There just isn't any logic to $50 for a PPV. It's stupid.
[Reply]

It's just not logical to pay that much.

Even as much as the WWE is crap having a price point like that isn't going to help attract new people to the AEW product.

Whoever came up with that idea is a dipshit, it is not 2009 anymore.
[Reply]

Ashley Massaro recently died. Her affadavit when she sued WWE includes her being encouraged by Vince McMahon not to report that she was drugged and raped by US military staff while on tour in Kuwait. Content warning - this is sickening reading. (1/2) pic.twitter.com/UFH7mvqSKW

— Chris Brosnahan (@ChrisBrosnahan) May 18, 2019

So Ashley Massaro, who recently committed suicide, was drugged and raped on one of the tours to the Middle East for the troops...Vince and others basically talked her out of reporting it because they didn't want it to affect their relationship with the military and make them all look bad.

JFC.

I mean we already knew the company and Vince were complete shitbags but this is extraordinary in all the wrong ways. Fuck the WWE and fuck Vince.
[Reply]

We shall see. There is enough buzz that it will still generate a good number of buys. The risk is if the show doesn't deliver, then the price point looks horrible.

I imagine once the tv deal kicks in and they are running more shows, you will see a big change in pricing. It seems like right now they want to generate as much as possible from PPV revenue because that's all they got for the most part. Not many shows for gate revenue yet and merch is still ramping up.

I wish the price was lower but I will be buying it to support them and hopefully enjoy a damn good show. I shelled out money to see All In in person and it didn't disappoint.
[Reply]

That's really not surprising when that happened.....the WWE and Massaro likely would have been raked over the coals and had their character assassinated in the media. That was when everyone was big rah rah military phase of the country.

Also Vince likes money and the military has a huge issue with sexual assault.

But hey if you are just now realizing that Vince is a shitty dude and wrestling is a scummy business where have you been for the last 40 years?
[Reply]

The hardcores that were always going to buy this...sure. But they are going to need more people than that for it to be successful. Many people are not going to be willing to pay prices like that when the WWE is selling their product for 10 bucks.
[Reply]

If the product is good, the pricing will work itself out. If the product is garbage, then it doesn't matter what it's priced. AEW is also going to be carried internationally so that will help a lot with overall revenue. I think the pricing in the UK is 15 GBP.

I would have preferred a cheaper price on BR Live with an option for an annual rate that would include all PPVs similar to what ROH does. That may well happen, who knows. They still need to make sure the first show doesn't suck. I think the show will be great but nothing is ever a lock.
[Reply]

But lets be real, how big is AEW's fan base right now?

I think in general wrestling fandom is down right now. Most people who watch this are going to be hardcore fans that just like wrestling. Getting those lapsed WWE fans is going to be extremely hard.
[Reply]

and the troops

don't forget the troops
[Reply]

I'd have to disagree. I think fandom for wrestling is up, but the perception is otherwise because WWE and Vince are stupid and self-destructive.

And while I never liked Massaro, what a horrible ordeal and man did they treat her like shit. Her poor daughter.
[Reply]

There is a lot more access to wrestling these days besides what you have available on tv. I can watch on demand pretty much any promotion in the world, including american indies, Japan, UK, etc. That makes it a lot easier for people to get exposed to alternatives to WWE. People seem to equate lower WWE ratings with lower fandom overall, which just isn't true these days. Some people stop watching wrestling altogether but I bet a decent chunk of the people spend the time watching other promotions these days while WWE's product continues to circle the drain.
[Reply]

:-) That might've been the worst title reveal ever, Independents included.
[Reply]

Typical Vince. Can't just call the new Hardcore Title the Hardcore Title.
[Reply]

I think it's fantastic. The crowd's reaction to it was hilarious, but after that - I was definitely digging the action. Giving the lower card guys a comedic belt to fight over is something I'll actually tune in next week to see.
[Reply]

Oh I think it'll work, I just think acting like it's something new is hilarious.
[Reply]