Excellent work, Jon. I chuckled at the whole "new era" talk during the show, especially as it dawned on me that it is only a matter of time before they take WM to Saudi. Wrote something about it here this morning: https://www.sportspolitika.news/p/wwe-wrestlemania-saudi-arabia
I don't want to be nostalgic for what was no doubt an equally shitty time period in my youth, but it does feel like consumerism has completely taken over popular culture.
This weekend was such a trip to watch from the outside. Since the Saudi deal I've essentially blocked off WWE from existing for myself.
It's fine that people still enjoy it or whatever, but this weekend was just weird. I'm glad people are getting joy outta fictional entertainment, but as always, I wish it was stuff that didn't have such awful affiliations. The idea that "Paul" (because he's such an affable fella we gotta call him Paul!) and Pritchard are "the good guys" because they're just better at giving fans what they want, and ignoring everything else is wild to me.
Then the meltdowns over AEW potentially showing the Punk footage (which is a beast of its own self destruction), with all this "how dare they!" and "how desperate!"
I’m sure you’ve considered upping the regularity of these pieces for a paid subscription model. Don’t know how lucrative it would be, but I pay stuff I get much less value from.
I was thinking of doing something where I let subscribers read a book while it's still in the developmental phase. Reading the chapters as they are completed, getting a look at the source material and stuff like that.
I get it. I love your books. With that said, I feel your voice in this community is massively unique, valuable and just fun. I also bet you have a family, responsibilities and a day job. If there was a way for you to balance it all I’d appreciate it. But damn selfish of me!
"winning the WWE championship from Roman Reigns, the last pro wrestler who actually looks like an honest-to-goodness rassler and not a theatre kid who just wants to hang out with his buddies and play video games and talk about old wrestling matches they’ve seen."
Damn. I don't think anyone writing about wrestling today can throw a fastball like this.
Also, you're absolutely right on all counts with this article. Same shit with a different veneer.
Excellent work, Jon. I chuckled at the whole "new era" talk during the show, especially as it dawned on me that it is only a matter of time before they take WM to Saudi. Wrote something about it here this morning: https://www.sportspolitika.news/p/wwe-wrestlemania-saudi-arabia
It seems inevitable doesn't it?
Absolutely—I expect it to happen by 2030 at latest
This post wouldn't have been half as educational without a Karim Zidan comment
🎶 Now doesn't that make you feel better?
The pigs have won tonight
Now they can all sleep soundly
And everything is all right 🎶
I don't want to be nostalgic for what was no doubt an equally shitty time period in my youth, but it does feel like consumerism has completely taken over popular culture.
This weekend was such a trip to watch from the outside. Since the Saudi deal I've essentially blocked off WWE from existing for myself.
It's fine that people still enjoy it or whatever, but this weekend was just weird. I'm glad people are getting joy outta fictional entertainment, but as always, I wish it was stuff that didn't have such awful affiliations. The idea that "Paul" (because he's such an affable fella we gotta call him Paul!) and Pritchard are "the good guys" because they're just better at giving fans what they want, and ignoring everything else is wild to me.
Then the meltdowns over AEW potentially showing the Punk footage (which is a beast of its own self destruction), with all this "how dare they!" and "how desperate!"
Man, people really just... Fucking hell.
I see people explicitly making the connection between ratings and whether or not something is good.
Was Big Bang Theory the best television show of the century? Or do people tend to prefer watching easily digestible slop?
There's an answer there and nobody's gonna like it.
I’m sure you’ve considered upping the regularity of these pieces for a paid subscription model. Don’t know how lucrative it would be, but I pay stuff I get much less value from.
It's a tricky balance. I do think about it, but I also want to be sure I'm producing books that can potentially live forever.
I have some thoughts about how to combine the two. Maybe this is the year to do it!
Some dudes publish books through a paid Substack - https://www.honest-broker.com/p/10-reasons-why-im-publishing-my-next
I was thinking of doing something where I let subscribers read a book while it's still in the developmental phase. Reading the chapters as they are completed, getting a look at the source material and stuff like that.
That’d be cool. I really enjoyed Shamrock and would read the Pride one in any format.
I get it. I love your books. With that said, I feel your voice in this community is massively unique, valuable and just fun. I also bet you have a family, responsibilities and a day job. If there was a way for you to balance it all I’d appreciate it. But damn selfish of me!
"winning the WWE championship from Roman Reigns, the last pro wrestler who actually looks like an honest-to-goodness rassler and not a theatre kid who just wants to hang out with his buddies and play video games and talk about old wrestling matches they’ve seen."
Damn. I don't think anyone writing about wrestling today can throw a fastball like this.
Also, you're absolutely right on all counts with this article. Same shit with a different veneer.
Too real for an actual media site I guess.
I know at least one site that would love to have you but they only pay $50 an article hah hah.
That's $50 more than I make now!
Nailed it
Got damn what a post!! I wasn’t able to write it down or verbalize it but you got my exact feelings down. Thanks for the content!
Stamford has become a “nuke the site from orbit..it’s the only way to be sure” -level toxic entity..sort of like the rest of TKO..