Meltzer: frustration behind the scenes.

[mrbananagrabber]

Hey, it’s been about a week; time for a doom and gloom thread, courtesy of Dave Meltzer.

There is reportedly "frustration" among some talent in #AEW about the company's declining popularity and Tony Khan "acting like everything is fine":

"There is also frustration from a lot of circles since talent comes to the shows and sees the smaller crowds since the start of the year. Khan always paints a positive picture about the company being stronger due to increased revenues, or bringing up ratings, and there’s the feeling that popularity is declining overall and changes have to be made to turn it around and he’s acting like everything is fine"
Source (WON)

Ridiculous vague posting from Meltzer aside, really, what is TK supposed to do?

[Tiger Millionaire]

Not to sound like a jerk, but do we really need a thread Everytime Meltzer says anything?

[Cyno]

Meltzer hasn't been having a good time of it this week.

[Facetious]

Meltz today

[KME]

Hilarious to see this so soon after the reports of morale being really high. Just reads like someone actually frustrated at AEW doing some things to try and make changes, and being largely praised for it at the start of this year, and trying to shut it down. Couldn't sound more spiteful if it had been written by someone in WWE themselves, very similar feel to it as that bullshit he spouted about AEW being seen as the new TNA or WCW who could only attract old guys.

If someone's going to whinge about them needing to change things, ok, they're doing that? Mercedes is coming soon, Okada is rumoured to be signing, Ospreay is about to get started, so there's going to be lots of fresh matches and storylines. The Bucks and Hangman (presumably) are turning/have turned heel, they've bought the rankings back which people wanted, they've even replaced the guy who sorted out the arenas in an attempt to improve attendances. They had their highest Rampage and Collision ratings in a while, particularly the former, recently, and Dynamite is about what it always is, with the Hook/Joe one being the highest since Grand Slam was it? The ratings have been what people have thrown shit at AEW for for ages, now that Tony's talking about some positive ones naturally they're irrelevant and he shouldn't be bringing them up. Like, what's he going to do publicly when talking about his company? Obviously he's going to be positive, what kind of dipshit would expect him to be down on it, even if that was how he felt privately?

This stuff just absolutely screams "Stop enjoying the product! Don't you understand you need to be upset about it!". The guy can't wait to tell everyone after every show how cold the company is, right after he's dished out another bunch of 4/5 star ratings or praised a PPV to high heaven, just don't get the bloke. Is f***ing WWEGareth one of the AEW wrestlers? Cos this sort of leak demanding that Tony be negative about his company, as if there isn't enough of that already with the bad faith dickheads and bellends like Billy Ray, Cornette and Bischoff everywhere you look, is just f***ing bizarre.

[khali]

Didn’t he just say morale is better last week? Homie is getting played by somebody here.

[Wieners=$$$]

[Lizuka #BLM]

"Morale is the highest it's been in awhile," and, "Some talents are frustrated," aren't really mutually exclusive statements.

[Cyno]

Feb 16, 2024 16:11:48 GMT -5 Lizuka #BLM said:

"Morale is the highest it's been in awhile," and, "Some talents are frustrated," aren't really mutually exclusive statements.

It comes off like trying to save face with some AEW doom & gloom red meat after getting a lot of things really wrong this week.

[KME]

Feb 16, 2024 16:29:55 GMT -5 Cyno said:

Feb 16, 2024 16:11:48 GMT -5 Lizuka #BLM said:

"Morale is the highest it's been in awhile," and, "Some talents are frustrated," aren't really mutually exclusive statements.

It comes off like trying to save face with some AEW doom & gloom red meat after getting a lot of things really wrong this week.

That's 100% the feeling I get. Like there's been some positivity and now there's a need to shut that down and to assure everyone nope there's still plenty of negativity here. It's just such a non story too, it seems to mostly centre around attendances but how many shows have taken place in arenas arranged by the new guy? Is it 0? Cos I was under the impression all these current ones were already booked under the previous chap.

[This Player Hating Mothman]

I'm starting to think some Meltzer sources are just frustrated to be in AEW at all and every time literally anything nags at them they crack open his DMs to go on about it.

[Citizen Snips Has Left]

*shoves Big Dave to the ground* Frustrated isn’t the goddamn word for it! This is bullshit!!!

[Xxcjb01xX [PIECE OF: SH-]]

Feb 16, 2024 15:30:12 GMT -5 mrbananagrabber said:

Hey, it’s been about a week; time for a doom and gloom thread

I mean there doesn't have to be, we have the power to say no to these giant f***ing nothingburgers that Meltzer has been chucking out lately.

[jm]

Feb 16, 2024 16:50:51 GMT -5 Xxcjb01xX [PIECE OF: SH-] said:

Feb 16, 2024 15:30:12 GMT -5 mrbananagrabber said:

Hey, it’s been about a week; time for a doom and gloom thread

I mean there doesn't have to be, we have the power to say no to these giant f***ing nothingburgers that Meltzer has been chucking out lately.

We especially have the power to say no when the person who posted this nothingburger routinely comes into this AEW forum just to post AEW doom and gloom that in fact turn out to be nothingburgers.

[Xxcjb01xX [PIECE OF: SH-]]

Feb 16, 2024 16:53:28 GMT -5 jm said:

Feb 16, 2024 16:50:51 GMT -5 Xxcjb01xX [PIECE OF: SH-] said:

I mean there doesn't have to be, we have the power to say no to these giant f***ing nothingburgers that Meltzer has been chucking out lately.

We especially have the power to say no when the person who posted this nothingburger routinely comes into this AEW forum just to post AEW doom and gloom that in fact turn out to be nothingburgers.

I'm not gonna get into what users like to do here but even the OP says this is stupid lmfao

[LiamMcDuggle]

I don't think there is a perfect booker, but TK has clearly favoured people who are generally the most over with the audience. Toni Storm went from from having one of the more meaningless title reigns in the women's division, to being the most used character. She's earned every part of the TV time she gets.

To the people who complain to Metlzer, have you thought about maybe you're just not good enough? Or instead of whining, do something with your character to get over?

There are literally so many mediums to get over in 2024. Just stop whining 

[Dub H]

I cant speak for "behind the scenes" but I wouldnt say TK is not doing anything from what I see

Also given the timing I like to believe its from QT

[yokohamacpfc]

Dave’s AEW source is Jericho who is at a bit of a crossroads as he’s not had a good match since All In and hasn’t had a good storyline since RoH champ angle. He’s a difficult problem for Khan because he is important behind the scenes and there’s probably a lot of loyalty there due to his importance in AEW’s successful launch but how do you book him when he’s already wrestled everyone and the crowd is sick of him. Also if he has lost a step in ring he might not get it back.

Jericho wasn’t booked for this week’s Dynamite, has no angle for Revolution and isn’t happy so has gone moaning to Dave. TK really needs a chat with him about his future plans. Options are a Sting style retirement storyline (which I doubt he wants as he’s more of a Flair/Randy the Ram type) or a return to WWE for a last match and HoF or a full time office/commentary role with a few matches a year or whatever because the two have different visions about his future I think.

[Xxcjb01xX [PIECE OF: SH-]]

Feb 16, 2024 17:00:48 GMT -5 LiamMcDuggle said:

I don't think there is a perfect booker, but TK has clearly favoured people who are generally the most over with the audience. Toni Storm went from from having one of the more meaningless title reigns in the women's division, to being the most used character. She's earned every part of the TV time she gets.

To the people who complain to Metlzer, have you thought about maybe you're just not good enough? Or instead of whining, do something with your character to get over?

There are literally so many mediums to get over in 2024. Just stop whining 

There are also the contingent of wrestlers who we have heard reports of will only book themselves in certain storylines and basically refuse to job so they get pigeon hole'd because they've been refusing to play ball in like any capacity, that's been Miro's run for the last year and a half, and given what he DID decide to show up to work for? Yeah, it's a "YOU" problem with some of these guys.

[Fade is a CodyCryBaby]

Feb 16, 2024 15:30:12 GMT -5 mrbananagrabber said:

Hey, it’s been about a week; time for a doom and gloom thread, courtesy of Dave Meltzer.

There is reportedly "frustration" among some talent in #AEW about the company's declining popularity and Tony Khan "acting like everything is fine":

"There is also frustration from a lot of circles since talent comes to the shows and sees the smaller crowds since the start of the year. Khan always paints a positive picture about the company being stronger due to increased revenues, or bringing up ratings, and there’s the feeling that popularity is declining overall and changes have to be made to turn it around and he’s acting like everything is fine"[/b{
Source (WON)

Ridiculous vague posting from Meltzer aside, really, what is TK supposed to do?

Sounds like me with some of the most entrenched within AEW’s fanbase.

Feb 16, 2024 16:11:48 GMT -5 Lizuka #BLM said:

"Morale is the highest it's been in awhile," and, "Some talents are frustrated," aren't really mutually exclusive statements.

Yeah, I absolutely believe he’s hearing a mix of things. It’s believable there’s a segment of the roster happy the punk stuff has long passed as well as others frustrated with all the listed issues. I don’t know why it’s such a big deal, or unbelievable.

This is sort of Meltzer’s job. Always has been.