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Post by tmc1982 on Jan 3, 2009 3:15:15 GMT -5
Lets say hypothetically, World Championship Wrestling, like WWE does today, did a brand extension (i.e. wrestlers would be exclusive to only one TV program). "Nitro" would naturally be in place of "RAW", "Thunder" would be in place of "SmackDown", and "Saturday Night" would be in place of ECW. The World Title belt would be the top strap on "Nitro", the U.S. Title would be the top strap on "Thunder", and the TV Title would be the top strap on "Saturday Night".
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bretclark
Bubba Ho-Tep
Scrutinize this...
Posts: 503
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Post by bretclark on Jan 3, 2009 3:29:52 GMT -5
I would feel the same way as the whole WWE brand extension, which is just a ridiculous concept. I say, they should abolish the brand extension's, make it one, single promotion, and start making a big deal out of the titles like they did in the old days, and use the titles to develop talent (I.E. World Champ = Top Dog of the company, IC Champ = Top Dog of the Midcard, Television = Top Dog of the Lower Cards, etc., etc.).
- bretclark
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Post by toodarkmark on Jan 3, 2009 3:48:33 GMT -5
I hate the brand extension concept. Just hate it. It's pretend competition for McMahon to escape the concept that he ran everyone else out of business, and to give the impression it's not one large monopoly.
But for fantasies' sake, it would matter what year WCW did this. Actually, they tried. Bishoff wanted to split WCW and nWo into two different shows. And the Thunder show would have been the nWo show. But that didn't work out. I do know an nWo show would be a lot better than watched Smackdown now days. Talk about a B show.
Imagine if they did split it back in the day? Hogan, Nash, Hall not one the same show as Benoit, Malenko and Guerrerro? Wonder how the world may have gone.....
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greeby
Hank Scorpio
Posts: 7,088
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Post by greeby on Jan 3, 2009 3:51:53 GMT -5
It wouldn't have stopped the ultimate problem for both companies: overexposure and monopolization of TV time by the top-tier talent.
As I never watched WCW (Either it wasn't available or was on past my bedtime, hey I was a kid after all) I don't know the specifics. But I'd imagine it was the same as right now in WWE. Where it's the top guys doing in-ring promos from opening to first break, then facing each other in a match of some kind as the main event. Why would anyone pay for a PPV when they've seen the headliners wrestle on free TV?
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Post by toodarkmark on Jan 3, 2009 4:06:49 GMT -5
But I'd imagine it was the same as right now in WWE. Where it's the top guys doing in-ring promos from opening to first break, then facing each other in a match of some kind as the main event. Why would anyone pay for a PPV when they've seen the headliners wrestle on free TV? Controversy? |
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dizzy
Trap-Jaw
Posts: 477
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Post by dizzy on Jan 3, 2009 15:06:16 GMT -5
I also have always hated the brand extension idea. It annoys the hell out of me watching the PPVs and hearing different commentators call different matches.
But in a way, WCW did their own version of brand extension: The NWO. That's pretty much what the NWO became eventually, their own entity apart from WCW. In fact, Scott Hall says on the NWO DVD that the original idea was for the NWO to be given their own TV show.
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greeby
Hank Scorpio
Posts: 7,088
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Post by greeby on Jan 3, 2009 16:01:57 GMT -5
Probably why they didn't do it. If the fans had had that kind of choice, WCW management would probably not like the results
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Post by midwestmrk on Jan 3, 2009 17:38:50 GMT -5
Bischoff has stated that the original concept was for the NWO to be their own "brand". They attempted it after Starcade '97, but it failed. They would install the NWO announcers, who would just crap on the product and not call the match. Wait - was JBL in the NWO?
Anyways, I only think "brand extensions" work when they are seperate. For example, if the WWE bought a lucha company, and kept it away from the WWE, that would be feasible.
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Post by Crazy Diamond on Jan 3, 2009 17:45:36 GMT -5
I couldn't see it working. I remember hearing about the problems they had with Thunder's programming. If they split it between NWO and WCW, who would fight on each program?
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Post by midwestmrk on Jan 3, 2009 17:47:45 GMT -5
I couldn't see it working. I remember hearing about the problems they had with Thunder's programming. If they split it between NWO and WCW, who would fight on each program? Keep in mind, that this was during the inflated heyday of WCW. Bischoff also stated he wanted to start their own company in Japan. NWO Saturday night was really good though. |
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