Are WWE trying to stop the UK wrestling scene from growing?

[111111]

They run TV in Glasgow for the first time 2 nights in the same arena in the same month as ICW have their biggest show ever

And they are also doing a random one off show in the millenium dome seemingly for no reason the same month Progress have their biggest ever show in the same city


Apparently they've done it before according to Alex Shane when in the mid 2000s a promotion (i forget who) had a big show so WWE came over and ran the same venue. I think there was something about Mick Foley being asked not to do Fear and Loathing last year by the WWE as well but I forget where I heard that.

[lionelp]

No.

The people that go to ICW and Progress shows are more hardcore fans that will not have their minds influenced as easily as WWE running a show in the same city

If anything it's WWE acknowledging that the scene is doing well at the moment, and wanting a piece of the pie. More wrestling helps a scene grown, rather than stop it.

[Allie Kitsune]

It's a C-O-N-spiracy.

(No it isn't.)

[eJm]

The only person who ruined Alex Shane's wrestling promotions has been Alex Shane.

[Mayonnaise]

I don't think they are trying to ruin it, they now see there is money to be made there and will make it.

[Famous Rocking Chimes]

Only if they sign Grado. I know he's generally hated on FAN but here in the UK he's genuinely the most popular UK based wrestler. He's even got an acting gig on a Scottish soap opera thanks to his popularity.

[111111]

Aug 13, 2016 20:16:05 GMT -5 Famous Rocking Chimes said:

Only if they sign Grado. I know he's generally hated on FAN but here in the UK he's genuinely the most popular UK based wrestler. He's even got an acting gig on a Scottish soap opera thanks to his popularity.

Grado would be over huge on NXT if they let him do his own thing instead of whatever the hell TNA do with him. Not sure how he'd do on the main roster though. Such a shame he can't use his theme.



www.youtube.com/watch?v=xBtGFaa0idY"

[saintpat]

WWE schedules many months ahead. They didn't just wake up one day and say "there's a 'big' indie show in the UK, quick, let's throw together a tour.'

And how 'big' is the biggest show in Scotland?

[111111]

Aug 14, 2016 2:46:58 GMT -5 saintpat said:

WWE schedules many months ahead. They didn't just wake up one day and say "there's a 'big' indie show in the UK, quick, let's throw together a tour.'

And how 'big' is the biggest show in Scotland?

It's a 13,000 capacity venue, whether its configured for that many people is a different story though, TNA have taped TV there before andI doubt there was 13,000 people there judging it by eye on tv.

[Zombie Mod is not a ghoul.]

Damn you HHH, the uk wrestling scene isn't a threat to nxt.... yet your ego must squash it like so many ot*it appears I too have been squashed by HHH*

If they let their wrestlers be booked for UK indies and then pulled them at the last possible moment in a dick move, then yes I'd say they're attempting to screw with it, running shows a few times a year? Nah wwe tend to run the same time frame for UK tours (November and april)

[saintpat]

Aug 14, 2016 3:58:04 GMT -5 111111 said:

Aug 14, 2016 2:46:58 GMT -5 saintpat said:

WWE schedules many months ahead. They didn't just wake up one day and say "there's a 'big' indie show in the UK, quick, let's throw together a tour.'

And how 'big' is the biggest show in Scotland?

It's a 13,000 capacity venue, whether its configured for that many people is a different story though, TNA have taped TV there before andI doubt there was 13,000 people there judging it by eye on tv.

I meant to be asking what the IWC show was drawing for their largest show. if they're drawing north of 10K, nothing WWE does is going to much hurt them because they should be able to expand on that and draw that kind of number several times a year.

If they're drawing a couple thousand for their largest show, I can't see WWE going to the enormous expense of packing up and shipping everything overseas, paying all that airfare and lodging, etc., to try to negatively affect a promotion that has the impact of a flea on an elephant.

[This Player Hating Mothman]

WWE hits the UK twice a year, because flying everyone and everything over there is expensive as shit, and always in a roughly consistent time frame on the calendar. And they want to keep it that way because it keeps the crowds hot, the house shows all sellouts, and doesn't burn the markets out so that when they go over there the few times a year, it's always a big deal and always gets as much money as they can. Trying to run the place often enough to actually harm the indie scene long-term wouldn't bring about anywhere near the kind of returns that they may or may not get from the matter.

I think the only time that WWE is ever trying to "stop" the independent scene is when indies run shows wherever Wrestlemania or Summerslam are on the week of the event, because they're largely doing that to piggyback on the amount of wrestling fans in the city and WWE would rather they spend that money on merch and fan events and stuff. WWE's actually taken steps to try and squash those, to little success, but that's a time when there is a direct gain to be made in trying to redirect peoples' money elsewhere. I just don't see there being any where ICW and Progress are concerned, ICW just shouldn't be booking their biggest show ever to be in the same month that WWE consistently hits the UK.

[radiantsilvergun]

With William Regal showing up at PROGRESS it looks like they're going to turn PROGRESS into a bland developmental feeder system like EVOLVE. -.-

[Supercheese]

Aug 14, 2016 15:33:24 GMT -5 saintpat said:

Aug 14, 2016 3:58:04 GMT -5 111111 said:

It's a 13,000 capacity venue, whether its configured for that many people is a different story though, TNA have taped TV there before andI doubt there was 13,000 people there judging it by eye on tv.

I meant to be asking what the IWC show was drawing for their largest show. if they're drawing north of 10K, nothing WWE does is going to much hurt them because they should be able to expand on that and draw that kind of number several times a year.

If they're drawing a couple thousand for their largest show, I can't see WWE going to the enormous expense of packing up and shipping everything overseas, paying all that airfare and lodging, etc., to try to negatively affect a promotion that has the impact of a flea on an elephant.

Fear and Loathing 8 drew north of 4000. That was the biggest show by a British based promotion since 1981. If ICW can top their numbers from last year it is sensational. WWE are aware of ICW. Regal was at one of the shows recently.

[Alice Syndrome]

Aug 13, 2016 20:16:05 GMT -5 Famous Rocking Chimes said:

Only if they sign Grado. I know he's generally hated on FAN but here in the UK he's genuinely the most popular UK based wrestler. He's even got an acting gig on a Scottish soap opera thanks to his popularity.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Spoiler}

[111111]

Aug 14, 2016 16:22:36 GMT -5 Alice Syndrome said:

Aug 13, 2016 20:16:05 GMT -5 Famous Rocking Chimes said:

Only if they sign Grado. I know he's generally hated on FAN but here in the UK he's genuinely the most popular UK based wrestler. He's even got an acting gig on a Scottish soap opera thanks to his popularity.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Spoiler}

Grado has crossover appeal. Non wrestling fans are more likely (though still quite unlikely) to know who Grado is than the others.

[LexExpress]

I would LOVE it if they signed Grado. Firstly because I genuinely do like him, but a huge second to see the reaction on here

[Vice honcho room temperature]

Aug 14, 2016 2:10:41 GMT -5 111111 said:

Aug 13, 2016 20:16:05 GMT -5 Famous Rocking Chimes said:

Only if they sign Grado. I know he's generally hated on FAN but here in the UK he's genuinely the most popular UK based wrestler. He's even got an acting gig on a Scottish soap opera thanks to his popularity.

Grado would be over huge on NXT if they let him do his own thing instead of whatever the hell TNA do with him. Not sure how he'd do on the main roster though. Such a shame he can't use his theme.



www.youtube.com/watch?v=xBtGFaa0idY

That ring is tiny

[Bub (BLM)]

Isn't it more likely that they're running shows around the same time so it's easier for them to talent scout?

[The Spelunker!]

I doubt it, mostly because it really doesn't affect their bottom line at all.