The Recent Quality of Saudi Shows

[karl100589]

In the early days of the Saudi deal PPVs were treated almost as glorified house shows. The quality of matches weren’t great, there wasn’t much story development and usually headlined by a sad nostalgia act (Brothers of Destruction vs DX). Recently though the Saudi shows have been great, with last night being the latest addition. 

Is this a decision Trips has taken an initiative on, or do you think the Fed were told to up their game given the finances of the deal?

[kevin]

May 28, 2023 10:44:51 GMT -5 karl100589 said:

In the early days of the Saudi deal PPVs were treated almost as glorified house shows. The quality of matches weren’t great, there wasn’t much story development and usually headlined by a sad nostalgia act (Brothers of Destruction vs DX). Recently though the Saudi shows have been great, with last night being the latest addition. 

Is this a decision Trips has taken an initiative on, or do you think the Fed were told to up their game given the finances of the deal?

They definitely made this one a traditional PPV more so than any of the past ones have been. I kind of like crazy stuff like the Biggest Rumble ever but that it was almost non cannon hurt it.

[stoptheclocks]

There's definitely been a huge evolution, I don't remember the crowds for the early ones being as invested as they are now.

It helps that the product is miles better than it was and they were given a top show.

[mrbananagrabber]

Yeah they’ve been great and the fans have been too. Saudi blood money is one thing, and that’s a whole other thing, but in the crowd is nothing but thoroughly invested and entertained wrestling fans.

[King Devitt and the Woke Mob]

I also want the trend to continue of there being a betrayal on each show.

[fw91]

they've been stepping it up with all PLE's lately. Along with heading over seas more often, Saudi is now part of the mix and not really an outlier anymore.

[Jindrak Mark]

May 28, 2023 17:28:39 GMT -5 fw91 said:

they've been stepping it up with all PLE's lately. Along with heading over seas more often, Saudi is now part of the mix and not really an outlier anymore.

Mania/Rumble/Summerslam take care of themselves but how often in recent years before HHH took over did B PPVs really feel important?

That's the biggest difference since HHH took over for me. There's way more excitement for the regular monthly shows. I used to maybe the next day check out one or two matches that got good reviews but now I'm usually hooked into watching them live. Roman/Drew and Roman/Sami at CATC/EC felt huge. The viral excitement around the Bray stuff for ER. The first ever main roster war games for SS. The amazing atmosphere for Backlash. Last night had the huge Bloodline moment and a shocking title change with Asuka beating Bianca. MITB in the UK is probably going to continue the streak too.

[hbkid718]

They have come a long way since they had the couches around ringside with the people looking away from the ring and not paying attention to the matches.

[Banjo Is Broken]

I can't wait until they do a Live Event from Abu Dhabi and we get to see all the mailed kittens climbing around on everything.

[Xxcjb01xX [PIECE OF: SH-]]

Given some of the earlier Saudi Shows featured HHH, Shawn, Kane, Taker, and Goldberg all stumbling into the ground, there was nowhere to go but up

I still ain't a fan of holding them in Saudi after well... everything, but at least they're actually progressing storylines there now and doing shit instead of "Here's the 50 something guy who can barely move anymore in the main events!"

[nisidhe]

May 28, 2023 10:44:51 GMT -5 karl100589 said:

Is this a decision Trips has taken an initiative on, or do you think the Fed were told to up their game given the finances of the deal?

Probably a little from column A and a little from column B, with a smattering of column C thrown in.

Trips has a bit of pride riding on the success of every PLE, for sure, regardless of the circumstances. Saudi Arabia seems keen to get their money's worth from the deal, _but_ has shown itself willing to step back a little in foisting its elite into the middle of the conversation.

Without questioning what might have happened to a lot of those couch-sitting thumb-twiddlers at ringside for the first couple shows, it must have been impressed upon officials that those people weren't a good look on international TV for selling the events nor the kingdom's image. It might also speak somewhat to a growing desperation within Saudi Arabia to up its presentation for investors, given the louder and growing voices for more sustainable energy generation and for investment in regimes with less-problematic human rights records.

[Feargus McReddit]

May 28, 2023 10:44:51 GMT -5 karl100589 said:

Is this a decision Trips has taken an initiative on, or do you think the Fed were told to up their game given the finances of the deal?

Probably the latter, especially considering the deal is closer to ending than starting and especially with the lack of real nostalgia matches left to do or people willing to do them (Rock ain't doing a Saudi match, his rep doesn't really need the hit for example).

[lucas_lee]

I also think the Saudi business person that requested for the legends realized how bad of a request that is and stopped asking for them on the most part.

[Feargus McReddit]

May 29, 2023 7:33:28 GMT -5 lucas_lee said:

I also think the Saudi business person that requested for the legends realized how bad of a request that is and stopped asking for them on the most part.

That's also something to consider. They're making the money regardless, they don't have to worry about ticket sales at this point, don't hurt the rep with having broken down old geezers almost kill themselves and ruin their reputations and have us going "So did Shawn Michaels really have a match or was he always retired?"

[The Kevstaaa]

May 28, 2023 22:10:34 GMT -5 hbkid718 said:

They have come a long way since they had the couches around ringside with the people looking away from the ring and not paying attention to the matches.

oh my god I forgot about the couches.