The "Booking Committee" Thread, 2020 Edition

[chm39]

2 hours ago, CQI13 said:

Book "online only" storylines in your pre-show between these lower tier folks. Maybe some don't fit your company and you can get rid of them. Maybe some prove to be valuable and you start using them in your main show. And maybe some you want to keep regardless because the story/render/whatever is so good despite the fact that maybe they aren't a perfect fit for your company?

Okay I like that it seems like something that'll liven my B-Show up a bit too. 

[ArcheoOutOfNowhere]

Considering that in the hiring spree I was "forced" to do for NXT due to a challenge, I have 8 wrestlers that exclusively speak Japanese, 5 that exclusively speak Spanish, and one that speaks both but not English, would it be more interesting in kayfabe to have a manager/interpreter (that would either speak the language or pretend they understand it and speak for their clients), or to hire a Japanese/English and a Spanish/English interviewer that would ask the questions then translate the answers to the fans ?

Like, in real life, which would you prefer to see ? A manager for each individual/team/stable (for however long they'd need them if they are otherwise great enough with a mic), or have them on their own but the promos are indirectly done by a backstage interviewer ?

[neslo024]

25 minutes ago, ArcheoOutOfNowhere said:

Considering that in the hiring spree I was "forced" to do for NXT due to a challenge, I have 8 wrestlers that exclusively speak Japanese, 5 that exclusively speak Spanish, and one that speaks both but not English, would it be more interesting in kayfabe to have a manager/interpreter (that would either speak the language or pretend they understand it and speak for their clients), or to hire a Japanese/English and a Spanish/English interviewer that would ask the questions then translate the answers to the fans ?

Like, in real life, which would you prefer to see ? A manager for each individual/team/stable (for however long they'd need them if they are otherwise great enough with a mic), or have them on their own but the promos are indirectly done by a backstage interviewer ?

I'd go with the manager for storyline purposes down the road. As the workers learn English they can start to realize their manager have been lying about what they have been saying.

[ArcheoOutOfNowhere]

If it was just a couple of people, I wouldn't even think of doing anything else than managers, but in this case, and considering I also have other wrestlers with managers, that'd make a lot of those going on in NXT, not counting those in the main roster or NXT UK.
Hence the question, since it'd mean I'd have something like 12 managers in NXT only: granted, I'm probably going to need 2 brands anyway, but is there such a thing as "too many managers" ?

[CQI13]

3 hours ago, ArcheoOutOfNowhere said:

If it was just a couple of people, I wouldn't even think of doing anything else than managers, but in this case, and considering I also have other wrestlers with managers, that'd make a lot of those going on in NXT, not counting those in the main roster or NXT UK.
Hence the question, since it'd mean I'd have something like 12 managers in NXT only: granted, I'm probably going to need 2 brands anyway, but is there such a thing as "too many managers" ?

What about a mix? For the ones you have concrete booking plans for get the manager and for the rest get the interpreter/interviewer. On TV it's easily accomplished with the subtitles, but for in game ratings I do think the bilingual interviewer is pretty neat.

[ArcheoOutOfNowhere]

That could be a good solution indeed ! At least on the Spanish side, it would be easy enough: if I decide to keep Melissa Santos as Dralistico's manager, I can always hire Charly Caruso, or if I want to also use the opportunity to give a chance to lesser known workers, Sam Leterna.

For Japanese workers, however, I'm probably screwed as there are no bilingual Japanese-English workers that could fit the role... well, I guess apart from Miho Abe (who's unavailable for a year since she's under an exclusive written contract) and Funaki for a rerun of "Smackdown N#1 Announcer".

[Jaysin]

9 hours ago, ArcheoOutOfNowhere said:

That could be a good solution indeed ! At least on the Spanish side, it would be easy enough: if I decide to keep Melissa Santos as Dralistico's manager, I can always hire Charly Caruso, or if I want to also use the opportunity to give a chance to lesser known workers, Sam Leterna.

For Japanese workers, however, I'm probably screwed as there are no bilingual Japanese-English workers that could fit the role... well, I guess apart from Miho Abe (who's unavailable for a year since she's under an exclusive written contract) and Funaki for a rerun of "Smackdown N#1 Announcer".

Is Sonny Onoo in the database? He has acted as a middle man between American and Japanese companies and could easily be a manager again. 

[ArcheoOutOfNowhere]

He isn't, no, but since as far as I know he hasn't been active for a good 20 years, I'd have absolutely no idea whatsoever on the pop I should give him.

Current plans has me giving Alundra Blayze (who apparently speaks a bit of Japanese according to the mod) to a stable of four joshi (VENY, RIsa Sera, Suzu Suzuki and Maya Yukihi), with the storyline of Regal hiring Blayze as an assistant for the Women Division and her bringing the four to NXT. While this happens, Natsu Tsumire is going to join Toxic Attraction as a "cousin" of Mandy Rose, and I'll probably have the two stables in a WarGames, with Tsumire being absolutely terrified of the idea since she's well aware how violent those four can become.
Naoya Nomura will get Taka Michinoku as a manager, who'll eventually betray him, frustrated that Nomura isn't using all the ropes he can and is way too honourable for Taka's liking.
For Natsumi Apache, I'll use the fact she's also fluent in Spanish to pair her with El Santo Jr. and have either Hector Guerrero manage the both of them, or someone like Principe Orion (Jose the Assistant) or Sam Leterna playing a "management hired them to help this new stars" gimmick. I might even have Dominik go back to NXT and create a "heir to legendary lucha families" stable since I won't have Judgement Day for a while in this save anyway.

So now, for non-English speaking workers, I only have to think about who could speak for Estrella Divina (who I randomly picked since I was challenged to hire a luchadora), and maybe someone for "Fortaleza" (the team name I'll give to Feroz and Leon), Katrina Cortez and Ikemen Jiro if I decide not to use Jacket in Time.

[MidKnightDreary]

What about using Jiro as a "young boy" for shinsuke?

Estrella Divina , put her under a mask as "Maxima" and pair her with Axiom

Have Fortaleza work as backup for Rok-C, to keep her title with all these other factions running around
 

[ArcheoOutOfNowhere]

I'm using a January 2022 mod, so Axiom doesn't exist and A-Kid probably will stay in NXT UK for now, as that roster is gutted and will need talented names with enough pop to let me build up new names.
As for Fortaleza, they'll probably be heels for now as I have enough face teams already, but since Roxanne Perez doesn't have the title yet, she doesn't need protection as of yet.

I like the idea for Jiro, though ! I was considering pairing him with Session Moth Martina, but having him with Nakamura might work better, although it might be a bit early to call him up.

[Tterrag]

I have no idea how to book BHOTWG's Best of the Super Juniors or the leadup to it; I have an idea that I want the final to be Sensational Dragon and Crimson Ghost, who seems to be the beneficiary of an insane destiny roll because half the locker room keeps offering to put him over, but I'm not really sure of the best way to book the tournament itself, or how best to use the tour shows to build up to it. I had this thought of using the last couple shows before BOTSJ proper as like a qualifying round and maybe the tournament PPV is like top 8 or top 16 but otherwise I'm a bit stumped and would welcome ideas. Especially because everyone who ISN'T in the tournament is gonna get pissed off even if they aren't super juniors

[ArcheoOutOfNowhere]

Honestly, the round robin idea is usually what I'd go for as well: not only is it an easy way to power through a couple of months without needing too much thought, but it also allows you to find new chemistries, realise who work well with who, and it often creates storylines because you end up booking matches you never thought of before. And since (if I remember correctly, as I never play the CVerse) you're booking a Japanese company, nobody would blink an eye if non-Junior wrestlers have tag matches or something "meaningless" so that they're still being used.
Basically, sometimes keeping it simple and close to what would happen in real life is the best way to go.

[Editor6]

On 1/16/2023 at 6:14 PM, Tterrag said:

I have no idea how to book BHOTWG's Best of the Super Juniors or the leadup to it; I have an idea that I want the final to be Sensational Dragon and Crimson Ghost, who seems to be the beneficiary of an insane destiny roll because half the locker room keeps offering to put him over, but I'm not really sure of the best way to book the tournament itself, or how best to use the tour shows to build up to it. I had this thought of using the last couple shows before BOTSJ proper as like a qualifying round and maybe the tournament PPV is like top 8 or top 16 but otherwise I'm a bit stumped and would welcome ideas. Especially because everyone who ISN'T in the tournament is gonna get pissed off even if they aren't super juniors

Having done this, I agree with the others. A round robin gets you more potential for stories down the road.

But what I do is four groups of four -- two groups wrestle on one tour show, the other two the next show, and so on. The group winners meet in an elimination semifinal and finals at the BOTSJ, and the final is always the main event. I also give the junior tag champs a defense and fill out the rest of the card with whatever.

[Jaysin]

I'm a sucker for tournaments/accomplishments and have quite a few planned for my WCW 92 save. Looking for help on making them different enough. Here's what I have created, but haven't started the actual save yet. I have ideas for some, so I'm putting them too just in case someone suggests something similar to what I have. 

Batlebowl- Takes place in November, winner faces World Champ at Starrcade in December

Casino Battle Royale- Held at Halloween Havoc, which is going to be in Vegas every year at MGM Grand. My idea is that it'll be a 25 man battle royal where the 25th man is a "wild card/joker", mystery entrant. Not sure what the winner would get? Maybe a US title match at Battlebowl in November?

Crockett Cup- A main event tag team tournament at SuperBrawl, winner gets a world tag title shot at the March ppv

Nintendo Top Ten- I am using the Wrestle Kingdom name for my Japan supershows and figured I'd use WCW's Nintendo Top Ten name. Considering having two five way singles matches with the winners facing each other, but any ideas would be helpful on this one. 

O'Connor Memorial Cup- a midcard tag tournament held at Starrcade where the winning team gets a US tag title shot in January

Revolution Rumble- I love the name and it's going to take place at Great American Bash. I have no idea what to do with this match. I already have two battle royals, but maybe the winner gets a TV title shot?

Spring Break-Out- A tournament for younger talents held at Spring Stampede. Basically WCW's version of New Japan's Young Lions Cup. 

I also want to use the Bunkhouse Stampede name, but not sure how to work it in. Considered using the Bunkhouse Stampede name to use for a crude 92 version of the Elimination Chamber, but not real sure. 

[ArcheoOutOfNowhere]

For the Nintendo Top Ten, you could theorically pick the 10 men who had the most victories since the last Top Ten, then a 5v5 elimination match where the winning team then is qualified for a ladder match with a champion of your choice, or a "Money in the Bank" kind of thing maybe ? The other option would be a Gauntlet-like tournament, where each show the current "holder" of something (a briefcase, a ring, a clock, whatever) has to defend it against one of the 9 other men: whoever holds the thingy in the end gets a World title shot.

For Revolution Rumble, it would depend on who you want to use in it: if they're only midcarders or at most Upper Midcarders, then yes maybe a match for the TV Title. If you intend to also use top guys in it, I'd say a shot for the title of their choices, with maybe picking the match type as well ? You could also use the "Gauntlet" type of tournament for this, I suppose.

I'd also go with an Elimination Chamber type of match for Bunkhouse Stampede, although "Bunkhouse" doesn't sound as ominous as you'd want for that type of match. The other option, because bunkhouses make me think of summer camps, would be a Mixed Match Challenge type of thing, but I don't know if you have a women division worth the gimmick or if you intend to use it.

[MidKnightDreary]

On 1/21/2023 at 9:26 PM, Jaysin said:

 

Revolution Rumble- I love the name and it's going to take place at Great American Bash. I have no idea what to do with this match. I already have two battle royals, but maybe the winner gets a TV title shot?

 

Maybe Revolution Rumble can either have 2 winners who get a tag title shot??

Alternatively, have it be for a TV or US shot, but only people who have never been a singles champion can enter.

[Jaysin]

4 hours ago, MidKnightDreary said:

Maybe Revolution Rumble can either have 2 winners who get a tag title shot??

Alternatively, have it be for a TV or US shot, but only people who have never been a singles champion can enter

I like the 2 winners idea, but sadly you can't have more than 1 winner in a battle royal

[ArcheoOutOfNowhere]

Theorically, you could simulate it by having two matches that, in game, would be one after the other, but in kayfabe would be simultaneous. However, that'd mean you'd need to cut the starpower by two for matches that already aren't always giving great results in the first place, if I remember correctly.

[MidKnightDreary]

Just use the winner overall (for  bragging rights?) and then the runner-up

[St. Templar]

11 hours ago, MidKnightDreary said:

Just use the winner overall (for  bragging rights?) and then the runner-up

What I was going to suggest.

St.T

 

[d12345]

Do you all end story-lines when they're super hot if it's after the main match has been completed? Or do you milk it with rematches until it cools off? I've got a Nicky Champion vs Jay Chord story-line that's at 95 heat, but the point of the story was Jay Chord taking the World title from Nicky and that just happened in a highly rated match.

Should I rematch it and ride the hot story wave or end it at 95 heat and move on to the next?

[Markw]

53 minutes ago, d12345 said:

Do you all end story-lines when they're super hot if it's after the main match has been completed? Or do you milk it with rematches until it cools off? I've got a Nicky Champion vs Jay Chord story-line that's at 95 heat, but the point of the story was Jay Chord taking the World title from Nicky and that just happened in a highly rated match.

Should I rematch it and ride the hot story wave or end it at 95 heat and move on to the next?

I'd always just finish it when I planned to finish it personally. Chord vs. Champion is going to be great when you revisit it, no need to drag the feud out past what you intended.

[CreativeLeader81]

Sorry if this is the wrong thread but...

What product base could allow me to use the match types with the most "prestige" (I believe that's the word), without getting any penalty from the fans? I think was thinking "No Style-style"?

[RedneckCletis]

Currently playing a rtg game in Japan. Almost four years in and Big Boss Emperor has returned from excursion. I really want to push a monster for variety at the top of the card but BBE has seemingly capped at 68 brawling and mid 70s Psychology. Would you consider him good enough to main event in a company priding itself on in ring performance? Also not sold on the name Big Boss Emperor. It's kinda goofy but at the same time it's similar to Big Van Vader so I might get used to it.

 

Edited February 10, 2023 by RedneckCletis

[dstephe4]

I'm hiring Malakai Black / Alistair Black / Tommy End. As usual he will have his face adorned with black and white corpse paint, he'll be head to toe in black and covered in a mixture of Satanic and Death Metal symbols.

He will be a natural Heel for the Bible-loving traditionalists that make up my company's fanbase.

I want more people like him to build a stable, with Black as leader. Corpse paint is essential. Who would you recommend?

I was thinking someone like Derby Allin, except he seems to be a mix between Sting and a skateboarding Bart Simpson. I may still include him though, and burn his skateboard in front of him lol

Who else can people recommend with a look that'd complement Tommy Black in a stable?