I'm really curious if WWE's TV numbers ever really improve that much regardless of quality. It's a miracle they've managed to even stay at this high a level in the digital age. The big thing to consider is if the declining numbers are a trend in all other forms of viewing the product.
Or it's just everyone's sick of 3 years of 3 hour Raws.
People always say, "Well, it's the digital age, it's streaming, of course the ratings went down," but I don't buy that. And my counter-argument is football. If the changing times and tech were the only factor, then one would expect the NFL to be impacted as badly as WWE, but the NFL is bigger than ever. Raw used to laugh at Monday Night Football, but now they don't even bother to try to compete.
What it really comes down to is, fans have been leaving since the close of the Monday Night War, and they aren't coming back. Nor are they being replaced, at least not as quickly as they leave. And why should they be? WWE has occasional bright spots, but on the whole, the product is really bad. The writing is nonsensical, there are no characters, and the show drags on far too long.
my only problem with this statement is... I came back. I have friends who watch now that didn't.
I also think the product is better in many ways than it was 15 years ago. clearly I prefer it since I watch now and stopped then. it was something much different culturally in the attitude era, though, and that's long gone.
I think it's important to recognize that as much as WWE is in a creative slump and the ratings are somewhat reflecting that (and also the usual holiday ratings dive that happens every year), financially, WWE is doing better than they ever have. Even the WWE Network has reached a subscriber threshold where it's profitable (the only red ink on that balance sheet is WWE Films, which is still losing less than usual). And regardless of if they have to paper the last 20k, WrestleMania is still going to fill a 100k stadium, which means 80k paid attendance. That's a huge part of their yearly income, and it's still "selling out" in minutes. And if TNA can continue to find TV channels that will let them air the product, WWE is not going to run out of places to put their shows. If all else failed, they also have the Network as an absolute last resort.
Strictly speaking, WWE can weather this ratings slump and still have the best year of their existence financially. Despite the doom and gloom, last week's lowest rated Raw in history was still the fourth-highest rated cable show. The next PPV is being sponsored by a jewelry company, that's actually a big thing.
It's fine to be irritated by their shitty booking, but WWE's not going anywhere. Even if USA suddenly decided to back out of the contract (they won't), WWE could stick around for years just on their diversified assets.
1) Silence 2) Books must be returned by the last date shown 3) Do not interfere with the nature of causality
I wonder what the numbers for house shows and merch look like
Merch is up by a lot (mostly due to online), house shows is up a lot too, Network is barely up (which makes it funnier everybody touts that most for numerous reasons)
I wonder what the numbers for house shows and merch look like
Merch is up by a lot (mostly due to online), house shows is up a lot too, Network is barely up (which makes it funnier everybody touts that most for numerous reasons)
Hope AJ will be good for the ROH Atlanta live event in January.
And I'm curious how the Network numbers will look when they factor in the recent opening in India which unless I'm mistaken is a pretty big wrestling area?
in other news, I had a dream last night that I was watching honma in a tag team match where he was getting pinned and his partner came in, grabbed his arm, and just pulled his shoulder off the mat instead of attacking their opponent
I think a top rope kokeshi may have also happened at some point
Should I spoil CHIKARA predictions? I'm gonna spoil them, I guess.
I'm predicting FarmerFrog wins or gets close to winning the whole thing. Depends on how strict CHIKARA sticks to the definition of "Golden Opportunity," I think. If Jervis uses his to give FarmerFrog a contract with CHIKARA, I think he doesn't win, but if "Golden Opportunity" is very strictly defined as a title shot without the points required, then I think FarmerFrog wins (or, again, gets really really close), prompting Quack to offer him a full-time spot on the CHIKARA roster.
If Argus ends up being wrestlefriends with the Osirian Portal after this season, that'd be just fine to me. They need a good third to enter king of trios, after all.
Voices of Wrestling are saying Sami Callahan is about to sign with ROH and New Japan.
Good for him
He seems like a talented dude in ring but given his indie background and level of experience going into NXT he never got as good of a response as it looked like he would on paper
A lot of which is probably due to them doing the lamest most boring version of that hacker gimmick ever
in other news, I had a dream last night that I was watching honma in a tag team match where he was getting pinned and his partner came in, grabbed his arm, and just pulled his shoulder off the mat instead of attacking their opponent
I think a top rope kokeshi may have also happened at some point
Why are you not watching DDT, Part 1294088569760: Oishi nearly convinced Honda to turn on Dino, but then video montage of their friendship plays on screen, ruining the plan
Just as Honda was about to beat Oishi, the ref refused to make the 3 count, and video montage of his [the ref's] secret friendship with Oishi plays on screen
Voices of Wrestling are saying Sami Callahan is about to sign with ROH and New Japan.
I struggle to think of a spot for Callahan in New Japan. I don't see what he brings to the table at all other than yet another warm body to wear a Bullet Club t-shirt.
I think you'd be more likely to see him hook back up with Dragon Gate and their assorted off shoots.
[edit] It seems Joey Ryan vs Danshoku Dino happened on this tour with DDT.
It was only in a six man tag, but hopefully this leads to a singles match between the two of them and then shit can just get real. I would honestly be more hype for a singles match between those two than anything else wrestling could offer right now, it would be fucking glorious.
If we're being charitable then it's possible Candice started her rana momentum before the guy was based properly for the flip, but honestly it just looks like he done fucked up taking his bump.
also it's not like honma actually hits the kokeshi with any regularity
He has about a 30% success rate, but when you're throwing 7-8 headbutt variations per match, and wrestling over a hundred times a year, then it adds up.
Honma isn't human though. I don't think a normal man could ever sustain what that guy has put his body through.
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my only problem with this statement is... I came back. I have friends who watch now that didn't.
I also think the product is better in many ways than it was 15 years ago. clearly I prefer it since I watch now and stopped then. it was something much different culturally in the attitude era, though, and that's long gone.
Fair enough, here's something that's neither of those things
Strictly speaking, WWE can weather this ratings slump and still have the best year of their existence financially. Despite the doom and gloom, last week's lowest rated Raw in history was still the fourth-highest rated cable show. The next PPV is being sponsored by a jewelry company, that's actually a big thing.
It's fine to be irritated by their shitty booking, but WWE's not going anywhere. Even if USA suddenly decided to back out of the contract (they won't), WWE could stick around for years just on their diversified assets.
Lowest since '97, lowest in demographic ever
Steam
Steam | Twitter
I'd imagine they do pretty well ticket sale wise since they are at much cheaper venues
my anecdotal evidence agrees with yours wholeheartedly
Steam | Twitter
Merch is up by a lot (mostly due to online), house shows is up a lot too, Network is barely up (which makes it funnier everybody touts that most for numerous reasons)
Steam
Hope AJ will be good for the ROH Atlanta live event in January.
And I'm curious how the Network numbers will look when they factor in the recent opening in India which unless I'm mistaken is a pretty big wrestling area?
I think a top rope kokeshi may have also happened at some point
apparently my subconscious is a big honmamaniac
Steam | Twitter
I think the lowest ever is from October 1996 which featured Jake Roberts faking being drunk to beat Jerry Lawler.
Yeah.
Should I spoil CHIKARA predictions? I'm gonna spoil them, I guess.
EDIT: MEANWHILE, ELSEWHERE IN CHIKARA:
If Argus ends up being wrestlefriends with the Osirian Portal after this season, that'd be just fine to me. They need a good third to enter king of trios, after all.
Which is a great movie btw, highly recommended.
did not expect tastes of Korean movies would be a criterion to make me an even bigger fan of hers and yet here we are.
Steam: Chagrin LoL: Bonhomie
He seems like a talented dude in ring but given his indie background and level of experience going into NXT he never got as good of a response as it looked like he would on paper
A lot of which is probably due to them doing the lamest most boring version of that hacker gimmick ever
Shouldn't that be the Christmas Raw? I don't want Santa to lose screentime to the Slammys.
Smackdown gets the Christmas show I'm thinking.
Subconscious?
?
You don't bring Alberto Del Rio back and not have him run over Santa again.
3DS: 2981-5304-3227
It'll be Zeb this time, but Alberto will heroically throw himsJack Swagger between the cart and St. Mick.
Update, and more reason to watch DDT:
Steam
I struggle to think of a spot for Callahan in New Japan. I don't see what he brings to the table at all other than yet another warm body to wear a Bullet Club t-shirt.
I think you'd be more likely to see him hook back up with Dragon Gate and their assorted off shoots.
[edit] It seems Joey Ryan vs Danshoku Dino happened on this tour with DDT.
It was only in a six man tag, but hopefully this leads to a singles match between the two of them and then shit can just get real. I would honestly be more hype for a singles match between those two than anything else wrestling could offer right now, it would be fucking glorious.
holy shit
Steam
It might just be the angle but it looks like she spiked him right on his head.
Steam | Twitter
That's fair, considering how hurricarana's work.
I made a game, it has penguins in it. It's pay what you like on Gumroad.
Currently Ebaying Nothing at all but I might do in the future.
On one hand I agree because concussion concerns
On the other hand Honma's the only comedy jobber left to love and I don't want that ending anytime soon :[
Steam
Steam | Twitter
there is a season, turn turn turn
Steam | Twitter
He has about a 30% success rate, but when you're throwing 7-8 headbutt variations per match, and wrestling over a hundred times a year, then it adds up.
Honma isn't human though. I don't think a normal man could ever sustain what that guy has put his body through.
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Also, looking this up lead me to find a video of Honma and Tenryu having a fucked up voice competition.