09-19-2017, 01:54 PM | #1 |
Trickster Demon
Posts: 59,751
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Jinder Mahal has actually hurt business in India
Dave Meltzer reported recently that WWE has lost Network subscriptions in India since making Mahal champion. The initial reason for making him champ was to bolster business in India as a potential market. Meltzer noted that India has never been a strong market for WWE, even despite the immense popularity of Great Khali and Randy Orton with Indian fans.
Thoughts? |
09-19-2017, 02:00 PM | #2 |
Cranky Kong
Posts: 78,671
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Well, knowing a couple people who seem to know at least a little bit about Indian culture, Jinder Mahal's act is more insulting than representative, something about the term Maharaja itself not even being an Indian thing, and some other things that just don't quite add up accurately. Sorry to be so vague there, but I was only half listening when my friend was explaining it to me. Probably has something to do with it. Maybe Guru Dave can clear this up.
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09-19-2017, 02:00 PM | #3 |
( ._.)
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Along with what ABT was saying maybe they should have made him a face.
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09-19-2017, 02:06 PM | #4 |
Triple A
Posts: 133,040
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I don't think Meltzer said that. Just searched the observer newsletter and there's nothing about it
Just the thing someone posted on Reddit linking to a "Forbes" article saying that Meltzer said that in the newsletter... Those Forbes "contributor" articles are not really by "Forbes" also... they are basically "fan posts" that p much anyone can write... so tons of garbage gets posted and attributed to "Forbes" |
09-19-2017, 02:09 PM | #5 |
boop/bop/beep
Posts: 38,428
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Sounds like vice lol
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09-19-2017, 02:12 PM | #6 | |
( ._.)
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09-19-2017, 02:14 PM | #7 |
Large Marge sent me
Posts: 32,255
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I would like to see some real data since it's been long enough of a title reign that there should be evidence of how it has affected business (especially in India). Been genuinely curious about it for a while. Is it really that easy to break into the India market by having an Indian champ in a world of booked accomplishments? It's not like this is China/NBA/Yao Ming.
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09-19-2017, 02:48 PM | #8 | |
Trickster Demon
Posts: 59,751
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09-19-2017, 02:50 PM | #9 |
Quality Meme Producer
Posts: 19,367
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Meltzer penguins,,,,,,
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09-19-2017, 02:56 PM | #10 |
boop/bop/beep
Posts: 38,428
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Meltzer marsupials,,,,,,,
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09-19-2017, 02:59 PM | #11 |
I am the cheese
Posts: 51,092
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1. Source or it didnt happen
2. India was one of the only markets bret hart had good draws in |
09-19-2017, 03:04 PM | #12 |
Shelly Martinez = Ratings
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Is Randy Orton really a big draw in India? Seems weird, but pretty cool.
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09-19-2017, 03:05 PM | #13 |
Shelly Martinez = Ratings
Posts: 23,552
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Not sure why that jumped out at me tbh
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09-19-2017, 03:21 PM | #14 | |
Triple A
Posts: 133,040
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actually found something from an Observer Newsletter in August... confusingly worded but I guess this is what the "Forbes" post is referring to
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09-19-2017, 03:30 PM | #15 |
Celestia's Left Hand
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They found out he was Canadian.
Also Randy Orton what? WHY? Thats just weird |
09-19-2017, 03:50 PM | #16 |
Tongue my Fartbox
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Bring Khali back and make him champion again, I've never seen so much amazing coordination and ring skills since El Gigante.
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09-19-2017, 04:20 PM | #17 |
Reigning Tipsters Champ!
Posts: 2,088
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I never followed TNA, but anytime I saw a Sonjay Dutt match, I was always really impressed. The whole waking up to the India market and really focusing on smaller guys came about 5 years too late for him.
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09-19-2017, 05:06 PM | #18 | |
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I'd also like to see proper numbers, but I'm not going to be surprised, and I've always predicted that this venture into India, at least in the way that they expect Jinder Mahal to be a star there, was always going to fail. It just felt really racist and simplistic to me. Otherwise wouldn't every Kal Penn movie instantly be the biggest success coming out of Hollywood? It's a bit more complex than that, you know? |
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09-19-2017, 05:10 PM | #19 |
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I don't think being born in Canada would hurt Mahal's chances of getting over with an Indian market. There are people who identify as Indian who have never been to India at all. It's a bit of a diaspora effect. There's strong pockets of Indian people who move the Bollywood market in the US, UK, Canada and even Australia because of this. That's why if you're measuring Mahal's cultural success, I think you would be seeing it domestically too. He would be over in the US and drawing Indian people to the god-damn tapings. But he's not.
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09-19-2017, 05:11 PM | #20 |
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Ugh, I hate saying "Indian market," because I really don't think that is a thing.
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09-19-2017, 05:13 PM | #21 |
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I've always said that I think that The Bollywood Boyz will get far more over than Jinder Mahal will. Look at how those motherfuckers bump. Hated them when they first showed up and did that obnoxious "We're so happy to be here" shtick, but you've got to love them as human pinballs. Don't necessarily think that either will "draw," but I can see them getting very over and being the hotter act.
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09-19-2017, 05:28 PM | #22 | |
underground legend
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09-19-2017, 05:33 PM | #23 |
boop/bop/beep
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He is a body guy. Vince likes body guys. Vince will manipulate drawing stats in whatever way he can to push a body guy.
I dont fault Jinder tho. He has worked very hard. Tbh he is as effective as anyone else. |
09-19-2017, 05:33 PM | #24 |
boop/bop/beep
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Which is decidedly ineffective lol
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09-19-2017, 05:34 PM | #25 |
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I honestly do believe that Jinder's limitations have a lot to do with how much he can potentially draw. By all accounts he seems like a swell guy, but he is a really, really bad professional wrestler. If he's not bad at something, he's hypnotically mediocre at it. It would almost be better if he were bad at more things, because then he would at least jar people awake.
The WWE seems to do a lot of stuff to pop the boys these days. And a lot of their choices for a big push are guys who are allegedly well-liked backstage and light up a locker-room, have the right attitude, etc. Well, I used to think that must have been the case with Baron Corbin. But this is a performance-based industry -- you need to be able to turn that on in front of a crowd and draw money. In his 15-year career and 7-year stint on WWE TV, Jinder Mahal has never proven he can do that. |
09-19-2017, 05:36 PM | #26 |
boop/bop/beep
Posts: 38,428
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Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose are "better" than Mahal uet i feel the need to watch them just as little as i watch Mahal.
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09-19-2017, 05:37 PM | #27 | |
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Ultimately agree with you. Don't know why I'm even saying anything, haha. |
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09-19-2017, 05:40 PM | #28 |
boop/bop/beep
Posts: 38,428
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Maybe Vince was inspired by the drastic change in Mahal? He is the most shredded big man they have and he used to be doughy. Could just be how dramatic it is that is tickling vinces balls
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09-19-2017, 05:44 PM | #29 | |
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I've said it time and time again: The perfect slot for Mahal is being re-aligned with 3MB and being inserted into a rivalry with The New Day. At this point in time, The New Day are important by WWE standards, and they would be believable enough selling for 3MB to make them look serious enough without ruining their tone. Not everybody is supposed to be a super-serial main event threat. Another role would be teaming with Rusev again. They've got no plans for Rusev, but he's a pretty great performer, and there's that history there. Now that Mahal has been shoe-horned into a championship reign, it averages out with his previous jobber status and kind of puts him on par with Rusev. They could be a nice heel team for SmackDown. I just don't think the place for Mahal is in the WWE Title picture. Guys like Rollins may not have had the star quality needed to carry the company, but a guy like Mahal doesn't have the talent or the star quality. It is more egregious to me. |
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09-19-2017, 05:48 PM | #30 |
Resident drug enabler
Posts: 45,473
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The whole idea of using Jinder to draw in India is just mindboggling. Like Savior mentioned, it would make SOME sense if he were a face. But using the old school "foreigner who hates America" thing to actually draw people in FROM THE FOREIGN COUNTRY is... what? lol
Why would they think Indians are gonna be like "I can't wait to tune in to see that guy who looks and sounds kinda like me get his ass beat by a bunch of people who don't!" |
09-19-2017, 05:48 PM | #31 | |
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I've also got a theory that the writers often pitch ideas just to see how far they can get them. Like the SNL writing room, there is sort of this ownership of ideas where you want to see yours make air, no matter what it is. So you start pitching shit Vince is going to find funny or whatever. "Jinder Mahal: WWE Champion" may have started as a "Well, Vince likes Jinder, so I'll push this," without the sincere intent for it to work, and then it just passed every safeguard WWE has, because Jinder is well-liked, works hard, is liked by Triple H, has family liked by agents, etc. There's no way of proving that, but it's the kind of zany explanation that helps me find solace in what is happening, haha. |
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09-19-2017, 05:54 PM | #32 | |
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Honestly, I really do believe that him being a jobber is the most mind-boggling thing. There is no kayfabe reason to believe this guy is anything more than lucky. Why would you believe in him as either a face or a heel? As a face, he's impotent, because you've been told he can't win a fight on his own. Spike Dudley probably had a better win-loss record. He's Brooklyn Brawler WWF Champion. As a heel, he's off-putting, because you know he can't win a fight on his own, so you plunk money down to see him lose and a deus ex machina helps him keep the belt he shouldn't have and the heroes look stupid falling for all the same tricks. So why put down money until he loses? It's really bad storytelling, lol. Like, just from a narrative standpoint. The heroes need to look inept for him to remain champion. These stories never work. |
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09-19-2017, 05:56 PM | #33 |
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It probably would be better to push Mahal as a babyface if you really wanted him to draw in India, but the problem you run into then is that the only thing Mahal does remotely well is scowl. He's just not good enough to be a top babyface, and that is why the problem lies with Mahal's talent. It's sad for him, because he does work hard and seems nice, but how many hard working and nice people have gotten nowhere in the industry just because they aren't good enough?
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09-19-2017, 06:09 PM | #34 |
Former TPWW Royalty
Posts: 66,590
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WWE's biggest mistake was rushing him too soon for a mega push. Its a mistake they keep doing a lot and even odder if the idea was to use Jinder as a way to pander to the Indian market since they usually prefer face stars more. Think even the Great Khali only started to get over with the Indian market once he turned face.
India is WWE's strongest market in terms of viewers and for Youtube video views but in terms of money, they basically generate chump change for the company. |
09-19-2017, 06:20 PM | #35 |
I am the cheese
Posts: 51,092
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So we've decided we dont need a source on this...k.
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09-19-2017, 06:39 PM | #36 |
Resident drug enabler
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I was trying to look up numbers for the WWE Network in India and then I realized PPVs are on free TV in India. So I imagine the subs would be almost non-existent regardless. Which makes the whole idea of Jinder as champion more baffling.
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09-19-2017, 06:50 PM | #37 |
Resident drug enabler
Posts: 45,473
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Nakamura's coolness kinda started to go away when I saw that cookie-cutter face promo they had him do. It went away completely with that SummerSlam match. My God, was that awful.
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09-19-2017, 07:15 PM | #38 | |
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Vince, the culturally ignorant and arrogant fucker that he is, deserves what he gets. |
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09-19-2017, 07:36 PM | #39 |
Trickster Demon
Posts: 59,751
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09-19-2017, 09:04 PM | #40 |
boop/bop/beep
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