It'd be awesome if they pivoted and had Seth vacate the belt and then have the Rumble be for the belt, 1992 style. Then have Punk win the Rumble and set up a match with a returning Seth at Mania.
EDIT: I see Tracker kind of already said the same thing. I would leave the cash-in for another time. Actually it'd be kind of cool to have Rollins go over Punk at Mania and then have Priest cash-in to bring it full circle to Rollins' first win.
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EDIT: I see Tracker kind of already said the same thing. I would leave the cash-in for another time. Actually it'd be kind of cool to have Rollins go over Punk at Mania and then have Priest cash-in to bring it full circle to Rollins' first win.
If were going to do a full call back, you have Priest cash in mid March after something huge and make it a triple threat.
My only concern is do you want to add Priest at the third wheel to any of these matches? I think Judgement Day is doing a great job with the whole R-Truth gimmick... but how do you insert that into the main event at Wrestlemania? Anyone other than Reigns, Rock, Rhodes, Punk, Rollins at Mania would out of place. The same holds true for Drew and Orton. How do you insert him into any match without them being an afterthought.
Maybe a fatal four way, but I always assumed they would have Balor turn on Priest at some point. Leading to them squaring off at Mania.
One match I hope we see is Mysterio vs Mysterio Round two. It just makes too much sense to not have that match again. Easy booking 101. Give me more of Dom and Rhea knocking on Daddy's door at Easter.
Last edited by trackercowe; 01-19-2024 at 07:14 PM.
Under the deal, Netflix will become the exclusive home of “Raw” in the U.S., Canada, the U.K., Latin America and other territories once the deal begins, with more countries and regions to be added over time. Netflix will also become the television home for all WWE shows outside the U.S. That includes fellow weekly shows “SmackDown” and “NXT” as well as annual live events like WrestleMania, SummerSlam and the Royal Rumble, as well as documentaries, original series and additional projects.
I was talking about Netflix with my son this weekend. We have never subscribed to it. Never tried the free trial. We just didn't bother with Netflix and at this point didn't feel like we needed to. Our lives are so busy that we don't feel we're getting proper usage out of Disney or even cable either. We certainly don't want to add the cost of another streaming service that we'll sporadically use. I do catch moments of Raw or Smackdown from time to time to stay in the loop though and not having Netflix will just take me away from being a fan.
The part about the documentaries, original series and additional projects also bothers me. I enjoy watching the Biography and Rivals series on A&E. That was a special deal with A&E. I wonder when that deal expires and will that be gone or will it be an exception.
I don't watch WWE (I'm AEW all the way through) but this is fantastic for Canadian viewers. Was NXT even being shown live on Tuesdays on Sportsnet or TSN? I don't think so.
This is going to open the floodgates for other wrestling shows on those services too. I hope they're all on the major platforms within the next five years (AEW, NJPW, TNA, GCW, AAA, etc.)
I was talking about Netflix with my son this weekend. We have never subscribed to it. Never tried the free trial. We just didn't bother with Netflix and at this point didn't feel like we needed to. Our lives are so busy that we don't feel we're getting proper usage out of Disney or even cable either. We certainly don't want to add the cost of another streaming service that we'll sporadically use. I do catch moments of Raw or Smackdown from time to time to stay in the loop though and not having Netflix will just take me away from being a fan.
The part about the documentaries, original series and additional projects also bothers me. I enjoy watching the Biography and Rivals series on A&E. That was a special deal with A&E. I wonder when that deal expires and will that be gone or will it be an exception.
I think you're probably in the minority here. I'm much more likely to watch WWE programming on Netflix than elsewhere. I don't have cable, and I don't have my IPTV service set up to DVR, so I mostly just don't bother with the live shows.
I even stopped following AEW has closely once FITE started enforcing stricter geoblocking.
On another note, I watched Raw last night, and I think I'm in the minority of people who don't "get" what WWE is supposedly doing so well lately. It's definitely better than what it was under Vince, but it still feels like it's largely aimed at a younger audience. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but it just doesn't really hold my interest.
The wrestling is good, but the characters and storylines have been pretty bland. Drew is probably the most interesting person on Raw right now.
The Punk/Cody segment was a huge letdown. I actually think most of Punk's promos since he's been back have been pretty flat. It does feel a little like they're keeping him on a leash. Also, the "what do you want to talk about" bit is stale AF.
And for all the talk about TK's nonsensical booking making guys like Wardlow look like chumps, having Damian Priest not cash in immediately on a one-legged Rollins makes zero sense and makes Priest look like an absolute moron. If you don't want him to cash in, just say that Judgement Day aren't in the arena or show him in a brawl with Drew or something.
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On another note, I watched Raw last night, and I think I'm in the minority of people who don't "get" what WWE is supposedly doing so well lately. It's definitely better than what it was under Vince, but it still feels like it's largely aimed at a younger audience. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but it just doesn't really hold my interest.
This is me too. It's basically for 16-24 year olds. NXT is even more clearly aimed at that demographic now, with all the wrestlers seemingly being 'social media stars with zany names wearing zany colors" as their gimmicks. Also, it's turned into a spotfest, which is what AEW gets regularly slammed for.
I know WWE is having a great run right now, but I can't get into it either. AEW appeals to me because it has a stronger connection to NJPW/indies and taking its cues from Reddit (for better or for worse haha)
Lots of rumours starting to swirl that WWE may be muscling into that position. This would be a massive blow to AEW.
True, but AEW will just move to NOAH, DDT or another Japanese promotion which I'm all good for. I hope WWE just keeps building a relationship with AJPW, that would be incredible IMO.
Lots of rumours starting to swirl that WWE may be muscling into that position. This would be a massive blow to AEW.
Would it be? I think for some of the AEW hardcores, it would suck because it takes away some of the "dream match" stuff, but AEW went 3 years without a partnership with NJPW and did just fine.
You could argue the dream match stuff has actually hurt them more as the ratings and attendance declines coincides with moving away from long-term booking to the dream match stuff.
It's less the fans and more their ability to attract talent. They have quite a few guys who have gone there in recent years citing the ability to work Japan as well. If WWE closes that door.
And since I am doing a devil's advocate for "AEW bad" thing this morning, may as well double down. Meltzer has come out and said that AEW attendance is getting to 2000 WCW levels which is... real bad. This goes back to out conversation from a page before.
There's no catastrophic news here, but none of it is "good".
