Alright. So to recap:

- Punk footage had little to no impact on AEW’s ratings, despite the hype and celebration of ratings from TK.
- The biggest ratings draw for AEW is Sheldon Cooper.
- While Sheldon is driving people in because they don’t click over immediately, the same cannot be said for the segment immediately following the CCTV footage. Totally different behavior en masse.

Anything I’m missing?

Whatever if you all want to embrace overly simplified univariate analysis go for it. But assuming the the majority of variation in viewers was solely attributed to Punk is idiotic at best as the shows see similar fluctuations regularly and have been for years.

Punk added some viewers, but nowhere on the levels people are implying here in claiming people only were watching for Punk and everyone who left did so because of Punk.

Apr 13, 2024 2:37:57 GMT c said:

Whatever if you all want to embrace overly simplified univariate analysis go for it. But assuming the the majority of variation in viewers was solely attributed to Punk is idiotic at best as the shows see similar fluctuations regularly and have been for years.

Punk added some viewers, but nowhere on the levels people are implying here in claiming people only were watching for Punk and everyone who left did so because of Punk.

I’m claiming he’s responsible for the entirety of this week’s increase. 100%.

10-15% is a meaningful increase.

Apart from over run from TBBT, Punk popped their ratings. Stop the games. It's fact.

10 to 15% is hardly people are only watching for Punk that was said repeatedly in this thread or everyone left after the Punk segment.  

Apr 13, 2024 3:09:50 GMT c said:

10 to 15% is hardly people are only watching for Punk that was said repeatedly in this thread or everyone left after the Punk segment.  

That’s not what people said. They said that the increase came from Punk. Which it 100% did.

This was the main point of promotion for AEW in the build-up. And it worked (kinda).

And it did exactly what they wanted it to do. Perry tonight was the most over person on the NJPW in Chicago with loud Go Cry Me a River chants. He is likely coming back to TV in the very near future.

Two things came out of that episode.

- CM Punk proven right, The Bucks and TK proven to be idiots.

- Will Ospreay mouthing off at WWE, like it's 2002 and it's TNA.

Nothing positive is being spoken about from that show. Despite it otherwise being a normal sort of average episode. Including some good points.

That's the problem with AEW in general. As soon as they take a good step forward, some dumbass, empty headed fuck forces them a mile back.

They could have put a supercard together to really shine in the post Wrestlemania week and capture some new fans, instead they went with two low blows at the hottest promotion in the world during it's most successful and profitable era ever and looked like idiots doing it and then delivered a copy/paste of WWE's Wrestlemania main event.

It wasn't just a fumble, it was a missed opportunity to really shine. Instead like Seth living in Roman's head rent free, they took the shot and it cost them dearly. And they've been rightfully universally mocked by the industry and the fans since.

Apr 13, 2024 3:32:02 GMT c said:

And it did exactly what they wanted it to do. Perry tonight was the most over person on the NJPW in Chicago with loud Go Cry Me a River chants. He is likely coming back to TV in the very near future.

But if the narrative has shifted to " getting Perry over " then, what a sorry state AEW is in, where Jungle Boy is considered a big deal.

As I have actually said many times, there's so much good talent in AEW and they've decided to mend fences with Perry, for what reason... to spite Punk?

Jungle Boy got the second loudest reaction at the massive NJPW show tonight in Chicago, second only to Mox winning the title.

Tons of signs in the crowd for him.  He was one of the most over people on the entire show.  People paid to see him live, and bought the PPV to see him.  

So people can go cry a river, but Jungle Boy is drawing now.

Also fences were never broken.  Perry did the excursion after the suspension to repackage.  Tony put him over the entire time he was in Japan.

If Perry gets over from this, in any fashion, it'll be impressive, considering how he's mostly gotten under in his time in AEW. Like, there's no random people saying "remember that actor Luke Perry? His son is a pro wrestler now."

He was incredibly over tonight in NJPW. More than Jungle Boy ever was.

Apr 13, 2024 3:49:19 GMT c said:

Jungle Boy got the second loudest reaction at the massive NJPW show tonight in Chicago, second only to Mox winning the title.

Tons of signs in the crowd for him.  He was one of the most over people on the entire show.  People paid to see him live, and bought the PPV to see him.  

So people can go cry a river, but Jungle Boy is drawing now.

Also fences were never broken.  Perry did the excursion after the suspension to repackage.  Tony put him over the entire time he was in Japan.

He hasn’t drawn shit yet.

Tonight begs to differ.  As does him needing to print more shirts because his entire stock sold out within 24 hours of AEW showing that video.

Apr 13, 2024 3:54:38 GMT c said:

He was incredibly over tonight in NJPW. More than Jungle Boy ever was.

But the boy needed CM Punk to get a reaction.

Sure, maybe he gets some notoriety from this and it translates to being welcomed back to AEW, but shit... talk about CM Punk living rent free.

Apr 13, 2024 5:28:23 GMT NATH45 said:

Apr 13, 2024 3:54:38 GMT c said:

He was incredibly over tonight in NJPW. More than Jungle Boy ever was.

But the boy needed CM Punk to get a reaction.

Sure, maybe he gets some notoriety from this and it translates to being welcomed back to AEW, but shit... talk about CM Punk living rent free.

I pointed this out after they aired the footage. Jack Perry has been killing it in NJPW, and yeah, it is because he owned what happened between him and CM Punk, but that’s the point.

You own that shit. You don’t air dirty laundry and go “SEE!? HE WAS MEAN TO ME!” Jack Perry is owning it and making it work for him, something dozens of wrestlers have done before him and will continue to do.

Tony & the Bucks really did him a disservice by airing that footage. Everyone had moved past it. Perry used it to propel himself into a solid storyline in NJPW. Everyone was fine. Then they aired it anyway and killed momentum across the board. Like it was SO DUMB.

Footage of Punk putting me in a chokehold in a matter of seconds probably isn't something I'd want shared if I was a professional wrestler.

I'd personally be having a conversation with Tony, and being very clear

" you banished me for months and now you're happy to have me back? And for what, to spite Punk? "

That's if he comes back. I know the narrative has shifted 5 times already, but Jack Perry was likely the last person on the minds of Tony and The Bucks when they jerked each other off, giggling to themselves about how cool they are.

---

And just rethinking Will's comments about Hunter.

Hunter has +30 years in the business and even prior to marrying into The McMahon Family he was becoming a top guy.

As compared to his boss, Tony Khan, who is only here because of his father's money. It's not talent, or experience. Or any expertise in " da business " he bought into it. At least Hunter was already a top guy.

Apr 13, 2024 4:58:29 GMT c said:

Tonight begs to differ.  As does him needing to print more shirts because his entire stock sold out within 24 hours of AEW showing that video.

A) You don’t know how many tickets or buys were moved by him for a major NJPW show in a major wrestling market.

B) You don’t know what the buy rate is, let alone how much is attributable to Perry.

The fact you’re giving Perry any credit for NJPW and dismissing any impact Punk had just shows what a clown you are.

Apr 13, 2024 5:47:26 GMT NATH45 said:

Footage of Punk putting me in a chokehold in a matter of seconds probably isn't something I'd want shared if I was a professional wrestler.

I'd personally be having a conversation with Tony, and being very clear

" you banished me for months and now you're happy to have me back? And for what, to spite Punk? "

That's if he comes back. I know the narrative has shifted 5 times already, but Jack Perry was likely the last person on the minds of Tony and The Bucks when they jerked each other off, giggling to themselves about how cool they are.

---

And just rethinking Will's comments about Hunter.

Hunter has +30 years in the business and even prior to marrying into The McMahon Family he was becoming a top guy.

As compared to his boss, Tony Khan, who is only here because of his father's money. It's not talent, or experience. Or any expertise in " da business " he bought into it. At least Hunter was already a top guy.

To be more specific, Hunter’s first title win came before Stephanie.

Apr 13, 2024 16:07:56 GMT KJ said:

Apr 13, 2024 5:47:26 GMT NATH45 said:

Footage of Punk putting me in a chokehold in a matter of seconds probably isn't something I'd want shared if I was a professional wrestler.

I'd personally be having a conversation with Tony, and being very clear

" you banished me for months and now you're happy to have me back? And for what, to spite Punk? "

That's if he comes back. I know the narrative has shifted 5 times already, but Jack Perry was likely the last person on the minds of Tony and The Bucks when they jerked each other off, giggling to themselves about how cool they are.

---

And just rethinking Will's comments about Hunter.

Hunter has +30 years in the business and even prior to marrying into The McMahon Family he was becoming a top guy.

As compared to his boss, Tony Khan, who is only here because of his father's money. It's not talent, or experience. Or any expertise in " da business " he bought into it. At least Hunter was already a top guy.

To be more specific, Hunter’s first title win came before Stephanie.

That wasn't the only thing that came before Stephanie, bruv!

I'm sorry. He's a chav in a generic grey hoodie murdering the English language, at least look the part if you're going to come at Triple H.

Apr 13, 2024 21:22:41 GMT NATH45 said:

I'm sorry. He's a chav in a generic grey hoodie murdering the English language, at least look the part if you're going to come at Triple H.

That wasn’t the only thing coming at Triple H, bruv!

Renee's face says " I'm exploring my options "

Apr 13, 2024 21:22:41 GMT NATH45 said:

I'm sorry. He's a chav in a generic grey hoodie murdering the English language, at least look the part if you're going to come at Triple H.

Ospreay is obviously an outstanding wrestler between the ropes, and he's going to stay over in AEW for a long time because of that, but this character he's presenting to the AEW audience isn't the most compelling.

To be fair, he's being his authentic self, or he's doing the classic "turn up your real personality up to 11", so fair enough. But he's laying on the Englishness too thick, and that's coming from an Englishman. He should look at Drew McIntyre, who has a strong Scottish accent but still chooses his words carefully. He's eloquent and doesn't go OTT with his Scottishness. Same deal with Sheamus.

Ospreay's new to this style of promo, I think he'll get better. He has had some great interviews in the NJPW backstage comments environment.

I love that Will goes all with his accent, BRUV!

Not gonna lie, I hate Will's new promos. Shiny happy Will gives shitty promos. But I loved his stuff from his time in NJPW, and even in AEW during that era, so assume it is just this character that is bombing.

Reports were the original promo he wanted to do was far worse and AEW made cuts to it to tone it down.  

That promo on Kenny Omega at the, ( I don't know what NJPW calls them ) media scrum was great. Where's that?

Pretty sure they are still called scrums and that is clearly where Tony got the presentation and term from. WWE seems to be doing the same now since everyone else is doing it, and well, why the hell not when you got the best talkers in the industry?