Matt D

The world didn't screw Chris; WWE did.

So much crunched data and articles, all for nothing because the world refuses to cooperate?

They are father and mother to all of us, to be fair.

I feel for Trips a bit when it comes to the debut of NXT guys. How can even the best new characters survive the weekly TV grind, the need for content, the post-Lesnarian start-stop booking, and the writers?

Are we rooting for WWE in this? It's interesting to watch everyone's reactions. I kind of am, and I don't really know why. Will it trickle down to the wrestlers who might be hurt by the shift to the network? Maybe? Probably not as much as it ought to. From what I understand, everyone's contracts are set up in a way that "TV DEAL" doesn't really impact things. Is it because it makes us feel more legitimate as fans? Do we think WWE will be able to do more products now and give us more content?

I think you can learn a lot about serialized storytelling from wrestling, actually: things like how to build up a threat or how to have someone lose but not lose their heat.

SNAP INTO IT

Both RVD and Santino talking about how the RVD vs Eddy ladder match was Eddy's first was very weird.

It's nothing huge but I really loved the Luger vs Alex Wright TV title match from the March 11 nitro. Great Luger performance.

I don't really like either the Jericho (Last Man Standing) or Austin (3 stages of hell) matches. Both of them have very good patches but they end up as these hugely bloated affairs. HHH, more than any wrestler other than maybe TNA era Jarrett, just doesn't get that less is more. I bet there are dozens of Triple H matches that are 2/3rds good.

I buy almost nothing wrestling related. I will buy the e-book.

Does anyone ever call them on this stuff during the stockholder calls?

maybe if he is out they can use the time to build up a heel?

I don't care if it's proven to be dangerous or not, it'd make me personally feel better if he stopped doing the diving headbutt.

No matter how WWE is trying to rebrand itself for this, it's not a sport. It is a block of live programming, and I KNOW we have to compare it to SOMETHING to understand what's going on, but do the networks see it as a sport?

I would enjoy Aiden English on the main roster if that happened.

I just saw the tour of Lawler's house from Confidential and it's really great. Not only did he seem so young, relatively, but he's got the best house.

This is what I'm interested in too. Another way to get at it would be to ask him how he improved as a wrestler since coming to WWE, I suppose? Anything he could tell us about working with agents in match layouts would be interesting too. On a selfish note, I'd love to hear about him working with Dustin and maybe if he thought they should have had more of an on-screen relationship with Heyman early last year.

As much as I enjoy WrestlingCulture, I was poking at Will. Will hasn't let life get in his way. I have. There are the Wrestling Cities and Lucha Party podcasts too! Maybe even something I'm forgetting.

What can you say about them demographics-wise? Do they run younger? More casual?

I'd rather they buy CHIKARA to be honest. I'd love to watch that from beginning to end since there's long form storytelling and what not, even if the ring-work might not be what I want entirely.

When they buy the TNA library, they should just put it up on youtube for free. That'd be sort of funny.

The big problem is that, if you listen to Dave a little, it's not hard to figure out HOW to talk to him. There are ways, that if you were to say things, he'd understand and would get past the semantics. Bryan can't or won't do that at all.

As much as I enjoy WrestlingCulture, I was poking at Will.

Where have all the podcasts been this year, chief? I miss them.