The split is expected to occur by mid-2026, if all goes well with shareholders, IRS for tax purposes and the tax-free transaction to allow this to split to occur, and other regulatory bodies.

Why would any corporation do this?

Well, sometimes you just get too large as a corporation that inefficiencies develop and there’s a lack of focus on individual properties that could make the company more money. For example, I’d argue that WBD is sitting on a ton of great Hanna Barbara cartoon properties that they barely use these days. By splitting up the bloated corporation, the smaller half can internally look to see what could be used to generate revenue. If not, the halved corporation can just sell said properties instead.

The biggest benefit of splitting as a corporation is for raising CAPITAL.

The most ideal way to raise capital for a publicly traded corporation is to sell shares of stock and allow the public to invest in your company. Then, the company just has to perform well and then more buyers of stock arrive to not only increase the stakeholders but to boost that stock prices as well.

The REAL issue with Warner Bros. Discovery is the amount of DEBT that they’ve accumulated throughout the years. The AOL merger was a total turd and that’s been affecting them for years. AT&T acquired AOL/Time Warner and didn’t have the best time managing the properties or the company, ran up more debt. Then, it was sold to Discovery for an expensive price tag. Lots of debt rang up for poor decision making plus all of these merger & acquisition costs that always happen.

Right now, their debt is $37.4 billion. To WBD’s credit, that’s actually down from $44 billion from the end of the year, but still a crippling amount of debt (for a lack of a better word).

BUT, if you split both companies into 2 separate corporations, both corporations can raise stock capital to help to payoff the debt that the studio properties or streaming service has rung up along with whatever debt that the television networks have created.

And then with 2 smaller corporations versus managing 1 bloated corporation, each executive team can review all employees, all departments, all assets and liabilities, and create strategies for how to manage their company and make them financially solvent again.

All Elite Wrestling (AEW), once this split commences, will be a “customer” of both the Streaming & Studios group, thanks to their content airing on HBO Max, and the Global Networks group thanks to their content airing on TNT, TBS, and Pay Per Views running through Bleacher Report. That cost would likely be renegotiated as separate deals with both corporations, and I’m assuming that was possibly built into the television rights contract since it was so recent?

The good news? The guys who agreed to sign AEW to upwards of a $280 million per year deal are still with each corporation. CEO of WBD David Zaslav will become President/CEO of the Streaming and Studios corporation (by the way, he HATES streaming) while CFO of WBD Gunnar Wiedenfels will become President/CEO of the Global Networks corporation. Thus, Tony Khan should have some established relationship with BOTH individuals and hopefully, that serves as a plus for AEW and a guarantee that their existing content deal can continue.

My prediction? I think that the Global Networks version will do fine but have issues down the road the further the decline for Cable/Satellite goes. Went from peaking at around 97 million households during the early 2010s to being around 70 million now. Both TBS and TNT struggle creating original content and are still too reliant on live sports and reruns/movies which the streaming services are digging into heavily too.

In my opinion, the HBO Max streaming service should have been placed with the Global Markets half rather than Streaming & Studios. Why? Because with HBO Max being lumped in with the movies/television studios allows cheaper distribution on the streaming service, but LOST VALUE for selling any television or movies elsewhere, including to the Global Network half. THIS is what is KILLING Warner Bros Discovery, Paramount Global, and Disney… When they host their own streaming services, they LOSE out on opportunities to sell their content elsewhere. Instead of making Netflix their own personal ATM machine, they LOSE money hosting bandwidth of streaming services and all of that opportunity cost of selling their content to other platforms.

If they added HBO Max to Global Networks, then HBO Max, with time, could obtain much of the households lost from Cable/Satellite as it kind of happens right now. Many people have cut the cord with Cable/Satellite but have HBO Max streaming service because they LOVE what the HBO studios creates. HBO Max should also be the place for the live sporting content, too, as it somewhat is now as a complete company. Things will change if they split this way.

HOWEVER, by having HBO Max with the Streaming & Studios group and TNT/TBS being with the Global Networks division, it allows for AEW and Tony Khan to negotiate with them SEPARATELY. Part of the problem with AEW obtaining the deal last year was dealing with the BLOATED Warner Bros. Discovery company who didn’t have the full time of the day to talk about a $280 million deal with AEW. Now, however, the Global Network half can focus on retaining and paying for content to keep people tuning into TNT or TBS without having the permission of the previously bloated WBD corporation.

This could be good for WWE, too, believe it or not. WBD was once one company with Channels and Streaming. Now they are 2 companies, one with channels and the other with streaming. In 5 years when WWE’s deal could be up with Netflix (if they don’t renew, opting out of the 10-year deal) and USA Network, WWE now has 2 separate corporations for negotiations, depending on their need to get into streaming or more cable/satellite channels.

The key here is if both the Streaming & Studios and the Global Networks halves can raise enough capital to pay down all of that debt accumulated from years of bad management, mergers & acquisitions, blockbuster movie failures (especially DC universe, yuck!!!), and just bad decision making with major properties that Warner Bros has. Plus, TNT, TBS, and CNN aren’t the cable powerhouses that they once were and the Cartoon Network used to be a favorite channel for many. Seriously, Ted Turner and the older Time Warner company have SUCKED since being acquired by the declining America Online (AOL) group who lost their financial arses literally moments after purchasing Turner/Time Warner from the Dot Com Crash of 2000-2001. All of those great properties and strong sports coverage has carried them through much of the 21st century but it’s damn near impossible to escape BAD management.

Fact is that Warner Bros. Discovery HAD to do something with over $40 BILLION in Debt through the end of 2024. Had they not opted to split up into 2 corporations and raise capital that way, they’d probably have to sell key properties to any buyers who could finance content for billions of dollars. But, by splitting up the corporation into 2 halves, they now have flexible capital options.

Think of it like the idea of WWE’s brand split… Split your roster into halves for RAW and Smackdown and in theory, it allows more opportunities to shine for wrestlers not previously focused. Many Ohio Valley Wrestling performers benefitted from the 2002 split and generally, the 2016 brand split has been successful and WWE has the financial statements to prove it.

So yeah, it’s a good day for AEW… The Debt sickness that has been plaguing their partner, Warner Bros. Discovery, has a chance to get more medication by splitting itself into halves and receiving more capital opportunities to pay down its debt. For AEW, however, they now have an additional corporation to negotiate with and that gives them extra leveraging power.

Win for wrestling fans, too, believe it or not… The more debt that WBD accumulates, they more they’ll attempt to place those higher expenses onto the prices of their goods and services. That includes the prices for Cable/Satellite to host TBS/TNT along with the subscription price for HBO Max. The better that WBD and its new 2 halves can manage its debt, the less than can shove down consumers’ throats through price hikes.

In other words, I approve of this WBD split and consider it a shame at how poorly managed Turner and Time Warner’s assets have been for the past 25 years.

If I were Tony Khan, I’d have my lawyers pouring over the contract details right now just to assure that this corporation split won’t affect television rights or payments. HOPEFULLY, this possibility was discussed and built into their contract.

Follow me on Blue Sky!

Mr. Tito Column Archive @ NoDQ

The post MR. TITO: Warner Bros. Discovery is Splitting into 2 Corporations… What Does This Mean for AEW? appeared first on NoDQ.com: WWE and AEW Coverage.

Of course, I’m saying that just to ruffle your feathers because through 2024, you can’t quite do the wrestling angles of the past. A few years ago, Jack Swagger did his “We the People” gimmick and it was meant to be a heel gimmick. However, the gimmick was hitting too close to home per the Tea Party movement following the 2008 elections. Suddenly, they were getting over because the audience had changed politically.

In the past, Americans could easily get behind wanting the Iron Sheik, ANY Russian based wrestler, or Iraqi sympathizers during 1990-1991 to lose. Hell, WWE was able to successfully draw money and revitalize their company in 1997 with the pro-Canadian Hart Foundation group who would bash America. The 2000s tried things with the UnAmericans, and then you had the Muhammad Hassan. For the latter point, WWE officials angered UPN (or if they were CW by then) when they had guys in ski masks choking out the Undertaker in piano wire during July 2005. That was good sign that perception of using politically charged angles in the WWE was changing.

As the last 20 years have evolved, so has politics. We’re evenly divided now on being a Republican/conservative or a Democrat/liberal. Elections are won with barely being over 50% of the vote now, or the winner is under 50% because of a few third party candidates taking away some of the vote. In the past, people either didn’t talk about politics or just didn’t take it personally. Now, you could get into a fist fight discussing the merits of Donald Trump’s involvement in politics, and that includes with family members. Social Media has made politics really personal, especially with that tool able to spread disinformation so quickly.

During October 28th, 2020 for NoDQ, I wrote a column about how 1998 was the PEAK for wrestling and politics. For wrestling, I argued that the WWE and WCW feud was ending, WWE had the right things in place by then to continue to grow through 1999 after 1998, and ECW had already peaked and 1999 would begin its true downfall with some financial issues and a bad TV deal with TNN.

For politics, however, I argued how the President and Congress was unified and passing lots of great reforms on a bipartisan basis. Then, the Monica Lewinsky stuff hit the fan and an opportunity was sought to impeach the President. 1998 was the first year when our Federal Budget was balanced and the pinnacle of the strong economy. Through 1999, the wheels started to fall apart and for 2000, the dot com world was ready to explode. By 2001, we had a recession and then somehow, terrorists were able to infiltrate our system and cause 9/11. We get a heavily contested 2000 election between Bush and Gore, and then heavy debate about the wars that followed the events of 9/11. Obama actually won handily during 2008, following that bad financial crisis, but he had a ton of opposition as President such as invalid claims about his birth certificate which a future President seized upon opposition to become the President for 2016. For 2020, another close election and you have one that claimed it was rigged and refused to every acknowledge who won publicly (but a few recordings exist privately).

The fact is that we’re too divided and hence why our wrestling characters are sanitized politically now. The “We the People” gimmick with Jack Swagger will possibly be the last true attempt at a political gimmick, as wrestling companies are too scared of losing HALF of their audience and sponsors are very sensitive about anything political. Hence why WWE has been a PG company since the late 2010s and has scrubbed out any politically incorrect term from their show. We’re getting promises of Netflix being “unfiltered”, but I highly doubt that the WWE would even dare bring back politically charged gimmicks or storylines. WWE is owned by a TKO corporation who is owned by Endeavor who actually has new corporate owners themselves recently. While Netflix is actually loose on its content’s standards and practices, I don’t believe the Endeavor/TKO machine will be and won’t let WWE blister the earth with adult themed content. You’ll hear the weaker curse words used more often, such as “sh*t”, but that’s it.

See, that’s what made Pro Wrestling fun… It used to take chances, was provocative, tried to pull emotion out of fans, and often had payoffs. Sometimes, it went too far… And yes, Iron Sheik was marginalized for where he came from, but he had a great career in wrestling. While everyone remembers Hulk Hogan winning the WWE Title, the fact is that Sheik had it around his waist when Hogan beat him. Sheik had a great career and is considered a WWE and wrestling legend, in spite of who his character was representing. And just to show you how hilarious the 1990-1991 crowd was, nobody took offense to him suddenly becoming an Iraqi sympathizer. If that was done today, it would be “too offensive”.

Additionally, we’re long from the days of seeing someone like Sable walk out there with next to nothing, too. Women are presented as strong athletes now, instead of presenting them purposely for the male audience such as Miss Elizabeth, Sunny, Sable, Marlena, Torrie Wilson, and initially with Trish Stratus until she became a serious wrestler. Women’s wrestling, back then, was a very limited act and not taken that seriously. What helped the Attitude Era was the likes of Sunny and Sable showing it off and female performers appearing in the pages of Playboy. Now, you can’t even suggest appearing nude, even though some of the pictures posted by female wrestlers are quite risque on their Instagram accounts. Online fans get offended when photos get leaked, while any Attitude Era fan who points out how important Sunny or Sable was to the late 1990s boom gets shouted down boy today’s fans.

Go back to the late 1990s… We were all 100% behind Stone Cold Steve Austin. Also back then, we watched BOTH WWE and WCW during the Monday Night Wars and felt it was a LUXURY to have competing wrestling companies. Now, however, you plant your flag for either WWE or AEW, and NOT for both. Huh? The fanbases for WWE and AEW are completely tribal, at least they are among the savages residing on Social Media and screaming at each other there. Anytime that I write something about WWE or AEW, I get attacked by their fanbases. One week I’m anti-AEW, the next I’m anti-WWE. Or, if I say something positive about the WWE, that makes me a pro-WWE fan and anytime I praise AEW, I pretty much get laughed at.

We’ve come a long way in the past 25 years or so since 1998… However, I don’t always see it as better. We’re too divided and we cannot get over being divided, too. Everyone is now “my way or the highway” and that’s not what the UNITED States of America was meant to be. We’re 50 states who are banded together to be the best country in the world. Yet now, we’re seriously ready to fight each other because of our cult-like loyalty to one party or another and get legitimately mad at others when they won’t join your cult. Heaven forbid that you be in the middle and choose from the BEST of both parties, while actually liking both AEW and WWE. Can’t do that, as everyone just feels like they need to yell at the clouds these days.

BUT, I’ve been saying something in my recent columns, I believe things like being too involved on one side of politics and deeply devoted and defensive of one brand is a sign of how things have gone since the “peak” of 1998. I just don’t think people are satisfied with themselves economically, as companies are getting richer at the top and haven’t been rewarding the worker bees that make them successful. The bouts of inflation seen during the mid 2000s and since 2020 have eroded consumer purchasing power, too, while bosses and company owners aren’t harmed, as much, by higher prices. Hell, if their costs rise, they just pack it onto their prices… But I also think that during the late 2000s, many companies got away with bad investments only to be bailed out so easily from new debt created. Furthermore, there isn’t accountability for company owners for their bad company or moral decisions.

Take Vince McMahon as an example… He was President, CEO, and Board Chairman along with being the #1 shareholder. As a WWE fan before 2020, you were frustrated because the storylines weren’t getting better, developmental stars from NXT were flatlined in WWE, and the lowbrow comedy was a struggle to get through weekly on RAW and Smackdown. But, without any real competition, Vince McMahon could never be held accountable for quality of his shows. Sure, the company’s finances were growing through the roof, but they could have been LARGER. However, Vince was the #1 shareholder and thus that challenge about the QUALITY of WWE shows could never be brought up along with the treatment of wrestlers.

When it was revealed during the late Spring of 2022 that Vince McMahon had major problems with employees, fans rejoiced and then when he resigned, we cheered once again. Finally, this guy was being held accountable… But then things deflated during early 2023 when he forced his way back on as Board Chairman and was shopping the company around so that HE could make billions. And so he did, but even then, Endeavor made him Board Chairman of the newly formed TKO corporation that not only was overseeing WWE, but UFC too. He earned billions, had millions of TKO shares, and he was still in charge. Then, during the week of the Royal Rumble, details of the lawsuit hit the fan and Vince was finally held accountable… However, while he’s gone as TKO Board Chairman, he’s swimming in billions and billions of dollars from the share sells. But, the Department of Justice is now looking into him… What happens to the DOJ investigation when his old pal becomes President again, possibly from the 2024 election?

It’s this LACK of accountability for the guys at the top, lack of income opportunities for most workers, and the lack of disregard for how prices keep inflating faster than incomes can even rise that is fueling the division that I see out there. People are clinging to a politician out of hope that they’ll change their lives instantly… They find channels online to debate 24/7 a day and can yell at each other over which wrestling promotion is better, WWE or AEW? Hell, they can yell at their family members, too, regarding politics or whatever. Everyone is trying to find a punching bag to whale on for everybody frustrations.

That’s America and wrestling fans in a nutshell here on July 4th, 2024.

I really worry about this upcoming election. Not just for who may win or who may lose, but the reactions of both sides to winning or losing. One side will celebrate and possibly feel the need to rub it in, while other side will have anger sitting in. Just seems like a powder keg is out there and ready to explode… Many just need to pop in the Avett Brothers and check out their great song Head Full of Doubt/Road Full of Promise… In that song, it states:

When nothing is owed or deserved or expected
And your life doesn’t change by the man that’s elected
If you’re loved by someone, you’re never rejected
Decide what to be and go be it

And your lives as wrestling fans won’t be improved by being 100% devoted to just one promotion or another. Enjoy ALL wrestling… If you don’t like a particular promotion, just prune that off of your viewing tree and let other people just enjoy it without hassle. Save yourself some time by not screaming at each other online.

Or just join me and become an “equal opportunity hater” of both WWE and AEW.

Onto your F’N questions, y’all.

*****

Do you think that AEW has too many matches on their card?

YES – If you attended AEW’s Forbidden Door, you witnessed 15 wrestling matches and endured over 3.5 hours of in-ring action alone and that’s NOT including any promotional breaks during the show. As a TV viewers of the main show, you witnessed about 2 hours and 40 minutes of in-ring action from 10 matches but that is also not including any promotional breaks during the show. That is an exhausting evening…

Now, in case you haven’t noticed, WWE is now opting for FEWER matches on the card and going with shorter one-night shows. For Wrestlemania, they are providing you with 2 shorter one-night shows that are each up to 3 hours in length per night of the total show but much less on the total in-ring action.

BUT I think that AEW is packing their Pay Per View cards because (a) they HAVE to pull in the Pay Per View dollars because they don’t have a streaming service and (b) nobody is watching AEW for the storylines, or at least that’s what Tony Khan is thinking. He’s over-compensating for his product by packing in more action inside the ring because they guy cannot write creative storylines if his life depended on it.

Eventually, AEW is going to run into the same headaches that WCW and later the WWE endured by packing their RAW, Nitro, and Smackdown shows and monthly Pay Per Views with too many matches. You’ll get to a point by doing too much that everybody has worked with everybody already, and no match-ups are special. The “great” Will Ospreay has already burned through several top match-ups and guys like Omega, Okada, and Ospreay have already wrestled themselves many times elsewhere or already had big match-ups with wrestlers on the AEW roster. But what many don’t realize is the mileage each of those 3 have accumulated, so if they try to redo their past glory, it won’t be as good as it once was. Father Time always wins.

Packing too many matches on a card is just a sign of Tony Khan’s desperation. If his storylines cannot draw you into spending $50 per show, then a whole bunch of matches will. Tony has ZERO concept of “less is more” and will eventally burn out that entire roster from being over-exposed or injured.

*****

What are your WWE Money in the Bank predictions?

Y’all keep asking me for predictions, probably ribbing me because you know that I hate writing predictions columns. They just bore me, because part of me keeps thinking on what the WWE should do while trying to predict what they’ll actually do.

But I’ll give it the old college try because I like my readers…

Men’s Money in the Bank: Jey Uso vs. Carmelo Hayes vs. Andrade vs. Chad Gable vs. LA Knight vs. Drew McIntyre
Alright, let’s predict who WON’T win it. Carmelo, Andrade, Chad Gable, and Drew McIntyre. Too early for Carmelo, Andrade is there for big spots but isn’t a serious World Title contender, I think Gable will win a midcard title soon instead, and Drew McIntyre’s focus is 100% on CM Punk and not on a briefcase to possibly cash-in. Punk will likely do something to screw Drew and that will pour gasoline onto their SummerSlam match that may actually headline SummerSlam 2024…

That leaves Jey Uso and LA Knight. When the Rock arrived, it quickly extinguished the fire of LA Knight though he did have a good match at Wrestlemania 40 with AJ Styles. That said, he just doesn’t feel too strong as a World Title contender at the moment BUT the MITB briefcast could used to boost him as a threat to take the World Title at any point and time. MITB is a clear booking crutch, but LA Knight needs something like that right now.

Jey Uso is very over and WWE may feel the need to reward the fans who have been heavily supporting him. Does he have bad habits that are exposed when he works as a singles wrestler? Yes, you saw that very much on display at Wrestlemania 40. BUT HE’S OVER and personality wise, he has been the 2nd most important Bloodline wrestling member behind Roman. It wouldn’t surprise me to see Jey attempt a MITB cash-in at a Pay Per View, only to get screwed out of that opportunity by Solo’s Bloodline group.

Tito Predicts: Jey Uso wins MITB

Women’s Money in the Bank: Iyo Sky vs. Chelsea Green vs. Lyra Valkyria vs. Tiffany Stratton vs. Naomi vs. Zoey Stark

To me, there is only one who should truly win this… Tiffany Stratton. I understand that she’s young, needs more experience, and maybe we’re rushing her too early… But damn, she’s ready. Tiffany is one of the most talented female wrestlers on the roster and has the personality down. Her winning the MITB briefcase would create heat itself and I think she can back it up. Otherwise, Chelsea Green would be my secondary choice as I’m always rooting for her to succeed. In my opinion, she’s been Triple H’s best re-signings of past released talents and has the talent to do well with the MITB opportunity.

Tito Predicts: Tiffany Stratton

Damien Priest vs. Seth Rollins
Priest just isn’t a strong champion, though he has the tools but the presentation of him limits his possibilities. That or some people just aren’t main eventers. I think Priest would benefit from a tough loss and then work during the next year to define his character. Think about what Drew McIntyre just did this year and the guy is on absolute fire after years of being a bland character himself. THAT is what Priest needs. Seth Rollins was heavily relied upon during Wrestlemania 40 and needs rewarded (along with showing his wife that WWE cares still about Seth and Becky).

Tito Predicts: Seth Rollins

Sami Zayn vs. Bron Breakker
We saw the news that WWE’s plans for Bron have reportedly changed… That’s all I need to know, WWE is serious about pushing him now. That said, I suggested that Chad Gable might be chasing the IC Title… If Zayn loses, I don’t see heel Bron Breakker feuding with heel Chad Gable. I could see Sami escaping loss and then allowing Gable to take the IC Title away from Zayn later. Maybe Gable cashes in the MITB to win the IC Title immediately over the winner of this match and maybe that turns Bron into a babyface? Don’t know…

Tito Predicts: Bron Breakker, but I’m torn on this choice. Could go either way.

Bloodline (any of the 3) versus Randy Orton/Kevin Owens/Cody Rhodes
Jacob Fatu will sit this one out and just interfere often in the match instead of performing. Match will be all about setting up Solo Sikoa vs. Cody Rhodes for SummerSlam 2024 and thus you’ll see Solo pinning Cody Rhodes to win this match. Very likely that Cody seems to get better of Solo, but then Jacob Fatu interferes and helps Solo score the win. That pin in this 6-man match gives Solo the reasoning to challenge Cody for the WWE Title at SummerSlam 2024. This seems too much in stone, as Cody vs. Solo is reportedly going to be the SummerSlam match-up for the Smackdown World Title.

Tito Predicts: Bloodline wins

*****

Do you think that Warner Bros. Discovery’s reported bids on Paramount Global could affect the re-signing of AEW?

Nope… Corporations can walk and chew bubblegum at the same time, though often, they tend to have a high level of debt. To me, I think Warner Bros. Discovery ditching the overpriced NBA contract could be their desires to obtain the live sports contracts that Paramount Global has. CBS has great NFL coverage, NCAA basketball coverage (which now becomes 100% with WBD), and NCAA football coverage. Merging MAX with Paramount Plus would be huge, along with merging HBO/Cinemax/Showtime to make a venue for ultimate adult premium content would be huge as well.

If Warner Bros. Discovery is willing to pay up to $70 billion to acquire Paramount Global, then giving AEW over $100 million per year is chump change. WBD needs cheap live sporting content to fill time on their channels that is LESS expensive than airing re-runs of television shows, replays of movies, or creating original televised content. However, I don’t see WBD paying over $125 million for something that draws less than 800,000 viewers and cannot attract high paying sponsorships. $110 million, the reported number, almost doubles what WBD is paying for content now and AEW should take it for the exposure.

Who else is going to pay them? If WBD buys Viacom, that’s one less buyer off the table. Netflix and Comcast/NBC/Universal are in bed with WWE. Disney has its own debt and expensive content problems. Maybe Amazon or Apple, but I just don’t see their executives being overly impressed with Tony’s content offerings.

If AEW agrees for something just above $100 million, then WBD will pay ball… If Tony thinks that his declining show deserves more, then he’ll get lowballed by someone else. I just don’t see AEW getting more than $110 million per year from any other buyers, especially with the way they aren’t drawing viewership or sponsors right now.

*****

4th of July Related Question: Who was the best United States Champion of all time?

With this question, we’re going to look at the NWA/WCW title combined with the United States title iterations that the WWE has tried. THANKFULLY for me, the WWE somehow links their 2003 created United States Title with the WCW lineage, so thus I only have 1 big list to look at. However, this is difficult because the United States Title before 1985 was a very competitive title because as the NWA Title as traded among the territories, the US Title in the Mid-Atlantic NWA that later became WCW had a real importance to it because that became a defacto top title if the NWA world title was somewhere else. It is a serious who’s who of top wrestlers ever with Harley Race, Ric Flair, Ricky Steamboat, Terry Funk, Roddy Piper, Sgt. Slaughter, and Greg Valentine.

And I didn’t watch it closely back then, only beginning to watch NWA stuff during 1988 and backtracking through the rental of tapes back then for just a few years back.

To me, Barry Windham’s 1988-1989 run was perfect and he was the US Champ of the best version of the Four Horsemen when Flair, Tully, and Arn. Barry held the title from May 1988 until February 1989 when he put over Lex Luger at Chi-Town Rumble (one of my personal favorite PPVs ever). After that Barry title reign, the U.S. Title switched hands repeatedly during most years and was just a transitional title.

Outside of that, John Cena’s initial 2004 run, I felt was very important. He won the title at Wrestlemania 20 and beat a credible champion in the Big Show to achieve that, but it was icing on the cake for John Cena’s growing character. He had so much swagger with that title and eventually introduce the spinning U.S. Title which was cooler than the spinning WWE Title he’d later introduce. The title was just a midcard title when was re-introduced on the Smackdown brand during 2003, but John Cena made something of that belt after he won it at Wrestlemania 20.

I gotta say, Logan Paul is an excellent U.S. Champion. I don’t care that he barely wrestles… When he does, IT MATTERS and he’s treating that U.S. Title like it’s a big deal. He had it in front of the former President during their interview, for God’s sakes.

Anyone from pre-1985 can be considered the BEST United States Champion ever… Aside from that era, I’m leaning towards John Cena. That US Title win from Wrestlemania 20 legitimized the great growth that he did during 2003 and he made that championship felt meaningful, insomuch that he was rewarded with the WWE Title later.

But damn, I love me some Barry Windham from 1988-1989, and I’m always sad that his career didn’t go to bigger heights. Not sure what the WWE did with the “Widow Maker” gimmick, but hey could have had an excellent opponent for the Ultimate Warrior or Hulk Hogan but bad booking and bad luck (Barry had to take care of family later that year) intervened.

****

What are your expectations for an “unfiltered” Monday Night RAW on Netflix?

I don’t expect too much, other than some lighter curse words being used or maybe some more sexual inuendo used on promos. F-bombs will be only used for a purpose, but I can see the word “bullsh*t” used often or “piece of sh*t”. In other words, expect a whole lot of “sh*t”. If anything else, angles will be a big more violent and we’ll see some increased use of blood.

I don’t see them pushing sexualized angles, though, like we saw with Sunny or especially Sable during the Attitude Era and later with Torrie Wilson and Trish Stratus. Women are used differently… Besides, what they wrestle in now is quite revealing…

I just think you’ll see promos getting more adult themed and more violence… But going full blown into the Attitude Era, I just don’t see it.

HOWEVER – I do see one day Netflix being under scrutiny with their content and all it takes is for the FCC to gain review power of streaming services. You don’t think that’s possible? Right now, there is a push for banking regulations to be applied to financial apps (Venmo, Cash App, etc.) and I could see a push for the FCC to place their tenacles into the streaming world. That same Parents Television Council (PTC) group that went after the WWE still exists and they still have a ton of political clout (part of the reason for political correctness on television). Furthermore, Network and Cable/Satellite television know people in Washington, too, and could lobby for the FCC or other agencies to regulate streaming as well.

For that reason, I don’t think the WWE will be allowed to push the envelope that much on Netflix. Aside from a few shows, Netflix has a lot of tame content for everyone of different ages to enjoy. At the end of the day, parents should monitor what their kids are watching.

*****

Thoughts on Jeff Jarrett getting bounced early in AEW’s Owen Hart Tournament?

Isn’t Jeff Jarrett 56 and about to turn 57?

And isn’t Adam “Hangman” Page 32 years old, about to turn 33? And isn’t he a former AEW World Champion from 2 years ago?

Sure, I understand that Owen Hart was a close friend of Jeff Jarrett’s, but Owen Hart has ZERO connection to All Elite Wrestling other than his widow lending his name to the promotion. Sorry, the “doing it for Owen” stuff isn’t going to fly here and old man Jarrett. And if fans are behind Jarrett during his match with Adam Page, then that helps with Page to obtain some heat for beating Jarrett.

Sorry, but about to be 57 year old wrestlers shouldn’t be defeating about to be 33 former World Champions from just 2 years ago.

This is the LOGIC of the online wrestling fans that I’m constantly calling out and holding accountable.

*****

Will WWE Hall of Famer Donald Trump win the 2024 election?

I’ll say this on the 4th of July 2024, the odds are in his favor… Just looking in terms of energy, those on the right really want Trump as president whereas those on the left are just settling for Biden to return as president. That was the problem heading into the June debate, as Biden is older and was literally selected to be the candidate during 2020 because the other Democratic candidates weren’t polling strong against Trump. So hence, they settled on an older Joe Biden who is now 4 years older and sadly, it’s showing. That debate performance was terrible and ripped the Band-aid off the worries about Joe’s faculties declining. I think the past 4 years of cleaning up the COVID mess, restarting the economy, trying to prosecute the wrongs of January 6th, and the many conflicts around the world have aged him quickly. Trump was full of lies during that debate, yet Biden couldn’t hit any of those softballs out of the park because he was physically struggling to get through that debate.

And now the stakes are even higher, thanks to the Supreme Court voting 6-3 to declare that a President has full immunity from law for what are deemed “official acts” of the President.

We’re 124 days away from Election Day on November 5th and changing your ticket could prove to be challenging, particular since voters approved of Joe Biden as their candidate. Because he won those delegates, those are his and the Democrats can’t just strip him. Biden, himself, would have to resign as the Democratic presidential candidate in order for a replacement process to begin. What happens after that? Do the Democrats have a nationwide election held for the people to choose and then that vote is ratified at the August 19-22 Democratic Convention? Or do they rip up the votes made by the people and the party chooses the ticket at the Convention?

It’s messy and you’ll have to remember WHY Joe Biden won the 2020 primaries in the first place… The others weren’t drawing well, particular in the Midwestern swing states, particularly Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin. However, because the Democrats went with an older Biden, they ditched any possibilities for a youth movement in their party. And I just don’t see much development from Kamala Harris, the Vice President, who hasn’t really made much of a stamp as Vice President. Joe Biden and Dick Cheney, for example, were heavily relied upon as the #2 guys whereas Kamala Harris has been quiet. If she runs for President instead of Biden, they’ll expose how ineffective she has been on the border for Biden as her side-project.

Again, what everyone has to realize is that this election is literally decided by the 3 Midwestern states of Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin. Ohio is now fully red and same with Missouri, as those were swing states. There’s a chance that North Carolina, Virginia, Arizona, Georgia, and Nevada could create some election day chaos, but still, it’s how you appeal to Midwestern voters is what matters now in Presidential elections. I just don’t see California Democrats, such as Kamala Harris or Gavin Newsom, appealing here and can be easily lampooned as “left coast liberals”. Your better bets would be the Governors of Michigan or Pennsylvania, though I think Josh Shapiro would be a better 2028 candidate. Gretchen Whitmer from Michigan is a possibility, but I think she’d have to win it in a voting contest instead of being selected by the Democrat Party. Leapfrogging Kamala Harris without the people voting could be bad optics. We could always go with Harris as President and Whitmer as VP, but would an all-female team win in 2024? We’ve never had a female President yet…

You could always go moderate and try someone like Joe Manchin, though he’d be another stopgap guy because he’s 77 years old himself. But, he’d have that Midwestern charm and lots of credibility as a middle of the road guy. Manchin would uncheck a lot of advantages that Trump has, but as a moderate, the hard left has some disgust for Manchin.

What Democrats need is ENERGY, as they’ve been hesitant on old man Biden and unsure about his handling of the border and inflation. What Democratic voters wants is someone with a plan of the future and to reduce the daily financial pressures that they are enduring. But they also need someone who can win within the major swing states, particularly here in the Midwest.

Big x-factor, too, is who Donald Trump selects as his VP. Had a Dakota governor not admitted to shooting her own freakin’ dog, Kristi Noem had it in the bag (and still may). Some are saying the other Dakota governor Doug Burgum or Ohio Senator J.D. Vance, maybe Florida Senator Marco Rubio. While people think that Trump will pick a loyalist, I think the Supreme Court ruling on immunity gives Trump the confidence to go the other way. I think he’ll pick someone experienced and possibly slightly moderate to sure up the base and ensure election victory. The Virginia governor, for example, Glenn Youngkin. I don’t think he’ll select Florida governor Ron DeSantis, but I think selecting Nikki Haley is a possibility despite things she’s said during the campaign. At the very least, Haley shows that she’ll question authority in the public’s eye (though that may be different behind the scenes). A good VP will help Trump, especially as he’s not a young spring chicken either.

I don’t know, folks… We’re in complete unchartered territory and likely to see some major fundamental changes of our country following the 2024 elections.

Odds of Trump winning depends the economy’s performance for the 2nd half of 2024 along with his VP selection.

Odds of Joe Biden or Democrats winning depends significantly on the perception of the party and how hard can the immunity threat stick.

But I do know one thing… Vince McMahon is rooting for Donald Trump and if Trump wins, the Department of Justice backs off or Vince will be pardoned of any crime alleged by that department. I believe that is where Vince’s billions from the sale of WWE and TKO shares is going right now.

Happy 4th of July!

CLICK HERE for the Mr. Tito Column Archive @ NoDQ

The post ASK TITO – 4th of July Edition: WWE MITB Predictions, AEW Forbidden Door, Best U.S. Champ?, and More appeared first on NoDQ.com: WWE and AEW Coverage.

I covered WCW as it was declining from October 1998 until its death, as the horrible WCW Halloween Havoc 1998 event featuring Hulk Hogan vs. Warrior was in my very first column. I wrote daily columns (seriously) and hardly ever missed any dates from that point forward until March 2001 when WWE purchased WCW for a bargain price of around $4 million. Unlike the talking heads of this Vice TV show, I have no agenda and can speak to it legitimately after covering it in real time and reflecting on WCW’s death 23 years later. I’ve also spoke with many wrestlers or personalities, read books, and listened to many documentaries/interviews for different perspectives. In my view, I’m legitimate to speak on this.

For today, I’m going to rank the “WCW killers” from biggest contributions to WCW’s demise or death.

However, let’s be FAIR to some of the killers that will be listed here… They helped make WCW into a powerhouse and that needs to be appreciated. WCW’s downfall is massive because the company, from 1993 to 1998, became the #1 wrestling company in the world during 1996-1998. That cannot be understated. If the company didn’t grow, then its decline wouldn’t have been so epic.

Those who deserve credit for WCW’s growth:

1) Ted Turner – He loved WCW wrestling and fully supported the wrestling product when many at Turner Broadcasting insisted that he shouldn’t. Ted allowed Eric to make top signings and gave him WCW Nitro.

2) Eric Bischoff – From 1993-1996, he was a great no-nonsense manager who reduced WCW’s costs significantly, signed the right wrestlers (Hogan, Macho, Hall, and Nash), and changed the way WCW was presented. By 1996, everything was primed for the New World Order to arrive and take over the wrestling scene. Furthermore, Bischoff raiding ECW, Mexico, and Japan for top talent and featuring them prominently with things like the Cruiserweight division or any midcard title helped make for highly balanced shows full of great talent. The problem became during November 1996 when Eric Bischoff decided to become an on-screen member of the NWO, and suddenly, he devoted more time to that instead of the brilliant managerial skills he displayed during 1993-1996 that made WCW great. 1997 rode on 1996’s fumes, while Starrcade 1997 and 1998 began to show the wheels falling off. Yet, there Eric was, still focused on his NWO character rather than quality control of creative or the inmates beginning to run the asylum.

3) Hulk Hogan – Him joining WCW was major during 1994, but it was his heel turn to present himself as something DIFFERENT is what really put WCW over the top with the Hall & Nash signings. However, Hogan’s creative control would later harm WCW for Starrcade 1997 and Eric Bischoff’s intoxication to be a member of the NWO and keep that brand strong also saw Hulk Hogan remaining strong at the top. Hogan’s involvement in 3 harmful WCW events is no coincidence: Starrcade 1997, Fingerpoke of Doom, and Bash at the Beach 2000 with Russo.

4) Scott Hall and Kevin Nash – Them joining WCW, in their primes, was HUGE, and Bischoff pushing them as WWE invaders was also important. They finally brought the cool factor to WCW, which the 1995-1996 scene badly needed. Go watch WCW Uncensored 1996 and then watch the Outsiders debut. Complete night and day.

5) Sting – His willingness to change his character from the surfer to the Crow enhanced his career and catapulted him to be an equal to Hulk Hogan at that point. Just the mystery of what Sting may do next caused many to tune in nightly.

6) Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW) – Yep, WCW’s biggest talent acquisitions were raided from this promotion. Benoit, Malenko, Guerrero, Mysterio, many other Luchadores, and later Raven/Saturn were absolutely huge and bolstered WCW’s midcard to never make a dull moment on any WCW Nitro or Pay Per View. ECW was seriously like a minor league system for WCW.

7) Time Warner – Everyone from “Who Killed WCW” by Vice TV wants to blame them, but it’s a FACT that Ted Turner and Time Warner merged through 1996. Thus, they were supplying WCW and Eric Bischoff with budgets for 3 years before AOL came into the picture and really began cutting costs. From 1996 to 1999, look at how many wrestlers were signed or how many existing wrestlers were signed to lucrative deals. Time Warner was 100% behind each one, just as they were behind the very expensive logo and WCW Nitro set re-design. Turner Broadcasting has ALWAYS had tight Standards & Practices, so the excuse that Time Warner harmed WCW is a total like with regards to content. Fact is that Eric’s mismanagement of the company caused revenues to decline while his talent/production costs kept rising. Hence the September 1999 removal. WCW was dead already and when AOL took over with expensive merger costs, other costs were reduced and so went WCW.

So I have given credit where was due… However, now, we need to see how this great WCW empire that peaked financially through mid-1998 was closed by March 2001.

Let’s discuss the true KILLERS of WCW!

*****

Ranking the KILLERS of World Championship Wrestling (WCW)

#10 – Destruction of the Four Horsemen & Ric Flair
While Sting’s brand got stronger during the late 1990s, the Four Horsemen one diminished. Yes, Ric Flair was old, but he still had drawing power with loyal WCW fans and they could have kept them strong as a group with or without him. The NWO smashed that group easily and then personal problems between Ric and Eric Bischoff occurred. That would later prompt the Horsemen comeback where Ric Flair was yelling “fire me, I’m already fired”. But this Horsemen reboot would fall short and we wouldn’t see any true iterations of the group after that.

The way Flair was used from 1999-2000 was just hilarious, ranging from joining a mental institution to having his head shaved.

Ric Flair was WCW’s main guy from the 1980s through mid-1990s. Flair was the guy who put over Hulk Hogan to effectively pass the torch, but he deserved better as WCW’s elder statesman and longtime contributor to the company.

There’s a reason why Ric Flair was in the final WCW Nitro… Someone, on that day, finally got it right, but it doesn’t erase how much the fans were upset from the use of Ric Flair from late 1996 through 2000. Misusing Ric Flair and then later messing with Sting’s big moment were big moments that upset many longtime WCW fans.

How do you cause a tree to begin dying? Poison its roots and Ric Flair and the Horsemen brand were part of the roots, as was Sting and other longtime WCW staples.

#9 – Starrcade 1998 to 1/4/1999 WCW Nitro
How can WCW completely fumble on 2 straight Starrcade shows? Previous year, we saw Sting not win the WCW title properly and then 1 year later, WCW’s top babyface star is made to look silly by the finish of the Bill Goldberg versus Kevin Nash match.

Then, just 1 week later, they completely insulted fans further with the “fingerpoke of doom” (© Scott Keith) for the Hulk Hogan vs. Kevin Nash match that we never got to have during the entire 1998 NWO Hollywood vs. NWO Wolfpack “feud”. This 8-day day period of time threw cold water on any hopes for 1999. Instead of Starrcade 1998 ending well and clearing the table for a strong start for WCW during early 1999, we get more the same old stuff.

You could blame this on Kevin Nash or not, but even if he was truly “lead writer” during this period of time, who placed an active wrestler on the creative team? Eric Bischoff… Who always enables Hulk Hogan? Eric Bischoff. Who had ultimate approval of anything that occurred in WCW from 1993-1999? Eric Bischoff did.

In contrast during these 8 days, WWE was actively building the Rock and Mick Foley into major stars to help complement their biggest star, Stone Cold Steve Austin.

The latter half of WCW was a struggle for 1998, but Starrcade 1998 through the first Nitro of 1999 could have created new hope. However, they pissed off fans further and the rebooted NWO did nothing to draw for early 1999 and that declining momentum continued throughout the year before Bischoff’s September 1999 exit.

While Bill Goldberg ran out of steam after his July 1998 WCW Nitro win, these 8 days from late 1998 and early 1999 eroded his starpower with the company and he wasn’t the same.

WCW fans went from thinking Hogan was gone during late 1998 to getting much more of him through early 1999. Hogan was champion for over 3 months, and then between March 1999 through September 1999, there were 8 different World Champions. Confidence in WCW’s product was diminished by keeping Hogan strong and then being unsure who was their top star after that.

#8 – Starrcade 1997
Starrcade 1997 was the biggest Pay Per View ever, according to buyrates, since Wrestlemania 5 from 1989. It mattered THAT much and all WCW had to do was have Sting defeat Hulk Hogan cleanly.

But they didn’t… Instead, they had a controversial slow count from referee Nick Patrick, which was NOT slow, and then Bret Hart somehow retains his “ring enforcer” duties to become the replacement referee. Completely ruined what should have been the perfect end of the Sting vs. Hogan feud that was seriously building for an entire freakin’ year.

On top of that, Starrcade 1997 was a dull show. The loaded WCW roster at that point wasn’t exactly on full showcase. It represented that the NWO dominated WCW at this point, but they weren’t delivering on big matches.

But the aftermath of Starrcade is where things kept snowballing. Sting wasn’t a legitimate WCW Champion and WCW milked the decision about the WCW title on an episode of WCW Thunder. Then, WCW tries to make up for this error by redoing Hogan vs. Sting. It just felt off, as if Starrcade 1997 was a total waste of our time and it was. Crow Sting was NEVER the same in WCW, as the mystery and excitement about the character was now gone while it just felt like the NWO was going to dominate more… Which it did. Hogan was WCW Champion again just a few months later.

“Waste of time” is a perfect phrase for Starrcade 1997, when it should have been the crown jewel for this dominant promotion. It was just a case of the inmates running the asylum and Eric Bischoff should have put his foot down to prevent Hulk Hogan from using his creative control. Yes, Hogan has a contract, but executive managers can have balls, too.

#7 – New World Order
The greatest storyline ever, but I wouldn’t call it that during and after Starrcade 1997. Throughout 1997, the NWO was swelling and adding too many wrestlers. However, it was still 1 faction and there was enough WCW vs. NWO that drew well. However for 1998, the NWO faction split into 2 halves and suddenly WCW became about NWO Hollywood led by Hulk Hogan versus NWO Wolfpack. To have Sting and Lex Luger join the Wolfpack was a joke and dissolved anyone being for just WCW other than Goldberg and DDP.

Then, the NWO factions merged during early 1999 and it sucked… Same old crap with Hulk Hogan on top.

Vince Russo tried to bring it back during late 1999, but injuries really limited that group (Jeff Jarrett and Bret Hart) and Bill Goldberg smashing his arm through a window of a limo hurt any babyface opposition to them. I didn’t like NWO being brought back at the time, but it could have had potential if everyone stayed healthy. It didn’t, and then Russo was demoted as lead writer.

But how the NWO was handled with 2 factions during 1998 and then brought back with that fingerpoke lessened the value of WCW’s biggest internal brand and thus it hurt WCW’s product in the end. With WWE bringing all kinds of new stuff to the table for 1998-1999, including newer superstars, WCW presented the same old tired NWO brand with the same old wrestlers.

#6 – WCW Thunder
Through early 1998, WCW already had a 3-hour WCW Nitro (expanded it during August 1997) along with a 2-hour show on Saturday Nights plus syndication. At least WCW Saturday Night and the syndicated shows were taped, WCW Thunder on Thursday Nights on TBS was going to be LIVE! This was an awful idea, as it completely exposed the overexposed WCW product following Starrcade 1997.

Isn’t that the same thing that I’ve been arguing lately? Asking WWE fans to watch 3 hours of RAW and then 2 hours of Smackdown? Asking AEW fans to watch 2 hours of Dynamite, 1 hour of Rampage, and then 2 hours of Collision? Oh, and PPVs or PLEs.

WCW Chunder, as I always called it, made WCW Nitro feel less important but then eventually, WCW stopped caring entirely about the quality of WCW Thunder. None of the big stars wanted to appear and it was just there.

It created too much WCW product and weakened everything for a WCW that already had 3 hours of Nitro in place and Pay Per Views.

#5 – Vince Russo
WCW was already dying by the time that Vince Russo took over creative during October 1999. Furthermore, I actually LIKED the WCW that Russo booked from October 1999 through January 2000. It was fun, it was different, gave Bret Hart the best timeframe of his WCW career, and many of the midcard talents had better opportunities to shine. It is a FACT that Vince Russo increased ratings from the 1999 freefall, even if it was just “slightly”.

THAT SAID, the change to a more chaotic or even adult themed booking style did turn off many longtime WCW fans while the sudden booking change during 1999 did turn off sponsors. Those are actual facts… Russo’s late 1999 stuff, I feel, peeled off loyal WWE fans to check out WCW Nitro and that briefly offset any longtime WCW fans who were upset at the new show format.

But I think where some of the final nails driven into WCW’s coffin came during the Spring/Summer of 2000 when Vince Russo was not only fully in charge of creative, but an on-screen character as well. History has shown that you cannot do both well at the same time… Dusty, Eric, Triple H, Vince McMahon, etc. have all tried to book the shows and be an on-screen character but what happens is that you get so intoxicated in keeping your on-screen spot that you neglect the bookings for other wrestlers. I feel that the Vince Russo of 2000 was too distracted by trying to get his on-screen character over that it subtracted from any of his creative endeavors for other wrestlers. Hence why quality just wasn’t there for 2000.

However, I also think that Vince Russo is just a creative writer and thrives better with a strong team around him. Hence why he was very successful in WCW, as Jim Ross handled the talent, Prichard/Cornette/Patterson where here and there to help with creative, lots of great road agents, and Vince McMahon. Russo didn’t have that infrastructure in WCW, while also having to deal with veterans who had creative control inked into their contracts. In my view, Russo had to overcompensate in WCW and thus we didn’t get the best version of him during 2000. He’d go on to do better things in TNA because he had a decent backstage infrastructure there with Jeff Jarrett and crew so that he could just be a writer and not all things as he tried to be in WCW.

I always wonder what would have happened in WCW if Time Warner just gave Russo more time, as that abrupt exit during January 2000 wasn’t fair. You cannot decline a ship that was declining for more more than 1 year in just 4 months. Fact is that ratings did increase slightly from October 1999 through January 2000.

But there is no escaping who was the writer that not only made David Arquette WCW champion, but also himself. Sorry, but I didn’t want to see Vince Russo wrestling during 2000. Both of those events drove even more loyal WCW fans away. Getting on the front of USA Today isn’t that big of a deal, especially when it’s a bad wrestling angle.

Anyone placing David Arquette as a “killer” on their list needs to understand that someone booked him to become WCW Champion.

#4 – Time Warner
The blame that Time Warner killed WCW has been wrongly placed by those on Vice TV’s “Who Killed WCW” by the talking heads there, but to their credit, the Time Warner executives participating on that show have admitted their own errors. They didn’t like pro wrestling and I would imagine they let the executive management teams know about it during 2000 when AOL and Time Warner discussed merging.

That said, Time Warner was financially supportive of WCW after they acquired Turner in 1996 and kept supplying Eric Bischoff with budgeted funds through 1999. That’s factual, as seen by the many talent signings, existing wrestler extensions, and the high production costs paid for (Tonight Show set for 1998, new WCW logo and new set for 1999). WCW made lots of money through 1996 and thus Time Warner executives empowered Eric Bischoff to keep the company going.

There is this whole argument of “Standards & Practices”, but Turner Broadcasting has ALWAYS been about family television and much of 1996-1997 was mostly clean, absent a few violent beatdowns. The fact is that Eric and his Creative Team saw what WWE was getting away with on USA Network and wanted to try more stuff like that, but that’s where Time Warner executives put their foot down. THAT is the real matter… There were no meetings about Standards & Practices before 1998, just during 1998 when WCW was desperate and wanted to put more scantily clad women or foul language on the shows. That’s it… If you watch from 1996-1997 versus 1998-1999, there’s no material difference on content.

And the whole “TBS made WCW pay for Thunder” argument is silly. You’re in the same corporation, Eric. No TV rights fees to be paid, fool, when it’s under the same umbrella. And if Time Warner was hiding any costs from other business lines and placed them into WCW’s costs centers, that’s a major issue that the Securities Exchange Commission would look into for falsifying financial statements made to the public. Again, more excuses by the parties who mismanaged WCW and want to blame it on the corporation who paid highly for talent and production costs.

Now, where Time Warner messed up was their dismissal of Eric Bischoff during September 1999 and having ZERO back-up plan for that. Bill Busch was not up for that task and WCW’s decline continued under his watch, while the other executives at Time Warner were clueless on what to do with WCW while it was declining rapidly. Busch letting Benoit/Malenko/Guerrero/Saturn just walk was a major mistake, while constantly changing the creative team and having total chaos backstage with management of WCW helps drive the final nails into WCW.

But I’d strongly argue that Time Warner was very supportive of Eric Bischoff for most of his tenure. Signed wrestlers, extensions of contracts, and higher production costs validate this opinion. Facts are all there and many receipts exists on Time Warner’s old books.

#3 – Hulk Hogan
I have zero complaints about the Hulkster before December 1997, for the record. He deserves a large portion of WCW’s success based on his character at that point.

However, it is a FACT that he used his Creative Control portion in his contract to change the Sting vs. Hogan match, as quoted by Eric Bischoff multiple times now (A&E NWO biography, Who Killed WCW? by Vice TV). Yes, Hogan has that in his contract, but he doesn’t always have to use it. Fact is that he used it on WCW’s most important show ever and that created the first bad taste in WCW fan’s mouth. Sting’s win was tainted and by the Spring of 1998, Hulk Hogan won the belt back anyway. Thus, anything that was done to build Sting vs. Hogan for 1997 was completely lost.

Yes, he put over Bill Goldberg, but what happened by January 1999? Belt back on Hulk Hogan’s waist and in a humiliating fashion with the “Finger Poke of Doom” (©Scott Keith) during the first WCW Nitro of 1999. Another insult to WCW fans.

Then, Hogan was involved with the Bash at the Beach 2000. Hogan and Bischoff can claim whatever they want, but it’s a fact that Jeff Jarrett vs. Hulk Hogan was booked with Hogan winning the title. All indications from others backstage at the time is that Hogan, Bischoff, and Russo were in on the Bash at the Beach 2000 angle and it was Bischoff/Hogan changing their minds later once they saw the actual Vince Russo promo and the online reaction to it.

3 bad on-screen moments that hurt WCW considerably gets the Hulkster high up on my list.

What you didn’t see on-screen hurt WCW, too. Hogan is highly driven to remain the #1 guy and was that under Eric “the enabler” Bischoff’s entire run. There’s a cost to that, as things get stale at the top and other wrestlers are denied opportunities. Yes, he put over Bill Goldberg, but Goldberg was made to look silly from Starrcade 1998 to that first Nitro of 1999. Worst of all for Hogan was his WCW contract which took large portions of merchandise and Pay Per View percentages. While the deal may have made sense when WCW was smaller and desperate, his renegotiated contracts for even more money harmed them once they became bigger and especially when they declined. While I won’t fault Hogan for signing a dotted line on a contract that he’s present, which is why Eric Bischoff deserves far more blame, I can fault him for his use of the Creative Control clause in his contract. That is 100% on him when it was used and the times it harmed the company on all 3 times mentioned above.

#2 – America Online (AOL)
AOL and Time Warner announced that they were merging during January 2000. By December 2000, it was cleared by the Federal Trade Commission for any anti-trust issues and the conversion was completed by January 2001. From January 2000 to January 2001, they were sharing each others’ financial statements and meeting with each other regularly during this time. The cost of this merger by AOL (who would own 55% by January 2001) likely caused a need to reduce expenses of both AOL and Time Warner before the merger completed. For the year 2000, WCW was projected to lose $80 million (cost reductions got this down to around $62 million). With WCW Nitro occupying Monday and WCW Thunder had Wednesday (used to be on Thursday), those were prime time slots for TNT and TBS that were massive money losers for Turner Broadcasting.

I don’t blame AOL/Time Warner for cancelling WCW as they did… WCW was a major money loser through the year 2000 and any sound corporate management group would do the same.

Eric Bischoff alleges that he had investors ready to buy the company, but the FACT is that the WCW talents were locked into Time Warner contracts that wouldn’t be transferred to a new buyer. Thus, even if WCW was purchased by Bischoff’s Fusient investors, AOL/Time Warner would still be paying those high contracts and would lose even more money if WCW kept struggling.

Fact is, AOL acquired a Time Warner company with high expenses and WCW was one of its problem asset areas. They empowered Jamie Kellner to clean up the Turner Broadcasting section, and he made the decision to cancel WCW’s shows. As it turns out, this would be a profitable decision, long-term, by AOL/Time Warner because primetime shows, movies, or sporting events not only drew better viewership than the declining WCW, but also way better ad revenue.

#1 – Eric Bischoff
I have repeatedly insisted that November 18th, 1996 was the “day that WCW died” because it was the day that Eric went from competent and innovative manager of WCW to beginning his tenure as an on-screen character with the New World Order. As 1997 and 1998 moved along, Eric’s devotion to his on-screen NWO character grew (as did his ego) while he relaxed on managing his talent and half-assed the creative. Because Bischoff was part of the NWO, he felt compelled to keep it strong even during 1998 and 1999 when the cool factor was long gone. Furthermore, by being a part of the NWO, Eric felt compelled to keep Hulk Hogan strong at the top as well. This proved to be especially damaging during 1998 and 1999, along with his loyalty to Hogan shown during 2000.

The fact that Eric allowed Hogan to be Hogan, and then later let wrestlers become lead writers for Creative (Kevin Nash, for example) shows complete incompetence of Eric during 1998-1999. Signing any ex-WWE wrestler to join the WCW roster after the success of Hall & Nash was ridiculous, too, and proved to be added expenses for Time Warner to later cover. Fact is that Bischoff signed off on those large wrestler contracts, while also pushing for expensive production costs as well. Look at that Tonight Show set during August 1998, while the revised WCW logo set during 1999 was very expensive as well. From the latter half of 1998 through early 2001, those expenses put a real anchor on WCW’s ship.

I’ve always said that Eric Bischoff is like an NFL General Manager who sacrifices the future in order to WIN NOW. The Hall and Nash signings, along with Hulk Hogan and pushing & signing other veterans, was exactly it. WCW may have won during 1996-1998, but payback was coming for the future. NFL GMs have to deal with Salary Caps, thus causing them to reduce the talent quality of their team temporarily in order to get under the cap. With Bischoff, his expenses pushed through 1999 for wrestlers and production costs caused the high expenses that caused massive losses for WCW once television viewership and attendance for shows declined after the first half of 1998. Furthermore, Eric had no long-term plan by pushing veterans so hard versus pushing any younger wrestlers. Giant and Chris Jericho both left WCW during 1999, while Benoit/Saturn/Malenko/Guerrero left by early 2000. Guys like Booker T and DDP, I felt, were pushed to the top too late, in my opinion.

But Eric truly lost himself as an on-screen NWO member and took his eye off the wheel to become “one of the boys”. Bischoff partied with the wrestlers and became one of them, but WCW needed a leader. They lost that great leader that made WCW great through 1996.

——————

LAST WORD: Once again, I just saved you the time of watching a 4-part documentary full of excuses and exaggerations, while also saving you time reading books that may not be correctly pointing the right fingers at the right places.

To me, when Eric Bischoff stopped being the boss and became “one of the boys” as an on-screen NWO character, it was over. WCW needed a manager for the company, not another on-screen authority figure or personality. NWO didn’t need Eric Bischoff to join them, as they were drawing heat quite well by November 1996.

Bischoff’s mismanagement of the company caused business to start declining during 1998 and WCW to lose money during 1999 so that when the AOL/Time Warner merger was being prepared for 2000, WCW was doomed because it was losing money thanks to mistakes made by Bischoff.

ANY executive is going to cut bait on any venture that loses money, period.

Based on the Eric Bischoff of 1998-1999 and then 2000, the Fusient owned WCW would have failed, too, if that happened. What you saw Bischoff do (or hell, not do) in TNA during the early 2010s with Hulk Hogan validates that idea as well.

CLICK HERE for the Mr. Tito Column Archive @ NoDQ

The post MR. TITO: Ranking the Top 10 KILLERS of World Championship Wrestling (WCW) appeared first on NoDQ.com: WWE and AEW Coverage.

If AEW cannot get a brand new deal with WBD, then they will be free to seek a new television deal. They would be a free agent, able to join a new network with (hopefully) a good financial deal.

But what is out there?

Not sure if you’ve paid attention lately, but Cable/Satellite and Streaming services are hurting. Cable/Satellite are rapidly losing subscribers (getting near 70 million households versus mid-90s just over 10 years ago) while streaming services are not profitable. Just announced today, Paramount Global announced a merger agreement with Skydance and this follows Paramount Global having around $16 billion in debt.

The host of AEW, Warner Bros. Discovery, has $44 billion in debt by comparison and yet the alarm bells were going off on Paramount Global for having almost $16 billion in debt. WBD appears to be losing the NBA coverage, as they aren’t willing to pay over $2 billion per year like NBC, ESPN, and Amazon reportedly would. Warner Bros. films are just bombing at the box office, as the DC Comics universe turned out clunker after clunker while other film properties have failed as well. WBD also has big contracts with the NHL, Major League Baseball, and the NCAA basketball tournament along with signing a content deal for College Football with ESPN.

Meanwhile, Netflix has shrugged off its competition… While they’ve become profitable, the other streamers have not such as MAX, Paramount+, Disney+, and Peacock. What these executives didn’t realize is that they made MORE money licensing their content to Netflix or other channels rather than hosting the same content on their cheap streaming service. Who would have thought?

The WWE has signed lucrative deals with Comcast/NBC/Universal and Netflix for major increases in what they received earlier. While Smackdown on USA Networks received a decent bump, WWE going to Netflix was gigantic. Usually when WWE joins your network, they demand exclusive wrestling rights for that channel or platform. Thus, strike off any possibility of Netflix or anything Comcast/NBC/Universal related.

Who has the chance to sign All Elite Wrestling (AEW) to a deal? Let’s look at the possibilities:

#5 – Paramount Global – Just because they are getting acquired and have $16 billion in debt, doesn’t mean they can’t do business either. They just have the NFL deal on their books for sports leagues, while being heavily reliant on Paramount, Viacom, and CBS shows and movies as properties. MTV, VH1, and Showtime are still out there (would be GREAT on Showtime for adult content) and I personally love me some Paramount+ as a streaming service. If this group just didn’t seem so indifferent about pro wrestling, I’d buy in.

#4 – Disney – Disney was reportedly interested in adding content to FX and AEW might be a great fit there. Problem is that Disney has high debit themselves at $46 billion (wow!), as many of their recent films have bombed, ESPN is expensive, and their sports league purchases are gigantic. They are still servicing debt from the 20th Century Fox purchase.

#3 – Amazon Prime – Amazon is now heavily invested in NBA and NFL, so thus I don’t expect them to spend more money on live content other than being dedicated to them. Maybe as I’ll mention in the next opportunity, if they split shows with WBD and themselves.

#2 – Apple TV – These guys have remained quiet on the live content forum, besides MLB and MLS, but they add AEW to complement those two offerings. Maybe AEW splits between WBD and Apple TV, with Dynamite remaining on Warner and Collision going to Apple. Apple seems like it has the most capital available to make an easy purchase.

#1 – Warner Bros. Discovery – Yes, they have a ton of debt, but they have a ton of properties that can be licensed to bring back said debt. As long as WBD doesn’t merge with another company, those costs could come down with time. They could also sell the Warner Bros. properties to an Apple TV or Amazon for an easy $80 billion to get back into the game, if needed, and just become a TV channel platform like FOX did a few years ago. The fact that WBD owns a stake in AEW is telling to me and even if they give like $150 million, that’s still cheap programming per year for the network. If AEW can make a WWE Network like thing with MAX, that would enhance this deal.

MY PREDICTION?

Look, AEW should be praising the WWE’s recent growth, while the WWE should praise AEW for their growth since 2019. WWE’s proper use of Roman Reigns and building the Bloodline storyline has changed WWE’s fortunes for the better. WWE was in the dumps during 2019 and AEW appearing like a valid competitor has rejuvenated the WWE. In return, WWE’s recent success as a company could make many Cable/Satellite/Streaming providers think that “wrestling is in a boom period again” and AEW could benefit by WWE’s success.

I think Warner Bros. Discovery is in the “catbird seat” and I believe we’ll hear of a new deal between them and AEW in the upcoming weeks. If $110 million is offered, then AEW could counter that for AEW Dynamite only and allow them to shop Collision and/or Rampage around. I could see AEW Dynamite on WBD, an “AEW Network” on MAX, and placing Collision/Rampage on other services including Apple TV or Amazon Prime. AEW has to realize that diversifying their television product will allow them to maximize revenues, as WWE has between NBC/Unverisal and FOX (soon to be Netflix & CW). Otherwise, placing all of your chips on 1 network will give you headaches as TNA has endured with being dependent on 1 network.

Yes, AEW is declining in viewership and are consistently below 800,000 viewers. However, WWE was declining in viewership when they inked their 2019-2024 big deals with NBC/Universal and FOX. Then, when WWE rebounded with business growth, they broke the bank with their next deals with Netflix, CW, and NBC/Universal. As Scott Hall once said, “bad times don’t last”…

CLICK HERE for the Mr. Tito Column Archive @ NoDQ

The post MR. TITO: Which Network Will Sign AEW to New Television Deals? Warner Bros. Discovery or Others? appeared first on NoDQ.com: WWE and AEW Coverage.

And secondly, the other rumors are about wrestling, specifically whether or not Warner Bros. Discovery opts to stick with All Elite Wrestling (AEW) and pay a lower rate to host 3 of their lower viewed shows or to pay a higher rate to host WWE’s Monday Night RAW. On WWE’s end, them obtaining WBD and possibly pushing AEW off the boat would be a major feather in their cap, ESPECIALLY if the WBD acquisition of Paramount Global becomes a reality. Why? Because AEW’s only choices would be to latch onto Disney or a popular streaming service like Amazon Prime. Disney’s standards and practices would eat AEW alive (so that’s a “no”), but Amazon would only take them if cheap as they are paying a metric ton for NFL content.

But I’m here to tell WWE, with regards to Warner Bros. Discovery… “RUN! Get out! Get out of there! Get out!”

And I’m also here to tell you about my favorite quote from George Santayana, which state those who do not remember history are condemned to repeat it.

3 facts need to be considered here:

(1) Ted Turner sold his Turner Broadcasting company to Time Warner during October 1996. It took a while for the deal to materialize, but by early 1998, Ted Turner was no longer in charge of his content and new Time Warner executives were. As Eric Bischoff and others have stated, Time Warner executives took over and forced new standards & practices that heavily edited and censored WCW’s content. Time Warner also began cost shifting Turner Broadcasting revenues and expenses, as Bischoff also has alleged.

(2) WWE’s run on Viacom was a disaster and once the deal was up, the WWE quickly ran back to USA Networks where they’ve enjoyed a steady relationship for almost 20 years now. The TNN Network that WWE was places on, later renamed to SpikeTV, was poorly managed and the Mtv relationship for Sunday Night Heat was a total joke.

(3) WWE gave FOX Networks a cost effective 2 hour product on Friday Nights that actually gained viewership with time. FOX claims it wasn’t profitable, but they aren’t releasing the numbers. Even with lower ad rates, the expenses of paying WWE for the 2 hour block versus paying a Hollywood studio for that 2 hour block were way down. FOX made money on this deal, but they just didn’t want to pay any higher than $1 billion for 5 years and they got out. WWE prematurely announcing the Smackdown deal to USA Networks caused the rage and retort from FOX.

Another quote… “Grass isn’t always greener on the other side“.

Maybe WWE ought to think about their Cable/Satellite TV channel negotiations and stick with the TV channel that made them: USA Network

Why not just double the $1.4 billion on the Smackdown deal for RAW and call it a day? Or go slightly higher with $1.5 or $1.6 billion to keep RAW on USA Network for the next 5 years?

Facts to consider about USA Network, as backed by Comcast and NBC/Universal:
• Who had WWE’s back in 1997 when ratings went lower, yet USA gave them a 2nd hour on Mondays to fight WCW?
• Who took them back after the bad Viacom deal?
• Who gave them their ridiculous deals for RAW/Smackdown for 2014 (just below $200 million per year) and for RAW in 2019 ($200 million per year)?
• Who gave them a ridiculous deal for WWE Network for another $1 billion for 5 years?
• Who gave them additional revenue possibilities on the E! Network?
• Who has always given them promotional opportunities on NBC?

I KNOW that the WWE does NOT want to place 100% of their chips for RAW and Smackdown on one channel, as the WWE likes to have Networks compete over them… Totally get that, especially as we just witness the WWE making $2 billion over the past 5 years with RAW on USA Network and Smackdown on FOX.

But consider the alternative… Warner Bros. Discovery?

1) Time Warner acquired Turner Broadcasting during 1996, which included WCW. Since that acquisition, WCW obviously died but channels like CNN have declined in relevance as other competitors challenged them. CNN is a distant third in the news race against FOX News and MSNBC, and has been largely laughed at as a joke.

2) AOL acquisition of Time Warner was a complete joke, and stripped the company even further. The AOL executives made further sweeping changes to programming that continued to decline their networks throughout the 21st Century.

3) Completely botched their intellectual properties. Think about this… If you had Batman, Superman, Bugs Bunny, all of the Hanna Barbara stuff, and many other beloved properties, it would be easy to produce new content. Nope, this company can’t even produce good Batman or Superman related films, particularly after the Nolan trilogy. The Snyder-verse has done nothing but produce dark crap that nobody wants to repeatedly see. Now, after 10+ years of pain and some recent major losses, they are rebooting the DC Comics brand once again.

4) AT&T acquisition crushed Time Warner Cable and Broadband. The real money maker for Time Warner used to be its Cable packages, but evolved into major cash for its broadband internet network. However, when AT&T acquired AOL/Time Warner, they had to sell off specific communications assets to get it approved. AT&T had its own internet offerings and just bought DirecTV the year before… Thus, to get it approved and not have anti-trust concerns, it had to sell off the Cable/Internet offerings that Time Warner once had. AT&T foolishly acquired a company whose intellectual properties were declining along with major Sports contracts.

5) Overpaying for Sports Leagues. NBA is not cheap at all, but neither is NCAA Tournaments and MLB content. They recently overpaid for NHL content that isn’t overly drawing on their channels. Honestly, if they didn’t have Inside the NBA, I really doubt their viewership for their NBA games. Since Chuck, Ernie, Kenny, and Shaq are so successful, they have to overpay for those talking heads and thus this NBA deal probably isn’t profitable.

6) Foolishly starting up HBO Max (now Max). Before, they could tell their catalog of movies and films to various channels or streaming services like Netflix. They could also convince people to buy into HBO on their Cable/Satellite programs. However, they ceased those revenue opportunities with hopes that HBO Max would outpace Netflix and generate pure subscriber money. What they didn’t realize is higher bandwidth costs of running their own streaming services versus what happens when they lose massive amounts of subscribers. Already, Discovery executives have discussed wanting to dissolve HBO Max or now Max… As you can see recently, there exists more Warner Bros. content on Netflix…

7) Discovery acquiring Warner Bros. Media from AT&T. How can AT&T complete an acquisition of Time Warner assets through 2018 and then turn around and sell it to Discover through 2022? That deal was $43 billion, which I guarantee that the Discovery folks are still paying down as debt.

8) Now, Warner Bros. Discovery may attempt to acquire or merge with Paramount Global, who has a ton of debt… So WBD, who has its own debt paybacks from multiple recent mergers, is willing to take on MORE DEBT to buy Paramount Global who has a TON OF FREAKIN’ DEBT itself? Really?

Unless the price tag is absurdly high, I’d pass on Warner Bros. Discovery if I were WWE… I just don’t see the cashflow to extend the WWE’s deal beyond 5 years, nor do I see the benefits of working with utter incompetence within WBD. Sure, they’ll let you curse more, but you won’t know who to negotiate with for your next deal. AEW found that out after Discovery acquired WBD, they pushed out all of the executives that helped make the AEW happen.

Remember, Warner Bros. Discovery is the SAME COMPANY who gave AEW a new 2 hour show on Saturday nights contingent on 1 guy appearing: CM Punk.

Think about that for a second… Yes, I consider CM Punk a draw, as proven by attendance and merchandise numbers, especially in AEW… But the viewership numbers he generated, besides his return, were like consistently under 750,000 viewers. That’s poor management to throw out $50 million to AEW based on 1 freakin’ guy. The entire brand is what you bet on, not 1 person. Since Punk joined AEW during August 2021, he has been injury prone… So at the very least, shouldn’t we question WBD executives for giving AEW $50 million to create AEW Collision based on CM Punk? Worse yet, CM Punk got into a backstage fight with AEW EVPs during early September 2022. Wouldn’t you factor that more drama could also happen?

Compare that to USA Network… Yes, they’ll limit you on standards & practices, I get that… But much of your growth and stability has been from their deals. But you should also consider what Comcast and NBC/Universal are cooking:

1) Most successful broadband service with Comcast’s Xfinity product.

2) Record profits being reported.

3) Successful movie projects recently with Fast & the Furious, Super Mario Bros, and Oppenheimer. More Nintendo projects on the way…

4) NBC was the most watched broadcast network of 2023.

5) USA Network has higher overall viewership than TNT or TBS for their programming.

The only weakness of the Comcast/NBC/Universal deal would be streaming on Peacock… That service blows and is a failure. They only have 30 million subscribers, compared to Max’s 95 million if WWE could somehow get the WWE Network onto Max. But remember, Discovery executives want to dissolve Max as a streaming service… Maybe WBD wants to do more with Bleacher Report’s streaming services? Or force Pay Per View again for WWE?

WWE should consider the facts and history behind anything associated with “Warner”. Just nothing but stench for the past 27 years since they bought Turner Broadcasting. That said, if WBD throws $2 billion for the next 5 years at the WWE, I could see WWE making the leap at the money. Money talks, and BS walks… But you cannot spell “Warner Bros.” without the letters “B” and “S”. Lots of smelly stuff has happened throughout its corporate history, as mentioned above.

The other alternative is Disney… They have the same issues as Warner Bros. Discovery, aside from being acquired or changed up every so often. Disney’s internal management would harass WWE with their squeaky clean message, but then further scrub WWE’s content to now make things extremely politically correct. But they have their money issues, too… That 20th Century Fox deal cost them $71.3 billion and suddenly, they are actually losing money on Pixar, Marvel, and Star Wars properties. ESPN is a major money loser, too, as viewership has declined for them while they are overpaying for sports leagues, too, with NBA, College Football, NFL, and also the NHL.

WWE joining Amazon? There are 220 million subscribers for their Prime services globally. That is a metric ton, but everyone is buying from Amazon. If you want to take REAL “leap of faith”, put RAW live on that streaming service and put the WWE Network there as well. Much of your 18-49 demographic either already has Amazon Prime or their wives do (mine does!). I’d think about that, and Amazon’s market share is only growing as more people securely buy things online from them. However, as mentioned above, Amazon is paying a ton for NFL content and taking on WWE stuff, and possibly hosting their network, could be expensive for them.

Otherwise, I’d avoid WBD or Disney unless the money is absurdly high… Amazon is quite enticing, but damn, the quality of service given to you by Comcast/NBC/Universal is unmatched. They have been THERE for during the tough times and financially rewarded you. Christ, they just paid you $1.4 billion for Smackdown on FRIDAY NIGHTS which is sure to go below 1 million because the show is no longer on Network television. Come on, WWE…

It’s like the WWE is a teenager in High School, who is trying entice high maintenance cheerleaders to date him. Yet, there’s this 1 girl, who is pretty herself but not flashy about it while being loyal, understanding, generous, and has always had his back… However, this WWE guy is trying to disregard that loyalty and generosity in order to get in good with a “head” cheerleader and possibly her rich parents of high society.

Like I said… The “grass isn’t always greener on the other side”.

The FACT is that Warner Bros. Discovery is speaking to the WWE, openly, while they have an existing deal with AEW. Doesn’t that show you that WBD lacks loyalty? Hell, the shareholders and executives remaining form the Warner Bros. team aren’t that loyal. They just sold themselves TWICE in the past 5 years. Now, they want to possibly acquire Paramount Global and they’ll likely axe many jobs there if acquired. Talk about loyalty…

If I were WWE, I’d give RAW to Comcast/NBC/Universal or try Amazon Prime… I’d stay away from companies like Warner Bros. Discovery and Disney who have high debt, rotating chairs on the Titanic deck for executives, declining brands, declining channels, or doesn’t have the public’s trust in their operations at the moment. If Warner Bros. Discovery truly tries to acquire Paramount Global, where will be the funds to acquire WWE Monday Night RAW for over $200 million per year or to give AEW what they need to grow? Speaking from experience, there are many, many changes to a company once a merger or acquisition occurs.

We’ll see what happens…

CLICK HERE for the Mr. Tito Column Archive @ NoDQ

The post MR. TITO: Why the WWE (or TKO) Should AVOID Warner Bros. Discovery for Monday Night RAW appeared first on NoDQ.com: WWE and AEW Coverage.

And I must say this in advance… Predicting the wrestling business has become VERY HARD. I used to be great at this, batting 0.500 while purposely trying to make my predictions difficult and not obvious. But for the past 2 years, holy cow, Vince McMahon and CM Punk are the biggest wildcards ever. Those two are impossible variables to predict, but at the same time, their unpredictability and spontaneous abilities make pro wrestling fun to follow.

But as a person writing a predictions column, both of those 2 make me look silly and make constructing predictions that much more difficult. However, now that both are playing for the same team (WWE) and with Vince McMahon no longer in control (Endeavor can overrule him at any time), maybe we’ll have a stable 2024? Yeah right, who am I kidding… Complete chaos is ahead of us.

Before we get into the 2024 predictions, we have to score how I did the year before… Keep in mind with my 2023 predictions, I had NO IDEA that Vince McMahon was going to force his way back onto the WWE board. I wrote my column on 12/31/2022 and Vince McMahon did his hostile WWE takeover as the #1 shareholder on January 6th, 2023. Keep that in mind when you read the context of these 2023 predictions, and I was also assuming that either legal battles or an AEW comeback would happen with CM Punk following the All In 2022 incidents. I was 100% right on that damn prediction until Jack Perry decided to confront CM Punk at Wembley Stadium.

2023 Predictions Review

#1 – WWE will sign a new deal with Comcast/NBC Universal early during 2023 to extend both RAW on USA Network and WWE Network on Peacock. Miss – Comcast/NBC signed a deal to re-acquire WWE Smackdown during the Fall of 2023. RAW remains in play, as of the writing of this column.

#2 – The Rock vs. Roman Reigns will happen at Wrestlemania 39, but Cody Rhodes will be the one who successfully defeats him for at least 1 WWE World Title. Miss – Rock and Roman was reportedly discussed for WM 39, per the Pat McAfee interview, but it just wasn’t in the cards. Cody vs. Roman did happen and Cody got screwed out of the title.

#3 – NXT’s prime time show will be moved and repackaged to Peacock. Miss again. NXT was repackaged during 2023 under Triple H’s role and the show greatly improved, insomuch that it acquired its own deal for the CW Network.

#4 – WWE Monday Night RAW will be revised to a 2 hour show. Miss – Not sure what I was thinking during late 2023, but I believe I was thinking about the NBC Sports channel dissolving and moving parts to USA Network to cause a need for more time to be available.

#5 – Vince McMahon will be back on WWE television at least once for 2023. Well, what about this one? I was assuming Triple H & Stephanie would help Vince save face for Vince and place him in the Hall of Fame after his scandals. What I didn’t assume was Vince forcing his way back onto the WWE Board and then selling the company. That said, did Vince ever appear on WWE programming? I can’t remember if any clips from the WWE sale showed or not? But he certainly did not appear on WWE television, so I’m taking another MISS here.

#6 – AEW Dynamite will have its timeslot revised during 2023. Miss – AEW held firm on Wednesdays on TBS throughout 2023. I was thinking more time movement would occur with the NHL coming aboard, possibly even moving AEW Dynamite to Monday or Friday night. Instead, Warner Bros Discovery gave them AEW Collision for Saturday night.

#7 – Sasha Banks will return to the WWE during 2023. Miss, but I believe that I’m so close on this one. I assumed with Triple H back in charge through late 2022, Sasha would come home. Nope, but with Triple H firmly back in charge now, I believe Sasha is returning to WWE in 2024 and that is one of my predictions below.

#8 – Kevin Dunn will be done with the WWE during 2023. Late arrival on this news, but I’m taking it. It was just posted on 12/30/23 that Kevin Dunn is intending to retire by year’s end. What I was thinking, heading into the year, was that with Triple H in charge, Dunn would be done with the WWE. Eventually, that turned out to be true as it’s very apparent that Kevin Dunn prefers working directly with Vince. POINT!

#9 – Tessa Blanchard will sign with either WWE or AEW during 2023. I had a good source tell me that some discussions were happening and then during 2023, Tessa made-up with the reported offended that caused lots of Tessa’s controversies during 2019-2020. Yet, she’s still on the sidelines and AEW/WWE won’t budge on signing her. What a shame, as many other wrestlers get a second chance but not her.

#10 – NWA will be close to folding or will merge with another company during 2023. Screw you guys, I’m taking the point here. That CW Network deal falling through the cracks was devastating and I believe will be the beginning of the end for this promotion. They are still without a significant TV deal and are just limping along on Smashing Pumpkins money.

#11 – At least one of the EVPs of AEW will be demoted during 2023. This one is iffy… I think this has happened, but hasn’t been announced. The Young Bucks haven’t been as active appearing at AEW shows as they have in the past. Furthermore, they had no initial control of AEW Collision and Tony actually gave CM Punk creative control over that show. They just re-signed their existing deals, as WWE showed no interest in them, but I don’t think the have much power creatively or over talent. Tony is hoarding that for himself.

#12 – More premium live events from foreign countries will be added to WWE’s schedule. Bingo, Money in the Bank was from London this year. Point scored here.

#13 – Saudi Arabia is going to see at least 1 Stone Cold Steve Austin match-up during 2023. Miss – What the hell was I thinking here? Austin has not wrestled since Wrestlemania 38’s match against Kevin Owens.

#14 – Nick Khan will step down as WWE Co-President or take on a reduced WWE role. Miss, because I felt Nick was attached to Vince McMahon and his dealings and again, I didn’t foresee Vince McMahon’s hostile takeover.

#15- CM Punk will not appear in the WWE during 2023. Miss, but damn it, I had this one in the bag until November 2023. What I was thinking during late 2022 was that either CM Punk returns, as Tony couldn’t break the contract, or that a lawsuit was coming to tie up CM Punk for 2023. Little did I know that CM Punk would return and then get into a fight with Jack Perry that caused him to be terminated.

Well, I’m looking at maybe 3 for 15 or possibly 4 for 15… However, I believed that WWE’s roots with Comcast/NBC/Universal were firm, Sasha Banks will probably return to WWE in the future, someone can’t keep ignoring Tessa Blanchard’s abilities, and there are more shoes to drop for AEW’s future. Tony’s mishandling of CM Punk and re-signing of the Bucks is going to burn him, long-term.

————————————

2023 YEAR IN REVIEW

So why did I have such a bad 2023 predictions year? Well, 2023 was a year to behold… 2022 had many crazy headlines, too, but 2023 was like “hold my beer”.

During late December, there were rumblings that Vince McMahon wanted back in the WWE. Yet, nobody knew the extent of that until WWE began filing public documents on the SEC website during early January 2023 (after I posted my predictions). Vince McMahon used his position as #1 shareholder, along with the devotion of many WWE shareholders, to force a change in WWE’s Board of Directors to put himself and 2 loyal ex-WWE executives on the board. Soon thereafter, the WWE began giving hints that they were up for sale. Not wanting any to deal with any more drama, both inside the ring and possibly at home, Stephanie McMahon resigned as co-President/CEO to “focus on family”, which follows up her action about a year before when taking a leave-of-absence.

Speculation ran rampant on just WHO would buy the WWE. One wrestling insider suggested, within days, that a Saudi Arabian investor had bought the company and for days, we hear endless calls for “boycotts” by the usual social justice warrior fans about dealing with that country. Maybe you should boycott your own car for the amount of Saudi oil you have put into it, among many oil-based products that you’ve likely used. But luckily, that rumor was proven to be false and the WWE remained up for sale for a brief while… Then, during early April 2023, Endeavor announced its acquisition of the WWE to form a combined company that houses both its UFC promotion and the WWE called “TKO”. Vince kept a portion of his shares and became its Board Chairman.

However, many fans were worried about Vince McMahon’s return… When he rejoined the WWE during early January 2023, it was suggested that Triple H would continue his Creative/Talent duties… However, Vince McMahon returned backstage and began micro-managing everything once again… But this wasn’t the 2010s when HHH was in charge of Creative and Vince rewrote his stuff. This time, Triple H had a good track record of 2022 where the business kept growing during the year and thus the Rumble to Wrestlemania season as a legit collaboration. While many saw Cody losing to Roman Reigns at Wrestlemania 39 was a “Vince decision” and then getting attacked by Brock on the RAW afterward was too, the storyline of Cody proved everyone wrong. The Lesnar feud made Cody 10 times stronger, along with a close loss to Roman. Wrestlemania 40 is going to be a big crowning moment for Cody Rhodes.

Endeavor, though, put its foot down and changed the way Vince McMahon acted as an executive. They immediately ordered him to leave the Creative/Talent/Live Event duties to Triple H to manage while Vince focuses on making the TKO corporation stronger at a higher level. In turn, this decision was genius because Triple H truly delegates authority rather than attempting to make all decisions by himself like Vince. The result has been positive vibrations from the WWE locker room with a much more experienced Triple H in charge and him empowering wrestlers to tell great stories and have great matches without Vince possibly rewriting their stuff on the following week. Triple H has come full circle during 2023, and his culture building in the WWE has truly allowed someone like a CM Punk to want to return.

Oh yeah, that guy… CM Punk, the man who repeatedly breaks the Internet Wrestling Community…

Heading in to 2023, you didn’t know where AEW was going with CM Punk. If you’ll recall, trouble began brewing during mid-2022 when Adam “Hangman” Page went into business for himself and went unscripted to allude to CM Punk reportedly having Colt Cabana terminated from AEW and placed on the ROH brand. This was 100% false, but the fact that Page, as encouraged by the Young Bucks, tried this on live television was highly unprofessional. Punk “took it” at the time, but got his revenge by shooting on Adam Page during a Dynamite promo months later when Punk recovered from an injury. However, the Elite weren’t done and kept feeding lines to insider trolls like the Observer boys about Punk’s role in Cabana’s employment change at AEW. Tony Khan tried to address this internally, but Punk wasn’t convinced. Thus, at the All Out 2023 Media Scrum, CM Punk went on a full verbal attack of the Elite. Afterward, the Elite (plus stooges) stormed into Punk’s dressing room for a confrontation only for Punk to start punching the Young Bucks and Ace Steele came to Punk’s defense by biting and throwing chairs. The Elite and stooges were suspended for this incident, but later returned to work and kept up their trolling ways.

Heading into 2023, you didn’t know where this situation stood because CM Punk was never suspended for his involvement. From All Out 2023, CM Punk tore a muscle in his arm and would be home recovering from injury. Meanwhile, AEW announced the re-signing of Kenny Omega, the Young Bucks, and Adam Page during early 2023… This told me that it was OVER for CM Punk in AEW… However, Warner Bros. Discovery had other ideas. They were fans of Punk’s, as he actually brought higher viewership, and proposed a Saturday evening timeslot for AEW featuring CM Punk as its top star. This lured CM Punk back and he began headlining AEW Collision on Saturdays, while purposely using his granted creative control over that show to block the Elite and any of their stooges from wrestling on that show.

Instead of getting everyone to actually get along, act like adults, and you know, communicate… Tony Khan tried to have everyone segregated on different shows. BIG MISTAKE, and it created an even bigger gap between Punk and the Bucks/Omega who never met to discuss their issues following their All Out 2023 incident. Thanks to CM Punk, Wembley Stadium’s “AEW All In” event probably added another 20,000 tickets sold and it seemed like AEW was set to do great business not just for this night, but moving forward… However, AEW’s plan of making Dynamite an Elite dictatorship and Collision being a Punk dictatorship proved to be a big mistake once the rosters were all together in London.

All In 2023 at Wembley may prove to be the peak of AEW… Been all downhill ever since, with Nort American arenas being empty, Dynamite shows struggling to hold on to 800,000 viewers, and merchandise sales have been bombing. Then, you’ve had Tony Khan running his mouth on X/Twitter and acting like an immature child. Been a complete disaster ever since the Elite empowered Jungle Boy Jack Perry to physically confront a million dollar contract wrestler like CM Punk. Punk did what any normal person would do if someone got physical with them, as he handled the situation with a front facelock. Then, he told off Tony Khan for letting nonsense like this happen constantly with his promotion. This caused Tony to feel “threatened” and terminate CM Punk from AEW just a week later.

After that, AEW began falling more off a cliff and the speculation began about CM Punk rejoining the WWE. After all, Survivor Series 2023 happened to be in Chicago, IL where CM Punk proudly lives. However, there was still bad blood lingering… Punk left during 2014 partly due to heat with Triple H and we just recently learned from Kevin Nash that Triple H purposely sabotaged CM Punk during 2011. Furthermore, Punk had issues with other WWE talents, such as the Miz. Just as CM Punk rejoined AEW, he appeared backstage at a WWE show to speak to the Miz specifically while acknowledging Triple H. I believe that Punk KNEW his 2023 run in AEW wouldn’t last and began to lay the groundwork to reconcile with the WWE.

Then, at Survivor Series 2023, CM Punk appeared at the very end of the show, a show that featured Randy Orton also returning. Punk and Triple H posted a photo together after the show… It’s truly a full circle moment for both, as Triple H has greatly matured as an executive and CM Punk learned the lesson of “grass isn’t always greener on the other side”. That said, WWE was in need of a great change through 2021 while AEW was a growing company through 2021. Yet, both companies have literally flipped roles through 2023. WWE is now the welcoming environment and AEW has become toxic.

Finishing 2023, we had AEW’s Worlds End Pay Per View where Adam Cole was revealed as the Devil with Wardlow, Roderick Strong, Matt Tavern, and Mike Bennett acting as fellow henchmen. While Cole being revealed isn’t that much of a surprise (though he blew an AEW Title shot earlier for himself months ago) and having a stable is at least something. Give the group a cool name and then give every opportunity for Adam Cole to get it over. Unless he puts on 20-40 pounds to better look the part, hopefully Cole is the mouthpiece and Wardlow is the top wrestler of the group. However, it’s going to be hard for Cole and his Devilish henchmen to feud with MJF if he’s taking time off for injuries. With Kenny Omega also out, who is AEW going to call? Sorry Jon Moxley, but no vacations for you!

Meanwhile, Chris Jericho seems to be deep in online controversy. We’ve covered Jericho’s online fight with Ace Steele/CM Punk’s lawyer regarding the backstage brawl following AEW’s All Out 2022 Pay Per View in which Chris Jericho claimed to have witnessed the entire fight (though there are disputes to that, with Jericho reportedly being in the hallway and only appeared after the fight was already broken up) and Jericho’s claim to have never signed an NDA in his life, nor being aware of an AEW personnel handbook. The latter 2 points could harm him if the online accusations from the year 2019 are true, which Tony Khan was asked about at last night’s Worlds End media scrum. This story is way too much in the gossip side of things online for me to comment any further.

As we head into 2024, the WWE looks to maybe have its financially greatest year yet with a LOADED roster of true superstars. AEW, on the other hand, has a roster with aging superstars at the top, Kenny Omega & MJF is now out with injuries or illnesses, and they’ve got nothing young coming up. I think we’ll see more of the same for 2024 that we’ve seen for the latter half of 2023 with both promotions. WWE grows while AEW blows.

————————————

Mr. Tito’s PHAT 2024 Pro Wrestling Predictions

#1 – WWE’s RAW television deal with be either with Disney or Warner Bros. Discovery, but not doubling up with Comcast/NBC/Universal.
Comcast and NBC/Universal just ponied up $1.4 million for a Friday Smackdown that will likely draw poorly now that it’s not on Network TV, while still finishing up the WWE Network deal that pays around $200 million per year. Disney (ESPN, FX) and Warner Bros. Discovery (TBS, TNT) are desperate for live sports content. With UFC already having a deal with ESPN/Disney, I could see that relaying to help the Disney owned FX cable channel or possibly ESPN 2. That said, I sense some anger by Warner Bros. Discovery towards AEW regarding CM Punk and they could just swoop in and get the real wrestling company to be on Monday while letting the NBA/NHL own the rest of the week. AEW on Wednesday is a conflict with NHL hockey on Wednesday. That said, with only a 700,000 to 1 million different in viewers, AEW may still be the cheaper content for WDB to sign.

#2 – Terms of AEW’s TBS/TNT television contracts will be changed during 2024, whether that’s extending but with shows being terminated/changed/moved or outright being terminated.
AEW’s television deal is coming up and as I advised in my previous prediction, Warner Bros. Discovery could be a valid buyer of WWE services. Rampage and Collision are utter failures on viewership and I don’t see how they can continue with such poor viewership while Dynamite isn’t exactly drawing that strong at 800,000 viewers. Furthermore, AEW presents risks due to the violent nature of their high risk wrestling and possible backstage drama that is always brewing. In addition, I still see WBD disliking AEW going up against their newly signed NHL product and moving Dynamite to Monday/Friday could be a move that they try with a new deal (if signed).

#3 – CM Punk will win at least 1 WWE World Title during 2024.
I’m with Virtue’s plan… Punk will be the one who defeats Seth Rollins for the World Heavyweight Title, possibly at Wrestlemania 40, and then we’ll see Roman vs. CM Punk afterward on the RAW brand. Otherwise, I’m expecting more world title switches during 2024. Oh yeah, I’m assuming that CM Punk remains on the WWE roster for all of 2024 without disruption.

#4 – The Rock will NOT wrestle any matches during 2024.
The ship has sailed… The initial idea was to have Roman need the Rock to put him over, but Roman got over on his own anyway. Roman doesn’t need to defeat an older, acting Rock to become a bigger wrestler. He has already beaten most of the top WWE names and seeing Rock come back during 2011-2013 reduced the value of a big Rock comeback. With the actor’s strike over, the Rock is going to be busy during 2024 with movie making.

#5 – Demolition will finally come home to the WWE and be inducted into the 2024 WWE Hall of Fame.
No longer a Vince McMahon owned WWE and also with Triple H having more control, I believe Demolition are coming home after 30 years away from the promotion. Ax and Smash will be inducted and finally honored for their contributions. Triple H has roped Bruno and Warrior back in, why not Ax and Smash? He also values Tag Team wrestling and those guys were one of the best teams of all time. Ax is about to turn 76 years old and you just cannot let time escape another year without honoring his legacy as part of Demolition along with a 64 year old Smash.

#6 – Sasha Banks returns to the WWE as a wrestler for 2024.
Do you honestly think that after the drama Sasha Banks heard about in AEW since Wembley that she’d want to join this company? Or would she want to join somewhere with a Triple H who appreciated her and gave her the big break? No-brainer for me, she’s returning at Royal Rumble 2024 or after Wrestlemania 40. The rumors of her contract demands and talks breaking down, I believe, were plants to make it seem like she’s not interested in joining WWE. She’ll be at the Rumble, I predict, and fans will go bonkers.

#7 – Endeavor will be acquired by a foreign company during 2024.
Following the formation of TKO, rumors of Endeavor being acquired swirled throughout the end of 2023. Here is why I think it happens… Endeavor has over $4 billion in debt. Yes, UFC and WWE make them money, but these deals are expensive and it’s likely the WWE deal piled onto the debt. What’s an easy way to wash away that debt? Middle Eastern countries with lots of oil money to spend. But I believe there is more to this… Endeavor wants both WWE and UFC to grow larger in international markets and having some basis in Europe will help them grow faster internationally. Reducing Debt and desires to grow bigger will require more funds.

#8 – Either Pay Per View will return or a more expensive version of WWE Network shall appear during 2024.
WWE’s Peacock deal actually expires during early 2025. UFC is still a Pay Per View heavy promotion… While the WWE is making $200 billion per year from this Peacock deal, there is no guarantee that money will be there beyond 2025. Peacock has around 30 million subscribers and is growing much more slowly than other streaming services. It wouldn’t surprise me that NBC/Universal has plans to dissolve Peacock and just sell their content to the Netflixes of the world to make easier money. I could see TKO coming up with their own combined app for UFC and WWE for a $20-$30 monthly fee and that would sell well while allowing both fanbases to try their events.

#9 – Nick Khan’s role within TKO or possibly Endeavor will significantly increase during 2024.
The only other ex-WWE employee who is on the TKO board is Nick Khan. Not Triple H and not UFC’s Dana White. I believe Nick’s talents have been recognized and he’s definitely in the running of being the CEO of the entire Endeavor company in the future. I was shocked at his inclusion onto the TKO Board, but not surprised based on his prior networking with members of Endeavor. It wouldn’t surprise me if Nick overtakes Vince’s job duties during 2024. He wouldn’t be on that TKO board if that wasn’t going to eventually happen.

#10 – Roman Reigns will join RAW full-time following Wrestlemania 40.
After Wrestlemania 40, WWE is going to recognize that Smackdown is now the lesser brand and that Smackdown will just be a zombie show for them to manage before the deal expires during Fall 2024. Thus, Roman will switch to RAW, which will become the #1 show with the new deal, and probably do battle with CM Punk for the biggest WWE feud since Rock vs. Cena from 2011-2013. I’m with Virtue’s plan, in that Roman will defeat CM Punk for the World Heavyweight Championship and be the champion of RAW.

#11 – AEW won’t do a third show in Wembley Stadium during 2025.
While ticket sales seem decent, they aren’t growing as fast as the previous year. In fact, ticket sales jumped 10,000-20,000 once CM Punk announced he was coming back. Well, 1 year later, CM Punk isn’t there and AEW has seen lots of chaos seen. It wouldn’t surprise me if AEW began having many deals on tickets to fill that stadium again, but I suspect that this event caps at 40,000 to 45,000. While that’s great overall, it’s much less than the prior year and maybe attempting a 3rd year could draw a much lower number and challenge that profitable sweet spot. I’d expect Tony to be quiet for the rest of 2024 after next year’s Wembley show rather than having a major announcement for a 2025 return.

#12 – Kazuchika Okada will re-join New Japan or possibly try WWE (maybe TNA?), but not officially join AEW with a full-time deal.
Shinsuke Nakamura has had a good career in WWE and an overall good past year. Ditto for Asuka. Triple H seems to treat Japanese wrestlers well and I believe someone of Okada’s talents would be appreciated. Okada has already wrestled Kenny Omega and Will Ospreay, so why would he want to do something comfortable to him? Plus, the rest of the AEW roster could injure him… I project that WWE tries him out, as that’s a great whale he has yet to vanquish for his career, or he’ll return to New Japan. If he officially re-signs with New Japan, I could see him performing in AEW on an occasional basis (Forbidden Door event, for example) but not as a full-time wrestler for them.

#13 – AJ Lee will return to the WWE during 2024 in some capacity.
CM Punk is there, why not AJ Lee? She’s 36 years old and has a very bright mind. If you’ve seen her Instagram lately, she’s in peak physical condition again and got a slight taste of the wrestling bug through her WOW and Starz show work. I’m not saying she’ll wrestle, but possibly participate in the WWE as a creative writer or a character in a Punk storyline. I don’t know about Hall of Fame just yet, but if she contributes again, maybe that happens in the future. I think a Royal Rumble one-off performance in the women’s Rumble match would be tremendous.

#14 – At least 2 ex-WWE wrestlers will leave AEW to rejoin the WWE during 2024.
Many Triple H NXT wrestlers are in AEW and if they are unhappy, they’ve seen the roadmap on how to exit the company with CM Punk. There are several AEW contracts up in 2024, as AEW usually signs their wrestlers for 3 year deals and thus many of the 2021 signed wrestlers are coming up. Reportedly, Andrade might be one of those…

And finally…

#15 – Stephanie McMahon will make big headlines, professionally or personally, during 2024.
Since Stephanie McMahon resigned on January 10th, 2023, we’ve heard nothing but silence from her. While her focus was on family, she still has a father and husband running the WWE. I believe her role in the WWE since 2022 has caused friction between both, hence why she left on 1/10/23. I see a big news headlines return from Stephanie, whether that’s a change in her personal life, possible return to WWE in some capacity, or she’ll follow politics like her mother. Each of her kids are in their teen years now, so thus aren’t as dependent on their parents and she’s managed work/personal life well before. You’ll hear from Stephanie significantly in some fashion during 2024, good or bad. She is way to ambitious to stay on the sidelines for too long.

Have a great new year!!

Oh, you wanted a prediction on Chris Jericho? Again, I’m not going to pile on the online attacks. I’m an “innocent until proven guilty” kind of person, though the reported accused replied with a “heart” to a report with said accusations. But I’d predict that AEW will protect Chris Jericho, as if true, it was a privately held matter unless other details are somehow leaked and proven true. I’m staying out of that online mess.

CLICK HERE for the Mr. Tito Column Archive @ NoDQ

The post Mr. Tito’s PHAT 15 2024 Pro Wrestling Predictions (WWE, AEW, Punk, Reigns, WBD Deal, & More) appeared first on NoDQ.com: WWE and AEW Coverage.

AEW needs a hard reset from top to bottom if they want to succeed. Not just change the presentation on TV but what’s going on behind it and how it is run.

Right now, things are not looking good for AEW’s future, despite what the AEW stands are telling you. First thing is the major TNT officials who fell in love with AEW and signed that deal are gone. Kevin Reilly, the former president at Warner Media, left in late 2020 due to restructuring. Many credited Reilly with helping spearhead AEW to TNT and seeing the vision as well as increasing their TV deal.

Others who were part of that team are gone due to the merger which means the new administration has no ties to AEW.

The other issue at hand has been WBD wanting to build their media empire and increase their worth. Already WBD is anticipating a bidding war for the NBA TV Rights and are cutting costs in other ways. Just look at the DCU properties that are on Netflix and that is all you need to know.

What happens if RAW lands on WBD (which is a strong possibility according to Forbes, Variety and other TV publications) and becomes exclusive to the network. AEW already is operating at loss of close to 34 million and has yet to pay Shad Khan back the money.

It’s easy to see how AEW could go and end up in a 3rd tier cable network.

And it’s all because the company is not running well and it’s showing in the ratings and the product.

Adam Copeland versus Christian Cage feud is bordering on silly now with adding in Nick Wayne’s mom. You know the same thing WCW did with Judy Bagwell that everyone ragged on or when Claire Lynch drama went down in TNA. Both were stupid and ruined things and that is what is going on with a 17-year old’s mom who clearly is not ready for being in show biz.

Meanwhile the company has trotted out Bryan Danielson as the “scapegoat” for CM Punk getting fired. Not the owner, Tony Khan who made the ultimate call, but a fellow wrestler who is younger than CM Punk. Imagine if they did that in the NFL and said that Patrick Mahomes was responsible for Tyreek Hill getting traded due to bad behavior.

The Kansas City Chiefs would have been labeled a clown show and rightfully so. But AEW fans still don’t want to admit that and AEW personnel don’t want to rock the boat and lose their jobs.

Right now, there must be a real leader running the operations for AEW who ACTUALLY knows wrestling. It’s not Tony Khan who is worse than Dixie Carter. At least Carter waited eight years before going on TV and becoming intolerable. Khan has been doing that for a while and often just doesn’t seem to understand how polarizing he is.

But overall get someone who understands the wrestling industry and can be the bad guy. The guy who basically polices the locker room and has an organized long game plan for the company. It can’t be any of the wrestlers as they just don’t have the clout or the selflessness to do so.

There isn’t anyone and it’s been showing more and more the amateur hour that is AEW. From the drinking blood angle, The Devil angle being overdone, bad comedy skits that aren’t funny, everything looks like a comedy show. The whole presentation at times looks like a bunch of fans put it together without much thought.

Reset the whole thing and bring someone in who understands how to write a TV show. Bring in someone to run the day-to-day operations and is the vice principal to Tony Khan’s principal.

In a latest column TW5L said that it was false to compare TNA to AEW and that they were miles different. But the fact is that they are not that different in how the downfall has become. Too many older veterans are being pushed over younger talent and bad storylines are creeping up. And both companies suffered because there wasn’t good leadership to run the company successfully.

Tony Khan needs to find people who get it and do the job without micromanaging. I don’t care at this point if its Konnan, Jake Roberts… hell bring Mick Foley in to be the booker. Someone who guys in the locker room respect who has been on the big stage and understands what good storylines are.

The booking is all over the place and angles come and go within months. Remember when WWE was given flack for turning Big Show heel and face every few years? AEW does it with their acts sometimes every few months from the Young Bucks, Jericho, Blackpool Club to even Miro.

The only constant in AEW is chaos and the fact they have no long-term booking.

Meanwhile Tony Khan keeps announcing “Big News” to the point he is getting mocked for it on X. His “Big News” or “Special Announcement” has been from introducing ex-WWE signees to ticket sales for mid-level PPV’s to even having an extra sale at Waffle House. And yes, I know the last part is a joke but just in case certain AEW apologists don’t get it, I want to point it out.

The fact is that Tony needs to reset everything and do what his father did with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Hire real professionals and stay the hell out of the way or the product is going to tank.

Remember when they said Adam “Edge” Copeland and treated it like it was a game changer? That has already become stale due to hot shot booking and now the feud feels non-important.

Time for a reset and figure out how to make guys special again and take pages from what has worked in ECW/WWE/NWA and Mid-South. Develop storylines that make sense or have realism in them rather than things that make everyone silly.

And as far as TKW with his article and home grown vs. ex WWE argument, here is what he glasses over. The majority of AEW’s angles or main stories feature WWE guys over the age of 40 (and 50) going over and beating up younger talent. This isn’t a prime Kurt Angle beating Samoa Joe over in TNA but Adam Copeland just destroying Nick Wayne and Luchasaurus as if they are jobbers. Jericho and Kenny Omega being in major feuds while guys like Wardlow often are ignored.

The ex-WWE guys are basically running the show because the owner is too much of a fan. It can’t happen and it drives away fans who want to give the show a chance.

Before anyone says I am a AEW hater, I tried to watch the product and give it a chance. But watching AEW is like watching Teen Titans GO in that your intelligence is drained over the stupidity.

Reset the product and figure out what AEW truly is and focus on a roster that fits. No more signing every ex-WWE veteran out there and putting him in a main spot. But watch Tony do it again and bring in Dolph Ziggler and then keep losing interest after the shiny toy loses its luster.

But right now, the product is becoming more and more stale and the guy running it refuses to change.

Forget about AEW being TNA, if things are reset and change… AEW is going to end up like the UWF.

You can check out more interviews with athletes and sports reporters on www.lastcallpodcast.com or follow me on Twitter.com/LastCallwChrisC

The post All Elite Waste: Why AEW needs a reset! appeared first on NoDQ.com: WWE and AEW Coverage.

Contrast this to what WWE reportedly received from FOX to air Smackdown on network television on Fridays with a 5 year deal for around $1 billion for 2019-2024. This would represent a 40% increase in the network payout, but a major loss in potential viewership going from about 115 million available households for FOX to just above (but declining) 80 million for USA Network.

Personally, I feel this is a step down for the WWE and will mark Smackdown as the official “B-Show” of the brand extension. Why Roman Reigns is on a freakin’ Friday Night show was due to the reach of the FOX Network, hence why they are consistently 2 million and above. When it’s on USA Network, I could almost guarantee a consistent BELOW 2 million viewership even if Roman Reigns and the Bloodline storyline is on that show.

Which is why I believe that whomever buys Monday Night RAW is going to get the premiere WWE show. Furthermore, I believe that the WWE RAW deal will net potentially $2 billion and the promise that Roman Reigns will be on that show.

After TKO/WWE announced the deal for Smackdown last week, the TKO stock lost like $20 per share (going $100ish to $80ish). Why? Because the impression is that WWE downgraded their Smackdown deal.

Here’s a brief history of the WWE’s television deals, just to help you understand how investors think.

Deal prior to 2014: $90 million per year from NBC/Universal for all WWE shows
Deal from 2014-2019: Between $150 to $175 million per year from NBC/Universal for all WWE shows

Now, if you’ll recall during 2013-2014, Vince McMahon was caught boasting to investors that he’d “triple” the prior television deal offer. Well, it didn’t double it… Hence why the WWE stock took a major bath during the Spring of 2014 when this new deal was announced.

Deal from 2019-2024: Combined $400 million per year from NBC/Universal for RAW & NXT and FOX for Smackdown. In other words, around $1 billion from each for 5 years…

And now we have $1.4 billion for Smackdown, which is 40% increase… That seems high, as is $400 million more for Smackdown, but it could have been higher and that is how the investors valuate things. WWE seriously went from $150-175 million per year for 2014-2019 to $400 million per year for 2019-2024, so hence investors are expecting at LEAST to double it for one of the shows. Instead, it just increased 40%…

That’s how they think… It’s cut-throat, yes, but your prior deal more than doubled the TV revenue, so why couldn’t you do the same with the Smackdown deal? And why are you leaving FOX with 115 households and going to USA Network with 80 million? And maybe WWE could have got more with the bonus of 4 NBC Network specials?

But the ACE IN THE HOLE is WWE Monday Night RAW… I believe that RAW becomes the #1 show again and is going to make a BIG SPLASH somewhere. I’d be SHOCKED if RAW didn’t earn $2 billion for 5 years… Shocked, I say! Hell, maybe more.

Maybe this is the trade-off that USA Networks by obtaining Smackdown? They realized that WWE was asking too much for this show and maybe had aspirations of moving RAW to FOX instead? And by doing this deal with Comcast/NBC/Universal, does it guarantee that WWE Network remains on Peacock whose deal expires during March 2026? I think so… It keeps WWE in the good graces of a business relationship with Comcast/NBC/Universal and both sides will make money on this reasonable deal. It’s a “hometown discount” to an old business partner who helped not only make WWE successful, but paid them lots of money in the process.

I believe that Monday Night RAW will go to one of the following suitors:

(1) Warner Bros. Discovery
Think back to what Viacom did to ECW when WWE’s television deal was up during 2000. They were airing ECW’s show on Friday Nights on TNN from late 1999 until the WWE deal was signed during 2000. ECW was abruptly dropped. Why buy the Go-bots when you can get Transformers instead? AEW should be sweating right now, because their recent drama with CM Punk, losing Cody Rhodes and Jade Gargill, and other image issues (Jon Moxley hardcore matches) could cause WBD to pivot just like Viacom pivoted during 2000 and dropped ECW like a bad habit. WORSE YET for AEW is that WWE signed a deal with NBC/Universal for WWE Smackdown, so hence it takes ANY of their channels off the table! Making this less of a possibility is the MAX channel airing AEW events, but again, as a kid, you wanted the Transformers (WWE) toys instead of the cheaper toy Go-bots (AEW).

(2) Disney for FX or ESPN
Did you notice who scooped Jade Cargill to WWE and then had an interview with her? Uh huh… Something could be going on there. Disney not only owns several ESPN channels, but the FX channel as well. FX could be a great fit for RAW and could possibly allow them to push the adult boundaries a little more. Then again, FX is owned by Disney who has been censoring everything lately… I don’t think that it’s Disney in this case because the are losing money on all fronts right now, whether it is ESPN from overpaying for content rights, major motion picture flops, or some reductions in the values of their brands. ESPN breaking the story of Jade going to the WWE has me thinking that something is up…

(3) FOX Network
If WWE’s programming was on something other than Friday for a network, it would draw more than 2-2.5 million as they are doing now. While what FOX has now is drawing like 3-5 million on Monday Nights, it could be moved elsewhere as they aren’t major trademark shows (both reality shows there now). By returning RAW to 2 hours at 8-10pm timeslot, they could air any programming at 10pm (though many FOX channels have news at 10pm). After FOX sold off all of their studios and content, they are now content buyers. WWE programming, though it draws lower than Hollywood shows, is actually way cheaper than having 2, 3, or 4 shows in a same 2 hour period. Hence why they easily paid $1 billion for 5 years for WWE Smackdown.

(4) Amazon Prime
With Smackdown going to USA Networks, I just don’t see this as an option now. Initially, I could have seen WWE Smackdown remaining on FOX and RAW maybe jumping to Amazon as the secondary show. However, with Smackdown sort of downgrading to USA Network (in terms of viewership), I just don’t see RAW being placed behind a paywall. RAW is going big and widely available, which is why I believe options 1, 2, 3, or even 5 are happening versus Amazon. Now, NXT has a great chance of appearing on Amazon…

(5) The CW
This is where I think Paramount Global possibly gets into the game, maybe placing Monday Night RAW on the CW Network but ALSO streaming it live off of the Paramount+ at the same time. That way, if you have any issues accessing the CW Network, you could just watch it on Paramount+ instead.

Then, you have the matter of NXT‘s show. I could see them as a consolation prize for anyone not receiving Monday Night RAW. Maybe RAW goes to TBS or TNT, while NXT airs on FX or Amazon Prime. I just don’t see 1 network agreeing to host both shows, especially if desired to air on Mondays and Tuesdays like it does now with USA Network. I could also see NXT becoming a Peacock exclusive show, or exclusive to whomever acquires the WWE Network beyond March 2026.

Let’s be honest here… WWE is in a GREAT place right now. So Smackdown’s deal seems like a letdown, but we need to see what RAW gets as a deal before making any more assumptions. Hence why TKO’s stock could be a steal at $81 before the RAW television deal is later announced (DISCLAIMER: NoDQ & Mr. Tito is not responsible for any investment choices you make!). I believe there is big money being thrown around for RAW and with the combined forces of Vince McMahon, Nick Khan, and Endeavor’s executives in the same room, some television network is about to fork out $2 BILLION for RAW or something close to it (like $1.8 Billion).

And whomever gets RAW will get Roman Reigns… That’s the prized pig out of this, and hence why Warner Bros. Discovery, Disney, Paramount Global, FOX, or even Amazon will pay major money for RAW’s television rights.

But let’s be honest here… This isn’t 2019 WWE. They have MORE STARS now than they did back then. Back in 2019, WWE was too reliant on Brock Lesnar to carry things and they were over-pushing guys in the wrong gimmicks or on the wrong heel/face sides down our throats. Now, however, WWE has Roman Reigns crushing it, LA Knight and Cody Rhodes as legitimate babyface options, Seth Rollins has been solid lately, lots of talented women (plus adding Jade Cargill on top of that), and tons of younger wrestlers ready to rise up (Breakker, Solo, etc.). And 2019 WWE didn’t have the Endeavor machine backing them, either. This is an entirely different ballgame from a marketing perspective.

Just listen to what Jade Cargill proudly said on her ESPN interview after it was announced she joined WWE: “I’m the first signing by TKO”. That is a gigantic statement that should make AEW’s heads spin, because I believe a major talent exodus is coming. MJF will be a WWE superstar by 2024-2025, and that’s another thing that a TV Network can count on… Jade is the first of many because WWE under the Endeavor banner is going to be a marketing machine that will pump out stars and make everyone household names again.

The price tag for Monday Night RAW is going to get expensive, folks, especially with the WWE actually growing now and Endeavor behind it. It’s going to be a bidding process and someone is going to (a) take out big commercial loans and/or (b) place funds in escrow to pay for this. And it will be worth it because WWE is on the upswing and placing focus to make RAW become the #1 wrestling show again is going to be HUGE for the pro wrestling industry.

Just please knock that damn show back down to 2 hours. 3 hours per weekly television show is just too much, especially coming off of a Pay Per View weekend and then demanding us to watch NXT on Tuesdays. Come on, 2 hour RAW! But take my advice if you HAVE to keep it as 3 hours, make that 3rd hour for “mature audiences”. Between 10-11pm, why not? Let’s get some rough angles, hot women, more violence, and some vulgar language. Stop treating your audience like children and feed them more mature content. Just for that 1 hour…

Make RAW 2 hours again!

CLICK HERE for the Mr. Tito Column Archive @ NoDQ

The post MR. TITO: What Does the New Smackdown TV Deal with USA Network Mean for WWE/TKO? appeared first on NoDQ.com: WWE and AEW Coverage.

Anybody who says they know is full of bullshit just like ponies.

Before all the wrestling nerds started going full mental, let me explain why I say this. Because most wrestling fans don’t even know right now what’s going on in Hollywood and people in the wrestling bubble need to understand that.

As of now, the Writers Guild Association along with the Actors/Directors are involved in a strike against the Hollywood Production studios. The main issue is that they want not just a new contract with more everything but protection from Artificial Intelligence. The fear is that with AI, writers can be replaced, background actors can be replaced and even actors eventually will be replaced.

This strike has been going on for several months now and because of that all production has been put on hold. That is why no new movies are in production, Television shows are not being promoted and even why Yellowstone is now going to be on CBS this fall.

It’s also why John Cena and The Rock are stopping by in WWE. They are not working on any projects; their schedule is free so why not come back for some quick cash.

The other part that nobody is mentioning is that the streaming services (and political issues) have caused havoc with the big studios. Warner Bros/ Discovery has lost 27 percent of their subscribers due to the failure of MAX and has lost a lot of money. It’s gotten to the point they have either outright cancelled projects like Batgirl for the tax write offs to selling the latest Batman animated show to Netflix.

Hell, they are selling all their DCEU and DC movies to Amazon just to make some profit.

Meanwhile Disney has been mired with their issues from box office failures to the streaming platform problems and “Don’t Say Gay” drama that they lost over a BILLION dollars in the last quarter. And just recently Bloomberg and Reuters reported that Byron Allen is making a serious bid to buy ABC and Hulu from Disney for 10 billion dollars.

That ain’t fake news and it isn’t chump change folks.

Well let me get straight to the point and state that all of this is proof of just how much the wrestling media is in the dark. It was only a few weeks ago that Dave Meltzer was stating that Disney and Amazon Prime were favorites to land WWE Smackdown. And it wasn’t just him it was other reporters who were repeating the same line.

They don’t know and they never did.

I am not saying this to pump my chest and tell people these guys are charlatans as I understand the game. I have covered major boxing, UFC, Bellator and other combat sports for a decade now. People got sources, insiders and other inside people who feed them scoops. Sometimes they are right, sometimes they are wrong and sometimes things change at the drop of the hat.

But the issue with the TV deals is that these meetings are going to be FAR outside the reach of Meltzer and other reporters, some of whom I like… as well as some whom I don’t like. Because nobody is going to have access to them.

The TV deals for AEW and especially WWE are going to be held between maybe 5-8 people total. NDA’s are going to be signed in some cases, assurances that nothing is leaked and lawyers are going to get in the middle of things. No way is Nick Khan going to spill the news to some wrestling reporter about where they MIGHT go. He doesn’t want shareholders to freak out on either side and get in hot water.

He wants to keep relationships friendly with all the studios as there is money to be made with good relationships. And spilling secrets does nothing but ruin good relationships.

Plus if your Disney, Warner Bros Discovery, Apple, Amazon, Paramount or any other suitor, you first want to know if they can get the WWE library. Studios right now are filled with tons of real estate in the former of servers for their streaming empires. They want to know if the content they have can draw more people in and help them sell subscriptions.

That is WWE’s bigger bargain chip is the library and PLE’s that Peacock has used to build their channel. It draws big money and has helped NBC Peacock become one of the few streaming services that has been fruitful. Networks see it and everyone is going to make a push and a bid for it. You would have to either been foolish not to or just not be interested in live sports at all (a la Netflix).

At the same time, a lot of studios are trying to figure out the next step in not just the strike but their future. Disney’s Bob Iger has talked about selling the company as the end game according to a report from CNBC. Reports from Variety and Hollywood insider have also talked of rumors of Disney being sold to Apple or Blackrock.

Meanwhile WBD’s David Zaslav has been working on a sales plan to sell not just all their RSN’s (Regional Sports Network’s) but also half of their music-publishing assets. MSN even reported that they are even trying to sell CNN to get rid of more debt and make the company attractive to sell later.

When you factor in all of this news it makes you realize just how small the wrestling world is compared to the larger universe.

Which leads me to the point that all these wrestling news sites don’t know squat about the TV deals. Their sources are not in the same room as the big swinging dicks who make these decisions. Chances are that they are just regurgitating what they heard in a chat room and making it as news.

Nobody knew who was going to buy WWE until the sale was announced. And why should they as those meetings were kept under raps as to not screw the stock prices. Same thing is happening here right now with the possible TKO Sports TV rights for WWE and then Endeavor.

A few things could happen involving WWE Smackdown and Raw lands next year. But right now anything more than speculation would be just guess work, not factual news. And until that happens, AEW’s TV rights will be in a holding pattern as too many dominos need to fall.

My best guess is that around November/December things will start getting more serious. By that time the Strike will probably end as the 2024 year will be on the horizon as well as the Holidays. Networks will want to start focusing on getting movies made for 2025 and promoting the 2024 slate. Strikers and picketers will be more willing to deal as checks and money will run out.

Only then will networks make a bigger move for WWE’s TV deal rights and certain networks will be either all in or all out. And after that AEW’s rights will get addressed.

But until then… be careful about the fake news and innuendo that wrestling journalists are peddling.

You can check out more interviews with athletes and sports reporters on www.lastcallpodcast.com or Follow me on Twitter.com/LastCallwChrisC

The post Wrestling TV Deals; Don’t Believe the smoke! appeared first on NoDQ.com: WWE and AEW Coverage.