AEW R-EVOLUTION IV - 3/5/2023

[matt925]

9 minutes ago, Casey said:

According to WrestleTix the setup only allows for around 10k, so 2k short isn’t THAT disappointing.

Probably shouldn’t have done an entire week of shows in the area, though.

That’s by not opening up the entire upper level on the hard cam side. A real sellout would be 13k+. I’ve said repeatedly they should’ve done one show, whether it’s a standard dynamite/rampage taping, or the ppv, and it should have been at Oakland arena. Dynamite would’ve done 10k+ and ppv probably would’ve sold out. 
 

They sold 15k tickets this week which is a lot of people, but for three shows and debuting in the market it’s a disappointment. Definitely not terrible, but a disappointment. 

[odessasteps]

I had to look up that we are talking about the former Staples Center. 

[Elsalvajeloco]

2 minutes ago, odessasteps said:

I had to look up that we are talking about the former Staples Center. 

It should be noted that I believe it's one of the venues that started the naming rights nonsense 20+ years ago. Cruel irony.

[Dolphman 3000]

22 minutes ago, Elsalvajeloco said:

I know it's WrestleMania and they can get away with it, but I am surprised that WWE does the Smackdown/HOF at Crypto.com Arena, the two shows in Inglewood, and then Raw at Crypto.com Arena. That's four shows in four STRAIGHT days. Then, I believe Stand and Deliver at also at Crypto.com Arena. So that's FIVE shows in the same market in four days.

...you're surprised they're doing the same thing they did last year?

[Elsalvajeloco]

5 minutes ago, Dolphman 3000 said:

...you're surprised they're doing the same thing they did last year?

No, I am surprised that they do it all especially when you know you're going to have a multitude of indies leeching off you. Moreover, if you're planning on doing a show later in the year, that's probably going to adversely affect ticket sales.

Keep in mind, you can go to San Diego or something 2  or 3 hours away (Bakersfield or Ontario) and basically be in a totally different market.

[odessasteps]

12 minutes ago, Elsalvajeloco said:

It should be noted that I believe it's one of the venues that started the naming rights nonsense 20+ years ago. Cruel irony.

I guess that depends if you count things like Wrigley Field, named after both a person and company. Otherwise, you have Rich Stadium (war memorial stadium) being renamed in 1973, one of the earliest examples of corporate naming rights. 

[odessasteps]

13 minutes ago, Elsalvajeloco said:

No, I am surprised that they do it all especially when you know you're going to have a multitude of indies leeching off you. Moreover, if you're planning on doing a show later in the year, that's probably going to adversely affect ticket sales.

Keep in mind, you can go to San Diego or something 2  or 3 hours away (Bakersfield or Ontario) and basically be in a totally different market.

Would you consider Anaheim a separate market? 

[Elsalvajeloco]

2 minutes ago, odessasteps said:

I guess that depends if you count things like Wrigley Field, named after both a person and company. Otherwise, you have Rich Stadium (war memorial stadium) being renamed in 1973, one of the earliest examples of corporate naming rights. 

I am talking about the craze that followed in the late 90s/early 2000s (when it became the norm) to the point where we have an American Airlines ARENA (which hilariously just got from under the FTX name) and American Airlines CENTER. There is a State Farm CENTER and also a State Farm ARENA.

Staples Center was around long enough with no other changes that people forgot it's STAPLES.

[Elsalvajeloco]

14 minutes ago, odessasteps said:

Would you consider Anaheim a separate market? 

No. I would avoid doing stuff in the Los Angeles/Orange County areas. Remember there was a time when WWE used Orange County as the substitute for the LA market. The Hollywood WrestleMania being at the Pond at still wild to me. That's very much the sign of the times. Then the Raw tapings the next night being at the Orange Pavilion in San Bernardino is indicative of kinda where they were. 

I get doing it in Dallas because the Metroplex is kinda it's own beast. Los Angeles meanwhile is a tough sale for anyone or any entity because it's an entertainment capital. They're not going to run out of entertainment options. So I expect the WWE to do well come Mania week but likely at the expense of running it later in the year. Hell, they might choose to not run LA again at all during the calendar year which would be smart.

[Belgian_Waffle]

8 hours ago, NikoBaltimore said:

Hey, I'm that one guy!  My hope is that Starks has a star-making performance and beats Jericho.  That way he can be done with JAS and be next in line for the title.  And yes even if Danielson wins (which I hope for) that would still be a mighty fine title match between them.  And you know what?  Even if MJF wins a rematch where Starks either wins or comes much closer would be just fine with me as well.

I think the issue is that he's already a full-blown star AND he already best Jericho clean in a really solid TV match. The fact the match is happening at all is kind of eyebrow raising, especially since they could have just done Starks vs Garcia on the ppv instead of Rampage and used the spot to elevate Garcia to the level where he's the final boss of the JAS and not Jericho, which would lead pretty naturally to a jealous Jericho ousting Garcia and leading to their singles feud. 

Again, broken record but: the top three matches on the next PPV should not have anybody over 40 in them. Even if there's an initial ratings dip dye to the lack of familiar faces, you need to establish sooner than later that your stars are MJF, Starks, Darby, the Acclaimed, Hayter, Baker, Wardlow, Hobbs, Garcia, Yuta, Jungle Boy, Takeshita, Bandido, Top Flight, etc, etc and start positioning Hangman and Orange Cassidy in the Moxley/Danielson role of the more experienced top guy working with the young talent. Move Moxley and Danielson into the long run as tag champs they should have had when they first started teaming a year ago but keep all the top singles spots reserved for new people, preferably people who have never been on WWE television.

[Brandon Bones]

Does anyone else think it might be prudent to put the Iron Man match on first?  Let Mox and Hangman close.

It certainly won’t hurt the enthusiasm of the crowd, right?

[Octopus]

17 hours ago, Greggulator said:

Ironman matches are my favorite stipulation. I love them because they are a great puzzle. There is built in drama as the clock winds down. They have the end in mind, but how do you get to that end along the way? A certified wrestling genius like Dragon is going to have a lot of fun putting it together. As tedious as he is on the mic, I love MJF in the ring. He is a great sleazeball for a match like this who can add in all sorts of fun shortcuts for falls. 

I feel like we’ve been agreeing a lot recently. I’m very glad to have read this. I love the Ironman stipulation. I feel like I’ve been hearing more negative thoughts on the concept Ironman matches  (which is a valid opinion) but I’ve always really enjoyed them.
I love the aesthetics of the sports like graphics. Having a timer counting down and a score next to the names. The drama created by leads and the time running out. 
With long matches (especially guaranteed long matches) can get boring but when you have master craftsmen working a story, it can truly be mesmerizing. 

[The Natural]

1 hour ago, Brandon Bones said:

Does anyone else think it might be prudent to put the Iron Man match on first?  Let Mox and Hangman close.

It certainly won’t hurt the enthusiasm of the crowd, right?

It'll mean I get to see the match I want to see the most and go to sleep after. I'd watch the rest later.

[matt925]

1 hour ago, Brandon Bones said:

Does anyone else think it might be prudent to put the Iron Man match on first?  Let Mox and Hangman close.

It certainly won’t hurt the enthusiasm of the crowd, right?

I like that. Everyone will be nice and fresh for the match and we get more explosive stuff later. 

[AxB]

Danielson said he wanted his match to go on first. He also said Tony Khan was resistant to the idea because The World Title should be in the Main Event.

[The Natural]

1 minute ago, AxB said:

Danielson said he wanted his match to go on first. He also said Tony Khan was resistant to the idea because The World Title should be in the Main Event.

Normally I think the World Championship should go on last but there's times when there's a bigger match. The Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels at WrestleMania XXV definitely should have gone on last. Both Triple H and Randy Orton turned to each other as Taker/Shawn was happening and said "We're fucked." The AEW World Championship has opened AEW Dynamite before but never a PPV to my knowledge.

[Matt D]

If Danielson is not winning and Page is, it makes a lot of sense to start with the ironman and end with the Death Match.

[zendragon]

Normal I don't really care about such things but I'm interested to see how well this does as MJF's first PPV as champion. He's so divisive it will be interesting to see if its working

[zendragon]

14 hours ago, odessasteps said:

Would you consider Anaheim a separate market? 

Kinda most touring acts (arena level bands ) view Anaheim as a B market with LA proper as the A market (and Riverside/Ontario as a C market). Bands will our LA as part of an A market tour and then hit Anaheim when they tour smaller markets. But you don't hit LA and Anaheim on the same tour

 

2 hours ago, Brandon Bones said:

Does anyone else think it might be prudent to put the Iron Man match on first?  Let Mox and Hangman close.

It certainly won’t hurt the enthusiasm of the crowd, right?

I was thinking that could work last night but Ex said it would be the main event

[Octopus]

As a father, I sympathize with Dragon wanting an early bedtime.

I’m such a maybe on this event. The Ironman and Texas Death are enough to get me to want to, but things are tight right now and although I can swing it, I might prefer to get a few things done tomorrow because I’m lazy today.
If Dragon wins and I don’t get it, I’ll be pretty pissed. But I think MJF is the right move to make. 

[Andrew POE!]

I'd say this: Have Iron Man match and Texas Death match as the first two matches with Young Bucks/Omega vs. House of Black as the main event. That way, Bucks/Omega can claim the quiet/asleep/pretty much gone crowd were being 'reverent' to their wrestling.

[Belgian_Waffle]

I think the Christian vs Jungle Boy fight is going to be a Piper vs Goldust deal where they brawl throughout the show and we end up with the second time in history a 60 min iron man match isn't the longest match on the ppv. 

[The Natural]

2 hours ago, Belgian_Waffle said:

I think the Christian vs Jungle Boy fight is going to be a Piper vs Goldust deal where they brawl throughout the show and we end up with the second time in history a 60 min iron man match isn't the longest match on the ppv. 

Like Dean Ambrose vs. Luke Harper at WWE Extreme Rules 2015 going 56 minutes.

[HarryArchieGus]

On 3/4/2023 at 12:29 PM, Octopus said:

I’m such a maybe on this event. The Ironman and Texas Death are enough to get me to want to, but things are tight right now and although I can swing it, I might prefer to get a few things done tomorrow because I’m lazy today.

There's no shame in watching on tape delay. I'm not capable of escaping burnout and exhaustion watching 5 hours in 1 sitting. But come 5am I'm gonna be pleased as punch to have all that mat action ready and waiting for me. And the best part is I can skim passed anything I don't wanna see (video packages, Draft Kings ads, some of the entrances, the occasional casino battle royale, multi-man ladder matches). You end up with a condensed, what, 4 hour show. It splits nicely into two parts. Two International Feed (only way to watch) Dynamites! You can even choose your own adventure with the match running order. Start with the Main Event if you like!

And I believe the BR replay price is a bit of a bargain. Best of all, if you're like me, early morning wrestling is warm and cozy and nostalgic.  

Edited March 5, 2023 by HarryArchieGus
Cause I got high

[The Natural]

On 2/22/2023 at 5:22 AM, The Natural said:

AEW Revolution 2023 is 5th of March but it'll go out at 01:00am UK time on the 6th of March. The 6th of March is my birthday. Happy birthday to me, even better if Bryan Danielson wins the AEW World Championship while knowing he won't.

• AEW Revolution 2021 was on my birthday weekend, 7th March at 1am. The 8th UK time.
• AEW Revolution 2022 was the 6th March as I went to see The Batman with my Dad/Aje but it went out on the 7th UK time at 1am.
• AEW Revolution 2023 is the 5th of March but will be on my actual birthday as it'll be the 6th UK time at 1am!
• The 51st Anniversary of NJPW will be on my birthday UK time. IWGP World Heavyweight Champion, Kazuchika Okada teams with Hiroshi Tanahashi going for the IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Titles in the main event.
• AEW Elevation and WWE RAW is the 6th of March USA time, the 7th over here. John Cena returns on WWE RAW.
• MLW Underground debuts on Sky.

Lot of wrestling for my birthday this go round! It's too early in March for WWE PPVs unlike my Sister on the 22nd of January. I've had UFC PPVs either on my actual birthday or my birthday weekend.

 

On 2/23/2023 at 5:36 PM, The Natural said:

To Tony. Please put the AEW World Championship on Bryan Danielson as AEW Revolution 2023 will go out at 1am on the 6th of March, my birthday. Thank you, Paul xxx.

Not long to go. 5th March now. Watched Creed III with my Dad/Aje. Now at the pub. Liverpool 7-0 Manchester United in the Premier League. So surreal. Curry shortly. Cheers!