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Post by DrBackflipsHoffman on Aug 2, 2023 16:54:46 GMT -5
especially pleased about this on the back of that f***ing dickheads comments about secondary companies, probably wont have to think about it though while he's got so much shredding to do
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ASYLUMHAUSEN
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Post by ASYLUMHAUSEN on Aug 2, 2023 18:30:03 GMT -5
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UN PLOMBIER NIGHTMARE #blm
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Post by UN PLOMBIER NIGHTMARE #blm on Aug 2, 2023 18:37:51 GMT -5
Very happy to see this, I thought there was a decent chance the bucks would leave. None of these guys should be anywhere other than AEW and thankfully it looks like Tony rightfully backed up the brinks truck.
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Post by Super Duper Dragunov on Aug 2, 2023 19:42:31 GMT -5
That's a shame from my pov. I feel like they had just enough time left to get some great WWE matches, potentially a WM moment and still be able to go back to AEW later to finish up. I'm not sure they'll have enough left in the tank for the other way round (except Hangman). Ah well, their choice and good luck to them. Probably good news for AEW, even if I wanted a different outcome for the selfish reasons of seeing some of those Elite/WWE guy matches. This is my stance as well. I'm disappointed, but ultimately I understand where they're coming from.
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Xxcjb01xX [PIECE OF: SH-]
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Post by Xxcjb01xX [PIECE OF: SH-] on Aug 2, 2023 21:13:29 GMT -5
Announced it in a Dynamite promo too
What a great match in the new era of their contracts to kick things off. I would have missed these guys so much, I'm glad they're going nowhere.
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Post by HMARK Center on Aug 3, 2023 6:41:35 GMT -5
It really made all the sense in the world, and I'm glad it's done. There's still plenty for these guys to do in AEW, still a number of untapped matchups, and it means they get to remain themselves in terms of presentation and how they wrestle.
I've said this before, but I (just speaking personally) haven't really seen the appeal of them going to WWE. Yes, Kenny vs. Seth or AJ are matches people have wanted to see for awhile, and I have no doubt said matches would be quite good, but WWE's approach to match layouts and match psychology can be pretty limiting, and I'm not talking about moves or spots guys can do. Kenny really got on the map by pushing the boundaries of both athleticism and physical storytelling; his big matches practically ooze melodrama, with heavy emphasis on not just the big spots but also on tiny details like facial expressions, historical callbacks, and deliberately chosen moves and sequences that tie into whatever story he's engaged in. The Bucks and Hangman absolutely embraced this style, too; for all the talk of the Bucks being highspot machines or whatever they're actually very consistent in things like integrating injuries into match layouts, while Hangman's rise to the top was basically one massive master class in ring psychology and crowd work.
WWE has allowed more in-ring freedom for some guys of late, likely coinciding with Vince stepping back; I've said it elsewhere, but Gunther is the guy that most sticks out with, so I'm not saying the Elite would've gone to WWE and been totally handcuffed in the ring or whatever, but that's still the part of the show they've historically put much less emphasis on; they have their match formula they tend to stick to the majority of the time, and it usually downplays what's actually happening in the match in lieu of focusing on promos for build and finishes for what they want people take from a match. Maybe I'm wrong, but my vibe is you would've gotten the Elite, but you wouldn't have really gotten them, if that makes any sense.
As such, this feels best for them from a creative and personal life standpoint given the extra time off and ability to pursue outside interests, but also best for fans overall, since I think this (and any other companies they get to pop up in) is where you're more likely to get those sometimes genre-pushing kinds of matches the Elite have been known for, ala what we got with Omega/Ospreay this past January and June.
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markymark
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Post by markymark on Aug 3, 2023 8:35:46 GMT -5
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Kalmia
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Post by Kalmia on Aug 3, 2023 8:43:04 GMT -5
The Bucks and Kenny have said for years that where one goes, they all go. It was always going to be all of them or none of them.
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Post by polarbearpete on Aug 3, 2023 8:53:28 GMT -5
Interesting that Meltzer noted that votes went back and forth between the 4 about whether they were going to stay in AEW or go to WWE.
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Dub H
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Post by Dub H on Aug 3, 2023 9:34:34 GMT -5
They all agreed to go to WWE in a Billion Dollar Deal. Sadly they left Matt Jackson in charge of the contracts
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Post by Denny Zen is Cooking™ on Aug 3, 2023 9:47:45 GMT -5
Interesting that Meltzer noted that votes went back and forth between the 4 about whether they were going to stay in AEW or go to WWE. I would have loved to be a fly on the wall for those conversations. If I had to guess, Kenny gave jumping to WWE the least amount of consideration, Hangman gave it the most consideration, and the Bucks fell somewhere in between. Based on some comments Kenny has made over the years, I genuinely think that he has no real desire to ever work for WWE. He was the Elite member I least expected to make the jump (although I will admit that some of the discussion here and in other forums made me think it was possible). I think that he enjoys having the legacy of best wrestler to never work on WWE's main roster, and is not particularly interested in being slotted in as a cog in the WWE machine. The fact that he can still work the occasional Japan date as a member of the AEW roster is probably a huge determinantive factor for him, too. The guy is so associated with Japanese pro wrestling, he's a Japanese citizen. With the Bucks, I have always gotten the feeling that they would be open to a WWE run, but they are certainly the least likely to be used well of the Elite as, frankly, WWE historically does a poor job with its tag team division. Hangman, on the other hand, is only 32, has the WWE "look" and mic skills, and I feel like would get the superstar treatment in WWE. I have to figure potential upper card/main event matches at Summerslam, Royal Rumble, and especially Wrestlemania is extremely appealing to him because, as much as I love AEW, that is still (at least nominally) the premiere achievement a wrestler can have in their career. I still wouldn't be surprised if he has a WWE run before he retires, potentially in 8-10 years as the rest of the Elite start to wind down their careers.
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Post by eJm on Aug 3, 2023 10:34:25 GMT -5
I think we also have to consider that all this came at a really bad time for WWE. Because of the merger and such, they couldn't really make an offer for people. Heck, I think Brian Pillman Jr's just floating around waiting for around September/October when the merger is official and they can spend money again to give him a deal.
Like, I can imagine the sort of offer they'd try to make but considering they've cut a lot the last few years to make them appeal to anyone to grab them to merge and keep the talent they already had happy, it wasn't really something they could do and there wasn't really a chance of the Elite holding out until then if TK's all but sure of the TV deal happening so can provide said money now.
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Post by This Player Hating Mothman on Aug 3, 2023 14:52:02 GMT -5
I think we also have to consider that all this came at a really bad time for WWE. Because of the merger and such, they couldn't really make an offer for people. Heck, I think Brian Pillman Jr's just floating around waiting for around September/October when the merger is official and they can spend money again to give him a deal. Like, I can imagine the sort of offer they'd try to make but considering they've cut a lot the last few years to make them appeal to anyone to grab them to merge and keep the talent they already had happy, it wasn't really something they could do and there wasn't really a chance of the Elite holding out until then if TK's all but sure of the TV deal happening so can provide said money now. I'd be curious about how much WWE can't make that offer. Just given how much money UFC throws around in the industry, I feel like "We have this narrow window to get absolute top talents and deal a major blow to a rival promotion" could probably be spun as a necessary evil, where someone like Pillman Jr will obviously be way less money but is also just some guy who doesn't matter. Like, it would have to be a very calculated move, but I think the fact there was any talk at all meant WWE really was putting offers out and owudl have been willing to take that heat.
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Post by lildude8218 on Aug 3, 2023 15:34:12 GMT -5
They signed the contracts without even reading them. Adam Cole said it would be okay.
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Post by stoptheclocks on Aug 3, 2023 16:14:18 GMT -5
Interesting that Meltzer noted that votes went back and forth between the 4 about whether they were going to stay in AEW or go to WWE. I would have loved to be a fly on the wall for those conversations. If I had to guess, Kenny gave jumping to WWE the least amount of consideration, Hangman gave it the most consideration, and the Bucks fell somewhere in between. Based on some comments Kenny has made over the years, I genuinely think that he has no real desire to ever work for WWE. He was the Elite member I least expected to make the jump (although I will admit that some of the discussion here and in other forums made me think it was possible). I think that he enjoys having the legacy of best wrestler to never work on WWE's main roster, and is not particularly interested in being slotted in as a cog in the WWE machine. The fact that he can still work the occasional Japan date as a member of the AEW roster is probably a huge determinantive factor for him, too. The guy is so associated with Japanese pro wrestling, he's a Japanese citizen. With the Bucks, I have always gotten the feeling that they would be open to a WWE run, but they are certainly the least likely to be used well of the Elite as, frankly, WWE historically does a poor job with its tag team division. Hangman, on the other hand, is only 32, has the WWE "look" and mic skills, and I feel like would get the superstar treatment in WWE. I have to figure potential upper card/main event matches at Summerslam, Royal Rumble, and especially Wrestlemania is extremely appealing to him because, as much as I love AEW, that is still (at least nominally) the premiere achievement a wrestler can have in their career. I still wouldn't be surprised if he has a WWE run before he retires, potentially in 8-10 years as the rest of the Elite start to wind down their careers. I'd be really surprised if Kenny was making enormous life decisions based on a desire to be the 'best wrestler never to wrestle in WWE'. It's a totally made up title that has no relevance to anything. For most people saying you're the best wrestler never to wrestle in WWE would be like saying you're the best football player never to play in the NFL. It's not impressive and doesn't draw money so why bother?
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Xxcjb01xX [PIECE OF: SH-]
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Post by Xxcjb01xX [PIECE OF: SH-] on Aug 3, 2023 16:27:38 GMT -5
Interesting that Meltzer noted that votes went back and forth between the 4 about whether they were going to stay in AEW or go to WWE. I think they would have been dumb not to at least consider it, but in the end I don't even think this was close for some of these guys, especially The Bucks in particular.
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Zone Was Wrong
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Post by Zone Was Wrong on Aug 3, 2023 16:46:55 GMT -5
I would have loved to be a fly on the wall for those conversations. If I had to guess, Kenny gave jumping to WWE the least amount of consideration, Hangman gave it the most consideration, and the Bucks fell somewhere in between. Based on some comments Kenny has made over the years, I genuinely think that he has no real desire to ever work for WWE. He was the Elite member I least expected to make the jump (although I will admit that some of the discussion here and in other forums made me think it was possible). I think that he enjoys having the legacy of best wrestler to never work on WWE's main roster, and is not particularly interested in being slotted in as a cog in the WWE machine. The fact that he can still work the occasional Japan date as a member of the AEW roster is probably a huge determinantive factor for him, too. The guy is so associated with Japanese pro wrestling, he's a Japanese citizen. With the Bucks, I have always gotten the feeling that they would be open to a WWE run, but they are certainly the least likely to be used well of the Elite as, frankly, WWE historically does a poor job with its tag team division. Hangman, on the other hand, is only 32, has the WWE "look" and mic skills, and I feel like would get the superstar treatment in WWE. I have to figure potential upper card/main event matches at Summerslam, Royal Rumble, and especially Wrestlemania is extremely appealing to him because, as much as I love AEW, that is still (at least nominally) the premiere achievement a wrestler can have in their career. I still wouldn't be surprised if he has a WWE run before he retires, potentially in 8-10 years as the rest of the Elite start to wind down their careers. I'd be really surprised if Kenny was making enormous life decisions based on a desire to be the 'best wrestler never to wrestle in WWE'. It's a totally made up title that has no relevance to anything. For most people saying you're the best wrestler never to wrestle in WWE would be like saying you're the best football player never to play in the NFL. It's not impressive and doesn't draw money so why bother? Not saying that's what he thinks but I'm sure there are some people with that mindset. To be able to say that is to say you've been able to make a huge name of yourself without the WWE hype machine at your back. Hell, to some money isn't even everything. Moxley, though he's made his money regardless, has stated before Tony could have paid him in sandwiches and he'd have signed. Some people wrestle because of the love of it, not everyone has the Brock Lesnar approach, not that there's anything wrong with his thinking either.
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Post by Denny Zen is Cooking™ on Aug 3, 2023 16:54:11 GMT -5
I would have loved to be a fly on the wall for those conversations. If I had to guess, Kenny gave jumping to WWE the least amount of consideration, Hangman gave it the most consideration, and the Bucks fell somewhere in between. Based on some comments Kenny has made over the years, I genuinely think that he has no real desire to ever work for WWE. He was the Elite member I least expected to make the jump (although I will admit that some of the discussion here and in other forums made me think it was possible). I think that he enjoys having the legacy of best wrestler to never work on WWE's main roster, and is not particularly interested in being slotted in as a cog in the WWE machine. The fact that he can still work the occasional Japan date as a member of the AEW roster is probably a huge determinantive factor for him, too. The guy is so associated with Japanese pro wrestling, he's a Japanese citizen. With the Bucks, I have always gotten the feeling that they would be open to a WWE run, but they are certainly the least likely to be used well of the Elite as, frankly, WWE historically does a poor job with its tag team division. Hangman, on the other hand, is only 32, has the WWE "look" and mic skills, and I feel like would get the superstar treatment in WWE. I have to figure potential upper card/main event matches at Summerslam, Royal Rumble, and especially Wrestlemania is extremely appealing to him because, as much as I love AEW, that is still (at least nominally) the premiere achievement a wrestler can have in their career. I still wouldn't be surprised if he has a WWE run before he retires, potentially in 8-10 years as the rest of the Elite start to wind down their careers. I'd be really surprised if Kenny was making enormous life decisions based on a desire to be the 'best wrestler never to wrestle in WWE'. It's a totally made up title that has no relevance to anything. For most people saying you're the best wrestler never to wrestle in WWE would be like saying you're the best football player never to play in the NFL. It's not impressive and doesn't draw money so why bother? I mean, I don’t know the guy personally so I’m just speculating based on comments he’s made and interviews he’s given over the years. Of course, if WWE offered him 5x the money or something, it wouldn’t matter but I think, all things being equal (or close to equal), legacy and the “art form” of professional wrestling are really important to Kenny Omega and it means a great deal to him that he’s built the most successful and celebrated wrestling career of anyone who never appeared on a main roster WWE show. You can’t really make a 1:1 comparison of wrestling to professional football. You don’t play in the NFL because you’re not talented enough to make it, and that’s really the only reason. Wrestling, especially modern wrestling, is equal parts art and sport. It’s more like a band like Velvet Underground being heralded as one of the greatest and most influential rock bands of all time despite never really having (or trying to have) high charting albums or singles. I think that stuff matters to Omega and would have been pretty surprised if he jumped to WWE in large part because of that.
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Post by kingoftheindies on Aug 3, 2023 16:57:05 GMT -5
Interesting that Meltzer noted that votes went back and forth between the 4 about whether they were going to stay in AEW or go to WWE. I would have loved to be a fly on the wall for those conversations. If I had to guess, Kenny gave jumping to WWE the least amount of consideration, Hangman gave it the most consideration, and the Bucks fell somewhere in between. Based on some comments Kenny has made over the years, I genuinely think that he has no real desire to ever work for WWE. He was the Elite member I least expected to make the jump (although I will admit that some of the discussion here and in other forums made me think it was possible). I think that he enjoys having the legacy of best wrestler to never work on WWE's main roster, and is not particularly interested in being slotted in as a cog in the WWE machine. The fact that he can still work the occasional Japan date as a member of the AEW roster is probably a huge determinantive factor for him, too. The guy is so associated with Japanese pro wrestling, he's a Japanese citizen. With the Bucks, I have always gotten the feeling that they would be open to a WWE run, but they are certainly the least likely to be used well of the Elite as, frankly, WWE historically does a poor job with its tag team division. Hangman, on the other hand, is only 32, has the WWE "look" and mic skills, and I feel like would get the superstar treatment in WWE. I have to figure potential upper card/main event matches at Summerslam, Royal Rumble, and especially Wrestlemania is extremely appealing to him because, as much as I love AEW, that is still (at least nominally) the premiere achievement a wrestler can have in their career. I still wouldn't be surprised if he has a WWE run before he retires, potentially in 8-10 years as the rest of the Elite start to wind down their careers. I actually think Kenny was more likely to go to WWE than Hangman since Page has a young kid
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Kalmia
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Post by Kalmia on Aug 3, 2023 17:00:42 GMT -5
I'd take Kenny's comments in that SI article at face value. He wants to work different styles with different people while also remaining involved in his interests outside of wrestling. AEW gives him those opportunities in a way WWE wouldn't.
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