nisidhe
Hank Scorpio
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Posts: 5,732
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Post by nisidhe on Aug 2, 2021 14:16:48 GMT -5
What's the over/under on a Bray Wyatt chant breaking out tonight?
A girl can dream.
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nisidhe
Hank Scorpio
O Superman....O judge....O Mom and Dad....
Posts: 5,732
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Post by nisidhe on Aug 2, 2021 14:13:33 GMT -5
If WWE is sold, I honestly think that the buyer, ultimately, would want someone with some experience with pro wrestling, but would have some distance from the McMahons - enough that Vince's booking philosophy/strategy would not come into play. Again, it probably depends on who's buying it. If it's a major company like NBC or, I don't know, Apple or whatever, as far as they know Vince is just selling it because he wants to retire, not because the company is in any kind of trouble. And Vince spent the last near-forty years turning the WWE into the most well-known and profitable professional wrestling company in the world. They're certainly not gonna listen to the opinions or random YouTubers or dirtsheet writers who are gonna complain about them overpushing Reigns and how CM Punk should've been their forever champion. The new corporate suits might genuinely believe the best way to continue its profitability would be to stick as close to Vince's game plan as possible, without all of Vince's insane baggage. However, Vince's game plan the last five years has been to build the brand at the expense of its stars, the very resource you need to sell an entertainment product on first sight. There's no way that any buyer who cares about creating entertainment is going to let that continue.
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nisidhe
Hank Scorpio
O Superman....O judge....O Mom and Dad....
Posts: 5,732
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Post by nisidhe on Aug 2, 2021 13:51:24 GMT -5
What are the odds that everyone whose contract is coming up for renewal is looking for the exits at this point?
If the alternative to being released or not re-signing is another slog of travel and cheap hotels and having to try to duck autograph seekers, all the while hating your gimmick and/or your booking and knowing that the people in charge really hate the fans and want you to show the fans that you hate them too and having to do it without complaining? I'd probably jump to the nearest outlaw mudshow than suffer that for more than six months.
Adam Cole, seriously, has gone as far as Vince will let him go under the WWE banner.
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nisidhe
Hank Scorpio
O Superman....O judge....O Mom and Dad....
Posts: 5,732
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Post by nisidhe on Aug 2, 2021 13:07:58 GMT -5
If WWE is sold, I honestly think that the buyer, ultimately, would want someone with some experience with pro wrestling, but would have some distance from the McMahons - enough that Vince's booking philosophy/strategy would not come into play.
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nisidhe
Hank Scorpio
O Superman....O judge....O Mom and Dad....
Posts: 5,732
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Post by nisidhe on Aug 2, 2021 9:46:04 GMT -5
WWE, as a company, is now deriving over 80% of its revenue from B2B (business-to-business) activity and only 20% from its customer/fan service/engagement activity.
By these metrics, WWE could conceivably release _everyone_ on its rosters, pick up sufficient new talent to replace them, "reset" WWE's booking with the new crew, and do so without it impacting too greatly on ratings that the networks would notice. At least, that's their thinking.
_Nobody_ is safe at this stage. The only way to win against a company like WWE is not to play. If Adam Cole were to leave WWE, he'd be okay just about anywhere else. For most of them, leaving WWE would be a preferable option simply because they won't have a sword of Damocles over their heads. WWE's losses at this point would only be its competitors' gains.
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nisidhe
Hank Scorpio
O Superman....O judge....O Mom and Dad....
Posts: 5,732
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Post by nisidhe on Aug 1, 2021 8:04:24 GMT -5
I think the gimmick is a little deeper than any of us might want to admit; only, of course, it's with the darkest and most morally corruptive narrative possible.
Corbin is getting a comeuppance, yes; but how many of our friends and loved ones have had a hard go of things this past year and a half? How many of us are mourning? How many of us are jobless? How many of us having to choose between what the government(s) are offering for our suffering and what our employers or prospective employers are offering because we need to eat and to sleep safely _now_? What is being said when we're encouraged to boo and mock this character? What is creative pushing when we have Corbin so desperate for a way out that he would throw others underneath his feet while he tries to climb the bucket?
Is this Vince's idea of incorporating some "Two Minutes' Hate" BS into his product in order to reinforce certain bigger-world ideas? If it is, the best way to shoot it down might be either to be utterly silent or start chanting something like "Solidarity Forever" deliberately to hijack the show. Let's be honest here - this storyline is moving into cringe territory and it's a) not entirely translatable to international audiences and b) very likely to backfire on Vince as things open up and the live events don't sell.
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nisidhe
Hank Scorpio
O Superman....O judge....O Mom and Dad....
Posts: 5,732
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Post by nisidhe on Jul 31, 2021 12:58:36 GMT -5
I can't see them agreeing to release him unless they were given assurances that he would not be immediately bound for any other promotion. After the news about Bryan and Punk moving to AEW, WWE would have forced him back to the road if he was still able to go.
It's a shame, but I think it might be best for Bray to take the time he needs. He's 33-34; he can afford to take a good couple years off if need be and return when he wants and under the conditions he chooses. Japan may be a good fit for him; so, too, might be AEW - in time. But as long as WWE's business success is divorced from its fan engagement, I don't see any point in WWE's in-ring talent giving the company any further creative ideas. They can simply do what they're told until their contracts are up, then decide whether or not the money is still worth their frustration and the destructions of their bodies for schlock.
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nisidhe
Hank Scorpio
O Superman....O judge....O Mom and Dad....
Posts: 5,732
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Post by nisidhe on Jul 31, 2021 8:25:48 GMT -5
That would be entertaining but yall know Cena ain't gonna cut his WWE ties. He needs a place to slide to in case he gets canceled. I'm not going to say he's bulletproof, he definitely isn't, but after the relatively weak pushback he got on backing down about acknowledging Taiwan, he's probably going to be fine. (For the record, I get it. It was weak, but he also was trying to look out for other people on not screwing over the production, which unfortunately meant eating crow. It happens.) Any gesture these days that can be construed as supporting CCP is likely to curtail one's opportunities in Hollywood. Cena may bounce back in about a year, but it's still kind of fresh in people's minds right now. Cena's walkback could be played as an ego boost for the CCP, albeit a minor one; however, it can grossly impact his bankability in the West. Thanks to the crackdown in Hong Kong, we may not see any further major films doing any principal shooting in Hong Kong or the mainland for a while - driven by studios making such decision voluntarily. Fortunately, press junkets where the risk of the question arising are still likely to be few and far between until all this is over (the pandemic.) With the new _Suicide Squad_ in the can, Cena can cool his jets in WWE until, say, Survivor Series before he goes back for the Peacemaker series. Perhaps, by then, the kerfuffle will be over.
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nisidhe
Hank Scorpio
O Superman....O judge....O Mom and Dad....
Posts: 5,732
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Post by nisidhe on Jul 30, 2021 22:59:49 GMT -5
I gave it a 4. What went on in the ring was okay, but the contract signing was an atrocity of booking that makes me happy that Bryan Danielson isn't in WWE anymore to suffer that BS.
Why does WWE have to be so utterly hateful to its fans?
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nisidhe
Hank Scorpio
O Superman....O judge....O Mom and Dad....
Posts: 5,732
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Post by nisidhe on Jul 30, 2021 22:44:00 GMT -5
Maybe Balor takes out Cena in the title match and joins Romans crew? Why would Balor join Roman's crew? As nonsensical as WWE's booking can be, putting Balor in a stable playing second fiddle to Roman reigns would be a death knell for WWE's ratings. The segment was so messed up that Heyman played it as if Balor had signed the contract before Corbin did the run-in. But it didn't carry to the rest of the show, so.... That was a mess that makes me think Vince hired Weiss and Benioff to the writing team. At this point I'm hoping there's a AR dragon ready to burn a place down.
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nisidhe
Hank Scorpio
O Superman....O judge....O Mom and Dad....
Posts: 5,732
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Post by nisidhe on Jul 30, 2021 16:49:36 GMT -5
I think the real twist as of late seems to be that Triple H doesn't seem to be taking over the company at all. That seems to be the case as well. It is possible that Shane is now being positioned to inherit Vince's shares in the company, and he does have some experience in international business which can put him in some better stead. I wonder if reports of recent issues at NXT might be due to Trips and co being increasingly hemmed in by WWE.
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nisidhe
Hank Scorpio
O Superman....O judge....O Mom and Dad....
Posts: 5,732
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Post by nisidhe on Jul 30, 2021 12:40:48 GMT -5
I cant be too explicit with the rules here but accountability for past scandals and controversy seems to have gone out the window these past few years. With Stephs PR experience I am sure she could spin things her way. A move to Florida might be in order though. Her parents are too closely associated with the previous administration, which will be under tremendous negative scrutiny for some time. Moreover, if Steph (or anyone else) were onside with Linda, they'd have been far more enthusiastic and public in their support for her ambitions. If Stephanie had an ambition towards politics, those ambitions may have been put to rest over the last couple years, I think. It will be some time before she even considers pivoting towards politics; I don't think she attempt anything like that while her parents are alive. To do so in the near-term would be a shit-ton of baggage to carry.
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nisidhe
Hank Scorpio
O Superman....O judge....O Mom and Dad....
Posts: 5,732
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Post by nisidhe on Jul 30, 2021 11:00:11 GMT -5
What's the over/under on Finn wearing purple?
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nisidhe
Hank Scorpio
O Superman....O judge....O Mom and Dad....
Posts: 5,732
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Post by nisidhe on Jul 30, 2021 10:56:41 GMT -5
Has she even expressed interest in that? I know her mom got into that (and that's all we'll say about that), but I've never heard anything about Steph wanting to go into politics. Im not sure. Its something I have heard a lot of people speculate. It would make sense with her move from creative to PR years ago. Given what's happened since her mother's foray, I'm willing to bet that Steph wants nothing to do with it right now. Her name is too tightly enmeshed with her parents for her to be seen as a credible candidate. She likely won't even try now until some time has passed. She's wealthy enough at this stage that she could live comfortably (if quietly) for the rest of her life. There are, however, several questions I have about her withdrawal from public involvement in the company, particularly since Barrios and Wilson were fired and replaced with Nick Khan.
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nisidhe
Hank Scorpio
O Superman....O judge....O Mom and Dad....
Posts: 5,732
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Post by nisidhe on Jul 29, 2021 8:44:12 GMT -5
Channeling my inner Kissinger here, but I'd suggest that Saudi Arabia needs the rest of the world more than the world needs it right now.
It's trying to look attractive to foreign investment without putting in the work it needs to do itself. A nation whose wealth is built on oil can't do well in the midst of a climate crisis where all signs point to industrialization and the use of fossil fuels as the cause. Pandemic restrictions bearing down on the subrich in Saudi Arabia, combined with an economy facing increasing downward pressure on its cash flow, aren't making for calm in the House of Saud. There may be more to Saudi Arabia's woes than what lies beneath the surface, however.
I've considered for some time the idea that Saudi Arabia's oil extraction rate and its reserves are reaching a point of decline, if it hasn't begun already. The elite within Saudi Arabia (those with all the money) have been trying to diversify its revenue streams for even longer, and might now be feeling a crunch due to the drop in oil price last year, the continued issues with the supply chain _and_ the restrictions in travel. It might explain why WWE was able to negotiate to have women on its card last time and why it might have been able to get the Queen of the Ring final scheduled for this upcoming one.
Again, though, I'd expect KSA to do something to flex its muscles against WWE for the slightest infraction. If I were on the WWE roster and had to go, I'd be sticking in my hotel room for the duration and not go out of my way to engage with the public.
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nisidhe
Hank Scorpio
O Superman....O judge....O Mom and Dad....
Posts: 5,732
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Post by nisidhe on Jul 27, 2021 17:27:19 GMT -5
It has to be long COVID. I won't chalk it up to a lack of conditioning by itself, because I can't imagine that he wouldn't at least try to keep himself going throughout all this. The only reason he might not be openly sharing the issue is because he's not allowed to be open. The idea that _anyone_ could suffer long-term COVID consequences because of WWE's foot-dragging on the pandemic acknowledgement and response.
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nisidhe
Hank Scorpio
O Superman....O judge....O Mom and Dad....
Posts: 5,732
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Post by nisidhe on Jul 27, 2021 10:13:44 GMT -5
Cena, for certain, will not go because he has commitments in Hollywood he'd rather not piss off.
Finn Balor will likely not go because he's openly supported the LGBTQ+ community; that photo he posted of him Finn-Freezing while wishing everyone Happy Pride whilst he was in SA can't have endeared him to the government there.
I can't imagine they can get clearances for Jeff Hardy or the Usos; Riddle might not be able to go, either. KO, Sami and Bobby Roode are out because SA's relationship with Canada is still permafrost. Nattie may get to go because she can fly on a US passport (but then again....). Mustafa Ali is out. There are others who might not be able to go for various reasons. This is taking place after WWE has released - 70? - wrestlers since the pandemic started. Vince might be able to get some of them back on a per-appearance basis, but he'll be paying through his nose for them if he's desperate to fill out the card. On top of this, these cards may no longer be considered "canon" for the purposes of WWE TV or North American PPVs.
There is the possibility that he'll use Saudi talent on the undercard, which might appease the Saudi government, but may not help build the SA brand. We'll see how Mansoor does.
This is going to be a mess, even if the trip otherwise is safe.
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nisidhe
Hank Scorpio
O Superman....O judge....O Mom and Dad....
Posts: 5,732
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Post by nisidhe on Jul 27, 2021 9:43:29 GMT -5
I can see a shit-ton of fact-checking being done and released to the public over this series, and Vince McMahon coming under the full scrutiny he has deserved for so long. It will _all_ come out about him - everything from the Saudi deal to Rita Chatterton to God knows what else. And the knives glinting briefly in the darkness before will be out and gleaming in the sunlight.
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nisidhe
Hank Scorpio
O Superman....O judge....O Mom and Dad....
Posts: 5,732
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Post by nisidhe on Jul 27, 2021 9:21:18 GMT -5
All I know is they need to cool it with the Charlotte overload shit. Part of that is the reason I stopped watching weekly WWE TV. Every time I read something about what happened on RAW or SmackDown on Twitter, Charlotte is normally front and center. She is very good in ring, but her character sucks ass. And apparentlt even the very good is doubtful nowdays.At least not above other women in the roster There is a part of this old broad that would delight in watching Natalya stretch her out for twenty minutes. But given our luck, she'd end up having to put Charlotte over and then we'd never hear the end of that.
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nisidhe
Hank Scorpio
O Superman....O judge....O Mom and Dad....
Posts: 5,732
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Post by nisidhe on Jul 26, 2021 22:09:15 GMT -5
Well Guess we can call Nikki ASH officially dead then A few weeks behind schedule but we got there folks! We got there! The glitch is erradicated! “Officially dead” is a stretch. The fans were cheering her at the beginning of the show and there were more than a few signs. If they keep at this, sure, but fans cared tonight. They need to give her a few wins out of the gate. We’ll see if they course correct next week. Here's the thing, though. WWE has had a pattern of doing this - it's the equivalent of Lucy pulling the football away just as Charlie Brown's about to kick it. Why should we give a flying f*** about anyone stepping between those ropes now? If this is what they're doing to Nikki, I can just imagine the misery porn that will be Reigns/Balor 3. Bring on Punk and Bryan, Tony.
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