If Brexit can't keep the Hardyz out, what was even the point?

Fuck The Hardys. Jeff doesn't deserve it, and Matt needs Jeff to get paid.

Book FTR v The Young Bucks III, and start the build asap.

Other rumors floating around are that Drew McIntyre is hoping to be able to wrestle on this show. People are unsure of exactly when his contract ends, but it is not likely he is resigning WWE due to conflicts with creative and issues with his pay.

Pure speculation.

Most reports are suggesting some frustration, as he doesn't want to wait until closer to the expiration date before resigning. This was reported prior to Wrestlemania.

Meltzer says no chance on McIntyre.

That sounds incredibly cheap, especially for a public holiday weekend.

Does this pass the smell test for our British contingent?

Dave " if you can't play - coach. And if you can't coach - make shit up on the internet " Meltzer? No, he's right. He's always right. I'd believe that.

Apr 10, 2023 7:26:57 GMT Big Pete said:

That sounds incredibly cheap, especially for a public holiday weekend.

Does this pass the smell test for our British contingent?

It’s not unusual for stadiums to rent for cheaper than people may think. The costs of running such an event are significant. Production costs, security costs, etc. They also usually take around 10% of gate receipts. So most event organisers would prefer to run at the O2 or another arena and pack it out than run Wembley just to get an extra 10k. This moves stadiums to cheaper rent prices than people may expect.

Dave says he got the figure from Eddie Hearn, a British promoter that has booked Wembley stadium more than any other promoter for sure. It passes my smell test.

TBH Meltzer could say "the current year is 2023" and I'd think he was making it up.

$400k is just the fee. It’s like paying cover to get in the club. You still have to pay for drinks once you’re inside.

Stadiums contract out nearly everything they can. The rental fee just gets you in the door and ensures the lights will be on. So you want security? Extra. You want staff to run the concession? Extra. You want someone to clean up when you leave? Extra.

So yeah, 400k is lower than you think but you’re probably looking at double that when all the bills are paid.

What does do the math from there mean tho?

Not a whole lot since it is believed Warner is paying the bill.

LiveNation confirmed tickets will range from 30 to 500 pounds before resale. Not sure if resale is allowed in the UK or not via the site itself, or at all.

FTR pushing for FTR and Punk vs Elite at All In.  

Ospreay also seems to want Omega.  

Curious to see how many people call out the matches they want at the show in advance.

I guess if their typical attendance problems float over to England, like they do here in the States, AEW could always run this part of Wembley Stadium.😂

www.wembleystadium.com/venue-hire/the-great-hall

AEW not really having attendance issues in the US. They tend to sellout these days or get close. Tony may be increasing the size of venues they run for PPVs.

Apr 13, 2023 15:07:09 GMT c said:

AEW not really having attendance issues in the US. They tend to sellout these days or get close. Tony may be increasing the size of venues they run for PPVs.

I know you’re an AEW cheerleader, and that’s cool. But in the real world, Dynamite is doing its lowest average attendance since before Covid at about 4.5k a week, and Revolution was the lowest post Covid PPV number and didn’t sell out. AEW has been in an attendance rut since Q3 last year. Last night did a pitiful 3.2k. AEW Dynamite numbers used to average upwards of 5k.

What attendance issues..



But it's already been well established, if there's the slightest inconvenience or effort needed to see a show, most AEW fans won't bother.

Apr 13, 2023 21:16:31 GMT @toddisdrunk said:

Apr 13, 2023 15:07:09 GMT c said:

AEW not really having attendance issues in the US. They tend to sellout these days or get close. Tony may be increasing the size of venues they run for PPVs.

I know you’re an AEW cheerleader, and that’s cool. But in the real world, Dynamite is doing its lowest average attendance since before Covid at about 4.5k a week, and Revolution was the lowest post Covid PPV number and didn’t sell out. AEW has been in an attendance rut since Q3 last year. Last night did a pitiful 3.2k. AEW Dynamite numbers used to average upwards of 5k.

Crowds been near sellout levels because Tony runs small arenas.  Attendance is pitiful, but kind of by design.  This is the first real show he can be exposed at if he fails to draw.

As for ratings, while people are freaking out about the weekly ratings they forget that the majority of America, the market being measured, does not have cable.  Only 40% do and the number is still rapidly dropping as cable prices keep rising.  Most of the US though is not paying $200+  a month for cable in the streaming age.

Let's be completely honest in regards to ratings.

You can suggest subscriptions to cable are dropping, and you are correct year or year. Absolutely. From 56% of households in 2021 to 48% currently.

Less than 2 years ago Rampage pulled 1,129,000 viewers however and was doing +700k. Now, it's 500,000 if they're lucky. A lot of the time its approz. 300k. That suggests a decline in quality or interest in the product more than anything else.

WWE Raw is on basic cable, and has maintained a similar rating compared to that same period in 2021 despite a decline in over cable subscribers and questionable quality.

It shows with AEW that people were watching or at least interested enough in AEW when it hit those big numbers for Rampage ( Punk's debut, and +700k shows ) but since 2021 has failed to attract new fans.. and looking at those numbers, AEW has likely lost fans.

TK can't sit there in the TNT executive's office in a few years time and go " yeah, it's only doing 300,000 in your ratings, but we have tonnes of bootlegs and illegal streams... that's a KPI right? "

No, it's not.

But this is why " we're " obsessed with ratings

Raw has been kind of freaky though, somehow going up in the last year despite cord cutting. It speaks to how hot WWE got in the lead up to Mania 39, but those Dynamite ratings are pretty solid. Much better than the waning attendances. It shows there are plenty of people with passive AEW interest. Just need better stories to get them buying tickets.

Apr 13, 2023 23:30:33 GMT c said:

Apr 13, 2023 21:16:31 GMT @toddisdrunk said:

I know you’re an AEW cheerleader, and that’s cool. But in the real world, Dynamite is doing its lowest average attendance since before Covid at about 4.5k a week, and Revolution was the lowest post Covid PPV number and didn’t sell out. AEW has been in an attendance rut since Q3 last year. Last night did a pitiful 3.2k. AEW Dynamite numbers used to average upwards of 5k.

Crowds been near sellout levels because Tony runs small arenas.  Attendance is pitiful, but kind of by design.  This is the first real show he can be exposed at if he fails to draw.

As for ratings, while people are freaking out about the weekly ratings they forget that the majority of America, the market being measured, does not have cable.  Only 40% do and the number is still rapidly dropping as cable prices keep rising.  Most of the US though is not paying $200+  a month for cable in the streaming age.

Apr 13, 2023 23:51:43 GMT c said:

And the numbers set the price you can get for commercial time. Which is what is most attractive about wrestling.

Why the business is obsessed with TV ratings...

Just an idea what a sold out Wembley looks like.

Apr 17, 2023 5:11:27 GMT NATH45 said:

Just an idea what a sold out Wembley looks like.

Tony just wants Punk back for good. ^{wants him back wants him back}

Well Tony went for the pussy option. He is blocking off about 30% of the arena seats, but putting a few thousand on the floor.  Will be far easier to fill if sellout is 55k to 60k.

Apr 7, 2023 11:22:54 GMT @papaya said:

I absolutely love how none of the UK posters here are actually interested in going and it's all people from other countries who are hyped about it 😅

but.....I said I am interested....and I am from the UK

Apr 22, 2023 13:03:31 GMT c said:

Well Tony went for the pussy option. He is blocking off about 30% of the arena seats, but putting a few thousand on the floor.  Will be far easier to fill if sellout is 55k to 60k.

This also usually happens for Boxing matches that take place at Wembley...........so.....

I expected this layout. Most many assumed they would run the full arena like WWE did with the full arena open and 60k plus fans. Do not get 60k plus with a closed layout like this though.

Still think he struggles to fill it. 60k is close to WM numbers and still seeing a lot of people talking about the show, but not talking about going to the show. Cameras can hide if the 3rd tier is empty though.

Apr 22, 2023 13:41:39 GMT Jake said:

Apr 22, 2023 13:03:31 GMT c said:

Well Tony went for the pussy option. He is blocking off about 30% of the arena seats, but putting a few thousand on the floor.  Will be far easier to fill if sellout is 55k to 60k.

This also usually happens for Boxing matches that take place at Wembley...........so.....

Not to that extent.

Although people expecting AEW to fill every seat in Wembley Stadium are off their head, obviously.

Is it possible for them to open up more of the stadium, if they manage to sell out all the sections?

They could in theory, but likely the stage plans are already being done. And even hitting 40k will be a challenge as that is twice their current highest drawing show, Dynamite Grand Slam event at New York City's Arthur Ashe Stadium in 2021. To need to open more seats they would have to triple that.

Will know in a week and a half how hot the market is when presales start. I think a lot will be disappointed, and will be a ton of copium about how sales will pick up closer to the show.