The State of Pro Wrestling if WWE Suddenly Collapsed?

[KAMALARAMBO: BOOMSHAKALAKA!!!]

The union thread got me thinking about this. What if for whatever reason (not lack of popularity or something like that though) the WWE suddenly collapsed? For the sake of this thread let's just say it closes. How does the the wrestling landscape change? Would someone replace them? Would NJPW just be the biggest company in the World and stay in Japan? Does NJPW swoop in? Perhaps AAA sees an opputunity and Lucha Underground explodes making lucha the biggest wrestling form in the US?

WHAT SAY YOU!?!!?!?!?!?!?!?

[Green Arrow]

For the most part, it will be a case of "Wrestling, what wrestling?"

[CATCH_US IS the Conversation]

I think other promotions will remain as they are. The WWE wrestlers will either try to find a spot elsewhere or someone will be really bold and start up their own promotion.

A guy like John Cena seems like he's so obsessed with wrestling that if WWE collapsed, he'd pour every penny he has into starting up a new promotion so he could wrestle forever.

[A Platypus Rave]

Indies would still exist but that would pretty much be the end of Mainstream wrestling in the US for a while.

After all if the juggernaut of the WWE goes down networks are going to be even more wary of having wrestling on their network if something that popular can completely dissolve quickly.

[Hit Girl]

Lots of indies, and business as usual in Japan and Mexico

[Fearless The Tank]

Everything would be fine in the wrestling world if WWE collapsed. The Internet guarantees everything will be fine. If it were to happen, I can see a promotion (we'll use ROH as an example since they're doing it already) air their weekly programming thru the Internet so everybody can watch it at a very affordable rate. With the right talent, plus a great amount of content, a stream based federation will work. Wrestling doesn't need cable TV anymore.

[DoubleDare]

Honestly I don't know, I tend to think its kinda crazy wwe has been so popular for so long. I mean professional wrestling is kinda of a niche thing when you think about it and wwe I sometimes think is lucky they are as popular as they are....and really realize how rare it is to have a boom like the attitude era was (and rock n wrestling).

But hey wrestling would still exist just on a much smaller scale.
Harlem Globetrotters still exist! and lemmie see.....roller derby too!

[Sparkybob]

Mainstream wrestling is done because no rich ass business groups will invest in starting up a wrestling company and all the difficulties that come with that.

[Jedi-El of Tomorrow]

Jan 1, 2015 22:43:18 GMT -5 Sparkybob said:

Mainstream wrestling is done because no rich ass business groups will invest in starting up a wrestling company and all the difficulties that come with that.

That is until Disney decides to jump in the ring, and even bring in Marvel characters.

Who wouldn't want to see Captain America bonk Seth Rollins over the head with his shield? While Alexa Bliss rules over the company.

Honestly if WWE were to go down, Disney would be the one company I could see picking carcass and starting up their own promotion.

[Deleted]

Jan 1, 2015 21:28:46 GMT -5 Fearless The Tank said:

Everything would be fine in the wrestling world if WWE collapsed. The Internet guarantees everything will be fine. If it were to happen, I can see a promotion (we'll use ROH as an example since they're doing it already) air their weekly programming thru the Internet so everybody can watch it at a very affordable rate. With the right talent, plus a great amount of content, a stream based federation will work. Wrestling doesn't need cable TV anymore.

Are you being sarcastic? I honestly can't tell. Assuming you're serious, the internet is no where near the point where you think it is. WWE makes over $100 million from their American tv deal alone, they'd be lucky to get 1/10 of that from streaming.

[Sponsored by Groose Wipes]

There would be tons of indies. It makes me wonder can RAW go on another channel and have reruns? I think that's what will end up happening and it will be kind of a cult following.

[fw91]

I think someone would buy them out

[Fearless The Tank]

Jan 1, 2015 23:09:29 GMT -5 @noggy said:

Jan 1, 2015 21:28:46 GMT -5 Fearless The Tank said:

Everything would be fine in the wrestling world if WWE collapsed. The Internet guarantees everything will be fine. If it were to happen, I can see a promotion (we'll use ROH as an example since they're doing it already) air their weekly programming thru the Internet so everybody can watch it at a very affordable rate. With the right talent, plus a great amount of content, a stream based federation will work. Wrestling doesn't need cable TV anymore.

Are you being sarcastic? I honestly can't tell. Assuming you're serious, the internet is no where near the point where you think it is. WWE makes over $100 million from their American tv deal alone, they'd be lucky to get 1/10 of that from streaming.

I'm not being sarcastic, I'm giving my opinion about a made up scenario. Remember, my opinion is based on the subject of if the WWE crumbles and goes out of business. I'm adding to the idea that no networks would want to pick up a wrestling show if WWE ever fails. And I do feel that wrestling can succeed on the Internet only, as long as the product being produced is good enough that people would pay monthly to watch.

[RadcapRadsley]

There are hundreds of cable channels always looking to fill content so some cable channels would take a chance on PWG,ROH etc.

[Deleted]

Jan 2, 2015 0:24:02 GMT -5 Fearless The Tank said:

Jan 1, 2015 23:09:29 GMT -5 @noggy said:

Are you being sarcastic? I honestly can't tell. Assuming you're serious, the internet is no where near the point where you think it is. WWE makes over $100 million from their American tv deal alone, they'd be lucky to get 1/10 of that from streaming.

I'm not being sarcastic, I'm giving my opinion about a made up scenario. Remember, my opinion is based on the subject of if the WWE crumbles and goes out of business. I'm adding to the idea that no networks would want to pick up a wrestling show if WWE ever fails. And I do feel that wrestling can succeed on the Internet only, as long as the product being produced is good enough that people would pay monthly to watch.

Producing a high quality wrestling show costs a lot of money. ROH already does what you talk about, you can watch their tv show on their website for free, yet they can't afford to have major league production values. The money simply isn't there for a major internet only wrestling product.

[Deleted]

Samoa Joe's Man vs. Food becomes the top wrestling related show on tv.

[Jedi-El of Tomorrow]

Jan 1, 2015 23:26:22 GMT -5 fw91 said:

I think someone would buy them out

I'm telling you it would be Disney.

[Deleted]

I think certain indies (like ROH) would see a big boost due to fans looking for an alternative and a bunch of big names suddenly becoming free to them, but not to any sort of degree in terms of becoming household names or getting national TV deals or anything. I imagine I'd probably personally stop watching wrestling, WWE's readily accessible and easy to get so it's all that I bother watching and even with requiring no effort I still often don't feel like it's worth it.

[fw91]

Jan 2, 2015 1:11:00 GMT -5 Jedi-El of Tomorrow said:

Jan 1, 2015 23:26:22 GMT -5 fw91 said:

I think someone would buy them out

I'm telling you it would be Disney.

what about Trump?

[Jedi-El of Tomorrow]

Jan 2, 2015 1:28:24 GMT -5 fw91 said:

Jan 2, 2015 1:11:00 GMT -5 Jedi-El of Tomorrow said:

I'm telling you it would be Disney.

what about Trump?

Disney would be able to outbid Trump, also under Trump WWE would be bankrupt in 2 years.