Want more wrestling news, rumors, and results? Be sure to visit PWInsider.com and PWInsiderXtra.com.
You can send us questions for the PWInsider.com Q and A at pwinsider@gmail.com.
Are you surprised that Smackdown is sticking with Friday night when it moves to USA Network? Don't you think that'll be tough considering Friday night still has a reputation of being the death slot on television. It made sense for Fox but I expect the usual rating will be cut in half by the time it moves.
First we have to acknowledge the changing landscape of linear TV. Death slots and ratings don’t mean what they used to. With that said, I was a bit surprised. I thought they may move to Thursday. I like the idea of getting a product aimed at younger people on a night where they don’t usually go out. I don’t expect the rating to halve, not by a long shot. We will see how it goes. There is nothing to keep USA from moving it to another night if they choose.
I was reading Mike mention NXT Europe launching after Netflix makes sense and I also read his comments on having different PCs in the US is a good move. I wholeheartedly agree, but I also think international PCs are a big move too. So my question to both of you.. if you could pick 3-5 markets nationally and internationally to host Performance Centers/local live events/an NXT brand/developmental show where applicable, where would you choose? I'd pick west coast USA, Europe (England), and Australia. I'd also say Japan.
Honestly? I would not add 3, let alone 5. I think the current PC covers North America just fine. If I were to create a second it would be in Western Europe since that area is so ripe with talent and has English speaking wrestlers, which is big for WWE. Talents world wide will find their ways to one of those two places if WWE is potentially in their future.
When Vince McMahon was still in charge, WWE talents had to get his permission on getting tattoos and body piercings but now that Triple H is now running things, the rule regarding body modifications have apparently been eliminated. Thoughts?
Thoughts? I will go with I am really glad Vince McMahon is not in charge any longer. I have said for years that while WWE was super profitable, they were leaving a lot of money on the table due to Vince being, well, Vince. The company needed younger, fresher minds to appeal to younger fans and that is exactly what Nick Khan and Paul Levesque have done. A 75 year old man rarely has his finger on the pulse of what younger people like and I think that was the case with Vince.
I watched Bryan Danielson's retirement match at All In and I was disappointed by the blood, not because there was some (I don't enjoy self-inflicted bleeding), but by the poor execution of it. Danielson hit the bell with the back head and when we saw him again, he was bleeding from the forehead! Also, the clear cut was obvious. It turned me away from the match and from there I didn't enjoy it as much. I understand the dramatic intention in it, but it has to make some sense. Then in Bash in Berlin, Punk bleeds (i guess accidentally) in the strap match, but it seems natural and it doesn't deter me from watching it. Am I taking it too seriously or is there something I am clearly missing?
I think you are right on the money. If someone is going to bleed, it shouldn’t be contrived or ridiculous. It should happen within the course of the match and not be obvious, as was the case with Punk in Berlin. A lot of times in AEW it’s amateur hour with stuff like that.
Is SmackDown set to tape in Saudi Arabia again in November too or is it RAW only?
As of right now, only Raw has been announced and from what I have heard, it will only be that show, no Smackdown.
You can send us questions for the PWInsider.com Q and A at pwinsider@gmail.com.
If you enjoy PWInsider.com you can check out the AD-FREE PWInsider Elite section, which features exclusive audio updates, news, our critically acclaimed podcasts, interviews and more by clicking here!
Bang On Casino
