Hornswoggle sells?
 

Don't expect much of a thread from this, but after seeing this, I just had to share it. This is a screenshot from WWWShop.com.

http://img6.imageshack.us/img6/7074/swognumber1.jpg

Not surprised. He's hugely popular with the current demographic.

Also, if they're making Hornswoggle I better get a Max Mini figure.

Yeah, pretty much.

I am so sure that he will be inducted into the Hall of Fame before Randy Savage.

And before Finlay.

In fact, Finlay would induct him.

John Cena doesn't seem to be moving as much merchandise as he used to. Right now, it all appears to be Jeff Hardy.

Something else to take into consideration when talking about how well 'Swog's action figure is selling - how many different action figures have Cena, HHH, etc. had? This is almost certainly Horny's first, which makes it a collector's item.

Well, the figure is lifesize.

You mean there's going to be MORE!?

He was packaged with Finlay in the "Fury" set of figures, but yes, this is his first solo figure.

This is suprising? I love when people choose to believe Vince just pushes things for shits and giggles, and not because he knows what he's doing.
Just because the IWC doesn't like it, doesn't mean it doesn't make sense from a business standpoint.

That explains why John Cena is dominating the top ten and Jeff Hardy has such a sparse showing.

It's not surprising at all. It doesn't mean it's not ridiculous.

I still think that if the WWE put out a "Fire Vickie" shirt, it would sell like hotcakes. It seems like such an obvious thing to do. And hey, because John Cena is involved in the same program as Vickie Guerrero, the WWE could make out that it is a "John Cena shirt," and give him all the credit.

It's not ridiculous when you consider we are NOT the demographic they're going for. We think it's ridiculous, meanwhile their main fans, the 12-15 crowd (I suppose) are eating it up.

They keep it JUST "edgy" enough not to lose their old fanbase entirely, meanwhile they're building a new fanbase, and I think you can't deny that the current WWE product fits in nicely with what's "popular" with kids today.

I agree completely with what you're saying. I do think the whole concept of what the WWE is trying to do is completely ridiculous, though. Does the WWE keep it just edgy enough? I think they have lost a lot of their older fanbase.

They must be doing something right, they haven't tanked yet and are still filling 50k+ stadiums, not to mention consistent (maybe not constant) sell-outs. And considering their current ratings, they are consistently an easy ratings-grabber. Not compared to their past, but compared to other shows today.

"Edgy" may not have been the right word, but yes, I do think they have enough non-ridiculous content that they haven't lost their ENTIRE fanbase. TPWW is proof of that, albeit a small sample.

You have to remember this isn't the first time (and won't be the last time) they've booked to this crowd (early 90s, anyone) and previous-generation fans stayed throughout. Not all of them did, but a decent portion. That's what's happening here.

I don't completely disagree. I just see more benefits to playing to an older crowd. Kids watched wrestling anyway when their older brothers did, and the other kids at school did. Characters like The Rock completely mirrored the attitudes they wished they could have, and they caught on like wild fire to all ages.

I'm not saying that the WWE is failing, or that they're not doing what they're aiming to do right. I do think that there is probably more money in getting that older demographic in. It doesn't mean you lose the kids.

I agree, and it all comes down to lazy booking. It's easier to book for their current crowd than the 18-35 demo.

I'm not sure they do well enough at keeping some of their old audience, though. They're still doing worse in terms of sales (Selling out is a misnomer), PPV buys, and anything that determines the actual fandom. Ratings are up, but only by a few points (as in, tenths of a point) and this is going into Wrestlemania, where ratings always go up.

Sure, they haven't driven everyone away, but...

That's exactly it. I think part of it is also fear that their product won't be accepted by an older crowd, and if they do push it, they'll just fail. There is more money in the older demographic, but to please them, there are a lot more factors to take into account. If an older person is going to buy merchandise, they really have to like something. The older you get, desires become filtered through financial limitations and the opinions of others. A child is more in a position to say "I want this," whereas a teenager (for example) might ask "What does everyone else want?"

Part of it is definitely laziness, I agree -- but it wouldn't surprise me if the WWE is afraid of really trying to appeal to the masses, and falling short. A bit of a split from the topic, but I think this may be a large part of the reason Triple H dominated WWE programming during the initial stages of the draft era, when The Rock and Stone Cold Steve Austin were no longer around. I'm sure politics had a large part in it, but I also think that there was some genuine fear in the WWE because Triple H was the biggest star they still had, and some desperation to cling to him.

I pretty much agree with this.

I miss The Rock, fuck Hollywood you pussy, get back in the ring and electrify damnit!

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