Author Topic: WWE Network Cancellation Page Crashes After Rumble (Read 5052 times)

Zandrax · « **Reply #25 on:** January 27, 2015, 04:35:40 PM »

In a hilarious moment of spin, they issued a press release claiming subscribers topped 1 million.

RickRude · « **Reply #26 on:** January 27, 2015, 04:49:33 PM »

Or you can just have Lesnar go over and Rollins cash in so you don't ruin Reigns' first title with a crowd that isn't happy. Or, you can bury the match in the middle of the card and end the night with Bryan, Ambrose, etc. going over who the crowd will be super hot for.

I've had a lot of little ideas running through my mind that don't have enough cohesion. Like you said, a double turn where Reigns goes heel and Rollins becomes a face should definitely be on the table.

I don't have an exact plan for it, but the biggest catalyst to all of this would be Cena joining the Authority. There is a certain perfection to it if it's done right. Think of when Rocky joined the Corporation. The fans were finding him stale, and he found a new gear to his character that made him interesting again, and translated well when he went back to being a face afterwards. Rock didn't need the wins, and Cena is far removed from needing them to stay "over." The symmetry is beautiful.

So, why would Cena join? That's the plot device I can't quite put together. It's certainly a bit of if you can't beat them, join them, but it seems deeper than that. There's some elements creeping into Cena's promos where he seems to be acknowledging the fans mistreatment of him. The Raw before RR I saw some of this. He can claim they blamed him for getting three guys fired even though he went out of his way to protect them all and get their jobs back. He can talk about how no one has his back any more but he knows the Authority will do whatever it takes to make sure they all stay on top. Cena joining opens up Ziggler/Ambrose/Bryan/Sting vs. Cena/Rollins/Rusev/HHH mix and matching, which could overshadow Lesnar vs. Reigns for a WM main event. Personally, I'd go for Ziggler/Bryan/Sting vs. Cena/Rollins/HHH to get things going, and then build from there.

If you want to move Rollins to face, him turning on the Authority for taking in Cena when he is "the Future" is more than enough reason for them to have issues with each other. Reigns could move to heel without going into the Authority itself, and you could build towards the inevitable Shield three-way dance at SummerSlam independent of the Authority stuff as they continue their program with Bryan, Ziggler, Sting, and even Ryback if need be.

Yes, I know they'll never turn Cena heel

EDGECRUSHER · « **Reply #27 on:** January 27, 2015, 06:40:50 PM »

Quote from: Zandrax on January 27, 2015, 04:35:40 PM

In a hilarious moment of spin, they issued a press release claiming subscribers topped 1 million.

There are so many ways to read this. 1 Million currently, or 1 Million total despite being one and done cancellations?

How many actually pay $10 a month for more than one month and how many sign up every now and then for a big PPV? This is their data, they can spin it however they like.

Torgo · « **Reply #28 on:** January 27, 2015, 06:47:41 PM »

Quote from: EDGECRUSHER on January 27, 2015, 01:30:19 PM

Then Rollins will cash in his briefcase soon after and become a massive face by default.

I didn't think of that but if they do it I'd have the biggest chub. Holy Christ.

RealMarchHare · « **Reply #29 on:** January 27, 2015, 06:55:43 PM »

You know I was thinking this morning that the best thing they can probably due at this point would be have Reigns beat Lesnar but Rollins cashes in to get the title. He would get cheered so hard. Have him then start cutting promo's about he delivered what the universe wanted and how The Authority has the best interest of the fans at heart. Meanwhile, Reigns is furious at him and starts going after him. If done right Rollins will be the Face at first but have him remain smug and get to the point where people despise him (think Bryan when he got the WHC at first). By the end the crowd should be cheering for Reigns to end Rollins run

FreebirdSTF · « **Reply #30 on:** January 27, 2015, 07:40:52 PM »

Zandrax, I don't really get your spin comment. What are the spinning exactly?

http://variety.com/2015/digital/news/wwe-network-reaches-1-million-subscriber-milestone-1201416286/

FreebirdSTF · « **Reply #31 on:** January 27, 2015, 07:43:34 PM »

Quote from: RealMarchHare on January 27, 2015, 06:55:43 PM

You know I was thinking this morning that the best thing they can probably due at this point would be have Reigns beat Lesnar but Rollins cashes in to get the title. He would get cheered so hard. Have him then start cutting promo's about he delivered what the universe wanted and how The Authority has the best interest of the fans at heart. Meanwhile, Reigns is furious at him and starts going after him. If done right Rollins will be the Face at first but have him remain smug and get to the point where people despise him (think Bryan when he got the WHC at first). By the end the crowd should be cheering for Reigns to end Rollins run

I hope this wasn't mentioned on page 1, but someone on Reddit's Squared Circle said you should basically do the Fingerpoke of Doom with Lesnar and Reigns which allows the mercenary Lesnar to go do whatever and leaves Reigns paired with Heyman as your new heel champ. Rollins cashes in and then you've got a default babyface and go from there with Rollins walking out as champ. That's not a bad idea at all and unlike the actual Fingerpoke of Doom you're giving the fans a good moment (new face champ Seth Rollins undoing Heyman and Reigns' plot).

Works for me.

RealMarchHare · « **Reply #32 on:** January 27, 2015, 08:09:40 PM »

That sounds really good except that Reigns is supposed to be the new Cena XD

EDGECRUSHER · « **Reply #33 on:** January 27, 2015, 08:13:16 PM »

Quote from: FreebirdSTF on January 27, 2015, 07:40:52 PM

Zandrax, I don't really get your spin comment. What are the spinning exactly?

http://variety.com/2015/digital/news/wwe-network-reaches-1-million-subscriber-milestone-1201416286/

I don't know what they are spinning, but the timing is curious.

Of course, that 1 Million number can be doctored and massaged more than the Obamacare numbers. 1 Million subscribers who subscribe every month? 1 Million following a big PPV that then cancel the following week? 1 Million total? Even counting people who subscribe every now and then for big shows?

I'd be surprised if it's a legit 1 Million because that's a third of the people who watch Raw.

freud mayweather · « **Reply #34 on:** January 27, 2015, 08:17:37 PM »

i wonder what the number was at the day before the royal rumble.

EDGECRUSHER · « **Reply #35 on:** January 27, 2015, 08:22:44 PM »

Article says it includes the number for AFTER the Rumble, but I think that's horseshit. No doubt the number was much higher the day of and lower the day after, no reason to believe they would go with the lower number. Especially considering the fast turnaround and reporting to the press.

FATSEXY · « **Reply #36 on:** January 27, 2015, 08:39:15 PM »

Stroud has laid out the perfect scenario: Rollins knows Brock is too much, The Authority dumps Rollins for Brock and Heyman. Rollins says "You'll regret this." And then he leaves.

Reigns/Lesnar. Good match. No DQ. Reigns almost wins, Triple H does some fuckery.

Sierra Hotel Indigo Echo Lima Delta

The fucking Shield fucking shows up and fucking numbers games everyone to death. Reigns wins.

And then Rollins immediately double crosses them again to take the title.

That is amazing. Way to go, B Stroud.

I might tweak it and have Rollins do the Fingerpoke to win and establish that he was the Flair of The Shield all along, so you can keep them together. Man I miss the fuckin Shield.

FreebirdSTF · « **Reply #37 on:** January 27, 2015, 09:14:04 PM »

Jersey Boy mentioned this on Twitter but WWE is publicly traded so they can't just dream up that number. Sure they can massage it and spin it to a degree, but they've got something factual to back it up. I'm sure they were eager to share this milestone due to #CancelWWENetwork but other than that I'm not really clear on what the spin is here.

EDGECRUSHER · « **Reply #38 on:** January 27, 2015, 09:38:14 PM »

Yeah, the factual number could be that YES, we have had 1 Million subscribers. Cumulative. It would be very surprising if they right now had 1 Million paying customers as of today.

If they really hit their goal, there wouldn't be rumors that they are about to give away February for free too after they just gave November away for free.

freud mayweather · « **Reply #39 on:** January 27, 2015, 11:54:27 PM »

1,000,684 was the number from today. what i want to know is, what was the number three days ago before the #CancelWWENetwork shit popped off. they coulda lost a few thousand customers in that time.

FreebirdSTF · « **Reply #40 on:** January 28, 2015, 08:43:28 AM »

This is what I'm getting at. The number (a snapshot at whatever time they chose) was over a million subscribers. How volatile it is or will be, I have no idea. What I find interesting is that with the addition of the international markets and Royal Rumble airing, why people have such a hard time believing that the number is accurate. It may dip significantly next month, but it's pretty clear what they are saying the number is. I'm seeing more spin from people questioning the number than WWE honestly.

FreebirdSTF · « **Reply #41 on:** January 28, 2015, 08:46:26 AM »

Quote from: FATSEXY on January 27, 2015, 08:39:15 PM

Stroud has laid out the perfect scenario: Rollins knows Brock is too much, The Authority dumps Rollins for Brock and Heyman. Rollins says "You'll regret this." And then he leaves.

Reigns/Lesnar. Good match. No DQ. Reigns almost wins, Triple H does some fuckery.

Sierra Hotel Indigo Echo Lima Delta

The fucking Shield fucking shows up and fucking numbers games everyone to death. Reigns wins.

And then Rollins immediately double crosses them again to take the title.

That is amazing. Way to go, B Stroud.

I might tweak it and have Rollins do the Fingerpoke to win and establish that he was the Flair of The Shield all along, so you can keep them together. Man I miss the fuckin Shield.

Rollins turning again would be a turn too many. The scenario I posted from Reddit above is better than Stroud's idea in part because you don't have Rollins do the double-cross immediately.

There's also a chance that we are just being entirely too negative about this whole thing and that they can get Reigns some momentum heading into Mania. Thursday's SmackDown/RAW/whatever they call it will be very interesting in that regard.

EDGECRUSHER · « **Reply #42 on:** January 28, 2015, 07:49:44 PM »

Quote from: FreebirdSTF on January 28, 2015, 08:43:28 AM

This is what I'm getting at. The number (a snapshot at whatever time they chose) was over a million subscribers. How volatile it is or will be, I have no idea. What I find interesting is that with the addition of the international markets and Royal Rumble airing, why people have such a hard time believing that the number is accurate. It may dip significantly next month, but it's pretty clear what they are saying the number is. I'm seeing more spin from people questioning the number than WWE honestly.

Because this is the WWE and they are in the business of being liars. The number just seems inflated because that's 1/3rd of the RAW audience and it would be a surprise if every month they have 1 Million people spending $9.99.

Of course, if the number dips down to 700,000 for Fast Lane, then it would appear the number just goes high for the bigger shows. I imagine it will be a goodamount over 1 Million for Wrestlemania, no matter how fucking dogshit that show is looking.

FreebirdSTF · « **Reply #43 on:** January 28, 2015, 09:25:25 PM »

I have no idea if they hit it every month but that wasn't what was reported either. They said they hit a million subscribers and they did. It may have been a spike that won't last, but that's what I mean. I have no reason to doubt the number as it was presented.

EDGECRUSHER · « **Reply #44 on:** January 28, 2015, 10:19:57 PM »

Then you are a fool, Freebird!

Or not. I'm just curious as to whether they have 1 Million subscribers right nor or a cumulative total. With the new overseas markets, I think a Million now is more possible than I thought earlier.

FreebirdSTF · « **Reply #45 on:** January 29, 2015, 08:19:25 AM »

It's not a cumulative total. It was a snapshot at the time they announced it. How much it will fluctuate month-to-month is another discussion, but as of that day they had over 1,000,000 current, active subscribers.

They probably announced Sting's appearance at Fast Lane hoping they could keep that number up instead of cratering between the Rumble and Mania too.

FreebirdSTF · « **Reply #46 on:** January 29, 2015, 08:23:33 AM »

Someone posted this on the other wrestling message board I frequent from Dave Meltzer. Hope this helps.

Quote

Regarding the #Cancelwwenetwork hashtag trending, per the Wrestling Observer:

"Yes, as noted with the press release on the main page and as discussed by Dave and Bryan in a members-only breaking news audio update (subscribe here), WWE Network has passed the 1 million subscriber mark, and yes, it's a current number.

While yes, if this is a count of active subcriptions, then this is including people who cancelled after the Rumble unless their subs were up anyway, I think this is a good reason to remind everyone that trending on Twitter doesn't mean that much. Case in point: As #CancelWWENetwork started to trend, the Trendinalia account tweeted that a tweet of mine that mentioned the hashtag was the most influential in it trending in the U.S. How many retweets causes this? 75. Yes, seventy-five. It built up more steam and trended worldwide, but. . ."

Further down in the thread someone noted that after Mania last year about 1/3 of people unsubscribed.

FATSEXY · « **Reply #47 on:** January 29, 2015, 08:42:45 AM »

Da Meltz: "Subscribe now, also I am the most influential."

Fuck Da Meltz.

FreebirdSTF · « **Reply #48 on:** January 29, 2015, 08:54:16 AM »

Pump them brakes, son.

Freakshow · « **Reply #49 on:** January 29, 2015, 09:08:43 AM »

every...damn...time

Loved the World Title Match, remembers a time when the Rumble was just a dumb gimmick match, loves Daniel Bryan but doesn't take personal offense when the booking doesn't go my way.

Somehow, it's the end of the world. Again.