Wrestling Overload?!

05/01/2018 09:38:36 PM

So the news apparently came even before WrestleMania took place: the succeeding pay-per-view events will never be exlcuisve to either RAW or SmackDown brands.

Imagine a two-show event taking place in a Sunday per month. Say, that seemed stack right? But probably given speculations of lower attendees during the shows (and even house shows) and cost-cutting on their production design (one obvious sign is no pyrotechnics) could trigger this movement. After all, it seems interesting to have around 19 to 20 PPV events, including the big 4 and that can lure more subscribers to the WWE network. But of course, with these comes risks which may deem unhealthy in their eyes.

But a co-branded PPV? Well, they have a combined large number of RAW and SmackDown superstars to be part of each and every show, right? Imagine how much of them will be underutilized as well as the storylines. Or in case they would still be part for all of them, how long will each show be? 3 ½ hours or 4? That could be long and dragging in the process.

And of course, one potential effect will be resulting into shorter-timed matches, and that affects on how the in-ring storytelling process either. Some are meant to stage a 20 or 30-minute wrestling match, while another are just good for below 15 or even 10. Looks like some bookers will scratch their heads upon executing them.

For one, the WWE's flagship program RAW has been broadcasting for three hours every single week and it takes a lot of challenge for its writers to pull off the show and keep its viewers glued to the TV set, given the show's ratings dwindling per hour. Add SmackDown that airs for two hours every Tuesdays plus one more for 205 Live, NXT for an hour, as well as Main Event and Superstars each. Hell, you already accumulated nine viewing hours for each week in that 3-week stretch. What more if you add a 4-hour show? Good luck if you didn't experience information overload moments.

Business-wise, I can't honestly have a say on it. It's kinda lucky if for each big show they will have a product that will sponsor aside from the usual Snickers, KFC, and Rocket League. And leave it to those who know better.

Let's just stick to what we might be seeing here as a fan. Imagine spending 4-5 hours for one Sunday of the month watching a jampacked cast of WWE superstars in one gigantic-wannabe show.

Argh. I guess that's one way to keep everything out there in balance, while losing the primary essence of brand extension in the process (Well, in a sense it looked like they killed it after nearly two years – just except from the fact that they are keeping certain superstars exclusively to their respective brand).

Author: slickmaster | © 2018 The SlickMaster's Files