WWE Possibly Returning to the UK for PPV Event

[eJm]

Mar 18, 2022 9:20:22 GMT -5 "Evil Brood" Jackson Vanik said:

Mar 18, 2022 9:16:25 GMT -5 polarbearpete said:

What’s the difference if one is in a different country on a different day and one is bought on PPV and the other streams for a cheap price? There’s no competition at all there except for maybe the few people that still buy WWE shows on PPV.

I think it's just preferable to run a show where all of wrestling media and fandom is solely focused on your event. Running a huge stadium show in the UK for the first time in a long time is a big deal. I think you could argue it's a bigger deal than most shows they've done other than Mania. So assuming AEW puts on a strong card (hypothetically let's say it's something big like Punk vs. Omega), I would want both to get their time to shine. Having them on the same weekend just feels unnecessary. Do I think it will affect ticket sales? Not really. I do think it could affect the buzz of both shows to a degree which can have cascading impacts on live viewers for each show even with the time and day difference. People only have so much bandwidth in their life for wrestling.  

And it's not like it isn't demonstrated in other places. Like, UFC 274 is taking place in Phoenix, Arizona on May 4th and is likely put there to be far away from Fury/Whyte on April 23rd (which is why a Fight Night show is on that date instead) despite the fact that'll be in Wembley Stadium in London because they're both aimed at the same sort of audience and Dana probably realizes that Tyson Fury is a genuine draw who would really hurt 274's buys (which is also why he's said in interviews he'd like to have him in UFC but that's another story).

[polarbearpete]

Mar 18, 2022 12:11:50 GMT -5 eJm said:

Mar 18, 2022 9:20:22 GMT -5 "Evil Brood" Jackson Vanik said:

I think it's just preferable to run a show where all of wrestling media and fandom is solely focused on your event. Running a huge stadium show in the UK for the first time in a long time is a big deal. I think you could argue it's a bigger deal than most shows they've done other than Mania. So assuming AEW puts on a strong card (hypothetically let's say it's something big like Punk vs. Omega), I would want both to get their time to shine. Having them on the same weekend just feels unnecessary. Do I think it will affect ticket sales? Not really. I do think it could affect the buzz of both shows to a degree which can have cascading impacts on live viewers for each show even with the time and day difference. People only have so much bandwidth in their life for wrestling.  

And it's not like it isn't demonstrated in other places. Like, UFC 274 is taking place in Phoenix, Arizona on May 4th and is likely put there to be far away from Fury/Whyte on April 23rd (which is why a Fight Night show is on that date instead) despite the fact that'll be in Wembley Stadium in London because they're both aimed at the same sort of audience and Dana probably realizes that Tyson Fury is a genuine draw who would really hurt 274's buys (which is also why he's said in interviews he'd like to have him in UFC but that's another story).

Right but aren’t those two PPV shows and so may be competing for the same dollar? WWE shows are not serious competitors in that market when the vast majority of the audience simply subscribes to Peacock/the Network for 10 bucks a month. I would be surprised if AEW sees a decrease in buys due to this UK show.

[eJm]

Mar 18, 2022 12:32:39 GMT -5 polarbearpete said:

Mar 18, 2022 12:11:50 GMT -5 eJm said:

And it's not like it isn't demonstrated in other places. Like, UFC 274 is taking place in Phoenix, Arizona on May 4th and is likely put there to be far away from Fury/Whyte on April 23rd (which is why a Fight Night show is on that date instead) despite the fact that'll be in Wembley Stadium in London because they're both aimed at the same sort of audience and Dana probably realizes that Tyson Fury is a genuine draw who would really hurt 274's buys (which is also why he's said in interviews he'd like to have him in UFC but that's another story).

Right but aren’t those two PPV shows and so may be competing for the same dollar? WWE shows are not serious competitors in that market when the vast majority of the audience simply subscribes to Peacock/the Network for 10 bucks a month. I would be surprised if AEW sees a decrease in buys due to this UK show.

I mean, they're still competing for that same dollar because you're not going to pay the £14.99/20 euro/$50 or so if the WWE PPV you still have. And along with that, PPV is still a thing because a lot of people don't have good enough internet to support the Network. This might not apply in parts of Western Europe but not everywhere has strong internet to watch the show with, network or not.

Also, it's just a case of advertising. There's only so many eyes who can see your ads on social media, TV, posters if you're in the location etc. Better for it to be yours on a certain date then to have conflictions in your fanbase.

[Mid-Carder]

Mar 18, 2022 3:11:37 GMT -5 Xxcjb01xX [PIECE OF: SH-] said:

It's weird though because I would think it guarantees they don't really run much interference on which fans go where or potential sellouts, and it probably won't effect buyrates either given they're both very different in that regard

I know Khan wants to run an AEW UK Tour though, so I wonder if he does it before or soon after. It's just odd that WWE wants to run a PPV in Wales of all places, instead of just a normal tour.

It's not "odd" at all, it's the 4th largest stadium in the UK, in a major city, with a retractable roof for four-season-in-one-day British weather. It's exactly where I'd book a UK PPV in their position. 

[eJm]

Mar 18, 2022 12:38:47 GMT -5 Mid-Carder said:

Mar 18, 2022 3:11:37 GMT -5 Xxcjb01xX [PIECE OF: SH-] said:

It's weird though because I would think it guarantees they don't really run much interference on which fans go where or potential sellouts, and it probably won't effect buyrates either given they're both very different in that regard

I know Khan wants to run an AEW UK Tour though, so I wonder if he does it before or soon after. It's just odd that WWE wants to run a PPV in Wales of all places, instead of just a normal tour.

It's not "odd" at all, it's the 4th largest stadium in the UK, in a major city, with a retractable roof for four-season-in-one-day British weather. It's exactly where I'd book a UK PPV in their position. 

Yeah, out of everything to do with this story, the Millenium Stadium being a location for a big WWE show is, if anything, the most completely logical part of it.

[Nosnorb]

Cardiff is a great place for WWE to hold it's first stadium show in the UK in decades. The Millenium Stadium is a great venue and its in the City Centre next to the central station, and the waterfront isn't too far away.

WWE could have done a lot worse in it's choice of venue.

[Mid-Carder]

Mar 18, 2022 15:01:35 GMT -5 Nosnorb said:

Cardiff is a great place for WWE to hold it's first stadium show in the UK in decades. The Millenium Stadium is a great venue and its in the City Centre next to the central station, and the waterfront isn't too far away.

WWE could have done a lot worse in it's choice of venue.

But anywhere in the UK that isn't London is just sheep, trees and quaint little villages!

[Futureraven: Beelzebruv]

Mar 18, 2022 15:22:48 GMT -5 Mid-Carder said:

Mar 18, 2022 15:01:35 GMT -5 Nosnorb said:

Cardiff is a great place for WWE to hold it's first stadium show in the UK in decades. The Millenium Stadium is a great venue and its in the City Centre next to the central station, and the waterfront isn't too far away.

WWE could have done a lot worse in it's choice of venue.

But anywhere in the UK that isn't London is just sheep, trees and quaint little villages!

Nah, this is Wales, its sheep, sheep and sheep.

[Legion]

Mar 18, 2022 9:20:22 GMT -5 "Evil Brood" Jackson Vanik said:

Mar 18, 2022 9:16:25 GMT -5 polarbearpete said:

What’s the difference if one is in a different country on a different day and one is bought on PPV and the other streams for a cheap price? There’s no competition at all there except for maybe the few people that still buy WWE shows on PPV.

I think it's just preferable to run a show where all of wrestling media and fandom is solely focused on your event. Running a huge stadium show in the UK for the first time in a long time is a big deal. I think you could argue it's a bigger deal than most shows they've done other than Mania. So assuming AEW puts on a strong card (hypothetically let's say it's something big like Punk vs. Omega), I would want both to get their time to shine. Having them on the same weekend just feels unnecessary. Do I think it will affect ticket sales? Not really. I do think it could affect the buzz of both shows to a degree which can have cascading impacts on live viewers for each show even with the time and day difference. People only have so much bandwidth in their life for wrestling.  

Well then, why would AEW not move? WWE announced their dates in October. AEW didnt confirm until a few weeks ago.

If anyone actually thought this was a problem outside of fans desperate to ignite a 'war' then AEW would have thought to move a week earlier or later. They arent, cos no one gives a shit outside fans with an axe to grind. They wont air at the same time, or potentially even be the same day. If anything, they create a 'super weekend' for fans.

Is that just not an American thing? In the UK we have 'super Saturdays' all the time where you have huge football matches from up and down the Premiership alongside other League matches.

This is the best example of a non-story that I feel we've seen in a while. They can both run the same weekend and both get great coverage and viewership.

["Evil Brood" Jackson Vanik]

Mar 18, 2022 18:18:34 GMT -5 Legion said:

Mar 18, 2022 9:20:22 GMT -5 "Evil Brood" Jackson Vanik said:

I think it's just preferable to run a show where all of wrestling media and fandom is solely focused on your event. Running a huge stadium show in the UK for the first time in a long time is a big deal. I think you could argue it's a bigger deal than most shows they've done other than Mania. So assuming AEW puts on a strong card (hypothetically let's say it's something big like Punk vs. Omega), I would want both to get their time to shine. Having them on the same weekend just feels unnecessary. Do I think it will affect ticket sales? Not really. I do think it could affect the buzz of both shows to a degree which can have cascading impacts on live viewers for each show even with the time and day difference. People only have so much bandwidth in their life for wrestling.  

Well then, why would AEW not move? WWE announced their dates in October. AEW didnt confirm until a few weeks ago.

If anyone actually thought this was a problem outside of fans desperate to ignite a 'war' then AEW would have thought to move a week earlier or later. They arent, cos no one gives a shit outside fans with an axe to grind. They wont air at the same time, or potentially even be the same day. If anything, they create a 'super weekend' for fans.

Is that just not an American thing? In the UK we have 'super Saturdays' all the time where you have huge football matches from up and down the Premiership alongside other League matches.

This is the best example of a non-story that I feel we've seen in a while. They can both run the same weekend and both get great coverage and viewership.

I can totally see it working out in terms of coverage. I disagree but I can see your point. I hope it works out well for both companies. But the idea that WWE was there first is very literal. This year will be the 4th straight year AEW has run a PPV on Labor Day weekend. We knew it was going to be then. WWE knew it too. They are free to do whatever they want like I said. But it's not like WWE laid a claim to this weekend before anyone else when it's a tradition. 

[oxbaker]

Mar 18, 2022 17:40:53 GMT -5 Futureraven: Beelzebruv said:

Mar 18, 2022 15:22:48 GMT -5 Mid-Carder said:

But anywhere in the UK that isn't London is just sheep, trees and quaint little villages!

Nah, this is Wales, its sheep, sheep and sheep.

Defaid, defaid and defaid.

Because Wales gotta Welsh.

[Mayonnaise]

Mar 18, 2022 18:18:34 GMT -5 Legion said:

Mar 18, 2022 9:20:22 GMT -5 "Evil Brood" Jackson Vanik said:

I think it's just preferable to run a show where all of wrestling media and fandom is solely focused on your event. Running a huge stadium show in the UK for the first time in a long time is a big deal. I think you could argue it's a bigger deal than most shows they've done other than Mania. So assuming AEW puts on a strong card (hypothetically let's say it's something big like Punk vs. Omega), I would want both to get their time to shine. Having them on the same weekend just feels unnecessary. Do I think it will affect ticket sales? Not really. I do think it could affect the buzz of both shows to a degree which can have cascading impacts on live viewers for each show even with the time and day difference. People only have so much bandwidth in their life for wrestling.  

Well then, why would AEW not move? WWE announced their dates in October. AEW didnt confirm until a few weeks ago.

If anyone actually thought this was a problem outside of fans desperate to ignite a 'war' then AEW would have thought to move a week earlier or later. They arent, cos no one gives a shit outside fans with an axe to grind. They wont air at the same time, or potentially even be the same day. If anything, they create a 'super weekend' for fans.

Is that just not an American thing? In the UK we have 'super Saturdays' all the time where you have huge football matches from up and down the Premiership alongside other League matches.

This is the best example of a non-story that I feel we've seen in a while. They can both run the same weekend and both get great coverage and viewership.

Because Labor Day weekend is huge in the US, considered the last weekend of summer with a lot of travel and parties surrounding it, and AEW's anniversary. It's why the Elite choose that weekend for All Out. It'd be like Bischoff booking Sting/Hogan March 98 instead of Starrcade 97. It's a calculated move to try and hurt AEW, disguised as a "fan friendly business move".

If you're cool with it fine but it's like you're ignoring history here, both AEW and WWE's.

[eJm]

Mar 18, 2022 22:49:04 GMT -5 Mayonnaise said:

Because Labor Day weekend is huge in the US, considered the last weekend of summer with a lot of travel and parties surrounding it, and AEW's anniversary. It's why the Elite choose that weekend for All Out. It'd be like Bischoff booking Sting/Hogan March 98 instead of Starrcade 97. It's a calculated move to try and hurt AEW, disguised as a "fan friendly business move".

If you're cool with it fine but it's like you're ignoring history here, both AEW and WWE's.

Like, the thing is, when we say stuff like that, we’re not saying this as sort of a damnation of it because we’re well past the point of it meaning anything. It’s more to point out that, yeah, this is why they’re doing it and why they always have and will done it. They did it with Survivor Series against Starrcade, they did it with the Royal Rumble against Clash of the Champions, they did it on Black Saturday, they tried to contract tamper with ROH and Impact, they tried to stop the ROH/New Japan show from happening at MSG until Sinclair Broadcasting called their bluff on it, and that’s the stuff I can remember.

They’re giving Fast National numbers on Rampage and Smackdown to a known troll, this has been proven and backed up by other sources. Like, at this point the leopard’s spots are so ingrained, you couldn’t paint over them without them eventually peaking through.

The wider point some of us are saying is that it’s not worth it because every other time they did this with AEW, it hasn’t worked. But that’s all they know how to work.

[polarbearpete]

Mar 18, 2022 22:49:04 GMT -5 Mayonnaise said:

Mar 18, 2022 18:18:34 GMT -5 Legion said:

Well then, why would AEW not move? WWE announced their dates in October. AEW didnt confirm until a few weeks ago.

If anyone actually thought this was a problem outside of fans desperate to ignite a 'war' then AEW would have thought to move a week earlier or later. They arent, cos no one gives a shit outside fans with an axe to grind. They wont air at the same time, or potentially even be the same day. If anything, they create a 'super weekend' for fans.

Is that just not an American thing? In the UK we have 'super Saturdays' all the time where you have huge football matches from up and down the Premiership alongside other League matches.

This is the best example of a non-story that I feel we've seen in a while. They can both run the same weekend and both get great coverage and viewership.

Because Labor Day weekend is huge in the US, considered the last weekend of summer with a lot of travel and parties surrounding it, and AEW's anniversary. It's why the Elite choose that weekend for All Out. It'd be like Bischoff booking Sting/Hogan March 98 instead of Starrcade 97. It's a calculated move to try and hurt AEW, disguised as a "fan friendly business move".

If you're cool with it fine but it's like you're ignoring history here, both AEW and WWE's.

If they were doing it to get at AEW, then the move would’ve been to run a stadium Summerslam in the US that weekend because then you’re competing with potentially the same fans that will travel around the country to these destination shows. Holding it across an ocean in the UK won’t affect ticket sales at all and will likely not affect PPV buys either.

[Mayonnaise]

Mar 19, 2022 11:52:38 GMT -5 polarbearpete said:

Mar 18, 2022 22:49:04 GMT -5 Mayonnaise said:

Because Labor Day weekend is huge in the US, considered the last weekend of summer with a lot of travel and parties surrounding it, and AEW's anniversary. It's why the Elite choose that weekend for All Out. It'd be like Bischoff booking Sting/Hogan March 98 instead of Starrcade 97. It's a calculated move to try and hurt AEW, disguised as a "fan friendly business move".

If you're cool with it fine but it's like you're ignoring history here, both AEW and WWE's.

If they were doing it to get at AEW, then the move would’ve been to run a stadium Summerslam in the US that weekend because then you’re competing with potentially the same fans that will travel around the country to these destination shows. Holding it across an ocean in the UK won’t affect ticket sales at all and will likely not affect PPV buys either.

TIL: International travel isn't a thing. Especially on major holiday weekends. That or history isn't. There is no point, how WWE can do this to companies all the time but it constantly gets ignored, excused, or readily encouraged is beyond me.

[eJm]

Mar 19, 2022 16:42:00 GMT -5 Mayonnaise said:

Mar 19, 2022 11:52:38 GMT -5 polarbearpete said:

If they were doing it to get at AEW, then the move would’ve been to run a stadium Summerslam in the US that weekend because then you’re competing with potentially the same fans that will travel around the country to these destination shows. Holding it across an ocean in the UK won’t affect ticket sales at all and will likely not affect PPV buys either.

TIL: International travel isn't a thing. Especially on major holiday weekends. That or history isn't. There is no point, how WWE can do this to companies all the time but it constantly gets ignored, excused, or readily encouraged is beyond me.

I live about an hour's walk from Dublin city centre. I sort of wish International travel still wasn't a thing right now.

[I'm Team Bayley and Indi]

if it was in Wales, I would sooner it was held in Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch

[polarbearpete]

Mar 19, 2022 16:42:00 GMT -5 Mayonnaise said:

Mar 19, 2022 11:52:38 GMT -5 polarbearpete said:

If they were doing it to get at AEW, then the move would’ve been to run a stadium Summerslam in the US that weekend because then you’re competing with potentially the same fans that will travel around the country to these destination shows. Holding it across an ocean in the UK won’t affect ticket sales at all and will likely not affect PPV buys either.

TIL: International travel isn't a thing. Especially on major holiday weekends. That or history isn't. There is no point, how WWE can do this to companies all the time but it constantly gets ignored, excused, or readily encouraged is beyond me.

You honestly think an appreciable amount of hardcore AEW fans in the US are going to now fly out of the US to the UK during Labor Day Weekend to attend this WWE stadium show? Can’t imagine that number goes beyond hundreds of people (if that many). If WWE wanted to undercut All Out, they’re doing it wrong.

[Mayonnaise]

Mar 19, 2022 18:24:37 GMT -5 polarbearpete said:

Mar 19, 2022 16:42:00 GMT -5 Mayonnaise said:

TIL: International travel isn't a thing. Especially on major holiday weekends. That or history isn't. There is no point, how WWE can do this to companies all the time but it constantly gets ignored, excused, or readily encouraged is beyond me.

You honestly think an appreciable amount of hardcore AEW fans in the US are going to now fly out of the US to the UK during Labor Day Weekend to attend this WWE stadium show? Can’t imagine that number goes beyond hundreds of people (if that many). If WWE wanted to undercut All Out, they’re doing it wrong.

Do I think AEW won't be able to negate the impact WWE will have, not really. However I think you completely miss the mark on how big this will impact them. A major WWE stadium event in a place that hasn't seen a show like this in decades will draw in fans that would instead have made a weekend trip to Chicago for AEW. AEW is lucky they're hot and in demand, especially if they run a bigger building. Nevermind the attention it will draw being such a historic event. It'd be like NJPW/AEW/UK indie supershow being run the same weekend as WM somewhere outside the US, it's going to take fans that would have gone to WM a historic alternative that would affect WWE.

And again, this is a historically proven tacitic that WWE uses to hurt other companies, there is absolutely no denying this. Just because there is a large distance between the shows doesn't negate their proven reasoning in doing these things. If you're fine with it, cool but acting like anything is different from the literal hundreds of times they have done is completely baffling.

[polarbearpete]

Mar 19, 2022 20:31:22 GMT -5 Mayonnaise said:

Mar 19, 2022 18:24:37 GMT -5 polarbearpete said:

You honestly think an appreciable amount of hardcore AEW fans in the US are going to now fly out of the US to the UK during Labor Day Weekend to attend this WWE stadium show? Can’t imagine that number goes beyond hundreds of people (if that many). If WWE wanted to undercut All Out, they’re doing it wrong.

Do I think AEW won't be able to negate the impact WWE will have, not really. However I think you completely miss the mark on how big this will impact them. A major WWE stadium event in a place that hasn't seen a show like this in decades will draw in fans that would instead have made a weekend trip to Chicago for AEW. AEW is lucky they're hot and in demand, especially if they run a bigger building. Nevermind the attention it will draw being such a historic event. It'd be like NJPW/AEW/UK indie supershow being run the same weekend as WM somewhere outside the US, it's going to take fans that would have gone to WM a historic alternative that would affect WWE.

And again, this is a historically proven tacitic that WWE uses to hurt other companies, there is absolutely no denying this. Just because there is a large distance between the shows doesn't negate their proven reasoning in doing these things. If you're fine with it, cool but acting like anything is different from the literal hundreds of times they have done is completely baffling.

I know they have a history of running shows to undercut competition but I think they’re totally doing it wrong if that’s their goal here. Which is why I am doubting that’s the overt reasoning in the first place. Again, maybe I’m underselling the effect, but I can’t imagine there’s more than a few hundred wrestling fans from the UK that travel to see All Out each year. And it’s almost a guarantee AEW’s PPV sell out regardless.