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PWINSIDER Q&A: CYBER SUNDAY, RAW RATINGS, MYNETWORK TV AND MORE

On a few occasions I've sent messages to WWE.com's "Contact Us" section with my opinion of the product, and most recently the costing, Canadian-unfriendly Cyber Sunday voting system. I was wondering if you guys know if these messages their fans are sending them make a difference and if they're considered? I can see WWE only using the positive ones to reinforce their own opinions of the current product, and disregard the negative/critical messages.

I can tell you that the messages are read, as WWE employees people to read them.  How many of them actually make it to the decision makers, in all honesty, is unclear.  

My second question relates to ratings. I follow the weekly Raw ratings on PWI Elite and even did on the pre-PWI days of 1Wrestling.com. Correct me if I'm wrong, but WWE's ratings are extremely close to what both Nitro and Thunder's were getting when WCW went under. Do you think that would be alarming enough for WWE to do something drastic? Have you guys heard about any changes being made?

When WCW went under, Nitro was in the 2.0 range and Thunder was pulling a 1.8.  So, things aren't at that level yet.  Certainly WWE has to realize the ratings trend has not been in their favor lately, as they have seen a steady decline over the last two years, but I haven't heard of any radical changes being done to try and help things. 

Watched RAW last night and one thing really ticked me off. I enjoy Cyber Sunday. Great concept and, if all accounts are true, it truly is decided by the fans... and that's great. Last night they announce the first couple matches and the choices we fans have and they plug the texting options for voting. Last year (perhaps the year before as well) they had text voting but also voting via the WWE.com website. This year it looks like it's strictly via text. At 99cents a pop! What the hell!?!? I buy the DVD's, I buy merchandise... I buy a ticket to the shows when they are in my area... I'll be damned if I'm paying to vote! Your opinion? Will we see vote via website before the PPV is upon us?

I think it sucks, but it doesn't surprise me at all.  WWE can't make any money with a free online vote, other than ad revenue.  With the text voting, they and AT&T will make a nice chunk of change.  I don't see WWE changing their plans, so I imagine a lot of fans will opt not to vote. 

So since Smackdown has moved to MyNetwork TV and lost (it seems like) half of their audience from the CW Network, do you think Vince will try to find a new home for it, and pay to get out of the contract with MyNetwork (I know unlikely) or wait a year and then try?

I think Vince would have liked to had a different home in the first place, but the simple fact is no viable networks were beating down WWE's door for the show. WWE was in a position with very limited options, and took the best deal they could find. Down the road, if better opportunities arose, I'm sure WWE would explore them. 

My question is, what kind of education or degree does it take to get a job working in the wrestling industry such as all of you? I love wrestling and would love to be a part of it.

I earned my Bachelor Of Science in Business Administration in 1996 and achieve my Master's Degree in 1998.  However, to be honest, doing what I do now has a lot more to do with passion and hard work than it does my education.  

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