Split the house shows add ECW

[poppycock]

WWE split the difference..

Have Raw the show that is all about "Entertainment" and pretty much follow the path the WWE is taking right now. Keeping it PG of course and fill it up with as many promos, cartoonish characters, family viewing as you want. Have Cena remain the face of Raw..changing very little from whatever direction Vince has in mind at this point in time.

Smackdown would be the show for "Wrestling". Week in and week out the main point of the show would be to show off WWE wrestling talent and produce great wrestling matches. Keep promos and a certain amount of entertainment if you like but focus on in ring activity. Pretty much the current WWE with a lot more wrestling and less gimmicks..off screen entertainment.

Bring back ECW and target a more adult audience than Raw and Smackdown. This show would be that much more edgy (does not have to totally revert back to more hardcore times but just enough to please those who want the Attitude Era back or something with more humph than strictly PG). Perhaps getting in Paul Heyman to run things.

Scrap NXT and use Superstars to develop young talent.

All the shows would encorperate all aspects of Pro wrestling but focus more on a certain point as I stated. Pleasing everybody.

Could this work with a few tweaks, as in is it even possible?
Would you like to see something along these lines ever happen or is it the worst idea ever?

 

[Serious Mozzarella]

ECW was just about canceled, last I remember. Yeah, a more "adult-oriented" show, or whatever, would be awesome for those *~*mature*~* adults who only watch *~*mature*~* shows for *~*mature*~* audiences like themselves, but I would imagine ECW was losing them money, considering nobody was watching it.

Yeah, it was a good show and everything, but people were mostly tuning into Raw. No matter what they did on ECW, they couldn't increase viewership on that show, so their best bet was to break up ECW and start assimilating the roster onto other shows.

A few other things:
-I agree that NXT should be scrapped. But Superstars is not where they need to develop talent. The shows are.
-The attitude era sucked. Those guys who only wanted to see blood and tits are gone forever, regardless of what they begin showing now, and that's a good thing.
-The WWE being PG does not mean it's a kid-friendly show. I don't know why people keep saying this. Wrestling is inherently a show with adult themes. The amount of cursing and blood is never going to change that.

 

[poppycock]

I disagree with your point about the fans who wanted "blood and tits" as put it are gone for good. As far as I can gather they are still in the woodwork with an eye on the WWE and with fingers crossed hoping to go through another era like the Attitude one (which did not suck to many fans who remain with the company to this day) I liked the Attitude Era a lot..not my favourite era, that would be the time period just before the Attitude
Era began depending on when you believe the Attitude Era started. If these fans are gone then a well done edgy show would bring them back which financially could only be a good thing.

Yes the new ECW was not pulling as many viewers as Raw but it was pretty much going the same way as Raw without a lot of the big name main eventers week in and week out. This time there would be a noticable difference and if Paul Haymen was bought in and given control of creativity I am sure things would be an improvment from before (which as you said was already a pretty decent show).

I agree with your point that young talent should be developed on Raw and Smackdown but first of all they need to produce something worth developing, something I find is not always the case with todays WWE and certain young talent who get a push or over exposure before they are anywhere near ready. Fighting on a lesser show like Superstars but still getting TV time with no goals other than finding your feet/something to develop is not a bad thing in my opinion. Then they can grow and develop on one of the big shows and actually have a selling point or marketable prospect so as not to just be pushed to the top of the midcard or in some cases a short title reign then fade away because the WWE realise they never had much substance to begin with.

Although PG may not mean a kid friendly show the current WWE is definitely heading towards a kid friendly show. This is not a bad thing at all and I loved the old WWF when it was good over the top family viewing.. some people want something else which is what made me think of the idea in the first place.

 

[Odisho]

for the comeback of ECW, wwe should change the name, as in dont use ecw, make a new name and new design, so its for wrestling and young talent. But in stead of that, why not just put the people that are jobbing on the house show cards, and let them wrestle so they can get better, while the guys who are always on the top brands performing their best, can rest.

 

[poppycock]

for the comeback of ECW, wwe should change the name, as in dont use ecw, make a new name and new design, so its for wrestling and young talent. But in stead of that, why not just put the people that are jobbing on the house show cards, and let them wrestle so they can get better, while the guys who are always on the top brands performing their best, can rest.

Maybe I am not giving them enough credit but I really feel the majority of the current target audience or at least a big enough section of it to make a difference would not be too happy (as in watch less) if the big stars are not on the shows each week. Also paying to see these shows live and not seeing Cena, Orton etc would not go down too well.

I personally would like for these stars to rest once in a while and allow others more air time but I don't feel right now the midcard as enough going for it to hold a show on it's own andbring in the viewers. With some developing and growth though this could soon be possible seeing as the roster is packed with potential right now.

 

[EastCoastFan]

Not a bad idea, except for a few things:

1) WWE proved that they didn't have a clue how to run ECW. The original ECW was an anti-establishment company that stood against everything WWF/E stood for. You can't have that kind of company if it's owned by WWE.

2) When the brand extension first began, Raw was the "sports entertainment" show while Smackdown was more of a "pro wrestling" show. Smackdown got better ratings (largely because Paul Heyman was head writer on SD) and as a result, it was decided that the blue brand needed to be "more like Raw".

 

[poppycock]

I agree with you and that is why if it were to ever happen and ECW were to be bought back then I would want Heyman (assuming he could be got) to be in control and pretty much allowed to run with it in a way he sees fit. It would of course be a WWE produced show but it would have a different feel/look and ethos than both Raw and SMackdown. The last version of ECW (the WWE ECW) was just like Raw/Smackdown for those talents who were not able to get on said shows really. I enjoyed it and lots of good came from it but it was not worth calling it ECW really it was more of spin off mix of Raw/Superstars.

 

[Azane]

I'd rather keep both nights worth watching.

They've already killed ECW's legacy. Leaving it dead is the best thing they could do, WWE can't bring back the ECW's spirit.

 

[Nate21187]

I for sure Would NOT bring Back ECW I agree with Azane 100 % there best thing just let it be do not revive it, but I do agree that they need another show. The Amount of talent being wasted right now is crazy, How are some of these people every going to make it if they don't get to be out there. So yes I agree with another show of some sorts but PLEASe dont bring back ECW...

 

[xoxo French Kiss xoxo]

ECW is dead, and has been dead for years. Get over it. Leave it buried and give up on seeing adult oriented programing in the WWE anytime in the near future

Raw- over the past few years Raw has always been more about entertainment and less about wrestling, hence why certain superstars are on Raw, and others have been moved to Smackdown. Raw is the franchise show for the WWE, its the bread and butter of the company. Their biggest star/s are on this show and its suppose to keep people coming back every Monday. Some people who watch Raw do not watch any other WWE program

Yes there are plenty of wrestlers in the WWE on both shows, but....

Smackdown - has had a focus on wrestling more than entertainment over the past few years. Thats why Smackdown didn't follow suite with Raw to have Guest GM's to host the show. Smackdown is where gimmicks are tested, and future stars are build. The wrestlers are on Smackdown just in case they botch a move/spot/match and it has to be re-taped.

NTX - Ive never personally watch this show because I like moving story lines, and wrestling matches. I know they help build future stars but I just could never get into the show.

Tough Enough - I hate reality TV, and I don't really care for SCSA so this time around I skipped watching it due to the annoyance factor.

Superstars could still be on the air, if the WWE would of put main event matches on the show. The main reason it was cut was because WGN felt the WWE wasn't providing them with top notch matches, feuds, stories and star power. They could of easily kept this show on TV by airing the dark match main events they have at almost every Raw and Smackdown show, or use people in the upper middle card in meaningful feuds to keep the show going.

Its also odd to not that USA and the WWE have such a great relationship, but only Raw and Tough Enough are on the station.

 

[rge2010]

WWE didnt know what to do with ECW when Heyman was around and when they wernt PG. Now Heyman isnt around and they are PG I really dont see that changing. I very much doubt Heyman will be interested coming to run it given he will be working under Vince (again).

Plus all the ECW originals are over in TNA...Dudleys, RVD, Dreamer etc. Just wouldnt be the same without them.

 

[poppycock]

It would not strictly have to be ECW it could be a whole new edgy more adult themed WWE show for example a show actually called WWE Attitude. Despite what people write here I know many people who who miss the edgy side of pro wrestling in the WWE and I am sure would watch such a thing. It could even be on after Raw/Smackdown in an almost warzone type scenario but as a seperate recorded show for "adults" or on a different channel at a much later time. I like the way the WWE is going right now aslong as they get more creative and produce better wrestler personas gimmicks I am all for a more family viewing product but the other show would allow for an option. I would watch both and view them both differently.

When Heyman was around I think the ECW segments of the Invasion angle were the best bits (shining star) of the whole failed storyline. The diamond in the rough.

 

[tripleddd]

I think there ought to be another show ECw/wcw or whatever but make it as independent as possible from wwe - own titles etc . i think the wwe could learn a little here and go back to basics

 

[Bowlesy_1991]

I completely agree. Why was ECW gotten rid of? As WWE becomes more an entertainment company, it is becoming more about the feuds that the wrestling. In ECW, this was allowed to happen. In NXT, all they do is run around doing silly challenges rather than building on their 'feuding' skills.