WWE Network... It's Here

[Robert S]

15 hours ago, Charles (Loss) said:

They've been planning this seemingly forever. I wonder why there has been such a delay.

I don't know about planning, more like considering it. I don't think that they are actively persuing this for that long (don't ask me numbers, I am not a regular dirt sheet reader). Honestly, I would love to see the same patience WWE has shown in the Network in their "regular" product. When the Network was initially launched there were several delays of the launch date. And when they finally launched it, the product was (at least as far as I understand, I got the network only two years later when it became available here) in a decent state (you could argue that more stuff should have been available for the launch, but you could also argue that the big drops they had for quite some time show that the Network is alive, something that would have been harder to do with all Raw, Smackdown and Nitro being available at the launch).

[flyonthewall2983]

Don't know where else to ask this, but do the Turner networks still have rights to the WCW footage? I seem to remember during the Benoit stuff that CNN and Headline News would go to WCW footage of him occasionally and then hearing something about how they still had some rights because it aired on their networks. Same with ESPN and AWA stuff that aired on one of their offshoot channels. 

I have no idea if that footage will be beneficial at all to AEW but I imagine this question is pertinent to what's going on now that TNT has wrestling again.

[sek69]

Turner would have anything that aired on CNN or Headline News, but actual WCW footage is all owned by WWE. 

[flyonthewall2983]

So they have no ownership over the footage then?

[sek69]

All WCW footage (as well as all the libraries Crockett owned via the territories they purchased) were part of the WWE deal. In fact, it was pretty much all WWE wanted when they made the deal.

[TonyPulis'Cap]

Not to dig up some old talking points from the time leading into, and coming out of Mania, but watching the Becky Lynch 24 episode on the Network that was recently put out just made me sad, in terms of what might have been, or rather what should have been.

That's not to say I was sad about much of the content - I've been a huge Becky fan for years - nor the quality of the documentary, or indeed the ultimate conclusion in terms of her winning the main event, but there was a frustration that the final destination was messed up right at the last by the largely dreadful storytelling between the Rumble and Mania. 

When I watch a wrestling documentary or profile piece, particularly one put together by the WWE, I often think of what sort of traction or reception it would receive from non-wrestling fans if it was broadcast on regular TV or pushed heavily through a Netflix or Amazon service. I think if this had been, then people would be swept along by the Becky story and drawn in by her personality. She comes across fantastically in it, so likable but also vulnerable and at times melancholic in her times of struggle, but then also warm, engaging and with a charisma that draws you in. And then the story itself for the most part works so well, even if it was never mapped out; she sets out with dreams, goes to some dark places as it looks like it will never happen, gets a shot at redemption, but then toils away in the background, shoved aside for others, only to take control of her own destiny by becoming a captivating character unlike any other female previously in wrestling.

From the turn on Charlotte at Summerslam, to letting loose as a bad ass, to winning the title, being the Man, getting the match with Rousey, suffering the punch from Nia and the concussion taking her out of that match, winning the Royal Rumble to the promo where she picks Ronda has her mania opponent and says "I always said I'd find my way back to you" the story is perfect. And if you just watched the documentary you would think it gets the ultimate payoff...but in reality Becky's win just didn't seem to hit the heights it should have done, to the point where she has already lost one of the titles and now feels just another cog in the soulless WWE machine. There's a few reasons for that; Kofimania seemed to steal a lot of the emotional limelight, the fans were exhausted at the end of an marathon of a show and the weird flat finish, but ultimately to me, if it was kept as just Becky vs. Ronda 1 on 1, and there was no suspensions, arrests, attacks with crutches, qualifying matches and McMahon involvement (something basically fast forwarded through and largely glossed over on the program) then it would've been the seminal moment it could've been and the moment that truly made Becky into the face of the company.  

[SomethingSavage]

I've seen positive reviews of the Becky documentary and plan on watching it eventually, but Double Or Nothing (and my limited free time) have put that on hold for the meantime.

How does it stack up against the Mark Henry doc? Because that's my new de facto #1. That shit was tremendous. I don't think I've seen a better produced piece of television from WWE in the last ten to fifteen years. Hands down. No exaggeration.

So yeah. It may be a little unrealistic to expect this to match that, but that's the bar. If it's even in the same stratosphere, then I'd consider it a win.

[FMKK]

It's bizarre and ridiculous that all of their best content is buried either on the network or on YouTube. If they clipped this documentary and showed it in ten minute segments over a few weeks on Raw, they'd make her into a way bigger star than she is.

[Coffey]

22 minutes ago, FMKK said:

It's bizarre and ridiculous that all of their best content is buried either on the network or on YouTube. If they clipped this documentary and showed it in ten minute segments over a few weeks on Raw, they'd make her into a way bigger star than she is.

They don't want that. Can't have a WWE Superstar™ getting more over with the WWE Universe™ than the brand, pal. This is Sports Entertainment™, goddamn! 

[SomethingSavage]

Right.

Why would they waste time running profile pieces when they could be having matches instead?

And why would they conduct professional sports style interviews when they could have face-to-face confrontations and *insert physicality here*, pal?

[SteveJRogers]

15 hours ago, sek69 said:

Turner would have anything that aired on CNN or Headline News, but actual WCW footage is all owned by WWE. 

What nearly to a little over a decade old footage of Chris Benoit was already shown on CNN/Headline News at that point?  Him getting the better or getting punked out during a post match Hogan/Savage/nWo segment?

[rovert]

Nice write up TonyPulis'Cap. Yeah, I am waiting for the first bad story about Becky whether it is a new or old, wrestler or fan. 

Wrestling or "when are you going back to wrestling" or "didn't you used to wrestle" were all her trigger words for her years and years. Dublin is a small city and Ireland is tiny Country by American standards, to say the least everyone knew Becky as that girl who really liked Wrestling. 

6-7 years is an insane amount of time to take an absence from Pro Wrestling especially for someone so young and all sorts of foolish and ill-timed "pull it together Becky" sessions one on one and group were put together over that period too but she built this insane wall of guilty and self-confidence that no one could break through. But as she explains in the documentary one day she broke out of it.

[sek69]

Watching 84-85 Mid South, and thought about an interesting "what if". Shawn Michaels is on these shows in enhancement duty early in his career, and what surprised me is Bill Watts seems to be keen on him, even on job duty. Considering Shawn had a dislike of him that carried into the WWF years, it was surprising to hear him get put over like that.  Made me think what would have happened if Watts decided to do something with him, and made him an NWA type guy instead of being in the right place at the right time when Vince was signing everyone who was working for Verne just to fuck with him.

[flyonthewall2983]

 

[JRH]

On 5/26/2019 at 8:32 AM, flyonthewall2983 said:

Don't know where else to ask this, but do the Turner networks still have rights to the WCW footage? I seem to remember during the Benoit stuff that CNN and Headline News would go to WCW footage of him occasionally and then hearing something about how they still had some rights because it aired on their networks. Same with ESPN and AWA stuff that aired on one of their offshoot channels. 

I have no idea if that footage will be beneficial at all to AEW but I imagine this question is pertinent to what's going on now that TNT has wrestling again.

The WCW footage was pretty much B-Roll footage that they can use for documentary/news purposes. It's why Dark Side of the Ring is packed with WWE-owned footage.

[sek69]

July's Classic Content Dump appears to be a bunch of ECW supershows!

(Bonus in the comments, someone shares a tweet where the guy who owns the Superstars of Wrestling trademark sent a letter to Jerry McDevitt saying he's agree to sell the trademark to WWE for $200,000 and consideration for a HOF Induction)

[The Thread Killer]

That's some good news.  It's always bugged me that you can see the complete run of Hardcore TV and ECW on TNN, plus the PPV's on the Nework, but the only place you can see the Supershows like "The Night The Line Was Crossed" is to get them from RF Video - which I would never do.  If WWE starts adding the classic ECW Supershows I wonder if they'll make RF video stop selling them?

One show I'd love to see that I never have, is the ECW version of "When World's Collide" from 05/14/94 (not to be confused with the AAA PPV from the same year with the same name) that featured Sabu and Bobby Eaton vs. Terry Funk and Arn Anderson.  Sign me up for that sumbitch, please.

[hammerva]

There are a few of the ECW non-PPV shows out there but I think mostly from 1995 and that was probably 2 years ago when it was added.  Yes I would love to see the Eastern version show.  Hell I wonder if they own the rights to the TWA shows

 

[Migs]

19 hours ago, The Thread Killer said:

That's some good news.  It's always bugged me that you can see the complete run of Hardcore TV and ECW on TNN, plus the PPV's on the Nework, but the only place you can see the Supershows like "The Night The Line Was Crossed" is to get them from RF Video - which I would never do.  If WWE starts adding the classic ECW Supershows I wonder if they'll make RF video stop selling them?

RF supposedly has an ironclad contract from back in the day.

[The Thread Killer]

Sweet, they've released the list and The Night The Line Was Crossed and When World's Collide are both on it!

Courtesy WWENetworkNews:

Quote

Below is a list of ECW supercards you can expect to arrive on Monday:

02/05/1994 – The Night The Line Was Crossed [Duration: 02:07:29]
Terry Funk defends the ECW Title against Shane Douglas and Sabu in a Three-Way Dance. Plus, Public Enemy, The Sandman, and more in action!

05/14/1994 – When Worlds Collide [Duration: 01:45:13]
Terry Funk and Arn Anderson take on Bobby Eaton and Sabu in the main event. Plus, 911, Public Enemy, Kevin Sullivan and more in action!

06/24/1994 – Hostile City Showdown 1994 [Duration: 01:54:30]
Cactus Jack goes one-on-one with Sabu in the main event. The Tazmaniac battles The Pitbull in a Dog Collar Match. All this and much more!

08/13/1994 – Hardcore Heaven 1994 [Duration: 01:49:13]
Cactus Jack takes on Terry Funk in a legendary main event. Plus, Public Enemy, The Pitbulls, and many more take to the ring for action!

11/05/1994 – November to Remember 1994 [Duration: 02:29:18]
Ron Simmons challenges Shane Douglas for the ECW World Title. Plus, Public Enemey is in action, Dean Malenko faces The Tazmaniac, and more!

04/08/1995 – 3 Way Dance [Duration: 01:46:29]
Public Enemy battles two formidable duos in a Three-Way Dance main event for the ECW World Tag Team Titles.

09/16/1995 – Gangstas Paradise 1995 [Duration: 01:40:03]
Mikey Whipwreck and Public Enemy get locked up inside a true Gangstas Paradise with New Jack, The Sandman, and an unexpected competitor.

12/29/1995 – Holiday Hell 1995 [Duration: 02:34:50]
Cactus Jack takes on Sabu in an Extreme Death Match. With Tommy Dreamer on his heels, Raven challenges The Sandman for the ECW World Title.

01/05/1996 – House Party 1996 [Duration: 02:25:00]
Public Enemy and The Gangstas take their rivalry to the streets. Konnan challenges The Sandman for the ECW World Heavyweight Championship.

02/03/1996 – Big Apple Blizzard Blast 1996 [Duration: 02:27:27]
The Sandman and Too Cold Scorpio battle The Gangstas in the main event. Plus, Cactus Jack, Raven, The Eliminators, and more in action!

04/13/1996 – Massacre on Queens Boulevard 1996 [Duration: 02:17:37]
The main event sees Too Cold Scorpio and The Sandman battle The Gangstas and The Headhunters in a Three-Way Elimination Tag Team Match.

04/20/1996 – Hostile City Showdown 1996 [Duration: 02:17:56]
Shane Douglas challenges Raven for the ECW World Title in the main event. Rob Van Dam faces Sabu. Plus, Brian Lee, Taz, and more in action!

Is Hostile City Showdown 94 the show where Foley faces Sabu for the first time and spits on the WCW Tag Title, or is that a different show?

[sek69]

Man.....how many times did we see the ad for "The Night The Line Was Crossed" on ECW TV?  That show has Last Battle of Atlanta level mythos to me. 

[Al]

Oh man. This is all awesome stuff.

[hammerva]

These shows must have some big edits because I don't remember most of these being in the 2 hour range.  Especially since the Night the Line was Crossed was a 45 minute match if I remember.   Granted I am not sure the Network is ready for some of those god awful opening matches

Yes Hostile city Showdown was the first ECW Sabu vs Cactus Jack.  

[peachchaos]

November to Remember 1994 has only been available as a handheld. This is some good shit.

[JNLister]

3 hours ago, hammerva said:

These shows must have some big edits because I don't remember most of these being in the 2 hour range.  Especially since the Night the Line was Crossed was a 45 minute match if I remember.   Granted I am not sure the Network is ready for some of those god awful opening matches

 

Contrastingly, I remember a lot of them as being quite short releases. They'd cut out all the dead space between matches, plus ECW Arena had long intervals (arguably needed them given how tighly packed it was sometimes and how slow that made getting round the arena to the merch table, food stand and bathrooms.)