Roman match going to be in a cage or cell?

 

[kookoo]

I’m confused on this mania tag match. So if Cody and Seth win then the bloodline can’t interfere? Like what’s keeping them from keeping their word?are they going to be fired or suspended? Is the Cody Roman match going to be in a cage or cell?

Pretty much nothing. Remember the Tribal Combat match where no one was allowed to interfere? But unless it's Roman somehow tripping up Rock, I doubt either of them are going to eat a pin. Already ready for that.

I'm more annoyed about the Chad Gable/Sami Zayn result. I think Chad was the better option but I guess they don't know what to do with Sami. Lets see if they add Chad to the match somehow. Maybe we'll get Chad beating up Gunther until he agrees to add him.

 

[CBBI]

I’m confused on this mania tag match. So if Cody and Seth win then the bloodline can’t interfere? Like what’s keeping them from keeping their word?are they going to be fired or suspended? Is the Cody Roman match going to be in a cage or cell?

Rock said they'd sign legal documents!

 

[LennoxLewis]

Another great show from AEW. Last two weeks, they've really done a great job of not having any dead spots during the shows.

 

[ticon12389]

Another great show from AEW. Last two weeks, they've really done a great job of not having any dead spots during the shows.

Jericho matches/segments are cringe these days. Guy needed to hang it up a while ago.

 

[JDailey23]

Rock said they'd sign legal documents!

Let’s put on the tin foil hat. Let say Cody and Seth win (they are), then the next night, the Rock interferes and costs Roman the title. The legal document doesn’t specify who or how they interfere and they strip Cody of the title or rule it a no contest on Raw after Mania….

 

[Prime 1978]

Let’s put on the tin foil hat. Let say Cody and Seth win (they are), then the next night, the Rock interferes and costs Roman the title. The legal document doesn’t specify who or how they interfere and they strip Cody of the title or rule it a no contest on Raw after Mania….

I'm thinking Rock and Roman go over and Rock's interference costs Roman the title to ignite the feud.

 

[Real Deal]

Let’s put on the tin foil hat. Let say Cody and Seth win (they are), then the next night, the Rock interferes and costs Roman the title. The legal document doesn’t specify who or how they interfere and they strip Cody of the title or rule it a no contest on Raw after Mania….

Seen some other tin foil hat stuff on Cody vs Rock in Cleveland at SummerSlam because Rock smacked him, Cody smacked him back.