WWE has no reason to improve its quality.

[Deleted]

Warning: I'm really tired right now, so I'm probably unintelligible. Read on ahead if you like pointing and laughing.


The average WWE fan, especially the average internet fan (and I mean the ones you see on Twitter and Facebook, not here), will continue to enjoy everything that WWE produces and markets to them, regardless of what's being televised.

I really think it's true now. Now, I didn't watch Wrestlemania. I'm entirely going off of the words of others in forming my opinions here, but allegedly, the crowd was dead for most of the show. The match results were highly predictable, and the majority of matches were considered by most people here has being totally uninspired and devoid of creativity.

What did I see elsewhere?

"Best WM ever."

"Cena/Rock was so exciting."

"Best show in years."

Now this isn't some kind of smarky rant, like the old "Cena Nuff" rubbish that permeated this board years ago. I'm just saying, that even when people who are reasonably good at analyzing the quality of a show--like this community--consider it to be a bad show, there's a massive contingent of people who really don't mind, and actually enjoy it. I'm probably stepping on some toes here, because I know that there's people here who liked it. But BEST Wrestlemania ever? Really? That's the kind of audience WWE really caters to. The same people who have been cheering Cena since 2005 and demand that he must always be face for purely aesthetic reasons, and want him to win every match he's in. The same people who don't care about 90 percent of the mid-card and then get invested into a storyline about nothing and then pretend it never happened when it gets dropped the following week.

That's the modern fanbase, and because they put zero scrutiny on WWE, there's no point for the company to do anything but the terrible production that it's becoming notorious for.

[Chiral]

It can't last forever though, eventually fans will get tired of the same old same old. It's just a matter of when.

[Sparkybob]

But if let say/pretend that a big majority of the paying customers enjoy how the product is being run now a days, why should the wwe risk changing its approach to try to appease a smaller majority when it could risk them losing a portion of there fairly entranced fan base?

[Snaptastic]

I don't know. I hated the idea of CENAWINSLOL heading into this. But since he's not had the belt in so long, it 'almost' feels fresh. They'll continue down this line until the numbers drop rapidly.

[StuntGranny®]

Apr 7, 2013 23:01:24 GMT -5 Chiral said:

It can't last forever though, eventually fans will get tired of the same old same old. It's just a matter of when.

I agree. Just like with any form of entertainment, most of the time fan interest will fall off if you give them no real reason to continue watching.

[Deleted]

Apr 7, 2013 23:01:24 GMT -5 Chiral said:

It can't last forever though, eventually fans will get tired of the same old same old. It's just a matter of when.

Is there anything to prove this?

Cena's been in the main event for 8 years, on almost every Raw, and won almost every big match that he's been in, and beaten pretty much everyone there is to beat. And his fanbase, outside of major smark towns where PPVs are inevitably held, has shown no signs whatsoever of tiring of this routine.

[Rican]

Buzzfeed posted an article this week about the only cable TV shows that get more than 5 million viewers, and RAW was one of those only 9. The WWE doesn't really interest me anymore, and it seems like a lot of people on here are tired of it too and want it to change, but you're right. There is no reason for them to change. The ratings aren't as high as they used to be but they're doing better than a lot of other programming on TV right now, and Wrestlemania is probably going to do a crazy buyrate number.

When they turned Punk heel and had him feud with Cena and tried to pass it off as Cena being the hero once again and negated everything Punk had said by making him the heel, I knew the product wasn't for me anymore. Honestly, considering the way a lot of people on here talk about it I don't think it's for them anymore either but they keep watching it. I check back in around Royal Rumble and Wrestlemania season and might catch part of an episode here and there, but overall I'm just tired of it. But, I realized that isn't necessarily a bad thing or something the WWE is doing wrong. It's that my tastes and what I want out of a wrestling program are different than what WWE isn't presenting. So while I'm sure there are a lot of people who enjoy the WWE's programming, I feel like I sort of grew out of it.

[Rican]

Apr 7, 2013 23:05:40 GMT -5 @mightykretzler said:

Apr 7, 2013 23:01:24 GMT -5 Chiral said:

It can't last forever though, eventually fans will get tired of the same old same old. It's just a matter of when.

Is there anything to prove this?

Cena's been in the main event for 8 years, on almost every Raw, and won almost every big match that he's been in, and beaten pretty much everyone there is to beat. And his fanbase, outside of major smark towns where PPVs are inevitably held, has shown no signs whatsoever of tiring of this routine.

This is a great point, and I mentioned something similar in another thread months ago. People talk about Cena's fan base outgrowing him eventually, but that hasn't happened and it has been 8 years.

[Snaptastic]

Apr 7, 2013 23:13:16 GMT -5 Rican said:

Buzzfeed posted an article this week about the only cable TV shows that get more than 5 million viewers, and RAW was one of those only 9. The WWE doesn't really interest me anymore, and it seems like a lot of people on here are tired of it too and want it to change, but you're right. There is no reason for them to change. The ratings aren't as high as they used to be but they're doing better than a lot of other programming on TV right now, and Wrestlemania is probably going to do a crazy buyrate number.

When they turned Punk heel and had him feud with Cena and tried to pass it off as Cena being the hero once again and negated everything Punk had said by making him the heel, I knew the product wasn't for me anymore. Honestly, considering the way a lot of people on here talk about it I don't think it's for them anymore either but they keep watching it. I check back in around Royal Rumble and Wrestlemania season and might catch part of an episode here and there, but overall I'm just tired of it. But, I realized that isn't necessarily a bad thing or something the WWE is doing wrong. It's that my tastes and what I want out of a wrestling program are different than what WWE isn't presenting. So while I'm sure there are a lot of people who enjoy the WWE's programming, I feel like I sort of grew out of it.

RAW gets less than 5 million nearly every week. Usually in the high 3's to mid 4's every week.

[Rican]

Apr 7, 2013 23:15:40 GMT -5 Snaptastic said:

Apr 7, 2013 23:13:16 GMT -5 Rican said:

Buzzfeed posted an article this week about the only cable TV shows that get more than 5 million viewers, and RAW was one of those only 9. The WWE doesn't really interest me anymore, and it seems like a lot of people on here are tired of it too and want it to change, but you're right. There is no reason for them to change. The ratings aren't as high as they used to be but they're doing better than a lot of other programming on TV right now, and Wrestlemania is probably going to do a crazy buyrate number.

When they turned Punk heel and had him feud with Cena and tried to pass it off as Cena being the hero once again and negated everything Punk had said by making him the heel, I knew the product wasn't for me anymore. Honestly, considering the way a lot of people on here talk about it I don't think it's for them anymore either but they keep watching it. I check back in around Royal Rumble and Wrestlemania season and might catch part of an episode here and there, but overall I'm just tired of it. But, I realized that isn't necessarily a bad thing or something the WWE is doing wrong. It's that my tastes and what I want out of a wrestling program are different than what WWE isn't presenting. So while I'm sure there are a lot of people who enjoy the WWE's programming, I feel like I sort of grew out of it.

RAW gets less than 5 million nearly every week. Usually in the high 3's to mid 4's every week.

Oh. Well then. The article was only talking about for March, but maybe it was wrong.

Regardless, they still are doing better than a lot of other cable programming.

[Djm Doesn't Find You Funny]

The original poster is absolutely right.

[Chiral]

Apr 7, 2013 23:05:40 GMT -5 @mightykretzler said:

Apr 7, 2013 23:01:24 GMT -5 Chiral said:

It can't last forever though, eventually fans will get tired of the same old same old. It's just a matter of when.

Is there anything to prove this?

Cena's been in the main event for 8 years, on almost every Raw, and won almost every big match that he's been in, and beaten pretty much everyone there is to beat. And his fanbase, outside of major smark towns where PPVs are inevitably held, has shown no signs whatsoever of tiring of this routine.

It happened in WCW. I'm not saying WWE is in a similar position, and definitely isn't making as many stupid decisions as WCW did, but stars can burn out. Yeah he's been in the main event for 8 years and his fanbase hasn't tired of him...but I just don't think it can last.

What happens if Cena gets a serious injury, and has to retire? The old guard can't last forever, what happens when Cena goes away? The idea of sticking with what works now is a safe one, but WWE has done next to nothing for building their future.

[The Doctor]

People have different opinions. It's a cliched thing to say but in this case it's true. Just because some people say it was DEFINITELY bad doesn't mean they are unequivocally correct.

I thought the show was a little underwhelming tonight. But I like Cena so was excited to see him win. Yes the card may have been very predictable but it still had it's exciting moments I can see why some might have really loved it.

[BrianZane]

DISCLAIMER: I am also tired and the following comments aren't necessarily directed towards the OP, but I thought this went along with the discussion.

Colin Cowherd said something on his show on ESPN radio the other day that really stuck with me. He went on a little rant about how big sports franchises, TV execs, etc. shouldn't spend so much time catering exclusively to the "true fans" because you're going to get their money no matter what. He went on to say that they're smarter investing in the casual fans, the non-fans, just trying to put butts in the seats and eyeballs on the TV screen.

I think a lot of what he said can apply to pro wrestling. There are "true" wrestling fans who will complain about every booking decision they see on TV and demand that the storylines be catered to their whims, but will continue to watch and buy the product even if they think it needs improvement. Meanwhile, wrestling companies are doing everything they can to attract mainstream people (bringing in celebrities, coming up with outrageous water-cooler storylines, etc.) because it's their money that they want above all else.

So what I'm saying is, WWE has no reason to improve your definition of quality, because they know you're going to stay with it no matter what they put on.

[Sparkybob]

Apr 7, 2013 23:30:21 GMT -5 Chiral said:

Apr 7, 2013 23:05:40 GMT -5 @mightykretzler said:

Is there anything to prove this?

Cena's been in the main event for 8 years, on almost every Raw, and won almost every big match that he's been in, and beaten pretty much everyone there is to beat. And his fanbase, outside of major smark towns where PPVs are inevitably held, has shown no signs whatsoever of tiring of this routine.

It happened in WCW. I'm not saying WWE is in a similar position, and definitely isn't making as many stupid decisions as WCW did, but stars can burn out. Yeah he's been in the main event for 8 years and his fanbase hasn't tired of him...but I just don't think it can last.

What happens if Cena gets a serious injury, and has to retire? The old guard can't last forever, what happens when Cena goes away? The idea of sticking with what works now is a safe one, but WWE has done next to nothing for building their future.

If Cena gets hurt now and has to leave for ever? They do what they did in 2004 after brock left. Rely on your upper mid card guys for the summer months and pick out 2 or 3 guys you want to place as your next stars (In 2004, It was Cena, Orton and Batista) and slowly build up so by mania time they are in the spotlight and get there big mania win.

[Chainsaw]

I think this is the last year I'm going to let my expectations of what WWE should be doing outdistance the reality of what will happen. Believe me, this is no act of contrition to just shut my brain off and enjoy the WWE product. It means, like the Who song, I Won't Get Fooled Again. Cena's never going to do anything with his character, he'll just keep aw shucks-ing to the HoF, as the WWE flounders and misses more opportunity to make real fans instead of the fairweather fans who will quit on wrestling as a whole after a year or two. That's the reality we live in. Punk won't change it. Cesaro, the Shield, no one is going to change it.

[Chiral]

Apr 7, 2013 23:37:43 GMT -5 Sparkybob said:

Apr 7, 2013 23:30:21 GMT -5 Chiral said:

It happened in WCW. I'm not saying WWE is in a similar position, and definitely isn't making as many stupid decisions as WCW did, but stars can burn out. Yeah he's been in the main event for 8 years and his fanbase hasn't tired of him...but I just don't think it can last.

What happens if Cena gets a serious injury, and has to retire? The old guard can't last forever, what happens when Cena goes away? The idea of sticking with what works now is a safe one, but WWE has done next to nothing for building their future.

If Cena gets hurt now and has to leave for ever? They do what they did in 2004 after brock left. Rely on your upper mid card guys for the summer months and pick out 2 or 3 guys you want to place as your next stars (In 2004, It was Cena, Orton and Batista) and slowly build up so by mania time they are in the spotlight and get there big mania win.

But shouldn't they be building new stars now? What if they don't have time to slowly build up guys, or pick more Miz's, Del Rios, Swaggers that the fans are apathetic towards? They keep cutting everyone's legs off except for the old guys, why should I believe they can push anyone besides Cena if he's gone? If we're looking for proof, they've shown me they have no ability to successfully build anyone new, WWE 2013 is vastly different than WWE 2004.

[Sparkybob]

Apr 7, 2013 23:55:48 GMT -5 Chiral said:

Apr 7, 2013 23:37:43 GMT -5 Sparkybob said:

If Cena gets hurt now and has to leave for ever? They do what they did in 2004 after brock left. Rely on your upper mid card guys for the summer months and pick out 2 or 3 guys you want to place as your next stars (In 2004, It was Cena, Orton and Batista) and slowly build up so by mania time they are in the spotlight and get there big mania win.

But shouldn't they be building new stars now? What if they don't have time to slowly build up guys, or pick more Miz's, Del Rios, Swaggers that the fans are apathetic towards? They keep cutting everyone's legs off except for the old guys, why should I believe they can push anyone besides Cena if he's gone? If we're looking for proof, they've shown me they have no ability to successfully build anyone new, WWE 2013 is vastly different than WWE 2004.

Well they are trying to build Alberto del rio as the next Latino babyface star, and last year they did try to build sheamus as the no 2 babyface behind Cena it just wasn't working out. Plus worst case they can just give somebody the JBL push and strap a rocket to them and keep pushing them until we finally react to them, like what happen to JBL.

[Heartbreaker]

Regular fans are going to keep falling out if there isn't a change or big interest happening. I haven't watched a damn show maybe a week after Raw 1000 because I haven't been interested in watching due to a few reasons: story lines being either boring, randomly dropped or going no where. Plus the lack of pushing superstars. There's also so much they can do but it's like backstage people like Creative and Vince are too terrified for change.

What if in six months Cena was to receive a career ending injury? Who is going to be the top name of the WWE? The company couldn't rely on past Superstars appearing every few months or most of current names on the roster. Most midcards can't suddenly become maineventers because half of the crowd doesn't know them due to lack of time and being put over. Can you name someone who has won the world title for the first time in recent years who hasn't been put back into the midcard? Besides CM Punk of course.

[Hit Girl]

As long as Cena is healthy, they will stay profitable enough to satisfy Vince.