Wrestlemania Hurt Wrestling Fans

[klunderbunker]

It's true. We all view Wrestlemania Sunday as our holiday and while it's easily the biggest day of the year for us, Mania as a whole isn't good for the business. It gives the company a big payoff for nothing more than the fact that it's Wrestlemania and people are going to buy it no matter what for the most part, but let's look a bit deeper at this.

Look at this year's card. I think we're all in agreement that it's far from excellent. Now of course the important thing to ask here is why is that the case? To me, it's because of the cards for the rest of the year. Vince McMahon sees the payoff that the supercard called WM got and decided to make the other 11 PPVs (which is another bad thing about Wrestlemania-it caused the flooding of the PPV market) supercards as well. That's why matches such as Edge vs. HHH are wasted on shows like Great American Bash instead of saved for a night like tonight when such a match being wrestled for the first time would be a worthy main event. Due to all of the other PPVs having to have mega main events, Mania is now left out in the cold because of its own success.

Let's go back to that flooding of the PPV market concept. Back in 1985 and all the way until 1987, Wrestlemania was the only WWF PPV of the year. It spawned Survivor Series in 87, Summerslam the following year, and the Royal Rumble was moved to PPV in 1989. Eventually WCW and WWF began competing for this and we now have the watered down 12 shows a year because of it. Pay Per View has lost its glamour over the years because of this. Why should Wrestlemania be special if we get another PPV next month?

Third, look at the price of the show. What is it now, 50 or 60 dollars? That's absurd. When I was growing up, it was 30 and that was high. Why can today's Mania charge so much? It can do so because it's going to get the buys to warrant the price. People are going to buy Wrestlemania and fork out the cash because it's Wrestlemania. There is no way to validate 60 dollars or 15 dollars an hour to watch a wrestling show. When you do the math, that's a dollar to watch four minutes of the show, most of which will be interviews or entrances. Before Mania hit it big, it would be thirty dollars for three hours, or a dollar for 6 minutes of the show. You've lost two minutes per dollar because of this show's popularity.

There are other reasons besides these but i think you get my point. Wrestlemania is fun, but at the end of the day, it hurts us as fans and does nothing but help Vince McMahon continue to give us the same bad wrestling month in and month out.

 

[aintnostoppin]

I completely agree and I never understood how there could be so many pay per views and I'm even more amazed that people will buy these events even when they know the card is full of matches that don't seem special at all. The only matches that this wrestlemania has that I'm interested in are the HBK/Taker match and the MITB ladder match because they are matches that are sure to have some awesome spots. Randy vs HHH has been done many times before, JBL vs Mysterio has been done before, and Big Show vs Edge vs Cena doesn't look too promising.

 

[TwistofRKO]

You're absolutely correct on the price. I.e. you're coughing up dough to watch Kid Rock waste 10 minutes of your life when you can watch him on a designated music channel. I'm not wanting to pay and watch him, unless he's involved in an actual match to an extent. You wouldn't have to jack the price up for the event if you didn't have to pay these guy's a royalty to perform. Celebrities are part of Wrestlemania, but that shouldn't be part of the ticket.

This also just encourages large groups watching it rather than more individual buys. I know of at least three houses/parties where 12+ people are all just going to pitch in for the $55 rather than everyone paying it. What brings in more money, 3 $55 buys or 8 $40 buys?

You're right on with the smaller PPVs as well. Why waste a good matchup at Cyber Sunday or Judgement Day when you can save it for a big card? A first matchup between two top stars should never be wasted at a small PPV. There are too many PPVs which all must be headlined by a good matchup to get buys, which is where the fault lies.

 

[SinCityBlitz]

What's hurting wrestling fans is having the McMahon's being the only game in town. But that's a whole different topic.

I do agree about the watered down PPV's. Nothing seems special anymore because with 12 PPV's a year we've seen it all before. Plus it's all too rushed.

I don't mind paying $50 or $60 if I feel I am getting my moneys worth but as much as I like Edge and Orton, it's just not worth it.

The last PPV I ordered was Wrestlemania XX. I don't see myself ever ordering another unless someone else throws their hat in the ring and challenges the McMahons.

Great topic KB. I pretty much agree with you on all of it.

 

[Age of Orton]

I agree WWE has far to many PPV's, Personally I'd like to see them go back to the main 4 plus keep one of the others maybe Night of Champions, so they all have a different concept (minus Summer Slam/WrestleMania)

 

[makeitvab]

I think "it's true" only in a certain regard.

The "oh the card isn't great but it's WM" isn't the same as saying "oh well we have Kane vs Hornswoggle, Henry vs Kahli, Kung-funaki vs Honky Tonk Man, Kelly Kelly vs Maryse, Beth vs Melina, Big show vs Vicky, and Al Snow vs Kofi but its WM so I'll shell out the $60"

The card isn't as great as the WM25 WE all hyped it upto be, and quite frankly it's not even the 25th anniversary is it? 26 would be the 25th anniversary of it happening IIRC. The card is solid imo except for Jericho and the divas. Sure they may've happened before, but not in these conditions and build up.

MITB is exciting to see not only for the spots but to witness when whomever wins is now officialy "one o the ones to watch".

Orton/HHH, the build up has been great, and tons of people are fans of either or so thats a good match throw on...add that 99% of the wrestling fan base is speculating what will happen, who will turn..etc and you've garnered interest worthy of a WM match.

Cena/Big Show/Edge. Not as great as a build up as the other title match, but had to be comedic to even out the horrificly violent and personal feud the other belt entails. Should still deliver, Edge Cena is more done then anything else in recent memory but as far as I remember they've always put on great matches. As for big show being in there to spice things up...eh id rather it be 1 on 1 but still interested to see how the added element changes things up.

Anyways, could go on, but got to get house ready as I am also having friends buy in so price doesnt matter...though i'd order this card if they werent.

 

[Blueshirt]

What I think has hurt wrestlemania has been the lack of push for the Royal Rumble, the PPV that is sandwiched in between WM and Rumble and having two championships.

Part of what made the Rumble so awesome was the knowledge that the winner of the Rumble would be facing the champion. No matter what the winner would go on and face the current champion. To me, this was ruined when Vince won the rumble in 99 i think after screwing Austin. While it advanced the storyline, it completely destroyed the Rumble for me. What ruined it even more was that Austin won the #1 contender spot back. Before this time every winner of the Rumble faced the champion at wrestlemania. The fact that Austin could lose the rumble and somehow get it back kind of ruined the prestige for me.

Next, the PPV that is squished in between the Rumble and Mania has really destroyed the prestige of Mania. The coolest thing about the Rumble was knowing that the winner of the Rumble for the next 4 months was going to chase around the current champion. There was a large amount of time to create a storyline, seeing as the winner of the Rumble usually had no beef with the current champion. However, No Way Out has destroyed the ability of the company to start the championship fued directly after the Rumble. Even more so, due to the elimination chamber featured at NWO, it makes it even more apparent that the winner of the Rumble will not be facing a current champion at the time of the Rumble.

Finally, what has killed WM, IMHO, is the two championships. It kills the whole the winner of the Rumble will be facing THE best superstar in the company. Having two to pick from kind of kills it for me.

 

[shadowlaw85]

I agree with everyone here.this year we got kinda screwed out of 50dollars.the only match that was worth the money was hbk vs undertaker,everythin else was a waste of freakin tyme.honestly I could hav waited to spend 50 on the dvd

 

[TheBoyWonder]

Im not complaining.
If anything I stole from the WWE!
I just watched Wrestlemania 25 from start to finish, online, and in HD quality!

 

[legendkiller6]

I would never pay $50 or 60$ for ANY PPV, that's why I go to the bar and watch it free. Yeah I agree with you wrestling is not at it's best lately. The PG isn't killing it, but it sure isn't helping any...

 

[JohnnyTheAlphaMale]

hook me up with the link to the site that u watched mania on. do u watch all the ppvs there?

I think that the hype itself kills mania. Its been built up too much that we have unrealistic expectations and that every match should be a mania moment.

I also agree that having two titles affects it also. One rumble winner vs the worlds champion. 4 months build, its all good.

 

[GameOver]

lol. we only pay $25-29.95 in Australia to get WWE/TNA PPV's and in HD if ya have that option.

I'd probably still pay $50 for the big 4 WWE PPV's. wouldn't even consider it for any of the others and TNA well i'm never paying for there PPV's again period unless hell freezes over and they get a clue. I was pissed paying $25 to watch that crap even WCW at it's worst is better than anything they put on PPV but thats a different story

Atleast Mania was watchable from start to the World Title Triple Threat Match and seeing Taker/HBK put on a matt classic and Steamboat catching a glimpse of history also the Hardy's put on a decent match. that was enough to keep me amused. Though after the event was over ofcourse ya feel really dissed that another Mania has come and gone and wasn't upto the hype.

PG rating has nothing to do with the crapability of the shows now. they have been lacklustre since WCW folded and WWE no longer had anything to force them to step up creatively, also the whole wellness protection that pretty much takes anyone out who has some chance of succeeding in the future.

There are other factors that may or may be not be an issue
A) Internet site leaking information about upcoming storylines and the staff that work for WWE etc Vince etc. is always in a pissed off mood which affects talents ability to want to perform.

B) Current generation of spoiled brats who want the big bucks without having to actually get better at there craft and so become comfortable doing nothing

C) Theres no new storylines, everything has been done over and over.

D) Lack of decent talent that could be pushed beyond mid card

 

[RATED R CHAMPION]

Well I Agree With The Fact That Maybe Some Great Matches That Could Be Wrestled At 'mania Are Now Wrestled On Other Ppvs, But Wrestlemania Continues To Be Amazing.... The Price? I Don't Agree With You, Ok When You Were Young Wrestlemania Cost 30 Dollars And It Costs 60, But Men All In The World Is Like That, I Mean, When I Was Young And Little Some 10 Or 12 Years Ago, A Chocolate Cost Even 10 Times Minus Than Now!!!!!!! So The Price Is Relative........

In The Past Wwe Had 4 Ppvs And They Complimented It With "saturday Night's Main Event And Some Other Good Shows, Like Superstars Of Wrestling And Prime Time Wrestling, Now They Have A Big Card A Month, With 4 Weekly Episodes Of 3 Differents Shows Per Month! But I Like It..... Vince Mcmahon Has Continued The Greatness Of Wrestlemania But Giving Us More Good Action Away From Mania...... I Mean, Now Maybe You Dont Have To Wait All Year Long To Watch A Truly Huge Ppv Or Match

 

[snowdogg438]

I think "it's true" only in a certain regard.

The "oh the card isn't great but it's WM" isn't the same as saying "oh well we have Kane vs Hornswoggle, Henry vs Kahli, Kung-funaki vs Honky Tonk Man, Kelly Kelly vs Maryse, Beth vs Melina, Big show vs Vicky, and Al Snow vs Kofi but its WM so I'll shell out the $60"

I would pay $60 for this, Kung-Fu Naki vs. Honky Ton Man is more then worth the price of the ppv.

But seriously, I'm so tried of hearing people complain about how there is too many ppvs a year, and how wrestlemania is too expensive, or that they arent getting the quality matches they think they should be getting. If you're so upset about it, quit watching. Quit coming to the wrestling forums and complaining about them. Real wrestling fans don't want to hear it. I've watched wrestlin since 1985, I've seen every wrestlemania there is. Every few years wrestling goes into a down swing, it happened in 1993, it happened in the early 2000s and now it's happening again. The new Hulk Hogan(Triple H) is using his creative control to stay in the spot light because he feels like that all the crowd wants to see. If anyone watched mania last night you would remember the dead silence for the entire Triple H vs. Orton match. They popped loaded for Kid Rock and the diva battle royal. Too many ppvs isn't the problem with wrestling, the "superstars" that refuse to get out of the way and give up their spots are the issue. I'm ok with HBK and Taker getting in the ring once a year and putting on a good mania match, problem is they put on piss poor matches the rest of the time. Triple H walk away and let Jericho and Orton main event.