The JamesSteele "Ego Trip" I: State Of The WWE Address

[James Steele]

Yeah. I am too lazy to write a "full column", but enough to from a TPWW Wrestling Forum Exclusive "mini-column" by none other than the god of the wrestling forum...JamesSteele!


WWE is realizing the hardway that they aren't immune to being cancelled. Seriously, Vince's biggest problem is that he doesn't change the direction of the product until he is on the brink of folding. He didn't go from Doink to DX until WWF almost died. In my opinion, the Sports Entertainment Era is dead. People want pro wrestling again. This isn't a new era (that "Ruthless Agression" bullshit Vince wants us to buy) more than its just a transition period.

People are numb after the 8 years of tits, blood, and gore. That stuff has it's place, but right now the only thing keeping WWE alive is their hardcore fans who can appreciate Benoit vs. Angle for an hour just as much (if not more) than Foley/Undertaker in a HIAC match.

WWE doesn't have a ECW to rape of "the future" or a WCW to "seek and destroy" or regional promotions to buy out all the talent. They are it so they have to be willing to be self-motivated and make their own future.

For once, Vince McMahon can't buy or steal his success. He is going to have to do it himself.

[The CyNick]

They are in a funny position.

Ratings have went up slightly, but PPVs and house show business continues to be poor.

But on the other hand their international touring is still doing great business, and Mania the last two years has done tremendous business. I was certain this year's Mania would fall flat, but it looks like it did the biggest buyrate of all time.

So financially they are still doing fine.

Now, this year's show will be a challenge. They have a less financially sound deal for RAW on USA, and they have SD being moved to UPN. With that in mind, there's a better chance now that UPN will not renew their deal for SD. Now, I still think they'll have a home for SD, but again, it wont be as profitable as their prior deals.

That means they'll be losing a significant amount of revenue, but I dont think that will mean they will start losing money.

So if youre Vince, its hard to see the urgent need to make drastic changes, when the bottom line keeps turing profits.

Personally, I think its going to take the WWE to start losing money before big changes are made.

The other problem is that I dont think ANYONE knows what it will take to create another boom. Maybe they should let Eric Bischoff go, and hope he still wants to be in the wrestling business and can start something up that has a fresh new concept that Vionce can eventually copy.

[Ruien]

The other problem is that I dont think ANYONE knows what it will take to create another boom. Maybe they should let Eric Bischoff go, and hope he still wants to be in the wrestling business and can start something up that has a fresh new concept that Vionce can eventually copy.

:rofl:

[mike627]

Or let Heyman go which I think will happen.

[Batsu]

So wait...

Someone explain to me what's going on with WWE TV.

It seems that all the Viacom-owned stations, Spike and otherwise, are sending WWE its walking papers, by the way people have been talking ("TNA on Spike!" "WWE SmackDown being moved to Fridays", etc.) Are they going back to USA?

[PureHatred]

Raw moving to USA.

UPN has as much as said that they will let SD go once the contract expires.

[Corkscrewed]

SD!'s contract expires this fall, right?

[Hired Hitman]

It's Autumn, bloody Yanks.

[Chavo Classic]

WWE doesn't have a ECW to rape of "the future" or a WCW to "seek and destroy" or regional promotions to buy out all the talent.

:) Yep. Having little or no competition will make even the greatest companies complacent and over-confident.

With Vince's apparent monopoly over sports entertainment he's now responsible for the whole industry, and if he doesn't make HIS OWN ideas up soon, he's going to be to blame for a massive recession.

(edit - great mini column, look forward to reading more)