Is the empire crumbling before our eyes?

[NintendoLogic]

I'm sorry, but this is one of the least appropriate things to dunk on WWE for. Japanese and Mexican promotions have had corporate sponsors on the canvas for decades, to say nothing of boxing and MMA.

[El-P]

And it sucks and looks like crap. Visually overcharged commercials is the last thing I want in my fictional world of pro-wrestling (Arena Mexico gets a pass, just because).

Nothing will be better than the old target shaped WCW logo on the canvas.

[El-P]

"Build the empire", nothing less.

In India.

Nah... nevermind. 

(these people are legit creepy)

[Dav'oh]

I wonder how a company goes to a foreign country and "clears up regulatory issues". I wonder....

[KawadaSmile]

1 hour ago, NintendoLogic said:

I'm sorry, but this is one of the least appropriate things to dunk on WWE for. Japanese and Mexican promotions have had corporate sponsors on the canvas for decades, to say nothing of boxing and MMA.

I just think the visual is funny. I know they are already doing wacky sponsored matches, but the visual of a brutal "spooky" Bray match with something like Fruit Loops on the mat is just getting a giggle out of me.

[sek69]

The Ashley Massaro allegations alone should have been the end of Vince, and been a major fucking scandal for the military too. 

[El-P]

4 hours ago, sek69 said:

The Ashley Massaro allegations alone should have been the end of Vince, and been a major fucking scandal for the military too. 

Don't get me started on that one...

Awesome choice of picture here.

It's amazing how both Khan and Trip go the extra way to put over Vince. Despite all what has gone public in the last 6 months. 

[sek69]

So Xfinity is going to stop providing Peacock free to their customers as of June of this year, and at that point everyone using it is going to have to pay some level to keep using it. I wonder how much of a hit this is going to put on WWE's Premium Live Events once folks aren't getting free 'Cock anymore. 

[Flyin' Brian]

11 hours ago, sek69 said:

So Xfinity is going to stop providing Peacock free to their customers as of June of this year, and at that point everyone using it is going to have to pay some level to keep using it. I wonder how much of a hit this is going to put on WWE's Premium Live Events once folks aren't getting free 'Cock anymore. 

That sucks. I'm actually halfway tempted to cancel my Comcast internet when they do. 

[DMJ]

At $4.99/month, I'm thinking the WWE fans will most likely stick with it and that number will be more than what the WWE Network had at its own peak...but I'm not sure Peacock's originals or Peacock-only content is strong enough to keep everyone else.

[NintendoLogic]

Isn't Yellowstone like the most popular show on TV right now?

[DMJ]

Yes, but its not a Peacock original/exclusive. Paramount+ somehow botched having the rights to the previous seasons, but it airs on the Paramount Network (and, based on one article I read, new episodes also get played on a number of other channels) and then Peacock gets the latest season some time soon after. So, for true Yellowstone fans, your best bet is still regular ol' cable or Hulu+ (which gives you the Paramount Network). 

I could be wrong, but there is also the option to buy it episode-by-episode via Amazon and Roku and while that may seem ridiculous to you or I, I know that some of the (awful) people in my extended family who watch Yellowstone are exactly the type who reason that $2 for a single episode of a show they watch is better than paying $5/month for a whole bunch of "liberal shit" they don't watch (by "liberal shit" they somehow mean any show based in a major metropolitan area and featuring POC in starring roles*).
 

* Which is why they also like Blue Bloods. Its based in NYC (boo), but most everyone on the show is white and straight (yay!).

 

[strobogo]

Yes, but while it for some reason is exclusive to streaming on Peacock in the US, most people are watching it on cable and DVR. Also Peacock can't air any of the current or upcoming season until they're complete.

[flyonthewall2983]

I did the Amazon route through the first four seasons of Better Call Saul. Paramount not getting their biggest show on the flagship is the kind of two step forward one step back I feel like WWE is in now. Which reminds me of their annual spring cleaning after WM. 

[El-P]

9 billions.

Sure. At least it's kinda obvious who Vince wants to sell to.

What a fraud. 

[Embrodak]

Anybody remember when Dean Moxley threw a chair in the ring and accidentally beamed Wyatt on the dome? I’ll bet Wyatt still carries a grudge about that, shit had to fucking hurt. Best Wyatt moment tho.

[sek69]

On 2/17/2023 at 8:57 PM, El-P said:

9 billions.

Sure. At least it's kinda obvious who Vince wants to sell to.

What a fraud.

Endeavor said in their latest conference call the other day they weren't interested in buying WWE, and it's been stated NBC Universal isn't either. At this point, the Saudis are the only ones who who seem to have shown any interest, and that might increase now that LIV Golf couldn't even get a decent TV rating on the CW network.

[NintendoLogic]

First off, $9 billion is an insane asking price considering the Dallas Cowboys, the most valuable sports franchise on Earth, are valued at $8 billion. Second, the only real reason a media company would want to buy WWE would be for exclusive content for their platforms, and they're not worth anywhere near that much if they're not receiving rights fees. So that pretty much narrows it down to Endeavor and the Saudis. And if Endeavor isn't interested...

[Flyin' Brian]

Interesting news, Backlash just got announced to take place in Puerto Rico with Bad Bunny hosting. Apparently they ran New Year's Revolution there in 2005 but I totally forgot about that. Might go back and watch it just to see how it was presented. 

[KawadaSmile]

So, they got their next three PLEs on international ground. Puerto Rico, Saudi Arabia, and finally the UK. 

Where's Bash at Copacabana Beach, dammit

[NintendoLogic]

Puerto Rico's part of the US, bubba.

[Ricky Jackson]

I've made that mistake before. I think many/most non-Americans think it is an independent country 

[KawadaSmile]

Free Associated State of Puerto Rico, yeah. As it's neither sovereign, nor a full-fledged US state, I did include it in the list of "international" territories because of that last part. It's not as messy of a geopolitical subject as other topics, thankfully.

[SirEdger]

4 hours ago, Flyin' Brian said:

Interesting news, Backlash just got announced to take place in Puerto Rico with Bad Bunny hosting. Apparently they ran New Year's Revolution there in 2005 but I totally forgot about that. Might go back and watch it just to see how it was presented. 

It was 2006, not 2005. That's when Edge cashed in his MITB briefcase on John Cena after the main event inside Elimination Chamber.

[Strummer]

Interesting was that was supposed to be a short term deal with Cena winning the title right back (which he did at the Rumble) and Edge was supposed to go back to the midcard but the ratings skyrocketed so much during those few weeks that it sold him to management as a top guy.