On January 15, as confirmed by WWE.  This is a good thing for WWE as people actually watch TV on Thursdays.

With 20 minutes to go, the company announced that it wasn’t launching.  My theories:

1. Sky is up to something.

2. They don’t want the UK fans to have the first month free.

3. WWE is really bad at timing things.

I’d pay good money to be at a show on the upcoming UK tour if they don’t get it launched before then.  Again, the Falkland Islands, population of less than 3,000, can get the Network but the UK, population of 64,000,000, or over 21,000 times the number of people, have it canceled 20 minutes before launch.

This isn’t so much frustrating or annoying as it is pitiful.  Either don’t announce the thing or have it nailed down before you say anything.

And that really shouldn’t surprise you.So you’re telling me that giving the Network to countries like the Falkland Islands, Mozambique, Sao Tome and Principe and Burkina Faso didn’t draw in a bunch of new subscribers? Say it ain’t so!

The number really doesn’t surprise me that much. The commitment going away is going to help as well. $60 sounds like a lot of money to some people and it might be more than they’re willing to spend. You cut that down to $10 a month where you can drop it at any time and see if the number doesn’t go up. Couple in Christmas coming up (“Mommy please can I have the Network? I’ve wanted it all year!” “Maybe Santa will bring it for you honey.”), the big season beginning and the new advertising money coming in (quick math: they need 1 million subscribers to break even right? Let’s say, and I’m making this number up, they make $1 million in advertising. That’s 10% of what they need a month already. That adds up quick) and things are going to improve.

It does amuse me that we’re seeing a complete change in the company’s business model and the detractors are laughing their heads off when it’s not perfect a mere eight months in. These are the tweaks that everyone iwth a brain knew were coming and they’ll make a big difference. The cost of running things are going to go down and the deficit will go with it. This is normal business and they’ll find a balance.

I would totally wear some of these.  Some are really easy jokes but others are amazing.

http://www.wwe.com/inside/other-possible-keep-calm-superstars-slogans

At least not for now.The story going around is that Austin said on his podcast that he was training for a comeback.  I heard the episode he was talking about and it seemed like that would be a bit bigger deal than a quick throwaway line.

Well I’m currently listening to the new one and Austin said he was training for a comeback……to go to Gold’s Gym.  Yeah amazingly enough Austin didn’t announce his return to wrestling for what would probably be the main event of Wrestlemania on a podcast with a retired wrestler that most people have never heard of.  It’s almost like news outlets jump to conclusions about stories without knowing all the details yet.

Why do we always miss this?It’s fall again and, just like every year, WWE is getting dull.  As usual, fans are annoyed that the product sucks, even though they sit through this EVERY SINGLE YEAR.  Think about it: every year the last few months are always a letdown and every single year the fans act surprised by it.  Why would you expect it to be different?  There has to be a down time in there somewhere, if nothing else just due to people running out of gas and needing to recharge a bit.

Every year it’s the same thing and every year it’s the same response.  It really should be expected by now.

….and it’s bad.They’re called Speed Force.

Speed Force.

They’re had like six weeks and they came up with SPEED FORCE?

We’re talking about the writing team today.I can’t believe I’m saying this, but it seems like WWE is actually trying to do some new stuff with some characters.  You can see this very clearly in last night’s Intercontinental Title match.

Last night we saw Dolph Ziggler, accompanied by R-Ziggler, facing Hollywood Miz and his stunt double Damien Mizdow.  Here’s the important thing: you have three new characters out there and they guys are getting some fresh mileage out of it.

Now don’t get me wrong: R-Ziggler or Hollywood Miz aren’t going to main event a pay per view anytime soon, but these guys (and Sandow) were dead in the water.  Look at Truth for example.  We’ve seen him rap his own theme song and dance in the ring while talking about Little Jimmy and hitting the same moves for years now.  There was absolutely nothing we haven’t covered with him and there was nowhere else for him to go.  You knew he wasn’t going to win save for the occasional fluke upset to set up a nothing midcard title match and the rest of the time he was there as a jobber to the stars.

Now he’s Dolph Ziggler’s buddy and I’m not entirely sure if he’s going to win or lose.  He’s still the same wrestler, but the fresh package gives him several more miles.  It’s much better than just turning him heel and having him be the same guy because now he’s a new guy.  Look back to 2011 when he was turned crazy.  It was an entirely different character and he got a World Title match on pay per view out of it.

THe same is true for Sandow but it even has some roots.  You can look at Mizdow as his ultimate impersonation and it’s actually working for him.  It’s far better to be Miz’s lackey than to be out there for a one off comedy spot that doesn’t go anywhere and you can see the payoff coming a mile away.

They’re actually trying and while I have no reason to believe it’s going to last, it’s very nice to see them throwing something new out there than trying the same things over and over again and having them go nowhere.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up my new book of 1997 WCW Monday Nitro Reviews at Amazon for just $3.99 at:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00NPPH0WI

And check out my Amazon author page with wrestling books for under $4 at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

According to WWE.com, Reigns will be out four to six weeks, likely closer to six.  The hernia has been fixed and it should be just recovery now.

According to WWE.com.  It’s due to something called an incarcerated hernia.  No word on how long he’ll be out.