For The Record 6.21.09: IWC is Happy, WWE is Not

In my opinion, WWE programming is awesome at the moment. Smackdown, ECW, and WWE Superstars are great wrestling shows. And much of that is due to the outcome of the WWE Draft. Smackdown was given such stars as Rey Mysterio, CM Punk, Chris Jericho, and John Morrison. They have joined Edge and Jeff Hardy to form a modern day version of the Smackdown Six. And if you think Smackdown has a good roster now, it’ll be even better when The Undertaker returns.

The same goes for ECW. They may not have the star power of Smackdown or Raw. But they have the right pieces in place to produce quality wrestling matches. Swagger, Christian, Finlay, Kidd, Smith, and Bourne have given fans plenty to cheer about. Even Dreamer, Henry, and Kozlov have performed well since the Draft. ECW is generally well-liked by the persnickety IWC. Some members of that community have even called it the best show around.

WWE Superstars has already given fans a few match of the week bouts… and it’s only been around since April. It is a reliable and solid “wrestling” show.

IWC fans are finally getting what they’ve wanted for years. They’re getting wrestling. They’re getting long matches. New stars are being built. The main event scene is fluid. The IWC wants parity in wrestling; WWE’s Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday night shows are giving it to them.

Smackdown especially has drawn nearly universal acclaim from internet wrestling fans. Every week, the show just keeps getting better and better. The IWC finally seems to be warming up to WWE. However…

There’s a problem…

Ratings

Nobody is watching those shows! While Raw has remained consistent since the Draft, WWE’s other three “wrestling-oriented” broadcasts have drawn subpar ratings. Smackdown rarely exceeds 2.0, ECW has been trending downward (often below a 1.3), and WWE Superstars consistently scores in the .9 range. Those numbers have to be unsettling for WWE’s top brass.

Here’s something to keep in mind…

Raw is WWE’s “entertainment” program. It reliably draws in the 3’s, and occasionally in the 4’s. On some weeks, the other three wrestling shows combined struggle to get as many viewers as Raw. Yes, there are many factors that affect ratings. But so far, “wrestling” programming has not delivered. The quality of the shows has improved in the eyes of the IWC. But if WWE judges success by ratings… our favorite wrestling shows have failed miserably.

Does that mean those shows will change? I hope not! But it may only be a matter of time before Smackdown, Superstars, and ECW take on a zanier Raw-like tone.

Bottom line…

If Vince McMahon concludes that “wrestling” doesn’t draw, we may see WWE’s non-flagship shows go in a different direction.

More Food For Thought

It’s kind of funny that ratings fall when the IWC is happy. Should that tell us something?

I know what it tells me: The IWC wants one thing, the general wrestling fanbase wants another. Both groups want drama, but that’s the only thing they share in common. The IWC wants the drama to come from wrestling matches. The general wrestling fanbase don’t always believe that the best stories are told in a match. They prefer a soap-opera style. They like long promos, backstage segments, and swerves. For them, matches serve a purpose… but only as a means to an end. If a match doesn’t serve a storyline purpose, the general fanbase tends to tune out. I’ve even heard fans bust out the “boring” chants during 4 star matches.

For the IWC fan, a match is usually an end in itself. Matches don’t need to advance storylines. That is probably the key, fundamental difference between the IWC and the general wrestling fanbase. The IWC wants the wrestlers to shut up and wrestle, and everyone else wants the opposite.

My final observation: Raw is drawing in viewers, and appealing to a broad fanbase. Shows like Smackdown are drawing in less people, and appealing to a narrow fansbase. Something has to give. And unfortunately, I don’t think McMahon will continue to produce IWC-friendly TV if the ratings continue to plummet.

Moving On

Two Quick Memos

Number 1: WWE made the right choice. They had to resume the Triple H-Randy Orton feud. With Batista being knocked out of commission for the next few months, WWE needed someone to take Batista’s spot. Some might argue that MVP or John Cena would have been better choices. While I understand that argument, I still think Triple H was their best option. His feud with Orton was never really settled. It makes perfect sense that Triple H would want tend to unfinished business upon his return. This Monday Night’s Raw is a good venue for them to duke it out. It’ll be a commercial-free show with a pay-per-view atmosphere. And if history is any indication (No Mercy 2007), their Last Man Standing Match could be a Match of the Year Candidate. It seems odd that they’ll have another match at The Bash. But that’s okay. I’m sure WWE has something unique planned for the pay-per-view.

Number 2: Jim Cornette should save his rants for wrestling. His political diatribe from two weeks ago was witless and vile. Cornette would be well-advised to attain at least a rudimentary understanding of the Constitution before he goes on his tirades.

WWE in Trouble with the SEC?

The Donald Trump storyline is already stirring controversy. Check out what Fox Business is saying:

A Dose of “Machomania”

I’d like to end this article on a light note. Below is a Machomania video. Enjoy.

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