Post by andrew8798 on Oct 1, 2014 19:42:53 GMT -5
The SummerSlam PPV numbers tell a story, and it’s a confusing one. The show, headlined by John Cena vs. Brock Lesnar for the WWE title, did 63,000 domestic buys and 116,000 overseas buys. For domestic buys, it’s more than double what Battleground did and the most for any show since WrestleMania. Being SummerSlam, it should have done the most. Money in the Bank did 53,000, so on a percentage basis, it was up 19% from Money in the Bank domestic. Last year SummerSlam was up 22% domestic from Money in the Bank. But the difference could be more people switching to the WWE Network.
The 116,000 overseas buys is shocking, because the WWE Network debuted in more than 170 countries, but not the big ones, including the U.K., and much of Canada. But it did include Australia, New Zealand and Mexico. The 116,000 compared to 125,000 the year before with no network for the John Cena vs. Daniel Bryan main event, and 96,000 (I believe this didn’t include the U.K.) the year before on a show with Lesnar vs. HHH.
The 116,000 overseas buys is shocking, because the WWE Network debuted in more than 170 countries, but not the big ones, including the U.K., and much of Canada. But it did include Australia, New Zealand and Mexico. The 116,000 compared to 125,000 the year before with no network for the John Cena vs. Daniel Bryan main event, and 96,000 (I believe this didn’t include the U.K.) the year before on a show with Lesnar vs. HHH.
Little TNA note
A lot of the younger talent are feeling mentally checked out. With no shows planned (since few are on Bound for Glory) until 1/7 at the earliest, there’s unhappiness. All are trying to get indie dates. With the exception of Eddie Edwards and maybe Samoa Joe, there doesn’t appear to be much interest in anyone from the ROH front. A lot of talent has contacted Jarrett, but given it was December when Jarrett left and we’re in October and really nothing has happened past some press releases, most don’t take GFW as an option until they hear about signing of talent and a TV deal. There’s the feeling that the ones who are under the new contracts are getting maybe $1,000 per month as a base if not booked and that’s for a three month period minimum. While they can work wherever they want as long as it’s not on PPV or iPPV, they are still under contract and can’t make a deal with a Japan group, ROH or WWE during this period.
Given the payoffs for the first PPVs after WrestleMania with the new formula are in (Extreme Rules and King of the Ring), the payoffs were described to me as “really bad,” which says that talent is getting paid based on PPV revenue and getting nothing extra from all the PPV revenue that has been eliminated based on starting the network. There are a few people who are being taken care of and a few who have deals in place that guard against this happening to them, but rank and file, that’s not the case.
It’s expected that Kevin Steen will be getting his name change shortly and then debuting.
There is at least talk of putting Rusev in a program with Sheamus for the U.S. title after the Show program runs its course with the idea that Rusev would win and they’d brag about him being U.S. champion.
-WON
