Raw rating lowest since July 2012

[BigCrippyZ]

Originally Posted by The CyNick I see a major difference. A real sports reporter will actually try to get info from the source, and then possibly speculate. Never seem Dave or any of those guys get a quote from Hunter or Vince. Or even day they were reached out but didn't comment. Why? Because they don't want real information. They just want to spin their own narrative. What Meltzer and co have built a business around is outright lies and passing off the personal speculation as fact. For example the motivation behind not pushing certain guys. It would be like a sports reporter saying a GM is terrible because he didn't pull the trigger of a ficticious trade that was never presented. There are guys like that in real sports, but they are bloggers, and real media outlets would never awknowledge them because it's known they are full of crap. The problem is the Melter Bots just repeat what he "reports" as fact.

So because they don't get their info straight from the top, they're not legit reporters or don't have legit inside sources?

You can't compare real sports reporting to WWE reporting. Real sports reporters have actual access to the top coaches, players, staff, etc., through league mandated/required weekly press conferences, media days, etc. Not only that but many of the best sports coaches, teams, etc., are often highly secretive or sandbag reporters regarding game plans, deal negotiations, injuries, etc. With the exception of the NFL's mandatory injury reporting being the strictest regarding info that teams are required to disclose.

WWE doesn't have mandatory weekly press conferences or media days with the upper level executives, talent or staff regarding game plans, deal negotiations, injuries, etc. WWE doesn't want to reveal their secrets or have a narrative get out that they don't control. There's no benefit to Vince or HHH answering questions about creative plans, etc. so they don't even allow the opportunity. There's also no benefit to the top coaches, talent, staff of real sports teams answering questions about game plans, etc. The difference is obviously most are required to provide the opportunity in real sports.

Don't get me wrong, there are many WWE sites/"reporters", including guys like TPWW's own Ryan Clark who just subscribe to Meltzer's work and then re-write it and pass it off as there own like they have inside sources. Those guys are horrible. To disparage Meltzer as some kind of guy who doesn't have inside info is stupid though. His info isn't always solid but find me someone reporting on an industry as unique as pro wrestling and you'll find that often their sources aren't always accurate either.

[The CyNick]

Originally Posted by BigCrippyZ So because they don't get their info straight from the top, they're not legit reporters or don't have legit inside sources? You can't compare real sports reporting to WWE reporting. Real sports reporters have actual access to the top coaches, players, staff, etc., through league mandated/required weekly press conferences, media days, etc. Not only that but many of the best sports coaches, teams, etc., are often highly secretive or sandbag reporters regarding game plans, deal negotiations, injuries, etc. With the exception of the NFL's mandatory injury reporting being the strictest regarding info that teams are required to disclose. WWE doesn't have mandatory weekly press conferences or media days with the upper level executives, talent or staff regarding game plans, deal negotiations, injuries, etc. WWE doesn't want to reveal their secrets or have a narrative get out that they don't control. There's no benefit to Vince or HHH answering questions about creative plans, etc. so they don't even allow the opportunity. There's also no benefit to the top coaches, talent, staff of real sports teams answering questions about game plans, etc. The difference is obviously most are required to provide the opportunity in real sports. Don't get me wrong, there are many WWE sites/"reporters", including guys like TPWW's own Ryan Clark who just subscribe to Meltzer's work and then re-write it and pass it off as there own like they have inside sources. Those guys are horrible. To disparage Meltzer as some kind of guy who doesn't have inside info is stupid though. His info isn't always solid but find me someone reporting on an industry as unique as pro wrestling and you'll find that often their sources aren't always accurate either.

They are just terrible reporters. Actually, check that, they are just NOT reporters. But they like to pass themselves off like they are. Vince has done interviews in the past where he's shooting. He did the one with Austin, and Austin hit him with questions that were controversial, and Vince answered them without blinking an eye. And that was on his own Network, so obviously he's not afraid to pull back the curtain. The problem with the Dirt Sheets is that if they were to interview Vince, they wouldn't have the ability to lean on "sources say" to carry on their lies. And without the lies, they dont have the "controversies" to read about in their Dirt Sheets.

I've heard Triple H discuss backstage things in different setting. He was interviewed by Chris Jericho, and was very open about the behind the scenes happening. But what happens is when the Dirt Sheet guys get quotes that dont fit their narrative, they just ignore it as "well he's just working".

I dont know why you are hating on Ryan. Anything I see posted gives credit to whatever publication they are pulling the info from. Its the guys like Dave (there are others too, I just mention him specifically because he's the top guy) that pass themselves off as "insiders", when the reality is they have no connections to the top levels of the creative workings of WWE.

Survivor Series is one of probably 100 examples of shoddy reporting. The reports going into SurvSer was "WWE is deciding between Reigns and Ambrose for champion". When the tournament was first revealed, most people on here GUESSED that Reigns and Ambrose would end up in the Finals. I think Noid nailed the Final Four perfectly. Does that mean he's an "insider" or was it just the most logical booking? So the Dirst Sheet writers run with that GUESS and pass it off as "inside information". Then when they are WRONG, they backtrack and run with the classic excuse "well WWE changes their mind all the time, so there was chaos, and a last minute change resulted in Sheamus as champ". Why not just ask Vince or Hunter if there was a last minute change? Because it doesn't work with their narrative.

[BigCrippyZ]

Originally Posted by The CyNick Why not just ask Vince or Hunter if there was a last minute change? Because it doesn't work with their narrative.

Are you dense or do you lack reading comprehension abilities? I just told you why. They don't have access to Vince or HHH.

Guys like Jericho and Austin do. Not only that, but by going on with Jericho or Austin, (especially on WWE Network) they can still control more of the the narrative. I.e., "Don't ask me any questions about future creative plans."

I'm not saying HHH or Vince won't be honest when being interviewed by someone like Austin or Jericho, but it's always questions about things after the fact. In their interviews with HHH or Vince, Austin and Jericho aren't asking what the future creative plans are.

In comparison, you can have reporters who know people working in the company who are privy to future/upcoming creative and/or business decisions who will share them prior to them occurring.

[The CyNick]

Originally Posted by BigCrippyZ Are you dense or do you lack reading comprehension abilities? I just told you why. They don't have access to Vince or HHH. Guys like Jericho and Austin do. Not only that, but by going on with Jericho or Austin, (especially on WWE Network) they can still control more of the the narrative. I.e., "Don't ask me any questions about future creative plans." I'm not saying HHH or Vince won't be honest when being interviewed by someone like Austin or Jericho, but it's always questions about things after the fact. In their interviews with HHH or Vince, Austin and Jericho aren't asking what the future creative plans are. In comparison, you can have reporters who know people working in the company who are privy to future/upcoming creative and/or business decisions who will share them prior to them occurring.

Im not saying they should ask about future plans. I'm saying now that Surv Ser is behind them, they could ask if that was a change in direction. My point is they dont even TRY to interview the actual decision makers because it doesnt help their cause.

I know what you are saying about Austin, but Austin asked him point blank about Cesaro, which was a thing that was ongoing at the time, and Vince gave an honest answer about his opinions and why he wasn't being pushed to the moon. It just shows how WWE doesn't respect the Dirst Sheet guys as legitimate reporters, because they are not.

I can start a blog tomorrow about the NHL and get 100K followers. Doesnt mean Im going to get accredited to cover NHL games.

[BigCrippyZ]

Originally Posted by The CyNick My point is they dont even TRY to interview the actual decision makers because it doesnt help their cause.

Again, you're making an assumption. You actually think that if a lot of these "reporters" had the opportunity to interview or question Vince or HHH, they'd turn it down or not mention it?

Originally Posted by The CyNick I know what you are saying about Austin, but Austin asked him point blank about Cesaro, which was a thing that was ongoing at the time, and Vince gave an honest answer about his opinions and why he wasn't being pushed to the moon. It just shows how WWE doesn't respect the Dirst Sheet guys as legitimate reporters, because they are not. I can start a blog tomorrow about the NHL and get 100K followers. Doesnt mean Im going to get accredited to cover NHL games.

I agree that most of the "reporters" running these sites are actually terrible writers or don't have real sources from a traditional reporter standpoint. That being said, the few legit "dirt sheet" reporters there are out there shouldn't be disparaged because they're not working for a major media outlet.

What about me? I left a large, established law firm and now run my own large, successful firm. Does that mean I'm not really an attorney or less of an attorney?

[Mr. Nerfect]

Originally Posted by The CyNick I can start a blog tomorrow about the NHL and get 100K followers. Doesnt mean Im going to get accredited to cover NHL games.

But if you're the biggest game in town, doesn't that mean you must be doing something right? Doesn't the market dictate which product should survive?