Are Saudi shows the worst mainstream wrestling of all time?
Oct 25, 2024 7:46:13 GMT -5
Liquid Swordsman likes this
Post by TKO Propagandist on Oct 25, 2024 7:46:13 GMT -5
Aside from the moral standpoint/disgusting promotional tactics. I must ask are the WWE Saudi Arabia shows the worst showcase of mainstream wrestling in history?
The crowds are non existent. In the past they have been pre-paid, bought shows where empty seats were visible on camera. Meanwhile the noise the legitimate fans in attendance make is very poor especially by non-domestic crowd standards.
The actual wrestling speaks for itself. As Saudi shows have won the Wrestling Observer Newsletter worst major wrestling show award 4 times. Including 3 in the Saudi shows first 3 years of running PLEs. With the 2018 Crown Jewel & Greatest Royal Rumble events being neck & neck for the two worst of said year.
Ask yourself what are some of the immediate memories you have from these shows? Titus O'Neil slipping on his way to the ring? The DX vs Brothers of Destruction botchfest? The WWE roster being held hostage on the runway?
The stakes are minimal. Every year WWE tries to give the show a gimmick to make it seem more than the glorified live event that it is. These gimmicks are often quickly forgotten about as the months, weeks, even days progress. These gimmicks actually inforce the low stakes reputation these events have. They are simply a one day thing to the give the show somesort of meaning on the night. It will not matter as soon as the show goes off the air. By the same token, what might you have missed had you never tuned into these shows? What sensational returns took place here? What OMG, this is awesome moment that will be played in highlight packages for years & decades to come happened here?
Don't even compare the Saudi PLEs to the UK exclusive PPVs back in the day. These UK shows were not advertised nor even mentioned on non UK feeds of RAW & Smackdown. Yet still, these shows had hot crowds & their own unique appeal. Also if you were a fan from the US or a non UK country, you could pickup these shows on VHS or DVD months later. Meaning you would get to tune into a extra show you'd never seen or perhaps even heard about with all your favorite wrestlers on it. And this would be on top of the weekly shows & PPVs you were aready watching every week/month. Unlike the Saudi shows, the UK PPVS were as a pleasant bonus as opposed to an unwelcomed hinderance.
If there is two events you do not need to watch on the WWE calendar, then it is both annual Saudi shows. RAW & Smackdown provide storyline progression, so they are important to watch. Infact, I advise you all, do not watch the upcoming Crown Jewel event. Simply tune into RAW two days later. You will have saved yourself valuable hours & won't have missed a thing. RAW will fill you into anything you did miss (which won't be much). Then by the time Smackdown ends on Friday, these Saudi shows will be completely forgotten about until we repeat this cycle six months later.
The crowds are non existent. In the past they have been pre-paid, bought shows where empty seats were visible on camera. Meanwhile the noise the legitimate fans in attendance make is very poor especially by non-domestic crowd standards.
The actual wrestling speaks for itself. As Saudi shows have won the Wrestling Observer Newsletter worst major wrestling show award 4 times. Including 3 in the Saudi shows first 3 years of running PLEs. With the 2018 Crown Jewel & Greatest Royal Rumble events being neck & neck for the two worst of said year.
Ask yourself what are some of the immediate memories you have from these shows? Titus O'Neil slipping on his way to the ring? The DX vs Brothers of Destruction botchfest? The WWE roster being held hostage on the runway?
The stakes are minimal. Every year WWE tries to give the show a gimmick to make it seem more than the glorified live event that it is. These gimmicks are often quickly forgotten about as the months, weeks, even days progress. These gimmicks actually inforce the low stakes reputation these events have. They are simply a one day thing to the give the show somesort of meaning on the night. It will not matter as soon as the show goes off the air. By the same token, what might you have missed had you never tuned into these shows? What sensational returns took place here? What OMG, this is awesome moment that will be played in highlight packages for years & decades to come happened here?
Don't even compare the Saudi PLEs to the UK exclusive PPVs back in the day. These UK shows were not advertised nor even mentioned on non UK feeds of RAW & Smackdown. Yet still, these shows had hot crowds & their own unique appeal. Also if you were a fan from the US or a non UK country, you could pickup these shows on VHS or DVD months later. Meaning you would get to tune into a extra show you'd never seen or perhaps even heard about with all your favorite wrestlers on it. And this would be on top of the weekly shows & PPVs you were aready watching every week/month. Unlike the Saudi shows, the UK PPVS were as a pleasant bonus as opposed to an unwelcomed hinderance.
If there is two events you do not need to watch on the WWE calendar, then it is both annual Saudi shows. RAW & Smackdown provide storyline progression, so they are important to watch. Infact, I advise you all, do not watch the upcoming Crown Jewel event. Simply tune into RAW two days later. You will have saved yourself valuable hours & won't have missed a thing. RAW will fill you into anything you did miss (which won't be much). Then by the time Smackdown ends on Friday, these Saudi shows will be completely forgotten about until we repeat this cycle six months later.
