Some News and Notes (10-1-14)

[andrew8798]

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.

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

[Can you afford to pay me, Gah]

The US title seems like a no brainer deal for Rusev. The cheap heat for being anti American is clear they do this next.

[Deleted]

Looks like Punk's concerns as related to the Network were valid. That's a pretty dirty way to deal with talent, if it's true that this hasn't even been explicitly addressed/explained.

[Bub (BLM)]

It’s expected that Kevin Steen will be getting his name change shortly and then debuting.

[Instant Classic]

and I want Swagger to take it off Rusev.

[Deleted]

Smart idea for having Rusev go for the US Title next instead of a Cena feud. Extends his longevity. Rusev can get done with this Big Show feud, get the title from Sheamus, continue to be champion for a bit, afterwards move up the card by facing further main event talent and then eventually become main event champion. After he loses the US Title (or shit even before actually) Rusev can move from this "Cold War" crap and become an actual strong champion. He'd be better once they get past this "handicap" because that's ridiculous.

[Deleted]

Oct 1, 2014 19:52:32 GMT -5 Instant Classic said:

and I want Cena to take it off Rusev.

Vince hears your suggestion and loves it. 

[Instant Classic]

Oct 1, 2014 20:13:54 GMT -5 @jinxed said:

Oct 1, 2014 19:52:32 GMT -5 Instant Classic said:

and I want Cena to take it off Rusev.

Vince hears your suggestion and loves it. 

You startled me for a minute, I was like did I really just right Cena when I had Swagger in my head. lol

[Deleted]

Oct 1, 2014 20:13:54 GMT -5 @jinxed said:

Oct 1, 2014 19:52:32 GMT -5 Instant Classic said:

and I want Cena to take it off Rusev.

Vince hears your suggestion and loves it. 

If Cena takes the title off of Rusev then I'm all for it. Have Cena elevate the midcard titles. He damn sure doesn't need to be in the main title scene.

[BigJerichool222]

KOTR wut?

[Deleted]

LOL the Network is like Vince's wet dream, still make money off of the shows and make the talent payoffs smaller.

[Deleted]

Sounds like Punk was right to get out when he did, given that. Imagine there'll probably be a lot of people leaving come time to renew their contracts if they don't start renegotiating those to account for it.

[Bub (BLM)]

Oct 1, 2014 20:29:37 GMT -5 @akeem said:

LOL the Network is like Vince's wet dream, still make money off of the shows and make the talent payoffs smaller.

And people will still call Punk a whiner and crybaby for walking out, despite the PPV payoffs in relation to the Network being one of the biggest rumored issues he had. Why stick around and be ripped off while your filthy rich company rakes in all the revenue and hordes it?

[fw91]

Oct 1, 2014 19:52:32 GMT -5 Instant Classic said:

and I want Swagger to take it off Rusev.

I want Bray Wyatt. Why Not? Not doing much with him anyway, and if they plan on turning him face, imagine the massive reaction he will get if he dethrones Rusev. Also seems like a great vocal foil to Lana

[Crimson]

Oct 1, 2014 20:17:08 GMT -5 @kn said:

Oct 1, 2014 20:13:54 GMT -5 @jinxed said:

Vince hears your suggestion and loves it. 

If Cena takes the title off of Rusev then I'm all for it. Have Cena elevate the midcard titles. He damn sure doesn't need to be in the main title scene.

Will Cena bring back the Spinner U.S. Title?

[CH Punk]

Oct 1, 2014 19:42:53 GMT -5 andrew8798 said:

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

I feel like this has been a news story since about the time Sheamus won the thing.

[CATCH_US IS the Conversation]

Oct 1, 2014 20:04:12 GMT -5 @kn said:

Smart idea for having Rusev go for the US Title next instead of a Cena feud. Extends his longevity. Rusev can get done with this Big Show feud, get the title from Sheamus, continue to be champion for a bit, afterwards move up the card by facing further main event talent and then eventually become main event champion. After he loses the US Title (or shit even before actually) Rusev can move from this "Cold War" crap and become an actual strong champion. He'd be better once they get past this "handicap" because that's ridiculous.

He needs to lose a match. I think the "undefeated" streak is holding him back more than the gimmick.

[Malcolm]

Oct 1, 2014 20:32:31 GMT -5 Bub (BLM) said:

Oct 1, 2014 20:29:37 GMT -5 @akeem said:

LOL the Network is like Vince's wet dream, still make money off of the shows and make the talent payoffs smaller.

And people will still call Punk a whiner and crybaby for walking out, despite the PPV payoffs in relation to the Network being one of the biggest rumored issues he had. Why stick around and be ripped off while your filthy rich company rakes in all the revenue and hordes it?

To be fair, I thought he was a whiner and a crybaby BEFORE he left...

[highfivessteve]

Wait...King of the Ring?!

[CATCH_US IS the Conversation]

Oct 1, 2014 20:32:31 GMT -5 Bub (BLM) said:

Oct 1, 2014 20:29:37 GMT -5 @akeem said:

LOL the Network is like Vince's wet dream, still make money off of the shows and make the talent payoffs smaller.

And people will still call Punk a whiner and crybaby for walking out, despite the PPV payoffs in relation to the Network being one of the biggest rumored issues he had. Why stick around and be ripped off while your filthy rich company rakes in all the revenue and hordes it?

I can understand why some would call him a whiner. Punk was one of the few guys that actually got to BE on PPV. So while he might have gotten a smaller payoff, at least he's getting something. That's more than a lot of guys at the time could say.

Anyone who is entitled to PPV bonuses is probably already making big bucks even with the cutbacks.