Should WWE have a season?

[ulimate123]

I mean nearly every sport out there has a season that last for approx. 9 months and why shouldn't WWE? It could start 8 weeks before Summerslam and end at Wrestlemania. This would be a great idea as the 4 main PPVs would be covered, wrestlers will get less injured and have time to spend with their families and reduce the ammount of steriod users (If any). While the wrestlers are in the 'off-season' they could do a few house shows here and there.

[ulimate123]

They don't need three months off, but a month or so would be excellent. Even two weeks or so. Just give the people time to mentally and physically heal. Let them be with their families, maybe for Christmas. There's no need at all to have shows around that time of the year with people having more important things such as the holidays to tend to. Maybe put on some PPVs on free tv edited for time, or some prerecorded highlights from the year. Why not? It's not like the ratings do great for that time of the year.

Yeah thats another great idea. About christmas time time could be taken off. I feel for the wrestlers, I mean they probably hardly ever see their family during the year. After X-mas WWE could come back fully loaded to hype the Royal Rumble.

[klunderbunker]

They don't need three months off, but a month or so would be excellent. Even two weeks or so. Just give the people time to mentally and physically heal. Let them be with their families, maybe for Christmas. There's no need at all to have shows around that time of the year with people having more important things such as the holidays to tend to. Maybe put on some PPVs on free tv edited for time, or some prerecorded highlights from the year. Why not? It's not like the ratings do great for that time of the year.

[ad21k]

WWE would lose out on too much revenue both from advertising, and PPV's. Ratings would likely suffer at the start of the season, because of people getting into other habits, and they would have to spend loads on advertising the start of the new season to attract viewers back which would lose more revenue. In fact the only people who would benefit, and probably support the idea would be the wrestlers themselves, as like you said it gives them more time off. However from a business perspective its a non-starter.

[OIL]

They don't need 3 months off? Don't suppose you've had to deal with their schedule to know how much of a toll it takes on their bodies & families? 3 months off is just fine in my opinion. That way, it gives them time to do things a normal family would do, such as go on holiday ect. Also, 3 months is long enough to let any small niggiling injuries heal, or more serious ones get treated to. Mentally also, being able to get a good nights sleep would be a great benefit for all the wrestlers. They'd have more time to go to the gym, and also just be normal again. Catch up with friends ect. Another factor, perhaps they could go down to FCW and learn a few new moves. The younger wrestlers that is. Only positives can be seen from this. Although, 3 months off at once may not be as effective as 2 week breaks every couple of months.

[TM]

KB beat me to it. There is no need for Wrestlers to have to work from around December 10 to January 10th. The wrestlers would get the much needed time off to be with their families and let their bodies heel. They could have a best of shows playing, the tribute to the troops, taped on their last day and some pay per views during this time. Then have the build up to the Royal Rumble right after the time off.

[ulimate123]

KB beat me to it. There is no need for Wrestlers to have to work from around December 10 to January 10th. The wrestlers would get the much needed time off to be with their families and let their bodies heel. They could have a best of shows playing, the tribute to the troops, taped on their last day and some pay per views during this time. Then have the build up to the Royal Rumble right after the time off.

Just a bit of a gripe I have with that. Is 2 weeks enough build for the Royal Rumble? It is supposed to be a very big PPV with a traditional match which only happens once in 12 months and the winner gets a title shot at Wrestlemania. This PPV IMO deserves more than 2 weeks of hype anf build.

[τδιγλε]

You know, the wrestling promotion in my daydreams has a season. I think WWE having an 8 month season from January to August would be great for three reasons. One, it would allow wrestlers time to heal. Two, it would allow the writers a chance to get storylines in order for the upcoming year's season and also make up contingency plans should any of the wrestlers get injured. Third, and most importantly, it would avoid the NFL season almost completely (no one watches the pre-season and there would be no more Monday Night Football by the time RAW came back on the air). However, the biggest question is whether or not WWE would be able to make the same amount of money that they make yearly in just eight months.

[klunderbunker]

They don't need 3 months off? Don't suppose you've had to deal with their schedule to know how much of a toll it takes on their bodies & families? 3 months off is just fine in my opinion. That way, it gives them time to do things a normal family would do, such as go on holiday ect. Also, 3 months is long enough to let any small niggiling injuries heal, or more serious ones get treated to. Mentally also, being able to get a good nights sleep would be a great benefit for all the wrestlers. They'd have more time to go to the gym, and also just be normal again. Catch up with friends ect. Another factor, perhaps they could go down to FCW and learn a few new moves. The younger wrestlers that is. Only positives can be seen from this. Although, 3 months off at once may not be as effective as 2 week breaks every couple of months.

Yes because I'm sure that you know what the travel schedule for a WWE wrestler is as well.

3 months is FAR too long. Listen to what any wrestler has said about this subject and they'll all say 2-4 weeks a year would be great. No time on the road, a regular sleeping and eating schedule, time to just relax and clear your head. The little injuries would heal just fine in that amount of time and the big ones could get some solid healing time in as well. Three months is a VERY long time. Think about it: three months ago Jericho was world champion. Three months ago, Legacy was just being born. Three months ago Cena was just about to win the title. That's a long time to not have wrestling, just looking at it from a business standpoint. Giving them three months off also would form a lot of ring rust meaning they weould need a few weeks to just get back into their old form. It would be almost four months without them being in top form for the fans. Most of us would wait for it, but a lot of the casual fans wouldn't.

[ulimate123]

You know, the wrestling promotion in my daydreams has a season. I think WWE having an 8 month season from January to August would be great for three reasons. One, it would allow wrestlers time to heal. Two, it would allow the writers a chance to get storylines in order for the upcoming year's season and also make up contingency plans should any of the wrestlers get injured. Third, and most importantly, it would avoid the NFL season almost completely (no one watches the pre-season and there would be no more Monday Night Football by the time RAW came back on the air). However, the biggest question is whether or not WWE would be able to make the same amount of money that they make yearly in just eight months.

WWE is not at the moment a company in dire need of money. Hell Vince is a Billionairre and although finance is a important aspect it wouldn't hurt WWE would it if they had just a few million dollars of loss and gave the wrestlers some time off and give the creative some time to actually think of some good storylines rather than to rush them and spoil the overall product.

[OIL]

Yes because I'm sure that you know what the travel schedule for a WWE wrestler is as well.

3 months is FAR too long. Listen to what any wrestler has said about this subject and they'll all say 2-4 weeks a year would be great. No time on the road, a regular sleeping and eating schedule, time to just relax and clear your head. The little injuries would heal just fine in that amount of time and the big ones could get some solid healing time in as well. Three months is a VERY long time. Think about it: three months ago Jericho was world champion. Three months ago, Legacy was just being born. Three months ago Cena was just about to win the title. That's a long time to not have wrestling, just looking at it from a business standpoint. Giving them three months off also would form a lot of ring rust meaning they weould need a few weeks to just get back into their old form. It would be almost four months without them being in top form for the fans. Most of us would wait for it, but a lot of the casual fans wouldn't.

Well ok, instead of having it as a season, just have 3 months worth with no house shows. I know the bulk of a wrestler's paycheck comes from house shows, so during those 3 months have a set fee that they would get paid.

But basically, give them say December off like that, where they only have to do RAW, SD! or ECW. Heck, tape the month's worth in the first week and give them the rest of the time off. Then, middle of the year have another month like that, and then another later in the year. Perhaps have that final month spread out into 2 week slots, so maybe one after WrestleMania to let the wrestlers heal up and get stronger after the demanding schedule that WrestleMania provides.

[TM]

Just a bit of a gripe I have with that. Is 2 weeks enough build for the Royal Rumble? It is supposed to be a very big PPV with a traditional match which only happens once in 12 months and the winner gets a title shot at Wrestlemania. This PPV IMO deserves more than 2 weeks of hype anf build.

Yeah you do make a good point, maybe move the Rumble back a week. Three weeks should be good, as the biggest seller for the PPV is the match itself. I hate the fact we know so many people in it as it is. This way maybe we would only know at the most 20 people going in.

[ulimate123]

Yeah you do make a good point, maybe move the Rumble back a week. Three weeks should be good, as the biggest seller for the PPV is the match itself. I hate the fact we know so many people in it as it is. This way maybe we would only know at the most 20 people going in.

Yeah good idea. Giving it three, albiet rushed will be better than 2 weeks where every matched will get announced the same day and the actual matches won't gel together properly at the event.

[klunderbunker]

Well ok, instead of having it as a season, just have 3 months worth with no house shows. I know the bulk of a wrestler's paycheck comes from house shows, so during those 3 months have a set fee that they would get paid.

But basically, give them say December off like that, where they only have to do RAW, SD! or ECW. Heck, tape the month's worth in the first week and give them the rest of the time off. Then, middle of the year have another month like that, and then another later in the year. Perhaps have that final month spread out into 2 week slots, so maybe one after WrestleMania to let the wrestlers heal up and get stronger after the demanding schedule that WrestleMania provides.

Now this could definitely work. At the time, I can't imagine that people would be thinking about going to a live show for the overpriced amounts they already have. That time of the year is about your friends and family. Taping the shows would be just fine. It's not like the spoilers would kill the ratings or anything. They're naturally low in that time of the year, so why notgive them that month or so off?

[Lee]

KB beat me to it. There is no need for Wrestlers to have to work from around December 10 to January 10th. The wrestlers would get the much needed time off to be with their families and let their bodies heel. They could have a best of shows playing, the tribute to the troops, taped on their last day and some pay per views during this time. Then have the build up to the Royal Rumble right after the time off.

Well if it's 10th Jan that would leave two weeks for the build up. The best point would be after Summerslam for a few weeks, and then a week or two at Christmas.

But to me WWE does have seasons, granted they don't have a big break and restart but I see Wrestlemania as the end of the WWE season, things wrapped up nicely to start off the next night on Raw.

[ulimate123]

Well if it's 10th Jan that would leave two weeks for the build up. The best point would be after Summerslam for a few weeks, and then a week or two at Christmas.

But to me WWE does have seasons, granted they don't have a big break and restart but I see Wrestlemania as the end of the WWE season, things wrapped up nicely to start off the next night on Raw.

Now that must take the mick for the RAW wrestlers. Just had one of the best matches ever, even Vince gives you a pat on the back, just main evented 'mania and won the title. You go to bed all happy about you life, you wake up tommorow, check the calender and.... :cuss2:

[Slyfox696]

What an awful awful idea. There's a reason that Raw is the "longest running episodic show in TV history". Taking time of is a completely ridiculous idea.

First of all, why take the financial hit when you don't have to? I mean, name ONE person who has EVER been forced to work in the wrestling business. They haven't. They do it because they want to, not because they have to. Second of all, as quoted from the movie Tommy Boy, "You're either growing or you're dying. There's no third direction". Time off means money lost, which means a dying business. Finally, you have to remember it's not just ratings that suffers, house show business is some of the best business around in wrestling.

Taking ANY time off is ridiculous. Furthermore, the WWE DOES tape their Christmas show every year (The Tribute to the Troops), so the guys do get a little time off then.


The only LOGICAL way to give some time off, is to find a way, every couple of years, to write guys out of the storylines for a few weeks. Injury angle, "firing" angle...whatever. But, shutting the whole thing down for several weeks just isn't feasible.

[v12dpk]

Totally agree with everything Slyfox said, makes sense, and plus, you wouldn't want wrestlers to get ring rust now would you?

[Steamboat Ricky]

Taking ANY time off is ridiculous. Furthermore, the WWE DOES tape their Christmas show every year (The Tribute to the Troops), so the guys do get a little time off then.



Tribute to the Troops is not in place of the other shows, though. So, it's not like a vacation.


Isn't there a way that both can be done? WWE has been taping telecasts since it first started doing television, so why couldn't they do it now? Raw still tapes periodically, so why not again?

You could potentially tape a month's worth of shows in a week if need-be, thus, airtime would still be occupied and the wrestlers could still get a bit of a holiday.

[ulimate123]

3 months was just a suggestion. I mean every sport takes time off and it doesn't hit them that hard financially. For example the footie season. The clubs have a waaaaaay more expenses to cover in 9 months which MOST clubs do, so if they can, why can't WWE? Maybe they could start doing normal shows in bigger arenas to make up for the time lost.

[Slyfox696]

Tribute to the Troops is not in place of the other shows, though. So, it's not like a vacation.The house show work is much lighter then, and they don't have to do a TV show that week. It is easier.

Isn't there a way that both can be done? WWE has been taping telecasts since it first started doing television, so why couldn't they do it now? Raw still tapes periodically, so why not again?

You could potentially tape a month's worth of shows in a week if need-be, thus, airtime would still be occupied and the wrestlers could still get a bit of a holiday.
Injuries...firings...spoilers...change in creative plans...all things that can affect taped shows. Let's say you tape three weeks of shows, build to the PPV, and then in a house show two weeks before the PPV, Cena gets hurt. Now, he won't appear in an advertised match, and you have no way of telling people he won't. Fans are ticked, and quit buying your product.

Why tape a month worth of shows? Where's the benefit to it? To give guys time off? They can quit and have all the time off they want.
3 months was just a suggestion. I mean every sport takes time off and it doesn't hit them that hard financially. For example the footie season. The clubs have a waaaaaay more expenses to cover in 9 months which MOST clubs do, so if they can, why can't WWE? Maybe they could start doing normal shows in bigger arenas to make up for the time lost.
Legitimate competition...especially competition that has been around for decades can afford time off because it is legitimate competition. When you look at TV shows, how many of them last for 15+ years? Very very few of them. Why? Because when you take time off, show reruns, people learn to look for other things.

Once you have them hooked, you have to keep them hooked.

[Starchild]

I agree with what someone said about the house shows. Having a break in those for a month or so could help. I also like letting them have 2-3 weeks off during Christmas time. Maybe tape just 1 episode of each show ahead of time. Then you could show that, a best of the year show (which they normally do anyway), and perhaps a show a condensed WM on cable. People would still watch those things and the wrestlers would get to be with their families for the holiday season. As KB said, most of the wrestlers themselves say that just a couple weeks is good. Being on the road 24/7 is just hectic and understandably so. They go out there night in and night out and put their health on the line for the fans...I think they deserve a couple weeks break.

[hurrafreak]

Honestly I think I am kind of tired of this age old question. Should the WWE have an off season???? None of us are wrestlers so no we do NOT know the schedule nor do we know the hardships that wrestlers have to go through by traveling a lot and hardly seeing their family. OR maybe the family travels with them all the time, I mean if its just a wife a lot of the wrestlers hopefully have saved their money and are able to bring their wives with them throughout their travels??? ANybody think of that?? Maybe a lot of the wrestlers are not attached to anybody at home making it that much easier for a full time road job?? Who knows and I don't think we will ever know what their motivation is to have such a grueling schedule. BUT on the other hand ALL of these wrestlers know what the schedule is like before signing up, ALL of them know what they are getting into BEFORE they start wrestling. Shouldn't we be asking them whether or not they want an off season instead of us wrestling fans GUESSING that they would like one. Maybe they do, maybe they don't, that is for the WRESTLER to decide, not the fan.

[maxymo1234]

i like the idea but maybe not for 3 months maybe two or one months.they would get big hype for the season opener i think it would be cool

[avi01]

Yes! I always thought so. Like very sports or Tv shows, just do it season wise. It will be much better for the wrestlers. Being on the road 300 days a year is just crazy... exaggerated. It takes out way too much out of the wrestlers. Many end up taking steroids or stuffs like that to stay on stop...we know the consequences.
Take a sport like soccer. It`s an 8 months season...with some 1-2 matches per week. Still by the end of the season. the players are too tired to go further and this is not even nearly as physical as wrestling.
Besides, having seasons would make people miss WWE when it`s off the air and I think it would be great for ratings.
But that`s not going to happen, there`s too much money involved.

[Criss Hardy]

Vince wont do that, He wants all the money he can get, even if it means burning out all his wrestlers.

[TheOneBigWill]

With it being said in the most polite way it could be, this is just a stupid idea.

First and foremost, there's a little something called "ring rust". It's not just another fake word that's thrown around for the enjoyment of the fans, like "Icon" or "Hall of Famer". It's real.

And if you take off a solid month, or longer.. everyone will lose the ability to gel within the ring. Sure, you can have guys who get injured and return to television and they're fine. But the biggest question is, how long does it take them to get back in ring condition? And furthermore, how many MORE injuries would occur if you were to give guys the time off to let their body's heal, only to return and take that first big bump that could hurt even worse than if they were going year round?

You see more injuries in other Professional Sports than you do in Pro Wrestling, yet the contact is pretty much still physical. While any other theory can be used on why.. I've always thought that it's because there is a big layoff in which those athletes aren't being hit in the same manner as they are during their sport's season.

[GameOver]

From a fan persepctive there would be no great loss if they had a month off between Xmas and New Yrs.

As for time on storylines, don't put all the blame on creative. Blame the fans/the new generation of wrestlers too, People these days in general have no patience and want everything yesterday, and if something runs for more than a few months they get bored with it and start moaning.

[demon316]

As much as I look forward to RAW & SmackDown every week, it would probably be for the best to have the show take a break every now and then. Having wrestling on all year long does put a damper on a lot of things like storylines, wrestlers bodies & families, and the overall excitement.

I can't tell you how many PPV's I've regretted purchasing and perhaps making wrestling seasonal like sports would help create a bigger build for each show and cut down on repetitiveness. How many times do we have to see the same matches headlining shows?

The one big downside I see in this change is getting rid of the 'filler' PPV's would eliminate opportunties for a lot of the talent to get ahead. We might be stuck seeing Triple H & Cena main event every single show..as usual, and have no time for anyone else to share the limelight...this is kind of a catch-22.

[supergav67]

A freakin good point & I know where youre coming from with this,but no,not unless all belts didnt get handed over TilL the end of the season,which I admit would make for a very LonG year,& more meaningless PPVs...
A sport like wrestling CoulD but doesnt really need to end just cause summers here.
.I think the superstars would thank you more for a day off instead .A guy like Batista has to be in intensive care to get a break.As most Forumers favour this multi brand WWE.maybe it would help the superstars if the wrestlers were given a roster to appear on & were ONLY allowed .to appear ,,ON that chosen roster.,no Special umpteeN appearances on the other two brands in the same week,milking the same storyline till the NexT PPV.
Having said that,the current situation makes my idea seam more like an ExtremE than a suggestion-Doh!

[Twist]

WWE is not at the moment a company in dire need of money. Hell Vince is a Billionairre and although finance is a important aspect it wouldn't hurt WWE would it if they had just a few million dollars of loss and gave the wrestlers some time off and give the creative some time to actually think of some good storylines rather than to rush them and spoil the overall product.

You can't expect him to throw away money. If you got a free $5,000 right now, it would be easy for everyone else to spend your money for you. He built it up, has people watching, he deserves the benefits.

Well ok, instead of having it as a season, just have 3 months worth with no house shows. I know the bulk of a wrestler's paycheck comes from house shows, so during those 3 months have a set fee that they would get paid.

But basically, give them say December off like that, where they only have to do RAW, SD! or ECW. Heck, tape the month's worth in the first week and give them the rest of the time off. Then, middle of the year have another month like that, and then another later in the year. Perhaps have that final month spread out into 2 week slots, so maybe one after WrestleMania to let the wrestlers heal up and get stronger after the demanding schedule that WrestleMania provides.

Tweak it a bit. The two weeks of Christmas and New Years, you alternate a week off of RAW house shows, then the next week you eliminate the SD! house shows. That's a week off for both sides around Christmas, without them completely tanking programming. Still get the weekly shows, with just 2 less house shows per week.

[Dysturbed]

WWE should not have an offseason imo. The so called “true fans” will wait it out but the casual fans are also being catered to. The casual fan doesn't watch every week as is but still watches sometimes yet may lose complete interest without wrestling constantly being on as an option. The other portion is likely to watch no matter if their is a break or not but they may be unhappy with what they see after waiting so long for somethin that may not match what they envision. That happens anyway but the extra time off can intensify that.

WWE spends a lot on wrestler salaries, crew salaries advertising, pyro, travel, music, transporting equipment, renting arenas, and so on. They may make a lot but they also clearly spend a lot and I'm not sure that anyone here knows the actual figures on revenue compared to what is spent. So while we know that WWE is a highly successful company I'm not sure if losing millions (even though a certain portion isn't being spent with the time off so it could even out a bit) is something that WWE would find favorable.

I know that they make enough that they could technically “afford” to lose out on a few million especially if not spending it during an off period but it still seems like there are just as many cons as pros. Giving specific wrestlers (and always making sure that it applies to everyone at various times) a few weeks off even if they’re not suffering from a major injury could help. I know that if everyone is off at once it prevents the notion of specific wrestlers being out of the loop since all would be but still I don’t think that it’s in WWE’s best interest to have everyone off at the same time.

I do think that the no house show thing would be a decent idea.


3 months was just a suggestion. I mean every sport takes time off and it doesn't hit them that hard financially.

While I recognize the similarity that you are trying to explain the difference shouldn't go unnoticed imo. With sports teams get eliminated from contention, then there are playoffs, then one champion. Then the offseason is used as more than just a break but also to recruit new players, get rid of some, and so on. In other words, as you know, the off season has a defined purpose that is absolutely necessary. Weather also plays a factor with certain sports.

With wrestling there would still be some things to accomplish in an "offseason" such as the suggested opportunity for the writers to feel less rushed for a bit but the extra time off also gives extra time for the storylines to possibly be leaked which can lead to what I mentioned about anticipation that may end up leading to disappointment.

Anyone who thinks that their way of how things should be with storylines is the only right way is delusional so it's not like WWE can please every fan with each storyilne but regardless of it's mistakes WWE does want to please it's fans overall and giving them a set period for those fans to build themselves up for possibly nothing could be a turnoff. I don't think that WWE would be screwed by any means but it would possibly annoy some of the fans that they want to please and at least some might stop watching, not enough to make a dent, but I'm guessing that WWE wants to keep and gain fans. Sadly it comes at the expense of the health of some wrestlers but I guess it is what it is.

[futuredraftpick3]

I don't think it would be good to give them that time off for so long. Maybe a week off or so once in a while. If they are off the air too long die hard fans could turn on TNA who would most likely set up big matches being the only show on at the time and possibly sky rocket it to a level closer to WWE.

[Dysturbed]

^^^That's another good reason. I am not too sure that Vince thinks of TNA as a threat as it stands now but knowing that they'd have a few months WWE free to establish themselves without WWE as an option might be something that would change his mind. It's probably not a risk that he'd want to take.