Willy confirmed the reason he did not sign with WWE is the same as it always was, he does not want to uproot his family and move to the US. Tony said it is fine if he stays there since he will be working usually once a week. WWE it would quickly become an issue as they would want him several days, making flying back and forth unfeasible.

Nov 20, 2023 22:04:23 GMT c said:

Juice out until next year. He needs minor back surgery. He is def a guy that will benefit from some time away as a return can give him direction. Gonna miss him and cardblade Be hilarious if cardjuice appears to replace him.

Rock Card Juice Robinson about to debut.

I wondered why he vanished after the TV spot on Collision. Guess they wrote him off for the surgery. Hopefully he isn’t gone too long. BCG won’t hit the same without him. It’s like the Muppets without Animal.

Reports are making it seem like it is minor. Like out for a few months, and not the year or so most back injury takes people out for. Sucks he will be gone, but I suspect when he comes back they will push him and the Ass Boys hard. It is time to push them as a trios.

And really, this is a good chance for Tony to let the Ass Boys show if they can stand on their own or not. I suspect Austin Gunn is strong enough to thrive. And since there are two of them, the Colten can hold Cardjuice.

Bucks just got their trademarks for Killing The Business Wrestling aka KTB Wrestling.  Looks like it will be a training school and "small" local fed.  Curious their plans for this though.

Also own Superkick Party now.

It was " Superdick Party "

Yes, you read that right.

uspto.report/TM/98280283

Must have had this attorney also take control of superkick party as that was listed in the report I read. Which was weird since I thought they already did have it.

I assume this will be the name of their local shows.

Nov 23, 2023 6:08:28 GMT c said:

Bucks just got their trademarks for Killing The Business Wrestling aka KTB Wrestling.  Looks like it will be a training school and "small" local fed.  Curious their plans for this though.

Also own Superkick Party now.

Is that just your impression or did I miss the report, c?

There was a rumour going around that they're planning a stable with Cabana and Cutler with the idea that they're going to lean into their online reputation.

KTB:

Training services in the field of professional wrestling and sports entertainment; Entertainment in the nature of wrestling contests; Entertainment services, namely, wrestling exhibits and performances by a professional wrestler and entertainer; Entertainment services, namely, live appearances by a professional wrestler and sports entertainer; Entertainment services, namely, personal appearances by a professional wrestler and sports entertainer; Entertainment services, namely, televised appearances by a professional wrestler and sports entertainer; Physical fitness training services; Providing wrestling news and information via a global computer network; Providing online interviews featuring professional wrestling and sports entertainers in the field of professional wrestling and sports entertainment for entertainment purposes.

That is reeks a school that runs shows.

Superdick:

Entertainment in the nature of wrestling contests; Entertainment services, namely, wrestling exhibits and performances by a professional wrestler and entertainer; Entertainment services, namely, live appearances by a professional wrestler and sports entertainer; Entertainment services, namely, personal appearances by a professional wrestler and sports entertainer; Entertainment services, namely, televised appearances by a professional wrestler and sports entertainer; Providing wrestling news and information via a global computer network; Providing online interviews featuring professional wrestling and sports entertainers in the field of professional wrestling and sports entertainment for entertainment purposes.

This reeks of the shows that the training school would run.

It is speculation, but it is very unlikely these would be anything else given the terms used in the legal notices.

Probably T-Shirts.

Ending BTE was likely to make time for the school and training fed.

///

News today Bucks are taking an indefinite break from AEW.  Again all signs are to start this stuff up.  When they return believe they will return with a heel stable with Cutler back and possibly with Cabana.  

Sure few will be upset by this news.  No much really for them to do right at this moment with all the tag teams around.  Mine as well do vacation now, then come back when a new direction is needed.

QT out. He did not re-sign his contract and now will likely be going to WWE.

QT seemed like he meant well, but every story that came out about him seemed like he was out of his depth. Supposedly he was in charge of formatting which was always a weakness in AEW and the talent relations stuff sounded like a nightmare for free agents. I don't think it helped that the whole Factory storyline was a massive dead-end and a lot of his angles like the Bunny stuff was so sloppily put together.

I think the QTV and the Mexican run has been better and restored his reputation somewhat but even then it's a deep cut only a fraction of the audience are experiencing.

For his reputation, it's probably the best time to cash out. The creative heading into Full Gear was considered the weakest yet and fans are begging for the 2019-2021 era of Dynamite. This is just another confirmation that the product they got behind is being sterilised, whether that's accurate or not.

The problem with QT was the same with Cody in the end, he wanted to be front and back together. And Tony did not believe in guys working both roles but somehow let a few people do these roles forever. I assume QT is on his way to WWE, but backstage to use as an on ramp for AEW guys they raid since he is perfect for it.

So to bring back the rating discussion …

If WBD is really negotiating with the WWE for Monday Night Raw TV rights, that is a huge indictment on their view of AEW.

They're probably just flirting with WWE to make AEW jealous to get a better deal.

TK was asked earlier about it, but he said " he legally couldn't talk about it"






Ok. He didn't.

ALL IN 2024 HERE I COME BAY BAY

Dec 1, 2023 5:39:58 GMT NATH45 said:

They're probably just flirting with WWE to make AEW jealous to get a better deal.

Probably this. Any television company would be stupid to not at least talk to the WWE in the off chance they get them. WBD is only being reported because AEW is already there and it results in clicks.

And despite what people think, WBD is happy with AEW and it performs well for its time slot/demo (most weeks). If WBD dropped them someone else would pick them up quickly. It's nothing to worry about.

Considering Smackdown is moving to USA right before the Raw contract with USA/NBC is set to end, it would be weird if they signed anywhere other than USA. I feel like you would want both shows on the same network, no?

EDIT: they heard us talking. Andrew Zarian says WBD hasn’t spoken to WWE since October and Nick Khan was turned down by the company. Dave Meltzer corroborated this and went on to say that FX is the frontrunner.

AEW revenue up 67% growing to 175 mil this year. Papa Khan's original investment was 100 mil for comparison. Company believed now worth a billion dollars.

Apparently no one is watching the fed, only spending money on it.

///

WBD not flirting with WWE at all, since they did turn them down outright. Despite what people here think, everyone else says WBD is very happy with AEW's performance.

Funny how no one is really talking about WWE basically leaving basic cable networks. Smackdown will remain on basic cable, but NXT and Raw will not.

Given those ratings that so many worship are US markets only, which precise market the shows are on does matter.

Revenue is vanity, profit is sanity.

Revenue triple and someone AEW is still failing. Investment increases 10 fold, and company is still failing. Network turns down Raw because they have AEW and AEW is still failing. I am becoming to think no measure of success will ever be enough.  

Tony basically said they broke even before All In.  Everything else now is just profit.  Including All In.  And profit does not matter since this is not a publicly traded company and Tony outright says the rev he gets just gets reinvested.  Sure people will whine OMG he cannot do that, but that is how many non-profits run.  Cover costs then reinvest rev.  But sure all you experts that worked with upcoming feds know this.

Dec 2, 2023 21:51:24 GMT c said:

Revenue triple and someone AEW is still failing. Investment increases 10 fold, and company is still failing. Network turns down Raw because they have AEW and AEW is still failing. I am becoming to think no measure of success will ever be enough.

Do you understand the irony of you saying that?

I think you are looking for a gotcha I AM VERY SMART with every post you do not even realize what you say have the time. If you are trying to claim somehow I do not think WWE is a success, I have never claimed that.

But all due respect to AEW. 10 years ago the sheer thought of another company sharing the national spotlight was laughable.

The company is what, 5 year old now? I'm 100% sure that the next 5 years will be amazing for AEW as the talent they've got today are some of the absolute best in the business.

Dec 2, 2023 22:00:10 GMT c said:

I think you are looking for a gotcha I AM VERY SMART with every post you do not even realize what you say have the time. If you are trying to claim somehow I do not think WWE is a success, I have never claimed that.

It is lost on you.

Do I need to drive my Cybertruck to the location of said irony and show you?

Steering the conversation over from the Punk thread, and while the CM Punk signing was like pouring the fire out with gasoline, the cracks had been around well before he arrived.

Sure, it was nice early on when TK was signing everybody and their friends up. What's there to complain about when you and your buddies are making good money? However, the gravy train was never going to last forever and when cuts started being made or certain guys started receiving more attention to other, that's when the whisper campaign started.

I remember the frustrations in 2020/21 because the reporters, who usually stir the pot for the sake of doing it, were surprisingly mum about AEW. This in spite of a clear fracture in the Rhodes & Elite relationship and while they played nice after the fact it was obvious that one side didn't want to work with the other.

Then stories just started emerging from the lesser talent about how they were treated by management or just how disorganised the behind the scenes were.

When you're not paying everyone to live out their dream, or giving them opportunities to do so, naturally it's going to lead to negative PR. The approval rating over time went from 100% and slowly started dwindling, especially when guys were being ousted for ex-WWE/NXT talent.

Also as these names started emerging, talent had positions of power, started to lose their influence and clearly became disinterested. Outside of Punk calling Hangman out in public, I think one of the reasons why fans are so quick to paint him as this arrogant performer is because of how he's been portrayed on TV. Danielson called him lazy the night after Page won the title and Page proved him wrong by essentially working the Roman Reigns schedule. Then you had all the Punk stuff, Hangman virtually disappeared and he's now being called out by Swerve for being complacent. Perception is reality, where there's smoke there's fire and Hangman is one of the best prospects they have, but they've done their best to make him divisive.

The 175 million in revenue is virtually useless without the full picture. Can they verify that? What are their expenses? We'll never know. It doesn't really matter either because the Khans have deep pockets but clearly Tony will take any victory he'll get which is why he'll go off over something as petty as the 'Friday Night War'.

Dragon eyeing All In 2 as his last full time match. If this is the case, I hope they give Nigel the final match he wants. Even beat up and past their primes, letting those two dance one last time would be amazing. Almost no wrestlers clicked the way they did.

Given the abuse the guy's body is taking, def agree that the time to start hanging things up has come.  Love him and this is my favorite work he is doing, but guy got kids and already had one career ending injury.

If Tony will not let Nigel in the ring, then hope Mox takes him out.  BCC colliding would be one hell of a way to go.  

The great irony of him being involved in firing Punk is almost certainly his All In 2 match would have been Punk.  If he was leaving full time, they feuded in every company they both were regulars in, so what a way to finally wrap up a 20 year old feud.  Only guy who may have more history with Dragon than Nigel is Punk.

I do hope we get to see him vs AJ one final time as well.  Maybe when he goes back to WWE for the Hall of Fame.  I suspect WWE and AEW will work shit out so AEW guys can join the WWE Hall of Fame though.  Be stupid of Tony to not work with them here.

Dec 2, 2023 21:51:24 GMT c said:

Revenue triple and someone AEW is still failing. Investment increases 10 fold, and company is still failing. Network turns down Raw because they have AEW and AEW is still failing. I am becoming to think no measure of success will ever be enough.  

Tony basically said they broke even before All In.  Everything else now is just profit.  Including All In.  And profit does not matter since this is not a publicly traded company and Tony outright says the rev he gets just gets reinvested.  Sure people will whine OMG he cannot do that, but that is how many non-profits run.  Cover costs then reinvest rev.  But sure all you experts that worked with upcoming feds know this.

That’s … that’s not how business works. You don’t just “break even” and then it’s pure profit from there.

If you’re saying they *recouped* their investment, I’d say “show me the books, because I *highly* doubt they’ve made that much PROFIT.”

You reinvest profits c , not revenue. I'm sure we don't need to explain the difference to you.. but, sure, for those playing at home. Revenue first, being the total amount of income generated by the sale of goods or services related to the company's primary operations. This is why ' Sales ' usually sits at the top of any P&L report. Profit, is the amount of income that remains after accounting for all expenses, debts, additional income streams, and operating costs. This is why, it's often called ' the bottom line ' 

Without a profit, there's nothing to reinvest - asking Daddy for an increase in allowance, isn't a reinvestment. 

So sure, anyone can celebrate record revenue. But after factoring in costs of doing business - can they celebrate making a profit? 

But let's give AEW the benefit of the doubt, and say they made money. Because, it's AEW, and there's no figures I'll use the WWE data. They made $1.29 Billion in revenue in 2022 ( see, this is the money made before the costs of doing business ) and recorded $195.6 Million in profit, ( see, this is what was left after the costs of doing business ) it's about 15.1%. 

Let's pretend of that $175 Million that TK claims they made in revenue, they had a net profit of about 15.1% also - that would mean, they made about $26.4 Million in profit.  

That's also assuming AEW has been as red hot as WWE. They haven't. Many, in fact most reports recently have highlighted falling live event attendance being a concern in regard to profitability, in addition is a dismissal video game ( it's a shit game, don't defend it ) But more importantly - growth. AEW is in a growth stage, or attempting it. ALL IN wouldn't have been cheap, nor would AEW's talent acquisitions as compared to previous years. TK has signed some damn good talent and that comes at a premium. Both were damn good plays. And shows the potential of the brand. And largely sells to the world the potential for a Wrestlemania like show, without the WWE. But as most logical people have noted, it's not likely lead to any profit. 

And we know he hasn't likely made any significant money on AEW, if any at all, because the guy isn't celebrating it like he does with every other minuscule victory. He's been incredibly vague on the matter and only really talking about the alleged revenue. 

Brandon Thurston is on record saying he’s confident AEW aren’t profitable and need $200m a year in media rights to become profitable.

Dec 4, 2023 11:13:47 GMT NATH45 said:

And we know he hasn't likely made any significant money on AEW, if any at all, because the guy isn't celebrating it like he does with every other minuscule victory. He's been incredibly vague on the matter and only really talking about the alleged revenue.

This, to me, is the biggest point. If AEW was self-sustaining, Khan would be shouting it from the rooftops.