The WWE Thread

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supersonic
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Re: The WWE Thread

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Observer:
Another change looks to be strengthening the PPV shows as the 5/6 Backlash show at the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ, has been changed from being a Raw show to being a joint branded show. Previously the idea was that only five shows would be joint-branded, Royal Rumble, WrestleMania, Money in the Bank, SummerSlam and Survivor Series.

While WWE has not officially stated the end of brand-specific PPV shows, the belief internally is that is the case. WWE officials told us that an announcement regarding this would be made shortly, which would also indicate the end of them.

As far as the reasoning, as noted, adding the PPV’s added cost but aside from the live gates, not a lot of new revenue since it didn’t move network numbers. Ticket sales for some of the upcoming PPV shows were weaker, although a lot of that may have to do with the increasing of ticket prices on the floor. In cutting back on PPV shows to 14 this year (the goal is 12, one a month, and it’s possible to cut back later in the year), there were long gaps in the brand-specific shows meaning they had to greatly slow down storylines.

While again not official, within WWE the belief was that, because of having to fit the top stars of both brands, that the former B shows will be increased an hour with two match pre-shows and four hour PPV shows. They will have both shows specifically pushing the same PPV every month and all the top stars would be on it. The negative is a lot of the middle and lower card acts won’t be on PPV as much, if at all. And if they’re not on the PPV, they’ll be focused on less on television. One of the benefits of the brand split, which, when it comes to ratings has been a success since Smackdown is more popular and Raw’s massive slide has decreased, is that more wrestlers are being featured each week as stars. Since they have to fill hours of television, you’ll probably get more stipulation matches on the television shows that would have been on PPV with mid-level guys.

It also makes having separate champions in each brand feeling even sillier since the key title bouts will be on shows with the other brand’s title also defended. You’ll have two women’s title matches and two tag title matches on most shows, along with two world title and two secondary singles titles and a cruiserweight title (which is likely to almost never be on the main PPV shows). There will be title matches relegated to the pre-show, hurting their significance. There will be less place for non-championship matches, and to get the top stars on the show, likely more multiple-person matches. Also, there will likely be more matches on the shows meaning less time or more rushed matches. So there’s good with the bad. The biggest complaint on WWE PPV shows has been the length of the big shows, and now every show will be five hours long.
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Re: The WWE Thread

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If you watch every WWE wrestling show (Raw, Smackdown, NXT, Main Event, 205 Live) and every PPV/network event, that's nearly 2 whole days per month watching WWE.
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Re: The WWE Thread

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Observer:
Talks are back open regarding a Neville return. If it was to happen, the target is April right now. He has been looking at leaving but wasn’t able to get a release, and it’s a bad situation because the company can freeze his contract length if he’s not performing (the same reason they were able to keep both Bryan and Mysterio under contract long after their original deals were to expire)
Both Keith Lee and Walter have been offered spots starting in Orlando in May... The belief within the indie world is Lee is taking it since he’s turned down dates after that point in time but this is one of those things that neither side are even allowed to confirm... Lee, while not announced yet because it requires the approval of Gabe Sapolsky, since he has a contract with WWN, was tentatively on the card for New Japan on the 3/25 show in Long Beach. If that happens, that doesn’t mean he won’t do that date and still go to WWE in May although New Japan believes he’s not... Walter is less clear. I know that in the past he’s told us he’s not interested because he’s got employee status with the wXw promotion in Europe and runs their school and in the past told us he likes his life and wasn’t interested in moving. He wasn’t even interested in long periods out of Europe as he noted New Japan isn’t something he was interested in either...
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Re: The WWE Thread

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Re: The WWE Thread

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If they manage to swing a big TV rights increase they're going to be so far insulated from the financial consequences of what the fans actually want to see that they will care even less than they already do.

Wretlemania 40 will be 15 hours long and the only match on the card is Stephanie vs Roman Reigns with HHH as guest referee. And there's a cage that Shane jumps off of for no reason.
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Re: The WWE Thread

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About fkn time!
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Re: The WWE Thread

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POP UP/SPYWARE WARNING - https://www.pwinsider.com/article.php?id=115913&p=1
WWE will be instituting a new championship belt after Wrestlemania season ends, PWInsider.com has confirmed with multiple sources.

While Wrestlemania 34 will feature the tournament final crowning a new Cruiserweight champion, there are already plans in the works to create a Cruiserweight Tag Team championship for the 205 Live brand.
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Re: The WWE Thread

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Re: The WWE Thread

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Per the Observer, here are the remaining WM34 mystery pieces:
Braun Strowman still floating until WWE is confident that Jon Bravo doesn't cause shit to hit the fan

Roode vs. Orton vs. Mahal for the US Title

Ultimate Deletion @ the Hardy Compound is planned for Raw instead of WM34. Jeff Hardy's "almost ready to return" but is not currently guaranteed to return in time yet.

The Bar are currently scheduled to not have a match at WM34, instead being involved in an angle

PWInsider claimed more names could be added to the IC Title match

Zayn and Owens are currently planned for the battle royal
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Re: The WWE Thread

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Kev and Generico don't get matches?
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Re: The WWE Thread

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Per Brad Shepard:

Talks of Carmella making a failed cash-in at WM34. She’s on board with it, knowing Asuka will be the cornerstone and at least make the failure a big moment.

Plans have recently changed, so Shane McMahon looks to be facing Dolph Ziggler at WM34. This finally gives Ziggler a marquee singles match at WM.
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