All-Purpose News Thread Part II

[GKJ]

There had been rumors all week that Vince McMahon wanted something for himself at Wrestlemania, which people backstage were trying to talk him out of. Looks like they're setting something up with Vince and Pat McAfee

 

[TD Charlie]

There had been rumors all week that Vince McMahon wanted something for himself at Wrestlemania, which people backstage were trying to talk him out of. Looks like they're setting something up with Vince and Pat McAfee

lol terrible

 

[eXile3]

from today's pwinsider.com:

WWE star Cesaro has quietly exited WWE after his current contract expired, PWInsider.com has confirmed. He last performed for WWE on 2/11, losing to Happy Corbin on an episode of Friday Night Smackdown.

We are told the two sides had been in negotiations but had not come to terms on a new agreement. One source noted that WWE did offer Cesaro an extension on his current deal but that was turned down.

This would be a case of Cesaro's contract expiring, so there would be no 90-day non compete. Cesaro had been slated to be at tomorrow's Smackdown taping in Hershey, PA, but will obviously no longer be there as his deal expired earlier this week.

Cesaro, 41, had been with WWE since 2011 when he inked a developmental deal with then-WWE developmental territory FCW. Over the course of his run with the company, Cesaro won the first-ever Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal at Wrestlemania 30 and had a run with the WWE United States Championship as well as Raw and Smackdown Title runs with Sheamus, Shinsuke Nakamura and Tyson Kidd. He defeated Seth Rollins at Wrestlemania 37 in Tampa last year.

While Cesaro had a long run, he was also consistently underutilized during his WWE tenure. Among fellow talents, he's universally considered one of the best and toughest in-ring performers by any definition of the word. He can likely punch his own ticket anywhere he chooses to land, whether that be coming to terms with WWE at a later time or competing elsewhere. He would obviously be in high demand in a number of places.

Prior to his WWE run, the Swiss star, under his real name Claudio Castagnoli, had a tremendous run as one half of the Kings of Wrestling with Chris Hero in Ring of Honor, Pro Wrestling NOAH, CZW and CHIKARA. He had a nice run in Europe, obviously, as well.

I might be the only one but I've never been a big fan. Maybe it's because WWE never really let him work. He just never had a real character and the Swissblade was always a cartoonish move.

 

[GKJ]

 

[yahhockey]

Comical, I don't really know what else to say. Unless they parlay it into an increased role for McAfee it is a waste of time and resources.

 

[TD Charlie]

Comical, I don't really know what else to say. Unless they parlay it into an increased role for McAfee it is a waste of time and resources.

I don’t care how it plays out. It’s a total waste of time and resources no matter what happens.

 

[Jussi]

It'll be Pat vs Austin Theory with Vince in his corner.

 

[CDJ]

It'll be Pat vs Austin Theory with Vince in his corner.

the only possible way it’s remotely acceptable

 

[GKJ]

 

[Scandale du Jour]

Gimme HBOMax!

 

[GKJ]

Gimme HBOMax!

I feel like that’s what it is, something like that since we’re 3 days before the PPV, but I wouldn’t wait until 3 days before to do it.

 

[TheBeastCoast]

HBO Max wouldn't really do anything for me in Canada unless it all ends up on Crave here I supposed. It would be a big deal for the stability of the company long term.

 

[Scandale du Jour]

HBO Max wouldn't really do anything for me in Canada unless it all ends up on Crave here I supposed. It would be a big deal for the stability of the company long term.

Crave = Bell = TSN = AEW partner.

I would not be surprised if AEW's archives go to HBO Max that they will go to Crave too.

At some point, I would hope that would push AEW to create original "documentary" content like WWE does. Especially if they acquire ROH's library as it is rumored. Imagine the docs you could make on Danielson, Punk, the Bucks, Omega and others.

 

[TheBeastCoast]

Crave = Bell = TSN = AEW partner.

I would not be surprised if AEW's archives go to HBO Max that they will go to Crave too.

At some point, I would hope that would push AEW to create original "documentary" content like WWE does. Especially if they acquire ROH's library as it is rumored. Imagine the docs you could make on Danielson, Punk, the Bucks, Omega and others.

That is what I would hope is that it would transfer to Crave and maybe that is an avenue for Canada to start getting Rampage by showing it on Crave....but not everything on HBO Max is directly transferred onto Crave so until it is explicitly laid out there is the real possibility this only is effecting the US Market. Which would be a massive bummer.

 

[Scandale du Jour]

That is what I would hope is that it would transfer to Crave and maybe that is an avenue for Canada to start getting Rampage by showing it on Crave....but not everything on HBO Max is directly transferred onto Crave so until it is explicitly laid out there is the real possibility this only is effecting the US Market. Which would be a massive bummer.

Oh, my guess is that it COULD be on Crave eventually considering the partnerships between Crave and HBO AND between Bell/TSN and AEW.

Rampage is already on TSN. Most of the time, it is only on the APP though.

 

[BostonBob]

Couple of news items from today's pwinsider.com:

Lisette Pineda, who held the position of Manager of Global Talent Strategy and Development for World Wrestling Entertainment, was recently let go by the company, PWInsider.com has confirmed.

Pineda worked extremely close to Paul Levesque in a role described to PWInsider as Levesque's "top executive assistant", so without him around, some in the company have relayed to us it was probably just a matter of time before she exited as Levesque has still yet to return to work full-time for the company since dealing with his heart issues and without him there, her role was limited at best.

Pineda's departure also sparked discussion and wonder as to whether Levesque is ever coming back as many who used to be in constant communication with him haven't spoken with him in some time and there's no indication he's anywhere close to stepping back into his former roles for the company. Obviously, there's never been (and should not be) a timeline for his return, but Pineda's exit has been seen as a sign by some that it will be still some time (at the least) before Levesque is close to coming back.

Pineda joined the company in January 2020, previously holding a position with Goldman-Sachs before coming to WWE.

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Interesting note: If WWE doesn't name the opponents for Brock Lesnar or Roman Reigns for this Saturday's Madison Square Garden card, it will be the first time in the history of WWE running that venue that a main event match is not announced in advance.

 

[GKJ]

 

[CDJ]

The second that ROH library goes up I’m going to be begging them to take my money

 

[BostonBob]

Oh, my guess is that it COULD be on Crave eventually considering the partnerships between Crave and HBO AND between Bell/TSN and AEW.

Rampage is already on TSN. Most of the time, it is only on the APP though.

Rampage has only been available through the TSN app - it has never been on regular TV.

 

[I Hart Conor Garland]

Rampage has only been available through the TSN app - it has never been on regular TV.

Aside from the first one and the C.M. Punk debut episode, you are correct.

 

[BostonBob]

Aside from the first one and the C.M. Punk debut episode, you are correct.

Dammit - I guess I must have missed those 2 episodes airing on TSN then. I never saw them listed on my Shaw on-screen listings either. By the way - I e-mailed TSN and asked about airing Rampage on Friday nights instead of those 10 hour blocks of the same " Best of " or " Top 10 " type shows they usually run. About a week later somebody from TSN's Customer Relations dept. e-mailed me back and said that the plan was to use Rampage and other exclusive programming to get more people to sign up for the TSN app. I replied that that was fine but couldn't they just run Rampage a day or two later on regular TV ???? I never got a response to that question.

 

[I Hart Conor Garland]

Dammit - I guess I must have missed those 2 episodes airing on TSN then. I never saw them listed on my Shaw on-screen listings either. By the way - I e-mailed TSN and asked about airing Rampage on Friday nights instead of those 10 hour blocks of the same " Best of " or " Top 10 " type shows they usually run. About a week later somebody from TSN's Customer Relations dept. e-mailed me back and said that the plan was to use Rampage and other exclusive programming to get more people to sign up for the TSN app. I replied that that was fine but couldn't they just run Rampage a day or two later on regular TV ???? I never got a response to that question.

The first episode was at a funny time. The Punk one was on time and pretty awesome. But yeah, then they just stopped doing it. I guess they figured they had us hooked and we would go to the app. I have tsn on my tv and have no idea how to watch Rampage so I just watch the recording on watch wrestling dot aye eye. Joke’s on tsn.

PS thank you for Shit talking tsn on their stupid top ten of who gives a f***?

 

[GKJ]

WWE was in on buying Ring of Honor, which they have been for years. Tony made a better offer obviously.

 

[GKJ]

WWE has shut down the network in Russia and terminated partnership with their broadcaster.

 

[Scandale du Jour]

WWE has shut down the network in Russia and terminated partnership with their broadcaster.

Yet, will still take that sweet Saudi money