ColePens
RIP Fugu Buffaloed & parabola
We all agree this is one of the craziest times in wrestling in a very very very long while. So let's predict, horribly, how it will all end. Simple rules here. Just predict how YOU THINK this all goes promotion by promotion. Who will stay on TV? Who will thrive? Who will prevail? What is the longevity?
WWE: Saudi + TV Deals - locked in. Smackdown/Raw will prevail for years to come. Safe. They have driven so many wrestling fans away and still ended up landing monster deals. These guys are beyond safe.
NXT: I think USA will eventually see 500-750k ratings and not want the show. It will go back to WWE Network in 1-2 years. NXT is my absolute favorite wrestling promotion but the over-saturation of wrestling on TV is astounding. There is no way it will spread evenly for everyone to make profit. NXT/Evolve will eventually become a Network premium thing.
AEW: I think AEW will have TNA-like staying power with similar TNA-like numbers for a good while. The difference will be that they won't make the ultimate TNA mistakes and burn it all down when they have something good. The one good thing is they have solid relationships with TNT that are supportive right now. If something goes down where they lose the TV deal, then that is where I feel they flounder around like TNA, moving place to place, and staying in that 1-2m viewership range.
When I say TNA, don't associate it with the joke TNA became. They were building something VERY sustainable before they TNA'd themselves.
NJPW: My absolute DREAM for NJPW is that they team with AEW to somehow create a powerhouse. Let NJPW do their thing in Japan but the North America plans just basically become joint venture. That is the absolute true way to rock the boat against WWE. But instead I think they'll stay true to themselves and that's it. It will consistently be what NJPW always is. I personally think the NJPW boom period is over, but it's going to soar through consistency. I would be shocked if they expanded to NA as they once thought they quickly were going to do.
TNA: They've been dead to me for years. Kudos to them for staying afloat and by many numerous accounts actually has been decent. I would imagine they buy ROH and will never fully die.
WWE: Saudi + TV Deals - locked in. Smackdown/Raw will prevail for years to come. Safe. They have driven so many wrestling fans away and still ended up landing monster deals. These guys are beyond safe.
NXT: I think USA will eventually see 500-750k ratings and not want the show. It will go back to WWE Network in 1-2 years. NXT is my absolute favorite wrestling promotion but the over-saturation of wrestling on TV is astounding. There is no way it will spread evenly for everyone to make profit. NXT/Evolve will eventually become a Network premium thing.
AEW: I think AEW will have TNA-like staying power with similar TNA-like numbers for a good while. The difference will be that they won't make the ultimate TNA mistakes and burn it all down when they have something good. The one good thing is they have solid relationships with TNT that are supportive right now. If something goes down where they lose the TV deal, then that is where I feel they flounder around like TNA, moving place to place, and staying in that 1-2m viewership range.
When I say TNA, don't associate it with the joke TNA became. They were building something VERY sustainable before they TNA'd themselves.
NJPW: My absolute DREAM for NJPW is that they team with AEW to somehow create a powerhouse. Let NJPW do their thing in Japan but the North America plans just basically become joint venture. That is the absolute true way to rock the boat against WWE. But instead I think they'll stay true to themselves and that's it. It will consistently be what NJPW always is. I personally think the NJPW boom period is over, but it's going to soar through consistency. I would be shocked if they expanded to NA as they once thought they quickly were going to do.
TNA: They've been dead to me for years. Kudos to them for staying afloat and by many numerous accounts actually has been decent. I would imagine they buy ROH and will never fully die.
