WWE Network Will Transform the Entire Wrestling Product as We Know It

Much of the WWE's intentions for the WWE Network have leaked in one way or another over the last few years. From the logo to Legends House to the inclusion of marquee pay-per-view events, there truly wasn't too much new information presented at the 2014 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) Wednesday night. 

Despite knowing what was coming, though, the reality of what has just happened cannot my undersold. If successful, the WWE product, from top to bottom, will be transformed by this network. The entire approach, not just from a business sense but also a creative process, will be turned upside down. 

First, the obvious business changes are great. The $9.99/month rate with a minimum six-month commitment is an amazing value for diehard fans. Prior to this year, I would usually go to a local bar that shows wrestling PPVs each month to catch the show. After breaking down what we spent on beer and food each month, my roommate and I decided it would be cheaper to just buy the show (and drink our own, far cheaper beer).

At $55/month, and a few other friends coming over and pitching in, it was inexpensive for each of us, roughly $10 per person. Now, for just $5 each, we can get every PPV, along with all of the other added content. That saves a lot of money for higher-quality beer. (So long, Miller Lite). 

For the WWE, this means that PPV buyrates are almost meaningless. Whereas it was always popular fodder among the Internet Wrestling Community to see the buyrate numbers roll in each month and compare year over year, this will now be apples and oranges.

Last year was the last time we'll see one million buys for a WrestleMania. With the network launching at the end of February, hundreds of thousands of diehard fans will sign up ahead of WrestleMania to save the money. Even if they only watch WrestleMania and never view another program on the network, including other PPVs, and cancel at the end of the six-month contract, it's less than purchasing 'Mania in HD. 

Now, the creative opportunities with which we're presented are boundless. Stephanie McMahon mentioned, but did not provide any further information, about a daily studio program. This would presumably be a SportsCenter-type program reviewing the most recent week's happenings, previewing what's up next and conducting interviews with talent. 

This type of programming adds an entirely new layer to storytelling. The WWE could have "analysts" come in and give breakdowns of matches, rivalries and storylines that add intricacy to the program. Imagine Scott Stanford and Alex Riley sitting in a studio at Full Sail University bringing in Ricky Steamboat, Dusty Rhodes, Arn Anderson or Billy Gunn to get perspective on what's transpired between Daniel Bryan the Wyatt Family or breaking down who really is the most talented member of The Shield. 

This type of program, if executed well and does not contain too much promotional filler with sponsors and pop culture guest spots, could become daily viewing for wrestling fans who want to see who said what with hints at what happens next. 

The reference to Full Sail leads to me the next point: Within a year, NXT will not be viewed by fans as a WWE developmental system but rather a separate brand of the company, the way Raw and SmackDown were once self-contained programs. 

The NXT product is good. It's very good. It's new and fresh and filled with young, hungry talent that want to push for a spot on the main roster. With regular visits from the likes of Kofi Kingston, Antonio Cesaro and Big E Langston, I would often prefer the one hour of NXT programming each week to the three hours of Cena droll on Monday nights. 

I'd even hope to see the NXT product grow with quarterly specials in the tradition of Clash of the Titans, where NXT can build to and blow off big feuds. This way, when a top guy—be it Sami Zayn, Adrian Neville, Kalisto or Solomon Crowe—makes his way to the main roster, the live crowd will pop huge having seen plenty of him prior to the big show. 

Overall, the WWE Network is an exciting time in the company's history, and if it succeeds, it will transform the way we experience the product. This is not just a video on-demand service but rather something bigger, grander and more inclusive. 

What would you like to see on the WWE Network? How would you leverage this format to enhance the product?