Triple H |OT| February Wrasslin

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R

RBH

Member
From the latest issue of Figure Four Weekly:


Thanks to the amazing business operation that is WWE Films, World Wrestling Entertainment had a money-losing quarter for the first time in a decade.

The bad news is that the company lost $13.1 million this quarter as compared to making a $14.4 million profit in this quarter last year (fourth quarter, October through December). The good news is that wrestling operations as a whole remained steady, and were it not for the movie studio losses, it would have been yet another stable, profitable quarter. Vince McMahon in his investor's call last week admitted that if the new three-picture deal with 20th Century Fox didn't pan out in a positive manner, they were not in the business of holding onto money-losing divisions – in other words, they are open to dropping WWE Films if there isn't a turnaround.

The wrestling business news has its pluses and minuses as well. Although PPV was very slightly up this year, the reality is that it's only up for two reasons: The Rock and the fact that they scored several thousand "out of period buys" (meaning, buys from prior quarters that just now came in to be counted). The bad news is that without Rock, PPV was down across the board, and even Survivor Series, which he headlined, did a very disappointing buyrate (281,000 worldwide, 180,000 US). The good news is that Rock is back through WrestleMania, and it is believed that he'll be doing another match at SummerSlam this year and a third at next year's WrestleMania. So provided they don't burn him out, which is doubtful given he has movie commitments throughout the year, it should be another good two years of PPV revenue even if the rest of the shows see further minor declines.

In addition to losing $12 million on movies, they also spent $4 million on the WWE Network, which still has no launch date other than "sometime this year." Latest we heard was around November, but I would be surprised at all if that date was pushed back as well. Interestingly, for whatever this is worth, most of the various departments (consumer products, licensing, merchandise, digital media, etc.) saw declines this year, but WWE Classics, which is already off some cable providers and will likely be gone nationwide come WrestleMania, remained stable. WWE.com, which is pushed super hard on television, was down by almost half ($2.7 million versus $4.5 million last year) due to drops in advertising revenue. Live event revenue year-to-year was stable.

For the year, thanks entirely to wrestling operations, they grossed $483.9 million, up from $477.7 million last year. And by wrestling operations, I mean the impact Rock had on WrestleMania and Survivor Series this year. That's literally the entire reason, which makes it even more preposterous to hear wrestlers complaining about the Rock coming back to main event WrestleMania this year.

Vince McMahon in the investor's conference didn't sugarcoat anything, saying it was a "less than stellar quarter" that resulted in a less than stellar year. He blamed it all on the film division and "television licensing" – in other words, money not received from NXT and Superstars, since the claim is that there is great demand for these shows (incorrect), and they are saving them to help kick off the WWE Network.

"I must say," Vince McMahon claimed with a straight face, "there has been never been a stronger demand for WWE product than there is now."
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S

SoulPlaya

more money than God
Killing_Joke said:
Cable tv is having a slow slow death. WWE makes A LOT of money. More then they did in the attitude era. Wrestlemania 23 in 07 had a bigger buyrate then any of the attitude era buyrates. But the attitude era had crazy ratings. So ratings are important to a degree but not like it used to be. If WWE was about to die do you think they would waste so much money on shitty movies and a pointless network?
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"Ratings" may not be important, but viewers absolutely does, and ratings are an indicator of who is watching. Hell, the main reason the WWE is launching a network is so that there will always be an avenue for them to display their product on TV (cable TV, that is). Vince fears that there will come a day when no network wants his product, so he's launching his own. Secondly, 2007 was a long time ago, and PPV buys are down. Thirdly, the reason why the WWE has made more money in the past decade is because they went public as a company, and they heavily expanded their merchandise and licensing department. That's their bread and butter, which is mainly advertised through TV.

I mean, are you actually trying to argue that having strong viewership isn't important for the WWE? I mean, I would absolutely agree with you that it wasn't important if people were just watching it through other avenues (Youtube and such), but like I said, their main money makers are the TV fees paid by Sci Fi and USA (along with other networks all over the world) to display their shows. That's where most of their money comes from.

EDIT: If Rock is coming back for SS and WM 29, then it'll be Cena/Rock II, with the deciding tie breaker at WM 29. It also means this is Taker's last match, really, as he won't be the main focus next year either.
 
B

Biggest-Geek-Ever

Member
The good news is that Rock is back through WrestleMania, and it is believed that he'll be doing another match at SummerSlam this year and a third at next year's WrestleMania.
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STEALING THE SPOTLIGHT FROM THE MIZ BAW GAWD

FYI, all buyrates prior to WM 20 are domestic only. So attitude era WMs were still far bigger than any after.
 
R

rvd2kewl

Member
Killing_Joke said:
When you have summer vacation do you still look at your books to learn shit? No, its a vacation..time off, time to relax..These guys gave YEARS of their lives to the business. Some of them barely saw their kids. Give them a break dude.JR did a lot for this company as well, he could just stay home and retire if wants and i'll accept it.
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Again, missing the point of the original message.

I said in the original message:

He certainly can do whatever he wants. He's earned that right as much as anyone for the years spent on the road and the stuff he's put his body through. But I think one of the biggest issues in the industry right now is that most of the veterans have little to no passion for the business anymore and only show up because they're asked to appear or to collect a paycheck. Nobody is sticking around out of a love for the business and helping the young guys fulfill their potential and it's a damn shame.
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I AM NOT BASHING HBK FOR NOT BEING AROUND EVERY WEEK.

The whole point of my original message was to say that the industry is suffering because almost all of the guys that have been extremely successful over the last 15 years are completely going away and not contributing anything to the future of the business anymore.

Again, to clarify, I am not knocking any certain individuals for that because they've earned that right to go away and live their lives. Even though I brought up HBK in the original message, his tweet was simply used as an example of how guys feel now towards the wrestling industry and it's hurting the quality of the industry today. Most of the big names are going out on top and losing to already established names (HBK going out against Taker, Batista going out against Cena) and you don't see anyone training a wave of students for the future outside of Booker T with his PWA promotion.

As for JR, I said:

Jim Ross is another guy that has been bugging me as of late. He always tells people on Twitter he's still employed by WWE and in search of good, young talents but he doesn't attend Indy shows or watch DVD's put together by guys with wrestling experience. What does he do? He recruits college football players that don't make it to the NFL -- the guys that typically only go to FCW because they have nowhere else to go and because there can be big money made in WWE. So frustrating.
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I am not attacking JR at all, just saying that he is focusing on recruiting the wrong types of guys for WWE by solely focusing on ex-football players that simply want the WWE money and not giving any guys with wrestling experience a look (guys making shit now but that do it in hopes of making it to WWE because they grew up a fan).

Look at the guys JR signed when he was the talent relations guy. Tell me which ones were successful because they were football players. Cena, Orton, Edge, Christian, Angle, Hardyz. All grew up fans of the business except for Angle as far as I know, but he was an amateur wrestling star with a killer work ethic that really took to the art form of pro wrestling.

Even with Rock, he was another guy JR signed and you can say he was a football guy all you want, but he grew up in the business and the only reason he became that much of a success is because he loved what he did.

Edit: Just wanted to say this was my last response on the matter. Don't feel like repeating myself again and again and I'm sure you guys don't want to read the same stuff over and over so I'm done with it.
 
B

BoboBrazil

Member
Apparently NXT is not ending even though this fucking season has been going on over a year already and now William Regal is the new GM of the show announced at tonight's taping.
 
S

Shadowlink

Member
Smackdown Spoilers:

Sheamus came out first cut a promo said Daniel Bryan was a changed man. He said he's now conceded just like Sheamus was when he won his first title two years ago. Vickie Guerrero and Dolph Ziggler came out and interrupted them. Dolph cut a promo saying he should've been in the main event at WrestleMania. Teddy Long came out to interrupt and booked Dolph vs. Sheamus as the first match.

1. Sheamus defeated Dolph Ziggler. Swagger came out to distract Sheamus. Ziggler and hit the Zig Zag, but Shemaus kicked out and then finished off Dolph for the win.

Big Show vs. Mark Henry was advertised for later in the show.

2. Santino Marella defeated Heath Slater. Slater went for a move off the top rope. Santino knocked him off and as Slater was still sitting on the top rope, he hit him with The Cobra.
 
Morgadeth

Morgadeth

Member
Perspicacity said:
Regal should be the GM of Raw, Aces should be the GM of Smackdown, and Teddy Long should be the GM of a Miami area Burger King franchise.
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Johnny Ace should wrestle.

Teddy Long retire - he can afford to, right?

Pinkie Pie should guest host Raw.

Rainbow Dash should guest host Smackdown!

Drew McIntyre deserves another title run - maybe as World champ instead of that boring Daniel Bryan.

Eve is a terrible actress and should be stripped.

CM Punk should replace Michael Cole.

Cole should be a heel manager and have a creepy love affair story line with Vickie.

Rehire Jeff Hardly and make him the GM of both shows
 
R

RBH

Member
More Smackdown spoilers:


Sheamus promo burying Daniel Bryan. Vickie out with Dolph. Amazing heat. Teddy out, signed Dolph vs Sheamus

Sheamus beat Dolph clean, very good match, good nearfalls

Lauranitis wants apology from Teddy for attacking him on Raw. He didn't get it

Discussed switching brands and whatnot. Teddy signed Henry vs Show

Santino beats Slater with cobra

Eve segment backstage. Natalya "comedy" killed segment dead

Eve pinned Natalya. Match didn't last long

Cody promo about Big Show. Show out, Cody fled through crowd. Show promo asking him to come back and be friends.

Cody didn't want to be friends, so Show went to chase. Teddy stopped him.

Teddy signed Show vs Cody for title at Mania. Show excited to win IC Title.

Show beat Henry. Fun MEAN GUY MATCH, pretty good actually.

Teddy says it's do or die for Drew, he wins tonight or he's fired. LOL


http://twitter.com/#!/bryanalvarez
 
Parallax

Parallax

best seen in the classic "Shadow of the Beast"
Morgadeth said:
Johnny Ace should wrestle.

Teddy Long retire - he can afford to, right?

Pinkie Pie should guest host Raw.

Rainbow Dash should guest host Smackdown!

Drew McIntyre deserves another title run - maybe as World champ instead of that boring Daniel Bryan.

Eve is a terrible actress and should be stripped.

CM Punk should replace Michael Cole.

Cole should be a heel manager and have a creepy love affair story line with Vickie.

Rehire Jeff Hardly and make him the GM of both shows
Click to expand...
I think you had a mild stroke while making that post, because it became nonsensical near the beginning, and then came back on track.
 
N

Net_Wrecker

Member
Biggest-Geek-Ever said:
I'll come clean here: Despite all the posts talking about it, I still refuse to believe Goldust vs. Rhodes was an actual thing being discussed.
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Of course not. That's a good idea that would lead to good matches and could've made use of the family's wrestling history...why would they want any of that?

Just let Cody give Big Show his Wrestlemania moment by winning a meaningless title against a meaningless opponent.
 
B

BoboBrazil

Member
Smackdown spoiler

Kane interfered during Orton/Bryan. Kane is cutting a promo on Orton so looks like Kane vs Orton at Mania? What about Zack Ryder??????????
 
G

G-Fex

Member
BoboBrazil said:
Smackdown spoiler

Kane interfered during Orton/Bryan. Kane is cutting a promo on Orton so looks like Kane vs Orton at Mania? What about Zack Ryder??????????
Click to expand...

HEY LOOK EVERYBODY

KANE IS PULLING A WADE BARRET, AFTER BEING BURIED BY CENA HE'S GONNA FALL OUT OF TOP CARD AND GO FOR ORTON FOR A WHILE
 
P

Professor Beef

Banned
Net_Wrecker said:
Of course not. That's a good idea that would lead to good matches and could've made use of the family's wrestling history...why would they want any of that?

Just let Cody give Big Show his Wrestlemania moment by winning a meaningless title against a meaningless opponent.
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Wrestling? On a wrestling show? MON DIEU

Also, check the NWA thread
BoboBrazil said:
Smackdown spoiler

Kane interfered during Orton/Bryan. Kane is cutting a promo on Orton so looks like Kane vs Orton at Mania? What about Zack Ryder??????????
Click to expand...

SIGH
 
S

steveovig

Member
Net_Wrecker said:
Of course not. That's a good idea that would lead to good matches and could've made use of the family's wrestling history...why would they want any of that?

Just let Cody give Big Show his Wrestlemania moment by winning a meaningless title against a meaningless opponent.
Click to expand...

I don't know. Honestly, who the hell really cares if it's Goldust/Cody or Cody/Show? No one will care either way.
 
N

Net_Wrecker

Member
steveovig said:
I don't know. Honestly, who the hell really cares if it's Goldust/Cody or Cody/Show? No one will care either way.
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Entertaining meaninglessness >>> boring meaninglessness.

I'm thinking of what's best for the people. The people don't care for Cody/Goldy less than they don't care for Cody/Big Show....or something.
 
B

Biggest-Geek-Ever

Member
Net_Wrecker said:
Of course not. That's a good idea that would lead to good matches and could've made use of the family's wrestling history...why would they want any of that?

Just let Cody give Big Show his Wrestlemania moment by winning a meaningless title against a meaningless opponent.
Click to expand...
When's the last time Goldust was a competitive wrestler? And when was the last time he actually put on a decent match? It'd probably suck even more nuts than Show/Cody will.

Net_Wrecker said:
Entertaining meaninglessness >>> boring meaninglessness.

I'm thinking of what's best for the people. The people don't care for Cody/Goldy less than they don't care for Cody/Big Show....or something.
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You wrote this on your wrist.
 
N

Net_Wrecker

Member
Biggest-Geek-Ever said:
When's the last time Goldust was a competitive wrestler? And when was the last time he actually put on a decent match? It'd probably suck even more nuts than Show/Cody will.
Click to expand...

You're crazy. Goldust/Cody with Dusty Rhodes as guest ref forced to count 3 and retire Goldust with Cody laughing in his face >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> whatever the hell Big Show is going to be doing.

Biggest-Geek-Ever said:
You wrote this on your wrist.
Click to expand...

I am now LEGITIMATELY angry, and filled with rage because of this totally unrehearsed line.

B-b-b-b-b-b-

LOOK HOW I STUTTER WITH RAGE. I'M SO LEGITIMATELY ANGRY RIGHT NOW.
 
E

Evening Musuko

Black Korea
BoboBrazil said:
"Bryan Alvarez ‏ @bryanalvarez
Crowd chanting YES every time Bryan throws strike"

Oh man this is great.
Click to expand...


KuGsj.gif
THIS MUST CATCH ON
 
D

Dark Ninja

Member
So...is Mil Mascares still going to be inducted into the hall of fame. Everytime they mention the hall of fame they never mention Mil Mascaras
 
M

Mr. Enigma

Member
ODB & Eric Young defeated Gail Kim & Madison Rayne to become the new TNA Knockouts Tag Team Champions. Yes, Eric Young is now holding a women's title. After the match, Young asked ODB to marry him and she said yes. Young jumped into ODB's arms and she carried him off.

Uh.gif
 
P

Pristine_Condition

Member
RBH said:
Honest question.

How many people here keep up with ROH's TV show on a regular basis?

I lost the motivation to watch it awhile ago and was wondering if it's worth getting back into at this point.
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I do. It's good to great, except for the TERRIBLE Davy Richards clique, which looks to be winding down, since Steen has been the focus of the last few shows.

TV production got better in the last few weeks too, with different cameras, and they finally decided to use the direct audio from the mics when people are cutting promos in the ring so it doesn't sound quite as muddy as hell like most indy shows anymore.

They are really letting #demboyz talk a lot too. Which, of course, is awesome. They currently have a feud going on with WGTT (who are solid heels now) where every time someone hits someone else in the head with a steal chair, they get fined $5000. So Charlie Hass did a run-in at the end of one show and took his shots and just went straight down to the announce table and handed Kevin Kelly and Nigel McGuinness ten grand in cash. It was such awesomely old-school Cornette booking that I marked like a 12 year old.

Another old-school touch I love are the regional promos they do in the bumpers.

ROH is not a lost cause by any means.

...

My favorites indy right now is PWG, with Shimmer actually being a close second. Shimmer has some awesome personalities. Chikara has a great top of the card, but fuck the student wrestlers.
 
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