Wrestling Thread 5: FKA The Viking Experience • Page 86

Fuck you trash bag

 

Yes, the production crew was ROH and it was broadcast on ROH's streaming service. It was basically an ROH PPV that Cody booked.

But you'd think the point of having a billionaire fan backing you is to eat the early costs associated with starting things up...rather than just run things exactly like ROH/Impact/etc.

I agree with this ultimately. They do UEFA for $80/yr, I can see them doing something similar for AEW. The UFC model doesnt translate well to wrestling...it works great for UFC because they have a half dozen true draws and they fight a couple of times a year. WWE doesnt book a PPV where AJ/Reigns/Rollins/D-Bry/etc dont appear and we get a bunch of mid-card matches instead (like a UFC Fight Night). They have "bigger" shows, but only WM is really different.

Streaming TV is what everyone wants (and I bet RAW+SD end up on it by the end of their deals)...but AEW has to show the numbers to support a service.

 

I don’t know. I guess that the vast majority of people who are privy to what AEW are or who Kenny omega are will be watching this and be willing to pay almost whatever for the first one. I feel like since this will be the launch, it’ll be the core fan base who tunes in. Then you focus the weekly show on a network to draw in casual fans, imo.

Hm, I guess I just never questioned it being an expensive PPV because they know they’ll get eyeballs at $50. Would they really get THAT many more at $35? $20? There’s an equilibrium to hit that is important in the long run but I’d also venture to guess that WWE kind of figured out what that price is and it’s around $50-70, no?

 

interesting. it didn't feel like a ROH show at all, in fact it didn't feel like that crew had ever done wrestling before. but yeah, your last point exactly.

the main issue is cable companies take like 50% of PPV gross i think. maybe more. and i assume there is an increased infrastructure cost with cable television PPV given the stream has to be sent to the cable provider and then to the home whereas something like the Network or Honor Club is a truly direct feed. so say AEW is making $25 a buy - to make that money, are they more likely to get one home to spend $50 or two to three homes to spend $10 each? on paper i cant imagine the former being more likely but idk

 

but yeah i would've bought it instantly at $20. probably at $30. at $50... i just can't. theres a lot my broke ass can make out of $50.

 

I’m a week and a half into unemployment, otherwise I’d happily drop the $50 to support them. If I’d be willing to do that every month or two is a different story.

 

It’ll be a day-of purchase for me, but I would’ve been that way at any price point.

 

Double or Nothing honestly should've been free. This is their first PPV (pretty sure All In doesn't count), and they'd probably want as many eyeballs as possible to intensify their momentum. People that stopped watching WWE years ago would probably be the key ones to win over. $50 is a bit too much for a PPV, though. I figured it would've been $35-$40 like most stuff on Fite TV.

 

Lio Rush added his email for bookings to his insta. Ruh roh.

 

Looks like AEW may be doing some UK PPVs. Just need to find some friends to go with now...

 

Bandido just did this springboard moonsault where it looked like he was in the air for a minute. Absolutely gorgeous. This guy is incredible.

 

Okay, I'm all in on heel Phantasmo.

 

The co-mains for today were fantastic. Romero put on an EXCELLENT showing against Will. And holy shit, where did this DOUKI guy come from. So much fun. Taguchi is next level good at getting guys over.

 

Meltzers defense/reasoning for the B/R PPV cost is that its because of the actual PPV providers setting the cost but like...why even bother with traditional PPV? Am I just close-minded, or is PPV pretty much dead outside of UFC(kinda) and boxing? It just seems like making a concession for traditional PPV is counter to the idea that AEW is supposed to be "modern" and for a "modern audience"; PPV is definitely a trend they should buck IMO.


Also I'm not crazy about Cody's analytics quote. I fucking love sports analytics, but I've literally never given a shit about any wrestling-related ones

 

My boy Deppen bout to get MDK all fucking day and win that title.

 

The PPV defense was bad, but expected. It's the only answer he can really give for it. Even boxing is somewhat moving away from PPV, and I have a hard time believing they'll do stellar numbers even over time. I wonder if the move is going to a DAZN or something rather than creating their own service.

As far as the analytics go, I think we'll have to see how it plays out. It's going to be for presentation purposes, and seeing how they integrate it into stories will be interesting. Just gotta hope they don't use it as the main story telling plot point.

 

@Mick

 

Yeah I also gotta say that I think $50 is a little nuts. My interest had finally risen to a large level but man...idk if I can swing that price. I get it. They gotta make money. They need to seem like a big deal. It's just a lot of money

$30 wouldve been fair I think. The 50 price point is extreme.

I was gonna try and find a place in the city to watch it so maybe I'll definitely do that now

 

Not a feet guy, but thank you so much for always looking out for me, Henry. You're a true friend

 

Ric Flair in the hospital, apparently it's very serious

 

Also Bliss is out of MITB

 

Not sure about DAZN, but quick research reveals Warner/ATT (who I guess own? Turner) is revealing its streaming platform in the fall, so I guess that's something to look out for. But then the question is where BR Live fits in

 

Meltzer says injury isn't serious and she's mainly being pulled because it's a ladder match

 

Theyve really kept bliss out of the ring a lot over the past 8 months