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Hey Dave, I really enjoyed the Q & A about comparing what WWE was making before the Network and after. But the last paragraph got me to ask this question about UFC being sold for 4 billion dollars. Do you think Vince McMahon or maybe his children would ever consider selling 100% of the company if the right price came along? And since this is hypothetical, say WWE is as popular as they were during the Attitude era.
I absolutely think that for the right price, the McMahons would consider selling the company. If someone came along with four billion dollars they would definitely consider it. Plus, I think it would be a similar situation to UFC. The McMahons would get the money but the new buyer would want them to stay on and run things, so it would be a win/win for them.
What I’m about to ask is in response to the WWE cost cutting article that you wrote. In your opinion, would it be a good idea if WWE broadcasted Raw and Smackdown exclusively, but also did the price tier system for the WWE Network which included a free version that had Raw and Smackdown available, live? They could bring in advertisers for the free version of the WWE Network and play commercials for Raw, Smackdown and other shows(they play commercials on Network broadcasts anyway, usually plugging a PPV or the WWE Network itself) and there would be no middleman like NBC Universal to get their cut.
In a word? No. As I mentioned on Sunday, TV revenue is the largest form of OIBDA that WWE generates, by a wide margin. That is because NBC Universal and the other partners pay them a great price for their programming. To switch over to the Network model, WWE would have to hope that people would pay to watch shows that, until now, have been free. That is a tough sell. Beyond that, they would need a LOT of them to pay for it (more than I think is possible) to make up for the revenue that they would lose. They would also have to employ people to sell advertising. No, it’s not optimal to lose the TV deals in my opinion.
I grew up in the Boyle Heights/East L.A. area. All my friends and I LOATHED the "cholos" (aka gangsters). They claimed to have love and pride in their race, while selling drugs and murdering their own people. Sometimes, even killing innocent adults/children/babies in their cross-fire.That being said, what do you think of Konnan/LAX glorifying that lifestyle?What about wrestlers like New Jack and Cryme Tyme in the African-American communities? Even if you booked them as faces, and made had them say funny things, they're still glorifying the dregs of society and the shame of their perspective races. It's just like if the WWE had cast the Zeb Coulter character with a younger wrestler and having him dress in a white robe and hood. No difference. I'm sure I'm not the only Chicano that cringes every time Konnan is on camera, especially when he has a microphone in hand. What do you think?
I have been very vocal against the way Impact has booked LAX on their shows. I get that gangs are a part of life and all, but as you said they aren’t a good part of life. The people that live in their communities don’t want them there either. Shoot, as you mention they are criminals. They break the law. My take has always been that using race alone in shows is just cheap heat. I prefer talents being made heels by their wrestling action, not what race they are.
What would happen if WWE were to "clean house" on their creative staff; maybe (1) re-hire some of the Attitude Era writers (just for good story-telling, not to get out of the PG mode), (2) make Paul Heyman the head writer (barring any resistance from Stephanie's ego - after all, she IS a McMahon) and (3) giving the wrestlers a little more leeway in putting in their personalty into promos? Do you think that it would be beneficial in the long run? I know that there are several factors involved on bringing back, and keeping, the older fans and filling up those seats again. I think this would be a great start. VKM has the final say in storylines, but at least this would give him better stories to choose from. What do you think?
Sure it would be beneficial, I have been saying similar things for years. However, I have also been saying for years that the current product that we are seeing is the direct result of what Vince McMahon wants us to see. There are plenty of people in the company and on creative that could write good wrestling product. Until Vince allows them to however we will get what we are getting now.
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