paintedbynumbers Posted February 21, 2022 Share Posted February 21, 2022 We can debate all we want whether Cody drew numbers or not. In my mind AEW is much different than WWE, AEW as a whole seems to have steady ratings for the full 2 hrs or 1 hr (depending on show) WWE Raw will see ratings fluctuate (maybe during MNF more than anything) but AEW shows are pretty steady and I would equate that to the talent on each show. When you have stacked cards each week and a loaded roster that we hadn't seen since Fire Pro wrestling Returns it makes it hard to want to change the channel. Long, stupid rant aside. I don't believe any one person draws ratings when it comes to AEW. No disrespect to Cody or any of the talent. I just think the product as that good that when I watch I watch it for AEW not for "insert wrestler name here" where if I watch Raw it might be to see what AJ is doing and then I turn it off. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheVileOne Posted February 21, 2022 Share Posted February 21, 2022 1 hour ago, Bryan said: Yeah, Cody was still drawing numbers, I’m pretty sure his ladder match with Sammy drew better ratings than Sammy and Darby. If the EVP title had become largely superfluous as Tony Khan took more control, I could see how money could become an issue. Cody was the top baby face in the beginning, his open challenge was one of the best parts of the pandemic era, and that got a lot of popular guys hired, and just a few months ago he literally set up himself on fire. If the reports of him wanting Jericho/Punk money were true, I could see how he could feel slighted for not getting it. Considering he was there in the beginning and a part of the reason guys like CM Punk (who Tony Khan approached in the beginning but who was unwilling to join a start up) were willing to sign, I could see how that could sting him and lead to this. Cody got Woody'ed from Toy Story to CM Punk and Bryan Danielson's Buzz Lightyear? Tony Khan playing Andy? 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
For Great Justice Posted February 21, 2022 Share Posted February 21, 2022 (edited) 23 minutes ago, TheVileOne said: Cody got Woody'ed from Toy Story to CM Punk and Bryan Danielson's Buzz Lightyear? Tony Khan playing Andy? Sounds like they need an existential threat in order to bond, in that case. A certain next door neighbor of Tony Khans that likes to blow his toys up. A master and ruler of the world, as it were. Edited February 21, 2022 by For Great Justice 3 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hobo joe Posted February 21, 2022 Share Posted February 21, 2022 This may have been said already, but... Cody gets an immediate main even push, loses to Roman at Backlash, drops down the card and is just another dude by Summerslam. That's certainly the most likely scenario, and I'd be shocked if it's not the case. Also, having witnessed what turned out to be Cody's last AEW match live, he definitely got the loudest crowd reactions, and it was way more 50/50 than it comes across on TV. Punk was a close second, and Darby, Hangman, and Bryan weren't on the show, but you can't argue the dude wasn't over as fuck. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zendragon Posted February 21, 2022 Share Posted February 21, 2022 17 hours ago, Zakk_Sabbath said: My speculative guess is simple guilt by association - we also don't know to what degree Cody was pushing for her to continue appearing, if at all. I'm with you, it's a lot I feel Brandi is the one person who you can point to as evidence of nepotism. Now way does she get this much TV time if she isn't married to Cody, I don't know what her backstage duties where or how qualified she was for them 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
(BP) Posted February 21, 2022 Share Posted February 21, 2022 Brandi seems to love wrestling. She’s a good ring announcer. By most accounts she was great at her office job even if the girl boss stuff rubbed some people the wrong way. She wasn’t a good wrestler, but it wasn’t like they were building the Women's division around her. Her recent television appearances were awful, but it played like it was part of Cody’s strategy to polarize the audience as much as possible. The BOLA where she introduced Cody shortly after he left WWE is one of my favorite moments in wrestling in the past decade. It turned out to be part of the foundation of what we spend a lot of our time discussing on here. I hope she ends up doing something that makes her happy even if it’s screaming at Stephanie during tv segments I would never watch under any circumstances. 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dog Posted February 21, 2022 Share Posted February 21, 2022 1 hour ago, zendragon said: I feel Brandi is the one person who you can point to as evidence of nepotism. Brock Anderson? The Ass Boys (though they've gotten better)? 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hagan Posted February 21, 2022 Share Posted February 21, 2022 (edited) You wouldn't take a chance on Arn Anderson's son at a prelim level and see how could good he can get with experience? I mean, if he turns out as 75 percent as good as his dad in time you have a helluva of a professional wrestler. Edited February 21, 2022 by Hagan 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dog Posted February 21, 2022 Share Posted February 21, 2022 That's just it. He's there because he's Arn's son, not because he's wowed people with his current ability. Good or bad, right or wrong, that's nepotism. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raziel Posted February 21, 2022 Share Posted February 21, 2022 2 hours ago, Dog said: Brock Anderson? The Ass Boys (though they've gotten better)? Hook's right there (I mean, he's good, but if he weren't Taz's kid...) 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
odessasteps Posted February 21, 2022 Share Posted February 21, 2022 Is/was the promotion not full of relatives (name your wrestling kid) or friends (Luther, Cutler)? Is the Chief Brandi Officer really any different? 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Just Dave Posted February 21, 2022 Share Posted February 21, 2022 I mean, it seems like in a lot of athletic endeavors that it helps to have a parent who did it first. I can't remember what the exact percentage is off the top of my head, but Major League Baseball is lousy with guys whos dad played in the big leagues. Some pretty great players, too. Acuna, Tatis Jr, Vlad Jr, Dee Gordon, et al. I understand the appeal of hiring the kids of wrestlers. They understand the demand on their schedule and the toll it takes on your body. If Hijos de Ass and Brock Enforcer were coming in and taking top spots, I could see being irritated. This might be another reason why AEW could use a formal developmental program. Brock Anderson could use the reps and it would negate the nepotism criticism. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
(BP) Posted February 21, 2022 Share Posted February 21, 2022 This discussion seems to be founded on the idea that we live in a meritocracy, which is very funny. 5 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Infinit Posted February 21, 2022 Share Posted February 21, 2022 Football is filled with people getting opportunities because of who their dads are. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
odessasteps Posted February 21, 2022 Share Posted February 21, 2022 It would be interesting to study the numbers if there are more 2nd/3rd gen wrestlers these days than during the territory era, despite there theoretically being less jobs than 30/40 years ago. Or it just seems that way due to the media saturation of the business. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dog Posted February 21, 2022 Share Posted February 21, 2022 1 hour ago, Raziel said: Hook's right there (I mean, he's good, but if he weren't Taz's kid...) He was #1 on my nepotism list ... until he actually wrestled. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EVA Posted February 21, 2022 Share Posted February 21, 2022 (edited) I guess I’ve never really had as big of a problem with nepotism in wrestling, because I’ve always thought of wrestling as being more like a trade. And trades being passed down through generations is pretty normal. Like, your HVAC guy may have had an easier time getting started because he inherited the family business or caught on with one of his dad’s friends, but if he knows what the fuck he’s doing, who cares? Edited February 21, 2022 by EVA 8 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
odessasteps Posted February 21, 2022 Share Posted February 21, 2022 2 minutes ago, EVA said: I guess I’ve never really had as big of a problem with nepotism in wrestling, because I’ve always thought of wrestling as being more like a trade. And trades being passed down through generations is pretty normal. Certainly in the territory era, just about every promotion was a mom and pop operation with the children either working behind the scenes, as announcers or as workers. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Jimbo_Tsuruta Posted February 21, 2022 Share Posted February 21, 2022 (edited) Funks, Harts, Bockwinkels, Anoais, Adkinssons, DiBiases, Runnelses, Guerreros, Guzmans, Faulkners, Poffos, Ortons and on and on...as a fan I've got no problem with nepotism in rasslin. I might feel differently if I were a rassler but "who you know" is in every part of life. Edited February 21, 2022 by Jimbo_Tsuruta Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Stefanie Without Stefanie Posted February 21, 2022 Share Posted February 21, 2022 23 minutes ago, EVA said: I guess I’ve never really had as big of a problem with nepotism in wrestling, because I’ve always thought of wrestling as being more like a trade. And trades being passed down through generations is pretty normal. Like, your HVAC guy may have had an easier time getting started because he inherited the family business or caught on with one of his dad’s friends, but if he knows what the fuck he’s doing, who cares? Considering the issues surrounding cultural problems such as race and gender in many facets of life, nepotism might be a bit of an issue. For example, Brock Anderson having a contract with a major promotion and being allowed to learn on the job, and getting a chance to main event a TV show far before he's ready (as he did vs Malakai Black) is kind of a slap in the face when you've got a talent like AJ Gray who should have a job and has been pretty much ignored until the last couple of years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
odessasteps Posted February 21, 2022 Share Posted February 21, 2022 9 minutes ago, Jimbo_Tsuruta said: Funks, Harts, Bockwinkels, Anoais, Adkinssons, DiBiases, Runnelses, Guerreros, Guzmans, Faulkners, Poffos, Ortons and on and on...as a fan I've got no problem with nepotism in rasslin. I might feel differently if I were a rassler but "who you know" is in every part of life. It all depends on if your kid is more Terry/Dory or George Gulas. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Jimbo_Tsuruta Posted February 21, 2022 Share Posted February 21, 2022 (edited) 16 minutes ago, odessasteps said: It all depends on if your kid is more Terry/Dory or George Gulas. True but I've seen enough to decide that the pros outweigh the cons. And now with AEW giving some kind of payday to as many wrestlers as they possibly can through all the different shows, not coming from a rasslin family is less hinderance than it's ever been. Edited February 21, 2022 by Jimbo_Tsuruta Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zendragon Posted February 21, 2022 Share Posted February 21, 2022 (edited) 6 hours ago, Dog said: Brock Anderson? The Ass Boys (though they've gotten better)? Those three are all in their 20's and are primarily featured on the youtube shows. They are developmental projects, Brandi is 38. has not gotten better and would regularly get featured segments on the television shows. Guys like Luther are barley on tv. Brandon Cutler has a role of stooge. Its apples and oranges Edited February 21, 2022 by zendragon 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dog Posted February 21, 2022 Share Posted February 21, 2022 And just like apples and oranges are both fruit, they're all different forms of nepotism. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fartsauce Posted February 21, 2022 Share Posted February 21, 2022 There's lots of nepotism in the plumbing industry as well fellers. 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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