Category: Musings

Netflix Gets A RAW Deal and Rock Owns His Name

WWE Raw moving to Netflix as part of new 10-year, $5 billion TV rights deal
https://www.f4wonline.com/news/wwe/wwe-raw-moving-to-netflix-as-part-of-new-tv-rights-deal

The Rock joins board of directors of WWE parent company TKO Group Holdings
https://www.f4wonline.com/news/wwe/the-rock-joins-board-of-directors-of-wwe-parent-company-tko-group-holdings

Happy 40th anniversary, Hulkamania. Now fuck off because Dwayne is part of the TKO Board Of Directors and Netflix secured the rights to RAW for the next ten years starting in 2025. Not only that, but the deal also means that Netflix gets all the WWE Network archive content and PPVs outside the United States… and apparently, that means Canada, as the Rogers deal is supposedly up. And if that ends up being the case, then there might be a reason to stick with Netflix for the long haul… because right now, I can’t think of any at the moment.

But in all seriousness… this is a pretty big deal. And I can’t imagine this deal happening under the previous management or ownership because “what’s a netflix, pal?” But hey, you know what? Good on them. They’re going to be making a shitload of money and they don’t even have to worry about petty things like quarter-hour ratings, key demos, or any of that old-fashioned tripe associated with the traditional TV. You might still have to do that for Smackdown (which is moving from FOX to USA Network) and NXT (which is moving from USA Network to the CW… while Billy Corgan’s NWA is relegated to the CW App Mines), but as far as RAW is concerned, the only barrier of entry is a Netflix subscription and that’s all there is to it. Now Vince Russo will have to find something else to complain about on his podcast.

As for where that leaves AEW?

Well… how long since the last Tony Khan Twitter blow-up?

40 Years Ago, Hulkamania Was Born

On this day – precisely four decades ago – Hulk Hogan defeated the reigning World Wrestling Federation heavyweight champion of the world, the Iron Sheik, to win the title at Madison Square Garden and thus began a legendary run that would last decades.

I’ve made no bones about never being the biggest Hogan fan ever. I wasn’t watching wrestling during the 80s and by the time I started watching, his act was getting stale and his backstage reputation of sorts (things that don’t work for him, brother) sort of tainted my perception of the man. That having been said, regardless of your actual feelings, you cannot deny that Hulk Hogan was an important part of the evolution and growth of WWE. He was a vital piece of the puzzle that needed the right promoter in Vince McMahon to take advantage of that natural charisma and charm that attracted audiences in the first place. The 80s was one of those instances where the right parts were working in tandem to create a monster that continues to this very day.

If Verne Gagne had ran with Hogan in AWA and made him the champion long term… yeah, sure, you might have moved some tickets, but Gagne was old-timey wrestling promoter who emphasized athletics over sensationalism. And quite frankly, I believe his son Greg to be not too far off from the tree. Hogan would’ve been wasted in that environment unless they treated him like he’d be treated in Japan… but that’s not difficult to do when you’ve got other big bodies on the market. Hogan making the jump to WWF, under the control of Vince Jr, was the move he needed to make and it proved to be a good decision.

So while I may never be the world’s biggest Hulkamaniac – nor would I want to be – I can at least tip my hat and acknowledge the man’s accomplishments and his enduring legacy that will continue onwards. Congrats on forty years of Hulkamania.

Okada Is Leaving New Japan… Let’s Have A Billion Podcasts On This One Subject

I mean… for fuck’s sake, man. I get it. Okada’s the golden child of New Japan or something, but fuck me, we don’t need eleventy-billion podcasts on the subject.

Then again, we still need Lance Storm’s take on the matter. And Granny’s. And Filthy Tom’s take. And that of Karl Stern. Or Denise, for that matter. I’m surprised Dave didn’t shoot another ten podcasts on the matter.

Gamestop Shutting Down Its NFT Marketplace… Whatever That Means

Source: https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2024/01/oh-no-gamestop-is-closing-its-nft-marketplace

Gamestop is shutting down its NFT marketplace… a thing that apparently exists for some reason, but now it doesn’t, so… yay?

Honestly, I know nothing about the NFT things other than the propaganda peddled by both sides of the coin. The only one I dabbled in was MJFCoin and all I lost was enough change to buy me a happy meal. Still, at least Gamestop is shutting down that aspect instead of its stores. If only they’d shut down their Funko Pop shops and start selling some actual fucking games for once, we’d all be better off.

Eh, what does it matter? I haven’t bought anything from Gamestop in years.

Want More AEW Musings? Get Tony Khan Off Twitter.

So I was going to sit down and watch the latest edition of Dynamite that I have recorded on PVR; the episode was supposed to be really good and I wanted to support new AEW World Champion Samoa Joe on his long-deserved World title run on a major wrestling show. I like to be able to enjoy the Hangman Page/Claudio match, which was a tremendous bit of action. I want to be able to enjoy the Brodie Lee Tribute 8-Man match, which was loads of fun. There’s stuff I want to enjoy that I thought were pretty good and I wanted to write about all of that.

But I really don’t want to reward bad behavior.

Tony Khan is a madman on Twitter, bitching about people complaining about Hook getting a title shot at Samoa Joe’s world title while no one is batting an eye over perennial loser Jinder Mahal getting a World title shot out of the blue. I say madman because from what I’ve seen, NOBODY is complaining about Hook getting a title shot and a great MAJORITY of people are wondering why a guy who hasn’t won a match in over a year is getting a World title opportunity on RAW, even if it is the consolation prize World title held by Seth Rollins. I would very much like to see this part of the world where nobody is hindering Jinder and everyone is shitting on Hook.

TK thinks he’s being clever by bitching about something online that the other guys are doing and then he sneaks in a tweet hyping up his big show. The problem with that strategy – and something that is EASILY verifiable by even the most inept social media user – is that the end result is everyone making fun of TK and calling him a fucking tool because he let one bad tweet get to him. He thinks that every bit of social media that doesn’t immediately praise him or his booking as what the cool kids call “god tier” is an attack on his very being. Is this his way of fearing for his online life or is this more of those anti-AEW bots that he likes to bring up every so often?

I wanted to give Dynamite another run. I was actually looking forward to it. But then TK had to go and be a fucking Twitter fool and now that’s all I’m thinking about. AEW has some issues that need fixing and one of them involves the guy on top. Keep him off Twitter or on a tight leash where he’s doing nothing but promoting matches on his shows and I might give this another try. I’m done with backstage drama tainting the wrestling shows I watch. I would very much like to enjoy these shows unhindered.

No pun intended.

Kevin Dunn Leaving WWE…

Source: https://www.f4wonline.com/news/wwe/kevin-dunn-reportedly-leaving-wwe

Well, it truly is the end of an era now that the old “Bucky Beaver Mother Fucker” himself, WWE executive producer Kevin Dunn, is parting ways with the company that has employed his services for close to four decades. Regardless of what you thought of the man or how he produced television, he was always a major part of that WWE machine and there’s no doubt that there will be some huge shoes to fill. Hopefully, ol’ KD will enjoy the fruits of his labor… or maybe he’ll start a podcast… or maybe he’ll be the next AEW signee to fill the void left by Andrade.

Either way, we wish Kevin Dunn the best in all of his future endeavors.

Very Sh!t Trek: The Next Generation

So the Star Trek Paramount people released another Very Short Trek… this one called Worst Contact and featuring the TNG crew making first contact with an alien race who pick their noses and are not familiar with the concept of basic hygiene. I am told this is hilarious and yet when I was done, my only question was “When does this get funny?”

I get that these are supposed to funny little shorts, but it would be nice if these things were actually funny. The only one that I remotely enjoyed was the Holiday Party one, where Spock shows off a blooper reel of sorts. I thought Clip #15 was an excellent blooper.

Beyond that… eh. Maybe next time, if you guys decide to do this again, maybe someone whose one highlight isn’t a drawn-out gag that overstayed its welcome ages ago. Hell, maybe get someone who knows how to write actual comedy. I don’t even care if it’s consistent with Star Trek canon – if you want to make me laugh, give me something funny… YOU DUMMIES!

Make it blow.

See?

That’s funny.

A Very Shit Trek

It’s Star Trek Day… apparently.

So they uploaded a new Short Trek animated thing where the captain says a metaphor and ends up offending somebody. It’s a cute little bit. And then it kept going. And it kept going. And then it kept going. And then finally the ship blew up.

What the fuck did I even watch?

Moral of the story; shut the fuck up and you won’t offend anyone.