Does WWE actually want another wrestling boom?

[rapidfire187]

I was thinking about this earlier. I've noticed that a lot of fans on the boards don't like things and then to back up their argument they try to explain how it's not making WWE money. People will say that if WWE had done something a different way (usually something that makes complete sense) they'd get bigger ratings.

I've started thinking that maybe WWE just doesn't particularly care about going through another huge boom period. They're making plenty of money as it is and their ratings are higher than most television shows. Maybe they're happy maintaining the status quo. WWE has been through 2 major boom periods, and I'd imagine that those time periods were a lot more stressful to the people in charge than the current era is.

One other thing, the major boom periods are usually great for wrestling in general, but it has traditionally ended with one or more major promotions going out of business. The late 80's saw the end of Jim Crockett promotions as it was sold to Ted Turner and WCW was born. Business died down significantly in the 90's and I believe only picked back up because there were still 2 companies trying to stay afloat. We had another boom period in the late 90's, and it ended shortly after WCW and ECW were bought by WWE.

Another boom period could actually be detrimental to WWE. It could lead to a different promotion surviving and making it to the next era. The last time this happened, the WWF was getting pretty close to shutting down. History could repeat itself.

Maybe the people at WWE have considered all of this and decided that it's better to just play it safe? Pander to a young crowd. Give the fans just enough to keep them from leaving, but don't give them so much that they get everyone's attention again. I don't know, just a thought that I had.

[corndog]

I don't know how another boom period would be detrimental to them, except for the egos it breeds into the top stars. Think about it, Vince really didn't have much control over Austin and Hogan, if either didn't like something they would just leave and Vince couldn't do much about it, and because of their drawing power they both knew he would take them back with open arms. I really think the problem is the lack of competition, and that is why WWE just seems to be doing enough to make money and keep most of the people around.

[kidglov3s]

May 12, 2010 22:57:58 GMT -5 corndog said:

I don't know how another boom period would be detrimental to them, except for the egos it breeds into the top stars. Think about it, Vince really didn't have much control over Austin and Hogan, if either didn't like something they would just leave and Vince couldn't do much about it, and because of their drawing power they both knew he would take them back with open arms. I really think the problem is the lack of competition, and that is why WWE just seems to be doing enough to make money and keep most of the people around.

I was going to type something similar. I think they are working to be as successful as possible while attempting to limit any of the talent from becoming bigger than the company itself.

[The Deadly Snake]

I think you are right about that. it's risk/reward/control thing. Less rewards, but less risk and more control.

[rnrk supports BLM]

While I imagine Vince and WWE are satisfied with staying afloat and maintaining the status quo for the time being, I don't think they wouldn't jump at the chance to latch onto a hook that genuinely got over with mainstream audiences and catapulted wrestling back to the forefront of pop culture.

And IMO, I don't think "pander(ing) to a young crowd" is lessening the chances of that happening, at all. If anything, it's a step in the right direction compared to years of slavishly rehashing the Attitude Era-esque format the way WWE spent the first half of the last decade doing (and still do to an extent, far more than they should).

The closest we've gotten in many years to a genuinely mega-successful superstar really connecting with the fans has been emo goth Jeff Hardy, a character whose appeal seemed aimed mainly at young teens.

[derrtaysouth95]

WWE knows if another boom happens it'll be either TNA or ROH gone (imo the other "big 2" this go round).

But they are in a comfort zone now....and the comfort zone protects the company.

You don't need one person being bigger than the machine that bred them.

[xxshoyuweeniexx]

They basically live in an unsightly way, running and clinging to life.

And I think that's the way they like it, unless they can control how big they get.

[Deleted]

Honestly, I think that if one was going to happen again, it would have by now. The general population has moved on, particularly since the 90's and their, "Here's a sex joke! We're cool and edgy!" ways have long died out.

Granted, this whole idea that WWE can only succeed through competition is absurd. Look at the 80's - got by a-okay without any major competitors. Sure, there was Crockett, but like that ever stood a chance.

Sidenote, I hate the term "boom period". Honestly, I hate the word "boom" in general.

[The Deadly Snake]

Actually, Crockett was a pretty big deal in the early 80's... but it's mainly due to Crocketts' own financial incompetence that got them into hot water (which is what got WCW trouble too).

The thing that Vince has over all his competition is the ability to keep track of the cash better than anyone else. Finances. It's one area where WWE excels. For a business where many get into not really caring about money, Vince does. And that's how he succeeds.

[Azrael from Outerspace]

The WWE doesn't care about a boom period, but the rest of wrestling show. Every indy and TNA should be doing everything it can to get bigger. As it stands nobody is close to challenging the WWE so they should challenge each other to be the best.

[celticjobber]

I'm sure they would love to have another boom period like during the Attitude era. They would have to be nuts not to want all the money and ratings that come with such a good run.

Many people say the next boom did happen, only it went to UFC instead of WWE. Alot of people who used to would've been wrestling fans watch UFC instead, and that has cut off a portion of WWE's potential audience.

I think that's one of the main reasons they focus more on the kiddy demographic now, because kids aren't as likely to drop wrestling to watch MMA.

As a pro wrestling fan, I fail to see the appeal of MMA and it seems boring. But I know alot of former WWE fans who now only watch UFC fights and wouldn't be caught dead watching "fake" wrestling.

[bobskutter]

Yeah totally. No way in hell would Vince McMahon want to have a wildly successful company, with a product really popular in the mainstream.

[Brian Suntan]

The WWE put on the programme that they feel maximises their opportunity to make money.

That's all there is too it. Vince McMahon believes the current direction of the company to be the best one. The money they make would probably back him up.

The idea that in Vince's head he has a load of ideas for how to make a new pop culture phenomenon, but just can't be arsed using them - is clearly pretty unlikely.

In any event, there's no specific way to engineer a 'boom period', they happen on their own almost at random. You can't go chasing it.

It's the easiest thing in the world for people to sit on here and say doing this, or doing that would see ratings go through the roof. It's clear there are plenty on here who think they can book the WWE better, run the WWE better. There's usually a good reason why these people are just stuck posting on the internet.

[hmbnimbus]

Well, if they want one, Kofi Kingston could provide it...

What?

[Ryushinku]

I'm sure they'd want one. Hopefully they will again.

But they've managed to get themselves into a fantastically secure position while they don't.

[Deleted]

Like I said in the TNA thread, boom periods occur when the wrestling product itself mirrors that of the pop culture of the times. Do you guys honestly want to see the WWE go into Vampires, Teen Idols with purity rings, and wrestlers using Vocoders during their promos?

Hopefully pop culture changes in a few years where it becomes more....masculate.

[Turd Ferguson]

May 13, 2010 6:40:54 GMT -5 @hmbnimbus said:

Well, if they want one, Kofi Kingston could provide it...

What?

BOOOOO!

[Bo Rida]

I doubt they'd want the added media attention that a boom period would bring.

[eJm]

WWE is a business. Businesses love to make money.

So the short answer is 'Yes'.

[Tapout]

Yes, they'd want one.

And unless their "competitor," assuming there was one, was an entirely new player that doesn't currently exist and would do things radically differently that what's been done by other promotions to date, WWE would utterly annihilate said "competitor."