Marty

10 year deal also includes WWE Network distribution as a traditional ala carte Pay TV channel, as well as distribution rights for the PPVs. So far, we're the only country to have that, which reminds me of what the CEO of Netflix said about our country's internet back in the day. Also really makes me wonder what kind of "WWE Network" we get versus what the US gets, or any other country. Knowing Rogers, it wouldn't shock me if the PPVs are separate some how. Free preview starts Aug. 12, with SummerSlam on Aug. 17, so will know better than, but given the differences between Canada and the US as far as distribution in various media goes, I'm expecting a slightly greater WWE Classics on Demand for us.

http://ir.corporate.wwe.com/CorporateProfile.aspx?iid=4121687

The company's finances and future depend largely on the success of the WWE Network. They need to find a way to keep those fans who have subscribed and attract others. Many of those fans, due to the WWE Network being an internet-based service, are quite likely those hardcores who (still) aren't fans of Cena, for reasons stated by others already. Now's the time to turn him.

I'm going to assume some of the head-to-head RAWs and Nitros will happen...oh, I don't know...around August 25th or 26th or so.

I assume they're doing a free trial now in an effort to boost subscriber numbers prior to the conference call at the end of the month, where they'll reveal the new totals. Don't know if you need one prior to SummerSlam. I've glanced a little more at the shows lately and they've been pushing the network fairly strongly. I imagine come SummerSlam time, the card will be as stacked as it can be and that alone will be a selling point for the Network.

Windham and Rotunda didn't use Real American until I think the fall of 1985 (October or so). Doubt the song was even recorded by the time the first SNME happened.

I think they're getting paranoid about their current Network numbers. There must be very little in the way of new sign-ups since Mania. I thought it was odd that they didn't give a new Network subscriber number at the last shareholders call. But this mass-cutting tells me that they're projecting even lower numbers than previously expected.

Rotten news regarding Bryan. Not sure how I feel on the "at least he doesn't have to deal with this Kane angle" stance. As bad as it's been, I'm sure there are others on the roster that would kill to be in Bryan's role right now. That said, it hasn't helped him as a top guy and I'm not sure Brie's been effective in her role either, even if it makes sense. The problem is that she actually comes across as pretty likeable (my opinion) on Total Divas, but they haven't transitioned that to RAW, or allowed it to happen yet. With Bryan gone...is Punk's phone ringing off the hook now from the E regarding Payback? I know it didn't when RAW was in Chi-Town, but with the Mania build-up and the stars they already had involved for that show, they didn't need the guy. Different story now...no Bryan, Lesnar, Taker, etc.

The Hardys can't have a good feud/match between each other to save their lives.

It apparently didn't win over Sheamus: http://www.wrestlinginc.com/wi/news/2014/0505/575796/sheamus-dozes-off-during-extreme-rules-match/

She never really wanted him to stop. If she did, she would've threatened a suspension/fine/whatever. Look at how she "put over" Bryan when he was stretchered off. Kane just feels like a placeholder here, kind of like Dude Love after WrestleMania XIV. Real feud right now feels like Bryan vs. Steph (with Steph sending in whatever henchmen she can find), which is where Brie comes in (for Steph eventually getting her comeuppance). Not saying that's necessarily the best direction, but it's not like Bryan is being booked like Bret Hart facing a series of credible challengers. More like a mini-Austin vs. McMahon, in a modern sense, and on a smaller scale.

I don't want to see her go, but man, having seen her way back in the day on Bite TV, it's amazing how far this girl has gone. Anyone know how long her contract is up until?

Stunned by the news. Agreed with those on the timing being surreal. Also agreed with Dylan about how Warrior looked at the HOF and RAW compared to last year. If you look at the commercials he did for the video game, even if they were at a certain production level, you could still see a genuine sense of energy there. He didn't have nearly that same level over the weekend. Maybe I'm thinking way, way, way too deep here, but it sucks that a guy who, for better or worse, for a good decade or so was embroiled in a battle of differences with a company that was the platform for his most success, so much so that a hatchet home video was released, finally mends fences in the best of ways, along with this family...and then goes. That really fucking sucks. And heck, he made amends with other co-workers he had differences with. A born-again, new lease on life deal, at least with the WWE...and that happens. Fucked up.

Toronto (as well as Hamilton and London) never got full shows, just select matches as Canadian content for the Canadian syndicated shows. Plus airing on the recap shows and in international syndication. They ended around the same time as MSG, late '91-early '92. I can confirm this. We in Ottawa generally had access to Superstars/Wrestling Challenge, plus there was a channel in Kingston that had a show hosted by Billy Red Lyons that had a mix of Superstars and Challenge matches for about the first 30-40 minutes, with the "main event" being a MLG match.

Man, 10 years flies by, doesn't it? (At least someone else must be thinking the same thing.)

I wonder if the writing of it, given the setting, was influenced by Kane. Or perhaps a rib on Kane.

Why would two on screen employees of a television company that produces live TV shows every Monday night schedule a wedding to happen the same day of a Monday night? Especially one of the annually biggest ones of the year? No matter how unconventional the groom might be, that does sound a bit insane to do. Yeah that's ridiculous. Plus, didn't he already post Twitter pics of the wedding? It was engagement photos. Bryan said on the Steve Austin Show in December that they were looking at the weekend after Mania.

This DB hijacking segment is spectacular.

No wonder AJ has missed some events. Punk has some 'splainin' to do!

If you track down a lot of Punk's tweet from during the holidays, he posted things like a thank you to the Detroit crowd with "I haven't got many performances like these left in me", coupled with his own disgust with his performance against Seth Rollins on the final RAW of 2013. Since a lot of people feel the minimum number of dates were met sometime in December, it seems like Punk knew in his own mind he was winding down, it was just a matter of how soon.

If I remember Mookie's chart correctly, home video peaked in 2008. As for how the Network will affect it, it depends on how many would rather own physical media vs. streaming a pretty large library. You're still going to get collectors. To be honest, I think it'll affect the BR portion of home video. Blu-ray never really took off for WWE (some will argue it struggled in general for everything else, but it bombed with WWE) and with another HD option, people may turn away from that. Oddly, I think they'll keep going with DVD until the market really dries up. They're ridiculously cheaper to make and more people for whatever reason have stuck with them vs. BRs. Anyways, that WCW set is one of those types of sets that has lots of "we've seen these before" that they do every now and then. I think it's kinda for the next generation that's never seen them before or for anyone unaware of it. Plus, as Jose mentioned, it's a solid collection of some of the more memorable WCW PPV matches wrapped into one, so it's an easy sell for those who don't buy those things very often (casual fans). The Shawn Mania set is like that too, and compared to recent releases will sell like hotcakes.

To be fair to Dave, even though his sources expected Punk to be there tonight, he said himself he wasn't all that positive on it.

Very sad day, great worker, a treat to watch in the ring.