Wrestling: The Baron Corbin Era

[Deanjam]

No idea how much the bump was due to The Bucks (or how much that bump actually was)

22% above the previous record in that time slot according to Meltzer.

[An Actual Propeller]

AAA Azteca ratings:

19/04: 3.2 rating (5.4 million viewers - a million more than previous record)
12/04: 2.5 rating (3.9 million viewers)
05/04: 2.1 rating (4.4 million viewers)
29/03: 2.3 rating (4.1 million viewers)
22/03: 2.1 rating (3.3 million viewers)

The AAA show is by far the most watched wrestling show in North America.  19/04 was promoted as a Good Friday special so may have helped the viewing figures.

[Spode]

Finding everything but the actual television compelling about WWE right now. FOX supposedly having input on the shakeup (Almas back on Smackdown), privately not giving a shit about couples (Almas originally on RAW) but then backtracking to either genuinely appease talent they didn't realise they were upsetting or to portray publicly that they didn't actually  want to fuck up people's lives for the fun of it. Re-naming the War Raiders and then changing it due to the bad reaction and never acknowledging it ever happened - the whole thing seems to be blind panic with no long term planning at all. If AEW turns out to be even half decent, I genuinely think they're in serious trouble.

Also think this Harper situation is going to blow up in light of the recent John Oliver segment. I can't comprehend how they can extend the contracts of talent as a punishment for not working when they clearly hate their jobs.

[hummingofevil]

Also think this Harper situation is going to blow up in light of the recent John Oliver segment. I can't comprehend how they can extend the contracts of talent as a punishment for not working when they clearly hate their jobs.

Having one of their owners as Trump's main fundraiser will keep that wolf at the door for at least the next 2 years.

[Ja'moke]

On Thursday's Q1 call for investors, WWE Chairman Vince McMahon pointed to 15 top and mid-card talents being out as the reason for declining numbers.

"When you don't have talent, you don't have storylines. When you don't have storylines, you're not going to do that well in terms of live events and television ratings. It was like a cascade of things that happened," he said.

https://www.f4wonline.com/wwe-news/vince-mcmahon-talent-absences-blame-declining-wwe-numbers-282366?amp&__twitter_impression=true

[Mobius]

Rhea Ripley #cancelled

[Timothy]

When you don't have talent, you don't have storylines. When you don't have storylines, you're not going to do that well in terms of live events and television ratings. It was like a cascade of things that happened," he said.

McMahon followed that up by saying that all those talents were back and that they "made new talent." He was optimistic for the future, citing new additions to the writing team and a new live events team that is now in place.   

Worlds shittiest boss.

[boki]

Rhea Ripley #cancelled

Her apology was, err, interestingly worded.  I doubt anything much'll come of it, although I'd expect that the E will have a word with her edgelord chums about their stream.

[An Actual Propeller]

AAA Azteca ratings:

19/04: 3.2 rating (5.4 million viewers - a million more than previous record)
12/04: 2.5 rating (3.9 million viewers)
05/04: 2.1 rating (4.4 million viewers)
29/03: 2.3 rating (4.1 million viewers)
22/03: 2.1 rating (3.3 million viewers)

The AAA show is by far the most watched wrestling show in North America.  19/04 was promoted as a Good Friday special so may have helped the viewing figures.

Apparent correction on the 19/4 number: according to Superluchas, it was actually a 1.37 rating, for 772,140 viewers. Doubt The Young Bucks will tweet that.

[up_the_hampipe]

Impressive promo from Cody here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azQwNRD3H_o

[Ja'moke]

That was great... not sure about the fake crying at the end, but everything else, perfect.

[hummingofevil]

Yeah. Was good that. Am I getting ahead of myself with these CM Punk mentions. It's obviously very early stages and Meltzer has reported previously that Punk is "done with wrestling" but there must be a part of him that thinks if he prescence in AEW helps them grow then it's another fuck you to the WWE who he clearly despises. I suspect if he does appear it will be in stage 2 of AEW but would be class.

In other news the ROH/NWA Crocket Cup show looked really good. I haven't seen it all as coudn't justify paying out another £25 but the design and production was great and the reviews say the matches were great.

https://twitter.com/nwa/status/1122289951645818881

Ricky Morton still got it at 62 and that ring mat.... beautiful.

[up_the_hampipe]

Yeah. Was good that. Am I getting ahead of myself with these CM Punk mentions. It's obviously very early stages and Meltzer has reported previously that Punk is "done with wrestling" but there must be a part of him that thinks if he prescence in AEW helps them grow then it's another fuck you to the WWE who he clearly despises. I suspect if he does appear it will be in stage 2 of AEW but would be class.

Well, he's not quite done with wrestling as he's been popping up at random indie shows in disguise. It's probably going to take a while before he takes a proper dive back in though.

[hummingofevil]

Meiko Satomura vs Sareee from SEAdling (I think)

Some fun kicks for you to enjoy.

https://twitter.com/narukiroy/status/1122325157069185024

[hummingofevil]

Might watch Raw for a bit. But nothing will be as entertaining as Harry / Davey Boy Jr's fashion sense. I really loved him in Bloodsports but thought he could do with moving away from the Union Flag ring gear and should be a dressed in black badass. I suspect he will never accept that advice (and I'm not the one to argue with him).

https://twitter.com/DBSmithjr/status/1123001522487529473

[hummingofevil]

Didn't watch Raw. Instead got sucked into a row online about some Israeli wrestling fans acting like dicks in a load of shows in Tokyo in last week. When you think wrestling fans couldn't reach new depths of lacking self-awareness there is always a new one to come along and lower one's expectations.

[hummingofevil]

Meiko Satomura vs Sareee from SEAdling (I think)

Some fun kicks for you to enjoy.

https://twitter.com/narukiroy/status/1122325157069185024

This was Sendai girls. They doing a show in Manchester in June and I'm half tempted.

[Moribunderast]

That Cody promo was all sorts of ace. I love goofiness in wrestling but I'm equally a fan of when it's taken seriously with sincere and genuine builds. If AEW can build it's big matches with promos and production value the like of the Dustin and Cody videos and then blend that in to a show with some BTE/All In style goofiness I will be a happy camper.

Watching the Impact PPV "Rebellion" currently. It's sad because the small venues and crowds make it feel very low-rent but some of the match builds seem like they've been really good telly. Sami Callinana and Rich Swann had a good hardcore match based off a cool looking angle and as I type I am watching a very good Gail Kim vs. Tessa Blanchard match. Still got Brian Cage vs. Johnny Mundo/Impact and LAX vs. Pentagon and Fenix in a TLC match, which should both be good.

[Ja'moke]

Apparently The Revival turned down a $500k a year contract... then on last night's Raw they did a segment were the Usos caught Dash shaving Dawson's back in the shower. Coincidence?

[Deanjam]

Just heard that on Observer radio. WWE are so petty. Quite pathetic.

[hummingofevil]

Apparently The Revival turned down a $500k a year contract... then on last night's Raw they did a segment were the Usos caught Dash shaving Dawson's back in the shower. Coincidence?

I thought that was Richocet? Ha ha. Yeah. Look's like Vince and Paul's determination not to be the bad guy company has lasted a matter of weeks.

TBF if you paid me 500k you can take the piss out of me all you want.

[Z]

It's kind of interesting though, there's a whole generation of guys now who have gotten into it post-RF video shoots and all that shit, wholly aware of how shit the business can be from listening to washed up has beens waffle on for hours. These are guys where 500k a year was probably never that big of a motivator to them at all. Their idols are guys who built up their names outside of the WWE, the recent runs of Joe and AJ stand to serve as proof that there's a reward in keeping away and honing your craft... WWE's buying power just isn't what it realistically should be.

[Moribunderast]

Well, Dean Ambrose's "retirement" didn't last long. Jon Moxley is BACK.

Presumably AEW bound?

[Timothy]

Counting the days, escaping from jail and eventually getting chased out by a dog.

Fucking great video that was.

[petril]

better than about 90% of post-Shield Ambrose shenanigans

[gmoney]

Nailz 2000

[Moribunderast]

Aaaand apparently WWE have added 2 months to Dash Wilder's contract due to injury lay-off. God they're fucking reprehensible.

I need to send a question in to Meltzer and get him to explain these contracts to me. I know American workers' rights are fucked but how can it be that people can seemingly not quit a job? If someone does quit, do they have to sit out their contract without pay? Or does the contract just get frozen in perpetuity? It seems like utter lunacy. Hopefully the talent is learning from this shit and refuse to sign contracts with these clauses in place going forward. Nobody should be a hostage at their fucken place of work.

[An Actual Propeller]

I'm not Dave Meltzer, but here's what I know and assume:

I know American workers' rights are fucked but how can it be that people can seemingly not quit a job?

Because the wrestler signed a contract saying that they cannot work elsewhere.

If someone does quit, do they have to sit out their contract without pay?

They still get paid, otherwise it gives a wrestler a way out of the contract.  However, WWE may have the right to suspend a wrestler without pay if they don't do as they're told.  Depends on who it is, depends on the contract.

Or does the contract just get frozen in perpetuity?

It probably will, if WWE deems the wrestler is useful to another organisation.  Not a contract thing, it's a "we're in a wrestling war" thing.

It seems like utter lunacy. Hopefully the talent is learning from this shit and refuse to sign contracts with these clauses in place going forward. Nobody should be a hostage at their fucken place of work.

Talent will still sign for WWE despite this because WWE still (often) pays more than anywhere else and WWE is by far the biggest wrestling promotion on the planet and has the most exposure.  WWE has all the leverage in the world, and the best lawyers.

[Moribunderast]

So effectively you can not quit a WWE contract because if you leave and don't return they can just ice you until you've fulfilled the contractually obligated length of time or number of dates. Do you think such a contract (and with the independent contractor status) would hold up if challenged in court? I realise no wrestler will do so, for fear of being bled monetarily dry by WWE's lawyers and permanently burning bridges with Vince but it just seems absolutely ridiculous. Like, I could see a "no-compete" clause saying you can't go wrestle elsewhere until your contract is up (though that makes a mockery if the IC status itself) but actually being able to freeze a contract for injury or quitting... I'm not new to how fucked corporate America is when it comes to it's employees but it's just a shitty situation. If someone is miserable at work they should not be held hostage.

[An Actual Propeller]

Do you think such a contract (and with the independent contractor status) would hold up if challenged in court? I realise no wrestler will do so, for fear of being bled monetarily dry by WWE's lawyers and permanently burning bridges with Vince but it just seems absolutely ridiculous.

Well, yeah, that's the reason.  Lawyers.

I'm no employment lawyer, but I think that, as long as a wrestler gets paid, it won't hold up in court.

If the wrestler does not get paid, the wrestler has a chance to get out of it.  Brock Lesnar had a no-compete clause in his contract when he left in the mid-2000s, but that didn't hold up in court so he and WWE reached an out-of-court settlement and he was released.