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With all the talk of the WWE ratings being down, I was wondering what you think the company should do about it? Obviously the brand split is coming, so they are going to now split the atom so to speak and if the entire roster isn't moving the numbers, what will happen when they split the company?
I am of the strong belief that WWE needs to look at the split as the next step in nurturing their relationship with NBC Universal. The numbers last week were not great and they need to do everything they can, post-7/19 to make sure that the numbers trend upwards, not down. I think it's time for WWE to take the kid gloves off and think outside the box. To me, there are four talents who, even if used sparingly, should be contacted and brought back into the fold.
I know he's said he never wants to wrestle again, but it may be time for the company to make a ridiculous offer to Shawn Michaels to return to the ring. I know it ruins the perfect retirement but if the company ever needed someone to come and have amazing matches with the likes of Rollins, Reigns, Owens, etc. and help give them some additional credibility, it's now. Part of the problem is that there are no larger than life stars that really electrify the audience that bring in outside eyeballs and Michaels can do that and bring in some awesome match quality to boot. It would probably cost WWE a lot of money but it's a good investment.
I'd also throw whatever anger, pride and spite is involved in all the issues with CM Punk and reach out and resolve them in an attempt to bring him and AJ Lee back to the company. People can say whatever they want about Punk but the reality is that Punk breaking down the fourth wall with an angry promo about the company the way he cut a promo about them on Colt Cabana's podcast is money and fans would see it as a legitimate issue - and the last time fans believing in Punk having a legitimate issue with the company, they had the 2011 Money in the Bank madness, which was great and got all sorts of media attention until the company mucked it up. Think about the Matt Hardy-Edge situation and how fans bought into that and then multiply by 1,000. That's Punk vs. WWE. I know Punk is under a contract to UFC but well, Brock is under one to WWE so the two sides could easily work something out. Let's face it, WWE could really use Punk right now and Lee would add some great new opponents for Charlotte, Sasha, Natalya, Becky, etc. If Ultimate Warrior and Bruno Sammartino can go in the WWE Hall of Fame, WWE and Punk can hash out their issues. Again, it might cost money but in the end, a lot of the elements Punk pushed for are now being utilized by WWE, so why shouldn't be he be part of that if he and the company could make it happen?
I also think that the company should make overtures to Kurt Angle and Goldberg, not to wrestle full-time but to come in and make appearances. WWE is all about who should be the GM of Smackdown and unless they are going to have Daniel Bryan in the role, I think Kurt Angle is a great way to have him push the wrestling side of the product and to give people the idea that this is going to be different from Raw. Then months down the line, you do a big angle and have him play Bill Watts, the tough guy legend coming out of retirement to get his revenge at a major show.
As far as Goldberg, it's really easy. To what WCW did with Sting. Have him around but tease the big matches Have him show up every so often and spear underneath guys to build a new streak. You can tease who's next and whether Goldberg will be there this week. Make it a mystery because he doesn't talk and we don't know why he's here, who's side he's on or even what brand he's loyal too. Do all the pomp and circumstance for the entrance, because one of the things that made him a massive star was the security walk and the pyro and all that. Basically rebuild the Goldberg monster. Eventually, have him face off with a name he's never wrestled - Roman, Undertaker, Rollins, etc. or tease a big rematch with Brock Lesnar. Make it a major event - Goldberg's return to the ring but don't make it happen in a week or a month. Use WWE TV to build the hype. Rock and Undertaker come in to anchor Wrestlemania and Summerslam so you use these other talents we've brought in for the other shows to elevate them to bigger, marquee events. Goldberg returns at Fast Lane. Angle returns to the ring at Night of Champions, etc.
Then, with some or all of those names in the mix, you continue to solidify Seth, Roman, Styles, etc. as your top players and John Cena is the living legend. You have your Kevin Owens, Sami Zayns, Cesaros, Rusevs, etc. underneath having great wrestling matches and you build stories based on conflicts with personalities on top and don't rush them into resolution.
A lot of this could cost the company money to execute but when you have five hours plus of live TV to bring in a number for NBC Universal, the cost of executing this is nothing compared to the revenue the company gets from NBC. It's their number one source of revenue so they need to spend some money to make some money, in my opinion. Plus, time is ticking on all of these performers and the older they get, the less likely they are to really be able to contribute to the company as it builds forward.
Saw Mike's post on the new Jim Ross movie. Just wondering, doesn't WWE own all the footage from those days or is this from before the Crockett era? Or am I just being stupid?
WWE does own all the material from that era, but that doesn't mean the film cannot use stills, original interviews, B-Roll footage, etc. There's lots of ways to get around it.
What does the China deal mean for WWE and why is it such a "major, major deal?" I don't get it.
WWE will have their product available, in it's complete form, on a service that has 400 million subscribers. China is a country that has an estimated population of almost 1.4 billion people. It is legitimately the largest market in the world that WWE has not been able to mine to it's fullest potential. Financially, this could be a gamechanger for WWE.
With all the talk that TNA is having financial issues, do you think WWE would buy it?
Honestly, while neither side will admit this publicly, I would be shocked if WWE hasn't already made an overture to TNA to tell them that if they are looking to get out of the business, WWE will be happy to buy the assets. I don't see WWE looking to maintain it as a separate entity, but to have the AJ Styles, Samoa Joe, Sting, etc. footage? WWE would buy it in a heartbeat if the money was right.
I don't get why WWE has Miz on TV but can't have him defending the Intercontinental championship.
Miz is filming a movie for the company. The videos are a way for him to maintain his precense on WWE TV and build some heat. I actually think WWE should do similar tactics more often as a way to give talents time off while keeping them on TV.
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