Do we pay in hopes of Roman Reigns losing?

[Deleted]

I got a feeling this is the WWE's modern marketing strategy. Create a general tension between the fans and the main star wrestler.

John Cena kinda did this first, however, not to the extent of Reigns. Cena typically had about 30% to 70% crowd support, I think Roman is more in the 5% to 25% range?

As I have the Royal Rumble 2018 in mind, all I can think of is "Who's gonna eliminate Reigns/Will Reigns win?" This makes the Rumble more interesting for me.

I was at WrestleMania 32, and the main event was that much more emotional. So much more real, as I clamored for HHH to win, and then all I could do afterward is stare at HHH as I walked out of the arena.

[Fade is a CodyCryBaby]

Maybe in a few years when the guy is on the downhill ala Cena currently..but phase 1 is definitely just continuing to build him up.

[Deleted]

That’s like gambling with Jake the Snake.

[Magic knows Black Lives Matter]

*looks to left*
*looks to right*

...You got me f***ed up if you think I'm paying one cent to see this goofball lose a single match when I know fully well the company is on his dick like his zipper, lmao.

[HMARK Center]

If people really want to wonder why WWE's popularity has been slipping for so many years now, look no further than basing their main event angles around "Wow, will WWE actually book Triple H/Cena/Reigns to lose?" instead of anything narratively compelling.

[Deleted]

I sure as hell don't. I'd rather not see him at all than see him lose.

[Mighty Attack Tribble]

Well, I haven't given the company a penny in three or four years now, for reasons not wholly unrelated to Roman's push (their overall creative malaise is a bigger part), so if that's their game plan, it's not working well. The shrinking TV audience and live gates is another indicator.

[Zone Was Wrong]

Cue Ambrose nope gif.

I pay to see nxt, ppv's, (if it doesn't look like ass), and some of the original programing. I know full well this is the Roman Reigns train now and nothing will stop it unless the dude is caught snorting coke off of Mickey Mouse's backside. Even then I'm sure he'd be back at it after rehab.

[ayumidah]

nah. I ignore Roman matches more often than not. To be honest the only reason I'm subscribing to the network right now is because 205 Live is the most enjoyable hour of wrestling for me all week.

[This Player Hating Mothman]

Dec 28, 2017 0:16:30 GMT -5 HMARK Center said:

If people really want to wonder why WWE's popularity has been slipping for so many years now, look no further than basing their main event angles around "Wow, will WWE actually book Triple H/Cena/Reigns to lose?" instead of anything narratively compelling.

Imagine living in a time where TV is really in a new golden age and most major studio movie releases wish they could have the kind of buzz going for them as the major tentpole episodes of must-see programming, and rather than just looking for decent ratings to sell ads networks and studios are actually trying to make acclaimed, complex, interesting series to draw in passionate fanbases, as more than ever before television can become a genuine pop culture phenomenon, but then you're WWE and instead of doing any of that you spend five hours a week farting into a microphone and yelling at people for complaining about it.

["Magic" Mark Hurr]

Dec 27, 2017 22:00:48 GMT -5 @axiv said:

I got a feeling this is the WWE's modern marketing strategy. Create a general tension between the fans and the main star wrestler.

John Cena kinda did this first, however, not to the extent of Reigns. Cena typically had about 30% to 70% crowd support, I think Roman is more in the 5% to 25% range?

As I have the Royal Rumble 2018 in mind, all I can think of is "Who's gonna eliminate Reigns/Will Reigns win?" This makes the Rumble more interesting for me.

I was at WrestleMania 32, and the main event was that much more emotional. So much more real, as I clamored for HHH to win, and then all I could do afterward is stare at HHH as I walked out of the arena.

I feel this is the kind of logic they've resorted to using to feel that they are always one step ahead of the "know-it-all" marks. Where it does have merit, it's better than to them to think like this than to actually book with the flexibility needed not to just rely on heat that comes from giving the fans the finger.

[TGM]

I pay WWE for access to NXT and all their old Raws and PPVs.

I watched a current Raw from a few weeks ago and I was shocked by how ass it was. I usually enjoy clips of Raw but actually sitting through one showed how bad the product is.

And I have never been a Reigns hater but, yeah, f*** WWE basing their entire product around Roman Reigns.

[Push R Truth]

I find myself a lot happier when I go work in the kitchen or something with Roman is on.

Somebody told me to do that like 2 years ago and I laughed at how dumb that sounded. Now... it's so true. I wish I could remember who that kind soul was.


I salute you stranger.

[Deleted]

I pay WWE for awesome matches. 2017 is awesome. The key to enjoying it is not to watch the weekly TV, as sad as that sounds.

Roman's actually great in ring, so if he's in a high profile match against an opponent I like he can draw me in.

[This Player Hating Mothman]

Also just to come at this idea from another angle: even if people were hatepaying to see Roman lose and that was the big draw going in WWE, with flagging live event attendance and steadily descending ratings I don't think there's a case made that it would make for a very successful draw. Maybe putting on a good show would make for a better draw and bring in more customers than spite.

[carp (SPC, Itoh Respect Army)]

Dec 28, 2017 0:16:30 GMT -5 HMARK Center said:

If people really want to wonder why WWE's popularity has been slipping for so many years now, look no further than basing their main event angles around "Wow, will WWE actually book Triple H/Cena/Reigns to lose?" instead of anything narratively compelling.

Well, they need some kind of kayfabe, don't they? "Who's getting pushed?" just slides in and takes the place of "Who's the better wrestler?"

I guess the idea of just trying to tell interesting stories without trying to trick the dumb marks in your audience has not occurred to them.

[HMARK Center]

Dec 28, 2017 16:14:26 GMT -5 carp (SPC, Itoh Respect Army) said:

Dec 28, 2017 0:16:30 GMT -5 HMARK Center said:

If people really want to wonder why WWE's popularity has been slipping for so many years now, look no further than basing their main event angles around "Wow, will WWE actually book Triple H/Cena/Reigns to lose?" instead of anything narratively compelling.

Well, they need some kind of kayfabe, don't they? "Who's getting pushed?" just slides in and takes the place of "Who's the better wrestler?"

I guess the idea of just trying to tell interesting stories without trying to trick the dumb marks in your audience has not occurred to them.

Right, and the saddest part is that there are ways to play off of real life heat and real life happenings to create drama for a match that don't involve having the big question your audience has being "will I leave this show pissed off because the top guy won?" They're just very, very lazy at coming up with even simple, straightforward ideas that logically get things from point A to B and allow a crowd to feel satisfied with what they saw.

[the2ndevil]

Can’t speak for anyone else, but when I go to a show, I pay to have a good time and enjoy the action in the ring.

[Deleted]

thats why I dont pay

[Mighty Attack Tribble]

Dec 28, 2017 8:20:51 GMT -5 @rrnew said:

I pay WWE for awesome matches. 2017 is awesome. The key to enjoying it is not to watch the weekly TV, as sad as that sounds.

Roman's actually great in ring, so if he's in a high profile match against an opponent I like he can draw me in.

That's pretty much how I've coped with watching the last four years. Matches and skits in isolation are great, for the most part. It's when you try to string together a whole show that things start to go awry.