The "Booking Committee" Thread, 2020 Edition

[mmaaddict]

I am playing a WCW Game in mid-1996. At the end of the year Mankind becomes a free agent and I intend to go all-in to sign him and make him the top card draw he should've been.

 

Two Questions as I think ahead:

 

1) I am leaning towards keeping him as Mankind, am I off on that?

 

2) Upon signing him I plan to bring in a few ECW guys, for sure Raven and Saturn, and have him as a stable leader. For a name I am thinking "The Misfits." I am pretty happy with that name, but are there better names I am not thinking of?

[Original_Broski]

Who are some realistic picks for the mystery entrant in the Casino Ladder Match next week on AEW Dynamite? I've been booking an AEW save with September data, and I'm caught up in recreating the results, so I'll use next week's show as the first one I actually book.

[CQI13]

How do you guys handle when one tag member retires, but the other one remains? Do you book the one who is left as a strong singles star? As someone struggling to find his way? Or do you let them both go - in as a package deal, out as a package deal? I have an idea where they will put another team over, and have an idea for how to write him out, but struggling with how to handle his partner.

[DrRDuke]

How do you guys handle when one tag member retires, but the other one remains? Do you book the one who is left as a strong singles star? As someone struggling to find his way? Or do you let them both go - in as a package deal, out as a package deal? I have an idea where they will put another team over, and have an idea for how to write him out, but struggling with how to handle his partner.

 

I'm actually dealing with something similar involving The Dynamite Express. However, instead of retirement, I let Syd Collier sign a big money deal with another promotion (I'm owner of CWA) because he was starting to age decline (I'm currently playing in 2031) and the team had already had 8 or 9 reigns as Tag Champs so I figured I wouldn't put the belts on them again.

 

Cam Jones still has some time on his contract, and is still popular and solid in ring, so I figured I'd have him go on a bit of a singles run...but it just never took, and he ended up like Frankie Kazarian in AEW where I used him to put younger or newer roster members over in well rated matches. However, then one of the American Cobra's became available as a FA so I signed him and had the two of them feud for a bit as former tag wrestlers who are rekindling an old rivalry but one on one. I was thinking of having them eventually team up until the other Cobra is available as a FA in a few months, but we'll see.

 

In my experience, whenever I lose one member of a tag team 'unit' the other just seems to languish in mediocrity...kind of lost in the shuffle without their partner. That's probably on me as a booker not being able to see them as anything more than a tag performer. I've considered releasing Cam to see if he signs with Syd's new promotion and they team up again...but for now I'm still playing around with what to do with him.

[Jaysin]

Who are some realistic picks for the mystery entrant in the Casino Ladder Match next week on AEW Dynamite? I've been booking an AEW save with September data, and I'm caught up in recreating the results, so I'll use next week's show as the first one I actually book.

 

Fandango

Tyler Breeze

Buddy Murphy

Alex Shelley

Chris Sabin

Laredo Kid

Matt Cross

Jay White

Juice Robinson

Will Ospreay

Brody King

[SanX]

How do you guys handle when one tag member retires, but the other one remains? Do you book the one who is left as a strong singles star? As someone struggling to find his way? Or do you let them both go - in as a package deal, out as a package deal? I have an idea where they will put another team over, and have an idea for how to write him out, but struggling with how to handle his partner.

 

I have tried few of the options other than the ones you have mentioned -

 

Let the guy become singles gatekeeper while keeping his team gimmick. I have tried this in one of my Puro Saves - Natsu Miyamae retired, so his partner Shimizu became the Dolph Ziggler of my Puro company - feuding with recently graduated young lions or new foreign guys. Shimizu was an older guy too, but somehow wasn't on decline, so he settled into the NJPW dad style vet role.

 

The second version of the tag team with same gimmick - In one of my older NWA save (Montreal aftermath) I somehow got hands on both Steiners - later on Rick retired - so I remember bringing in one of the musclehead indy guys (I don't remember the name sorry!) to tag with Scott with New tag team name - Frankensteiners. Scott settled into my UM, and the other guy got over enough to become a midcarder.

 

Another option is to let him become a member of a stable if you don't want him/her in a prominent role. In SE companies, I always have a cult like stable or one of the 'cowardly heel hiding behind his lackeys' stable to give undercarders something to do and midcard faces someone to beat. You can add him to a stable like that.

 

The rest of your options are great too.

[Jaysin]

Who are some realistic picks for the mystery entrant in the Casino Ladder Match next week on AEW Dynamite? I've been booking an AEW save with September data, and I'm caught up in recreating the results, so I'll use next week's show as the first one I actually book.

 

Fandango

Tyler Breeze

Buddy Murphy

Alex Shelley

Chris Sabin

Laredo Kid

Matt Cross

Jay White

Juice Robinson

Will Ospreay

Brody King

 

To add to my list, Bronson Reed/Jonah Rock

[CQI13]

I have tried few of the options other than the ones you have mentioned -

 

Let the guy become singles gatekeeper while keeping his team gimmick. I have tried this in one of my Puro Saves - Natsu Miyamae retired, so his partner Shimizu became the Dolph Ziggler of my Puro company - feuding with recently graduated young lions or new foreign guys. Shimizu was an older guy too, but somehow wasn't on decline, so he settled into the NJPW dad style vet role.

 

The second version of the tag team with same gimmick - In one of my older NWA save (Montreal aftermath) I somehow got hands on both Steiners - later on Rick retired - so I remember bringing in one of the musclehead indy guys (I don't remember the name sorry!) to tag with Scott with New tag team name - Frankensteiners. Scott settled into my UM, and the other guy got over enough to become a midcarder.

 

Another option is to let him become a member of a stable if you don't want him/her in a prominent role. In SE companies, I always have a cult like stable or one of the 'cowardly heel hiding behind his lackeys' stable to give undercarders something to do and midcard faces someone to beat. You can add him to a stable like that.

 

The rest of your options are great too.

 

Some great ideas. I will start planning for that and figure out the best course of action.

[jeronullet]

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="mmaaddict" data-cite="mmaaddict" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="47898" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>I am playing a WCW Game in mid-1996. At the end of the year Mankind becomes a free agent and I intend to go all-in to sign him and make him the top card draw he should've been.<p> </p><p> Two Questions as I think ahead:</p><p> </p><p> 1) I am leaning towards keeping him as Mankind, am I off on that?</p><p> </p><p> 2) Upon signing him I plan to bring in a few ECW guys, for sure Raven and Saturn, and have him as a stable leader. For a name I am thinking "The Misfits." I am pretty happy with that name, but are there better names I am not thinking of?</p></div></blockquote><p> </p><p> You could have him as Mankind. Just say he owns the traademark. Its probably not realistic but it work.</p><p> </p><p> I really like The Misfits stable name for them.</p>

[Hashasheen]

How do you guys handle when one tag member retires, but the other one remains? Do you book the one who is left as a strong singles star? As someone struggling to find his way? Or do you let them both go - in as a package deal, out as a package deal? I have an idea where they will put another team over, and have an idea for how to write him out, but struggling with how to handle his partner.

 

Depends on the talents in question. If they're lifers, I might downgrade him into a Team Dad guy. If they're just in for a cup of coffee, a short singles run to see what I can make out of him before he's on the way out permanently.

[CQI13]

Depends on the talents in question. If they're lifers, I might downgrade him into a Team Dad guy. If they're just in for a cup of coffee, a short singles run to see what I can make out of him before he's on the way out permanently.

 

Brand New company, so no history with me personally. But we're talking teams like Dirty White Boys, The McWades, Savage Fury - that are usually seen as a tag team first and only. They have enough pop to pop a rating, and obviously would look to pass some some of that popularity off to someone else from the retiring one.

[Jaysin]

Brand New company, so no history with me personally. But we're talking teams like Dirty White Boys, The McWades, Savage Fury - that are usually seen as a tag team first and only. They have enough pop to pop a rating, and obviously would look to pass some some of that popularity off to someone else from the retiring one.

 

I'd look for younger free agents that have a similar gimmick or the ability to play a similar gimmick and do a new version. Like how Hawk teamed with Power Warrior as the Road Warrior 2.0 team Hell Raisers. I'm a sucker for tag team gimmicks though

[adi95]

I has idea for Dragon Gate's sister joshi promotion, what could this promotion and their titles be called?

[CQI13]

In Japanese companies where the roster is broken up by weight divisions, do you ever see matches across weight divisions? (e.g. a Cruiserweight vs a Heavyweight)

[jeronullet]

Cannonball & Thompson into TCW

 

I just managed to sign Joss Thompson and Huey Cannonball to come into TCW in week 2 of March 2020.

 

How would you debut them? What gimmicks would you give them? Would you bring them in as a face or heel?

 

Any ideas are welcome. I always struggle with bringing in big signings...

[Hashasheen]

Brand New company, so no history with me personally. But we're talking teams like Dirty White Boys, The McWades, Savage Fury - that are usually seen as a tag team first and only. They have enough pop to pop a rating, and obviously would look to pass some some of that popularity off to someone else from the retiring one.

 

Well I'd say I'd try and see if you can make a Bully Ray out of one of them, in that case.

 

In Japanese companies where the roster is broken up by weight divisions, do you ever see matches across weight divisions? (e.g. a Cruiserweight vs a Heavyweight)

 

Singles matches? Depends on company size. AJPW and NOAH have weight classes but they can be fuzzy and people will work singles all the time. Koji Iwamoto is doing an Openweight gimmick right now in AJPW and NOAH has called up juniors into the heavyweight division as openweights before.

 

Usually you'd need a very over junior heavyweight ala Hiromu Takahashi or Jushin Thunder Liger.

[jeronullet]

Joss is nicknamed “The Big Deal”, isn’t he? Make him the hottest free agent. Have a couple different managers vie for him as a client for several weeks. When he gets the manager you like best, then you should make him a solid heel with an old-school bent, like Bobby Roode. I know some people think that’s a bland gimmick, but I’ve always found Joss bland anyway, so that works out well. Cannonball without Stardust is like celery without peanut butter for me. I guess you could make him an upbeat partying face, standing up to Freddy Huggins after he has beaten Edd Stone a few times already. Then wait for Stardust’s contract to run out.

 

Thanks for the ideas. I'm going to try to see what Cannonball can do on his own for at least the near future, but I can understand why people would view him in a tag team only way.

[CQI13]

At my inaugural event, I had The McWades vs Savage Fury vs Those Matthews Boys vs Rock City Stars for the tag title. I decided to have the road agent pick a winner and it was RCS. I'm fine with that, gives me a chance to push younger guys (not that they're that young, but younger than the other 2).

 

Well, now that I am setting up a match on my second event between RCS and Savage Fury, Java and Tribal Warrior are furious at losing. Dean and Dallas said the same thing when I checked.

 

So that leaves me with 2 and a half or 3 options.

 

1. Hot shot the titles to Savage Fury, build Rock City Stars and have them take Savage Fury down. Not against it, since I am planning on long reigns on some other belts.

 

2. The McWades screw Savage Fury out of the title, and it leads to Savage Fury vs The McWade Brothers in a "Most decorated tag team of all time" feud. This can be used after hot shitting the titles off Rock City Stars as well. Then find feuds just above Rock City's range to build them up.

 

3. Push through and piss off Java and Tribal Warrior. Could then work to bring their morale up or pay them off. Then I can go back to the second half of 2 (Occupying the 2 Major Stars teams against each other, finding other feuds for Rock City Stars).

 

For context, I have the Classic Balanced Product with Faces and Heels but not enforced. (The division is clear in my head but leaving it open for possible heel vs heel match ups or face vs face match ups). I could definitely see these two heel teams wanting to just beat the crap out of each other to prove who is better/tougher.

 

I can't control retirements and whatnot, but would this be the most compelling option:

 

Savage Fury wins the titles, The McWades attack them the following show. This sets off the Most Decorated tag team ever feud between them. During this time, I work on building Rock City Stars in popularity so the next opportunity they get against Savage Fury (or The McWades) they can go over clean.

[CQI13]

Well, either of the members of Savage Fury or The McWade Brothers could retire at any point. If the guy retiring only gives you one month, that could put you in an uncomfortable place. I would advise you to keep the titles off the retirement-age people and let the Rock City Stars have a nice title run. Then you can do your SF/McWade angle.

 

Well, thank God I went with your suggestion. Java suffered a broken neck and will be out for over a year. Technically it says 11 months, but guessing there's rehab or something? It was no one's fault, thankfully (well, mine for booking it lol) but unfortunately no surgery available. Flush with cash, so I might keep them around anyway. Should be interesting to see what happens now. I will test Tribal Warrior with other folks, but more than likely he will be putting people over.

[adi95]

I has idea for Dragon Gate's sister joshi promotion, what could this promotion and their titles be called?

 

I decided that Super Delfin will be a CEO of this company, so I need something related to water and mythology. Any ideas?

[stiffkick80]

I decided that Super Delfin will be a CEO of this company, so I need something related to water and mythology. Any ideas?

 

Try to incorporate Sirens or Amazons into the name.

[Aura]

I'm playing through a real-world save as PWFG, and I've run into a problem with my roster. Outside of my main eventers, almost everyone on the roster is considered unimportant by the fans. Not only that, but three of my stars, including my current champion, are about to leave to train for MMA fights and be gone until the middle of next year. Does anyone know a good way to fix this?

[evileddie10]

Right, in a pickle here. Doing a 2014 game, trying to set it up. Basically in this world CM Punk/AJ Lee are getting fired on their wedding day. Undecided whether to start up a game as NJPW, ROH or both or alternative idea.

 

The idea being Punk joins Bullet Club, but im trying to get it as realistic as possible, which means 90-day no compete clause. Along with the beef between Styles/Punk I am unsure how to handle it.

 

Either I have it start in April 2014 (the month before AJ joins NJPW/Bullet Club), and have NJPW make a big play to keep Devitt, which means they don't try and bring in Styles (might have Styles sign back to TNA), and then come end of June using the editor/narrative I will have Punk/AJ getting fired.

 

If I am doing this as NJPW solo, NJPW get Punk 3 months later once his no-compete is out (no Punk in G1) but he will go after the IC belt or NEVER or NWA (atm Bruce Thorpe had the NWA titles defended at NJPW often enough) at WK.

 

Otherwise, if I am doing this ROH solo, BC becomes more US focused when Punk debuts with them after his 90 days, ROH World Championship reign follows. ROH brings in a womens division, AJ Lee becomes first champion. Would attempt to convince Steen to stay.

 

If a ROH/NJPW combo save, then Punk joins both, BC takes over ROH/NJPW etc. Steen joins BC, along with Adam Cole (AKA Mount Rushmore becomes Bullet Club)

 

Alternative: Punk/AJ end up buying the NWA from Bruce Thorpe after their 90 days, being hell bent on causing issues for the WWE after being fired on their wedding day etc. (in this my user character would be Punk) This NWA would attempt to bring in as many ROH/TNA/NJPW guys as possible, along with future AEW/NJPW guys. Thinking this will be the US home for guys like Mike Bailey/Ethan Page/Josh Alexander/Player Uno/Stu Grayson.

 

Basically I am trying to figure out which scenario will help me keep this game going long.

 

Any ideas or suggestions are appreciated.

[Jaysin]

I really want to do a MITB type gimmick with WCW in 91, but a multi man ladder match is a little "too much" for 1991.

 

Was thinking of calling it the Golden Ticket, but trying to come up with a good match type.

 

Any ideas?

[The Dynamite Sid]

I really want to do a MITB type gimmick with WCW in 91, but a multi man ladder match is a little "too much" for 1991.

 

Was thinking of calling it the Golden Ticket, but trying to come up with a good match type.

 

Any ideas?

 

I mean if Dusty is around he'd probably build some crazy contraption or structure to put everyone in. Or a scaffold maybe? They loved a scaffold in those days

 

The obvious is to do a battle royal or a gauntlet but it's not very exotic.