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Post by pikemojo on Mar 1, 2019 23:02:01 GMT -5
So, I just read a transcript from Bruce Prichard's podcast where he says that he attended WWE TV for the first time just this past week and they are still figuring out where he fits and what his role is going to be. And I had heard something similar with some of the other recent backstage signees. It seems REALLY clear to me that this, and the large amount of wrestler signings when their roster is already bloated, is in direct response to AEW. I know there's a lot of people downplaying AEW's potential, and realistically we have no clue how well they will do, but WWE must be at least somewhat concerned. They're signing a LOT of new faces behind the scenes without even having of a plan for what to do with them. They just don't want to allow AEW to have someone like Bruce Prichard as an asset.
The same argument could be made for all of their wrestling signings but that could theoretically be explained away as business as usual.
Thoughts?
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Post by on_the_edge on Mar 2, 2019 2:40:32 GMT -5
That has been their MO recently. Well actually goes back to mid 80's. But over last couple years they have been in an arms race. Not because they are afraid of direct competition but simply they don't want any one digging into their piece of the pie. Be it RoH, NJPW, Impact, LU or now AEW. Heck even some of the indies are taking away a dollar or two here or there. If you remember they even went and reserved dates for certain arenas in the past to keep RoH and Impact from being able to hold a card there.
Vince and WWE are not worried about competition like during the MNW but they don't want anyone eating into their revenue.
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Post by Justin Case on Mar 2, 2019 16:52:17 GMT -5
with all the new signings, it often beckons the other end of the spectrum, who's leaving. There are/have been reports of talents not happy in their role. McMahon also stated that he felt the roster was getting stale. I have a feeling that if things don't improve from talent, they could be released, whether they want it or not (clean house). Not sure that AEW has anything to do with this thought process, or just a good reason to get the ball rolling indirectly. In any case, it's much needed, the cleaning house and improvement. WWE for a the cooperate juggernaut that it is, is simply not the best promotion in the world. They are losing ground with fanbase.
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Post by pikemojo on Mar 2, 2019 22:28:24 GMT -5
I don't think WWE is actually worried about direct competition from AEW but I'm hypothesizing that they acknowledge that they COULD become some level of competition if they have the right assets at their disposal. Interesting thought from on_the_edge that WWE wants to do anything to prevent another promotion from "taking" any of their money... even a little bit. Interesting then that WWE would be paying people with no clue of what to do with them... |
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Post by on_the_edge on Mar 3, 2019 2:58:24 GMT -5
I don't think WWE is actually worried about direct competition from AEW but I'm hypothesizing that they acknowledge that they COULD become some level of competition if they have the right assets at their disposal. Interesting thought from on_the_edge that WWE wants to do anything to prevent another promotion from "taking" any of their money... even a little bit. Interesting then that WWE would be paying people with no clue of what to do with them... Well why else sign someone with no role for them set up. To me it's a matter of not wanting them to be an asset for anyone else. Vince has always wanted to be a monopoly. I think his motto is "If you can't beat them, buy them". |
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Post by pikemojo on Mar 3, 2019 21:27:38 GMT -5
I totally get what you're saying. It also seems like spending money on people you don't have a role for eats into profits just like a potential competitor does.
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Post by on_the_edge on Mar 4, 2019 3:42:28 GMT -5
I totally get what you're saying. It also seems like spending money on people you don't have a role for eats into profits just like a potential competitor does. It is balancing salary minus merchandising (often everyone these days has at least one shirt) vs possible money lost to competition if they had said wrestler (this would include merchandising, additional ticket sales, etc). Another thing to consider is how having a person on, or not, your roster effects other signings. For instance Wrestler A is friends with one or more other talent. If WWE signs Wrestler A that helps sign others, maybe at a lower deal, as opposed to Wrestler A signing with competition leading to their friends signing there as well resulting in more lost revenue. On top of all of that Vince plays the long game. He looks not just at $ issues now but over the coming years. |
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Post by pikemojo on Mar 4, 2019 15:11:30 GMT -5
Good points. I was more referring to the behind the scenes people that have been signed recently - Bruce Prichard, Abyss, Shane Helms, etc.
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Post by Big Bri on Mar 4, 2019 18:01:29 GMT -5
I'll play Devil's Advocate here...
I don't see what the big deal is about AEW. Cody had never done anything for me (outside of the WWE angle where he wore the protective mask). He just bores me and seems more like an actor than a wrestler. Also, the Young Bucks look like they are 14 years old. I just can't take them seriously. They have an X-Pac affect on me, haha.
While I like certain "smaller guys", I watch wrestling for the characters and larger-than-life oddities/personalities (Lesnar, Punk, Undertaker, Austin, Rock, Vader, Flair, Sting, etc.). Just people who don't look like they live down the street. Case in point is I don't want to see Riccochet (who looks like he could be working at Ambercrombie & Fitch) put on a ballet performance. I want to see Aleister Black (who looks very unique) kill somebody.
TNA (at certain points) had Hogan, Bischoff, Nash, Angle, Cornette, Bruce P., and yet still failed. What makes you think AEW will be any different? Believe me, I'm all about competition and hope I'm wrong, but I think AEW will fizzle out in two years.
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Post by pikemojo on Mar 4, 2019 22:41:05 GMT -5
I'll play Devil's Advocate here... I don't see what the big deal is about AEW. Cody had never done anything for me (outside of the WWE angle where he wore the protective mask). He just bores me and seems more like an actor than a wrestler. Also, the Young Bucks look like they are 14 years old. I just can't take them seriously. They have an X-Pac affect on me, haha. While I like certain "smaller guys", I watch wrestling for the characters and larger-than-life oddities/personalities (Lesnar, Punk, Undertaker, Austin, Rock, Vader, Flair, Sting, etc.). Just people who don't look like they live down the street. Case in point is I don't want to see Riccochet (who looks like he could be working at Ambercrombie & Fitch) put on a ballet performance. I want to see Aleister Black (who looks very unique) kill somebody. TNA (at certain points) had Hogan, Bischoff, Nash, Angle, Cornette, Bruce P., and yet still failed. What makes you think AEW will be any different? Believe me, I'm all about competition and hope I'm wrong, but I think AEW will fizzle out in two years. Fair points all around. And I completely get why the Young Bucks and some of the others involved may not be some people's cup of tea. There's tons of wrestlers I like more as well. I think the major difference with AEW is that The Elite have a HUGELY loyal fanbase. I feel like this alone could carry them to temporary success. What they do with these first few shows and ultimately the first couple years will determine whether their fanbase sticks with them and whether it ultimately grows. No other promotion has had this level of hype before they've even really done anything. They also have a lot of money behind them and a couple of guys that know how to run a business. There's a good chance they don't survive though. History has shown us that few wrestling promotions last. |
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