Pro wrestling vs TV shows and movies vs MMA vs Sports

[Simple Fan]

Pro wrestling is fake compared to MMA. We all accept that as a duh. As wrestling fans we argue that wrestlers work more than MMA fighters and have to build a character. On the TV and sports side we all have our favorites but it only last for so long. Pro wrestling, no matter what level never takes a break.

What made pro wrestling so bad for business in advertising? That seems to be the only thing holding pro wrestling back in modern times. Yeah WWE and AEW are doing well but what is stopping Paramount or Disney from getting into pro wrestling.

It's the only constant entertainment. Nothing else runs year round. NASCAR is the closest thing to pro wrestling and have no problem selling advertising and they have a 3 month off season. Pro wrestling should be on every major cable channel on every night.

[ron the dial]

how many people watch raw compared to even a low end nascar event?

[Simple Fan]

Yeah but they have no problem with selling advertising. Why?

[Simple Fan]

WWE and NASCAR both have deals with NBC and FOX. WBD is in bed with AEW. Paramount has pro wrestling history but have struggled with MMA also. Disney could put pro wrestling on FX but they won't. What is the stigma holding pro wrestling back from all these other genres?

[Lock Jaw]

Wrestling fans.

[screech]

I feel like at this point it would be very hard for a network to look at their target audience and say: "If these people never watched wrestling, they would start just because we air it."

Most of the people who watch a new rasslin company are already fans of the product. And that number probably isn't high enough for another network to jump in and try to grab new viewers (who likely aren't going to move the needle anyway).

[screech]

Wrestling fans.

But also this. Just forget I said anything and pretend I quoted Lock Jaw to agree with him.

[Mr. Nerfect]

Wrestling is like a church that tells you god isn’t real then still tries to send around the collection plate.

[LibSuperstar]

Great analogy, Noid!

[xrodmuc316]

Wrestling fans.

This. Could you imagine Disney trying to advertise to some dickhead who posts memes on a wrestling forum that pisses off the other dickheads?

Oh and also
https://i.imgflip.com/70bgih.gif

[Mr. Nerfect]

Wrestling has always had a time with media and advertisers too. Even at its most popular when it warrants media attention, there are snarky articles written with the same unimaginative tropes to distance the writer from any form of sincerity.

People hate the con when they work out they’re being conned.

The view of wrestling fans is that they’re idiots who can’t think for themselves. It wasn’t that long ago that Tom Segura had those choice words for wrestling fans being morons for thinking it’s real. “We know it’s not real!” is not the own some fans think it is. It’s better to be ignorant to wrestling than technically correct about it.

[Destor]

"Whats stopping disney or paramount from getting into wrestling?" Theyve tried. Paramount owns MTV. Wrestling Society X. In many ways WCW was a network invention. The only thing stopping them popping up all over is the long history of failure in the space.

Only Vince has navigated the space successfully (by mega corp standards.) And there's nothing saying long term that wont still be true. The post vince era, and maybe just as importantly the post vince educated era, hasnt been around long enough to make a case that a national wrestling product has legs. This whole thing could implode after the decade mark.

Sports in general are volatile and dengerous to invest in too heavily. Boxing every decade or so you have to build a new star or the industry crumbles. MMA its about every 3 years. And both crumble and build back perpetually but its a rough business. Wrestling is easier to manipulate, somewhat akin to television, but you still have the coin toss of injury.

And finally its the risk. All rue aforementioned factors added together the risk is on the WWE. They as a troupe have to stay profitable in the inevitable down turns and properly cull the wheat from the chaff. There's a ton of financial jeopardy there if its not managed efficiently. This is why Linda was so key in making the WWF work.

Mega corps dont do that. They ride the wave and throw out the baby with the bath water once thats done. So with a volatile market like combat sports, and its dramatized cousin, its not worth the risk.

[#1-norm-fan]

What made pro wrestling so bad for business in advertising?

Ultimately, it was the misuse of Fandango.

[Bad News Gertner]

The start up costs for a new company that doesn't want to look Mickey Mouse against a company that has become the Kleenex of Facial Tissue are enormous.

Plus there's still people who view wrestling as "low brow" but not as much as previous generations. Especially mainstream sports outlets like ESPN. The anchors/people is power were Hulkamaniacs when they were kids.

Plus, Stephanie does not get enough credit for changing the perception of the wrestling from a corporate standpoint.

[Seanny One Ball]

If you want there to be a battle for ad spots then have Steph lean forward in a low cut top like she used to 20 years ago.