The XFL is returning?

[Grimmas]

Brad Shepard 🤘🏻‏ @TheBradShepard

EXCLUSIVE: Vince McMahon is looking to bring back the XFL and may announce it on January 25th, 2018.

4:38 PM - 15 Dec 2017

 

Kris Zellner said he heard this as well. WTF is even happening?

[sek69]

Vince seeing the NFL taking PR black eyes due to mishandling everything from DV arrests to players kneeling for the anthem and thinking what America needs is the XFL.

[KawadaSmile]

Kaepernick, the real mastermind.

[The Chief]

Well, I guess they wouldn't need a TV deal this time!

[Kadaveri]

Vince wasn't happy with NXT's rating.

[hammerva]

The only thing that works for him is that unlike the original XFL the NFL is in rough shape from a PR standpoint. All of the arguments that Vince was using to justify a new league wasn't really the majority opinion of the NFL. It could be now.

 

Also while the WWE product during the original period was this sexual,violent, "crash TV" style that really didn't work in the rest of society. And as we have seen,the non WWE fans are much willing to accept trashy garbage in 2017 a lot easier than 2001.

 

The backlash will also be much worse. Imagine in 2017 hiring strippers as cheerleaders and telling them that fraternizing with the players is recommended.

[PeteF3]

But the concussion issue wasn't there at all in 2001 either. The "hard-nosed, old-style football" pitch didn't work then (because people actually want to see offense and scoring, not three-yards-and-a-cloud-of-dust football in the trenches), but combine that with the fact that players aren't expected to play through pain and certainly not through concussions anymore and this is going to be a tougher sell than before.

[Matt D]

I can just imagine the tweets.

[hammerva]

But the concussion issue wasn't there at all in 2001 either. The "hard-nosed, old-style football" pitch didn't work then (because people actually want to see offense and scoring, not three-yards-and-a-cloud-of-dust football in the trenches), but combine that with the fact that players aren't expected to play through pain and certainly not through concussions anymore and this is going to be a tougher sell than before.

 

Remember in the 1st week of the XFL where one player got a concussion and another separated his shoulder (I think) doing that 10 yard dash to the football gimmick. Yeah that isn't going to go over well.

 

Also I would assume the role of Opie & Anthony being the pre and post game "experts" would be played by the douches at Barstool.

[elliott]

But the concussion issue wasn't there at all in 2001 either. The "hard-nosed, old-style football" pitch didn't work then (because people actually want to see offense and scoring, not three-yards-and-a-cloud-of-dust football in the trenches), but combine that with the fact that players aren't expected to play through pain and certainly not through concussions anymore and this is going to be a tougher sell than before.

 

This is the real issue. It isn't players protesting or anything like that. CTE and everything we know about concussions and all of the players we've watched kill themselves over the past 17 years is the cause of the NFL's declining ratings.

 

Also. The fact that football is actually secretly boring as fuck doesn't help. Basketball is right there. Go watch that. Or the DVDVR 80s Puerto Rico set. You'll be way happier.

[Matt D]

 

But the concussion issue wasn't there at all in 2001 either. The "hard-nosed, old-style football" pitch didn't work then (because people actually want to see offense and scoring, not three-yards-and-a-cloud-of-dust football in the trenches), but combine that with the fact that players aren't expected to play through pain and certainly not through concussions anymore and this is going to be a tougher sell than before.

 

This is the real issue. It isn't players protesting or anything like that. CTE and everything we know about concussions and all of the players we've watched kill themselves over the past 17 years is the cause of the NFL's declining ratings.

 

Also. The fact that football is actually secretly boring as fuck doesn't help. Basketball is right there. Go watch that. Or the DVDVR 80s Puerto Rico set. You'll be way happier.

 

You're giving people a lot of credit (or maybe "lot" isn't the right word. How about "too much.")

[Edwin]

Who is this guy thats being quoted as the source? Ive never heard of him before, but he also tweeted the 2018 HOF is going to be Goldberg, Bam Bam Bigelow, Ivory, the Dudley Boyz and Kid Rock...

[Kadaveri]

WWE has responded to Bix's request to confirm or deny the rumour saying Vince McMahon is setting up a company called "Alpha Entertainment" which may include professional football.

[Bix]

The key to this random dude knowing is seemingly that he's a random conservative blogger. The person I heard from originally this afternoon has no idea who he is, but apparently one of the reasons Vince wants to do this is seeing an opening thanks to the anti-protest backlash.

[fakeplastictrees]

So Vince's response to seeing POC peacefully protesting racial injustice is to relaunch the XFL. Its such a Vince thing that I hate it and love it at the same time.

[Robert S]

Is it April, 1st already or does Vince just hate money? I assume that HHH is split on this while on the one hand it will shrink the inheritance of his wife on the other hand he will have even more power on the wrestling-side of things.

[El-P]

Is it April, 1st already

 

My very first thought too.

[Matt D]

You have to wonder if hes got support from the top on this.

[hammerva]

You have to wonder if hes got support from the top on this.

 

I guess it depends on who you consider "the top" besides Vince himself.

[C.S.]

Double post.

[Matt D]

I'm implying this is welcomed by the POTUS. I'm even being slightly paranoid about it since it's that sort of week.

[C.S.]

I really think this is going to end up being a bullshit rumor and it will turn out that Vince just wants to invest in a legit sports team or something.

 

If not, this will mark the beginning of what people in later years will refer to as "Vince's decline." He'd have to be batshit crazy or in the early stages of dementia to think the XFL is viable to invest in again.

[Stiva]

I'm implying this is welcomed by the POTUS. I'm even being slightly paranoid about it since it's that sort of week.

 

I love the idea of Trump calling Vince to do a run-in on the NFL but am incredibly saddened that the world has become so crazy that it's a viable thought to have.

[hammerva]

I doubt that Trump has any specific part in this. But they will market this using his distractions about player protests and kneeling during the anthem as selling points. Which is rather ironic given one of selling points of the original XFL was that players had the freedom to be original. So instead of 'He Hate Me' on your jersey you might see 'MAGA'

[iamthedoctor]

I really think this is going to end up being a bullshit rumor and it will turn out that Vince just wants to invest in a legit sports team or something.

 

If not, this will mark the beginning of what people in later years will refer to as "Vince's decline." He'd have to be batshit crazy or in the early stages of dementia to think the XFL is viable to invest in again.

 

If it ends up being true maybe they would show the original ones on the network.