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Post by LA Times on Oct 18, 2019 11:38:33 GMT -5
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hbkowns
Main Eventer
Joined on: Aug 15, 2011 23:33:52 GMT -5
Posts: 4,249
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Post by hbkowns on Oct 18, 2019 23:53:50 GMT -5
That’s not his fault. Why hire someone who speaks publicly about not keeping up with the product. Bottom line is Vince our Bischoff and Heyman in a position where I’d anything failed they would be responsible. He wants a scapegoat when things aren’t working well and will blame everyone but himself. Vince is the problem, he’s always been. I love Prichard and his podcast but that doesn’t fool me into thinking that he was never a yes man because he totally was. So him getting promoted doesn’t do anything for me. It’s hilarious that Vince claims he hates yes men but those seem to be the people he hires all the time. Well maybe just maybe, they believed Bischoff would get situated quicker? He does have experience in the business. It's not like they hired Dave from Arby's.
Reports are it was Prichard's idea to hire Eric, they gave it a shot, and things didn't work out. This isn't the first time someone was fired a few months into a job. Doubt it'll be the last. Matter of fact, it's probably happening to someone right now as we speak. P.S.... you don't know Vince personally. You should look at the track record of what said employee had been doing recently. Like I said prior, Bischoff had been out of wrestling for 5 years+ and ADMITTED to not knowing jack about the current product. This isn’t just some creative team member position that Bischoff was hired for. It was a top executive position that included many employees working under him. So regardless if it was under Prichard’s recommendation or not, anyone with a blind eye could have seen how that wouldn’t have worked out. People on this board predicted it wouldn’t have worked, myself included. You also don’t have to know Vince personally to know that when over a dozen past creative team members come forward and say that Vince’s entourage is full of yes men, then it’s probably true. P.S, I ing love Arby’s
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Post by cordless2016 on Oct 19, 2019 1:11:07 GMT -5
It’ll be very interesting to hear Eric’s side of this story when he decides to speak on it.
Listening to a bit of JR’s podcast with Conrad this week, Conrad mentioned that Eric seemed shocked by the firing. Eric also mentioned in the past that he didn’t need the job, but was excited for a new opportunity (which is why he and his wife moved to Stamford).
I honestly feel that Eric was hired to be the fall guy. It was reported that he was mainly hired to be a liaison between the WWE and FOX, and that Vince was still in charge of final say in creative. We also know from Eric that his strong suit is production, and not managing talent.
The wrestling observer also mentioned today that Eric would leave around 7pm each day rather than stay for Vince’s meetings that often go into the next morning (I don’t blame him as this is creating a healthy work/life balance, and working to 7pm is pretty late as it is).
I honestly believe that there was nothing Eric could have done to save his job. Smackdown lost about 1 million viewers a week after its FOX debut, and Eric was used as a scape goat to show FOX that Vince is taking their deal “seriously.” The sad thing is that the rating drop was likely due to crap like jobbing Kofi so a washed up MMA fighter could take his spot, the HIAC fiasco, and this crappy draft (all of which I doubt Eric had anything to do with). Let’s also not forget that Vince advertised Stone Cold and Taker to appear on the FOX debut, only to tell them that night “hey, I don’t need you guys.”
This is just further proof that Vince is killing this industry.
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Post by IRS on Oct 19, 2019 6:54:37 GMT -5
It’ll be very interesting to hear Eric’s side of this story when he decides to speak on it. Listening to a bit of JR’s podcast with Conrad this week, Conrad mentioned that Eric seemed shocked by the firing. Eric also mentioned in the past that he didn’t need the job, but was excited for a new opportunity (which is why he and his wife moved to Stamford). I honestly feel that Eric was hired to be the fall guy. It was reported that he was mainly hired to be a liaison between the WWE and FOX, and that Vince was still in charge of final say in creative. We also know from Eric that his strong suit is production, and not managing talent. The wrestling observer also mentioned today that Eric would leave around 7pm each day rather than stay for Vince’s meetings that often go into the next morning (I don’t blame him as this is creating a healthy work/life balance, and working to 7pm is pretty late as it is). I honestly believe that there was nothing Eric could have done to save his job. Smackdown lost about 1 million viewers a week after its FOX debut, and Eric was used as a scape goat to show FOX that Vince is taking their deal “seriously.” The sad thing is that the rating drop was likely due to crap like jobbing Kofi so a washed up MMA fighter could take his spot, the HIAC fiasco, and this crappy draft (all of which I doubt Eric had anything to do with). Let’s also not forget that Vince advertised Stone Cold and Taker to appear on the FOX debut, only to tell them that night “hey, I don’t need you guys.” This is just further proof that Vince is killing this industry. Nah, Vince isn't killing the industry - just WWE. The industry is in the best position it's been in years, thanks to the internet making so many alternatives so much easier to access. AEW is living proof of it, considering it all came about because of a Youtube show and The Elite's success in NJPW/ROH. WWE is flatout lucky they were able to secure the USA and FOX deals, because without such lucrative TV contracts, the way they continue to spiral would be deeply concerning. The way Vince continues running things, they're on a collision course to become 2000 WCW fast. At the current rate of their ratings and attendance decline, RAW and SD could literally be on equal footing with AEW in viewers and attendance in 2-3 years.
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Post by FLUX '97 on Oct 19, 2019 16:13:29 GMT -5
ViNcE iS kIlLiNg ThE bUsInEsS!1!!!11! WwE iS DoOmEd!!1!1!
Oh, please. What's gonna run him out of business? Cody Rhodes and the Young Bucks using two hours of TV time a week to fellate themselves? Sure, Jan.
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Post by TheLastDude on Oct 19, 2019 16:36:19 GMT -5
It's not like they hired Dave from Arby's. Meltzer?
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Post by marino13 on Oct 19, 2019 18:25:50 GMT -5
It's not like they hired Dave from Arby's. Meltzer? If they were smart... no.
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Post by TheLastDude on Oct 19, 2019 18:45:52 GMT -5
If they were smart... no.
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Post by rkmo: 9 Month Warning on Oct 19, 2019 19:09:23 GMT -5
It’ll be very interesting to hear Eric’s side of this story when he decides to speak on it. Listening to a bit of JR’s podcast with Conrad this week, Conrad mentioned that Eric seemed shocked by the firing. Eric also mentioned in the past that he didn’t need the job, but was excited for a new opportunity (which is why he and his wife moved to Stamford). I honestly feel that Eric was hired to be the fall guy. It was reported that he was mainly hired to be a liaison between the WWE and FOX, and that Vince was still in charge of final say in creative. We also know from Eric that his strong suit is production, and not managing talent. The wrestling observer also mentioned today that Eric would leave around 7pm each day rather than stay for Vince’s meetings that often go into the next morning (I don’t blame him as this is creating a healthy work/life balance, and working to 7pm is pretty late as it is). I honestly believe that there was nothing Eric could have done to save his job. Smackdown lost about 1 million viewers a week after its FOX debut, and Eric was used as a scape goat to show FOX that Vince is taking their deal “seriously.” The sad thing is that the rating drop was likely due to crap like jobbing Kofi so a washed up MMA fighter could take his spot, the HIAC fiasco, and this crappy draft (all of which I doubt Eric had anything to do with). Let’s also not forget that Vince advertised Stone Cold and Taker to appear on the FOX debut, only to tell them that night “hey, I don’t need you guys.” This is just further proof that Vince is killing this industry. Nah, Vince isn't killing the industry - just WWE. The industry is in the best position it's been in years, thanks to the internet making so many alternatives so much easier to access. AEW is living proof of it, considering it all came about because of a Youtube show and The Elite's success in NJPW/ROH. WWE is flatout lucky they were able to secure the USA and FOX deals, because without such lucrative TV contracts, the way they continue to spiral would be deeply concerning. The way Vince continues running things, they're on a collision course to become 2000 WCW fast. At the current rate of their ratings and attendance decline, RAW and SD could literally be on equal footing with AEW in viewers and attendance in 2-3 years. I wouldn't say WWE is poised to fall down as far as you state. WWE has a global reach and just enough of a foothold in pop culture to attract eyes to their product. That is always gonna provide some sort of positive numbers for them, no matter what the most passionate members of their audience thinks about it. Vince's way has almost always been what drove this company forward, with the exception of the mid 90's when stars he was relying went elsewhere and competitors highlighted a desire from the fans that he was otherwise oblivious to. I think it is important for the industry as a whole to see SD succeed on FOX. With a stigma of the industry already present, a failed venture on basic cable will only cast a vast veil of skepticism on every other promotion from the view of tv execs and deter any future deals of a wrestling company landing on a network.
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wheeljack83
Main Eventer
Joined on: Feb 16, 2018 23:52:48 GMT -5
Posts: 1,353
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Post by wheeljack83 on Oct 19, 2019 22:03:42 GMT -5
Bruce Prichard is also doing a terrible job and if recent weeks are any indication.
Going by the rumors from Meltzer and Alvarez, Prichard was basically the guy who was doing Bischoff's job already before he got fired.
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Post by cordless2016 on Oct 19, 2019 22:22:31 GMT -5
ViNcE iS kIlLiNg ThE bUsInEsS!1!!!11! WwE iS DoOmEd!!1!1! Oh, please. What's gonna run him out of business? Cody Rhodes and the Young Bucks using two hours of TV time a week to fellate themselves? Sure, Jan. Not the business in general, but he is helping to kill the WWE. It will never get out of the rut that it’s been in for the past 2 decades until he’s gone. For every step forward the WWE seems to take, Vince makes them take 6 steps back. There’s no denying that.
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Post by IRS on Oct 20, 2019 0:43:32 GMT -5
Nah, Vince isn't killing the industry - just WWE. The industry is in the best position it's been in years, thanks to the internet making so many alternatives so much easier to access. AEW is living proof of it, considering it all came about because of a Youtube show and The Elite's success in NJPW/ROH. WWE is flatout lucky they were able to secure the USA and FOX deals, because without such lucrative TV contracts, the way they continue to spiral would be deeply concerning. The way Vince continues running things, they're on a collision course to become 2000 WCW fast. At the current rate of their ratings and attendance decline, RAW and SD could literally be on equal footing with AEW in viewers and attendance in 2-3 years. I wouldn't say WWE is poised to fall down as far as you state. WWE has a global reach and just enough of a foothold in pop culture to attract eyes to their product. That is always gonna provide some sort of positive numbers for them, no matter what the most passionate members of their audience thinks about it. Vince's way has almost always been what drove this company forward, with the exception of the mid 90's when stars he was relying went elsewhere and competitors highlighted a desire from the fans that he was otherwise oblivious to. I think it is important for the industry as a whole to see SD succeed on FOX. With a stigma of the industry already present, a failed venture on basic cable will only cast a vast veil of skepticism on every other promotion from the view of tv execs and deter any future deals of a wrestling company landing on a network. I'm not saying they reach the point of going out of business - they have enough international TV deals and Saudi blood money to keep them afloat for a good long while - but I could see them struggling to find another major TV slot willing to take a chance on them. Especially if RAW's ratings keep plummeting on USA. Impact literally had to buy their whole channel to get a decent TV deal on AXS. They've already lost half their audience within a few years; I don't believe them falling to 1M in a couple years is unrealistic at all.
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Post by FLUX '97 on Oct 20, 2019 3:27:14 GMT -5
Bruce Prichard is also doing a terrible job and if recent weeks are any indication. Going by the rumors from Meltzer and Alvarez, Prichard was basically the guy who was doing Bischoff's job already before he got fired. Meltzer and Alvarez are on the AEW payroll so of course they're going to try and make WWE look like crap.
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Post by IRS on Oct 20, 2019 4:34:36 GMT -5
Bruce Prichard is also doing a terrible job and if recent weeks are any indication. Going by the rumors from Meltzer and Alvarez, Prichard was basically the guy who was doing Bischoff's job already before he got fired. Meltzer and Alvarez are on the AEW payroll so of course they're going to try and make WWE look like crap. WWE doesn't need Meltzer's help to look like crap.
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Deleted
Joined on: Apr 24, 2024 19:29:39 GMT -5
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Post by Deleted on Oct 20, 2019 16:36:17 GMT -5
They lost about another 400,000 this week. If they get down to the low two millions maybe Bruce gets the boot. If so I hope he does a "Something to Wrestle With" episode on Hell in a Cell 2019 right away!
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jking1979
Superstar
Joined on: Oct 3, 2019 20:00:02 GMT -5
Posts: 754
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Post by jking1979 on Oct 20, 2019 19:47:15 GMT -5
I don't want WWE or NWA to go out of business. I feel like Verne Gagne put AWA out of business with stupid decisions. He wouldn't even allow Hulk Hogan to be the world champion.
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Deleted
Joined on: Apr 24, 2024 19:29:39 GMT -5
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Post by Deleted on Oct 20, 2019 22:05:03 GMT -5
I don't want WWE or NWA to go out of business. I feel like Verne Gagne put AWA out of business with stupid decisions. He wouldn't even allow Hulk Hogan to be the world champion. The recent hell in a cell finish I would compare to Hogan winning the awa title, but then it got overturned. Vince is out of touch now(well for a long time really) like Verne was back then.
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wheeljack83
Main Eventer
Joined on: Feb 16, 2018 23:52:48 GMT -5
Posts: 1,353
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Post by wheeljack83 on Oct 21, 2019 12:17:56 GMT -5
Bruce Prichard is also doing a terrible job and if recent weeks are any indication. Going by the rumors from Meltzer and Alvarez, Prichard was basically the guy who was doing Bischoff's job already before he got fired. Meltzer and Alvarez are on the AEW payroll so of course they're going to try and make WWE look like crap. WWE had Meltzer out in LA for the Smackdown on FOX debut on their dime. What do you have to say to that?
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Post by cordless2016 on Oct 21, 2019 14:27:22 GMT -5
Since a few people brought up creative, anyone else see any similar parallels between the WWE today and WCW in 1999?
HIAC finish = Flair beating Hogan at Uncensored in a first blood steel cage match...via pinfall (both nonsensical finishes that made no sense)
Brock squashing Kofi with one move = Finger Poke of Doom (both matches were heavily promoted with fan interest hi for both Brock/Kofi and Nash/Goldberg until it became Nash/Hogan)
The “wildcard rule” = performers constantly going between WCW/NWO/Wolfpac (the rule is over, for now, but similar in that the brand split was literally dead for about six months due to everyone appearing on both brands)
Bischoff fired in 1999 due to low ratings = Bischoff fired in 2019 due to low ratings (obviously Eric was a fall guy this time, but it is still a parallel)
Seth on top = Nash in top (both guys were popular the previous year, yet terrible booking has made fans turn on Seth like they did with Nash in the Spring of 1999, yet both were the top champs)
Brock with the title = Hogan with the title (nobody wanted Hogan as champ in 1999, and nobody wants Brock as champ in 2019)
Reigns = Goldberg (both the true faces of the company yet booked in the midcard for most of the year/yes Reigns was booed for years but there’s no question he’s the true face over Seth, like Goldberg was over Hogan and Nash)
Obviously the WWE isn’t going under anytime soon, and some of these are stretches, but the parallels are similar. The recent trend of terrible booking has also seen droves of fans leaving the product, similar to late 1999 WCW.
We’ll see if Pritchard can do anything to stop this trend, but with Vince around I doubt it.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Oct 21, 2019 14:30:41 GMT -5
Since a few people brought up creative, anyone else see any similar parallels between the WWE today and WCW in 1999? HIAC finish = Flair beating Hogan at Uncensored in a first blood steel cage match...via pinfall (both nonsensical finishes that made no sense) Brock squashing Kofi with one move = Finger Poke of Doom (both matches were heavily promoted with fan interest hi for both Brock/Kofi and Nash/Goldberg until it became Nash/Hogan) The “wildcard rule” = performers constantly going between WCW/NWO/Wolfpac (the rule is over, for now, but similar in that the brand split was literally dead for about six months due to everyone appearing on both brands) Bischoff fired in 1999 due to low ratings = Bischoff fired in 2019 due to low ratings (obviously Eric was a fall guy this time, but it is still a parallel) Seth on top = Nash in top (both guys were popular the previous year, yet terrible booking has made fans turn on Seth like they did with Nash in the Spring of 1999, yet both were the top champs) Brock with the title = Hogan with the title (nobody wanted Hogan as champ in 1999, and nobody wants Brock as champ in 2019) Reigns = Goldberg (both the true faces of the company yet booked in the midcard for most of the year/yes Reigns was booed for years but there’s no question he’s the true face over Seth, like Goldberg was over Hogan and Nash) Obviously the WWE isn’t going under anytime soon, and some of these are stretches, but the parallels are similar. The recent trend of terrible booking has also seen droves of fans leaving the product, similar to late 1999 WCW. We’ll see if Pritchard can do anything to stop this trend, but with Vince around I doubt it. Maybe because I was 17 back then and am looking through nostalgic eyes, but wcw in 99 was better than wwe is today. As for Prichard, he booked WWF in 1995 so...
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