WWE: Pay-Per-View Fans Lack Enthusiasm, Interest

Over the years, a noticeable trend has taken place among fans at live WWE events. 

It's not that most of the grown men hate John Cena but love CM Punk.  It's not that they are growing tired of the same old song and dance, and it's not that they are sick of the food being offered to them.

What's being noticed more and more is the lack of enthusiasm that fans at pay-per-view events display. 

The problem didn't start this year.  It's something I began to notice last year around Bragging Rights, when I was first able to watch such events.

When you think of wrestling fans, you picture the loud, obnoxious guys screaming at every single competitor for no good reason, and it's always questionable whether they've had a little too much to drink that night.

Gone are the days where superstars had to worry about somebody jumping over the guardrail and attacking the talent just to make things interesting.  So long to one fan who can't seem to keep his mouth shut, annoying the heck out of the rest of the crowd.  Adios to arena-wide chants for even the most meaningless of matches on the card.

Fans at PPVs are so lackluster that it makes the entire show seem horrible.  Crowd interaction is what makes shows great.  Audience involvement can determine whether or not a show is going to be successful. 

With that being said, if we are basing PPV success on crowd reaction throughout the entire night, WWE has only had two successful paid programming shows all year.

Money in the Bank was a great example of what fan support can do for a show.  Sure, it was promoted mostly as Punk's potential last match with the company, facing the most hated superstar on the roster for the WWE title in his hometown of Chicago. 

But, it wasn't just that match the crowd was into.

Both ladder matches and even the divas match got great reactions from the crowd.  MITB was easily the most successful PPV based on crowd appreciation.

WrestleMania, of course, was the other show.  This shouldn't come as a surprise to anybody—some of the most hardcore fans spend their life savings to go to "The Big Show" of professional wrestling.

After these two, however, there hasn't been a show in which the crowd played a huge factor, if they played a factor at all. 

What could possibly cause such horrible reactions from fans at PPVs?

There's a number of possible explanations for this epidemic of waning fan interest. 

Part of the reason for the boring crowds could be that they really don't want to watch most of the matches. They just want to see the main events. 

This is the case for most fans.  They don't care about Sheamus and Christian anymore unless there is a title involved.  Fans want to see the big-money matches  (anything that includes the WWE or World Heavyweight titles, John Cena, CM Punk or Triple H).

Anything other than those factors and fans immediately begin to tune out.  Some fans probably do care about those "other" matches, but they are the ones unheard from.

Another reason for this problem is ticket prices.  Let's face it, the stereotypical professional wrestling fan is a white, lower middle class, blue collar male.  (Just to clarify, that is not my definition, just how the outsiders see us.) 

Given those factors and how poor the economy has been, it's no wonder why people aren't interested in PPVs.

The real fans, who actually care about the events, can't afford to go.  They don't have that $200 in tickets, plus another $200 for any souvenirs and snacks, to shell out for one three-hour event. 

With the true fans being left at home, tickets are only affordable for those who barely care about the WWE.  They are the ones you see sitting down during the entire show wearing their local sports team's jersey, lacking any form of wrestling fan gear. 

I'm not blaming the fans, much like myself, who are true, diehard fans of WWE but can't afford to go.  Nor am I blaming those people who can afford to go, because they have as much of a right to attend an event as the next guy. 

What I'm saying is that fans make up most of any show.  They keep the viewing audience interested because they're interested. 

It's what makes the athletes have a good time performing, because the more support they're given, the more joy they get out of their jobs. 

For those of you who can afford to go to PPVs, please don't spoil the treat.  Make the most out of the spectacle. 

Rock your favorite star's shirt, hold up that sign that doesn't really say anything, loosen up those around you who feel awkward being there and let your voice get hoarse from all of the screaming and chanting you've done that night. 

Follow all these steps and not only will PPVs be fun to watch again, they will be more entertaining. 

Fans make or break the WWE.  Let's not break something that can be so special.