Timbo Slice

Ravens amazingly fraudulent, but also, Pat Mahomes is the DUMBEST. Like, you’d think he’d choke it up but noooooooo. This is gonna be two insufferable weeks.

Y’all are comparing Corporate entities with WWE, who is corporate in name only and doesn’t have the smarts to deal with something that has real-world consequences outside of, “Everything’s a work, brother,” which has been their defense since the steroid trials. They have corporate titles but they’re far from corporate. Holding them to any standard like that is expecting the moon to actually be made out of cheese.

Darby has been this way since long before he even decided to take on wrestling and the worry mongering is fucking tiresome.

That Vince is about as bad as you can imagine. What a vile piece of shit. Him, Laurinaitis, Brock, all of them.

I’m actually in the opposite camp of penny pinching. Much like it was with the WWE Network, this is a chance for Netflix to take something that is self-produced and see how it tests from a streaming standpoint. If it sticks and is reliable and a constant stream of eyes on the product, they can use it to go to one of the big sports leagues and show they have the chops to do it for them, too. Hence the opt out; if it doesn’t work, they pivot away. Otherwise, they either lock it in or extend. I see them giving WWE every chance to be worth the investment, and can absolutely see them saying when the Peacock deal runs out saying, “Give it all to us“ and running with it.

They also ran larger arenas because of their post-pandemic peak and that’s causing a big backfire too because they thought that was sustainable.

Let’s not forget dude has neck and knee issues that have been bugging him and the acclimation for a trip to the states is different than up and moving there. I think there’s merit to him getting a surprise Rumble spot, but a few months in NXT allows him to recharge the batteries a bit for after WM. Because if they’re talking like that? It seems that’s what matters most to him. But if he feels good enough? Yeah, get him going for Jersey.

The viewership numbers don’t necessarily matter here: Network was folded into Peacock, and was still heavily promoted with its own area on the front page. Feel like it’ll be a similar situation. Considering Netflix has been upping its subscription costs, to be able to cover the costs, it doesn’t even have to be a loss leader for it to matter. It also says a lot about what WWE thinks of Peacock given Netflix gives them a huge platform. Also not insignificant? The color branding fits right in. It’s stupid but it’s something that works.

Okada seems WWE bound simply because of how he’s exiting NJPW, but then folks talk themselves into him being with AEW because of the history and how Ospreay is exiting in a similar way. Meltz is also reporting how he thought AEW was going to offer more money, but Okada is probably using them like Ohtani used non-Dodger teams. Go get the biggest possible offer, ask WWE to match, WWE matches, and that’s the ballgame. And signing with Netflix? Okada can ask for a lot more.

WWE does all their own production so Netflix isn’t needing to do much of anything here. Strictly for rights and maybe some tech input, if any. And that also being announced with Rocky joining the board on the same day is a funny flex.

Imagine it’ll be Drew, and he’ll be first out like a chump. Love that nobody on SD is gonna really get any Rumble run or love because of the four way

Ace Romero has lost some weight since his peak but he definitely fit the bill, as does Barrington Hughes.

Joe works like Hashimoto as champion, given he did a bunch of ZERO-ONE early on and has cited him as one of his biggest influences. That’s always been the vibe of his title matches more than anything King’s Road.

Page deciding to go full Magnum TA might be the best decision he’s ever made

I feel attacked

That Drew/Punk promo was terrible; Punk material has been lacking since his return.

I do like there’s a bit more intrigue this year around the Rumble. Ton of ways they can go at least.

Inducted by Johnny Ace

I think it’s hilarious folks are upset at ZSJ losing when it’s pretty clear he’s gonna get groomed for a run towards the top this year. Getting the belt off him couldn’t be a wiser decision given he needs to be up higher in the pecking order ASAP. The whole “NJPW is cold/needs help/underwhelming” is being compared to an unprecedented run of success for the company in length relative to the state of the wrestling business at large. It’s as big as they’ve been since the multi-year Dome Show years of yore. They’re transitioning into a younger generation and that’s going to take time given the bridges are basically Naito on his last legs, Okada wanting to take a step back a bit even though he’s absolutely the best draw they have, and your mononym folks that Gedo has groomed not panning out. Also, a majority of their top foreigners are not full time anymore and or middling at best. Nemeth will be fun and motivated, but I don’t think he’s gonna be AJ Styles, to throw out an example. The expectation that a company can’t have its ups and downs is unrealistic and we’d be better off accepting a downturn for a little while that leads to an uptick and ride it out that way.

Fucking apostrophe got me again.

That motherfucker is gonna do his whole shtick and be the cool Machiavellian heel, isn’t he

Plus, it’ll lead to a rematch at Wembley more than likely between Cole and MJF, which is a neat bit of symmetry.

Praise be.

Austin coming back to set up the long play with Punk.

I do find it strange that Gedo hasn’t been replaced by someone like a Lyger or other big name of his ilk to book given the transition. Or even Tanahashi himself. Though you wonder if they wait post-WK to go that route. I do feel the Okada talk was more smoke than fire anyways; WWE seems like it would be tough to break through given how top heavy the roster is right now, and he can do AEW basically whenever already. Although he more than likely would get the Road Warrior Pop if he debuted at the Rumble.