CI Wrestling Thread #56

[Nightwish84]

Was just about to post that - apparently the show tonight is just awful no wonder they can’t crack 700k viewers.

Saw the greatest comment on reddit. An AEW fan blaming fans in general for being increasingly muted at shows. Said it feels like wrestlers have to do insane spots just to get a reaction. I mean, yeah. That's why the chaotic indy style should be limited but it's usually all over the show so it becomes dull. The fan also said tonight was a solid show but a disinterested audience is becoming a pattern. If it's becoming a pattern then the show wasn't solid. If I go see a band several times in a row and each time the crowd gets smaller and whoever's left is silent, it's hard to claim they're putting on a solid show. Something is wrong at that point. Can't keep blaming fans for empty arenas and poor creative decisions.

 

[Glenn's take]

I think it's funny that Raw went to 2 hours a couple of months ago yet YouTubeTv is still recording 3 hours.

 

[K-mac18]

If anyone's interested I got a presale thing for the Royal Rumble.

Code is: WWEVIP

 

[WildcatFan1982]

The cheapest tickets I saw were $110.

 

[Strokin_Bandit]

Last night was my last watch of any AEW programming. I want to like it and I'm actually interested in some of the talent there, but they've dropped the ball. Last night's show you could tell that the talent was trying too hard. That crowd was dead and terrible and the wrestlers had this look on their face like, "oh crap! Did we just hit an iceberg?"

 

[RMP82]

This Bloodline stuff has been great for years but I don't like this forcing people to be a part of it. Zilla and The Tongan's brother would be fine additions. Sami makes sense due to being a part of the story early, but that was kind of hokey. Not sure why a Irish looking Syrian that was raised in Canada is running around playing Pacific Islander but it is what it is. I'm sure someone like Cody will be added but that would suck. They did the Cody/Roman team up once and it didn't make sense then and won't at WarGames. Make it make sense.

 

[K-mac18]

Cody Rhodes will be the guest picker on College Gameday this Saturday.

 

[Wesley91581]

 

[K-mac18]

Wow, that's crazy, glad he was ok.

Hadn't commented because I didn't get to watch Dynamite until last night. Not one of their stronger shows. The fans hijacking the segment after Swerve said "Stamford" instead of "Bridgeport was unfortunate.
They did something right in having Cole lose.
Julia Hart vignettes continue to be good.

Anyway the ratings were way up doing 666,000 viewers (LOL) and a .22. Highest rating since October 2nd.

In news that should surprise no one the Young Bucks have been voted into the Wrestling Observer Hall of Fame.

 

[Strokin_Bandit]

I didn't think the action/booking was all that bad, I just thought the crowd was horrible and it affected the wrestlers (this was way before the Swerve segment). Just seems like a sinking ship and some of the guys are trying way too hard to keep it afloat.

 

[Wesley91581]

Only took 4 weeks…

Shelton Benjamin vs Komander
Two of pro wrestling’s most incredible athletes collide Saturday!

The Hurt Syndicate’s Shelton Benjamin will make his Collision debut vs the amazing Komander on TNT this Saturday!

Saturday, 11/16
8pm ET/7pm CT on TNT
Saturday Night #AEWCollision

 

[Wesley91581]

Idk about raw but sd and nxt are really trying to push their women’s division - even in a 2 hour show they get 2-3 women’s matches in.

 

[Nightwish84]

Still don't like the last minute 5 v 5 thing but if Reed is now a member of Solo's crew and this isn't just a one-off, that's a great decision. Gives him a new direction once his feud with Rollins is done and I guess this puts him on SD now? Despite the fact that Solo will always be sorta lame, a group including Jacob Fatu and Bronson Reed is > than a couple of Uso brothers and Sami trying to make people laugh. Also think even though "Ambrose" will never be in WWE again, fans wanna see a Shield reunion, even if it's one night and with two out of the three.

 

[JonathanW]

Still don't like the last minute 5 v 5 thing but if Reed is now a member of Solo's crew and this isn't just a one-off, that's a great decision. Gives him a new direction once his feud with Rollins is done and I guess this puts him on SD now? Despite the fact that Solo will always be sorta lame, a group including Jacob Fatu and Bronson Reed is > than a couple of Uso brothers and Sami trying to make people laugh. Also think even though "Ambrose" will never be in WWE again, fans wanna see a Shield reunion, even if it's one night and with two out of the three.

I thought on Monday that they would bring in Reed. And that would cause Rollins to change his mind and join Roman just for another chance at Reed.

 

[Booker Noe]

They have done a great job building Reed the last few months.

 

[Wesley91581]

They have done a great job building Reed the last few months.

Yup talking about building stars in the last year reed/brekker/fatu are guys that they’ve either brought in and/or developed into top level stars for the present and future.

 

[Wesley91581]

He must not be watching either…

Kenny Omega told Fightful Select that he is making his in-ring return to NJPW instead of AEW because of the following reasons:

"The way I look at it is -- a lot of people, not only in Japan but internationally, they never knew who I was until I did big things in New Japan. So I really do owe New Japan a gigantic thank you. I do feel like there's some debt I have to pay in some form or fashion. If by making a comeback at the Tokyo Dome is a way to help repay that; if it can help do something for their business, then I'm more than happy to do that.

I'm sure, naturally, the next question is well 'why not AEW first?' That is the company I helped create and that is the company I am contracted to. It makes sense.

It's tough to answer. There's nothing wrong with AEW. Everything is flowing like clockwork. I feel like there's a spot for all of the hard working men and women. They've all worked incredibly hard to get their spots and keep their spots. I don't want to be that guy [to come and take that away].

When there's an opportunity, I'd love to be back if those guys can have me. But I feel like AEW has a good thing going. I don't think they need me."