Fightful: Okada Headed to AEW

[Final Countdown Jones]

Feb 11, 2024 14:27:25 GMT -5 kingoftheindies said:

Feb 11, 2024 14:22:23 GMT -5 Moppy said:

In AEW's situation you either pay big bucks for the world's biggest free agent stars, in an attempt to grow your brand, or you don't. And if you don't you just perpetuate your status as #2 and basically open up the door for them to walk right into #1.

If you're TK you gotta go for it.

Yes and no. Much like 2021/22 I think AEW is right to go after talent that comes available but they've got to know what they're getting into. Now people like Okada you make an exception and get him if at all possible, but signing a bunch of top talent that came available was in part an issue they ran into with some of the down time AEW had. With big talent comes big egos.

Now is AEW more equipped backstage to deal with that? Sounds like they may be

You need to be more prudent, but I think the bigger issue isn't that AEW went for premium talent, so much as that they went for talent who were cut from WWE but saw AEW as either something they should be God King of, or as a stepping stone to try and get WWE to notice them and re-hire them. When you compete and bid for talent, I think you do refine out a lot more of the people who would never consider you a choice if they had any input in it. The Andrades of the world, given a choice, will always pick WWE and see AEW as lesser. The Okadas or Ospreays of the world, hearing bids from both companies and having that active choice, are a lot less likely to be in their heads about how they need to be king dick of this inferior company and not ever lose.

[kingoftheindies]

Feb 11, 2024 14:31:20 GMT -5 Final Countdown Jones said:

Feb 11, 2024 14:27:25 GMT -5 kingoftheindies said:

Yes and no. Much like 2021/22 I think AEW is right to go after talent that comes available but they've got to know what they're getting into. Now people like Okada you make an exception and get him if at all possible, but signing a bunch of top talent that came available was in part an issue they ran into with some of the down time AEW had. With big talent comes big egos.

Now is AEW more equipped backstage to deal with that? Sounds like they may be

You need to be more prudent, but I think the bigger issue isn't that AEW went for premium talent, so much as that they went for talent who were cut from WWE but saw AEW as either something they should be God King of, or as a stepping stone to try and get WWE to notice them and re-hire them. When you compete and bid for talent, I think you do refine out a lot more of the people who would never consider you a choice if they had any input in it. The Andrades of the world, given a choice, will always pick WWE and see AEW as lesser. The Okadas or Ospreays of the world, hearing bids from both companies and having that active choice, are a lot less likely to be in their heads about how they need to be king dick of this inferior company and not ever lose.

Also fair, but also going off what SRS has said recently on live streams. AEW is now in a situation where there is a chain of command that is organized. While wrestlers can't just go to Tony Khan like they used to, it does sound like it's helped with organization and professionalism. Just based on the little blurbs we hear here and there it feels like AEW actually has a structure where they could have handled a lot of the drama where they didn't before.

[Fade]

Feb 11, 2024 14:25:54 GMT -5 KME said:

Incredibly exciting if it goes through, and perfect timing really with Mercedes and Ospreay about to arrive too. People will say the roster is too stacked already but long term Danielson won't be full time for much longer and Jericho is no longer a top guy and is winding down, medium term Kenny's out for who knows how long, MJF is out for a while and short term Cole's injured, and I just don't think you turn down the opportunity to sign Okada if it's there.

So many exciting things they can do with him, both new matches and old classics revisited. Don't really care if he moves the needle, bonus if he does but it's not why I watch. AEW has grown a huge amount already by largely doing things like this, getting the worlds best wrestlers, don't see why they'd stop doing it.

God I hope so

Feb 11, 2024 14:10:21 GMT -5 @sigmax said:

Unless something catastrophic would have happened during negotiations IMO this was always his landing spot simply because WWE was no doubt willing to give him an amazing offer but TK was going to give him anything he wanted.

If the rumors are to be believed, both with this and Mone, Tony threw more money at them.

[Moppy]

Feb 11, 2024 14:27:25 GMT -5 kingoftheindies said:

Feb 11, 2024 14:22:23 GMT -5 Moppy said:

In AEW's situation you either pay big bucks for the world's biggest free agent stars, in an attempt to grow your brand, or you don't. And if you don't you just perpetuate your status as #2 and basically open up the door for them to walk right into #1.

If you're TK you gotta go for it.

Yes and no. Much like 2021/22 I think AEW is right to go after talent that comes available but they've got to know what they're getting into. Now people like Okada you make an exception and get him if at all possible, but signing a bunch of top talent that came available was in part an issue they ran into with some of the down time AEW had. With big talent comes big egos.

Now is AEW more equipped backstage to deal with that? Sounds like they may be

That's fair. But in this case IMO it feels like a different scenario to signing Andrade, Black etc who bloated the roster, didn't/don't really want to be around and aren't A-list stars. Okada feels lower risk, higher potential reward in that regard. As does Mone for the sake of having a legitimate star in the women's division.

[kingoftheindies]

Feb 11, 2024 14:36:24 GMT -5 Fade said:

Feb 11, 2024 14:25:54 GMT -5 KME said:

Incredibly exciting if it goes through, and perfect timing really with Mercedes and Ospreay about to arrive too. People will say the roster is too stacked already but long term Danielson won't be full time for much longer and Jericho is no longer a top guy and is winding down, medium term Kenny's out for who knows how long, MJF is out for a while and short term Cole's injured, and I just don't think you turn down the opportunity to sign Okada if it's there.

So many exciting things they can do with him, both new matches and old classics revisited. Don't really care if he moves the needle, bonus if he does but it's not why I watch. AEW has grown a huge amount already by largely doing things like this, getting the worlds best wrestlers, don't see why they'd stop doing it.

God I hope so

Feb 11, 2024 14:10:21 GMT -5 @sigmax said:

Unless something catastrophic would have happened during negotiations IMO this was always his landing spot simply because WWE was no doubt willing to give him an amazing offer but TK was going to give him anything he wanted.

If the rumors are to be believed, both with this and Mone, Tony threw more money at them.

Just worth mentioning (and it's been like this for over a year at least), AEW can match WWE offers if they want to. It's more or less now if they feel it's worth matching.

[Kalmia]

I think both AEW and WWE are in the position of having the money to spend if they think the wrestler is worth it. Both companies are going to have different ideas of which wrestler is worth what. If Okada wanted to stay in Japan and didn't want to move to the US, then he's probably worth less to WWE than he is to AEW, for example.

[jm]

A live look at Twitter and Reddit and Facebook:

[UN PLOMBIER NIGHTMARE #blm]

Very cool. I hope he becomes their big boss and is part of the Jacksons storyline, let him stay heel and destroy people. This also allows him to get his AEW record better, which always annoyed me even though it shouldn't

[Allie Kitsune]

While I think it would have been more interesting to see him interact with talents he isn't already ultra-familiar with, it's also hard to imagine it working out at all over there, where it's still the land of the 20-minute opening promo.

[floundertime]

Feb 11, 2024 14:16:07 GMT -5 @sneakman said:

Feb 11, 2024 14:10:18 GMT -5 floundertime said:

I totally expected this, good for Okada. Get the money, less schedule, and maybe still live in Japan.

From an AEW standpoint, I think it’s a waste. You’re paying him top dollar, not top dolla. How much does he move the needle? AEW’s hardcore niche they have will go bonkers but is he bringing in any casual fans? I don’t think so. So he’s another big contract that doesn’t grow the company. I feel Mone is the same too. Big money, doesn’t move the needle.

Who, in your opinion, is a signing that would draw in “casual fans” that isn’t currently under contract with WWE?

I don’t have an idea who moves the dial that is realistic. I think it’s more, IMO, of just throwing money and getting the same results. Hey it’s Tony’s dads money so who cares. But if you look at it from a normal business point of view, imagine dumping a bunch of money into something and getting little to no results. I also understand it’s in a startup phase and most startups lose money.

[Totorob101]

Really good news for the wrestling industry as AEW really is the best in the world right now in terms of roster and constantly good wrestling on tv. WWE needs to give up trying to sign talents like Okada as they just cant offer what AEW can and the pull of a wrestlemania match is so overrated, i imagine most top pro wrestlers couldnt give one crap about wrestlemania bar the ones already working for the E. It does look likely AEW will sign all big name free agents from now on and for WWE they should just stick to signing athletes and non wrestlers and train them up because i just cant see many top name indy and international talents ever wanting to work for WWE. I hope AEW goes for a few big name female talents too.

[Lizuka #BLM]

I'd prefer he be in WWE, but not complaining.

["Evil Brood" Jackson Vanik]

Feb 11, 2024 15:02:01 GMT -5 floundertime said:

Feb 11, 2024 14:16:07 GMT -5 @sneakman said:

Who, in your opinion, is a signing that would draw in “casual fans” that isn’t currently under contract with WWE?

I don’t have an idea who moves the dial that is realistic. I think it’s more, IMO, of just throwing money and getting the same results. Hey it’s Tony’s dads money so who cares. But if you look at it from a normal business point of view, imagine dumping a bunch of money into something and getting little to no results. I also understand it’s in a startup phase and most startups lose money.

But the company has made strides business wise?

- PPV business has grown greatly from 2019 to 2023.
- 2023 was likely their record for most tickets sold/largest gates. 
- When accounting for decline in cable, Dynamite is incredibly strong and ranks higher on cable than it did when it started.
- In TV, they've gone from getting paid for 2 hours to 5 hours which shows an increasing commitment from WBD.
- They went from an ad revenue split TV deal to being on the tail end of a TV contract with the last year rumored to pay them between 70-90 million dollars. 

[Final Countdown Jones]

Feb 11, 2024 15:02:01 GMT -5 floundertime said:

Feb 11, 2024 14:16:07 GMT -5 @sneakman said:

Who, in your opinion, is a signing that would draw in “casual fans” that isn’t currently under contract with WWE?

I don’t have an idea who moves the dial that is realistic. I think it’s more, IMO, of just throwing money and getting the same results. Hey it’s Tony’s dads money so who cares. But if you look at it from a normal business point of view, imagine dumping a bunch of money into something and getting little to no results. I also understand it’s in a startup phase and most startups lose money.

But what is 'little to no results' here? If they make the show engaging in a way that keeps the audience watching longer term to see a very talented wrestler, if they buy his merchandise, if they buy tickets when the show is in town that they might be on the fence for, but oh shit they get to see Okada live for the first time so they're in now. It's super reductionist to boil this down to the idea that if someone isn't bringing in a new audience that they aren't worth the price tag.

[Facetious]

Feb 11, 2024 15:08:25 GMT -5 Final Countdown Jones said:

Feb 11, 2024 15:02:01 GMT -5 floundertime said:

I don’t have an idea who moves the dial that is realistic. I think it’s more, IMO, of just throwing money and getting the same results. Hey it’s Tony’s dads money so who cares. But if you look at it from a normal business point of view, imagine dumping a bunch of money into something and getting little to no results. I also understand it’s in a startup phase and most startups lose money.

But what is 'little to no results' here? If they make the show engaging in a way that keeps the audience watching longer term to see a very talented wrestler, if they buy his merchandise, if they buy tickets when the show is in town that they might be on the fence for, but oh shit they get to see Okada live for the first time so they're in now. It's super reductionist to boil this down to the idea that if someone isn't bringing in a new audience that they aren't worth the price tag.

Not to mention bringing in THE biggest import from Japan could and should help further grow your international audience. I don't think AEW is quite ready to do a Japan tour, but having Okada would certainly help expedite the move

[Baldobomb-22-OH-MAN!!!]

Feb 11, 2024 15:08:25 GMT -5 Final Countdown Jones said:

Feb 11, 2024 15:02:01 GMT -5 floundertime said:

I don’t have an idea who moves the dial that is realistic. I think it’s more, IMO, of just throwing money and getting the same results. Hey it’s Tony’s dads money so who cares. But if you look at it from a normal business point of view, imagine dumping a bunch of money into something and getting little to no results. I also understand it’s in a startup phase and most startups lose money.

But what is 'little to no results' here? If they make the show engaging in a way that keeps the audience watching longer term to see a very talented wrestler, if they buy his merchandise, if they buy tickets when the show is in town that they might be on the fence for, but oh shit they get to see Okada live for the first time so they're in now. It's super reductionist to boil this down to the idea that if someone isn't bringing in a new audience that they aren't worth the price tag.

People always say "with little or no results* when AEW has made more money every year since it started. What they really mean is "they aren't immediately as popular as the monolithic juggernaut that's existed for like 40 years and had an uncontested monopoly for almost 20 of them". AEW is growing its brand just fine, Rome wasn't built in a day.

[raymondo316]

The bucks will have played a big part in getting this done

Yet all these idiots on Twitter with Roman Reigns & CM Punk pictures say everyone hates the bucks, and they are useless 😂

[polarbearpete]

Okada is definitely worth it to AEW in an era where they’re still trying to sell PPVs. You can have a lot of dream matches that makes the PPV cards seem must buy, especially at a time where Sting is leaving, Omega, Cole and MJF are all hurt, Jericho’s status is falling and Danielson is ready to go part time.

[Hanky McCranky Jr.]

Mercedes already moved 5k+ tickets for a larger arena in a single day just off the hints she was making her AEW debut there (and this is around the same timeframe where Meltzer was making ticket sales comparisons to WCW 2000). Unless your idea of "moving the needle" is a Roman Reigns-esque megastar, it sounds like an impossible standard to meet.

[polarbearpete]

Feb 11, 2024 15:17:25 GMT -5 Hanky McCranky Jr. said:

Mercedes already moved 5k+ tickets for a larger arena in a single day just off the hints she was making her AEW debut there (and this is around the same timeframe where Meltzer was making ticket sales comparisons to WCW 2000). Unless your idea of "moving the needle" is a Roman Reigns-esque megastar, it sounds like an impossible standard to meet.

Yeah I think TV ratings are going to be the hardest area for AEW to grow, but certainly certain talent can help with ticket sales and PPV buys (in conjunction with hopefully improved booking).