THTRobtaylor
Once & Future Wrestlezone Columnist
Meltzer is at it again... this time however, his report that WWE is worried about its profits for this year, after promising stellar numbers after last year actually seems to be somewhat accurate.
With talk of a new re-distribution of talent, shows being cancelled and production values on shows being reduced, notably in the pyro usage...and of course the possibility Brock could be leaving sooner than planned for a UFC bout all do lend themselves to trying to save money...and some of the decisions WWE is making.
The biggest saving would be Brock... let's face it, the experiment with him as an absent champ has failed and is costing a shit ton of money, in terms of Brock's money but the dwindling ratings from not having the belt present. Of course, if he goes to UFC AS WWE Champ and can win against Jones, it does potentially lead to some money coming in. BUT...
Brock is also associated with a drugs test fail in his last fight, publicity that WWE doesn't want. So the easiest way to trim money and raise profits at the moment is probably to let him leave... when he loses (he will) he will want to come back, and WWE can negotiate a more favourable deal.
In terms of booking however, it seems to be not just Brock that is being shaken up... Cena being put against Jinder Mahal seemingly is a way to get a bankable champion on at least one of the brands. That's not to say Jinder is failing, but bottom line is no onee RAW Fatal Fourway for Summerslam is proven as a draw other than Brock... if he IS going then they need to switch the "rookie champ" to RAW and have the established one on SD.
However it does appear they have a plan in mind... IF the Shield do reuinite, for example winning the tags and helping Reigns end Brock's tenure on the night...then it's conceivable the merch goes up on RAW and while Reigns alone couldn't sell, as part of a reformed Shield, he might work for a while.
Canceling the shows from the Network seems counter productive in some ways as the content is important in justifying the price-tag. One thing WWE might be trying to do is to add some value back to their TV offering for the next deal or negotiations with TV even now like...
"Oh you liked Talking Smack...well give us the extra hour and we'll do it for x per year extra..."
For WWE to pay for it and air it, it's expensive... if USA pay for and air it, then it's cheap.
One change that seems to be coming is they have gone VERY quiet on the UK TV show as well... to the point where the next defence is against an established WWE star in Jack Gallagher... is this where they put the belt on him, move him to Smackdown and have the belt defended like the old European belt? Certainly cheaper than a UK TV show.
WWE as a traded company, really HAS to get this profitability up, as if they don't and the rough numbers Meltzer mentioned are remotely accurate... that's when companies do go start to lose investors quickly...
Do you think this might be the real reason there seems to be so much change right now? or have they worked out that the product isn't right?
With talk of a new re-distribution of talent, shows being cancelled and production values on shows being reduced, notably in the pyro usage...and of course the possibility Brock could be leaving sooner than planned for a UFC bout all do lend themselves to trying to save money...and some of the decisions WWE is making.
The biggest saving would be Brock... let's face it, the experiment with him as an absent champ has failed and is costing a shit ton of money, in terms of Brock's money but the dwindling ratings from not having the belt present. Of course, if he goes to UFC AS WWE Champ and can win against Jones, it does potentially lead to some money coming in. BUT...
Brock is also associated with a drugs test fail in his last fight, publicity that WWE doesn't want. So the easiest way to trim money and raise profits at the moment is probably to let him leave... when he loses (he will) he will want to come back, and WWE can negotiate a more favourable deal.
In terms of booking however, it seems to be not just Brock that is being shaken up... Cena being put against Jinder Mahal seemingly is a way to get a bankable champion on at least one of the brands. That's not to say Jinder is failing, but bottom line is no onee RAW Fatal Fourway for Summerslam is proven as a draw other than Brock... if he IS going then they need to switch the "rookie champ" to RAW and have the established one on SD.
However it does appear they have a plan in mind... IF the Shield do reuinite, for example winning the tags and helping Reigns end Brock's tenure on the night...then it's conceivable the merch goes up on RAW and while Reigns alone couldn't sell, as part of a reformed Shield, he might work for a while.
Canceling the shows from the Network seems counter productive in some ways as the content is important in justifying the price-tag. One thing WWE might be trying to do is to add some value back to their TV offering for the next deal or negotiations with TV even now like...
"Oh you liked Talking Smack...well give us the extra hour and we'll do it for x per year extra..."
For WWE to pay for it and air it, it's expensive... if USA pay for and air it, then it's cheap.
One change that seems to be coming is they have gone VERY quiet on the UK TV show as well... to the point where the next defence is against an established WWE star in Jack Gallagher... is this where they put the belt on him, move him to Smackdown and have the belt defended like the old European belt? Certainly cheaper than a UK TV show.
WWE as a traded company, really HAS to get this profitability up, as if they don't and the rough numbers Meltzer mentioned are remotely accurate... that's when companies do go start to lose investors quickly...
Do you think this might be the real reason there seems to be so much change right now? or have they worked out that the product isn't right?