Sean Liska

It was a short term loss and a long term play. And let's be honest about when we're talking about WWE's financial health compared to every other company ever - they sacrificed a bunch of cash and what does it really mean? Vince only has $100 million in dividend money to spend on XFL2 instead of $200 million? If you're not a stockholder what's the difference. I still think the way they did the Network could look smart in 15 years. I'm telling you, with the way kids consume entertainment nowadays, the whole entertainment industry model could be blown up in 15 years. Also, everyone in the world is coming out with streaming services now and that's just going to continue. WWE went out and got their 1.5 million fans used to paying for a service they have total control over, not dependent on the future of TV or PPV. It could look smart some day.

Just crazy value. Vince sacrificed so much money putting everything on the Network, but it really has helped my wallet. In 2017 - I would have bought the Rumble if it was a PPV, I always get the Rumble no matter how I feel about the current product and always will. Mania would be like $60-70. They would have gotten me for that Brock-Joe PPV. I would have gotten SummerSlam because that 4-way tough guy main event was everything I love in wrestling. They would have gotten me for the Brock-Braun/Cena-Roman PPV. They would have gotten me for the absolutely surreal deal of Kurt Angle returning to a WWE ring after 11 years and playing the role of Roman Reigns in the big Shield reunion. They would have gotten me for Brock-AJ. If they put the Takeovers on PPV, I would have gotten each one. Instead, $10 a month. I have 83-85 World Class to work through. 1983 Mid-South. Lots of Mid-Atlantic. And they even seem to be cutting down on original content no one cares about and ramping up the classic content, heading in the right direction. Did the WWE actually lose out on money? I never paid for anything WWE until the Network came around. Lots of people are in that boat. A lot of fans too only bought Mania or Mania/Rumble. A year of the network is more cash than that. Also have to remember they keep almost all the money from the Network, while on ppv they got a lot less of the overall money. All in all, since they are more profitable now then when they were on ppv, I think your statement seems wrong. The big thing is putting Mania on the Network. If they had kept that off, and let's say the Network is at instead around 300k users, Meltzer has done the math and they would be far ahead, Mania is that big. They're not yet as profitable as pre Network, just more revenue.

Just crazy value. Vince sacrificed so much money putting everything on the Network, but it really has helped my wallet. In 2017 - I would have bought the Rumble if it was a PPV, I always get the Rumble no matter how I feel about the current product and always will. Mania would be like $60-70. They would have gotten me for that Brock-Joe PPV. I would have gotten SummerSlam because that 4-way tough guy main event was everything I love in wrestling. They would have gotten me for the Brock-Braun/Cena-Roman PPV. They would have gotten me for the absolutely surreal deal of Kurt Angle returning to a WWE ring after 11 years and playing the role of Roman Reigns in the big Shield reunion. They would have gotten me for Brock-AJ. If they put the Takeovers on PPV, I would have gotten each one. Instead, $10 a month. I have 83-85 World Class to work through. 1983 Mid-South. Lots of Mid-Atlantic. And they even seem to be cutting down on original content no one cares about and ramping up the classic content, heading in the right direction.

So I've just discovered WALTER in the last few weeks and I'm in love. A Tenryu for 2018, just a mean man who beats up his poor opponents. I loved this match.

Good find thanks! Man so many memories out of that territory, magic.

So Memphis on the Network ain't happening and we're basically waiting for people to die at this point to see Cornette's stuff?

It still be nice for the Network to get it so we can see the WWF/USWA angle in good quality. I don't think the 80s Memphis stuff would be better quality, most of the master tapes are gone, this isn't like Mid-South or Mid-Atlantic. My understanding is that Lawler claimed ownership of Memphis and has pieced together all the stuff floating around and wants to sell it to WWE for the Network. The big question is whether Cornette's collection would be part of what Lawler has, specifically all the missing stuff from 82-83. If it is, and WWE has that stuff, I'll be picketing outside corporate with a sign every day until they put it up. I'll start social media campaigns. I'll do anything. The world needs to see all the Lance Russell footage available and Cornette is sitting on it.

Good idea I'll try that next, thanks!

All right Lawler-Ellsworth was awesome. Now at 68 obviously this wasn't Cena-Styles in terms of moves. But this packed Maryland crowd loved Ellsworth, Lawler was 88 Sportatorium vs Kerry Von Erich form on the mic, and it's so much fun. Lawler at 68 making a run for my #2 GOAT behind Negro Casas.

Jerry Lawler vs James Ellsworth happened and is on YouTube!

We still need it in case something new shows up. I created a Reddit account and did a post offering money to anyone who would send me shows, did the same thing on the Observer board, no response, I guess the next thing is Twitter.

I'm still working through these! The 5/21/83 episode has a real gem! I want to limit my spoilers here, but the Briscoes officially go full heel here, and it's a great segment, starts at 17:30. Also, at the end of the show, Paul Jones reveals the huge portrait of himself and the contest to win it, hilarious stuff.

I guess the good thing is that the confusion over Memphis TV ownership has allowed so many new fans to discover its greatness unedited in YouTube and 70s-TV.com.

Believe me I'm not emotionally investing into this group yet, that would take at least 6 months of competence. I'm intrigued. It's something to pay attention to.

What if I told you all that I thought Impact last night was a really entertaining well put together show and I'm going to watch it again next week? No one has hated TNA over the past 15 years more than me, every time I see this thread title in my head I say "yes, absolutely, no discussion". But I'm intrigued by what Don Callis can bring to this thing. He's been around wrestling forever. For a year he's been ringside for these NJPW shows that resonate with hardcore fans more than seemingly anything. He's a smart guy, he was the CEO of Manitoba Trade and Investment, I don't know exactly what that is but feels like you have to be smart to do it. I'm not saying I'm 100% committed to this company but I'm intrigued. Lots of intriguing things happening in wrestling right now, great time to be a fan.

We want streaming services to refuse to air a show with a guy on it who has done nothing criminal and is just a dick? How many wrestling shows could be streamed if we really knew the lives of all the wrestlers?

If Bix takes down Lawler does that help or hurt our chances of seeing the Memphis TV that Cornette is sitting on that needs to be seen by the public.

Yeah the Tully/Magnum one being the highest 80s one is interesting to me. I don't know how many votes were cast, it might have been like two people that got it up there, but you would have expected Flair/Steamboat or Steamboat/Savage.

I'm game for anything! I'll do anything for Memphis footage, it's a ridiculous obsession at this point

I think it's very fair to say that Gedo's booking style has been incredibly successful and logically he should keep doing the same thing until business stops booming, while also saying it's personally boring to us at times. Choshu's NJPW with all the unpredictability was more exciting for me personally.

Absolutely. I come here for talking with peole who have similar knowledge to me, I go to reddit to see what the modern version of 16 year old Sean is thinking, they can shape how the industry develops.

Interesting that Magnum-Tully is the first old school match that pops up. I like checking in on Wreddit to see what the current smarks are thinking so I can stay on top of industry trends.

What do we do? Try to find someone on Twitter who's watching this and send them a few bucks a month for them to send it to us?