I thought it best to have a thread for this since it could probably do with being on its own. Obviously there isn’t an ideal sub for this but this feels the most appropriate.

This week we’ve had Tony’s coke fuelled shit talking after WWE added a 30 minute overrun to SmackDown tonight which clashes with Rampage. Now Roman Reigns has joined the party:

What do we think about this? Is it wise for the biggest name in the business to acknowledge AEW publicly? Is he right or is he just playing his character?

I think they had the right to not mention them at all as it's free publicity, but there's an energy to AEW that WWE lacks so I can see why they started to change their tune.

Just wanna say I have enjoyed what little shit talking we've heard from WWE guys, even as far back as Seth claiming they're stealing food from them lmao.

I enjoy almost all of it. The only one from Tony I didn’t like was bragging that he had more money than Vince. That missed the mark for me, but I did get a kick out of him literally saying Raw sucked.

Tonight the highlight has been Reigns going in on Punk.

If Roman Reigns doesn’t top the PWI 500 next year then holy shit. He’s awesome.

Tony Khan might have seriously fucked himself this week. He poked the bear too hard, then gloated about it. The bear didn’t immediately maul him, but he’s pissed off and is gonna try eventually. AEW is at its best when it just decides to be an alternative, or pretends they’re the only game in town and does what it wants. After Tony’s comments this week there’s no going back.

I think AEW will continue to see success and slowly gain new fans and it’s interesting Roman Reigns says they have a ceiling considering WWE also has one and hit it a long time ago.

Just gimme more of that "Sega does what NintenDON'T" excitement.

+2 million on average for Smackdown, and barely 700k for Rampage..

But I'm sure Rampage will win in the 18-49 mexican midget demographic and call it a win.

Oct 15, 2021 19:00:27 GMT @ness said:

Just gimme more of that "Sega does what NintenDON'T" excitement.

SmackDown is on FS1 tonight through which usually cuts its audience in half. It will be reasonably close in 18-49. Of course it’s a completely disingenuous comparison because one is not on their regular channel, but it’s all fun and games.

Reigns is right on both statements. AEW does currently have a cap on how big it can grow as it is a show mostly for wrestling fans, whereas WWE is aiming to get non-wrestling fans into the product and deemphasize the wrestling side. There is a lower ceiling when dealing with just wrestling fans.

Also Reigns vs Punk would not elevate him at all. The only match that will elevate Reigns right now is Brock, because the WWE protects it's guys so much they become basically Gods. The problem is, by building up Reigns so much, you have no real top division anymore, you just have Roman and whoever he will inevitably beat as the division which then devalues the belt when people stop caring about the matches as they just assume Reigns will win until someone new debuts that gets the rumble win megapush or wins money in the bank and gets the title without winning a match basically.

Roman Reigns vs. Brock Lesnar has been done to death, it isn't gonna elevate shit for either man.

But Brock is the only credible threat to Reigns WWE has so that is the only match they can do where a win matters.

Found it hilarious "The Invisible Hand" Don Callis was mocking Reigns wording, like you were responsible for the heavy sexual allegations that went on through Impact dude. "Invisible Hand" indeed, pretty creepy nickname.

Oct 15, 2021 23:33:37 GMT c said:

Reigns is right on both statements. AEW does currently have a cap on how big it can grow as it is a show mostly for wrestling fans, whereas WWE is aiming to get non-wrestling fans into the product and deemphasize the wrestling side. There is a lower ceiling when dealing with just wrestling fans.

Also Reigns vs Punk would not elevate him at all. The only match that will elevate Reigns right now is Brock, because the WWE protects it's guys so much they become basically Gods. The problem is, by building up Reigns so much, you have no real top division anymore, you just have Roman and whoever he will inevitably beat as the division which then devalues the belt when people stop caring about the matches as they just assume Reigns will win until someone new debuts that gets the rumble win megapush or wins money in the bank and gets the title without winning a match basically.

Rock vs Reigns would elevate Roman to the casual audience, especially if done at Mania. It's being setup for that. 

Punk may not want to hear this but he can't hold Rock's jockstrap in relevance or popularity. 

Oct 15, 2021 19:00:27 GMT @ness said:

Just gimme more of that "Sega does what NintenDON'T" excitement.

Sega is still my favorite game system 

As shit as WWE has become, Roman's just being a company guy. Can't hate on him for that.

AEW only has a ceiling if they can't get out of their own way, which far too often they can't. I say that as someone who wants to see them succeed rather than fail. Wrestling needs a viable alternative to Vince's cartoon sideshow.

At least this stuff from Roman came off as reasonably well spoken. I don't agree with it, but it wasn't stupid. Some of the things Seth said last year about taking food off his table was really stupid.

I think it's inevitable companies competing in the same industry will shit talk each other

The 2.5 hour SmackDown drew an average of 793,000 viewers. This is down from last week’s 2.03 million viewers.

Last night’s Supersized SmackDown took a major hit as expected, due to the show airing on FS1 instead of FOX.

On the other hand, last night’s AEW Rampage drew 549,000 viewers. This is up from last week’s 466,000 viewers.

Oct 16, 2021 23:54:41 GMT NATH45 said:

The 2.5 hour SmackDown drew an average of 793,000 viewers. This is down from last week’s 2.03 million viewers.

Last night’s Supersized SmackDown took a major hit as expected, due to the show airing on FS1 instead of FOX.

On the other hand, last night’s AEW Rampage drew 549,000 viewers. This is up from last week’s 466,000 viewers.

Sasha Banks slayed CM Punk. She appeared on NXT and took down Jericho as well. Absolute boss.

I read one of the wrestling journalists, SRS or Meltzer maybe, was suggesting the idea of Vince doing the extra 30 minutes to be directly competing with AEW to show tv execs his show is better than AEW for when it comes time to renew tv contracts.

Oct 16, 2021 23:58:51 GMT nazzer said:

I read one of the wrestling journalists, SRS or Meltzer maybe, was suggesting the idea of Vince doing the extra 30 minutes to be directly competing with AEW to show tv execs his show is better than AEW for when it comes time to renew tv contracts.

WWE's top show (SD) is doubling the viewership of AEW's top show.

The October 1 Episode of SmackDown did 2.252 million. The October 6 Episode of Dynamite did 1.053 million.

They're not even playing in the same league yet. I'm not sure Vince is losing sleep yet.

Oct 17, 2021 0:10:42 GMT NATH45 said:

Oct 16, 2021 23:58:51 GMT nazzer said:

I read one of the wrestling journalists, SRS or Meltzer maybe, was suggesting the idea of Vince doing the extra 30 minutes to be directly competing with AEW to show tv execs his show is better than AEW for when it comes time to renew tv contracts.

WWE's top show (SD) is doubling the viewership of AEW's top show.

The October 1 Episode of SmackDown did 2.252 million. The October 6 Episode of Dynamite did 1.053 million.

They're not even playing in the same league yet. I'm not sure Vince is losing sleep yet.

Now I might not fully understand American tv channel reach; but isn't Smackdown on a network that is on every tv / cable package, and dynamite is on a cable channel that is in significantly less homes? So comparing viewership of smackdown to dynamite isn't exactly apples to apples. But this week when Smackdown was on Fox Sports, a channel that has similar reach to tnt we could see a similar comparison? Heck, this week's viewership could even be used by AEW to sort of say, we aren't that far behind when on similar channels, imagine how much we could do on a network?

Oct 17, 2021 0:18:43 GMT nazzer said:

Oct 17, 2021 0:10:42 GMT NATH45 said:

WWE's top show (SD) is doubling the viewership of AEW's top show.

The October 1 Episode of SmackDown did 2.252 million. The October 6 Episode of Dynamite did 1.053 million.

They're not even playing in the same league yet. I'm not sure Vince is losing sleep yet.

Now I might not fully understand American tv channel reach; but isn't Smackdown on a network that is on every tv / cable package, and dynamite is on a cable channel that is in significantly less homes? So comparing viewership of smackdown to dynamite isn't exactly apples to apples. But this week when Smackdown was on Fox Sports, a channel that has similar reach to tnt we could see a similar comparison? Heck, this week's viewership could even be used by AEW to sort of say, we aren't that far behind when on similar channels, imagine how much we could do on a network?

Both channels got eaten by MLB Baseball playoffs to be honest but SD would have hit over 1 mill for sure had it been on FOX. 

Opening tip for NBA is on Tuesday so NXT will get rocked, and more than 3/4 of the rest of the league debut Weds so Dynamite will suffer.

Oct 17, 2021 0:18:43 GMT nazzer said:

Oct 17, 2021 0:10:42 GMT NATH45 said:

WWE's top show (SD) is doubling the viewership of AEW's top show.

The October 1 Episode of SmackDown did 2.252 million. The October 6 Episode of Dynamite did 1.053 million.

They're not even playing in the same league yet. I'm not sure Vince is losing sleep yet.

Now I might not fully understand American tv channel reach; but isn't Smackdown on a network that is on every tv / cable package, and dynamite is on a cable channel that is in significantly less homes? So comparing viewership of smackdown to dynamite isn't exactly apples to apples. But this week when Smackdown was on Fox Sports, a channel that has similar reach to tnt we could see a similar comparison? Heck, this week's viewership could even be used by AEW to sort of say, we aren't that far behind when on similar channels, imagine how much we could do on a network?

I don’t think networks would take that comparison seriously. SmackDown always does a terrible rating on FS1 because it’s a terrible network. It is easier to get ratings on network TV but it’s more complicated than just the number of homes. This is why Tony Khan has been so aggressive marketing this ratings clash this week, he knows this was a chance to score a win albeit in dubious circumstances. Fast nationals suggest SmackDown did a terrible rating, but it did beat Rampage.

An oldy but a goody.

RKO out of nowhere and Meltzer turned on Randy after that. :lol:

Oct 17, 2021 9:32:37 GMT Todd said:

Oct 17, 2021 0:18:43 GMT nazzer said:

Now I might not fully understand American tv channel reach; but isn't Smackdown on a network that is on every tv / cable package, and dynamite is on a cable channel that is in significantly less homes? So comparing viewership of smackdown to dynamite isn't exactly apples to apples. But this week when Smackdown was on Fox Sports, a channel that has similar reach to tnt we could see a similar comparison? Heck, this week's viewership could even be used by AEW to sort of say, we aren't that far behind when on similar channels, imagine how much we could do on a network?

I don’t think networks would take that comparison seriously. SmackDown always does a terrible rating on FS1 because it’s a terrible network. It is easier to get ratings on network TV but it’s more complicated than just the number of homes. This is why Tony Khan has been so aggressive marketing this ratings clash this week, he knows this was a chance to score a win albeit in dubious circumstances. Fast nationals suggest SmackDown did a terrible rating, but it did beat Rampage.

Networks will not care, but the buzz that would be created if AEW did beat even a gimped Smackdown would be big and get people to see AEW as the next big thing.  In the era of people reading the headlines and not the articles, this sort of thing is more effective than you would think to sway public perception.  

So in short, TK has proclaimed the following in the last week:

- Rampage will beat Smackdown.
- He's still richer than Vince.
- He knows more about wrestling than Ted Turner.

Didn't The Jacksonville Jaguars lose 20 games in a row? And didn't Fulham F.C. get demoted this year.

I think an early night, and no allowance this week might teach the young Kahn a lesson.

Rampage probably won in the demo overlapping half an hour according to Thurston. So Khan will pimp this no doubt. Andrew Zarian says SmackDown was simulcast on some shitty network which accounted for 150k viewers in Chicago and New York which would explain why SmackDown was 150k lower than it usually is on FS1. It basically renders the comparison null and void, which is quite funny after all the hype.

It's kind of sad having to see guys like Excalibur jump to twitter to try and play the mom that just wants everyone to get along and be happy. He's posting shit like "Whatever you watched on Friday, I just hope you enjoyed it! Wrestling is awesome!" because his dumbass boss decided to pull a Michael Jordan "we will win game 7." Anyone with half a brain in that company was like "uhh, dude what are you doing?"

You can only make guarantees like that when you're already the best in the world at what you do. Nobody believed for a second that Rampage would beat Smackdown in ratings but he ran his mouth anyway.

Fortunately the numbers were really close, and like Todd said he might have won some bullshit half hour demo numbers that nobody cares about, so he can still call it a win, but seriously dude just stay off twitter for a few weeks. Please.

Nah, fuck that, a win's a win. Big Dick Tony Khan can't be stopped, baybeeeee.

Rampage beat Smackdown in the 18-49 demo during the half hour they were head to head. 328k to 285k

The overall numbers still went to Smackdown but that is pretty significant. Yes more people watched Smackdown and many of them didn't change the channel to Rampage after, but when they were up against each other people chose Punk/Sydal over Becky/Sasha, plain and simple.

Tony should still shut the fuck up though.