username Posted May 6, 2023 Posted May 6, 2023 I do think there is reason to at least be concerned when it comes to Turner/WB as they've made some dramatic, almost baffling decisions in the past year in the interest of cutting costs no matter what. Like there are rumors they may be dropping the NBA when their contract is done to further cut down on expenses and the NBA is an institution on their channels (I literally cannot envision the league without Inside the NBA). I think it is almost certain that they would rather AEW stay on their networks... but there is probably no major Hollywood player I'd want to negotiate with less right now than them as if they think slashing something will save them a single nickel short term they'll probably do it. AEW's gonna want a notable increase in their rights fees and I think it is realistic to say that there is a solid chance that they are gonna have to choose between taking less to stay with Turner, or getting what they feel they are worth (and likely are) from someone else.
SirSmUgly Posted May 6, 2023 Posted May 6, 2023 Zaslav has said that he wants to keep the NBA. Adam Silver is just going to split the rights further than he already has done, so there will be more competition. Elsalvajeloco nailed it: Zaslav is disinterested in scripted programming for TNT and TBS. WB cancelled virtually all their scripted projects on those channels. They are all in on reality TV and sports, and pro wrestling is a fit for that approach. 3 1
Elsalvajeloco Posted May 6, 2023 Posted May 6, 2023 I saw the rumor that they were looking at WWE, but IMO they wouldn't pay that hefty price tag that WWE is looking for. Not for potentially just one show. Moreover, on the WWE side, It would basically be another TNN situation where it becomes obvious WWE made a terrible, terrible decision by being on a station where they're being used to grow it and not the other way around. Plus, I don't see WWE putting up with all the moving around time slots that would be caused by sports. They already went through that with USA. 4
BrianS81177 Posted May 6, 2023 Posted May 6, 2023 12 hours ago, Craig H said: My hypothesis for the NHL playoffs being good and drawing good numbers this year is that the Lightning and Bruins both got eliminated in the first round because fuck both of them. Nah it's because the Kraken are in it 9 hours ago, Niners Fan in CT said: I want to see the Panthers vs. Kraken. Rats and squids. SEE?!?!
Boydy Posted May 6, 2023 Posted May 6, 2023 I was bored earlier when I was on the bus and I was thinking which wrestlers were babyfaces their whole career? I can only think of Ricky Steamboat and Tito Santana. Can anyone think of any others?
Niners Fan in CT Posted May 6, 2023 Posted May 6, 2023 9 hours ago, username said: I do think there is reason to at least be concerned when it comes to Turner/WB as they've made some dramatic, almost baffling decisions in the past year in the interest of cutting costs no matter what. Like there are rumors they may be dropping the NBA when their contract is done to further cut down on expenses and the NBA is an institution on their channels (I literally cannot envision the league without Inside the NBA). I think it is almost certain that they would rather AEW stay on their networks... but there is probably no major Hollywood player I'd want to negotiate with less right now than them as if they think slashing something will save them a single nickel short term they'll probably do it. AEW's gonna want a notable increase in their rights fees and I think it is realistic to say that there is a solid chance that they are gonna have to choose between taking less to stay with Turner, or getting what they feel they are worth (and likely are) from someone else. At their earnings the other day, they discussed how HBO Max is now a profitable venture and how big that is for WBD moving forward. They seem to be moving in the right direction and the cost cutting they've done has paid off. I believe upfronts is in a week or so, we'll find out just how invested they are in AEW then but from everything I've read they are doubling down on it. They have Dynamite, they are keeping Rampage and they are adding the heavily rumored/confirmed CM Punk show on Saturday nights called "Collision." There's also rumors that they are going to be having AEW do business with Max. Some have speculated that they may stream "ALL IN" on the platform. I still think it will be a traditional PPV but the fact they have not announced how you can watch it yet leads me to believe some conversations are happening.
Raziel Posted May 6, 2023 Posted May 6, 2023 41 minutes ago, Boydy said: I was bored earlier when I was on the bus and I was thinking which wrestlers were babyfaces their whole career? I can only think of Ricky Steamboat and Tito Santana. Can anyone think of any others? The only other people I can thing of are Bruno and Pedro, but I have no frame of reference if they worked heel outside of NY. 1
twiztor Posted May 6, 2023 Posted May 6, 2023 2 hours ago, Boydy said: I was bored earlier when I was on the bus and I was thinking which wrestlers were babyfaces their whole career? I can only think of Ricky Steamboat and Tito Santana. Can anyone think of any others? has Rey Mysterio Jr. been a heel?
Jenalysis Posted May 6, 2023 Posted May 6, 2023 10 minutes ago, twiztor said: has Rey Mysterio Jr. been a heel? was briefly in WCW if you counted the filthy animals as heels. Never really got booed though. 2
Ryback Hates Bullies Posted May 6, 2023 Posted May 6, 2023 18 minutes ago, twiztor said: has Rey Mysterio Jr. been a heel? Only on DDTDigest. 2
Mister TV Posted May 6, 2023 Posted May 6, 2023 2 hours ago, Raziel said: The only other people I can thing of are Bruno and Pedro, but I have no frame of reference if they worked heel outside of NY. Bruno was a very very slight heel in Japan against Baba.
NoFistsJustFlips Posted May 6, 2023 Posted May 6, 2023 2 hours ago, Niners Fan in CT said: There's also rumors that they are going to be having AEW do business with Max. Some have speculated that they may stream "ALL IN" on the platform. I still think it will be a traditional PPV but the fact they have not announced how you can watch it yet leads me to believe some conversations are happening. Where there's smoke, there's fire. Double or Nothing is a traditional PPV. If they announced a Max deal starting with Forbidden Door (or All In) now, it may make people decide to skip Double or Nothing knowing the value and price point will be out dated. I definitely think there is something to them being on Max. But we'll have to wait until at least after this PPV to find out for sure. Seeing it reported that there is a new deal that has been signed (regarding You Tube streaming shows now being against the new contract terms) has me believing it's a done deal. PPVs will be on Max starting with All In. This way they aren't trying to get $80 out of the fan base in a single week with All In & All Out 7 days apart.
odessasteps Posted May 6, 2023 Posted May 6, 2023 1 hour ago, Jenalysis said: was briefly in WCW if you counted the filthy animals as heels. Never really got booed though. Devil Horns Rey JR
SirSmUgly Posted May 6, 2023 Posted May 6, 2023 (edited) 1 hour ago, SprintingFromAmerica said: Only on DDTDigest. Yeah, but the actual heel was DDTDigest. It's great that the site is still up as part of a wider historical record of wrestling sites on the early internet, but the combination of casual homophobia and shitty wrestling takes give it true monster heel status. Edited May 6, 2023 by SirSmUgly 1
Ryback Hates Bullies Posted May 6, 2023 Posted May 6, 2023 It was very much of its time, along with, one hopes, Scott Keith's hairstyle. 4
Stefanie Sparkleface Posted May 6, 2023 Posted May 6, 2023 5 hours ago, Boydy said: I was bored earlier when I was on the bus and I was thinking which wrestlers were babyfaces their whole career? I can only think of Ricky Steamboat and Tito Santana. Can anyone think of any others? I can't remember if there was ever a time when Tommy Rogers was a heel.
JLowe Posted May 6, 2023 Posted May 6, 2023 5 hours ago, Boydy said: I was bored earlier when I was on the bus and I was thinking which wrestlers were babyfaces their whole career? I can only think of Ricky Steamboat and Tito Santana. Can anyone think of any others? I guess Sting can’t really count since he was a heel early in his career but for as long as he has been relatively famous he’s been a baby face (unless they tried to make him heel in Impact, I never saw his time there).
BloodyChamp Posted May 6, 2023 Posted May 6, 2023 Sting was a heel in the UWF like mentioned, and he was a heel in 1999 in WCW. He was also a really freaking mad, out of touch, desperate for attention babyface in TNA IIRC. But not like cool mad where the crowd cheers. It was similar to Eddie’s heel turn in WCW, or Ric Flair more than once. The end result was siding with the heels or something but Idk. I don’t usually count the shortlived misses in the discussions but Sting had 3 so he counts IMO.
AxB Posted May 6, 2023 Posted May 6, 2023 Yeah, Sting was in the Main Event Mafia, who were a heel faction.
SirSmUgly Posted May 6, 2023 Posted May 6, 2023 11 minutes ago, For Great Justice said: Was JYD ever a heel? In Stampede, yeah, as Big Daddy Ritter. But not as JYD, I don't think. 1
cwoy2j Posted May 6, 2023 Posted May 6, 2023 12 minutes ago, For Great Justice said: Was JYD ever a heel? I think he might've been a heel in Stampede as Big Daddy Ritter. Were Kevin or Kerry Von Erich ever heels?
Hamhock Posted May 6, 2023 Posted May 6, 2023 (edited) 6 minutes ago, cwoy2j said: I think he might've been a heel in Stampede as Big Daddy Ritter. Were Kevin or Kerry Von Erich ever heels? Kevin/Kerry came into Florida as heels to back up David one time during his heel run there. Edited May 6, 2023 by Hamhock 2
cwoy2j Posted May 6, 2023 Posted May 6, 2023 Was Tom Zenk ever a heel? I don't recall ever seeing him working heel.
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