Casual fan=Money vs. Wrestling Fan=Quality.

[HMARK Center]

There are quite a few over-generalizations here, but I get the drift, and agree, to a degree.

I do agree that it's obnoxious when wrestling companies cater to the fans that are here today, gone tomorrow. It usually hurts the overall quality of the shows in exchange for what amounts to a few months worth of ratings boosts. When those trends continue, the "fair weather" fans will be gone, anyway, since they really weren't all THAT interested to begin with, and, what's worse, the "hardcores" will start leaving, as well, as the show will have stopped being aimed at them, and thus stop appealing to them.

It's not something that happens overnight, but it certainly happened to WCW, and could conceivably happen to anyone else. Not that it'd drive, say, WWE out of business (WWE would have to tank enormously over quite a few years to go out of business), but it could have quite an adverse effect on the business as a whole a long time.

[cheappop]

The secret is to cater a little bit to the smarks and a lot to the Marks. If you even cater a bit to them, the smarks will eat it up. Marks however, need to be tended to all the time with storylines and characters.

[Joekishi]

just something on Survivor Series and Cyber Sunday having thrown together cards.

Survivor Series being full of Survivor Series matches like in the old days (country) were thrown together teams of guys who were fueding at the time.

Cyber Sunday IS thrown together at the PPV, the PPV's gimmick is that fans vote for the matches they want to see, and according to Jericho, Shelton, and others it really is completely random as to the choosing.

[willywonka666]

I've been watching for 20 years, and I still prefer a Hogan Match to an Angle match,I like personality and an intriguing storyline, but I do appreciate actual wrestling too, I'm just a bit more into style really

[bigHEADinc]

I was not a big fan of the over-generalizations in the original post...

Personally, there are several levels of being a fan. Starting from the "I only really know what's going on by what's on TV, and maybe the WWE website" fan who may order Wrestlemania or just watch it at a Hooters or something all the way up to the guy who orders all 13+ WWE PPVs, the 12 TNA PPVs, used to order the weekly TNA PPVs, has several replica title belts (with autographs from former title holders) and regularly subscribes to several "dirt sheets" just so he can get all the info...

Problem is, between both sides of the spectrum is a wide range of fans. Me, personally, I was possibly at my height in fandom during the Attitude Era. I mean hell, my Top 25 wrestlers is topped by The Rock, Undertaker, Big Show, Austin, and Samoa Joe. I haven't regularly watched in over 3 years, I don't order PPVs, I buy the occasional DVD from ROH, TNA, or WWE from time to time, but I like my wrestling when I have time for it, know what I mean?

As for "graduating" from Hogan to Chris Benoit... Like i said, my Top 25 Wrestlers is topped by 4 guys who aren't that known for their in-ring skills. It just takes a sense of amazement to get me into a wrestler, that little "It" factor. While some on my list may be there for skill, they're all there because they draw me in whenever they're on screen. And, just for example, here's my Top 25 (From #1 to #25)...

The Rock
Undertaker
Samoa Joe
Steve Austin
Big Show
Kurt Angle
HBK
Mankind
Kane
Chris Jericho
HHH
Goldust
Ted Dibiase
Scott Hall
William Regal
Eddie Guerrerro
Taz
Christopher Daniels
Jake Roberts
Curt Hennig
Bret Hart
Chris Benoit
Rob Van Dam
CM Punk
AJ Styles

[The Boss]

mrpink said:

What I'm trying to say is that the WWE and TNA officials seem to think that the only way to have a successful product is to focus less on the wrestling, but the wrestling is exactly what makes us fans.

Almost. But you seemed to have over looked one important point. The wrestling is what keeps many fans. But by itself does not draw many new fans. The wrestling must always be present in order to appease long time fans. But the entertainment value must be prominent (though not necessarily dominant ) to attract new fans and keep casual fans watching long enough to become fans of the sport.

For years TNA focused soley on wrestling. They had a (very) small following but they were unable to attract new veiwers because casual fans had no reason to watch. Now they are trying to step up a bit by hiring established talent that casual fans will recognise.