WWE outside the US

[The_Killswitch]

Your probably wondering what the hell the thread title means, well im not sure how to Title my own logic or opinions so here goes.

When a live wwe show or event is held within the US most people within the given area they are advertising get a great show.
When I watch a Raw or Smackdown episode on tv I see alot of the crowd bored or restless during a match or anything particular for that brand at times. That isnt meaning to say it isnt.

In New Zealand we are very lucky to even get a show here every year. And when they do every fan is electric and on their feet for the entire 2 hours.
My question is How likely would the wwe travel to countrys like Australia or New Zealand for a more then one off show or even an actual episode of Raw and Smackdown?
We currently garner one show a year here (New Zealand) and about 3-4 for Australia with their 'Raw' or 'Smackdown' live tours.
If the wwe is so aknowledgable towards the 'wwe universe' would that make other countrys with the exception of Canada ,Mexico or the UK to host an episode?

This is just a general thread with my own points and questions and I may of missed out other countrys for this point.
If nobody understands what Im trying to say then its all down to the question of, 'Will' the WWE visit these countrys more often or on a regular basis?
Or is it highly unlikely due to expectancy of the US being the sole foundation of the wwe?. I do know wwe visits the Troops and other military operations too

Your thoughts?

 

[The Aussie Invasion]

Well you're a Kiwi I assume? If so G'day.

But onto the topic, Here in Australia most of the people I know either watch wrestling cause there's nothing else on T.V or they LOVE it. Me being from Adelaide , South Australia, Whenever SmackDown or RAW is here live, I always go, Heck I even travelled 730 odd kilometers to Melbourne to see RAW in '07. Last year in August I think it was when RAW was here (Adelaide) EVERYBODY was on their feet the whole show, At the start it was announced that John Cena would not be appearing tonight, and you could get a refund for your tickets (you weren't allowed to stay of course) and I didn't see anybody go to get a refund, And I heard literally 150 kids say they were only here to see John Cena.

It really does suck that they don't tape T.V episodes in Australia (or New Zealand) but they would only tape it in Sydney or Melbourne anyway (2 of Australia's biggest and most populated cities). Australia loves wrestling (Mainly WWE), and it really does suck that the "WWE Universe" doesn't extend outside of the U.S and Canada (And the U.K to a certain point) because wrestling is loved worldwide, and really the "WWE Universe" only really means those 3 places mentioned, It really is a major let down for us Aussies (and for The Kiwis).

 

[RileyWylde]

I saw RAW in Perth last year. The atmosphere was awesome, everyone was so excited to be there. Everyone looked far more excited than they do on TV.
A filmed episode of RAW/Smackdown in Australia would be proof that the WWE not only appreciates their US/UK audience but the REST of the WWE universe too!

 

[Reddannihilation]

Australia loves wrestling (Mainly WWE),.

Actually TNA's the more popular brand here, ratings don't lie.

On to the thread topic, it would be nice to see a Smackdown taping here but for some reason it never happens. Whenever the WWE tours Australia they always tape 2 weeks of shows prior to their tour. Which is also why Smackdown tour here a lot more than RAW. I'd love to attend a taping for a televised match but for some reason it hasn't happened yet which is weird when you consider that Smackdown airs here before it does in the US, so it shouldn't really be an issue to tape an episode over here.

 

[The Aussie Invasion]

when you consider that Smackdown airs here before it does in the US, so it shouldn't really be an issue to tape an episode over here.

Yeah I agree totally, Even though it'd most likely be in Sydney it would still be nice to have SmackDown taped because we see it before the U.S. It seems that the WWE doesn't value us (Australia and NZ) as much as Canada, the U.S and the U.K, as we get 1 tour a year, and not even a T.V show is taped, and the big stars don't really appear, last year in Adelaide we got; Legacy, Orton, HHH and Big Show as the four big stars, We got Sheamus, but nobody knew who he was back then.

But it probably will happen someday (a T.V taping), and I sure as hell will go to the T.V taping no matter where it is in Australia.

 

[Rhinestone Rick]

I'm from Christchurch NZ, and I've been to both Smackdown/ECW house shows that came here in 07 and 08. Both shows were off the hook, but mainly due to the energy of the crowd; few big acts, whether they be wrestling, musicians, or whatever ever really come to Christchurch, so we were naturally enthusiastic. Auckland gets a lot of big acts, so they're usually more demure (I'm not sure what they were like with their WWE show, though). However, since then, WWE have yet to return to ChCh.

Last time they were here we were pretty rowdy, of course this was during the early stages of the PG era, and we were chanting things like "you suck d*ck" when Miz and Morrison were wrestling (and to be fair, they were using some mild gay innuendo), and me and my friends started a "Edge is a p*ssy" chant when Edge was doing his cowardly heel schtick (btw, Edge stole the show that night, I wasn't a fan before the show, but I was after ). Plus, they would do a bit where they would bring kids to ringside and let them ring the bell, and naturally we'd boo every kid that got picked. We were near the front row and across from us was some meth-head who took exception to something about Chuck Palumbo, and started screaming abuse at him (and not in the way that we all do it, he was serious, like it was personal), and so Chuck actually tried to climb over the barricade and give this guy a hiding, but security held him back.

They haven't been back since. I don't know for sure why. I mean, maybe we were pretty rowdy for a PG show, but it could be for any reason.

But I've always thought, that if they did come here again, it would be awesome (though unlikely) if they did do a Smackdown or Raw (even more unlikely) telecast from Jade Stadium (oh, I'm sorry, AMI Stadium), I mean, Nitro used to broadcast outdoors on special occasions, hell, back in the day Raw was once taped in a shopping mall, plus Jade is the only arena big enough to accommodate either show. And I think broadcasting from somewhere other than the US, Canada, or Europe is a special enough occasion.

Oh, and Raw has never been here.

 

[Dave]

Well, I live in the UK and the WWE generally come to Britain once or twice a year for the live shows. The only problem being that they only visit the one arena for the live show and that is a pain in the ass. I live in Scotland and the O2 arena is a long damn journey away. I would love to see the WWE try and expand some it’s branches into the WWE Universe and try to help out some of the younger kids who stay in places that are far too far away from the nearest arena. I know that they tour all over the place but you don’t get the same quality of show and you are not likely to see the marquee names that you paid to view. The quality of the shows are pretty poor and the only reason that they are in the country is for the TV tapings. I went to the UK TV taping in April and it cost me an absolute fortune. I would love to see them do a live TV taping in Scotland but it’s just not feasible.

I don’t know what the situation is in New Zealand but I imagine it is much like it is in Scotland. The fan are excited about the product but don’t really get a fair crack of the whip without travelling for long distances or paying a shit-load of money. However, I don’t think that the WWE is ever likely to remedy this and travel more often. The allure of the WWE in these countries justifies them taking quite a high price for their tickets and that is never likely to change. When I went, it was £50 for one ticket and that is a bit out of line. However, you still think yourself lucky for being able to see the event once or twice every year. I don’t think the WWE are ever likely to expand the schedule anymore because it’s really not fair on the wrestlers. They do a lot of travelling and they would just be exhausted if they had to do world tours every month or two.

It is an unfair situation but you have to respect it unfortunately.

 

[DEGENERATE KID]

Wow! u guys are lucky fellows living down there. im from south africa and wrestling, mainly wwe, has a huge market and following here. we do have 2 major national promotions here the awf and wwp, the company justin gabriel perfomed in as PJ BLACK. here in S.A wwe airs 2shows minimum on national tv EVERDAY. Monday to sunday we get to watch wwe yet we got house shows in '97, '03, and '07... thats one house show in every era. seeing that wwe is contracting justin gabriel and leo kruger (fcw) it would be nice if we could have a tour once a year and a smackdown/nxt taping here. and also seeing that we've successfuly hosted the world cup, a ppv or wrestlemania wont be bad at cape town stadium;-)

 

[razerp]

i've been lucky enough to go to 3 WWE shows here in Brisbane, and i was at the WCW Nitro that was taaped here back in 2000, yup WCW did the 1st tour here for a big wrestling company in ages and they Taped Nitro here. WCW was at the start of its decline but they gave us a hellova show. Would be great if the WWE could tape a Raw or Sdown Down Under. They did do a PPV in Melbourne - The Global Warning Tour.

 

[Rhinestone Rick]

Man, I was gutted I missed Nitro in Brisbane, I lived in the Gold Coast up until a few weeks before the show before moving back to ChCh. I watched it on TV though, and it was pretty sick. I remember it being on of the better shows of the Russo/Bischoff era, I only wish I could have been there in person.

 

[The Prod1gy]

Well, me being from Adelaide, South Australia I know what you're saying and I always are thinking the same thing. Why don't they film a show here? I just don't know, even if it were in just Sydney or Melbourne it would be awesome.

If the WWE don't think it will work over here it is there loss look at the UFC show from earlier this year it was even a PPV and was the one of the highest selling PPVs for them so far in tickets sales and PPV buys.

One day I hope they will broadcast from here in Australia in the near future.

 

[BK Styles]

I'm form the Uk, and actually I didn't even realise they don't film any of the shows down under! I probably should have realised, but hey, what ya gonna do? lol

ANYWAY, I think they should do Raw and Smackdown there. I don't see why they dont to be honest. They've done the odd one in other places in Europe (Santino Marella debuted in Milan, Italy, if Im correct) and obviously, US and Canada get priority. Silly really, considering its WORLD Wrestling Entertainment. So I totally agree with you, dude.

 

[Rhinestone Rick]

I'm actually surprised they haven't broadcast from Australia already, or even Auckland. Auckland has Vector Arena, and Australia has plenty of venues big enough to accommodate a WWE telecast. The arenas where they did the house shows were probably big enough. Sure, a world tour would definitely put a strain on talent, but they could have totally scheduled a telecast/taping during their previous world tours. I mean, they were going to be in that area anyway, and the previous tours took place pretty much straight after (or before, I can't remember which) the Smackdown taping for that week.

I will say this though, both times they came here, they didn't screw around. The shows didn't go too far beyond what one would expect from a house show, but they gave it 110% and put on a show that was broadcast quality anyway, everybody had a good time, the matches were probably better than what you'd see on Smackdown, and the wrestlers (particularly Edge) fed off of our energy and interacted with the crowd more than they would for a US show, or a taping.

 

[#1Peep]

Great to see a lot of Aussies (and Kiwis) here on the board. I have only been to a WWE event once last year in 2009, but it was great. The crowd was just crazy the entire time, which made it so good. Even Goldust got an amazing reaction, as well as Chavo (if you can believe it). Even got to see Sheamus pre WWE Title era, which was cool.
Really wish they could maybe do a RAW in Sydney and possibly tape SD/NXT in Brissie.