AUDIO: Q&A Podcast (5/23)

 VIDEO:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sL9duINSo0c 

- This is a spoiler, but after Nikki beats up Shayna and takes her title, the crowd LOUDLY chants “You Deserve It” at Nikki. Do you think she’ll finally win and beat Shayna? Or do you think she’s a stepping stone in the Dakota story?

- With the mammoth TV deal in mind, do you think Fox will expecting to have input into Smackdown creative? Given their news and entertainment shows, is it too far fetched to imagine that they would want certain stars to be pushed to boost crossover appeal on other programming?

- Outside of WWE, New Japan, ROH and impact, is there any other promotions you watch or wish you had time to watch?

- Hearing rumors smackdown will be slotted for Fridays' on Fox do you think that's a bad spot?

-Is it possible for a woman to be pushed and get reigns boos? Alexa got a similar push but didn’t get boos. 

- Booking of NXT guys at the Main roster, Why it has been so terrible ? Since last year.

- Favourite takeover main event?

- Who ends Curt Hawkins' streak?

- Where would you rank Hogans heel turn in wcw, Is it the biggest heel turn ever?

- Is Tupac alive?

- What do you think will happen with the wwe product once Vince is not in charge anymore?

- With SDL moving to Fox could they genuinley present Smackdown as an A show.  It seems like they could have a great opportunity to push Smackdown up a few levels in terms of quality and booking.  Especially considering the SD roster looks lit on paper.  

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Joseph Bixl

Does the UFC have any say in what weight class fighters compete in? They seem all in on Mackenzie Dern, but her not being able to make weight all the time could be a problem if she ever makes it to the title picture at strawweight. So wouldn't a Mackenzie Dern at 125 be easier/safer to promote?

- WWE just sold Smackdown’s rights to Fox for $1B

All-In sold 10k in 30 minutes with zero matches announced

Dominion sold every fucking possible seat in Osaka-Jo Hall

NJPW just hired a new, non-Japanese CEO (Harold Meij) with aims of getting a better domestic TV deal and expanding internationally

ROH is breaking attendance records

MLW is on TV/Youtube

Impact is doing better

It seems like both WWE and the “indies” (generic term I’m using for non-wwe) are thriving.

When was the last time the industry as a whole was this healthy?

While the Fox deal and the other points I mentioned are vastly different levels of business, do you think there is any correlation between the 2?  Like a “rising-tide raises all boats” situation, or perhaps the indie scene bringing people (back) to WWE?

While it is early – what ripple effects do you see coming from these things?  Speculate!

2)  It seems fairly obvious that Cody didn’t want to confirm any streaming for All-In until ticket sales started moving, but now that it’s sold out, how do you think they should handling the video for the event?  Twitch?  Facebook?  Youtube?  

Would streaming live or even a delayed VOD broadcast on either NJPW World or Honor Club make sense?  Do you think either group was “promised” a deal for the streaming rights in exchange for various levels of support (i.e. Okada, ROH’s business guy, etc)?

In your mind, would video on either service undermine the “do it on their own” approach that The Elite have preached for All-In?  I don’t think so, but I understand some (a small degree) of criticism from some corners on this point

3)  Lanza remarked that WWE could probably cut 50 wrestlers without affecting any storylines.  I thought he was exaggerating but every week that seems more and more true.  Can you name 50 wrestlers (let’s throw out developmental) that are doing absolutely nothing?  I think we can!

4)  Had a twitter convo with Joel Abraham (Voice of Wrestling) who called NXT guys essentially “ticking time bombs” – as it was only a matter of time before they made it to the main roster and faded into nothing.  The Revival.  Tyler Breeze.  We can go on.

How long are WWE’s deals in NXT/main roster?  Why can’t a wrestler get an NXT run, make it to the main roster, and then leave at the end of the deal and cash in their new resume?  It seems like a path that some folks should consider.  I’m not saying a Sasha Banks should leave, but what about . . . Becky Lynch?  Or hell, The Revival?  They had their run in NXT, got some shine on the main roster, and now Vince has forgotten about them, but couldn’t they find success outside of WWE?

5)  Have you had a chance to watch any Best of the Super Juniors?  Through Night 3, it seems like it’s been the BOTSJ yet!  They’re allowing the Jrs to main event instead of throwing in some crappy HW stuff at the top; I believe someone did the math and found that match length has increased about 50% (from 8 min to 12 min IIRC).  

The NJ Cup received much better production this year, with all matches televised with full camera setups.  I look forward to the BOTSJ getting a similar upgrade next year!  VOD for this sort of tournament in 2018 is inexcusable.

6)  Smackdown potentially getting a bigger potential viewer base on the main Fox channel (even on Fridays . . .) . . . isn’t that great for Fightful?  Will Jimmy Van open up the checkbook and pay for some Fightful ads on NFL broadcasts?

7)  The TV rights deals for Smackdown and Raw are likely to be worth many times what the Network brings in for WWE.  I’ve heard people say they should capitalize on this and start selling NXT and/or a show like 205 Live, given how starved TV companies seem to be for content

OTOH, others have preached caution on TV deals and suggested that the WWE should still push for Network subscribers as a future investment, both to hedge against a collapse in the TV market, and also to ensure there is a base of paying customers that will carry into the future, invested in their content.

What do you think?  Personally, if NXT were taken off the network, I’d find it hard to justify paying for it, as most of their “PPVs” seem skippable.

- I'm only partially kidding, but . . . if you kidnapped Fox executives, strapped them down and made them watch a supercut of stuff Vince thought would be a good idea (the little people humor, the Jinder-Nakamura "promos", the Bobby Lashley's sisters angle) . . . how fast do they pull out of that deal?

- What happens to the Sinclair owned Fox stations that show ROH in October 2019 once the new deal hits?

-  is Neville still on ice? Is his contrast clock running at least? Absolute tragedy he’s stuck in limbo when there are probably big opportunities out there

- Who is running Smackdown these days? Seems like there is less time-wasting than on Raw and even stuff bad on paper (Lana/Iiconics) is at least tolerable and short.  And we’re getting DB singles matches