WWE Summerslam Saturday August 21st 2021

[Jazzy G]

I can't imagine they'd try and do anything to respond to Punk's return anyway. If they don't view AEW as competition they won't care about a full arena giving somebody a huge pop like that. It could be a watershed moment and the start of a real upward trend, or it could be Hogan to WCW. I'm leaning more toward the former, but I would imagine if anybody in WWE is actually bothered they'll be hoping it's the latter. 

[garynysmon]

11 minutes ago, jazzygeofferz said:

I can't imagine they'd try and do anything to respond to Punk's return anyway. If they don't view AEW as competition they won't care about a full arena giving somebody a huge pop like that. It could be a watershed moment and the start of a real upward trend, or it could be Hogan to WCW. I'm leaning more toward the former, but I would imagine if anybody in WWE is actually bothered they'll be hoping it's the latter. 

WWE has always been fearful of other wrestling companies, they just don’t publicly admit it.

With TNA, which didn’t have the same resources nor big time feel of AEW, there were countless examples of contract tampering and attempts to cut their legs off. Counter programming Bret’s return to clash with Hogan’s debut etc.

With AEW, which as a TV product is just as impressive as any WWE show while also having the resources to compete financially, there is just no way that higher ups aren’t fully aware of the threat it poses.

[JohnKringler]

Its not quite WCW yet but it could get there, Quick. And the Hogan thing, I mean, Hogan to WCW brought in the nWo later on down the line, so I'd hope he was the Hogan of AEW. Not quite the same of course but someone who takes them over the edge. Vince may not admit it but Punk was a guy they'd love to get back, And he's now endorsing this new brand. Its very exciting. 

[Chili]

They are and always will be the most petty shits going. So while they probably won't do anything, it definitely bothers them. 

But they still have better ratings, so WWE > AEW, if you ask the right dullard. 

[mim731]

9 minutes ago, garynysmon said:

Counter programming Bret’s return to clash with Hogan’s debut etc.

You're quite right, and WWE are guilty of counter programming in lots of examples,  but in fairness to WWE, in that instance TNA did decide to move their show head-to-head with Raw so that's probably fair enough. 

[Lenin]

They'll need to do something with their product surely?? AEW is just so completely ahead in every possible aspect in terms of output and fan enjoyment. 

I cannot get my head around the fact that the biggest wrestling company there is doesn't know how to build a feud or tell a logical story. Goldberg comes back and instantly gets a title shot. If you look at every WWE title there's no reason to care about any of them because you know who's retaining and who's not. Folk get a belt for six months and then it changes. In AEW, every belt has a number of possible scenarios or storylines playing out around them, you don't know if or when belts are going to change and that's incredibly satisfying as a fan. It keeps people invested. 

Summer slam will do horrible numbers I expect because nobody cares. AEW is where it's at.

[rollthedice]

I've been playing WWE 2K19 recently and just out of curiosity I counted how many people on that active roster are no longer there. 72 and theres probably a few that I've missed not knowing if they're still employed or not. 

72 people have left/been released since the game came out nearly 3 years ago. That number, to me, is insane. 

If the rumors of them looking to sell it are true then I can see why there's zero effort going into the shows. As someone else said, that's the next guys problem.

[WyattSheepMask]

Really? They’re going to try and counter Punk’s return with a ‘Roman Leaves WWE if he Loses’ stip? Fucks sake, they’ve sure found a way to take any excitement out of this match 

[SuperBacon]

Edge coming out of the floor with Gangrel to the BEST theme of all time would win tonight for me.

[mim731]

13 minutes ago, SuperBacon said:

Edge coming out of the floor with Gangrel to the BEST theme of all time would win tonight for me.

Gangrel with his goblet full of crisps having misread the situation, ideally. 

[rollthedice]

Anyone else's network have subtitles on that you can't turn off? Using the xbox one app.

[JohnKringler]

Way to make your top babyface woman look like such a smug dickhead. WWE just makes it so easy to hate them.

[Mr.Showtime]

Skimmed through the show. The commentary is unbearable. I like Pat McAfee and Jimmy Smith is decent but it's just what everyone has to SAY. Just a collection of aliens on another planet.

Anyway, the main thing: they made Bianca Belair look like a fucking moron. A total loser. Marking out like a little girl and then the 'match' itself. That should never have happened to her. Awful.

Let's try and be positive: I liked Seth v Edge, wasn't sensational by any means but they'd put effort into the story leading up to it. And the return at the end... he looked amazing. What a guy.

[cobra_gordo]

19 hours ago, jazzygeofferz said:

I can't imagine they'd try and do anything to respond to Punk's return anyway. 

 

19 hours ago, Chili said:

So while they probably won't do anything, it definitely bothers them.

These aged well.

[d-d-d-dAz]

The Becky Lynch thing feels like more of a reaction to AEW’s current buzz levels.

I’m willing to accept they probably had Brock planned (a man like that doesn’t sign a contract in 24 hours), but the way they seem to have wedged that Becky angle in suggests there was no time for it but they wanted to do something.

It’s really gross too, and misses the point about why talent may prefer to work for AEW. That was them spending 6 months with Bianca BelAir only to find they need space for another pawn on the chess board so just whacked her out the way. Really gross.

Maybe it’ll be her Daniel Bryan against Sheamus moment, but I doubt it.