WWE Survivor Series 2011: Why PPV Is Essential for WWE '12 Video Game

WWE needs Survivor Series to be slobber-knocker in order to drive interest and sales for their new video game, WWE ’12, scheduled to be released on November 22.

The leader in sports and entertainment is looking to introduce the greatest wrestling video game ever to fans. WWE and THQ have decided to break away from their SmackDown vs. RAW franchise for the first time in years—and it couldn’t come at a better time.

The series grew increasingly stale—fans, gamers and the companies themselves desperately needed to break out of their rut. Previews and added features such as Create-an-Arena and a wealthy list of playable legends such as Randy Savage, Kevin Nash and Ricky Steamboat are enticing.

Still, the only way to drive interest is to produce a phenomenal pay-per-view extravaganza before the game’s release.

This year, it’s up to Survivor Series to set the tone. WWE needs Survivor Series to capture their audience like never before to make sure fans and casual gamers want to buy the game to recreate the madness and excitement.

This has been a pitiful year for WWE pay-per-views. Aside from Money in the Bank in July, WWE events haven’t been as exciting in recent years. Even Royal Rumble and WrestleMania failed to live up to their extravagant history. There hasn’t been an event fans would truly want to recreate in their latest video game.

WWE does actually realize this.

Randy Orton may be the cover boy and starring in the commercial, but it is The Rock everyone is talking about. If fans pre-order the game, they will receive The Rock as a playable character out of the box. 

Everyone is excited for The Rock’s return to the ring—the first time since WrestleMania XX in 2004 at Madison Square Garden.

Rocky is back at MSG looking to tear the roof off the arena and the wrestling business. He looks to be in the best shape of his life, despite being closer to 40 years old than 30 years old. If he impresses in the ring, he will draw back older fans and further cement himself as a top-flight legend for the younger audience.

Considering it’s all about the in-ring action in video games and not owning a rival on the microphone, everyone is interested in seeing if The Rock still has what it takes to be the best in the business.

We all know he can throw down a boot to an ass, hit a Rock Bottom and a People’s Elbow, but will he be able to fly around the ring like he once did?

The fans will be looking for the lightning-quick reaction we’re all accustomed to. We want the Samoan Drop counter, Spinebuster, kip-up, duck-and-dodge and more importantly—the fire and intensity.

Only if The Rock, the center-point of this year’s Survivor Series, impresses will people flock to their local electronics stores to grab the newest video game.

If he comes away looking like a failure and unable to force fans to want to recreate his magic, WWE ’12 could flop upon release.

Check back for more on World Wrestling Entertainment as it comes, and check out Bleacher Report’s WWE Page to get your fill of all things wrestling. For more on WWE/TNA, check out Ring Rust Radio for all of the hot topics.

Listen to internet radio with RingRustRadio on Blog Talk Radio