If you have read any of my articles you may see a common thread running through them, basically how the WWE and pro wrestling in general could get better and rid itself of the same ol same ol.
I talked about a WWE/TNA war, starting up fresh territories/minor leagues with some TV time to build talent etc. and now I have thought of a third one.
Right now pro wrestling runs in prime time and only in prime time (evenings between 7-11 pm). In prime time you are competing with all the best shows on all of TV (that's why it's called "prime time").
Perhaps some programming outside of that window would be a good idea...you know when as we all say "There is nothing on." Putting new eyeballs on the shows that wouldn't normally watch because that's when Monday Night Football or CSI:ALTOONA is on.
If you are in your 30s like I am (closer to 40 each day) you remember when "rasslin'" was on Saturday and Sunday mornings, really all over the weekend if you had cable. Many of us discovered pro wrestling on Satuday mornings when we got "too old" for cartoons. I would dare say pro wrestling was built on weekend syndication and cable TV. Perhaps even moving Saturday Night's Main Event back to late night would be a good idea as well, that is where it did best.
I realize that time placement of shows isn't as important as it once was with the invention of VCR's and DVR's giving us the ability to watch whenever we want but it is still a good idea to put your show in front of as many people as possible. By having some shows on when there is less competition would give new viewers a peek at what they are missing in prime time perhaps driving them to watch the prime time show.
Now i'm not saying move Monday Night Raw to Sunday Morning Raw, but perhaps RAW AM could run at 9 am on Saturday instead of overnight, or run a "Smackdown Rebound" on Sunday afternoons, heck even some new programming wouldn't hurt, fill it with squash matches like they did back in the '80s.
What do you think?
8 comments Last one added 8 months ago — Leave a Comment
Joe Burgett 8 months ago
Dude this may be a good idea, but the wrestling company that needs more fans is TNA, I mean really does the WWE need more, the 9 million over seas and 1.5 million here mean nothing? TNA is the big worry for me, do an article on how they will get more ans, I'll be interested to see what you come up with
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jason savage 8 months ago
TNA could follow the same formula.
the WWE has appx 3 to 4 million in the U.S. tune in to RAW each week fyi, and really any sport can use more fans! you see more fans = more ratings and more $$. also as some fans stop watching you need to replace them with new ones!
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Joe Burgett 8 months ago
that is why TNa needs more, WWE is a success because of what they do, Entertainment, but TNA's MO is wrestling and they say it all the freakin time, but yet they talk to much, its like WWE 2 there, and yet they say they are not, I can't believe that myself, and they might can follow the same formula, but that would be the first one to get fans to me, STOP BEING WWE. and be TNA
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Shane H. 8 months ago
it would be a breath of fresh air if wrestling was given during the weekday afternoon hours. I work my second job on weekends so I wouldn't catch the early stuff, plus showing them early would lose out on the guys and gals who go partying and sleep in
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jason savage 8 months ago
the party animals would be able to watch the prime time shows, the weekend stuff would be for those who can not/do not. also, thanks for letting me know i am not alone in the "senior citizens" wrestling club...ha ha!
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Shane H. 8 months ago
oh almost forgot: nice to see someone older than me in the wrestling community. I sometimes feel like I'm an old guy in these things
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Andrew Southworth 8 months ago
I like the idea but in the TV business, you work to get into primetime slots. Vince isnt gonna stray too far for that. With that being said, I would do a weekend show in the A.M. hours that just replayed the best matches from RAW, ECW, or SD. No in ring stuff, no backstage interviews neccessary. Play wrestling at its finest and viewers and new demographics will be reached.
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jason savage 8 months ago
of course you keep the prime time shows, this would just be in addtion to, in order to attract new/additonal fans. i like the best of/week in review idea...they used to have a show like that in the early 90's hosted by todd pettingill.
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