8 Questions regarding Karrion Kross & NXT

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You probably don't know the answers, and some of these are rhetorical, but maybe someone can provide insight or demand answers from WWE:

Did no one at RAW say, “This guy is NXT's undefeated champ & has beaten Finn Balor & the entire roster. He needs to be protected”?

Why did no one say that? 

Does anyone working on RAW pay any attention to NXT?

Did HHH say that ahead of time to Vince?

If someone said that, did Vince ignore them or job Kross out to spite them?

Did no one know NXT on USA promos hyping Kross would air during RAW?

Shouldn't USA Network be pissed?

How much does Samoa Joe regret re-signing & being thrust into this shit show?

I'll fire of a text message to Nick Khan and let you know when I get the answers.

Can AEW thank Raw?

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With a 1.15 average, AEW drew their 3rd best rating in company history. How much of that is a lineup that wasn't all that impressive on paper, and how much can we credit Raw for being a total dumpster fire after John Cena came out to collect his 2 sacks of cash? 

Bit of a stretch there.

The SmarK Rant for WWF Wrestling Challenge – 01.17.87

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The SmarK Rant for WWF Wrestling Challenge – 01.17.87

I find it continually fascinating that this show, which should fall into the wheelhouse of everyone reading, just doesn’t do very well in engagement or views, but WWF Superstars in 1993 knocks it out of the park every time.  Do I need more Finnish recipe jokes here?

Taped from Hershey, PA

Your hosts are Gorilla Monsoon & Bobby Heenan

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Blog of DOOM Daily News Update – 23rd July 2021

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S’up Bros and Brosettes!

We have finally reached Friday after a long warm week. Of course the rain is due to fall again here in England at the weekend, after it’s been sunny all week and I’ve been stuck inside working. We call that “Sods Law” over here in the UK. Yes, misery and disappointment are such an entrenched part of our lives that we have gone to the trouble of creating specific terms just to describe it.

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NXT UK – July 22, 2021

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NXT UK
Date: July 22, 2021
Location: BT Studios, London, England
Commentators: Andy Shepherd, Nigel McGuinness

This was supposed to be the big showdown between Walter and Ilja Dragunov but the injury bug struck, meaning the match has been postponed. Instead, we have to settle for Subculture challenging Pretty Deadly for the Tag Team Titles. I’d call it a downgrade but they can probably make it work. Let’s get to it.

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AEW Talent Raid

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Hey Scott- 

Are you shocked by the fact that more hasn't been done by the WWE to poach talent from AEW? I know everybody on the main roster are all on relatively new contracts, but I'm surprised Ben Carter is basically the only new guy with potential that they've swiped up. Kilynn King for one would be a perfect get to slow down AEW building their women's roster. 

Also, who are the WWE going to go after when their contracts are coming to a close? MJF obviously, probably Wardlow. I feel like the “war” between the two companies will really come to a head when the WWE are bringing in AEW guys. 

Who are they gonna go after, Jazz Hands Omega?  Like any of those geeks ever drew 1.13 million viewers and a 0.44 in the demo, AMIRITE?
(checks notes)
I stand corrected. 
Anyway, yeah, I think Wardlow ends up there, and I know MJF really wants to end up there as well and I think they'll both do well. 

Is NXT worth all the money being spent?

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Hi Scott,

Piggybacking the Vince hates NXT email, I wonder how much of the hate is due to how much red ink NXT creates?  I’m sure it’s pretty bad even with the USA deal considering how many people they have signed that don’t even appear on tv. 

Then you have AEW using Dark as their developmental system with much lower cost and commitment.  A development system where talent actually gets to work with established talent on the main roster and in front of crowds.  Which you would think identifies promising talent reasonably well. 

Do you think as part of the current cost cutting, does WWE adopt how AEW handles development?  Or is it one of those things where NXT is reasonably safe because it is HHH’s baby?

As I understand it, NXT is very cheap to produce and the talent makes peanuts, so the money that USA pays for it is more than enough to cover them. 

Impact, Indies, and Insanity: July 22, 2021

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IMPACT!  Havok and Rosemary give Fire ‘n’ Flava their Contractually Obligated Rematch(tm)!  David Finlay VI and Juice Robinson are back in town and taking on Ace Austin and Madman Fulton!  Six-person tag action sees Brian Myers, Sam Beale, and Tenille Dashwood face Matt Cardona, Jake Something, and Chelsea Green!  Ultimate X Fallout puts Chris Bey against Rohit Raju!  Petey Williams and Trey Miguel team up for a showcase match on the pre-show!  And what are Jay White and Mickie James doing in the Impact Zone?

(Two different things, clearly, but for some reason the idea of Mickie James in Bullet Club isn’t at all horrible now that I think about it.  If only New Japan had a women’s division.  Bullet Club in STARDOM maybe?)

One big even this INDIES weekend, and we cover it after the jump!

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Did losing the Wed. Night Wars make Vince hate NXT?

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Hey Scott — I don't mean to sound histrionic or anything, but the assumption going around now that Vince clearly doesn't care for NXT is kinda hard to argue when you look at all the evidence. Do you think at least part of the reason why was because they “lost” the Wednesday Night War? It feels to me like that would be something that would stick in Vince's craw.


He went from not really caring about it all that much to suddenly shoving it onto network TV (and having some of his fingerprints start showing up all over it) as soon as Dynamite was announced, and then after losing most of the ratings “battles” it suddenly gets pulled to a different night. A competition addict like Vince HAS to see that as a loss. Now Vince has no faith in NXT to make real starts and in his mind has to build them all over again from the ground up when he gets them. Thoughts?

-HUSS.

I think it’s a solid theory.  

Dark Side of the Ring Fan Made Episode

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Hi Scott,

My name is Justin Thorne and I am a LONG time reader of yours (How did I get this old?) that started at SummerSlam 2002. I don't follow current wrestling, but I definitely check the blog for  RAW Rants/Observer Recaps as I've been grinding through 1993-1997. That probably sounds masochistic, but it's to satisfy the inner wrestling historian in me, as I'm sure you understand. I also drop in to read rants of modern PPVs that are happening to see what's going on in the product and see if I want to get back in. (Spoiler: I haven't.)

In 2017, I asked if you'd share an episode of my web-series, The Following Announcement, which you DID, which was really incredible and I was super thankful for. You've definitely been an inspiration to look critically on television throughout the years and influenced me to try to create my own. I've decided to ask for another opportunity for a share, or even just your view/review, as my show, still at it 4 years later, just made an episode based on the Dark Side of the Ring format. I think it's among the best work we've done and if it doesn't hook you in 60 seconds, well, something something, two words for you, yadda.

Thanks, I'll be around no matter what. I post as Justin Michaels sometimes but I'm much more lurker than worker.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=evxYAtFJaFQ

Justin Thorne


PS Definitely watched DS9 a few years back with your reviews as a companion piece, killer stuff. 

No worries, best of luck!  

Vince’s biggest talent blunder

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Notwithstanding the Karrion Kross blunder that buried the entire NXT roster, which individual talent did Vince McMahon bungle or miss out on the most?
To be clear, Karrion sucks and I don’t give a shit about Vince bungling him, I just think it’s sad that NXT got buried like that.  
I think Moxley is the answer for modern history.  

YES! YES!…..Wait a minute..

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Now that Punk and Bryan has allegedly signed and after the insane pop they will both receive, can you stop and think who are they going to feud with on first arrival? Cody is the logical answer but it seems like all new signings go against him and after the initial win they will get, he goes over and just moves on. Kenny is tied up with Hangman, Jericho and MJF same deal. 


Moxley maybe? The options aren't that long

Punk vs MJF for the promo segments alone.  Who cares if they even have a match?   And I’d slot Daniel Bryan Danielson as Omega’s rebound feud after he drops the belts to Hangman. 

Blog of DOOM Daily News Update – 22nd July 2021

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Holy Fudge Balls, it’s still warm as heck here in Merry Ol’ Blighty!

Dynamite was a fun show last night, with a hot crowd helping make up for some of the weaker in-ring matches and the show in general just breezing by. It’s just darn nice to have a wrestling show to watch every week that reminds me of why I actually like wrestling to begin with.

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Monday Night Raw – February 19, 2007

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Monday Night Raw
Date: February 19, 2007
Location: Rabobank Arena, Bakersfield, California
Attendance: 8,000
Commentators: Jim Ross, Jerry Lawler

We’re done with No Way Out and that means we have less than six weeks to go before Wrestlemania XXIII. The main events are set but we still need a bit more of the card to come together. That means we could be in for something good tonight, which will likely not include another appearance from Donald Trump. Let’s get to it.

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Dynamite – July 21, 2021

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Dynamite
Date: July 21, 2021
Location: Curtis Culwell Center, Garland, Texas
Commentators: Excalibur, Tony Schiavone, Jim Ross

It’s another special show this week with Fyter Fest Night Two, headlined by the IWGP United States Title Texas Deathmatch between Jon Moxley and Lance Archer. The recent shows have been pretty good as of late and I’m curious to see how well they can keep it up. Odds are they will, as they tend to do. Let’s get to it.

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The S.T.F’n Wednesday Night Thread (7/21/21)

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ARE YOU READY FOR THE SUMMER OF CENA?!

Are you tired of WWE trying to endlessly milk your nostalgia for every penny to distract you from the fact that their current product is hit or miss at best?!

Do you like headline stories with NO relevant information?!

Then welcome to the Blog Of Doom. I’m PMH, one letter stands for Paul, the others don’t. CM Punk may be headed to AEW, and tonight, Dynamite has night 2 of the Fyter Fest! Britt Baker and The Mox will defend their titles, and Chris Jericho will get hit with a chair numerous times! (Don’t tell Mick Foley)

I think I accidentally stole my “get to it” line from Tommy Hall. Doomers, I need a new go-home line… winner gets an authentic near mint Marvel No Prize.

Excelsior!

CM Punk — a “legend?”

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Obviously Punk's return to the ring would be a big story, and he's had an impressive career. But Twitter's trending topics right now refers to him as “WWE legend CM Punk.” A bit strong, no?

He’s not even a WWE Hall of Famer and has he even HAD a Wrestlemania Moment?  Pshaw!  Fooferaw!  
Of course he’s a legend.  He lives rent free in the minds of thousands of chanting idiot fans.