WWE Network-Royal Rumble Fallout Updates

[cero2k]

Source: pwinsider.com

With all the buzz about the negative social media about the WWE Network since the WWE Royal Rumble ended, I was curious how much of that buzz was equal to actual viewers cancelling their subscriptions to the streaming service.

While this is hardly scientific hard research, after speaking with several sources, I was told that while there were some who canceled the service, it was not such a grand amount that WWE is considering it a significant number internally. So, while they lost some subscribers, it wasn't like they lost such a massive amount that the company was going into emergency meetings or anything of the such.

The belief internally that much of the buzz online was simply fans voicing their anger over the way the Rumble PPV, specifically The Rumble match and how Daniel Bryan was used, played out.

In that regard, WWE is probably right and if they have the fans that upset, they really should be thinking about how Bryan is used and portrayed going forward. The company needs to realize this is not about whether Bryan won the Rumble or not, but how he was portrayed during the show. Daniel Bryan came in like a homecoming hero and was gone, just a few minutes later, like a freshman nerd. In my opinion, he's earned far better then that. Beyond that, the lion's share of the WWE audience wants him to be a top guy - and are willing to pay for that. For WWE to not use him at that level, is basically throwing money out the window in my opinon.

Sources also indicate that while there were some issues with buffering during the Royal Rumble's live stream, those issues were not widespread and there was no outage on WWE's end. The belief is that it was something more localized that caused issues that was outside of the Network's sphere of influence.

[badnewzxl]

Dead on about Bryan

[Big Red Machine]

There are also a bunch of people (like me) who were going to see how things played out on Raw before cancelling, and those people will now have to wait for SD.

[cero2k]

There are also a bunch of people (like me) who were going to see how things played out on Raw before cancelling, and those people will now have to wait for SD.

did you actually considered cancelling?

I had planned to cancel anyway since i have had a lot of trouble watching NXT on it, lots of lag, so it just seems an interest opportunity.

[Big Red Machine]

There are also a bunch of people (like me) who were going to see how things played out on Raw before cancelling, and those people will now have to wait for SD.

did you actually considered cancelling?

I had planned to cancel anyway since i have had a lot of trouble watching NXT on it, lots of lag, so it just seems an interest opportunity.

Yeah. I've been getting pretty annoyed with the spoiler dots (that's why I've been watching so many Benoit matches- they don't have those), it is kind of a pain in the ass on my Samsung Smart TV, and at this point in the year, I am paying for HuluPlus anyway, so I can get NXT (or Main Event or Superstars, if the mood strikes me) that way, on the same devices, but with fewer problems on my Smart TV.
The spoiler tags thing actually got to the point where the last few Nitros I watched, I actually watched on YouTube, and between YouTube and DailyMotion, most PPVs are up there anyway, so what do I need the Network for?

I will admit that the Free February rumors do play a part in my decision, both in that I would still be able to watch both Fast Lane and (especially) the Takeover Special whether I pay for it or not, and also in that I was pretty annoyed that this is now the second free month they are giving away after I had already agreed to pay them for that month.
Most importantly, though, between two big New Japan shows, old ROH stuff, old PWG stuff, some old ECW stuff and 2005 WWE stuff, and even trying to push through my FIP collection until I get to the good stuff (i.e. stuff with more ROH guys in it) I think I'll be able to survive without it for a month, LOL. Who knows. I might even be able to get caught up on my fantasy booking before Mania or finish off some old ones I have major plans for but just left hanging because other stuff came up.

But at the end of the day, it is about Bryan. I have enough other wrestling view-material/interests that I don't need their Network for my fix. That means I'm only going to pay them if I like what they're doing. It's not even an issue of them making TNA-style "illogical" booking decisions, because from what they have now, I can sketch out a rough outline of their potential "big " matches for the next year or (in fact, NWK and I basically did that Sunday night), and it would all work for their obvious goal of making Reigns THE GUY, and it would be at least decently compelling (at least to casual fans, I hope). It's a issue of the fact that I don't LIKE what they're doing (especially as it relates to Bryan, but also with others), and as a result, I'm not going to pay for their Network because like I said before, I don't need it for my wrestling fix. Will not getting my $10 hurt them? Of course not. But if they don't get my $10 and your $10 and the $10 of a lot of other people- even for one month- that could certainly hurt them enough to at least show them that they need to pay more attention to us the fans.

[Bulletclubfan2014]

Honestly I think the WWE may be trying to start a year long climb back to the top storyline where he announces he's returning at the Rumble and gets eliminated early the he comes out and says he realized he's not ready to get back in the main event yet so what he's going to do is build himself back up and continually progress until next year's Royal rumble he enters at Number 1 because The Authority it trying to screw him over but he becomes the Iron Man and wins then he regains the title after a year plus long climb back to the top and regains the title he never lost

[Big Red Machine]

Honestly I think the WWE may be trying to start a year long climb back to the top storyline where he announces he's returning at the Rumble and gets eliminated early the he comes out and says he realized he's not ready to get back in the main event yet so what he's going to do is build himself back up and continually progress until next year's Royal rumble he enters at Number 1 because The Authority it trying to screw him over but he becomes the Iron Man and wins then he regains the title after a year plus long climb back to the top and regains the title he never lost

I had thought of that, but if that's the case, it makes more sense to start him off after the Rumble and immediately give him the February PPV title shot. Brock needs someone to beat, and this would theoretically make Brock an even bigger deal for beating Reigns as well as make Brock definitely the rightful linear champion when Reigns beats him. You'd have Brock basically destroy Dragon the same way he did with Cena. Then Dragon takes a week or two off after getting destroyed and does the "i need to work my way up again so I'm starting from the bottom" thing, starting off at Mania (which also gives you an excuse to not book him in a headlining match).
The idea of him working his way back to the top doesn't work if you start it by having him get eliminated from the Rumble because it's not about the Rumble- it's about his quest for the title.

[Bulletclubfan2014]

Honestly I think the WWE may be trying to start a year long climb back to the top storyline where he announces he's returning at the Rumble and gets eliminated early the he comes out and says he realized he's not ready to get back in the main event yet so what he's going to do is build himself back up and continually progress until next year's Royal rumble he enters at Number 1 because The Authority it trying to screw him over but he becomes the Iron Man and wins then he regains the title after a year plus long climb back to the top and regains the title he never lost

I had thought of that, but if that's the case, it makes more sense to start him off after the Rumble and immediately give him the February PPV title shot. Brock needs someone to beat, and this would theoretically make Brock an even bigger deal for beating Reigns as well as make Brock definitely the rightful linear champion when Reigns beats him. You'd have Brock basically destroy Dragon the same way he did with Cena. Then Dragon takes a week or two off after getting destroyed and does the "i need to work my way up again so I'm starting from the bottom" thing, starting off at Mania (which also gives you an excuse to not book him in a headlining match).
The idea of him working his way back to the top doesn't work if you start it by having him get eliminated from the Rumble because it's not about the Rumble- it's about his quest for the title.

Since this isn't the Fantasy Booking thread I gave a condensed version on how I'd do it check the Fantasy Booking for the long version

[Big Red Machine]

Just cancelled my Network.

[badnewzxl]

I'm not cancelling the network. BRM, I'm surprised that you'd cancel yours after you defended the Rumble Show as a whole. You don't consider it a bad show but you're willing to cancel your subscription over it? Furthermore, you're gonna miss NXT?!

[Big Red Machine]

I'm not cancelling the network. BRM, I'm surprised that you'd cancel yours after you defended the Rumble Show as a whole. You don't consider it a bad show but you're willing to cancel your subscription over it? Furthermore, you're gonna miss NXT?!

I'm not to lie: this is a bit more about then offering other people something free when I already agreed to pay for it months ago. If I were decently satisfied with the company like I was back in November, I would have stayed signed up and paid them the $10, but I'm not happy with them right now, so I'll keep the money.
NXT I can get on Hulu. I'll have to wait until Thursday, but that's fine.

[cero2k]

I'm not cancelling the network. BRM, I'm surprised that you'd cancel yours after you defended the Rumble Show as a whole. You don't consider it a bad show but you're willing to cancel your subscription over it? Furthermore, you're gonna miss NXT?!

I'm not to lie: this is a bit more about then offering other people something free when I already agreed to pay for it months ago. If I were decently satisfied with the company like I was back in November, I would have stayed signed up and paid them the $10, but I'm not happy with them right now, so I'll keep the money.
NXT I can get on Hulu. I'll have to wait until Thursday, but that's fine.

those $10 a month can go a lot of places. I used them for the WON subscription, but there's not the CHIKARA VOD, the NJPW Network, even Nigel McGuinness' kickstarter

[Big Red Machine]

I'm not cancelling the network. BRM, I'm surprised that you'd cancel yours after you defended the Rumble Show as a whole. You don't consider it a bad show but you're willing to cancel your subscription over it? Furthermore, you're gonna miss NXT?!

I'm not to lie: this is a bit more about then offering other people something free when I already agreed to pay for it months ago. If I were decently satisfied with the company like I was back in November, I would have stayed signed up and paid them the $10, but I'm not happy with them right now, so I'll keep the money.
NXT I can get on Hulu. I'll have to wait until Thursday, but that's fine.

those $10 a month can go a lot of places. I used them for the WON subscription, but there's not the CHIKARA VOD, the NJPW Network, even Nigel McGuinness' kickstarter

I'm already paying for WON and HuluPlus. Those $10 will go into my bank account.