For those in the US who haven't seen WM24...
 

http://www.wwe.com/inside/news/wwejo...ithmynetworktv

WWE and MyNetworkTV will officially kick off their relationship this October with the first-ever broadcast presentation of WrestleMania XXIV on Thursday, Oct. 2 at 8 p.m. ET/PT. The very next night, Friday, Oct. 3, WWE SmackDown will premiere on its new home at 8 p.m. ET/PT.

Following the announcement, MyNetworkTV President Gary Meidel expressed his excitement for WWE’s debut on the network. “These side-by-side primetime events are sure to deliver two nights of edge-of-your-seat, action-packed entertainment.”

WWE Chairman Vince McMahon added, “What better way to introduce MyNetworkTV viewers to the WWE brand than to schedule our first-ever broadcast television debut of WrestleMania.”

This year’s WrestleMania XXIV was the highest grossing live event in company history. WWE’s “Grandest Stage of Them All” also made history this year by featuring the last match of WWE Hall of Famer Ric Flair’s illustrious 36-year career, and Undertaker winning the World Heavyweight Championship while extending his WrestleMania winning streak to an unprecedented 16-0. Also included at this year’s event were appearances from various celebrities including Floyd “Money” Mayweather, John Legend, Kim Kardashian and Snoop Dogg.

SmackDown will bring one of the highest-rated broadcast television programs to MyNetworkTV every Friday at 8 p.m., featuring top WWE Superstars such as Undertaker, Edge, Rey Mysterio, Big Show and Batista. They and other ring warriors compete each and every week sacrificing their blood, sweat and tears, all for an opportunity to hold one of the most prestigious titles in sports-entertainment, the World Heavyweight Championship.

So join MyNetworkTV and WWE this October as they celebrate SmackDown’s debut with the special WrestleMania XXIV broadcast premiere on Oct. 2, and SmackDown’s first episode on its new home on Oct. 3.

Yay?

I can understand their reasoning behind it - trying to get viewers to watch them on a new channel, attract some new viewers by showing the best show of the year etc, however I do think this is shitting on the people who did spend their money purchasing an event which only occured 6 months prior to it being aired.

"Let's not go out of our way to actually put on a good show, let's just put some old footage up to grab some ratings."

Seriously, they should have just promoted it as a SNME-type deal and actually booked it well. It would have drawn just as well.

Well, they are only doing something like this 2 months early. Every year at the end, they usually show a couple ppv matches on the Best of show.

Except they'll still do the best-of show because they don't tape shows for the last week or two.

Yeah but they're showing the entire WM24 show for free and not just a couple of matches

Actually, they'd only get a two hour time slot there (before local programming), three at most, so it won't be the entire PPV. Probably the MITB, the triple threat, Flair/Michaels, possibly Show/Mayweather and Taker/Edge (which comes out to about 2 hours if you add the commercials).

That is a quality fucking show, especially to attract new viewers.

You have the bigs names, an emotional match, a spot fest that was hot, and a major celeb.

Oh yeah, it's a good show, especially for network TV, and I don't doubt it will draw, but I feel it's taking the cheap and easy way out. I'd rather see them put on something new and good instead of something old.

It's no different than going to the movies and watching the same movie a few months later on HBO.

SNME draws fucking shit ratings though.

Most people won't care for one reason or another.

It would draw if people actually gave a shit about it.

I agree. Usually it's just a bunch of matches, with no storyline development. No title matches or anything.

I'm surprised the WWE don't seem to give a crap about drawing in fans for them.

This made me laugh.

ANYTHING would draw if the people gave a shit about it. Bottom line is they don't and thus it doesn't draw.

I'm not sure even Mania's gonna draw on a shit station like MNTV. But yeah, the main point is SNME doesn't draw because nobody gives a shit.

All I'm going to say is that I thought it was a great Wrestlemania.