uklaw

In the immediacy, it appears the 'Big' winner out of all this is John Gaburick. More or less on the outs since his part in the attempt to sell the library to WWE last year (thus probably killing the company) was revealed, he's now the Head of Creative. With Scott D'Amore and Sonjay Dutt as his writers (I can't recall what the status of Dutch is).

It's curious because the show has been written and taped through 2nd November so, if we take the Anthem version at its highest then Jeff Jarrett could be back in time for Bound For Glory, thus not much changes.

But seeing as most of us can guess this will likely become a permanent change, if it seems that Gaburick is now back in increasing power creatively, that may mean the end of Dutch and Jim Cornette, who are, for lack of a better term, Jarrett's guys.

The specifics are different but the basic narrative could be repeated: Jeff Jarrett removed by his boss, and out go his closest and most loyal friends. It's 2009 all over again. 

As for the Sports Illustrated angle regarding Anthem possibly wanting to offload the company, if that proves to be even remotely accurate, this revelation has destabilised the company once again, and with Billy Corgan buying the NWA, the only beneficiary I can see this time is WWE...

As for the suggestion that Anthem could lose the GFW name because they hadn't finalised signing the ownership of the name before rebranding the company for the 2nd time year, that would show staggering silliness. Haven't Anthem nearly fallen foul of this with WOS Wrestling? Running a press conference and organising TV tapings when the deal with ITV & WOS hadn't even been finalised.

1 hour ago, The King Of Swing said:

Was hoping for an Omega victory, but it was Naito's year. What a match.

The though of Omega becoming just another 50/50 Superstar terrifies me.

Anyone else see Kevin giving Rocky directions during the main event? After the middle rope kneck breaker, you could clearly see him signal "three" to Rocky who immediately starts talking about it being the third kneck breaker. Funny little distraction.

Killer Elite Squad returning was also a good moment. Suzuki-gun is actually a pretty stacked faction.

Thinking back to yesterday's show is Taichi the only heel in the promotion that actually gets crowd heat?

The Suzuki and Big Mike showdown was pretty great.

I've always been a peripheral watcher of New Japan up until this year (barring the Big Events) but it absolutely appeals to my current sensibilities as a wrestling fan of nearly 30 years and I'm hooked.

Even the weakest of the G1 shows were above much of everything else in wrestling at present. 

The various threads and issues developing throughout the 19 shows were a joy. Even the 'inconsequential' strands like Suzuki abusing the Young Lions/Boys. Even though we all knew the Young Lions were on a hiding to nothing when it eventually happened, I appreciated that they were largely kept out of the same ring/match as Minoru Suzuki until Night 17. 

And the journey of Yuji Nagata in his final G1, causing even the 'baddest' of the Bullet Club to respect him at the end.

And the number of stars created and elevated, namely EVIL and Juice Robinson. And what a brilliant personal story we are seeing for the latter, badly developed by the system and possibly a poor attitude by him, destroyed by the entitled numb-nuts at Full Sail, and requesting his release, disillusioned with the art form he loves. Goes to Japan, presents himself to the Dojo, shaves his head and starts again as a young boy. And the rest is history. I suspect WWE will want him back at some point, but the question is if he'll want to go back. 

Not forgetting Zack Sabre Jr who looks like he may be in for more than just a short-term push, having tapped Tanahashi twice over this series and tying Ishii in knots on Night 18. 

And what I like also is there is a fairly clear direction coming out of it in terms of shows later this year, potential challengers both this year and at WK12 as well as the fact that Suzuki-Gun are going to cause no end of trouble going forward. 

And I shouldn't be entertained by Yano, but I can't help it. I do have a feeling he will be made to pay for what he did to Suzuki on Night 18.

And I did notice Kevin Kelly feeding Romero that line after the neckbreaker spot. Real professional. Unlike many, I actually rate him. 

EDIT: Actually, never mind.

Really enjoyed the show. What it does show is they need to set up camp elsewhere. Whether they were 'cast' members or plants or not, the India crowd have shown up what a wet bunch the Impact Zone crowd are. Particularly irritating are those trio of people facing the camera slightly to the left who at each show are openly engaging in full blown conversations, turning from the match or doing everything they can to show they aren't intetested in something. It's particularly noticeable during the X Division match. What are they even doing there?

What the event also proved was how much Jeremy Borash should be credited for (certainly the production aspect of) the Broken Universe set-pieces and mini films. I can't believe how much of a kick I got from that tag match. Having the crowd mic'd up was a good idea as well.

20 minutes ago, IANdrewDiceClay said:

Whatever you do, dont go on the TVGuide website looking for the describtion for this PPV. For some reason, they've been given a soap opera like summery giving away some of the results. Like ITV do for Emmerdale:

"There's a surprise instore for Zak when Marlon gives him food poisoning. And Pearl is shocked to find Paddy in bed with Carly."

I've seen it 🙈

It appears to be for the post-Slammiversary Impact, but it seems it's been accidentally transposed to the description of Slammiversary.

That or the TVGuide has simply published what the company has given them by way of preview for this coming week. Whatever the name of the company, they can't catch a break, whether it's their own doing or not.

Edit: Never mind, it's in the general news thread.

I'd not known that Jim Cornette had offered $5000 to fight you-know-who (again) until I became aware of this response.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=JDsq3wn9_X0&feature=youtu.be

Oops, wrong 'doesn't deserve a thread' thread... 😳

Some wrestling fans (especially promotion die-hards) never cease to amaze. 

In seeing the various ways the story has been covered (some sites with a definitive tone and some adopting a 'let's see if it comes off' approach) and fan responses, one thing that struck me is that many of the Impact Wrestling loyalists are saying that the company should try to get in on any deal that may be finalised.

Said in a way that in getting in on this, Impact can be the ones primarily to benefit by cherry picking more rated NWA talent and Anthem can acquire more content for the Fight Network.

This being the same Impact fansites that laughed and mocked Corgan when the lawsuit didn't go his way and he was bought out, signaling his exit. The numerous injections of cash, more or less saving the company, completely forgotten about. Granted, the period he drove creative was weaker than the Jan-Bound For Glory period that preceded it. 

I'm not saying that getting into bed with Anthem/Impact is a good or bad idea (as nothing is signed and no-one knows what any initial steps would be) but it's just interesting that some of those fans who couldn't wait to push him out of the door at the end of 2016 with glee are, without irony, seeing how their beloved can make from this.

Of course, there are people who scoff now and say it will all end in tears. It may do. This is Billy Corgan's third go around when it comes to investment and trying to control a wrestling company (and the first time he could fully control one). 

And, to a lesser degree, those who question the point of all this if there is no TV (or online platform, similar to Amazon, Netflix or Hulu). 

As I said, I just found the reaction of the Impact fan base interesting and rather funny. What would be even more funny is if this all ends up on a higher profile, more prominent station than POP TV in America. 

Well, he was a couple of months out but he did say in one of his immediate post-lawsuit interviews that by the first quarter of 2017, we'd know what he had planned in wrestling.

If the purchase is successful (and perhaps this news item should have saved, if possible, until it was totally complete) it would, at the very least, put eyes on the NWA for the first time in a while.

As for what could happen after is anyone's guess but I imagine clues would lay in any interviews he gave before and after the lawsuit as to what he would have done with TNA (most specifically the media aspect). If memory serves me, didn't he say he had media outlets/platforms at the ready to partner with him had he successfully bought TNA? Outlets that otherwise wouldn't have touched them with a bargepole.

I have a small feeling he wouldn't enter this kind of deal if:

1) he didn't have a group in mind to be the cetralised, main NWA TV promotion or plans to form one and

2) there wasn't a TV deal/show in the offing, either in principle verbally or a on the table subject to 'superstar' musician (to what degree these days is subjective) being in control.

Otherwise, the above is totally wrong and he'll show his hand as and when, surprising or/and causing us to put our faces in our hands.

http://www.prowrestlingsheet.com/deal-lucha-underground-impact-aaa/#.WPf5_73TWEd

 

If true, let's see who Impact want to use (if anyone) or perhaps more pertinently, who wants to appear on the shows. 

Any relation to Hector?

His nephew, I read somewhere.

They're still finding their feet but this week was infinitely watchable. Certainly easier to get through than any show after Bound For Glory. Even if there were only 3 official matches. Offset by the fact that each was given a decent amount of time.

 

The stories (or the way Jarrett/Dutch want them told) are slowly starting to take shape.

 

I don't think the show was much more than good but I think as Slanmiversay starts to take shape (I'm guessing next tapings onwards after these tapings appear to be about re-setting the table) I think there may be a greater response to this version of Impact Wrestling.

Honestly might have been a gift from the gods, this place going down over the last couple of days. Best possible timing.

Totally agreed. And yes, the 'smarks' in the crowds in the run up to Wrestlemania, at the show, and on the RAW after are going to cause a lot of headache for the wrestlers, staff and the sound editors.

There's the expression, don't get mad, get even.

Reby Hardy is more "don't just get mad, get creative and get paid"

 

http://www.pwinsider.com/article/108360/the-hardys-have-one-of-the-best-tshirts-ever-for-sale.html?p=1

https://www.reddit.com/r/SquaredCircle/comments/5yvz2w/looking_at_intellectual_property_clauses_in/

 

Interesting thread on Reddit. Regarding IP laws in wrasslin'.

Intesresting read and it basically confirms what some of us know. Legally, Anthem hold all the cards. A fact the others parties obviously know, otherwise ROH would not have junked the Broken Gimmick on the PPV. Dish Network dropping the event at the 11th hour was unfortunate and will reflect badly on Anthem/Impact in the court of public opinion- a phrase I used in my previous post and a phrase used in this blog post by Jason Powell.

 

http://prowrestling.net/site/2017/03/11/powells-blog-f-tna/

 

And this is Jason Powell, who more than some of the others, was fair to TNA, barren years, stuff ups and all.

 

I genuinely think this 'bad guy and spoiler of pro wrestling' role Anthem have been cast as over the past day or so will reflect negatively on the coverage Impact shows and events receive going forward, even if (as spoilers suggest) the product gets better in this period of moving the chess pieces.

 

It seems whatever the name, the good on-screen is offset by something off-screen that clouds everything. Last year, it was the best, most consistently written product since 2012, in my view, that many can't recall due to the behind the scenes stuff.

 

And the next 4-5 weeks of what could be better television than Thursday will be likely ignored or subject to negative comments about the company. If you see a door with a dodgy lock and you respond by simply painting it a different colour, the lock is still dodgy.

Goodness me

Congratulations. Indeed it is nice to read about good things. It gives us eternal singletons and hopeless daters a kick up the backside.

 

On that note, after feeling like I was wasting my time, and other stuff kicking in, I backed off from the online dating for 2 months and had my first date after that period this week.... And it's normal services resumed. Lol. After good chat on the app (I seem to get that right) we meet, and something just 'goes' and that's the end of it.

 

I'll get it right soon, or as luck/Sod's law would have it, come off the online dating and immediately meet someone walking down the street, thus rendering the last 8 months totally pointless

Apparently, ROH and all PPV providers carrying the ROH 15th Anniversary Show tonight have received legal notices regarding the Broken Universe also.

 

Oh dear, when Anthem's ('take-no-prisoners') approach to business is now viewed as a negative (after the die-hards, you know where, have praised them for their hardline and how they dealt with the contract offers and question of creative control).

 

At least in the court of public opinion, even if Anthem do have a legal footing.

I think I've seen it suggested that they were headed back to Soundstage 20 in April.

Never mind.

Thread just created.

Pat Kenney/Simon Diamond?

Not a bad effort. Their online presence and marketing hasn't been too bad, as it happens.

 

https://mobile.twitter.com/IMPACTWRESTLING/status/839220684828073987/video/1

Sure I remember reading this but not sure - are these tapings in the old Soundstage they were in rather than the shit small impact zone?

 

I am really curious to see these tapings, considering the roster has taken a huge hit this week there does seem to be a bit of optimism which is nice to see.

Yep. Soundstage 21. Hopefully for them they can get the people in.

So, what do we think?

 

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=y05bhg7Dv_Q