WWE Network
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="red terror" data-cid="419511" data-time="1395111179">
<p>Another big night of RAW. The storytelling, definitely, but also...of particular interest, they are offering a free week of the WWE Network and are having Undertaker wrestle live for the first time in many months tomorrow night (Tuesday), so they're looking to get a lot of "free" registered subscribers signed-up tonight. They'll get that exclusive plus a chance to check out the archives and features. Smart marketing angle.</p>
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The best thing from Raw - Stephanie McMahons pants. You could almost see her erection in them when <span style="background-color:rgb(247,247,247);font-size:12px;">[spoiler]the whole Danial Bryan BDSM thing was going on[/spoiler]</span></p> -
<p><img src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Bi-JwSfIEAA0it2.jpg" alt="Bi-JwSfIEAA0it2.jpg"><br>
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<p>The Ireland rugby jersey is a very popular clothing item up here on St. Paddy's Day -- even for people who aren't Irish and who know nothing about rugby. Was cool to see Sheamus wearing that -- obviously incredibly timely. Funnily enough, I saw JBL's twitter feed on Saturday morning when he was asking his subscribers to point him to a free live stream of the IRE vs. FRA test 'cos he didn't want to sign up for a pay service. Pretty sure VKM does not approve of impoverished college students doing the same for WWE events. </p>
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<p>Ya know, I haven't followed any updates, so maybe you've heard rumours that I'm unaware, but I will say I was wincing several times during the live show, he took a severe beating and I really wondered about what the hell I was seeing. Bret Hart in the "Wrestling With Shadows" documentary mentions early in his WWF career when Dino Bravo broke Hart's collarbone and fans were giving him the business, not being able to separate when he's "selling" being hurt and when he is in-fact really hurt. I was at that actual match and was down on the floor, and I didn't think anything out of the ordinary, I thought he was acting. Watching Bryan on Monday night, I was thinking it was really-really good "selling," meaning, I think he probably took some legitimately brutal physical abuse.</p>
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<p><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/31/business/media/the-body-slam-is-buffering.html?partner=rss&emc=rss&smid=tw-nytimes&_r=0'>New York Times</a>, yesterday:</p>
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<div><strong><span style="font-size:18px;">WWE Network Is Loud Introduction to the Video Streaming Ring</span></strong></div>
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<div>And on April 6 ... the entertainment industry and Wall Street will be watching as closely as wrestling fans.</div>
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<div>Shares of the WWE, a publicly traded company based in Stamford, Conn., have <strong>more than tripled over the last year </strong>with the introduction of the subscription network and takeover rumors. Mr. McMahon, 68, controls the company, and his ambitious WWE Network could be his final act in charge, industry watchers say. [...]</div>
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<div>[...]</div>
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<div>It was also a big change for some of the WWE’s longtime partners, who were not as excited about the new venture. Dish Network, which had sold WWE’s pay-per-view specials, decided not to offer the “Elimination Chamber†event in February. On its Facebook page, Dish criticized WWE, complaining that it was not willing to adjust its costs for satellite and cable companies, “which is unfair to their customers.â€</div>
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<div>In part to placate its traditional distributors, WWE will show WrestleMania 30 through cable, satellite and telecom providers like Comcast and Dish. But the vast majority of the wrestling company’s advertising for WrestleMania 30 heavily promotes the option of watching the event through its network.</div>
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<div><strong>“Realistically, the company needed to untether themselves from the pay-per-view business,â€</strong> said Bradley Safalow, founder of PAA Research, an independent research firm.</div>
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<div>[...]</div>
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<p><strong>ONE DAY AWAY FROM 'MANIA!!</strong></p>
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<p>Here's one official betting line:</p>
<p><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://sports.bovada.lv/sports-betting/wrestling.jsp'>http://sports.bovada.lv/sports-betting/wrestling.jsp</a></p> -
<p>A pair of snippets of Warrior's incredibly long - and totally amazing!! -- HoF speech.</p>
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<p>The Jake induction was also incredible.. Check the whole ceremony if you get a chance.</p> -
<p><img src="http://www.wwe.com/f/styles/photo_large_lightbox/public/photo/image/2014/04/05_WM30_Reactions.jpg" alt="05_WM30_Reactions.jpg"></p>
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<p><img src="http://cdn.fansided.com/gif/reaction_2.gif" alt="reaction_2.gif"></p>
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<p><img src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BklXayTCcAEhbjO.jpg" alt="BklXayTCcAEhbjO.jpg"></p> -
<p>The major talking point following 'Mania was...</p>
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<p>[spoiler]Undertaker's streak ending to Lesnar.[/spoiler]</p>
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<p>...which kinda sidetracked what should have been the MAIN story...</p>
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<p>[spoiler]Daniel Bryan FINALLY winning the belt.[/spoiler]</p>
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<p>I reckon the first one was...</p>
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<p>[spoiler]Mark Calloway (Undertaker)'s call.[/spoiler]</p>
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<p>It indicates to me that...</p>
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<p>[spoiler]Calloway is hanging up his boots with imminent retirement.[/spoiler]</p>
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<p>I would have preferred that...</p>
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<p>[spoiler]Undertaker retired with the Mania streak perfect, since the "Deadman" is probably the greatest wrestling gimmick ever[/spoiler]</p>
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<p>Alas...</p>
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<p>[spoiler]Calloway is the core anchor of the "boys," a pro's-pro. He knows the tradition is to lay down on his back when the career ends. So he did the "business," the "honours," like a true professional.[/spoiler]</p>
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<p>And although...</p>
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<p>[spoiler]Many critics strongly believe Lesnar was the wrong guy to lay down on your back for...[/spoiler]</p>
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<p>I'm pretty damn sure that was...</p>
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<p>[spoiler]Undertaker's desired wish - he wanted the streak to end to a LEGITIMATE MONSTER BEAST -- and it's transparent he respects the HELL out Lesnar for the LEGITIMACY of his athletic pedigree.[/spoiler]</p>
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<p>It also makes this...</p>
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<p>[spoiler]Earlier encounter three years ago at UFC 121 that much juicier!</p>
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<p>Were these guys actually "working" at a legit athletic contest??!!</p>
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<p>It boggles the mind!![/spoiler]</p>
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<p>It makes me suspect that...</p>
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<p>[spoiler]Lesnar will be around for a while -- he's only on a one-year contract, but for the giant money he makes for all of a few appearances a year, it would be in his financial interest to keep that going.[/spoiler]</p>
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<p>...and we'll soon, maybe even immediately, see...</p>
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<p>[spoiler]Brock vs. Daniel Bryan feud for the belt.[/spoiler]</p>
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<p>The fall-out from tonight's RAW should be EPIC.</p>
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<p>Don't ya dare miss it!</p> -
<p>RAW was monumental tonight. The post-Mania Raw episode usually is the best of the year, with the vocal international crowd staying behind and treating WM & Raw as a double-header. Lesnar entered the ring to boos and CM Punk chants, and damn if Paul Heyman doesn't pull together a managerial masterpiece and almost get the crowd behind him. He is incredible on the microphone in front of a hot live audience. The mention about "children" was perfectly executed and well received. If memory serves me correct, Lesnar didn't say a single word. The whole episode had a lot of memorable moments, including a pair of huge face-turns, Ultimate Warrior got in front of a live audience for the first time in 20 years and was as incoherently insane as you might expect, a championship title-change, singles debut of a new beast Rusev, really too much great stuff to mention, and I had to pinch myself, the crowd's "you deserved it" chant at Daniel Bryan almost got me choked-up..</p>
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<p>UPDATE: Just saw this tweet...</p>
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<div style="color:rgb(41,47,51);font-family:Arial, sans-serif;background-color:rgb(245,248,250);"> </div>
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<div style="color:rgb(41,47,51);font-family:Arial, sans-serif;background-color:rgb(245,248,250);"><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='https://twitter.com/IAmJericho'><strong>Chris Jericho</strong> â€<span style="font-size:13px;color:rgb(136,153,166);"><span style="color:rgb(177,187,195);">@</span>IAmJericho</span> </a> <a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='' title="11:27 PM - 7 Apr 2014"><span>25m</span></a></div>
<p style="color:rgb(41,47,51);font-family:Arial, sans-serif;background-color:rgb(245,248,250);">WOW! Best <a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='https://twitter.com/search?q=%23MondayNightRaw&src=hash'><span style="color:rgb(102,181,210);">#</span>MondayNightRaw</a> EEVVEERRR!! Now that’s how you introduce and put over new talent. The new era has begun!!!</p>
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