The Future of Professional Wrestling?

[Arturo Classico]

Basically where do you see Wrestling of progression in the coming years? Do you see mainstream wrestling being the same as it is now with Sports Entertainment or do you see it changing into a various of diffrent styles?

[MGH]

I don't see WWE changing it's ways (and less face it, they ARE professional wrestling in the eyes of the majority) unless something absolutely drastic happens. Sportz Entertainment is here to stay.

[CM Shelley]

as long as Vince has the money and is on top, Sports Entertainment will be the mainstream

and even if TNA becomes #1, It's not enough to be considered ROH type

and UFC will be UFC, I don't think anything thats worked will take off

so unless ROH somehow takes off, I see wrestling staying the same

[Deleted]

mygreatesthour said:

I don't see WWE changing it's ways (and less face it, they ARE professional wrestling in the eyes of the majority) unless something absolutely drastic happens. Sportz Entertainment is here to stay.

Pretty much.

Though it won't happen, I'd love to see energetic semi-Asian Lucha like CHIKARA become big. Nothing in my mind could outdo that.

[nisi]

I see UFC having a stronger influence simply due to the seed money it can attract--UFC can get rather low ratings and still have backers.

[Old School Heel mark4Morishima]

Two things are happening in the wrestling business right now:

1. PPV sales are stagnant or down.

2. Live show attendance - both WWE and indy - is up.

I have no idea what this means for what kind of product we'll be seeing. I'd imagine continued growth of the kind of hybrid Japo-Mexican style you see in the more successful indies.

I'd like to think this means the era of dumb brawlin' hosses is dead, but I think that's too optimistic. I think more likely the E will come figure out how to wean itself off PPV, survive on tickets and merchandise, and figure out some kind of bastardized approximation of indy style to push on TV.

[Arturo Classico]

Yeah that would be the best that WWE can do and if Punk becomes popular and gets pushed more will get come to WWE.

[Funkyjumbo]

nisi said:

I see UFC having a stronger influence simply due to the seed money it can attract--UFC can get rather low ratings and still have backers.

Totally agree, just waiting to see what they do with PRIDE as that will be a big influence.

[Tom Selleck]

Sports Entertainment has been around for about 20 years so I don't see it going anywhere anytime soon.

[HRH The KING]

I'd like to see a broader based sports-entertainment format which covers different styles of wrestling. WCW was able to do for a few years by blending Japanese/Mexican/Cruiserweight/Heavyweight styles. Variety is the key IMO.

[willywonka666]

hsquat said:

Two things are happening in the wrestling business right now:

1. PPV sales are stagnant or down.

2. Live show attendance - both WWE and indy - is up.

I have no idea what this means for what kind of product we'll be seeing. I'd imagine continued growth of the kind of hybrid Japo-Mexican style you see in the more successful indies.

I'd like to think this means the era of dumb brawlin' hosses is dead, but I think that's too optimistic. I think more likely the E will come figure out how to wean itself off PPV, survive on tickets and merchandise, and figure out some kind of bastardized approximation of indy style to push on TV.

Live shows tend to be filled with more marks than anything. I went to backlash and they booed the hell outta Cena-at a house show, there was not 1 person booing him

[Chucklehead,baby!!!]

UFC is already too big for their britches.

[Andrew is Good]

I don't think Sports Entertainment is just a WWE thing. When I see Colt Cabana ask the ref to check Shingo's mullet for foriegn objects, is that not sports entertainment? When Larry Sweeny has an arm wrestling contest with an 8 year old, is that no Sports Entertainment?

Anyway, the one thing I don't want to see in the WWE and on the Indies, is the cookie cutter look. In the WWE, I with that there were more guys then just the tanned, muscled up, short haired guys who all look the same. And as I watch more and more indies, it's annoying to see a bunch of skinny, pale guys with short hair. I hope that's not the future.

[normcoleman]

SPorts Entertainment with emphasis on shoot fighting

[Juggalo/Hulkamaniac]

Sports Entertainment 4 life.

[Joekishi]

MMA is MMA that's it, it's not wrestling the production values are much higher in MMA and so are the buyrates.

The buyrates are high due to gambling and general interest, you can't gamble on pro wrestling

The style we see now is great, If the indy stuff is supposed to be cutting edge, than what of the WCW cruiserweight division which is what those indie feds (Bar hardcore) are basically duplicating.

Seriously the style WWE employs with all it's workers (i don't get the hate with John Cena when EVERYONE is forced into having 5-6 trademark moves) works.

People pop for Punk's knee in the corner, Shelton's Dragon Whip, The 6-1-9, Randy Orton's Back Breaker, the Masterlock, Batista's Spinebuster, the FU, HBK's flying forearm and what not.

That's the WWE style, get your spots over, and fill in the rest with whatever you can to build the match. Whether it be submissions, trading holds, ground wrestling, brawling, flying all over the ring, or trading big moves.

[omgtheykilledkenny]

LONG LIVE SPORTZ ENTERTAINMENT

[frickinsweet]

I think wrestling will go down the Broadway route. More musical numbers.

[Joekishi]

THERE'S GONNA BE A RUMBLE TONIGHT!

[Arturo Classico]

frickinsweet said:

I think wrestling will go down the Broadway route. More musical numbers.

As Wrestlemania is shaping up you could be right with Timbaland and Ludacris.