Raw 3 hour layout

[roethlisberger78]

Hey not sure if this has been brought up yet or not but I was thinking about something. With Raw going to 3 hours would it work if the first hour was used to promote the tag division and divas and then have a solid tag or divas match at the end of that hour the next hour be about the mid card titles and have a high profile match end that hour and then the third hour be about the heavy weight titles and have a high profile main eventers style match at the end of the last hour. So the three hours would be broke into the certain divisions that the WWE has that way they could use those time slots to help develope more talent. Whats your guys thoughts on this idea?

 

[TempestH]

I was thinking they should reshuffle the rosters and re-enforce the brand split. Guys like Ziggler & Bryan are talented performers, but they don't need to be eating up air time on both brands every week. Move Zack Ryder to SmackDown permanently if they aren't going to be use him on RAW.

With NXT as the new Developmental, that's one hour less air time for undercarders. Some guys like Johnny Curtis, Derrick Bateman, and Percy Watson who can barely get on Superstars. Those guys can be moved up and featured on RAW. I'd rebuild a lot of the low carders through jobber matches, using the guys from developmental as jobbers.

I don't think the shows should be as streamlined as you described, as some people might end up only tuning in for the final hour for the main eventers, which does nothing for the midcarders, tag teams, and divas.

 

[Darkdarkdays]

I think it's going to have the exact amount of content as now, but with longer promos, in ring segments and other random filler that we will all begin to hate after the first 3 hour show....

 

[DDelaware2009]

Agree with Tempest- having it so set in stone means that viewers will only tune into certain parts...

I like the brand-split idea but I'm not sure its realistic with such a thin roster these days. Plus a lot of the superstars returning - Mysterio, Orton, Jericho, Miz(filming the Marine 3) - are stuck in a rut creatively and don't have a lot to offer in terms of instant momentum.

WWE *desperately* needs to develop its mid-card if they are going to fill this programming. Mid-card (IC/US), Tag Team, and Divas titles are need to be valued and given proper story/build

 

[Shotaro]

My expectation of how the three hour Raws will go are somewhat cynical, but here's my guess. (assuming no over-run and 44 minutes of content per hour)

Hour 1
Recap of previous show/PPV and opening credits - 5 mins
PROMO - featuring main storyline - 10 mins
BACKSTAGE/VT - 2 mins
MATCH - featuring one participant in main storyline - 7 mins
BACKSTAGE/VT - 1 min
MATCH - 7 mins
BACKSTAGE/VT - 1 min
MATCH - 7 mins
PROMO - 5 mins in hour

Repeat for hour two replacing opening recap with second half of promo.

Hour 3
PROMO - continuing from hour two - 10 mins
BACKSTAGE/VT - 2 mins
MATCH - 7 mins
BACKSTAGE/VT - 1 min
MATCH - Main Event - 10 minutes.
PROMO - to close of show.

That's what I expect from the three hour episodes of Raw, approx 8 matches per show with three lengthy promos and 8-10 short VT/Backstage segments

 

[The_Midnight_Show]

I think it will be interesting to see how Raw utilizes their extra hour. You have a decent idea but I believe it would become monotonous not just for the casual wrestling fan but even for the more "tuned-in" wrestling fan to have to wait two hours to see how Raw will go about advancing their main feuds and storylines. There is a very good reason that the WWE places their three biggest promos/matches first, in the middle, and at the end of the card. Not only is the top of the hour key for viewers, but it also breaks up the show.

The way I see it, Raw will most likely maintain the same system they had with the two hour show. Big promos and matches will be at the beginning, middle, and end. They could however put these segments at the top of all the hours, which would allow for four main segments. I just hope, along with everyone else, that this extra hour is used for developing characters and advancing storylines.

 

[OG Mark]

With Raw going to 3 hours would it work if the first hour was used to promote the tag division and divas and then have a solid tag or divas match at the end of that hour

The one thing they DEFINITELY won't do is change the structure of the first hour. They have 3 hours to fill with tag matches and divas and mid-card and whatnot, but you've GOT to come out swinging. Think about a concert - how much would you really care if a rock band started their set with some ballad? The last thing VKM wants is everyone to change the channel when Raw opens with a Divas tag match. Lame.

 

[iwinulose]

Heres what I would have happen:

Dark Match
Hour 1:
Opening Promo 7-10 min
1rst match 5-10 min
Promo for whats to come later on in the night 1 min
Backstage Promo after match then commercial break 1 min
Second match 5-10 min
Promo Hyping WHC match 3-5 min
Third match 5-10 min

Hour Two:
Backstage Promo 1 min
4rth match I'll accept a squash match here for a new guy 1-5 min
PPV Hype (right before commercial)
Promo 5-10 min
5th match IC/US match 5-15 min
Promo for whats to come later on in the night 1 min
6th match Open challenge (every night) 5-15 min

Hour 3:
7th match Tag team title match 5-15 min
PPV promo
8th match Divas match solid 5-10 min (short matches = divas divions death)
Backstage promo for the main event 1-2 min then commercial
9th WHC match (hyped on smackdown and throughout the show) 10-20 min
Huge Promo before brawl ensues 5-10 min
10th WWE/huge tag team match featuring the wwe champion 10-20 min

Then whatever closes show IDC, but thats a well thought out layout, what we actually get one can only assume will not be overly thought out.....

 

[LegendKiller716]

I'm sick of Raw starting with promos. If you want to catch people's attention, you need to start with a bang. Opening with a promo every once in a while is okay, but on the regular open with some crowd favorites.

IMO I think it would be a good move to unify the US title and IC Title together, and then introduce a television championship. Open every Raw with the TV title match. It's a good way to get the crowd amped up and if the viewers know it's a title match they'll be more likely to stay tuned in to see a title change.

 

[mrpops]

We have had a bunch of 3 hour RAWs already and to be honest nothing changed. They are going to stick to their current format except drag it out longer.

 

[paulopunk]

Personally, I want a cross between a PPV and a usual Raw episode. Maybe announce a few matches before the show itself. Plus have appearences from the likes of Undertaker, Bret Hart, The Rock, Shawn Michaels etc either by satellite or in person. Also I'd want to see Lesnar and HHH continue their fued. Maybe they could use Rock or Undertaker in it somehow, to tease a future fued. Plus Rey Mysterio and Barrett returning.

Ideally id quite like to see the likes of Ziggler, Christian and Rhodes arguing about them wanting a title shot and then the GM announcing a match that night, winner gets a shot at Sheamus. Then they have the match, Barrett comes out as a mystery entrant or something, wins the match and goes on to fight Sheamus later that night. Id have him win the belt off Sheamus as well. Starting a feud between the two.

 

[Gregg]

Well, in a perfect world this would simply translate into longer/better TV matches. But it'll probably translate into more/dumber backstage segments.

Here's my Idea of what a 3 hour Raw should look like. Each hour will have 44 minutes or airtime, I will include 10 minutes of overrun. "Main Story Line" basically means whatever John Cena is doing. And "Main Event" refers to either the World Title or the WWE Title. The rest I'm sure is self explanatory.


8pm
1- Recap/Open - 5 minutes
2- Upper Mid Card Match - 7 minutes
-- Commercial Break -- (4mins)
3- Conclusion of segment 2 Match. - 7 minutes
4- Hype for the (Main Story Line) Interview segment at the Start of hour 2 - 1 minute
-- Commercial Break -- (4mins)
5- Backstage Interview or Vignette (midcard) - 2 minutes
6- Lower midcard Match - 9 minutes
7- Backstage - a main eventer is arriving (plugs their segment for hour 2) - 1 minute
-- Commercial Break -- (4mins)
8- Backstage Interview or Vignette (midcard) - 2 minutes
9- Midcard Match (featuring participants in Segment 5) - 8 minutes
10- Hype for what to expect in hour 2 - 2 minutes
-- Commercial Break -- (4mins)

9pm
11- Main Story Line In-Ring Interview - 16 minutes
-- Commercial break -- (4mins)
12- Replay and hype of events in segment 11 - 2 minutes
13- Midcard match (featuring participants in segment 8) - 6 minutes
14- Backstage Interview or Vignette (main event) - 2 minutes
-- Commercial Break -- (4mins)
15- Replay and hype of events in segment 11 - 2 minutes
16- Backstage Interview (main event) - 2 minutes
17- Backstage Vignette (possible altercation) (main event) - 2 minutes
--Commercial Break -- (4mins)
18- Replay and hype of events in segment 17 - 2 minutes
19- Main Event Level Match (participants in Segment 11 or 17) - 10 minutes
-- Commercial Break -- (4mins)

10pm
20- Conclusion of segment 19 match - 8 minutes
-- Commercial Break -- (4mins)
21- Recap of Major story lines and matches up to now. - 4 minutes
22- Backstage Interview or Vignette (main event) - 2 minutes
23- Midcard Match - 5 minutes
24- Hype for Main Event Story Line. (Main Eventer is coming to the Ring Next) - 1 minute
-- Commercial Break -- (4mins)
25- In Ring Interview Segment (Main Event) - 8 minutes
-- Commercial Break -- (4mins)
26- Main Event Match (featuring participants in segment 25) - 8 minutes
-- Commercial Break -- (4mins)
27- Replay and hype of events in segment 26 - 2 minutes
28- Main Event Level Match or Interview segment (featuring participants in Segment 11 or 17) - 4 minutes

11pm (Over Run)
29- Conclusion of segment 28 - 10 minutes


Well there we go, thats how I'd put together the average 3 hour Raw. Yes, there is still a fair amount of talking, basically, I'd just use the first hour to hype the rest of the show, but I'd include a couple longer matches each week to showcase mid card talent during that first hour. Honestly, the biggest problem with Raw isn't the format, it's the content. Wrestling TV shows really, IMO, should be used as basically an advertisement for Live Events and PPV. The shows are there to get us interested so we want to PAY to watch it. I understand now they just want ratings, so they'll just get money from ad revenue. But bottom line should be hype! Have excellent wrestling match on free TV, and then develop stories to bring 2 wrestlers together and make us want to watch them wrestle each other. Then book that match somewhere so we have to PAY to see it happen.

But thats just my opinion....Hence the right one

 

[Tyler44]

You cannot start a 3 hour program by utilizing your most mediocre and uninteresting talent for the first hour. WWE's goal is to keep viewers entertained enough to stay tuned through out. Who, sitting on their couch at their house, is going to get pumped up and excited for a show when you start it out with Eve Torres and an Epico + Primo tag match? I'd change the channel and have no hope or expectations for a good show. Just a realistic standpoint.

Think of it like a movie. The beginning is always somewhat boring, but you're leading/introducing/building to the climax and ending (aka the main event). RAW should always start out with your big stars in a promo, leading up or promoting the main event.

It's a formula that WWE has used forever, and it works. Unfortunately for some of us who like to point out flaws of WWE, they have something going decent enough.


But if you want discuss PPV's starting out with a title match, that's poor. A PPV is paid for already and nobody's going away. Save the better for later.

 

[akathelaw]

I'm not looking forward to 3 hour Raw, or the new Main Event show. In fact I will most likely switch to watching Punk and Bryan's matches on Youtube. Watching Raw and Smackdown on DVR is becoming tiring as it is.

I'm hoping the new format for 3 hour Raw leads to longer matches and more meaningful segments. I am sick of the Divas having horrible battle royals where the ring is cleared out immediately. It is obvious that it was done that way to save time, and the show ends up looking rushed and FAKE. we all know wrestling is staged, but movies are staged and when they're done poorly no one watches.

 

[roethlisberger78]

Everyone has turned down my idea which doesnt bother me one bit because it was my idea and not everyone else but what gets me is people want new stars to happen all the time but it wont happen unless we give them TV time. So I mentioned the first hour to have these people get there needed TV but everyone says they will turn off the TV or change the channel or wouldnt watch but yet they want new stars... Cant happen with out that TV time.

 

[Jomo_mark]

Well I actually like the idea of having 1h for tag/divas, 1h for mid card and 1h for the top guys. However, like a previous poster said, there is no need to have any sort of order. They could jumble up the matches and promos so that there is a good mix of everything throughout the show, or people will only tune in at the last hour. Having 1h to focus on the tag/divas division and 1h for the mid card is a very good thing as people are always complaining how things have to be done with these 2 divisions. 1h would definitely suffice.