Discussion: www.wwe.underuse.com

[big_bluto]

I've thought for ages that WWE has underused the Internet as a means of gaining interest in wrestling fans.

Their website is alright, updated pretty regularly, and their retail side is pretty good, but they seem to be missing out on a huge opportunity.

Bradshaw hit out at internet fans in a piece he done, a fantastic piece of heel work. It pissed internet wrestling fans off big time, and as I recall there was a good few fans from here sent emails to him explaining how we all aren't nerds and he's a dick, or similar variations.

WWE needs to do this more.
There is a huge market out here, with instant feedback on how 'over' an idea is, or how much 'heat' a heel can get.
In addition to this, there is the opportunity for heels and faces alike to get messages out to there fans instead of using mics on RAW & Smackdown.
In this day and age, it would be possible to hype a match online, with wrestlers communicating with fans and each other, right up to hours or minutes before the start of a PPV.

WWE likes to think it takes a pretty modern approach to business, but this habit it seems to have of finding the internet as an enemy rather than a useful tool is hurting them.
They need to turn around this policy.

Start producing more 'works' like Bradshaw's column directed at internet fans, start hyping more matches online, start using a lot of misdirection, leaks and false-spoilers, and then you'll see a rise in interest from us armchair supporters!


So if you agree/disagree/think I'm a knob or vastly under-rated as a poster, whatever, post your points.

[The Mackem]

Yeah fake rumours are the best, I love em.

[The Mackem]

Bret Hart is going to be wrestling at last weeks Raw!!!!

[big_bluto]

Originally Posted by The Mackem Bret Hart is going to be wrestling at last weeks Raw!!!!

Bret v Brock.........sweeeeeeeeeeet!

[.44 Magdalene]

Actually, some smaller feds that don't GET TV time do something like this. I found this out when I was checking out NWA Missouri's wrestling school. A face will get on their message board and start chatting with the fans, then a heel will get on there and the two will start arguing over the board. Fans will get in on the conversation, and sometimes they'll actually side with the heel. It's amazing interaction, and a great way for the heel to look like a more personal asshole, though the scale is lost a bit since it's just a tiny stepup-type fed. It's still pretty cool, though, and it would rock if WWE did stuff like that.

[The One]

The problem is this...who would be allowed on this website? Would any WWE mark get on and start giving his two cents....You could have a million or so posts in a single day. Who would read them all? Let's take this....we here at TPWW make 5 posts a day...now get "Rock-4-Life-WWE-The-Best" a chance to give his ideas about the product and you have a message board filled with things like "Christian u suk!"

[Mayo]

Great thread by big_bluto, and nice post by The One as well.

This is a very creative idea, and the polls that they had on wwe.com were a nice idea (although they may have been rigged). I think that the site is becoming more interactive though, with many posts by wrestlers, and behind the scenes interviews. This may help alter storylines to what the fans want, if the WWE actually pays attention to it, but myself and most people on this forum probably realize that they don't. However, many people are not internet friendly, and only 'extra' wrestling news and hype should be included. Many people will miss out in that case, and this may discourage them from watching. TV should still be the main hyping medium for matches, promos, etc.

[big_bluto]

Originally Posted by Mayo Great thread by big_bluto, and nice post by The One as well. This is a very creative idea, and the polls that they had on wwe.com were a nice idea (although they may have been rigged). I think that the site is becoming more interactive though, with many posts by wrestlers, and behind the scenes interviews. This may help alter storylines to what the fans want, if the WWE actually pays attention to it, but myself and most people on this forum probably realize that they don't. However, many people are not internet friendly, and only 'extra' wrestling news and hype should be included. Many people will miss out in that case, and this may discourage them from watching. TV should still be the main hyping medium for matches, promos, etc.

I agree with what you're saying.
TV should always be the main forum ofr wrestling.
What I'm suggesting is that they also utilise the website - things like Bradshaws recent work before the PPV slagging Internet fans done a lot to create heat.
They should do more of this.
I'm not in favour of wrestlers frequenting public boards because they would get totally overrun in seconds. BAD Idea!
What would work would be if wrestlers were writing articles and doing interviews that were published on the website and in magazines, and they remained in character, and continued their feuds that way.
It would brings something extra to the table, some extra heat, and with TV still being the primary focus, there is no reason why they can't reference it on TV.

Do more columns like Edgeucation... A heel like Bradshaw could get major heat by writing in a heelish manner.

[big_bluto]

Originally Posted by c4g2 Do more columns like Edgeucation... A heel like Bradshaw could get major heat by writing in a heelish manner.

See that's the kind of thing that I'm talking about.
WWE needs to do things like that more often.
(in no way bumping the thread)