From this morning's Observer radio show, Brock Lesnar just made himself look a whole lot better in WWE's eyes because Summerslam did 265,000 domestic buys, which is up close to 50% over last year's show. International did terrible so it kind of evens out overall, but obviously people are still interesting in watching him sports entertain. Now if only he had a contract where he could appear on more than a few shows a year and actually build on that sort of momentum. Regardless, Wrestlemania should be epic now, since Brock will probably be sticking around as a result of this.
Brock vs Taker in a UFC style match at WM29. Calling it.
ReplyDeleteMaybe the folks at home really wanted to see HHH get his revenge for all those insults hurled at VKM's grandchildren.
ReplyDeleteI think people are buying Brock's ppvs for the same reason they used to buy Hogan's ppvs. When you don't see people wrestle on tv every damn week, it's makes you excited to see them when they finally do have a match. If I wanna see a Cena or a Punk match, they wrestle 3-8 times a month for free. If I want to see a Brock match, which I do, it's gonna cost me. It's not rocket science.
ReplyDeleteDo you think they might go Brock/Rock or is Rock/Cena II set in stone?
ReplyDeleteYou mean to tell me long term booking actually sells?
ReplyDeleteImpossible! Recheck those numbers!
Brock is the one who needs an "iron clad" contract!
ReplyDeleteThey should do Brock/Rock, that's MONEY right there.
ReplyDeleteI simply think more people want to watch Brock Lesnar than CM Punk or John Cena.
ReplyDeleteOkay...
ReplyDeleteHHH will be back on TV now... cuz he did that number BY HISSELF.
We should probably wait on the final number considering how far WrestleMania dropped from the initial estimates.
ReplyDeleteIm confused why the WWE doesn't do what boxing does - announce a preliminary buyrate number that is ALWAYS lower than the final total. WWE's number almost always goes down from the first report and that's not a good look.
I'd love it, but I can see the NY/NJ crowd easily turning on Rock like
ReplyDeleteat Summerslam '02 if Brock dominates physically early in the match like I
assume he would.
His point, which I agree with, is that you can watch Punk or Cena wrestle for free almost every week. You cannot with Brock or Triple H.
ReplyDeleteI don't like fantasy booking, but I think that announcing 29 people for the rumble, then having Brock be a surprise entrant to destroy everyone and win it would be epic. It would be a great setup for Rock vs Brock. That said, how they logically lead up to Brock being in the Rumble and still keep it a surprise is beyond me. Not like logic exists in WWE though...
ReplyDeleteSo...Brock wasn't damaged by losing to Cena? You mean life went on as normal without the sky falling? I'm shocked.
ReplyDeleteI love that it only took two comments for someone to sarcastically say that it was HHH who was the real driving force behind the buys...
ReplyDeleteSeriously, though...as someone who bought SummerSlam this year for the first time since 2005 (Hogan/HBK)**, it was nothing more than wanting to see Brock and HHH fight each other. I understand that most on the blog hated the build for the match, but, to slapdabass's point earlier, I was really into it because neither guy ever wrestles on TV and they were both booked to look like huge stars. I also enjoyed the match and the card as a whole and felt like I got my money's worth.
**In the interest of full disclosure, I did ATTEND SummerSlam in 2007, which featured a Cena/Orton suckfest, but it was on someone else's dime, so I don't count it...
That would be a smarter way to go about things. Under promise and over deliver. That way you always end up looking good.
ReplyDeleteSo what? They already paid for the ticket.
ReplyDeleteI thought he signed a one year deal? Why wouldn't he have been sticking around?
ReplyDeleteI thought the card was stacked this year. I came thiiiiiiiis close to buying but decide against it the night of the show. But that was closer than I have come to buying any show besides WM in years.
ReplyDeletefair point of course. I was just thinking of a reason why WWE might not go forward with the plan. Never stopped them w/ Cena though.
ReplyDeleteWM 29 would of been his final appearance, more than likely WWE is gonna offer him another deal.
ReplyDeleteAs a refresher, was it a 1.2?
ReplyDeleteGlad to know Brock will probably be stick around longer, more chances for the "dream matches" to happen.
ReplyDeleteOne of their most popular and legendary wrestlers of all time, who also happens to be a Hollywood movie star, vs one of UFC's biggest badasses. That just screams Wrestlemania main event, and the demograpthic that loves the UFC and Fast and Furious movies would shit themselves at the thought.
ReplyDeleteBut it doesn't involve John Cena, so what can ya do?
But I thought Brock wasn't a wrestling draw? Am confused.
ReplyDeleteHave Brock announce he's going to reveal something at the Rumble, have him say something like he's got an open contract to challenge whoever the Rumble winner doesn't face. Then have him enter the Rumble, win, and say "I lied so my opponents wouldn't have a chance to prepare."
ReplyDeleteOr, maybe, they could've done Brock-Cena II after Cena took some time off for getting whipped by Brock and done maybe another 100k buys.
ReplyDeleteWow, 265 domestic is really good.
ReplyDeleteAs someone who lives in NYC and is going to Mania (first time!), I really just hope this doesn't mean this encourages them to do Brock-HHH again. I have zero interest in seeing that live, other than to boo the shit out of Trips.
I wonder if this makes them more likely to just go all in with Rock-Brock at Mania. Rock wins title, Brock wins Rumble as a surprise entrant as poster below suggested.
Then I guess they can do the ultimate Punk-Cena blow-off (let's say that after losing to Rock, Punk costs Cena the Rumble) epic grudge match.
And then Undertaker vs...?? Sheamus? D-Bryan?
Anyway, that's cool that match drew so much. Just selfishly I hope it doesn't mean I have to sit through it live at Mania.
Agreed on all counts.
ReplyDeleteMan, I really liked that Orton/Cena match, even with the wonky finish.
ReplyDelete1.2
ReplyDeleteMeh, I'm sure Brock'll job to HHH's daughters as soon as they're out of their training bras.
ReplyDeleteThe record is 1.19 million buys, and WM28 was *just* below it according to the usual sources.
ReplyDeleteI understand that. My argument is that it wouldn't matter because Brock Lesnar is a bigger star and, thus, more interesting to more people.
ReplyDeleteJohn Cena missed months and months of action in 2007 and 2008, and it had minimal impact on buyrates when he returned, from what I remember.
I am open to being proven wrong, of course.
No kidding. I bet in the WWE offices today it was all about HHH.
ReplyDeleteThe Punk turn and crappy handling of the HHH/Brock angle made me not buy it. Which is crazy because when Brock broke HHH's arm I was so ready to buy that match.
ReplyDeleteSo, good job WWE.
But Cena in the semi-main with The Undertaker. On wait, you weren't serious.
ReplyDeleteI was at that SS live, and wow it was a total dog of a show. The main event picked up in the second half, but otherwise pretty much every match was crap. (Khali retained the WHC for Chrissakes!)
ReplyDeleteAnd it's crazy to think back to Cena getting the 50/50 split back then (against Orton at his blandiest), five goddamn years ago, and nothing has changed.
I don't see that this time. The NY crowd was pissed he was leaving for a while and Brock was the next big thing, so they turned on Rock. I think today it'd be more of a 50-50 split. Even with Heyman as Brock's manager heeling it up, the smarks that attend Mania would just eat that up.
ReplyDeleteOr at least that's what Triple H is telling everyone.
ReplyDeleteThat's Chris Jericho's job.
ReplyDeleteAnd he'll do it with a smile on his face because he's that much of a pro.
I'm confused, you said "One of their most popular and legendary wrestlers of all time, who also happens to be a Hollywood movie star". Isn't that John Cena?
ReplyDeleteI've been saying this for months, but with the Streak now at a round 20-0, there should be a legit belief that WM29 could be it for Undertaker and this might be the year he finally loses. Putting him up against Lesnar is a big match, except nobody would believe that Brock would go over since most people know he's just short-term.
ReplyDeleteThis is the jeopardy the Streak has been in in years, so WWE can sell more buys by playing with that. Fans know Lesnar won't go over Taker, but a just-on-the-cusp megastar (Sheamus, Punk) might. Rock or Cena are also great options though I think at the end of the day both would do the job....but man, think of a Rock promo where he mentions he's beaten Hogan, Austin and Cena at WM and now the only thing left is Undertaker.
Agreed. First thought would be that Undertaker vs an established megastar (Lesnar, Cena, HHH, Rock) would be the most interesting way to go, but I'm with you— the only jeopardy for The Streak would be if WWE wants to put over someone who can carry the company in the future.
ReplyDeleteSheamus stands out as the most obvious in that category. Punk and to a much lesser extent Bryan as well.
And out of the megastars group, Cena is someone I can actually see getting that win, as a way to kickstart his heel turn. I wouldn't see the point in Cena beating Taker as a face, since even the kiddies would probably be rooting against him in that one.
I would drive up to Jersey to see Rock vs Undertaker
ReplyDeleteWow a smark is going to boo Triple H. You groundbreaker you.
ReplyDeleteJust pay him more money so he will appear more. A Lesner/Punk/Heyman alliance is RIGHT THERE.
ReplyDeleteThat won't take long. Remember Hunter's pecs in the glory days?
ReplyDeleteIt could always end up like Brock/Goldberg... which should have been an amazing spectacle... which it ended up being for all the wrong reasons.
ReplyDeleteYou're both kind of right. The part that makes Brock a bigger star is that he's not on TV every week, funnily enough.
ReplyDelete... much like Hogan back in the early days of PPV.
Old habits I guess. They have done it that way dating back to the 80s -- preliminary numbers are nearly always high.
ReplyDeleteOr maybe if Mahal got Punk's spot we'd be in the second Attitude Era right now.
ReplyDeleteWhat's the line? Vince is a millionaire who should be a billionaire?
ReplyDeleteOh I understand why they used to do it. But when you're a public company and we're going to know the real number anyway....why estimate high?
ReplyDeleteI assume just for the good publicity.
ReplyDeleteThey'll use those numbers now to justify what they need to justify or sell to whomever they want to sell something to, until enough time passes and they have to report an update.
There are far more reporting articles for the initial report of a number than at any other time, so they'll be more 'good hits' out there for them if they make a big ballyhoo about the preliminary numbers, which are always high.
They won't actually put the buys down on paper until the next quarterly report at the beginning of November and even at that point it may still be preliminary. It'll be a whole year before they actually get the final number down on paper -- in which case if it goes down, it will be quietly added to the report and never mentioned again.
That makes sense. /sarcasm
ReplyDeleteI believe it actually ended up being the most purchased WM ever, based on the final numbers -- although you can't really compare WrestleMania's from 2004 on to WrestleMania shows before 2004, because of the increase in paying international buyers.
ReplyDeleteOH NARAKAAAAAA YEEEEAAAAAHHH! (hindu version of hell).
ReplyDeleteSo many of us (not you, Phred) sound like American Dems and Repubs arguing the same points no matter what evidence comes up. Here we have a neutral number, a number that can't be changed. Yet, both pro-Vince and anti-Vince are trying to use that number to their advantage. Solid card (heck didn't Jericho-Ziggler open the show), special main event--it's going to increase the buyrate. What the heck does this have to do with Extreme Rules? And if it takes anyone more than 2 lines to respond to that question, then be quiet.
I think the less is more approach works for Brock. Especially with Heyman around every week to carry his storylines until the last couple of shows before his ppv match
ReplyDeleteThis is why they need to do Wargames. A team with Punk and Brock against a team with HHH and Cena is money. They'd just have to round out the teams. Maybe UT and/or the Rock can make an appearance
ReplyDeleteWargames would be awsome.
ReplyDeleteScott, weren't you constantly harping on the fact that the show was going to bomb?
ReplyDeleteWhat ifs are pointless. You can't prove a negative, so everything is possible. Saying something could've happened is pretty much verbal masturbation.
ReplyDeleteHere's a thought: what if they just DON'T give Rock the title? Maybe gameplan is Brock stops Rock from winning at the Rumble, setting up Rock/Brock at Mania, and Punk/Cena at WM, where Cena finally stops the title reign? Heyman guys both lose at Mania, but dominate until then. UT gets Sheamus.
ReplyDeleteI even think the Undertaker or The Rock would be too much.
ReplyDeletePunk/Brock/Ziggler/Del Rio or Sandow vs. Cena/Triple H/Sheamus/Ryback or Orton seems absolutely fine to me.
sorry, but I am almost sure that Undertaker vs. Cena or Undertaker vs. Rock (and Undertaker vs. Brock too) would get more buys than say Undertaker vs. Sheamus.
ReplyDeleteafaik it's even hard to compare 2005 to 2012 (for example) because the internal pay per view market kept growing over the years.
ReplyDeleteso would you disagree that putting Brock in matches every week on free tv wouldn't lower the buyrate?
ReplyDeleteIndeed. While there are figures available on the overall expansion of the PPV universe, there isn't much data available in terms of what markets they've added outside the states each year. Part of the issue is that many of those areas have had access to these shows in the past, but they just didn't have to pay for it previously.
ReplyDeleteThere was a lot of that going around because, you know, Brock was destroyed by the loss to Cena.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure where these other 100k buys come from. Tried over at the Observer board and cannot really find too many people who didn't buy SS because of Brock's loss to Cena.
ReplyDeleteI absolutely agree with your view that the nice round 20-0 record lends itself to the belief that this could be the year that Taker loses. With that in mind, they absolutely have to give Taker an opponent that people would actually believe would be allowed to beat him. This is the year to do Cena/Taker. No way Rock, Brock, Sheamus, or Punk get the win (maaaaaybe if Punk were a face, but definitely not as a whiny heel), but Cena is believable to both marks and smarks, younger and older fans.
ReplyDeleteI'd still have Taker win, but just imagine the collective near-coronary that would come from Cena getting a two-count off the "Attitude Adjuster", especially if it's the second or third one of the match. Hell, Cena could get about a billion two-counts, and every single one would cause the audience to absolutely lose their minds. Hottest crowd ever? Quite possibly.
He's gonna fight them when they're topless?
ReplyDelete