WWE is absolutely fukked once the part timers are unable to compete.

[Mantis Toboggan M.D.]

Theyre so self efficient now with the Network, TV deals, stadiums, big tours income, they don't need faces/stars to sell the product anymore, WWE is the star of the product. Where everyone of the talent is replaceable and aren't reliant on one or two people to generate income.

you are correct but how long is this going to be sustainable?

their core product is still the wrestling show isn't it. when people stop watching the show, what will they have left?

This is the big question: how long is it sustainable to make nothing about the product appealing so that the brand itself is the draw while fewer and fewer people tune in? Eventually the networks aren’t going to give out big tv deals for a product nobody tunes in to see, and it would surprise me if they do well enough internationally even with the Saudi money to really offset that, especially with all the bad press they got after going there last time. In the next 5-7 years, the McMahon family will have to drastically alter their business model even more than they have the last five, or I think they’ll feel the pressure to sell.

 

[Kunty McPhuck]

This is the big question: how long is it sustainable to make nothing about the product appealing so that the brand itself is the draw while fewer and fewer people tune in? Eventually the networks aren’t going to give out big tv deals for a product nobody tunes in to see, and it would surprise me if they do well enough internationally even with the Saudi money to really offset that, especially with all the bad press they got after going there last time. In the next 5-7 years, the McMahon family will have to drastically alter their business model even more than they have the last five, or I think they’ll feel the pressure to sell.

It's sustainable until fans start to reject the product in viewership, attendance, subscription and merchandise. They will still be a TV network that will still give them money to have them on their station. And if all else fails they just move everything to the network and become 100% on demand service and hardcore fans will watch regardless. They will take WM and SSlam on the road internationally knowing that's international fans are . If you think the bidding process for WM in the US is big business .imagine what it's going to be like when you have China, Indian, Gulf money all bidding for WM.

 

[Mike the Executioner]

First of all HBGOAT can carry Taker to a great match. Taker wants him to retire him.

He hasn't wrestled in eight years. Do you know this for a fact?

These two put together five-star matches when they were already old and in the later part of their careers. There's no reason for them to have another match. Undertaker's done physically and we don't even know if Shawn's kept himself in ring shape. It makes less sense than them shytting even further on the "End of an Era" match six years ago for no reason other than, "They're not dead or in a wheelchair yet, let's do it."

 

[jackswstd]

Once again the narrative is Roman is holding the entire roster back and is responsible for all the ills of the WWE

Too bad he isn’t injury prone, a pill popping junkie, or a complete a$$hole.

 

[The Intergalactic Koala]

It's not supposed to be good, pal

"You goddamn right pal. The quicker this shyt dies along with the wrestling fans who watch this shyt, the quicker I can finally MOVE on to greater pastures like the XFL. Colin can take a knee on these nuts pal"

 

[Bobby Lashleys eyebrows]

Just let it go.

 

[Kang Deezy]

What we should be hoping for is two hours weekly of nxt on fs1, taped biweekly so every other week is live

Have the uk, 205 live, and whatever women from the Mae young classic be apart of the nxt universe

It would basically be a modern version of wcw

 

[Jmare007]

This is the big question: how long is it sustainable to make nothing about the product appealing so that the brand itself is the draw while fewer and fewer people tune in? Eventually the networks aren’t going to give out big tv deals for a product nobody tunes in to see, and it would surprise me if they do well enough internationally even with the Saudi money to really offset that, especially with all the bad press they got after going there last time. In the next 5-7 years, the McMahon family will have to drastically alter their business model even more than they have the last five, or I think they’ll feel the pressure to sell.

5-7 years from now is too big of a time span to start projecting anything. Four years ago NOBODY would've thought that WWE would be landing three monster deals like they did this year, in 2014 the product was just as meh as today, booking was just as shytty and they were still relying on part timers...and out of nowhere, they won BIG anyway.

Who knows what kind of deal they will be looking at in 2023-2024. Maybe another broadcast/streaming platform shows up, maybe there's a huge merger, who knows what social media will be like and if something will "replace" it (which could change fandom and how to cater to it).

Hell, maybe the XFL 2.0 drains Vince dry again and drastic measures needs to be made.

All in all, booking and how the product is will still be a secondary problem at best for WWE

 

[MushroomX]

Its already fukked as it is. Tons of Micro Management that hides behind the facade of, "I remembered when Hulk Hogan slammed Andre / Austin 3:16; I want to be just like them!" bullshyt.

This was always Vince's plan mind you, but not one with a wrestling end game. Its an end game that he wants to make wrestlers bigger than life without wrestling; using clear cut and dry heros and villains.

Trouble is, the Cynacism of Today's world of Big Businesses being ethical along with Austin 3:16/Monday Night Wars killed that part of Wrestling.

 

[MartyMcFly]

Its already fukked as it is. Tons of Micro Management that hides behind the facade of, "I remembered when Hulk Hogan slammed Andre / Austin 3:16; I want to be just like them!" bullshyt.

This was always Vince's plan mind you, but not one with a wrestling end game. Its an end game that he wants to make wrestlers bigger than life without wrestling; using clear cut and dry heros and villains.

Trouble is, the Cynacism of Today's world of Big Businesses being ethical along with Austin 3:16/Monday Night Wars killed that part of Wrestling.

The last point you made is something I’ve thought about for a long time. They keep trying to put genies back in bottles but you can’t; after 97, you can’t go backwards. Vince and co keep trying to go back to the 80s style of booking but without the good writing and logic built into it. But rather than move wrestling forward they’re stuck in trying to power up the Delorean. And I get it. I get why you play it safe when you’re basically too big to fail. There’s no need in their eyes to innovate anything or try a different set of raw, which has been the same for 20 years, or actually listen to the fans because their getting our money either way.

If you turn off raw, I bet you’re still watching smack down. If you watch neither, you’re probably watching nxt meaning you’re a network subscriber. Then you’ve got the number of arenas they sell out and the stadiums they sell out for mania every year; it’s the super bowl now. Doesn’t matter who’s on the card people love the experience of being there and to say “damn I was there” and in a world where everyone cares about posting flicks of everything they do, that shyt is powerful.

Like it’s been said in this thread and on this board before, WWE is the star. The brand is bigger than anyone until a legitimate number 2 infiltrates. And by legitimate I mean one who’s getting tv deals to compete with wwe, not just streaming deals. There has to be an option and a choice, not just for the fans but for the wrestlers as well. All In was a great first step but what’s next?

 

[GOATpernick]

Can't believe I'm reading about HBK and Taker on Raw in 2018

He hasn't wrestled in eight years. Do you know this for a fact?

These two put together five-star matches when they were already old and in the later part of their careers. There's no reason for them to have another match. Undertaker's done physically and we don't even know if Shawn's kept himself in ring shape. It makes less sense than them shytting even further on the "End of an Era" match six years ago for no reason other than, "They're not dead or in a wheelchair yet, let's do it."

It's actually been 8 years lol. 9 by the time Mania rolls back around

 

[GoddamnyamanProf]

they want Ronda and Charlotte to headline the women's ppv because to them they are the top women people want to see, Ronda has a name and charlotte is legacy, tall and blonde.

What's Charlotte's headline match at the PPV?

 

[MushroomX]

The last point you made is something I’ve thought about for a long time. They keep trying to put genies back in bottles but you can’t; after 97, you can’t go backwards. Vince and co keep trying to go back to the 80s style of booking but without the good writing and logic built into it. But rather than move wrestling forward they’re stuck in trying to power up the Delorean. And I get it. I get why you play it safe when you’re basically too big to fail. There’s no need in their eyes to innovate anything or try a different set of raw, which has been the same for 20 years, or actually listen to the fans because their getting our money either way.

If you turn off raw, I bet you’re still watching smack down. If you watch neither, you’re probably watching nxt meaning you’re a network subscriber. Then you’ve got the number of arenas they sell out and the stadiums they sell out for mania every year; it’s the super bowl now. Doesn’t matter who’s on the card people love the experience of being there and to say “damn I was there” and in a world where everyone cares about posting flicks of everything they do, that shyt is powerful.

Like it’s been said in this thread and on this board before, WWE is the star. The brand is bigger than anyone until a legitimate number 2 infiltrates. And by legitimate I mean one who’s getting tv deals to compete with wwe, not just streaming deals. There has to be an option and a choice, not just for the fans but for the wrestlers as well. All In was a great first step but what’s next?

I keep saying over. The MNW was World War 3; Mutually Assured Destruction.

WCW was killed, but it destroyed WWF's formula by forcing it to destroy itself in the process.

 

[JerseyBoy23]

5-7 years from now is too big of a time span to start projecting anything. Four years ago NOBODY would've thought that WWE would be landing three monster deals like they did this year, in 2014 the product was just as meh as today, booking was just as shytty and they were still relying on part timers...and out of nowhere, they won BIG anyway.

Who knows what kind of deal they will be looking at in 2023-2024. Maybe another broadcast/streaming platform shows up, maybe there's a huge merger, who knows what social media will be like and if something will "replace" it (which could change fandom and how to cater to it).

Hell, maybe the XFL 2.0 drains Vince dry again and drastic measures needs to be made.

All in all, booking and how the product is will still be a secondary problem at best for WWE

To be fair, streaming hadn't fully taken over yet 4 years ago and they got a shytty deal the last time their TV contract was up so it's reasonable to think they couldn't get a deal like this.

The only reason FOX even has the money to make this deal is because Disney just handed them 70 million and they need more programming.

 

[MartyMcFly]

I keep saying over. The MNW was World War 3; Mutually Assured Destruction.

WCW was killed, but it destroyed WWF's formula by forcing it to destroy itself in the process.

Word. I mean in history how many companies have actually succeed from a monopoly? I’m sure there are a few. I thought of the NFL and the NBA but they didn’t really monopolize football or basketball. Professionally yeah to an extent but if I really want to get paid to play ball I can go out of the country or play for a minor league. And as a consumer I can watch college sports. College football is probably the second most popular sport in the country.