Originally Posted by Emperor Smeat (Post 5306784)

Seems there might be a reason why WWE decided to quietly launch a new free tier of their WWE Network, albeit in beta form.

Rumor going around the net is that the subscriber base for the Network in the US is currently close to being under 1 million and would be the lowest since early 2015.

Assuming its true, that would mean moving NXT to cable tv did some real big damage to the Network. Also with the large DVR numbers the weekly shows have been generating, that's even more potential damage being done to the Network.

https://cultaholic.com/news/wwe-netw...w-one-million/

Originally Posted by Emperor Smeat (Post 5306784)

Seems there might be a reason why WWE decided to quietly launch a new free tier of their WWE Network, albeit in beta form.

Rumor going around the net is that the subscriber base for the Network in the US is currently close to being under 1 million and would be the lowest since early 2015.

Assuming its true, that would mean moving NXT to cable tv did some real big damage to the Network. Also with the large DVR numbers the weekly shows have been generating, that's even more potential damage being done to the Network.

https://cultaholic.com/news/wwe-netw...w-one-million/

Originally Posted by Mr. Nerfect (Post 5306846)

Well, that’s a bit of an assumption. Network subscribers could have bailed for any number of reasons. Shit PPVs for example. People with the Network might still be watching NXT there or on cable.

Originally Posted by Observer

Without any other details or information, Major League Wrestling announced Friday they have "come to terms on the release of Teddy Hart" ...

Hart came under scrutiny in November after he and wrestler Chasyn Rance were mentioned in a now deleted but widely circulated Facebook post regarding the disappearance of Hart's ex-girlfriend Samantha Fiddler. The former wrestling trainee has been missing since the fall of 2016. Hart denied the allegations on Twitter, saying he and Fiddler had gone their separate ways before she moved to Florida where she was last seen.

A Maine indie promotion severed ties with Hart shortly after the allegations were raised. While MLW kept him on the roster, the middleweight title loss to Reed came less than a week after the Facebook post went viral. He did not appear at MLW's Opera Cup TV taping Thursday night.

Originally Posted by Emperor Smeat (Post 5306880)

According to the Observer, Teddy Hart was suddenly released from MLW earlier today with no other details given.

May or may not be related to the allegations surrounding the disappearance of his ex-girlfriend or his recent activity on Youtube.

Originally Posted by Observer Newsletter

The other change is a crackdown on people from other countries who are getting the network in a manner they aren’t supposed to by using a U.S. proxy address. It appears this is aimed at Canada, where WWE has deals in place with the cable providers and fans are going around those deals.

The WWE Network in Canada is a cable television station and there aren’t the options and archives like the U.S. version, just the live stream and limited VOD content. So Canadians have been using a VPN address to subscribe and get the full VOD content. They have found a way to crack down on this. What makes this notable is if there are a significant number of Canadians or people from other countries doing this, it would mean a significant drop in U.S. subs by 12/31, a number that was already feared would fall below 1 million for the first time in many years

Originally Posted by Observer Newsletter

McMahon called for a meeting with Race in the days before the show. Such a thing wasn’t unusual as Race had worked WWF dates previously as NWA champion. And the idea of Race, if he was to drop the title, to come in for a round of matches with Bob Backlund, the WWF champion, made all the sense in the world.

But McMahon proposed something different. He offered Race big money to no-show Starrcade, and to not lose the NWA title and bring it to him. The idea was that Hogan would win the WWF title, and then beat Race for the NWA title, and be viewed as the real and true world champion at a time when that meant a lot. It would have devastated the NWA to have Flair as champion, having never beaten Race. It would have killed the Starrcade closed-circuit concept for a long time to have not delivered the advertised main event.

Race turned the deal down, telling McMahon that he wouldn’t be able to look at himself in the mirror by double-crossing the people who had given him the title so many times. It also should be noted that Race at the time was co-owner of both the Central States and St. Louis offices, and St. Louis had been one of the most successful wrestling cities in the country dating back to the 1920s. Race later said that many would think he was stupid for turning the deal down, but he never could have had any respect for himself if he had taken it.

McMahon was furious and attempted to surprise double leg Race in the bathroom, but Race quickly reversed on McMahon, hooked him in a guillotine before letting him go. Months later, after the war had started and Crockett ran his first show at the Meadowlands, with Flair vs. Race as the main event, the WWF tried to get the New Jersey commission to not allow Race to perform, as at the time the state had a regulation nobody over the age of 55 could wrestle. The problem is that Race was only 41 at the time, but in those days, nobody knew anyone’s real age.

Originally Posted by Emperor Smeat (Post 5306895)

According to this week's Observer Newsletter, Vince McMahon once tried to beat up Harley Race for turning down his idea to screw the NWA and their plans for Starrcade at the time.

Considering Race's rep as a tough guy wrestler at the time, Vince's idea to beat up Race ended up failing miserably.

Originally Posted by The Dastardly One (Post 5306962)

Apparently in his prime he was actually incredibly strong.

Originally Posted by Iceman King Gertner (Post 5306989)

Andre almost drowned Murdoch and Mulligan at the same time after one of them sucker punched Andre during a night of partying according to Flair.

It's Ric Flair so take that story with a grain of salt.

Originally Posted by PWI

While MLW declined to comment to PWInsider.com, instead pointing to their official statement that Hart was released, PWInsider.com was told that issues began in September when Hart didn’t appear for scheduled pre-tapes in Dallas. What was planned for a Best of Three Falls bout against the Dynasty at MLW War Chamber didn’t go according to plan with Hart getting most of the shine in the first fall. We are told that Tom Prichard, who had been in charge of producing the bout, was extremely upset, to the point that one source claimed Prichard nearly quit MLW right after he started with the company. That weekend appears to be where the chasm between the two sides began.

Hart then no-showed the combined show with THE CRASH in Mexico, which caused headaches as he was a big part of advertising for the event in Mexico (including banners outside the arena). On that show, hewas slated for a six man tag, so CRASH now had an extra talent booked they couldn’t use, which MLW sources felt reflected badly on the company. MLW is now working with AAA and their relationship with the CRASH has dissolved. Some MLW sources also pointed to Hart being in the crowd at NXT and other events, saying it disrespected the company, since he was a titleholder for MLW at the time. On that one, I think those upset about it are splitting hairs, since lots of talents from other companies visit promotions, although Hart does dress in a way that makes himself easily noticed no matter where he is. That said, I might feel differently if I had someone under contract and he was showing up at other promotion's events.

Update: An MLW source noted, "We felt Teddy was being not only disrespectful to us but to AEW and NXT and their locker rooms. If he had just been in the back, it’s a non-issue. He was taking away from the talent in the ring with the antics too."

In November in Orlando, there were said to be other headaches. Hart didn’t show up for pre-tapes and again, we are told that what was planned for his match with Myron Reed went out the window with some feeling it made Reed looked poor, this time nearly causing MLW TV to go off the air before a planned angle with CONTRA Unit showing up to do their angle. MLW was taping live to tape with the show being aired later that night on BeIN Sports, so there would have been zero time to post-produce, which added to the issues. The CONTRA fireball angle, burning Hart, was originally slated to kick off a long CONTRA vs. Hart Foundation program with Hart returning in January in Dallas as a surprise. That is obviously all out the window, but had the angle not aired, MLW would have had to course-correct before moving forward.

Originally Posted by Emperor Smeat (Post 5306895)

According to this week's Observer Newsletter, Vince McMahon once tried to beat up Harley Race for turning down his idea to screw the NWA and their plans for Starrcade at the time.

Considering Race's rep as a tough guy wrestler at the time, Vince's idea to beat up Race ended up failing miserably.

Originally Posted by SlickyTrickyDamon (Post 5307196)

I say Harper to NJPW. He would make the vanilla midgets in AEW look even worse.

Originally Posted by Slik (Post 5306948)

Wish Noam Dar had gotten a better main roster run


https://i.postimg.cc/0yP2bf0v/MV5-BO...Xk-Fqc-Gde.jpg

Originally Posted by Mr. Nerfect (Post 5307258)

* Harper to New Japan/AEW (a Mox/Jericho type deal).

* Teddy Hart to NXT.

* The Ascension to the NWA.

* Sin Cara to AEW.

Originally Posted by Guru Dave (Post 5307260)

I don't know much about Teddy Hart. I've heard that he did not live up to his full potential because of his personality. I should probably check out the thread Slik posted.

Originally Posted by Mr. Nerfect (Post 5307258)

* Harper to New Japan/AEW (a Mox/Jericho type deal).

* Teddy Hart to NXT.

* The Ascension to the NWA.

* Sin Cara to AEW.

Originally Posted by Emperor Smeat (Post 5307347)

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">How I picture <a href="https://twitter.com/AEWrestling?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AEWrestling</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AEWDynamite?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AEWDynamite</a> in Garland/Dallas this week..<br>(Brought to life by <a href="https://twitter.com/RetroRandyPrice?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@retrorandyprice</a>) Join us in TX Wednesday via <a href="https://t.co/jXHDjigQLE">https://t.co/jXHDjigQLE</a> or live on <a href="https://twitter.com/tntdrama?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@tntdrama</a> for <a href="https://twitter.com/AEWonTNT?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@aewontnt</a>! <a href="https://t.co/zHgL4NpFRo">pic.twitter.com/zHgL4NpFRo</a></p>&mdash; Justin Roberts (@JustinRoberts) <a href="https://twitter.com/JustinRoberts/status/1204107776756047873?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 9, 2019</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Originally Posted by Guru Dave (Post 5307524)

I recently learned about Vince's disturbing past. I am not as angry about his presentation as I was before.

Originally Posted by Droford (Post 5307560)

Wellness violations are back. Roode and Primo 30 days

Originally Posted by Lock Jaw (Post 5307620)

Didn't know Primo still worked there.....

Also, I finally found out the "Primo" is Spanish for "cousin"........ It's like they were all "Hey what should we call Carlito's cousin? You guys all fine with just calling him cousin?"

Originally Posted by Lock Jaw (Post 5307621)

Oh wait.... Primo is Carlito's brother, and Epico is the cousin. This makes even less sense now. Like they thought Primo was Epico all along.

Originally Posted by Tom Guycott (Post 5307651)

Didn't they hire Epico first, though? I mean of the two. I might be misremembering, but didn't they have other plans for Epico? Then, they just kinda threw Primo and Epico together as a team after shit got fucky with Carlito? I think Poor Primo was a bit of an afterthought.

Also, what you said about him even still working there. I thought they were both released. I thought I made a joke about it somewhere around here about them not having a website with a timer like JTG did.

Then again, they always seem to be "released", and always seem to have a job in WWE. Maybe them being let go is the new "Ultimate Warrior is dead" rumor?

Originally Posted by Iceman King Gertner (Post 5307957)

What's "Worzel"

Originally Posted by Iceman King Gertner (Post 5307741)

Primo was first

Originally Posted by Iceman King Gertner

R.I.P former wrestler and WWE agent Rene Goulet