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Post by carter 15 on Jan 9, 2007 11:17:32 GMT -5
Fact is. The fans do watch. Ratings have averaged between 3.8 - 4.0 over the last 4 years steadily, through all the "crap" that happens "every single show" (apparently). The attendance level has also had a steady increase since plummeting late '01 - early '02.
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Post by Loki on Jan 9, 2007 11:32:23 GMT -5
No... but I mean maybe.
I'm watching RAW regularly, but I've been fast forwarding through the uninspiring parts (i.e. Cena, Masters, Carlito at times) for the last couple of months. Same goes for PPVs With SmackDown! I'm cool with the highlights on wwe.com, and if there's a match that interests me, I can watch/download the episode, but it's a once in a month thing.
I don't care about ECW (any incarnation of it), so it may as well be the most craptacular show ever and I'd not know it...
I'm not watching religiously nor I'm giving a penny to Vince, so it's totally irrelevant if I watch or not...
Would I pay cable/PPVs considering the the current product? Probably not!
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Post by WoodStoner1 on Jan 9, 2007 12:32:31 GMT -5
I've mostly given up for the last 4 years...to paraphrase the Harvey Birdman rendition of Fred Flintstone, "You're dead to me, WWE!" Now most of my wrestling watching comes from the odd indy show, or classic footage (either through tape trades or WWE DVDs...fact is, if it weren't for 24/7 and their DVDs, I'd be TOTALLY convinced that no one there has half a brain). TNA sometimes, but generally I think what I know is what more and more of us need to embrace...the classic era is OVER. Whether you consider it to be the Rock 'N' Wrestling boom, or the Attitude Era, or both, you'll never see anything like it again. Partially because there is just ONE major company, of course. Say what you will about WCW, but its presence and the need to compete with it kind of usually kept the WWF in line. Now, as I said before, with no one to threaten them, they can do what THEY want because there's nowhere else mainstream enough to turn to. Have faux-celebrity "matches"? GO AHEAD! Make fun of the dead? NO PROBLEM! There's no one with enough pull to capitalize on bad business moves anymore, so they'll book for their amusement and no one else's all they desire.
I also like the point made in this thread that they are simply following suit with the rest of movies, TV, and music nowadays. Since WWE wants so badly to be "entertainment," it is natural that they follow the downward spiral most mainstream entertainment is in now, and shows no signs of leaving. At least WWE hasn't followed the movie industry and has resorted to booking nothing but remakes of classic angles and matches...oh wait, Cena/Khali = Hogan/Andre II, riiiiiiiiight?
So yeah, it's all over now. The only way for wrestling to be what you remember is to indeed delve into your memories, I think. All that '80s footage and stuff is definitely a sign of a time lost forever.
One more point...I said the WWE was "dead to me." And yet, when I read about what they do and how it frustrates fans and is unfair to certain workers, I still get upset myself, and it even ruins even thinking about anything wrestling for me. This is a stupid question probably, but what would you do to help that?
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Post by skskillz on Jan 9, 2007 12:57:30 GMT -5
So yeah, it's all over now. The only way for wrestling to be what you remember is to indeed delve into your memories, I think. All that '80s footage and stuff is definitely a sign of a time lost forever. That's where I am. To get my wrestling fix, I watch tapes from the '80's and early-'90's from my tape collection. That's it. I have no interest in WWE, TNA, ROH, or anything else out there. Not only are the RockNWrestling and Attitude Era over, but I think wrestling as a whole is dead to me. I can't see any way for the WWE or TNA to get out of their funks, and even if they do, I'm so disinterested in what wrestling has become that I probably wouldn't care if another "boom period" happened. It's ironic that the same promoter who made me a crazed wrestling fan for 2 decades (Vince), is the same man who turned me off from wrestling completely.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Jan 9, 2007 13:05:22 GMT -5
Nope because I no longer watch ECW and I haven't seen a PPV since Vengeance which I got on DVD
I have Summerslam on DVD but I've still to watch it & don't think I'll get another one till the Rumble
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Post by The Boss on Jan 9, 2007 13:10:00 GMT -5
Vince McMahon is very SMART. He knows no matter what he puts out, you will watch. That's the problem. McMahon has no competition and therefore no reason to put out a good product. It's his way or nothing. Pro wrestling needs another promotion to arise. That's why I'm so behind bringing HOLLYWOOD HULK HOGAN to TNA. If HOLLYWOOD HULK HOGAN -- the world's most famous and recognisable star were to win the NWA World title and then go on all of the talk shows with the title belt, he could promote the hell out of TNA and bring in the fans TNA needs.
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Sim
Don Corleone
HA HA HA...posting.
The People's Slide
Posts: 1,280
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Post by Sim on Jan 9, 2007 13:23:30 GMT -5
Now that 24 (IMO the best and most addicting show on television) is coming back, I'm not gonna be watching Raw anytime now. Not that it matters anyway, I don't have a Nielsen box.
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Jiren
Patti Mayonnaise
Hearts Bayformers
Posts: 35,163
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Post by Jiren on Jan 9, 2007 16:28:51 GMT -5
If it looks crap i wont watch it
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Post by T.J. "the Crippler" Stevens on Jan 9, 2007 16:45:13 GMT -5
I'll watch it. Even when it's bad. I'm a fan of wrestling. Both TNA and WWE. I was a fan of WCW. I've watched it when it sucked. And I've watched it when it was good for 25 years. I'm sorry. I'm sheep. You're better than me. You're very good looking. I'm not attractive.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Jan 9, 2007 16:56:30 GMT -5
As a wrestling fan I'll watch whatever wrestling is on TV, it's my favorite thing in the world so there's no reason why not to give anything a chance. WWE gets in slumps from time to time(even now I think it's exaggerated how bad it is, there's a lot of good too), sometimes it's just a matter of looking at the good over the bad, I think a lot of people online are quick to point out what they don't like and leave out the positives and I find THAT more frustrating than anything a wrestling company could do. I come to boards like these because I love wrestling and I love talking about it, and I sadly don't have a lot of friends who are wrestling fans, and I just find it bizarre sometimes how many people come online to talk about what they hate.
I'll never stop watching WWE, I grew up with it and whether they're in a good or bad state I can't picture myself NOT watching it, I like wrestling, it's free to watch, why the heck not? That goes for TNA too, only I don't have as much a connection with it, it's free wrestling, who am I to turn it down.
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Post by MGH on Jan 9, 2007 17:02:55 GMT -5
No, I won't just keep watching. It's a challenge to tear away from, but I've shown before that I can do it. I watched Raw last night to see where they go with HHH being gone, I won't be watching next week. Forget ECW, I won't be watching that either. Punk isn't worth tuning in to that trainwreck. I'll stay loyal to Smackdown as long as they keep on the path they are now. Putting on awesome shows week after week.
I'll watch iMPACT on Thursdays, watch Smackdown on Fridays, keep ordering TNA PPVs when they seem good (and they do a lot of the time), and watch ROH/CZW when I need a wrestling fix.
I'd rather watch no wrestling than horrible "wrestling".
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Post by Nice Guy Cody on Jan 9, 2007 17:23:38 GMT -5
Vince McMahon is very SMART. He knows no matter what he puts out, you will watch. Ehhhh, no. I stopped watching regularly a long time ago. I just tune in and out of Smackdown now, and keep an ear out for the occasional Benoit/Finlay or Angle/Taker. I remember a year or two ago when SD! was the crap brand where everything got sent to die. I'm glad it's back in that 2002 mode where SD was the refuge when RAW was crap.
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Post by The Boss on Jan 9, 2007 18:12:05 GMT -5
I so want to enjoy today's product. I try to watch it. But it just sucks soooooooo much. It's hard to sit through an entire program. The older wrestlers despite being in their 40s and 50s are still far more fun to watch. They know how to play the fans and make them feel as if they are a part of the action. The new guys just perform a character, say "Look at me." and think that they should automatically receive the fans admiration.
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Scott
Dennis Stamp
Posts: 3,577
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Post by Scott on Jan 10, 2007 3:34:00 GMT -5
I'll watch it. Even when it's bad. I'm a fan of wrestling. Both TNA and WWE. I was a fan of WCW. I've watched it when it sucked. And I've watched it when it was good for 25 years. Amen to that. Granted I don't watch anything when it's on, I still DVR everything and watch it at the office when I have the time. It's never even crossed my mind to actually stop watching.
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HRH The KING
Bill S. Preston, Esq.
HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS
Posts: 15,079
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Post by HRH The KING on Jan 10, 2007 4:23:55 GMT -5
I stopped watching ECW after the first show.
I rarely watch SmackDOWN.
I rarely watch the brand-specific PPV's, not live anyway, and certainly I don't pay for them on Sky Box Office.
I watch RAW and the big four PPV's mainly.
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Post by Nickie James on Jan 10, 2007 5:10:56 GMT -5
That depends. I haven't watched RAW in months but I've been following SmackDown! religiously.
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Post by Timmy8271 on Jan 10, 2007 5:14:20 GMT -5
I don't watch PPV's. Other than that, Yes.
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OmeLita
Mike the Goon
What's Lita doing now? Why, working at Denny's, of course!
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Post by OmeLita on Jan 10, 2007 5:15:47 GMT -5
I still watch it just to see what crap they come up with next. I watch RAW more than SD! or WWECW, but my alligence is starting to lean to SD!, just because I'm sick of seeing Vince. He wouldn't appear on SD! if his life depended on it.
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Post by King Fox -1017 Bricksquad on Jan 10, 2007 21:40:53 GMT -5
I'll watch it. Even when it's bad. I'm a fan of wrestling. Both TNA and WWE. I was a fan of WCW. I've watched it when it sucked. And I've watched it when it was good for 25 years. Amen to that. Granted I don't watch anything when it's on, I still DVR everything and watch it at the office when I have the time. It's never even crossed my mind to actually stop watching. I agree with you both. I've been watching wrestling since I was 5 (im 23 now) and I cant see myself just not watching. I know sometimes it not all good, and thats evident of this past Monday night, But I'm a wrestling fan and somwetimes you have to take the good(1997-2001) with the bad (2002-present).
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Garee
King Koopa
I miss the old days
Posts: 11,338
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Post by Garee on Jan 10, 2007 21:54:31 GMT -5
No, I refuse to see "The Marine"
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