Originally Posted by Emperor Smeat (Post 5335239)

https://shop.wwe.com/on/demandware.s...0109D34D45.jpg

https://shop.wwe.com/wrestlemania-36...0Blue#start=15

Originally Posted by Seph (Post 5335240)

omg I need that lol

Originally Posted by Observer

In a dizzying week for the UFC, Dana White told ESPN's Brett Okamoto Thursday afternoon that UFC 249 is canceled and all upcoming events have been postponed indefinitely.

The reason? The highest levels of Disney, owners of ESPN, and the sports network told him to "stand down" and not do the event, which was set for Lemoore, CA's Tachi Palace Casino a week from this Saturday. ESPN is the UFC's sole North American pay-per-view provider through ESPN+.

Originally Posted by Seph (Post 5335249)

Its Vince McMahon as the devil. That's all I need it for.

I would say you're a petty bitch but that would be disrespectful to a man who gets laid.

Originally Posted by ClockShot (Post 5335281)

:lol:

Dana White probably kicking himself for making that deal with ESPN/Disney now.

All that hype and bluster. And it took one phone call to shut him up and shut him down.

Originally Posted by Seph (Post 5335246)

lmfao Nia Jax shot on Ronda Rousey for being too dangerous in the ring, said she went to upper management and put her foot down and told them to stop letting Ronda injure people, in particular Alexa Bliss.

Originally Posted by Black Widow (Post 5335243)

Why is that saying becoming a thing?

Originally Posted by Observer Newsletter

Due to the virus, the situation in Japan has changed once again. Before, nobody wanted to sell to WWE and now with most companies in tough financial straits, it’s become a buyers market and it is believed companies that otherwise wouldn’t sell would be willing to do so and WWE could have a local infrastructure and start being a force in that market. The general belief is that with MMA no longer a big deal except for a few shows a year, that the only thing that can threaten New Japan, past a current act of God, wouldn’t be another company in the market, but WWE in the market with roots which always could have happened but now the odds are significantly better to make such a deal

Originally Posted by Observer Newsletter

Google searches were even more pronounced. WrestleMania would be expected to do three to four million Google searches. It should be about that number for each show.

The Saturday show did 1 million, way under expectations. Sunday did 270,000 (including Monday), which is so low as to be beyond shocking, and only 50,000 of that was for WrestleMania, as the breakdown was 100,000 for Flair, 50,000 for McIntyre, Cena and 20,000 for Mandy Rose. It was as if the public saw Saturday as the show, but even 1 million is the level of a B UFC PPV show and WrestleMania is usually better than Jon Jones level and this did half of Jones. Sunday was below the level of a Demetrious Johnson level PPV show.

The preshow on FS 1 for Saturday did a 0.1 rating and 106,000 viewers and 44,000 (0.03 rating; 29,000 men; 15,000 women) in 18-49.
The Sunday pre-show did a 0.1 rating and 112,000 viewers, with 56,000 (0.04 rating; 43,000 men; 13,000 women) in 18-49.
For a comparison, the preshow last year on USA did a 0.5 rating and 749,000 viewers and an 0.26 rating in 18-49.

Originally Posted by Vastardikai (Post 5335626)

I still picture someone giving Braun green crayons and paper in an attempt to get him to "draw money."

Originally Posted by Guru Dave (Post 5335580)

Your entire posting career is why abortion should be legalized.

Originally Posted by Droford (Post 5335585)

Nakamura keeps calling Braun "brown"

Originally Posted by Post Wrestling

In regards to Pro Wrestling Sheet's report of WWE going live regularly again next week, we heard the same thing during WWE Smackdown. Fightful was told that a "very aggressive" Vince McMahon made the decision, and many on the talent roster are unhappy about it. He was at the Friday Smackdown. Some at the WWE tapings were given a letter in case they were questioned by law enforcement, stating that they are "essential media."

Originally Posted by Observer

Many in the company were shocked at the decision. Those close to the situation have defended it and that it was the correct economic decision even if every decision, and even running at all, has to be questioned right now.

Contracts with both NBC Universal and Fox call for a certain number of shows per year that can be taped. For Raw, that number is three which, at the start of the year, was earmarked for one show over Christmas week and two shows during European tours. In theory, that would leave them with 49 live Raws. Fox has a similar deal.

While nobody will say so publicly, the fear was that by violating the contract, it would give the networks the legal ability to withhold money or find a way to change the deals. With no house shows, the company, like all sports companies, is surviving largely based on television revenue, but the networks paying that are also taking in far less revenue than they projected at this point in time due to the pandemic.

It's unclear whether the decision to return to live is an actual thing that the networks told McMahon to do in recent weeks based on declining ratings or if he is guarding against the possibility of them doing so.

Given that wrestling is the only sports property Fox has going right now and after building their main network around live sports in addition to FS1 needing programming, there doesn't appear to be a chance Fox would want to use more taped shows vs. live to terminate the relationship. Additionally, USA Network badly needs WWE more than they ever have in the past, so WWE has leverage for both of their main TV partners in that regard.

One would think network partners would understand the unique aspect of the situation the world finds itself in. But the fear is that if they have to make cuts due to the advertising business being down so badly, WWE can't afford to leave an opening for the networks to do so to them.

Originally Posted by Slik (Post 5335655)

That is so strange, re: live shows.

There's no way WWE wouldn't have legal rights to avoid this, as there is no precedent for this scenario. Also strange bc spoilers weren't leaking - in fact, less is known about what will happen onscreen now than ever before.

Originally Posted by Slik (Post 5335655)

That is so strange, re: live shows.

There's no way WWE wouldn't have legal rights to avoid this, as there is no precedent for this scenario. Also strange bc spoilers weren't leaking - in fact, less is known about what will happen onscreen now than ever before.

Originally Posted by Seanny One Ball (Post 5335722)

Cornette has pushed the crotchety grandpa routine too far. He needs to dial it right back and just tell stories again.