OAO Spike and UFC vs. USA and WWE thread

[Lord of The Curry]

Looks like Vince is taking a page out of Uncle Eric's playbook from the early days of Nitro.

[Styles]

The USA vs. Spike war on 10/3 heated up again today.

 

USA is going to start Raw at 7:55 p.m., to get a five minute jump on UFC Unleashed on Spike at 8 p.m. In addition, USA has added a fourth hour of WWE programming, a show called "Raw Exposed," highlighting the best moments in Raw's history on the USA Network, to air directly after Raw and go against the Ultimate Fighter show on Spike.

 

Four hours of WWE?!?!?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

4 hours and 10 minutes actually....this is getting out of a control. At least wrestling is getting fun and interesting again.

 

So....let's recap....

 

7:55-11:05pm: RAW (USA)

8-9pm: UFC Unleashed (Spike)

9-11:05pm: UFC Live (Spike)

11:05-12:05am: RAW Exposed (USA)

11:05-12:05am: The Ultimate Fighter 2 (Spike)

12:05am-1:05am: TNA iMPACT! (Spike)

1:05am-3:05am: UFC Live Replay (Spike)

 

Thats over EIGHT hours to watch on Monday night. Oh my.

[Guest Brian]

And for those who are thinking about getting into UFC (or just want to give it a try), the Unleashed shows shows are generally a good vehicle featuring good-great fights. The live show may be hit or miss; especially given people's tastes, but the Unleashed shows are generally very approachable.

[Spaceman Spiff]

What a brilliant plan by the WWE to pick up new viewers: bludgeon people into unconsciousness. Quivering, brain-damaged people who can't change the channel = RATINGS.

 

4 hours? Shit, 2 is usually more than sane people can stand at a time.

[Lord of The Curry]

And for those who are thinking about getting into UFC (or just want to give it a try), the Unleashed shows shows are generally a good vehicle featuring good-great fights. The live show may be hit or miss; especially given people's tastes, but the Unleashed shows are generally very approachable.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

If they can't get into it after watching Hughes' comeback against Trigg during their second fight then they don't deserve to be a fan. I swear to God the pop for that slam was twice as loud as the crowd reaction when Chuck knocked Randy out.

[Enigma]

A Best-Of 1993-2000 show?

 

I can dig it.

 

2001 is when it started getting awful.

 

And I'd rather watch the mid-90s abomination than today's dreck.

 

And how does TNA have to feel knowing WWE feels UFC is more of a threat to them than they are?

[Guest Biggles]

Hopefully this will prompt the writers to bring back somewhat quality stories and cliques like DX and the Nation. Competition brought out some of the best moments in wrestling, I hope TNA can do the same thing that WCW in terms of forcing Vince to improve his product. One thing TNA has going is very talented roster, I dare say moreso than WWE's roster right now. It should be interesting to see how this all plays up.

[Dandy]

TNA has tenure on SpikeTV over TNA. Also, the first season of TUF was gaining respectable ratings immediately after Raw. UFC has the best chance right now. TNA needs to be introduced still to a lot of people, and I'm sure that the long-term goal for TNA is to compete head to head with Raw. Right now, though, there is no need to go head to head because even though TNA is better for wrestling matches right now, they are not ready to compete against WWE.

[Guest Fook]

This Raw Exposed thing could blow up in their face. People are going to be completely burnt out on wrestling after a three hour Raw or UFC binge.

 

Remember when they used to tape a month's worth of Raws at a time and the crowd was just completely gone by the middle of the third show? Same deal, except with commercials.

[Guest Brian]

And how does TNA have to feel knowing WWE feels UFC is more of a threat to them than they are?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Hopefully, good. The longer they can fly under the radar and not compete directly, the better. They need time to build themselves up.

[redbaron29]

Is it just me or does it feel like it's good to be a fan again? I don't think I have got this excited in about four years.

 

 

From reading this thread it's sounds like Im not alone.

 

Good luck to TNA UFC and SPike.

[Lord of The Curry]

A fan of MMA? Absolutely. My level as a fan of pro wrestling dies a little more on a weekly basis. Funny how we're in a situation we've all been talking about for a while now (competition/bad ratings forcing WWE to change) and I couldn't give a shit. I don't even like TNA and I plan on tuning in once or twice to check it out.

[redbaron29]

As someone who watched UFC from it's beginnings, I admit I was one of the neysayers when Zuffa took over and made all the rule changes, saying MMA would never go mainstream. Now I have never been happier to be proved wrong.

[KingPK]

Again, Vince is going to have to do stuff like this every week and keep RAW interesting to keep people from wavering off, and I just don't think he has the horses to do it this time. He really is starting to go down the road Bischoff did with Nitro; pretty soon you'll hear JR say "Don't tune into that other show, Liddell makes Couture tap out to a triangle choke."

[Guest Brian]

Again, Vince is going to have to do stuff like this every week and keep RAW interesting to keep people from wavering off, and I just don't think he has the horses to do it this time.  He really is starting to go down the road Bischoff did with Nitro; pretty soon you'll hear JR say "Don't tune into that other show, Liddell makes Couture tap out to a triangle choke."

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Liddell + Triangle choke = ratings

 

BTW, does anyone feel like the new direction of Angle's character is trying to rip into the UFC? I haven't watched alot lately, but I noticed he's sporting the mouthguard ala Captain America and throwing the knees, and the sudden amount of edge they've given him so suddenly.

[RavishingRickRudo]

It's funny how the WWE clearly has no new ideas on how to further their product. Their big show on USA is nothing more than focusing on the past - the RAW retrospective, all the old-timers coming back. THIS is their solution??

 

Meanwhile, the UFC is trying to make stars in every single show they do, so they can build towards bigger and better fights. Ratings be-damned, there is no competition here.

[The Mandarin]

Why isn't USA airing a pre-Raw special focusing on new characters or even a program showing what went down after the switch to Spike?

[Guest Brian]

Why isn't USA airing a pre-Raw special focusing on new characters or even a program showing what went down after the switch to Spike?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

I think you're question was answered when they advertised Cena as the ninth man on their "Night of Legends".

[Styles]

"Don't tune into that other show, Liddell makes Couture tap out to a triangle choke."

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

I'd tune in to see that!

[Dandy]

Again, Vince is going to have to do stuff like this every week and keep RAW interesting to keep people from wavering off, and I just don't think he has the horses to do it this time.  He really is starting to go down the road Bischoff did with Nitro; pretty soon you'll hear JR say "Don't tune into that other show, Liddell makes Couture tap out to a triangle choke."

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Liddell + Triangle choke = ratings

 

BTW, does anyone feel like the new direction of Angle's character is trying to rip into the UFC? I haven't watched alot lately, but I noticed he's sporting the mouthguard ala Captain America and throwing the knees, and the sudden amount of edge they've given him so suddenly.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

No, I think they just told Angle to get rid of all signs of the dorky heel and replace it with more intensity. Many people (and Anglesault famously!) have clamored for Angle to play this character since shortly after his debut. I don't think there is any connection to the MMA world here, just basically saying he is the best wrestler in the world, and now he is not playing any games and is focused.

[Styles]

Foley won't even be there live. WWE: -1 UFC: +1

 

--Even though he is being advertised, at this point Foley is not going to appear on the 10/3 Raw show, at least live. He has a booking in Australia on 10/4, and it looks difficult to be in Dallas on 10/3 and make it for his booking. If arrangements can be made, and they were being worked on all morning, he would be at Raw, but it may be impossible. He'd be on Raw a few weeks later either way. Foley was on Conan O'Brien last night. He talked about getting hurt at Wrestlemania 2000 (though called it Wrestlemania 20) in what was supposed to be his retirement match. (thanks to Jeff Rozner and many others)

[Styles]

Oh and according to this week's Observer, Spike is replaying the Live UFC from 12:05am-2:10am meaning the TNA replay is delayed to 2:10am which is kind of a blow for TNA who could have gotten a lot of viewers staying over from TUF2 or Raw Exposed. This contradcits a previous release I saw for Spike's schedule which listed the Live Replay at 1 but I'll take Dave Meltzer's word for it.

[BHK]

Now also confirmed for raw according to WWE.com:

 

"Hacksaw" Jim Duggan, Jimmy Hart, Hillbilly Jim, Superstar Billy Graham, The Iron Sheik, "Rowdy" Roddy Piper, Fabulous Moolah, Mae Young, Harley Race, Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka, Chief Jay Strongbow, Greg "The Hammer" Valentine, Nikolai Volkoff and Koko B. Ware.

[Dangerous A]

Color me not impressed with that lineup.

 

 

UFC/MNF >>>>>>>>>>>>> Raw "Night of Champions".Still. By a longshot.

[Adam]

You're damn right Foley has a booking in Australia that week. On Wednesday the 5th, which is Tuesday by you guys. If Vince flexes his muscle and I don't get to meet Foley, I'll hunt that fucker down.

[Styles]

Wow, WWE had the chance to counter with an awesome match like Michaels/Angle or the Cena/Angle rematch but instead they went for more "classic" WWE "comedy" with Cena vs. Bischoff. Are they even TRYING to win the hardcore fans?

[BUTT]

They can still do Michaels/Angle.

[Styles]

They can still do Michaels/Angle.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

*just realised that*

 

hmmm....ok I guess but I'll wait for them to announce it before I give them any credit.

[Hunter's Torn Quad]

UFC's proposed show for 10/3 on Spike could be in trouble as Stephan Bonnar, figured to be the biggest draw on the show, suffered a clean break of his right hand in training and won't be able to fight. Bonnar was scheduled against James Irvin in the main event for a show that now has to be seriously considered whether it's a good idea to go forward with.

 

From Meltzer

[Lord of The Curry]

Meltzer is on PCP if he thinks Stephan Bonnar is a bigger name then Evan Tanner.

 

Fucking sucks that Bonnar is out. Get Forrest to step up and pull double duty or bring Sam in.