WWE Thread (Spoilers)

[Dr. Zoidberg]

[hbk72777]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zjPhDn5fm3g

SMACKDOWN GOING LIVE ON USA NETWORK BEGINNING TUESDAY, JULY 19

SMACKDOWN to Feature Distinct Roster and Storylines

NEW YORK and STAMFORD, CONN – May 25, 2016 — USA Network, the exclusive cable home to WWE’s marquee properties, announced that its weekly SMACKDOWN show will air live – for the first time ever – and move to Tuesdays every week beginning July 19 from 8-10PM ET/PT. With the SMACKDOWN move, USA Network will now offer five hours of live WWE programming a week, including the weekly three-hour live WWE MONDAY NIGHT RAW (airing Mondays from 8-11PM ET/PT), with each show featuring a distinct cast, unique storylines and a dedicated writing team.

In 2016 to date, MONDAY NIGHT RAW is averaging 4.011MM total viewers, 1.873MM P25-54 and 1.846MM P18-49 L7, and SMACKDOWN in its current time slot is averaging 2.674MM P2+, 1.136MM P25-54, and 1.058MM P18-49+ L7, making USA the #1 cable entertainment network across the key demos on Monday and Thursday nights. In 2015, the two programs combined reached over 50MM viewers. Both shows will now air live 52 weeks a year.

“The fan base for our WWE shows is one of the most passionate and engaged audiences in all of entertainment,” said Chris McCumber, President, Entertainment Networks, NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment. “There is a huge appetite among our viewers for live programming, and the ability to move SMACKDOWN to a live format brings a new level of excitement and helps truly eventize this every week.”

“WWE’s flagship programs will both leverage the incredible depth of our talent roster, distinct storylines and the unpredictable nature of live TV,” said WWE Chairman & CEO Vince McMahon. “This move will undoubtedly build more excitement and deepen engagement with our fans around the world.”

Read more at http://www.wrestlezone.com/news/712075- ... 7M62DTS.99

http://www.wrestlezone.com/news/712075- ... s-and-more

[Big Boss Man]

I'm sitting on the fence for this at the moment. If they make Raw more talent heavy and have all the A grade guys & girls there and Smackdown has the B and even C level there it makes no sense. If they do this right it gives them the opportunity to develop new talent and storylines maybe make the PPVs matter again with Smackdown vs Raw. But if SD is weak, again it'll be a pointless exercise. But again I see us getting the same old, same old.

[Bandit]

They could make it work, their roster is better than a lot of years of the brand split. It would be nice to see a guy like Ambrose get main events. And it gives NXT wrestlers who've been there forever like Bayley and American Alpha a spot.

[Dr. Zoidberg]

It will be interesting to see what indy/TNA/ROH guys they get to pad the roster out a bit more.

Alvarez on WOL: The Draft Lottery will take place July 11th on RAW from Detroit.

-- Regarding the WWE brand split that kicks off when SmackDown goes live on the USA Network on July 19th, there's been more talk within WWE that each show will have a World Title, one show will have the United States Title and the other will have the Intercontinental Title. Bryan Alvarez noted on Wrestling Observer Live that people are under the impression that the WWE Women's division will be exclusive to one show but that has not been confirmed. As of today, the WWE Tag Team Titles will likely be on both shows.

The Draft is scheduled for the July 11th RAW in Detroit. Alvarez also noted that many talents have no idea what is going on or where they will end up in the Draft.

There's also expected to be call-ups from WWE NXT to help fill the two main rosters. We noted earlier that WWE is expected to aggressively to pursue outside talents as they will now have four tours running at times – two with the main roster and two with NXT.





NXT is going ECW.

[Dr. Zoidberg]

-- As of now, the plan is for Shane to be in charge of one show and Stephanie in charge of the other. Also, Roman Reigns is expected to be the headliner of one show while John Cena is expected to be the headliner of the other show. The tentative plan is for both the Women’s and WWE World Heavyweight Champion to appear on both shows while the U.S. and Intercontinental Titles are each assigned to a brand.

[Bandit]

Meltzer on WOR: Reigns will headline RAW, Cena will headline Smackdown.

[Big Boss Man]

I'd imagine when Smackdown gets better ratings they'll switch Cena over to Raw. Also makes sense if they make Raw PG-13/TV-14 and SD can stay PG. Then it opens the door to more creative options as right now with their zero tolerance on blood etc its detrimental to the product.

Also are WWE fading out NXT with it being titled the end?. Would be a huge mistake if they get rid of it as some talent they sign up need polishing up in developmental before hitting the main roster. Otherwise shows are gonna be botch central especially if they call up talent not ready.

[Dr. Zoidberg]

NXT isn't going anywhere. It's one of the main reasons people get the Network. It might be titled that because some of the guys will be moving to the main roster.

[Bandit]

It will be called Impact Refuge.

[Bandit]

[Dr. Zoidberg]

[Bandit]

Maybe WWE can do an Old Milwaukee shirt instead.

[Dr. Zoidberg]

-- As noted, Brooklyn Brawler was released from WWE due to a “small mistake” he made, despite having worked for the company for close to 30 years.

According to The Wrestling Observer, Brawler’s release might have been due to him calling into The Taz Show, however that remains unconfirmed. Internal speculation is that while the call in is not the official reason why he was let go, it didn’t help Brawler any especially since it was so close to the time WWE was making talent cuts.

[Dr. Zoidberg]

[Bandit]

Actor Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson is once again thinking about running for president, he told British GQ in a new profile.

"I'll be honest, I haven't ruled politics out,” Johnson said. "I'm not being coy when I say that, but at the moment I am not sure. I can't deny that the thought of being governor, the thought of being president, is alluring.”
He said running for office “would be an opportunity to make a real impact on people's lives on a global scale.”

"But there are a lot of other things I want to do first," he added.

It’s not the first time he’s flirted with the idea.

In March, he tweeted a story about his political appeal. “Maybe one day,” he tweeted. “Surely the White House has a spot for my pick up truck…”

In 2012, Johnson said, “one day, and that day will come, I can impact the world through politics,” after his entertaining days were over.

Imagine his debates. He'll be the first candidate to call his opponent a jabroni.

[Dr. Zoidberg]

"Megyn Kelly, would you like to try some of The Rock's strudel?"

[Bandit]

Imagine Secretary of Defense Haku.

[Ocelot]

Haku would just show up for diplomatic talks and growl and the USA would get everything it wants. I mean would you want to be the world leader of a small country that unleashed an angry Haku on your own people?

[Bandit]

We could have ISIS peacefully surrender if we just drove a truck with a bunch of speakers out to them in Syria and played this song




al-Baghdadi would know some horrific shit was coming his way.