5 Most Insane Things Happening In Wrestling Right Now (May 19)
1. George Barrios Is Talking Smack
814029*Sh*t.
Apologies. Damn autocorrect. He is talking sh*t.
WWE's Chief Strategy and Financial Officer delivered a presentation at Thursday's Needham Emerging Technology Conference on Sunday. It was chock-full of headshot-inducing corporate buzzwords, as you might expect. Barrios droned on relentlessly about "engagement", "consumption" and, of course, "eco-systems".
Barrios then made some curious remarks about the successor to John Cena. He hopefully suggested that of the 100 or so developmental talents - which he unhelpfully referred to as the "minor leagues," forgetting that NXT is meant to be a self-sufficient touring draw in its own right - one of them will simply become the next John Cena. Then, the kicker: "The fans will pick the next John Cena".
Jesus Christ. Fans subjected chants of "You deserve it!" to the man pegged as the next John Cena for three years, Roman Reigns, when Braun Strowman attempted to kill him. They might have a different point of view on that one.
Barrios also confirmed that the company's highest average viewership is in India which, allied to Dave Meltzer's recent assertion in the Wrestling Observer that Indians are more likely to watch content for free but not pay for it, explains with soul-destroying cynicism why Jinder Mahal is getting the rocket strapped to his back.
Given that Mahal botched his way through a recent match opposite super-worker Sami Zayn, let's hope it isn't the Challenger.