Some News and Notes (1-16-14)

[andrew8798]

For people who think you can have access to the entire library, that is not close to the case. Only about 1.5% of the library will be accessible, and very little of it will be old territorial footage. And while they will add new content weekly, they will also remove content.

The plan was always to turn him back as evidenced by Vince McMahon making it clear to Michael Cole on commentary to never get on Bryan or portray him as a heel. The plan largely was in the long-term, as much as long-term there is, how it was originally going to play out. There wasn’t any kind of great debate or big decision making regarding turning him back this week.

Hogan also reached a verbal deal to return this past week although it’s been pretty clear for several weeks that this was happening. Hogan won’t be at a match at WrestleMania, at least as things stand now, no matter what Piper has been pushing for, because Hogan can’t pass the physical

Regarding Bill Goldberg facing Ryback at WrestleMania, the situation is unchanged from the last time we wrote about it. It was said to be close to dead because they are far apart on money, but it’s not completely dead.

They are also talking with Sting, who has not renewed his TNA deal.

On a recent show that aired on WWE 24/7 Classics on Demand, there was a Steve Lombardi match where Gorilla Monsoon said, “Lombardi’s rear end belongs to Louie Dondero.” For those who don’t know, Louie Dondero was Pat Patterson’s longtime partner. In the 70s, Dondero tried to spearhead a group of people to buy out Roy Shire in San Francisco for well into the seven figures. Shire turned them down, and then ended up closing his promotion a couple of years later since he was not somebody who would put up with losses.

He’s been trying to play Brian Pillman on twitter which is part of his new character of a guy way out there, and they are using it going forward as part of his character.

John Layfield on Raw told the Ryback/Titus O’Neil story. Apparently O’Neil challenged Ryback to an arm wrestling match and Ryback didn’t accept. It was supposed to be a money bet with the loser donating to charity and then Layfield joked and called him Rybackout. The guy is not well liked at all these days, even among people who used to have nothing but nice things to say about him.

Those from NXT slated for call-ups the quickest right now are Emma, Paige, Alexander Rusev and Lana (as a team, which is a good move).

The appearance of Jake Roberts was a one-time deal. That’s not to say he can’t be added to the Rumble or Hall of Fame, just that no deal has been put in place for either yet

The decision was made to pass not only on Eddie Edwards & Davey Richards, but also on Ricochet (Trevor Mann). He did all kinds of spectacular stuff in his tryout, and Joey Mercury had told those in the company specifically to pay attention to him because he’s really talented. But the decision was that he was too short and that they already have guys on their roster now and in developmental who can do all the spectacular flying and felt he was just like a lot of other guys, some of which they already have with Adrian Neville in particular.

-WON

[Deleted]

Depressing newz-sheet.

[Urethra Franklin]

Phew. I got worried there for a minute that 2014 was going to miss out on the annual tradition of "Sting to WWE before WrestleMania" rumours.

[Andrew is Good]

I will give credit to Joey Mercury here. At least he's trying and he's still around fighting for guys on the indies. The office might not like some of the people, but it's not for the lack of trying. In Ricochet's case, on the plus side, he did some stuff with New Japan last year, so it's not like he's out of options and could be someone in there a few years down the road. TNA would be another good spot for him as a little base while he goes off and does other things around the world.

Davey and Eddie look to already be TNA bound, which I think is a positive change, and guys like Ricochet could also make good roster members. Right now, TNA needs strong indy talents having good matches to differentiate themselves.

[Raskovnik]

For people who think you can have access to the entire library, that is not close to the case. Only about 1.5% of the library will be accessible, and very little of it will be old territorial footage. And while they will add new content weekly, they will also remove content.

I don't know how I feel about this, but I get why they're doing it.

The plan was always to turn him back as evidenced by Vince McMahon making it clear to Michael Cole on commentary to never get on Bryan or portray him as a heel. The plan largely was in the long-term, as much as long-term there is, how it was originally going to play out. There wasn’t any kind of great debate or big decision making regarding turning him back this week.

I don't even care, this past Monday was a huge moment and I'm just glad it happened.

Hogan also reached a verbal deal to return this past week although it’s been pretty clear for several weeks that this was happening. Hogan won’t be at a match at WrestleMania, at least as things stand now, no matter what Piper has been pushing for, because Hogan can’t pass the physical

That's a shame about Hogan, but if he can't go, he can't go. I know I'm in the minority in wanting to see him in one more match but he's already given enough to this business and seeing him in any capacity it fine with me because I'm a Hulkamaniac for life, dude.

Regarding Bill Goldberg facing Ryback at WrestleMania, the situation is unchanged from the last time we wrote about it. It was said to be close to dead because they are far apart on money, but it’s not completely dead.

They are also talking with Sting, who has not renewed his TNA deal.

I'd like to see both of these, Goldberg especially.

He’s been trying to play Brian Pillman on twitter which is part of his new character of a guy way out there, and they are using it going forward as part of his character.

John Layfield on Raw told the Ryback/Titus O’Neil story. Apparently O’Neil challenged Ryback to an arm wrestling match and Ryback didn’t accept. It was supposed to be a money bet with the loser donating to charity and then Layfield joked and called him Rybackout. The guy is not well liked at all these days, even among people who used to have nothing but nice things to say about him.

And I'm willing to bet Ryback doesn't give a shit, either.

Those from NXT slated for call-ups the quickest right now are Emma, Paige, Alexander Rusev and Lana (as a team, which is a good move).

I like Rusev and I think Paige is kind of hot, so this is good news.

The appearance of Jake Roberts was a one-time deal. That’s not to say he can’t be added to the Rumble or Hall of Fame, just that no deal has been put in place for either yet

He absolutely needs to go in the Hall of Fame and why not do it this year? And I hope they throw him into the Rumble match because I'd very much like to see him achieve his goal that he set for himself. He's done a great job of bouncing back after all of his trouble and it would be a really nice moment for everyone, I think.

[TCM]

I hate the "too short" argument so damn much. Yeah sure, wrestlers are "larger than life" and you "should" be looking up to and at them, but if a guy is a good hand, he's a good hand and height should mean nothing. Hell, isn't it more realistic if everyone signed isn't Adonis incarnate? Daniel Bryan is the most over guy on the roster and he's the same billed height as Ricochet. Big E is under six feet as well. If there's no room for him then there's no room, can't fix that if you don't let people go, but the "too short/small" argument should never be a commanding reason. There's room for every size. Maybe it's because I'm 5'8'', so I get bitter when people get rejected because one of the reasons is "too short".

["Gentleman" AJ Powell]

The call up news seems good. Especially Rusev, he reminds me of Umaga in the way he's so big and strong, yet flies around the ring. A match between him and Big E could have potential.

[Toates Madhackrviper]

That thing about removing content occasionally may lose them a for sure subscriber (me). I thought the WWE network would be different from other subscription services, and anything added would stay on there indefinitely because WWE owned their own content so why not leave it there. That was the model I was planning to subscribe to. I've seen the explanation from a business perspective why adding and removing content is better for business but I don't agree with it and personally I'm much less likely to subscribe if thats the case. As unrealistic as it may be, I want to someday have the OPTION of watching all of RAW from start to finish over the course of a month or two. And I want to do it without having to hunt for low quality videos of it on youtube, but instead having it all in the highest available quality on an official source and I don't mind paying for THAT. But I do mind paying for a rotating library that I'll have to take bits and pieces of. Takes away from the experience I was hoping for. Hopefully its not true, but I guess I should have expected it.

[BV]

Ricochet is the best high flyer on the indies and potentially in wrestling today. The argument of someone being too short is so goddamn ridiculous at this point.

[543Y2J]

For people who think you can have access to the entire library, that is not close to the case. Only about 1.5% of the library will be accessible, and very little of it will be old territorial footage. And while they will add new content weekly, they will also remove content.

Damn it, that sucks

[Toates Madhackrviper]

Jan 16, 2014 16:40:07 GMT -5 TCM said:

I hate the "too short" argument so damn much. Yeah sure, wrestlers are "larger than life" and you "should" be looking up to and at them, but if a guy is a good hand, he's a good hand and height should mean nothing. Hell, isn't it more realistic if everyone signed isn't Adonis incarnate? Daniel Bryan is the most over guy on the roster and he's the same billed height as Ricochet. Big E is under six feet as well. If there's no room for him then there's no room, can't fix that if you don't let people go, but the "too short/small" argument should never be a commanding reason. There's room for every size. Maybe it's because I'm 5'8'', so I get bitter when people get rejected because one of the reasons is "too short".

Nah I'm 6'2" and the "height" argument bothers me too. Good talent should be good talent, period.

[slappy]

Emma is close to being called up? You mean the same Emma we saw on Raw? Great detective work there dirt sheets.

[Deleted]

On a recent show that aired on WWE 24/7 Classics on Demand, there was a Steve Lombardi match where Gorilla Monsoon said, “Lombardi’s rear end belongs to Louie Dondero.” For those who don’t know, Louie Dondero was Pat Patterson’s longtime partner.

LMAO. I'll never get tired of Gorilla(and Jesse) with snarky innuendo whenever the Brawler is in the ring.


The shine is coming off of the Network a little bit.

[The Masked Heel WAS WRONG]

I thought the same thing with the Pillman/Ryback comparison.

I know I know. Pillman has THE WORKRATEZ and blah blah blah.

[Welfare Willis]

They are also talking with Sting, who has not renewed his TNA deal.

LET THE FALSE HOPE BEGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGIIIIINNNN!

[Professor Chaos]

I'm gonna be pissed if I try to watch all the PPV's in order and they pull them off when I'm in the middle.

[Chiral]

Jan 16, 2014 17:00:54 GMT -5 Welfare Willis said:

They are also talking with Sting, who has not renewed his TNA deal.

LET THE FALSE HOPE BEGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGIIIIINNNN!

I can't wait for video packages of a mysterious dark cloaked dude who turns out to be Undertaker again!!

[Deleted]

If Sting somehow abandons ship and ends up in the WWE I can only hope that they don't try to have that Sting/Taker match 15-20 years too late.

[Deleted]

Jan 16, 2014 17:23:04 GMT -5 Professor Chaos said:

I'm gonna be pissed if I try to watch all the PPV's in order and they pull them off when I'm in the middle.

I'm assuming the PPVs will be close to the 1.5% in question.

I mean, the entire catalogue means every documentary/bonus they've cooked up, EVERY show in their back catalogue, so I think it'll be fine solely for PPV and Raw/Smackdown replays. There's so many less PPVs than there are weekly shows in their archives so I believe it'll be fine.

Albeit I could be entirely wrong on that, but until we have further details...

[mizerable]

Jan 16, 2014 17:32:01 GMT -5 @akeem said:

If Sting somehow abandons ship and ends up in the WWE I can only hope that they don't try to have that Sting/Taker match 15-20 years too late.

Oh they will. And then Sting, the last remanent of WCW will finally be beaten. WWF wins. WCW loses.