Meltzer: WrestleMania Plans Aborted, WWE Will Scramble For New Ideas

Kimi

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Jun 24, 2004
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When Rusev is your most successful NXT alumni (excluding the Shield, who basically left a month after NXT launched) and you see where he's at now, I'm worried about what'll happen to Finn Balor.
One of those guys was a no-name guy they signed from a small time indy. The other is Bálor, who they had been trying to sign for years while he was working for New Japan. I'd like to think they'll be a bit more active in protecting Bálor, especially when they've invested a lot of money in him (compared to others in NXT).
 

NewAgeOutlaw

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Jul 15, 2011
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Personally I don't think they'll sell out WM32 no matter what they do. Maybe if they somehow convince Austin to wrestle one more match.

As it stands, they've been ****ing with their own fans far too long to sell anywhere near 100,000 tickets.
 

Emperoreddy

Show Me What You Got!
Apr 13, 2010
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Bryan/Brock could push the attendance up.

Two biggest stars in the company and a departure from the Roman ********.

Then build a card with a big money Taker match (it's his home state and if you at least tease retirement people will take notice. Cena again is the best option with Sting not available).

Get KO in a good feud with either Dean or Zayn.

If you do all of that from rumble to mania they could come close.

They need Daniel Bryan though. There just isn't anyone working that can get people excited again outside of DB and Punk and we know Punk isn't coming back.
 

vdB

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Dec 28, 2006
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What's the word on Batista?? Sounds like he wants to wrestle again...but just not get jerked around.

A heel Batista vs anyone at WM - I'm in.


Personally I don't think they'll sell out WM32 no matter what they do.

Nahhh it'll sell out. People just go for the sake of saying they went...take selfies and upload it.
 

NewAgeOutlaw

Belie Dat!
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What's the word on Batista?? Sounds like he wants to wrestle again...but just not get jerked around.

A heel Batista vs anyone at WM - I'm in.




Nahhh it'll sell out. People just go for the sake of saying they went...take selfies and upload it.

I thought wm31 didn't even sell out. With the prices of wm tickets, I find it hard to believe that a tenth of a million people will be willing to pay the price. They are struggling to even get 3 million people to tune into free tv.

Not only do I think they won't sell out, I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if the attendance was under 75k.
 

Pinkfloyd

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Oct 29, 2006
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What's the word on Batista?? Sounds like he wants to wrestle again...but just not get jerked around.

A heel Batista vs anyone at WM - I'm in.




Nahhh it'll sell out. People just go for the sake of saying they went...take selfies and upload it.

It didn't sell out last year even though the WWE will say otherwise. Doubt it will for a 100k venue when they couldn't even get a 70k venue to sell out.
 

vdB

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Dec 28, 2006
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Last year didn't sell out? Well then I take my words back. Haha no chance for dallas
 

M.C.G. 31

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Oct 6, 2008
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You could see some empty seats iirc when they would pan the stadium, too. It definitely wasn't a sell out. Big gate numbers? Absolutely. Sell out? No.

They don't have a chance of selling out Wrestlemania 32.
 

George Binks

#MakeAnaheimGr8Again
Jul 28, 2012
8,580
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Personally I don't think they'll sell out WM32 no matter what they do. Maybe if they somehow convince Austin to wrestle one more match.

As it stands, they've been ****ing with their own fans far too long to sell anywhere near 100,000 tickets.

They will either sell tickets cheaper or give them out for free to make it sold out
 

ColePens

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Mar 27, 2008
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I do love that every arena/sporting event can now be considered a sell out anymore. Even if they give away all the tickets, it's not a "sellout"
 

Kimi

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Jun 24, 2004
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Newcastle upon Tyne
It's always been like that. Ever since I've been alive at least, attendance is always a lie. Doubly so for wrestling that subscribes to the Steiner Maths school of counting.
 

TribalPhoenix

Former TribalPhoenix
Dec 2, 2005
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I hope/imagine he will do just one more mania after this one. Maybe goes out against sting at 33.

He does need to stop. He went above and beyond with his matches against Brock.

Cena would be a good guy to beat and go out on but if he wants to wait one more year for Sting fine but that's it.

I seriously doubt Sting is going to wrestle again... but that's just random speculation on my part.
 

M.C.G. 31

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Oct 6, 2008
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It's always been like that. Ever since I've been alive at least, attendance is always a lie. Doubly so for wrestling that subscribes to the Steiner Maths school of counting.

Even the Steiner School of Math knows that these numbers WWE has in the ratings and attendance spells disaster for Wrestlemania 32.
 

Emperoreddy

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Apr 13, 2010
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WWE has been goosing attendance numbers since day 1.

Even when they had impressive big gates they still fudged the number up. And of course lied when the number was terrible.
 

y2kcanucks

Better than you
Aug 3, 2006
71,249
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I got the Wrestlemania travel package, so I'm starting to become concerned that the event will suck. Will still be an amazing weekend, but the show itself could be crappy, especially if Sheamus is anywhere near the main event, and if Roman Reigns ends the night as Champion.

What I want to see happen:

Reigns goes over Sheamus at Royal Rumble when HHH turns on Sheamus and adds Reigns to the Authority (heel turn).

Lesnar enters the Rumble and squashes everyone like he should, setting up Lesnar/Reigns 2. Then for Mania:

WHC: Lesnar over Reigns
Undertaker vs. Sting (stop ****ing around, this is the match people want)
No. 1 Contender Finals: Daniel Bryan over John Cena
Divas: Charlotte vs. Sasha Banks
IC: Kevin Owens vs. Sami Zayn
US: Alberto del Rio vs. Dean Ambrose
Finn Balor vs. Bray Wyatt
Divas Number 1 Contender: Becky Lynch vs Paige vs Natalya vs. Bayley
Tag-Team: Usos vs. New Day vs. Dudley Boyz vs. Wyatt Family (Harper/Rowan)
No. 1 Contender Semi-Finals: John Cena over Dolph Ziggler (have these two feud when Cena returns and use Nikki Bella as the reason Dolph turns heel)
No. 1 Contender Semi-Finals: Daniel Bryan over Sheamus (lulz)
Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal: Ryback over everyone else you want to throw in there.

The only one really left without a match is HHH. With Rollins still out, and Rock not likely to be on the card I can't think of anyone who would match up well with HHH.

I like the idea of having a set number 1 contender coming out of Mania. It's not THE crowning moment as they aren't champ, but it sets up the next big feud and gives some meaning to the upcoming months outside of just a whole bunch of re-matches. The mini tournament also has other stories intertwined within it as you can have a Cena-Ziggler feud, and you get the Bryan-Sheamus match that WWE has always wanted.

Give Charlotte and Sasha Banks a good 20-25 minutes to work their magic and let's see the Divas steal the show.

I feel the Tag titles also need to be featured, and would like to see a 4-way elimination match, or some sort of gimmick match to help get the belts over.

I would like to see the Divas division given some meaning. Have people actually chase the title and flush out some of their stories. Have a debuting Bayley win this.

I didn't have anything for Balor or Wyatt, and I really wanted a match where they both could go over. Figured putting them together could be fun given their personas although I'll admit it's not the greatest of matchups given where their characters are at (Wyatt badly needing a win, and Balor recently debuting not really in a position to be taking a high profile loss).

Del Rio vs. Ambrose...again, another match where I don't have much for these guys to do so why not feud them together over the US Title?

Owens and Zayn have a lot of history and this can be one of the highlighted matchups for Mania. Give them TV time (more than just random matches and talking during an entrance), rehash their feud from NXT and Owens injuring Zayn, and show the hatred these two have for each other. The IC belt is perfect for this kind of feud.

Bryan over Cena to be the number 1 contender...it's what people will want. I'm good going with Cena too, but seeing as I have Lesnar winning the WHC I don't think we need to see yet another Cena/Lesnar feud. Bryan/Lesnar would be fresh.

Taker/Sting...I don't think anything needs to be said about this. Won't be anywhere close to match of the year, but one of the final dream matches we've never seen.

Finally, Lesnar over Reigns. Send the crowd home happy. Lesnar is THE beast in WWE and really should be the champ. Nobody credible to beat him at this point.
 
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Emperoreddy

Show Me What You Got!
Apr 13, 2010
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I seriously doubt Sting is going to wrestle again... but that's just random speculation on my part.

Well the rumor is Sting will not wrestle this year, which isn't surprising he shouldn't be healthy enough to work yet.

I think there is an outside chance he might be ok by 33, but ya I think odds are he never wrestles again.
 

swflyers93

Registered User
Nov 19, 2007
4,208
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Norristown, PA
In regards to DB and his injuries, I just don't see the WWE putting a guy with his history with Brock. I mean we are supposedly to believe that guys like the UT and John Cena got dominated by Brock but a guy like DB will beat him. Nope, it won't happen.

Let's see who is available on the roster for main event matches:

Reigns -- crowd is half and half
Ambrose -- face
Wyatt -- gets buried for older talent
Ziggler -- get rid of the rock star outfits and get back to being the show off
Owens -- perfect heel
ADR -- fans don't seem too happy he is back
Rusev -- perfect heel
Sheamus -- good heel but boring
Brock Lesnar -- can be good or a heel
BNB -- perfect heel, has been turned into a joke
Neville -- great wrestler but not sure he can be a top guy
Ryback -- not really top tier material
Stardust -- would be better if he went back to Cody

I'd have Roman beat Sheamus, then turn Dean or Roman and have them as a feud. I guess leave Sheamus in there as well. 3 way dance.
Thinking maybe Wyatt vs. Lesnar
Owens vs. Ziggler
Rusev vs. Ryback
ADR vs. Neville

I don't know about the rest. The New Day vs. the tag teams is going to be good. Who knows what will happen.
 

Blitzkrug

Registered User
Sep 17, 2013
27,377
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Barrett's situation absolutely perplexes me.

He floundered when he won NXT, fell into a loveable gimmick that had stupid versatility (BNB works as a heel or face, probably better as a face since he could ****talk all the heels) and was over internationally. Obviously England is a given since he's from there, but he was over everywhere else. And now he's stuck being a nothing King of the Ring winner who traded his personality away for the crown. Shame.

Yet another file to add to the **** this company cabinet.
 

NYGBleedBlueNYR

Registered User
Mar 16, 2010
4,077
45
Barrett's situation absolutely perplexes me.

He floundered when he won NXT, fell into a loveable gimmick that had stupid versatility (BNB works as a heel or face, probably better as a face since he could ****talk all the heels) and was over internationally. Obviously England is a given since he's from there, but he was over everywhere else. And now he's stuck being a nothing King of the Ring winner who traded his personality away for the crown. Shame.

Yet another file to add to the **** this company cabinet.

But on top of that he's even got the size/look of a main eventer. That's usually the default reason wwe doesn't push someone.

Size- check
Look-check
In ring-check
Mic-check
Gimmick-check(as BNB or before Cena buried Nexus)

Unless behind the scenes he's a massive dick or completely unreliable then this as big of a miss as they've ever had.
 

M.C.G. 31

Damn, he brave!
Oct 6, 2008
96,273
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Ottawa
Barrett's been held back because one freak injury derailed plans to bring MITB to WM where he would have won and ever since, they don't push him because they feel he isn't reliable and gets injured too much.

He's one of the most talented on the roster in terms. Another guy that go over organically with Bad News and then was saddled with the cursed King gimmick.
 

ColePens

RIP Fugu Buffaloed & parabola
Mar 27, 2008
107,051
67,704
Pittsburgh
Personally, I'm not a fan of Barrett. I don't like his matches and didn't love the character.... But even with iit not being my cup of tea (pun intended) I still recognized he was a hell of a talent. He was turning into a mega heel during the NXT reign and I cannot freaking believe he's been stuck to the mid card hell for this long. I would take wade at the top before Sheamus.

I think that's a real credit to wades talent, look, and ability that he's a wrestler I don't care for but could completely understand why he's a top heel. But yes... One of the most underutilized talents.

Hell... If Vince never wants to book foreign talent, just out the euros in a bad ass group and let them reign over the Midcard
 

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