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When you watch a movie or TV show on Netflix, you don’t have to sit through a dozen commercial breaks.
So when WWE Raw started on Netflix, wrestling fans may have assumed that they could watch a wrestling show – or at least a match – with limited interruptions.
That hasn’t been the case. Look at the opening match of this week’s episode of Raw, for example. Asuka won a four-way Queen of the Ring tournament match, which went to an ad break after less than 90 seconds.
A second commercial break interrupted the bout before the 10-minute mark.
Wait a minute. This is Netflix! We’re not on cable TV anymore. Why does any match have to be interrupted by commercials? The move to Netflix was supposed to be an improvement, and it could have offered more of a pay-per-view-like experience with great matches that didn’t have breaks.
The same problem came up in the main event. After two ad breaks, the fans were chanting “This is awesome!” But the match didn’t feel awesome to the Netflix viewer, because the ads kept interrupting the flow of the match.
Ironically, the Netflix audience is better off when the wrestlers are talking in the ring instead of wrestling. At least when Bayley and Becky Lynch are exchanging verbal jabs, they aren’t getting cut off by commercials.
The problem isn’t limited to the ads. It’s the commercialism itself. Netflix often uses Raw to plug its other shows. The worst example came a few weeks ago when the wrestlers had to wait in the ring while a pair of comedians were shown chugging beers at ringside. These comedians had already appeared on Raw to plug their comedy show.
Is this a problem? Yes. Raw lost 1 million viewers from April 21 to May 26, according to ITN WWE’s compilation of Netflix’s Tudum Rankings.
WWE prides itself on its ability to deliver a larger-than-life entertainment experience, rather than AEW’s “here’s a lot of wrestling!” approach. But if WWE is failing to connect with wrestling fans, then something needs to change.
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Celtics' ownership move should concern Lakers governor Jeanie Buss
Lakers governor Jeanie Buss is supposed to remain in charge of the team for years even after the sale. Given what just happened with the Boston Celtics, it might only be months. When the Grousbeck family sold the Celtics for $6.1B in March, ESPN reported that Wyc Grousbeck would stay on as the Celtics CEO and governor through the 2027-28 season. Now, new owner Bill Chisholm will take over once the sale is final. That should concern current Lakers team governor Jeanie Buss, whose family sold a majority interest in the Los Angeles Lakers to investor Mark Walter. Buss is supposed to stay on as team governor for "at least a number of years," according to ESPN's Ramona Shelburne, but new NBA owners haven't been keen on waiting to take control of teams recently. Mark Cuban thought he would continue running the Dallas Mavericks when he sold a controlling interest to the Adelson family in November 2023. Before the end of that season, when Dallas advanced to the NBA Finals, new team governor Patrick Dumont, the son-in-law of Miriam Adelson, was firmly in charge. General manager Nico Harrison reported directly to Dumont, which is how Luka Doncic ended up traded to the Lakers despite Cuban's objections. It might be different with the Lakers. Walter has owned a minority share in the Lakers since 2021, so he's had a working relationship with Buss. Her role as team governor may be a condition of the sale itself. With the team preparing for a long-term future with Doncic, Walter and his fellow owners might opt for continuity in the team governor role. But in general, people do not spend billions of dollars on a professional sports team so that someone else can be in charge. Buss is in charge of the Lakers now. Recent history says she won't be for long.
Shohei Ohtani named in lawsuit regarding $240M real estate project
Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani has been named in a lawsuit that was filed in Hawaii on Friday. Ohtani and his agent, Nez Balelo, are being sued by a real estate investor and a broker in Hawaii who have accused Ohtani and Balelo of sabotaging a $240M real estate deal for a development on the Big Island. According to court documents that were obtained by Jimmy Golen of The Associated Press, real estate developer Kevin J. Hayes Sr. and real estate broker Tomoko Matsumoto say Ohtani and Balelo deliberately had them removed from the project “for no reason other than their own financial self-interest.” The lawsuit claims Ohtani was brought into the deal for his promotional value and that he and his agent pushed the founders of the project out using “threats and baseless legal claims.” “Defendants must be held accountable for their actions, not shielded by fame or behind-the-scenes agents acting with impunity,” the lawsuit states. “Plaintiffs bring this suit to expose Defendants’ misconduct and to ensure that the rules of contract, fair dealing, and accountability apply equally to all — celebrity or not.” Hayes and Matsumoto have also accused Ohtani and Balelo of trying to push them out of a similar neighboring development project. The $240M Big Island development is located along Hapuna Beach, which is rated one of the top beaches in the world. Matsumoto was supposed to be the listing agent for the properties, which average more than $17.3M each. A brochure for the project stated that Ohtani, who was called “Japan’s Babe Ruth” has committed to buying one of the 14 properties and acting as a “celebrity spokesperson” for the development. Ohtani signed a 10-year, $700M contract with the Dodgers prior to the 2024 season. The two-way star is having another monster year with a .284 average, 42 home runs, 78 RBI and a 1.013 OPS entering Tuesday. Ohtani has also returned to pitching this season and has a 2.37 ERA across 19 innings. Ohtani was also connected to a massive gambling scandal last year, though Major League Baseball determined that the 31-year-old was not guilty of any wrongdoing.
Dolphins Get Worrisome Chop Robinson Injury News on Wednesday
The Miami Dolphins may have sustained another major injury. Just days after RB Alexander Mattison fell with a season-ending neck injury, all eyes are set on Chop Robinson now. According to a report by Ari Meirov, the second-year linebacker sustained an apparent injury, and while the team has yet to disclose more information, he had to be carted off the field: Chop Robinson was carted off the field "Dolphins EDGE Chop Robinson was carted off at practice today after suffering an apparent injury during a scrimmage period," Meirov reported. Robinson, who was taken out of Penn State with the No. 21 pick of the 2024 NFL Draft, turned plenty of heads in his first year in the league: “I enjoyed it (his rookie season) a little bit,” Robinson told the Miami Herald, “but it’s Year 2, so whatever happened in the past, that doesn’t really matter anymore. I’m just focused on this year.” Robinson ranked second among rookies with six sacks and 14 quarterback hits, and he entered the season with an 11.0 sacks projection and +15000 odds of winning Defensive Player of the Year. Chop Robinson is excited about the Dolphins' defensive front He's also expected to make a big impact next to Jaelan Phillips and Bradley Chubb, both of whom will be returning from major injuries of their own: “I’m super excited,” Robinson said. “Just imagining the three of us on the field at the same time, or just me and JP or JP and Chubb at the same time, it’s kind of hard for tackles to [say], ‘All right, you’ve got to study JP, you’ve got to study Chubb, you’ve got to study me.’ And if we’re all on the field at the same time, it [can] kind of mess up the offense’s mind because they wouldn’t know what to do.” Hopefully, this won't be too serious, and while the team may err on the side of caution and hold him out for the remainder of the preseason, he'll be back out there and ready to go in Week 1.
Packers HC Matt LaFleur sounds alarm on injury situation
The Green Bay Packers added two more pass-catchers to their injury list following Tuesday's practice, as a troubling trend continues in Wisconsin. Per The Athletic's Matt Schneidman, head coach Matt LaFleur shook his head yes but said "no" when asked if he had considered cancelling the Packers' joint practice with the Indianapolis Colts on Thursday. The answer came moments after tight end Luke Musgrave and wide receiver Romeo Doubs were injured at practice. LaFleur is concerned about the ailments that have affected his first-team offense and defense during training camp this summer. “No, I don’t,” LaFleur responded to a question about whether he feels good about the Packers' health. “Right now, I don’t. We’re missing a lot of key players that are integral to our success as a football team. It is what it is. It’s an opportunity for some other guys, but we definitely had some injuries strike up at some positions where it’s made us pretty thin.” On Tuesday, Green Bay revealed that quarterback Jordan Love was having surgery on his left thumb for an injury he suffered during Saturday's 30-10 loss to the New York Jets. He's expected to return next week and face the Detroit Lions in Week 1. The Packers also hope All-Pro safety Xavier McKinney (calf) can return alongside cornerback Nate Hobbs (meniscus) for Week 1. Per Schniedman, Hobbs was still limping in the locker room on Wednesday. Green Bay was already missing Christian Watson at training camp, as the receiver rehabs from an ACL injury that occurred against the Chicago Bears in January. The Packers believe Watson will begin the season on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list before returning sometime midseason. LaFleur should be worried about having a substantial part of his roster missing the preseason. Fortunately, the injuries were dealt with early in August, and players like Hobbs and Love should be healthy for September. The issue is that Green Bay doesn't need more injuries to accumulate in the preseason before an 18-week regular season, and potentially the playoffs. LaFleur and Packers fans have a reason to hold their breath at joint practice this week.
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