WWE: Vince says company had “lousy” second quarter

WWE held its conference call today discussing the second financial quarter. Chairman Vince McMahon said the company had a “lousy” quarter, pointing to declining pay-per-view buys in the wake of retirements and injuries.

McMahon said the retirement of Shawn Michaels was expected, but the departure of Batista as well as unpredictable injuries to Triple H, Undertaker, Randy Orton and CM Punk left the company with little choice when it came to pay-per-view main events.

Buyrates for WWE PPVs have dipped this year, continuing a downward trend in buys.

McMahon described the situation as a “perfect storm” or injuries and departures.

One thing not discussed on the call – though discussed in the past – has been the internet streaming of WWE (and UFC) PPVs. UFC has taken a stand, going after websites that steal its content. WWE does the same, though it’s aggressiveness doesn’t appear to be anywhere near UFC’s.

Buyrates are down over the last decade in large part to streaming sites such as UStream, JustinTV and others. An inability to control those sites leaves many potential paying customers watching PPV product for free.

Same goes for TNA and it’s dwindling PPV market. In fact, I’d argue it affects TNA more – TNA attracts an older, more internet-savvy audience.

Report: TNA suspends Samoa Joe for one month

PW Insider reports that TNA has suspended Samoa Joe for one month after an incident backstage at an iMPACT taping.

According to the report, Joe was upset after his match with Jeff Hardy. During the taping, Joe reportedly went to the production truck where he complained to the staff, which TNA management saw as a breach of etiquette.

A one month suspension sounds awfully harsh to me, especially considering that Joe’s concern was for the betterment of the product.

If he assaulted co-worker – hey, didn’t Awesome Kong do this? – then I could understand being suspended. Although when employees do that, TNA doesn’t seem to take any disciplinary action. But being upset about the quality of their television show, seemingly wanting to better the product, well that’s grounds for action.

It’s seemed strange to me that in recent months, Joe has had little to do on TNA’s show. Along with AJ Styles, he’s certainly the most marketable, “home-grown” name that the company has. Not that I wouldn’t push RVD, Hard, Mr. Anderson and Kurt Angle, but they have to find a spot, a main event spot, for Joe.

He has face-of-the-franchise potential.

TNA: Styles re-introduces Television Championship

I like the idea of AJ Styles legitimizing TNA’s Global Championship – or as Stlyes crowned himself, the new Television Champion. The belt, seen as the second highest heavyweight belt in the company, was stagnant and really carried with it little or no meaning in the eyes of the fans – a recipe for disaster.

But it also got me thinking – does a television championship still have context in today’s wrestling landscape?

Back in the 70’s, when TV titles were introduced, wrestling was different. You had a squash match, an interview, and then another squash match. The television champion carried with it an aura of importance.

ECW and WCW carried television champions until their separate demises in the early-2000’s, but since, the title has been absent from all of North American wrestling.

Until last night’s Impact.

I like the idea of a television champion, but it has to be kept different from the world title. How? Well, it should only be defended on television. It should somehow represent “the network” … ECW did a great job with this type of angle booking Rob Van Dam as TV champion on TNN, bucking the system against “the network.”

But somehow TNA needs to make this title different.

WCW, for instance, used to use time limits in their TV title matches, often with matches ending in draws which further built heat for matches down the line.

Styles, with his talents, is the man to make this belt different and stand on its own.

TNA to offer PPV caliber show on Aug. 12 Impact

With Hardcore Justice taking on an ECW nostalgia theme, TNA has announced that Aug. 12th’s Impact will feature matches originally slated for the Aug. 8th pay per view, including Rob Van Dam defending his TNA World Heavyweight Title against Abyss.

Given TNA’s reported PPV buyrates as of late, this is actually a great idea – something TNA has had few of, lately.

The nostalgia ECW-style show may spike a buyrate. It may bring in new fans, too. People love ECW. I don’t care that it folded 10 years ago, it was a company that had a following and people genuinely cared  about.

It’s probably the only company in history to still be drawing sellouts or near sellouts when it filed for bankruptcy.

So bringing that back works. It worked when WWE held One Night Stand and it will work for TNA.

People still want to see ECW, and until it dries up, there is no need to stop going to that well.

Back to TNA’s buyrates being in the toilet – if you offer a “free PPV” on Spike, it has to be done correctly. No stupid backstage segments. No interviews that go nowhere and mean nothing. Run a PPV show – matches, matches, matches.

This is wrestling, isn’t it? It’s all about the matches.

Give guys 20 minutes.

It’d be great if Spike gave TNA a third hour to incorporate more time.

Make sure the commercial breaks fall in the middle of matches – make fans want to come back and don’t waste any time. Going to a break after a match means the action stops – make sure the action doesn’t stop.

Also, give the fans some surprises. Has Van Dam as World Champion run its course? I’m not sure Abyss is the right guy for the strap, but maybe you pull a swerve. Once in a while, swerves are OK – when you get six a show, they get old and don’t mean as much.

But TNA has a pretty big opportunity here. Show the fans that aren’t buying the pay per views what they’re missing. Make them want to buy. Generate some dollars.

WWE: Shawn Michaels on Raw?

Just some food for thought on this Monday morning …

Tonight’s Raw broadcast takes place from San Antonio, hometown of the recently retired Shawn Michaels. HBK hasn’t been advertised for the show, but he does live right down the road.

It would seem logical that Michaels could make an appearance on Raw tonight. You’ll have to tune in to find out for sure.

WWE: Hampton Beach, Hyannis, Cohasset main events

WWE will make its annual “tent” loop through Hampton Beach (N.H.), Hyannis and Cohasset (Mass.) the last weekend in August before Raw tapes at the TD Garden in Boston on Aug. 30.

The main event for the shows will feature a three-way dance for the Intercontinental Championship with Kofi Kingston taking on both Drew McIntyre and Dolph Ziggler. Raw’s John Morrison will face Ted DiBiase and Jack Swagger and Matt Hardy will battle in a submissions match.

All three shows are featured in arenas that hold some of the smallest crowds WWE wrestles in front of all year. Hampton Beach, a ballroom type building with an extremely low ceiling, holds maybe 1,500 people. Hyannis and Cohasset are tent-like venues for outdoor concerts that I’d guess holds less than 1,000 people.

I always try to make it to one of these venues every year. It’s an intimate “indy” feel to a WWE show that you don’t get anywhere else.

WWE: Bret Hart returns on Raw

It’s rare that wrestling is able to deliver a surprise.

The closing angle on Raw Monday night is a perfect example. As John Cena debuted his team, which will face the Nexus at Summerslam, the biggest name would be saved for last – it always is. Well, we already had Chris Jericho and Edge – likely the two biggest names on the team outside of Cena.

As they opened the aisle, I marked out. How could you not? I was trying like hell to predict who the final member would be – my guess? Bryan Danielson.

Boy, was I wrong.

WWE: Kane wins the first WWE triple threat

Interesting note on Kane‘s World Heavyweight title win at Sunday’s Money in the Bank pay-per-view:

Kane is the first wrestler to ever win the WWE, World Heavyweight and ECW championships all under the WWE umbrella. Big Show has held all three belts, but his World Heavyweight title reign actually came while the belt was under the WCW umbrella, as WCW champion. So, Kane becomes the first to win all three under the WWE banner.

Kane won his first world championship over 12 years ago, in June 1998, beating Steve Austin for the WWF Championship in a first blood match, only to drop the strap the next night, making his reign just about 24 hours.

WWE: Money in the Bank predictions

WWE Diva’s Championship
Alicia Fox [c] vs. Eve
I’m sorry, but I have no interest in this match. I hope this does’t come across as being “sexist” but I just can’t get into women’s wrestling – I can’t do it.
Winner: If I had to make a pick, I’ll go with Eve.

WWE Women’s Championship
Layla [c] vs. Kelly Kelly
You can’t be serious … two women’s matches out of seven on the card?
Winner: Kelly Kelly

WWE Unified Tag Team Championship
Hart Dynasty [c] vs. The Usos
I’m excited for this match. The build for this has sort of flown under the radar and I hope it doesn’t hurt the payoff tonight. Of course, I wouldn’t mind seeing this feud continue. These four young guns have been some of the most entertaining stuff on television lately.
In the end, the Hart’s need to keep these belts, at least for now. At some point the Usos will need them to keep credibility, but the Hart’s don’t drop them yet.
Winner: Hart Dynasty

World Heavyweight Championship
Rey Mysterio [c] vs. Jack Swagger
Swagger didn’t drop the belt just to retain a few months later. It’s my opinion that creative thinks their experiment with Swagger is a failed one. Of course, it doesn’t help that they had him doing jobs less than a week after he won the damn thing.
Winner: Rey Mysterio

WWE Championship
Steel Cage Match
Sheamus [c] vs. John Cena
Once again, I can’t see creative putting the strap on Sheamus only for him to drop it in the rematch. Doesn’t make much sense to me. Although, with Triple H’s recent surgery, plans for a possible Sheamus-Triple H Summerslam match may be hold.
Winner: John Cena

Smackdown Money in the Bank
Big Show vs. Matt Hardy vs. Christian vs. Kofi Kingston vs. Cody Rhodes vs. Kane vs. Drew McIntyre vs. Dolph Ziggler
I’m going to take two “breakout” guys to win their respective MITB matches and hopefully I get one correct.
Winner: Christian

Raw Money in the Bank
Ted DiBiase vs. Chris Jericho vs. Edge vs. Miz vs. Evan Bourne vs. John Morrison vs. Randy Orton vs. Mark Henry
I’ve been going back and forth between Bourne and Miz for a pick here. Both had a good build on Raw – Miz climbing the ladder and Bourne selling a beating by The Nexus – who I think make an appearance in either this match or the WWE title match.
Winner: The Miz

Lebron James joins the nWo!

Could be the best video ever made …