They could do the Cruiserweight Classic first round matches on WWE television in order to get these guys some exposure and promote the Classic on the Network. If people see these guys tearing it up, they might be more inclined to give it a pop.

I keep having visions of Vince McMahon just buying TNA and bringing over the talent that wants to work for them. Even the heat between Maria and The Bellas could be siphoned over to Total Divas. Cena & Nikki vs. Bennett & Maria could be a match on one of your lesser PPVs.

Vince could buy them tomorrow and make Slammiversary the big send-off for TNA. Galloway and Lashley now fight to call themselves the last TNA World Heavyweight Champion, The Hardys' Full Metal Mayhem match is now for a shot at the WWE World Title, EC3 vs. Mike Bennett is for a US Title shot, etc.

Don't run an invasion angle. The WWE has bought Impact Wrestling, they are now negotiating to bring its biggest stars in.

* Abyss, as much as I hate to say it, could probably generate some casual fan interest with Kane -- The Monster vs. The Demon, etc.

* Braxton Sutter can beat up The Drifter in NXT and immediately be over. His hot wife can come over and be a centerpiece for drama and also add some depth to the NXT Women's Division.

* Drew McIntyre has re-earned his stripes. If you can't get Lashley, McIntyre could be the last TNA World Champion, which is...something.

* Shaun Ricker can work NXT and be billed as The Rock's prodigy or some shit.

* James Storm; Bobby Roode -- Beer Money. Simple as that. Imagine them going up against Gallows & Anderson.

* Jeff Hardy wins the Full Metal Mayhem match and earns a title opportunity in WWE. If you have the two World Titles, you can use Jeff on SmackDown to work with Cena. I think they'd have interesting chemistry. Eventually you bring in Matt to team with Jeff and be a babyface team for Anderson & Gallows to beat.

* Jessie Godderz can work NXT and do a reality TV prick thing. Weirdly enough, I wouldn't mind seeing him in a team with Adrian Neville, who can take the beatings and then tag out to Godderz who cleans house and sets up for the Red Arrow.

* It'd be great if they could get Lashley. It really, really would.

* Mark Andrews could be a part of NXT and do some cool shit. They don't have anyone Welsh at the moment.

* They should really try and sign Mike Bennett and Maria. Damn.

* I'd personally pass on Robbie E, even though I feel he is better than Zack Ryder. Maybe they could be a goofy tag team or feud over hairstyles or something. Robbie E could be a body in NXT.

* Rockstar Spud is apparently entertaining. I'm sure he could do some funny segments with Regal in NXT. Just have him constantly beaten up until he forms a little buddy tag team with someone. Mojo Rawley? Ugh.

* Trevor Lee has got something about him. I'd start him off in NXT, but if he finds fire he could do something with or against The Hardys.

* Gail Kim could return as "The One Woman Revolution" and call out Steph for not ever giving her a shot. Yeah, I'm sure that would go well for her...

* Jade surely has some sort of value. She'd be like their female Drew McIntyre at that point.

* If you've got Marti Belle, she could help stock up NXT. Put her in a feud with Carmella to see who is more New York.

* You can keep Raquel/Gabi with Jessie in NXT and see if she gets any better.

* Rebel's ass is worth signing. She could be a Total Divas girl and have some sort of presence as a manager for someone on the main roster. A girl for EC3 or Dolph Ziggler?

* Sienna to NXT to help strengthen the division down there.

* Al Snow can head down to NXT where he can help train guys.

* Gregory Helms can potentially become a trainer or producer, or maybe even do some sort of disgrunted heel veteran run with the Cruiserweight Title when they bring that in.

* You probably don't want Reby Sky with a babyface Matt Hardy, but she could do some sort of Total Divas thing and talk about being a mother and married to a dude so much older than her. She can tell a story about how hot The Hardys were in 2000 when she was 14.

* Elijah Burke can replace Corey Graves as NXT's color commentator when Graves gets called up to SmackDown.

* SoCal Val can be a heel valet for a hot act in NXT. Or be that girl for EC3.

If they do plan to make SmackDown three hours to give each show equal weight and they can make another $20 million a year, this would be a good way to set themselves up with talent.

If Teddy Long is a GM again, I will not watch whatever show he is on.

Jesus funkin' Christ, Noid :lol:

New Brand Split era might not be strict in terms of rosters since a recent Observer newsletter teased the WWE already has set plans for RAW/Smackdown supershows to be done.

Also some speculation and rumors going around the net tease USA Network wants a 3rd hour for Smackdown, WWE doesn't want it, and most likely wouldn't happen till at least 2018/2019 since that is when the current tv contracts expire.

I'm all for Smackdown being 3 hours. Hope it happens.

There was something weird about the way Shane McMahon said "unique" in regards to the rosters. I could see some sort of shit where, say, Cesaro is exclusive to SmackDown, or Enzo & Cass can only be seen on RAW. Meanwhile, John Cena floats between both shows, because he's a top dawg.

I can totally see the WWE moving Paige over to SmackDown and keeping Del Rio on RAW with Charlotte just to fuck with minds. I might have already said this in the thread somewhere.

I was thinking last night that the WWE might just pull the trigger on a Becky Lynch heel turn at some point in the near future. She works as a babyface, and I adore her, but I can see the WWE losing patience with the plucky, pun-loving babyface. I can see Charlotte and Sasha being the stars of the division on RAW, with Becky and Nattie working a blood feud on SmackDown. And, as I mentioned, Paige will probably be there with those SmackDown girls. Bayley can get called up to whatever show needs her most.

Alternatively, I can just see them having the girls float with them getting more emphasis on SmackDown, and maybe only a filler match on RAW.

Not sure if this is the best thread for this, but is the wwe reverting back to cheesey 80s/early 90s? I watched Joe vs Finn Baylor, and finn coming out with the paint and crawling to the ring I couldn't help but lose respect. Ifind the entrances onNXT to be really cheesey and I am worried with these guys coming to the main roster for the brandsplit they will bring the cheese with them.
Another example off the top of my head is Enzo and Cass. They have a laaaaame entrance/shtick; it is catchy because it is easy for the crowd to chamt along with but holy cheeseballs batman.

Finn only does the paint and long intro on PPVs.

Was his cage match with Joe a PPV. Also, how could they call him a demon, that is gimmick infringment on Kane.

It's from the Balor part of his name being inspired by Irish folklore.

Finn is the normal guy while Balor is the demon side of the character.

Enzo and Big Cass' entrance is amazing. So what if it's "cheesey" (I don't think it is ftr) the crowd go mad for it. Y'know who was cheesey? The Rock and he was kind of a big deal.

Network Special is the same as a PPV nowadays. Have you watched any of his character development?

No, I watch wwe. Very seldomly do I tune into nxt. When I do I feel it's pretty cheesey and forced.

http://i.imgur.com/9QQLYmd.gif

yup. its all in the charisma and delivery

For The End being a PPV or "special" - it was weird they showed it on Hulu on Thursday.

You lost me at Jeff Hardy tbh :/ Any promotion he is in I can take seriously anymore.

Noid booking is great. Got a little carried away there though. Could see Vince wanting the video library and maybe a few top talents. Maybe even bring the X division into NXT.

If vince buys out lol TNA, he should have a match between the 4 sided ring and the 6 sided ring. Maybe get owen white to referee.

I would love to see the wrestler formerly known as "Derek Bateman" return to the WWE. Would he be treated differently? Luke Gallows wasn't a major player in his previous run but now he is treated like "royalty" and his accomplishments outside of the company are recognized. Would a returning Ethan Carter III get the same treatment? Bubba Ray Dudley was the promotion's heavyweight champion and he was thrown back into the tag division along with D-Von. I still have my fingers crossed for a possible singles run for Bubba after the draft. Maybe a feud with John Cena on Smackdown. He can introduce the WWE audience to his "bully" character. Beat up and bully smaller wrestlers eventually leading to Cena standing up for them against the bully.

Bully Ray is the goods. We want Calfzilla.

He'd also be a solid heel contender at any level, which they are sorely lacking rn.


really hope Rusev gets another run "at the top". He is great.

Same here. Would really like to see him done in as the one who sold TNA to Vince. Worked out the deal behind Dixies back and becomes Vince's #1.

EC3 could be a really fun act on WWE TV.

5-sided ring one-time only gimmick PPV in Washington, D.C. Calk it "Pentagon Punishment".

A five sided shape is just a square with downs syndrome

I had the feeling watching RAW that they might do some sort of non-finish in Reigns vs. Rollins to split the titles. :-\

What about having whoever wins MitB being drafted to SD! and in exchange for the briefcase, they're awarded the new world title for the brand? You could then make a 5 or 6 person SD! brand only ladder match for the July PPV while running the title feud leading up to the BattleGround and SummerSlam time frames.

It sort of makes sense, but I'd prefer it if the winner of Money in the Bank was Mr. Money in the Bank, you know?

I've also decided that I want Kevin Owens to win the MITB Ladder Match. I originally thought that it would make sense if Owens and Zayn canceled each other out and Ambrose got it, but I think you can get Ambrose into the main event scene without the briefcase. Owens can win it and keep his feud with Zayn going for a few months.

Eventually Owens cashes in at Hell in a Cell after Roman Reigns & Triple H have been defeated by Seth Rollins & Dean Ambrose. Owens has promised Triple H he'd never cash-in on his Corporate Champ, but after Ambrose pins Reigns at Hell in a Cell, Owens cannot fight the temptation. He beats the piss out of Reigns and Triple H gets back in the ring and asks him what the hell he thinks he's doing. Superkick and Pop-Up Powerbomb to Triple H. Reigns hits a Spear out of nowhere, but Owens kicks out. Reigns goess to grab a steel chair to blast Owens, but Owens hits a Superkick and then a Frog Splash to win his first World Heavyweight Championship in Boston and heads into Survivor Series in Toronto as The Ultimate Prizefighter.

WWE might be considering the idea of almost doubling the amount of ppvs done for the new Brand Split era if what Jerry Lawler stated is true.
http://prowrestling.net/site/2016/06...s-most-months/

Sounds like overkill. They'd be better served splitting up the remaining 8 or so shows between the two brands.

yeah it should be each brand gets 4 ppv andthen the big 4 not each brand getting a monthly ppv that will be crap.

Not to mention Cena. Guy was (and still is at times) about a million times more corny than anything NXT has ever done.

When I read that article about two PPV's a month I immediately scoffed thinking it'd be way too much, but then remembered that most of 'em would likely be seen through the Network. So probably not that bad. I mean, yeah, we're already over-saturated with wrestling shows, but at least it's not demanding us to splash out £15 every two weeks, so it could work.

Personally I liked how they did it before, with the brand not having a PPV that month just having a Network special or something.

I am in favor of brand exclusive special events with respect to PPV numbers not being a factor anymore. It gives talent more exposure and importance while making the 4 main PPVs seem more special.

I like the idea of having 2 PPV a month. Might bring back some of the old WCW PPVs like Starrcade, Halloween Havok, and Great American Bash. If it's going to bring more live wrestling content to the WWE Network I'm all for it.

nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

nooooooooooooooooooooo

Why not?

According to the Observer, multiple ppvs per month could start as early as this September.

Adding more fuel to this rumor likely being true is Lawler at last year's Superman Celebration event had teased about WWE plans for Smackdown to go live in the near future.

Also might be a big sign of the rumors teasing at the World title (or whatever it will be called on Smackdown) coming back are likely true as well.

Only way this works is if they legit run Raw & Smackdown as if they were 2 separate entities completely. No intermingle, no champions moving show-to-show, no referencing each other at all. It should be Raw. It should be Smackdown. They need to compete against each other & have 2 separate feels to the show. Otherwise, forget it.

Agree with rockman, I dont even want them to the Raw and Smacdown Rewinds that they used to do. Thats why I don't mind Smackdown going to 3 hours and have a PPV every month, if they want Smackdown to compete with Raw it needs to be 3 hours and treated just as important as Raw but with a different feel.

You people are insane or completely love wrestling.

I don't care what they do. Will watch the stuff I like and wnot watch all the crap.

Over-exposure is kind of a problem already though. I's prefer one PPV every other month for each brand. Forces them to try to stretch out feuds instead of running through everything in a couple months like they did with Cena-Owens. The fewer PPVs there are, the more special each episode of Raw/Smackdown become.

Simple Fan has a good idea, but they should move RAW back to two hours instead of moving SmackDown to three.

I am a wrestling fan.

Which means you are insane

That's what I was implying.

Over saturation

If the rosters are split and they don't do a lot of cross overs I don't think that will be a problem. A 3 hour Raw is going to be looked at as superior to the 2 hour Smackdown. I don't see them dropping the 3rd hour for Raw so might as well add a hour to Smackdown. As for the 2 PPVs a month I think it would be fine and if it adds more live wrestling content to the WWE Network I'm cool with it.

100% agree. Remember when fueds went for month intermingling with other fueds? They throw all the matches out there in a matter of months now and it loses the appeal after a feud has a few gimmick matches. No interest in another gimmick match between Ambrose and Jericho which is being advertised for this coming smackdown.

Yeah! Who cares about the quality of the shows as long as there are more shows! That's all that matters! :roll:

According to PWI, WWE has been contacting former WWE wrestlers to see if they want to come back and help pad the rosters for the upcoming new Brand Split era.

Either the WWE is going to have a massive overall roster or this might be a way to not have NXT be as gutted to fill both rosters.

I wouldn't mind Carlito returning and bring placed with Epico and Primo. Could also see them reaching out to Johnny Mundo to see if he's available to return. Kurt Angle should get a call a well.

Really at this point Vince should just throw a number at Dixie that she can't refuse and take their roster that way he can refill NXT after they raid it. Only a few guys and girls on that roster are main roster worthy. EC3, Lashley, Galloway, Hardys, Eli Drake, Gail Kim, Madison Rayne, Bennett and Maria, and The Wolves are about the only ones I could see on Raw or Smackdown.

Slightly amused by the lack of a Carlito profile on WWE.com.

While it hasn't been confirmed yet, sources close to PWI within the WWE are teasing the rumors of the WWE increasing the amount of ppvs are very likely true.

Rumor started after Jerry Lawler teased at more ppvs arriving as part of the upcoming changes with the new Brand Split era.

http://www.pwinsider.com/article/102...edule.html?p=1

I agree. Focusing on a single "brand-exclusive" PPV every month would be quite beneficial. It will also force the competing brand to book stronger television main events / shows.

As far as over-exposure is concerned, with talents becoming exclusive to either brand, the chances of re-hashing matches from Smackdown on RAW will be eliminated. The writing staffs will be compelled to concentrate on a limited roster and make the best of what they're presented with.

More PPVs = More Content on Network = More perceived value to Network = Increased Network Subscriptions = More Profits for WWE

It has to do with the WWE Network and WWE doing whatever they can to improve the value and profits from the network. The network is their lifeblood now. Quality wise, it will hurt the product unless they completely have a change in philosophy.

Brand split can be a terrific idea, IF (and this is a big 'IF') the WWE has learned from its past mistakes from over a decade ago.

New stars can be created, but it all depends on how and what the WWE decide to do.

But it will cost money to run the second ppv every month. Will they really be grabbing enough new subscribers to pay for it and still make a profit?

I wonder if they will do the ppv on the cheap, it will take houseshows away. lets see if the writers can keep up.

I don't think adding another PPV will hurt the quality although the quality right now is shit with a great roster. I think splitting this roster and creative not having to worry about every superstar will help the quality. I didn't like it before when they alternated PPV so I'm all for 2 PPVs a month. Like I said the only thing I use the WWE Network for is NXT occasionally and PPVs. I don't care about the other shit they put on it, I just want live wrestling.

That's the problem though.

More Content =/= More PERCEIVED value to Network =/= Increased Network Subs

What actually works:

Better or Superb Content = Increased Network Subscriptions = More Profits for WWE = More ACTUAL Value to Network = Better Stock Value/Price for WWE & Shareholders

In my opinion another PPV added a month brings more value to the Network. They usually do well with PPVs compared to Raw so it would better quality I believe.

Opposite for me. 9 hours of WWE every 2 weeks (6 on non-PPV weeks) is far too much.

I hope that the WWE actually keep the rosters in-tact and don't do "drafts" every 12 months or so. Keep wrestlers on separate shows, commit to the split, and let each show have an identity and create new stars. Have a more 'fierce' rivalry between the shows with wrestlers from each show 'invading' the other show, etc.

Bring back Survivor Series, and make the co-PPV's filled with hate and tension.

2 PPV's a month could work if the big 4 get bumped to 4 hours apiece and made to be "extra special"....

February PPV = Champ of RAW vs. Champ of Smackdown. Winner gets the shot against the RR winner at Mania.

Bring back KOTR as well
 

Leading up to KOTR, Raw and Smackdown's GM's can brag that they infact have the next big star in the WWE.

Survivor Series - both GM's brag that their top 5 would destroy the other show's Top 5.

The roster split can be a great thing, but I hope the WWE has learned from its past mistakes from 10+ years ago.

I like this idea, could use the draft specifically for NXT talent every year like a real sports draft. Could also have top talents become free agents every once in a while.

WWE recently filed a claim copyright for "Clash of the Champions." Could be a part of the brand split stuff.

The already have Night of Champions so I a guess they want a PPV for the other show to rival it.

You wouldn't have to watch all 9 hours though. Choose a brand and follow it, if you sour on that brand switch to the other. If they do it right and create two totally different shows it could be pretty good.

If they do it right, you'd never sour on either brand, which would amount to 9 hours.

What he said.

I wonder if they will have one edgier ahow and one show (cena's) more kid friendly? I think they could reach out to very different demographics that way and it woukd differentiate the products. My fear is both shows will be exactly the same with more filler talent.

Apparently the WWE have reached out to older talent to make a comeback. Helloooooooo ladies!

Maybe they will bring back Doug Basham!!!

This x1000000000000000000000 on the Cena/Owens bit alone. Those two could have had soooooooooo much more, elevating Owens higher than he is already and really cementing him as a solid, top tier heel. But no, lolcenawins.

Wrestling would change.

Danny Davis' pride and joy, baby:

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/dtHKTRit6Ss" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Bring back Nunzio while you're at it.

Pulled a Jericho and signed a short-term TPWW contract in order to come back and participate in Tipsters. Figured I'd drop in here because I've been calling for the split to come back for a really long time.

I'm stoked for it, I can't lie. I've soured on the WWE product more and more for the past year or so but I always felt like a proper split would allow them to give more guys exposure and create two shows with unique identities. I'm intrigued by the idea of it and I will probably tune in when the split kicks off to see if it can reinvigorate my interest in the company.

The skeptic inside of me says that the split is merely going to be a device to get Roman Reigns and John Cena apart from each other so that they have an excuse to hold off until WrestleMania next year to have them wrestle.

According to Forbes, WWE have reached out to:

Carlito
Goldberg
Jeff Hardy
John Morrison
JTG
Kurt Angle
Rey Mysterio
Shad Gaspard
Shelton Benjamin

Carlito makes a lot of sense to come back because he badly needs to teach his relatives how to have a personality.

Goldberg would be a shocker if he returned. Yes he's working with 2k on the next video game but it's tough to imagine that he'll want to return full-time at nearly 50. If he does come back it's to put over Reigns at one PPV and then go into the HOF next year.

Jeff Hardy has said publicly that he'd like one last WWE run before he retires, and he'd fit the bill of being a guy that is genuinely really over to help boost interest in one of the shows. If he can get out of his TNA deal WWE would definitely take him back.

John Morrison makes sense for the company to bring back but selfishly I actually hope he doesn't agree to return. I absolutely love what he's done on Lucha Underground.

Cryme Tyme having a third run with the company would be a mild surprise given the comments some of them have made after leaving. But with two brands and possibly two different tag divisions I get why they'd need another established team to flesh it out.

Kurt Angle getting one last WWE run has been something most of us have wanted but with him I'm almost uncomfortable watching him wrestle anymore because I feel like he can shatter into a million pieces at a moment's notice. By all means though they should bring him back in some capacity because he would be great in whatever they use him for.

Rey Mysterio - meh. The guy's knees are unfortunately held together by bubble gum at this point. Like Jeff Hardy it makes sense to bring him back for name value but I'd have little faith in him staying healthy. He could put over Kalisto eventually.

Shelton Benjamin is amazing in the ring still so I'd happily welcome him back even though I've been enjoying his work in Japan. Charlie Haas is retired I think but a one-off World's Greatest Tag Team vs. American Alpha match would be fantastic.

Is Charlie Haas retired? I remember him going on some sort of weird real life rampage and then retiring, but then I think he came back shortly afterwards. Did he retire again?

The Wiki machine says he's semi-retired but right now only works in local Texas promotions.

I love me some Shelton Benjamin.

Working the NWA and is currently the NWA Texoma Heavyweight Champion as well as the IWHE Triple Crown Champion. He's in a stable called Outlaw Inc. with Houston Carson, Raymond Rowe, Andy Dalton, Barrett Brown, and Black Bart.

Here's a recent photo.
http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:A...Su2ogP6UK9Mmaw

He looks really different

Charlie Haas is such a man.

Rey Mysterio coming back would not surprise me at all. They need a big Hispanic star now that they've basically shat themselves on ADR and Kalisto. I imagine Rey would want the company to bring in Ricochet, and I'm sure that he already has their attention. But in the immediate picture, Rey teaming with The Lucha Dragons to join The New Day and The Shining Stars (including Carlito) in a feud would be pretty cool.

Carlito has fought the company on money before. Just pay the guy a reasonable amount because he's one of the few Hispanic guys that has actually managed to get somewhat over. It's not that Epico and Primo don't have personalities -- the company has no clue what to do with Hispanic guys.

John Morrison coming back would be pretty awesome. He looks like a million bucks. They can put him in some movies too. I'd love to see him work with Cesaro. He'll probably either team with or feud with The Miz.

Jeff Hardy coming back is good just from a merchandise standpoint. I doubt he'd be full-time.

Goldberg has got more value than people think. I imagine he'll work a few PPVs and live events when he gets back into the thick of things. They have a template as to what to do with guys like him now.

Shelton Benjamin and MVP would each be a fine signing. I'd rather see them back than Cryme Tyme. I liked both guys in Cryme Tyme, but I feel that the window for them is gone.

The building would explode if Kurt Angle's name was called in the draft with his music plsying. My lord I hope that happens.

I'd love to see Rusev vs. Angle for the US Title. Just saying.

Cesaro vs. Angle is the dream match. Either that or them as a goofy team.

Looks like the draft is gonna happen on the first live Smackdown on 7/19