WWE Europe!!

[JBM]

As WWE makes it's run through Europe, we American fans get the luxary of seeing how crowd interaction should be. I love watching Raws that take place overseas, because the fans across the pond make every show entertaining.

I've been told that part of the reason for their outstanding collective chants is partly/mostly due to the fact that they don't get to see very many live shows. But I've always looked at our European friends as some of the best in the world with fan interaction whether it be wrestling, futball, Rugby or whatever. Always a lively crowd that never disappoints.

With that said, I call upon the WZ forumn to help me out with a few questions:

1. What's the WWE equivalent in Europe? Or is there one? Obviously, there isn't a company that's on the same level as WWE, but what's the best over there?

2. Why don't we see more European wrestlers in WWE? Right now off the top of my head we've got Sheamus, Paige, Barrett, Regal, Drew McIntyre, etc...and for the most part they contribute pretty well to the company. I'm sure there's more but that's who came to mind first.

3. WWE is always looking to expand their product, especially in the face of their recent stock collapse. They want to increase the total number of network subscribers...why not branch out and do more with the European market? In fact, why not start a no shit global franchise? WWE Europe! Or whatever they'd want to call it. They have their own Raw, and their own Smackdown, and their own PPV(s)...whatever works. They'd probably get a considerable amount of American subscibers just because of this. I'm sure they could sell out the various arenas that they'd travel too. And, you'd even be able to market a PPV matching the top wrestlers from each branch. Now, I don't think it would be best to market it in a way that pits Americans vs Europeans....because that would probably make some negative press and tense fan interaction...but I think that this would really make for some great television.

What do ya'll think? Is Europe an untapped market for WWE that they haven't reached out to that they should? Hell, maybe there's a chance for a WWE Asia, WWE South America, and WWE Antartica (jk).

 

[WorldChampionJustin]

No, it would cost too much money to keep the shows going. I like the idea of a restored European champion, and make Sheamus the champion, and have him defend it in Europe once a month.

 

[JBM]

The shows themselves would generate enough for a small to mid-market WWE franchise. Factor in advertising, merchandising, TV deals, corporate sponsors and you've got a the funding for a pretty damn decent show.

Of course, I'm only knowledgable in small business matters. I exacerbate that knowledge to a presumption of what could/should work. But that's it...never really dealt with the corporate world.

 

[JJ15776]

The shows themselves would generate enough for a small to mid-market WWE franchise. Factor in advertising, merchandising, TV deals, corporate sponsors and you've got a the funding for a pretty damn decent show.

Of course, I'm only knowledgable in small business matters. I exacerbate that knowledge to a presumption of what could/should work. But that's it...never really dealt with the corporate world.

The problem is American audiences would have no interest in a small to mid market WWE franchise, and I doubt European crowds would either. That's why this wouldn't work. They'd have to bring in the big names just to get the support needed for a medium sizes brand, while the medium names would only bring in the support needed for a small brand, etc. The name WWE alone doesn't sell itself, need the name wrestlers there too, and they cost money. More money than the crowds they'd bring in would justify.

Let's face it, there's a reason WWE only goes there twice a year. It's just not feasible to do more than that.

Several years ago, there was talk of WWE making the UK's Real Quality Wrestling a developmental territory. (There was talk around the same time of them making AAA in Mexico one as well.) That would work, maybe, but obviously that would be an NXT-type show, not a major brand. In fact, over the long term I could see them opening up Performance Centers in other countries, starting in the UK probably, and maybe doing NXT-type shows there. But that's all they would do.

 

[AnthChristo82]

I think the other thing to note regarding the European Audiences, the majority of them are football (soccer) fans, who are used to chanting & singing for 90 minutes when watching their respective teams - the random breaking out into song was brilliant!

 

[Gibby]

Europe has never shown the prolonged desire for wrestling that North America and Japan has, not since the death of the old World of Sport Wrestling on ITV. Wrestling is niche in Europe, or at least, it doesn't have the expansive coherent fanbases that will come out every time a show runs through town.

Mainstream TV is also loath to show it: C4 and MTV ran Sunday Night Heat and ditched them, C5 showed WCW Thunder, ITV ran a celebrity reality wrestling show and BBC showed the ICW documentary. But no one gives a fuck about a longterm deal. ITV ruled the prospect out last year: http://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/itv-confirm-world-sport-wrestling-2137990

The biggest feds in Europe are probably ASW, which has a monopoly on a lot of the big seaside resort shows for kids, and WXW out of Germany, which tours and runs decent looking cards with European and US talent. Maybe ICW can threaten as they're drawing good houses and have had some TV exposure. But they're essentially carnival acts rather than big ticket draws.

To mainstream European audiences, wrestling is an occasional treat for kids. WWE being broadcast in our mother tongue and we know they'll be London as often as they're in, say, Ohio, so we don't care about a dollhouse version of WWE without any stars.

WWE South America would presumably be a no-go and I imagine CMLL/AAA would have more play with the Spanish-first nature of their broadcast and the widespread anti-US sentiment prevalent there. WWE have also pursued the lucrative Japanese market for ages and whilst they're known there, they will likely always be behind NJPW. They're running two shows at Sumo Hall soon but they have struggled to sell them out. NJPW would never have such a problem in this day and age.

 

[WarroBODFan]

To your second question, I would guess there are many factors, with luck being quite a big one. Generally most of the WWE superstars get invited to try-outs, and even before that you need to be spotted or recommended. I guess you have to really want it if you decide to leave your home country and leave your family and friends. Plus we have to remember there is life in wrestling outside of the WWE. There are plenty more promotions that are closer to home that you could work for and make a living from. Ok, it's not WWE, but still.

It makes you think about and appreciate just how damn good these guys n' gals are for making it to the WWE. Can't imagine how many hoops they've had to jump through to get there, and how many sacrifices they've had to make.

 

[JBM]

Some great feedback. Sounds like it's a venture that probably wouldn't work out. Good thing I didn't study global economics in sports entertainment in college.