Raw may be going three hours permanently

[Agent P]

USA Network has talked of wanting Raw to increase to three hours in the fall. The belief is that is guarantees the network one extra hour of very high ratings every week, thus enabling them to maintain their status of being the most watched network on cable television. The thought process being the move is that if Raw starts at 8 p.m. more often, people will get used to tuning into Raw at that time, and it will lead to higher ratings in the second hour in particular. They also made the suggestion of Steve Austin and Undertaker being regulars on the show, even if they can't wrestle. On the WWE front, they aren't too keen on making Raw a three hour show, every single week. They think this is the last thing they need. Although, if they go through with the move, they'll likely get a rate increase from USA.



Source: PWMania.com by way of the Wrestling Observer

[erwxcalibur]

I'm wondering how USA has gotten to dictate what they are doing these days. I remember hearing they were involved in the limo storyline too.

[VKMTV]

Wouldn't upset me if they hired some indy and wcw stars, to beef up the star system.

[MGH]

As long as they brought some new people up to help fill time rather than having extra HHH, Cena, HBK segments, it could be good.

[Mozenrath]

Maybe just put Heat on the air before Raw. That'd work.

Wouldn't have to be live, if they didn't want it to be. It could be one filmed the week before.

[Jaffa is behind you.]

I already invest around 6 hours a week in watching wrestling, so how about no.

[capfan]

No way in the world the WWE can do 3hr Raws all the time, it just wont work.

[Jiren]

If it's gonna be 3 hrs all the time

Some changes (BIG Changes) are needed

[Chris Decker-The Wild Rover]

please god no. 2 hours is fine. give that extra hour to tna

[kawalimus]

Even vince wants to cut it to an hour and a half cause so much time don't work. REmemeber Nitro's 3 hour format? It was a long, dragged out hell. If Vince weren't such a sissy at heart he'll tell em no.

[Mr. Mediocre]

Three hours every week would be a TERRIBLE idea. There's just no way it would work on a weekly basis...WWE needs to put their foot down and recall the lessons of 3 hour Nitros.

[Agent P]

jaffac said:

I already invest around 6 hours a week in watching wrestling, so how about no.

There are 168 hours in a week. You can't invest a 7th hour?

lifeoftheparty said:

please god no. 2 hours is fine. give that extra hour to tna

I don't think USA can do that.

[Deleted]

For the love of god please no

[capfan]

Why don't they just air a 2hr Raw and then bring back WWE Confidential after Raw.

[Drillbit Taylor]

Id rather them Use that for ECW... but still that means that the vacuum of Talent to Raw Will happen and ECW and SD become Home to Ace Steal and Colt sooner

[Big Hurt]

Stevie Night Heat!!

[Tyfo]

If they incorporate the lower card guys who are usually on Heat into storylines and everything, they could work with another hour.

But more then likely they would just give Cena and HHH an extra 30 min of promo time each week instead.

[capfan]

tyfo85 said:

If they incorporate the lower card guys who are usually on Heat into storylines and everything, they could work with another hour.

But more then likely they would just give Cena and HHH an extra 30 min of promo time each week instead.

Yep longer opening promo with maybe 2 more matches than we normally get.

[HRH The KING]

If they go to three hours permanently they need a far deeper scope to their product.

Tag team, mid-card, and cruiserweight divisions need to be pushed to the Moon.

WCW (when it was good) is the model to use.

[Stu]

Imagine if Bischoff were still around, the announcers still sat at the upper end of the ramp, the World and US titles were moved to Raw and it went three hours. And we'd have Nitro all over again. Or at least something close to it.