AEW Rampage Thread 2023

[Guest]

There is absolutely zero value in driving viewers to Rampage. It is going off the air in a few weeks, and its ratings are completely irrelevant. I'm not convinced Toni's first match back would've have driven much to Dynamite, but it's entirely possible it could have.  It was a nice creative quirk to have her do it on Rampage, but that's the tail wagging the dog. Creative should be subject to the best business decisions, not the other way around. 

[Chris B]

I don't know what world we think we live in where people would be tuning into Dynamite, utterly confused as to what's happening with Toni Storm, while it's all over social media and Reddit.

I'm all for them using other shows and events to move the story forward. For me, the social media part of it is a big part of it - seeing people's reactions and the jokes and excitement around it.

Also, I still think they're shopping around other shows and trying to find space for them. They've got the money for Dynamite and Collision - there's still money from a third show and ROH if they can sell them. I'm not surprised they're getting some temporary focus.

[LaGoosh]

1 hour ago, Mowgli said:

really don’t want to agree with @Hannibal Scorch but I think he is right.

I'm glad you agree with me! Erm, Hannibal Scorch I mean. Yeah, Hannibal. We're two separate people, honest.

[RedTwoster]

11 minutes ago, Chris B said:

I don't know what world we think we live in where people would be tuning into Dynamite, utterly confused as to what's happening with Toni Storm, while it's all over social media and Reddit.

I'm all for them using other shows and events to move the story forward. For me, the social media part of it is a big part of it - seeing people's reactions and the jokes and excitement around it.

Also, I still think they're shopping around other shows and trying to find space for them. They've got the money for Dynamite and Collision - there's still money from a third show and ROH if they can sell them. I'm not surprised they're getting some temporary focus.

If something goes viral, fair enough - but that hasn’t exactly happened here and you can’t count on it happening either. I genuinely wouldn’t have been aware of it if not for this thread. 

The story certainly isn’t reliant on Rampage to work - I think @Duke summed it up far better than I did, though. 

[Chili]

In a different day they'd have simply shot it on AEW Dark and whacked a clip up, I get the story beat and why, but also get why people would have an issue with it being a show they've lost value in. A graphic was all that was needed if they had her return before the end of the show, not the actual end.

[Chris B]

Personally, I'm far more interested in creative decisions than business ones. Considering the confusion the reversion to a previous gimmick caused last time, I think *very* quickly going 'don't worry, it's not going in that direction' was a smart move. 

[DavidB6937]

Haven't had time to watch or read but random question that's probably got an easy answer - so I get she's confused or something right? And she thinks she's starting over? But presumably she's not booking herself so whoever is in charge knows she's not a rookie? What am I missing?

Or are we assuming it's an elaborate ruse and she's doing it all deliberately?

[Hannibal Scorch]

6 minutes ago, DavidB6937 said:

Haven't had time to watch or read but random question that's probably got an easy answer - so I get she's confused or something right? And she thinks she's starting over? But presumably she's not booking herself so whoever is in charge knows she's not a rookie? What am I missing?

Or are we assuming it's an elaborate ruse and she's doing it all deliberately?

My interpretation. AEW is known for both Tony Khan/Daniels making matches, and for talent asking for matches. I believe Toni, in a state of delusion and believing she’s never been in AEW before, is asking for matches to prove herself. Management are letting it fly. I don’t think it’s a ruse, I think she snapped and lost her mind.

[Chris B]

I'm hoping it's similar to that brilliant gimmick Spud did where he thought it was the mid-2000s again.

[tiger_rick]

1 hour ago, DavidB6937 said:

Or are we assuming it's an elaborate ruse and she's doing it all deliberately?

"You've got to let the story play out!" 

[tiger_rick]

1 hour ago, Chris B said:

I'm hoping it's similar to that brilliant gimmick Spud did where he thought it was the mid-2000s again.

She's gonna be 10 years old? ?

[Chris B]

The ruse is a fun idea, tbf, but it'd be so difficult to do well. You could have her claiming she's Mariah May's #1 fan, and Mariah starts being delighted, realising just how much she broke Toni Storm. And then play out her turning on Mariah in the exact same way Mariah turned on her, revealing that it's been her plan all along.

 

[DavidB6937]

I want one damnit.

 

 

[Merzbow]

Gonna blow some minds here, Harley and Rebel have tagged together!

 

[Chili]

So she's a genuinely good egg, she can also do ventriloquism and her and Rebel formed the brazzers mega powers dream team on some indies. Fucking brilliant. Have her beat Jon Moxley, fuck it all!