Should WWE Sell?

[Damian Rey 2.0]

And would it be better, worse or have no real impact on the product itself if it did?

No poll. Just curious what peoples thoughts are after skimming through an article by Brandon Thurston of wrestlenomics, where he wrote that without an heir to the throne, this might be the most realistic role the WWE has ever been up for grabs, and with sports content and TV rights fees continually increasing, it could make sense for a buyer to jump and take over for Vince.

What do you guys think?

Personally, I’m at least curious. Vince can create specials and moments Lille nobody else, even if the weekly product and storytelling is mostly daft and don’t matter in the grand scheme of things for his wrestlers.

But maybe a fresh outlook from somebody who isn’t Vince McMahon will rejuvenate the product and create something recognizable but still different enough to give the company a boost in interest and watchability.

[#1-norm-fan]

I can’t see how it would impact the product negatively at this point but that’s already so strangely inconsequential to the actual business. Even the “big moments” are just guys who got over elsewhere or in a different era simply competing.

I am curious what WWE completely bereft of “wrestling guys” would look like. It would take a while. The new regime wouldn’t just come in and clean house of the McMahons and Prichards of the world who still have some understanding of the bare bones basics that make wrestling wrestling. But eventually those people will be gone and they’ll slowly be replaced with “entertainment people”.

It’s not a hopeful curiosity but I am curious what the evolution of today’s wrestling with fewer links to the stuff that “worked” in the past might entail.

[Jordan]

I don't know if they should. I mean does "anyone" own the NFL, NBA, Nascar? I know that Endeavor owns UFC now but it essentially runs the same except they air exclusively on ESPN+.

For whatever reason I feel like WWE could fit under Amazon in a similar way that UFC does under Endeavor. Should they? I don't know, I think WWE is way too big for it's own good. I don't care about them making the most millions of dollars possible I care about something I'd like to watch and they haven't provided that in years and years, on a consistent basis.

[Damian Rey 2.0]

One could argue getting sold to a media company like NBC that would employ writers to actual write and plan our stories and characters instead of the on the fly gunslinging ways Vince would be a benefit.

[xrodmuc316]

WWE's market cap worth is about $5 Billion. Any kind of purchase would be well above that amount as is standard practice when buying out a company. That said, I cant see a sale without Vince retaining operating control like Dana White and the UFC deal.

[#1-norm-fan]

One could argue getting sold to a media company like NBC that would employ writers to actual write and plan our stories and characters instead of the on the fly gunslinging ways Vince would be a benefit.

That makes some sense but also tosses out everything that makes wrestling different from just another form of entertainment. We’d all love for the storylines to be more compelling but are those writers gonna care as much that the big match should be the climax? How does the wrestling even fit in?

Wrestlers aren’t actors. I think most of us agree that scripting promos for guys to read verbatim as opposed to just letting them “become” the character has been a detriment but the more we head towards TV writers telling a carefully scripted story, how will that clash with the natural flow of a wrestling match where guys have a basic idea of what needs to be accomplished and take things from there because that’s precisely where their training lies?

As much shit as we give Vince, even as he strays further from what made the product compelling, he’s still so much more in tune with it than even a good TV writer coming in blind simply because the form of entertainment is so unique.

[Damian Rey 2.0]

Ideally you give the wrestlers creative freedom to speak for themselves under the direction of where writers want the stories to go. Bandit bullet pointing what you want said in promos but allowing the talent to voice those points themselves instead of what we currently get.

I don’t know if the big matches that should climax a story would be a problem. It’s not that much different than building a huge story with a season finale payoff, other than you only get one take. The biggest obstacle may be how quickly a creative team can adapt to how the crowd responds, which Vince is mostly atrocious at these days.

[Lock Jaw]

Only if the new owner makes Noid head booker

[Ol Dirty Dastard]

Danny Basham going to the top after he beats Val Venis for the title!

[ClockShot]

Is there anybody out there who is interested in buying a wrestling promotion?

I can see if there's a superfan of pro wrestling out there with a ton of money who runs a corporation or business giant, sure. But WWE, unless the price is right, I don't think it would draw interest.

[Destor]

only carnies can make wrestling work

[#1-norm-fan]

There’s definitely a market for a company with the existing contracts, catalog and name recognition of WWE.

[#1-norm-fan]

only carnies can make wrestling work

Also an absolute fact.

But again, it would kinda be interesting to see nothing but TV people try…

[slik]

only carnies can make wrestling work

agreed

I would trust The Rock to be part of a team that owned WWE one day but I just can't see the asking price being in his budget.

Would WWE be a great IP for multiple media congloms to go after, sure (NBCUniversal, Apple, Fox, Hulu, Facebook, Amazon all come to mind). But Vince retaining his position ala Dana White in UFC would be the only option. And even then, Vince having to answer to a higher up doesn't seem like it would work to me.

Carnies, especially not corporate randos who don't know wrestling, are really the only people who can make wrestling work.

[Destor]

Also an absolute fact.

But again, it would kinda be interesting to see nothing but TV people try…weve seen it though to an extent. early 90s wcw. that kne promotion mtv tried. im sure there are other examples

[#1-norm-fan]

Never on this scale though. And never this far removed from quality mattering over content. Even in the Jim Herd WCW days there were wrestling guys closely involved and WWF right there as a “template” to copy.

[Stocky]

Alot can be said of wrestlers dreams to wrestle for the WWE. Is it really to wrestle for the WWE or for Vince. You hear alot of stories about top stars relationship to Vince. Would they still want to be a part of a corporate brand just for the name.

[XL]

WWE's market cap worth is about $5 Billion. Any kind of purchase would be well above that amount as is standard practice when buying out a company. That said, I cant see a sale without Vince retaining operating control like Dana White and the UFC deal.

agreed

I would trust The Rock to be part of a team that owned WWE one day but I just can't see the asking price being in his budget.

Would WWE be a great IP for multiple media congloms to go after, sure (NBCUniversal, Apple, Fox, Hulu, Facebook, Amazon all come to mind). But Vince retaining his position ala Dana White in UFC would be the only option. And even then, Vince having to answer to a higher up doesn't seem like it would work to me.

Carnies, especially not corporate randos who don't know wrestling, are really the only people who can make wrestling work.

Yeah I couldn’t see Vince going anywhere. The interesting thing is the lack of successor. They’ve marginalised Shane, Steph, and HHH all of whom people expected to take the reigns. Who’s going to be their “Kevin Feige”?