Hypothetical SummerSlam 2014 Main Event - How many buys?

[sammy123]

SummerSlam 2014 is rumored to be at MSG. Let's say, Cena finally goes heel and becomes Triple H's real corporate champion. Hogan returns (after all, he has a few matches left in him) and so does The Ultimate Warrior, who has already collaborated indirectly with WWE (via 2K sports).


So, let's say this is the SummerSlam 2014 Main Event - Live! from Madison Square Garden:

John Cena & Triple H vs. Hulk Hogan & The Ultimate Warrior




ALL Biases aside, how many buys does that tag main event do, assuming it gets an epic build?

[sammy123]

For the record, I think it would do 650,000 buys

[celticjobber]

WWE main events usually go atleast 15-20 minutes. There's no way in hell Hogan and Warrior could handle that. And it would be a shitty match.

And I question how much the modern ppv-buying audience would care about Warrior and Hogan. So I don't think it would do much more than the average Summerslam buyrate. Hell, most of the current WWE fans were either babies or not yet born when Hogan and Warrior were still regular performers.

They're old and broken down (Hogan, who would be the "worker" of his team can barely even walk, and can't take bumps or do his trademark legdrop anymore). Their time in the WWE spotlight is over -- as it should be.

If Cena turns heel, he should be facing wrestlers under 60. Like Daniel Bryan, CM Punk, possibly one or more of the Shield guys after they turn, etc.

[Young Game]

Sept 21, 2013 0:48:51 GMT -5 celticjobber said:

WWE main events usually go atleast 15-20 minutes. There's no way in hell Hogan and Warrior could handle that. And it would be a shitty match.

And I question how much the modern ppv-buying audience would care about Warrior and Hogan. So I don't think it would do much more than the average Summerslam buyrate. Hell, most of the current WWE fans were either babies or not yet born when Hogan and Warrior were still regular performers.

They're old and broken down (Hogan, who would be the "worker" of his team can barely even walk, and can't take bumps or do his trademark legdrop anymore). Their time in the WWE spotlight is over -- as it should be.

If Cena turns heel, he should be facing wrestlers under 60. Like Daniel Bryan, CM Punk, possibly one or more of the Shield guys after they turn, etc.

Well said.

There's really no upside to this.
If this match were to happen, you would see a man fall to pieces in the middle of the ring.

[Tiger Millionaire]

I don't think he was saying they should do it, just what would the buyrate be. I think it would do 400,000. PPV buyers tend to trend older anyway.

[sammy123]

Sept 21, 2013 1:03:47 GMT -5 Tiger Millionaire said:

I don't think he was saying they should do it, just what would the buyrate be. I think it would do 400,000. PPV buyers tend to trend older anyway.

Exactly.

PPV buyers are mainly age 25+

The nostalgia would be through the roof in this instance (even if there would be major diminishing returns later).

Workrate be damned.

[MichaelMartini]

I don't think Hogan has any matches left in him.

[Deleted]

12 million buys.

[rapidfire187]

I know I wouldn't pay to see that.

[kidglov3s]

Honestly, I think if they want to do better than average with Summerslam at this point they're going to have to have Undertaker. It seems like having just Rock (Elimination Chamber 2013) or Brock (Extreme Rules 2013, Summerslam 2013) on the card isn't the surefire draw it was a year ago, though their first match back against the right opponent after an extended absence could say otherwise. I think they have the best chances with WM if they have Undertaker and one of Rock or Brock on that card and then Summerslam with Undertaker and the other one, this is assuming that Brock and Rock are willing and able to do a show next year, which might be... dubious, as Unicron might say, and also assuming Undertaker can work two matches next year.

I think putting 3 big special attractions on Wrestlemania this year (Rock, Brock, Undertaker) was subtraction by addition and that everything would've turned out just as fine or probably better from a business and show quality perspective if they had just used two of them on that show.

Without a guy like Undertaker, Brock, Rock or Austin I think it's extremely unlikely that Summerslam does business above 2011/2013 barring an actual, measurable uptick in interest in the day-to-day WWE product (IE someone like Dolph Ziggler/Daniel Bryan/CM Punk becomes hugely popular,a genuine draw and transcends the wrestling bubble where people who never watch Raw are peripherally aware of who they are, which did used to actually happen with full-time wrestlers).

Right now I would allow that properly promoted Warrior/Hogan could potentially do better business than anything involving guys on the full-time roster (though at the same time that it could also do worse, it's a gamble), even if the match would probably suck.

[Deleted]

I would pay to see it and it could be an entertaining train wreck or the image of Cena or HHH doing a 2005 SS HBK is to hilarious

[BayleyTiffyCodyCenaJudyHopps]

Watching Cena and HHH wrestle themselves in order to not accidently kill Warrior or Hogan would be fascinating, but not quite worth $45.

[Deleted]

Sept 21, 2013 1:58:18 GMT -5 sammy123 said:

Sept 21, 2013 1:03:47 GMT -5 Tiger Millionaire said:

I don't think he was saying they should do it, just what would the buyrate be. I think it would do 400,000. PPV buyers tend to trend older anyway.

Exactly.

PPV buyers are mainly age 25+

The nostalgia would be through the roof in this instance (even if there would be major diminishing returns later).

Workrate be damned.

The flaw with that number though is that whoever pays the cable bill in a household is classed as the "buyer" so if someone young wants to watch a PPV it is their parents who are actually buying it.