Is the WWE in trouble?

Blitzkrieg

Of course there will always be wrestling around in some capacity, it's lasted this long, but I can't help but wonder what will become of WWE in the near future.

They have this deal now with the USA network and I'm not sure how long the deal is for, but say it doesn't work out on USA.. Say WWE gets sub-par ratings or the ratings just aren't good enough for USA to continue the partnership. Where would WWE go if not USA?

FX had no interest in wrestling. Spike TV is only mildly interested in TNA and really didn't care that WWE was leaving because they are so heavy into UFC.

I mean, do you think we'll ever see a day where WWE isn't broadcasted nationally?

I think WWE needs to really step up their fucking game here in this USA deal. No more fucking around. End the brand extention for one, and go from there.

Mr. Kennedy

I think there will always be a network willing to air WWE, even if it was some some channel like WGN. What about ESPN? Would they ever be interested in airing WWE or would they not want to be associated with something that isn't a "real" sport?

I think that with TNA getting a decent national deal and the UFC airing on TV WWE actually has competition again and this will force them to put out a better product and one way is to re-combine the rosters like you have suggested since it will give them more workers to choose from and we won't have to deal with the mess Raw has made with it's mid-carders like Shelton Benjamin and Rob Conway.

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thirty7

The thing with WWE is, everytime it feels as though, they're gaining some momentum and putting on awesome shows week in, week out. They pull a stupid angle or produce sub-par tv, that all momentum they had is lost. If they can get that momentum from Homecoming and keep running with it, I don't think they should have anything to fear.

I wish my sex life was like ECW, first you get a One Night Stand followed by 2 months of nostalgic orgasms and then 6 months of constant sucking.

Tyler Durden

It's not that similar to WCW and how they went out of business purely, because of Vince, I think WWE will always be around in some form or another, even if they're just playing bingo halls of school gyms....hell they've just about been down there before so they could theorhetically do it again.

However, I have seen their financial reports and read some feedback relating to the company and it is frankly very worrying, whatever spin they try to put on it.

As an example the group made a net income/profit in the last quarter of $11.2m. This was with one extra PPV than last year (the ECW one...however it should be noted that in their reports where they try to "gloss" things up with a WWE tint, as all companies would, they tried to make out the WWE PPV "Backlash" was the extra show!!). They have now struck an absolutely terrible TV deal whereby they gain no income from ad revenues whatsoever....zilch.

The groups income/profit from Ad revenue in the last quarter was $10.4m. It doesn't take a genius to realise that $11.2m minus $10.4m is an absolutely huge hit for them to take.

They are undergoing more and more international tours and with home business the way it is, this is understandable and may be a way to recoup some revenues, e.g they are doing 16 dates internationally in November alone.

What is worrying also is that the group have spent tens of millions of dollars on films. The evidence so far suggests that this money is not going to be recouped....not even close. Kane's film is going to be on limited release so they won't even go near to breaking even there not even if there were some interest in it on DVD sales. They desperately need a big hit movie to justify their spending in this direction.

It should also be noted that tens of millions of dollars are also being paid to Vince himself every year in dividend payments. In the last quarter $8.2m was issued in dividends principally to Vince.

Like I said before the group will probably still exist in one way or another whatever happens. Vince has consistently and repeatedly failed in every other field he's attempted to conquer so as a businessman he will always go back to wrestling to recoup his funds because he'll figure that's his golden egg. But they are in potentially very bad shape as a company and if things don't start going their way pretty damn soon I do fear for the company as we know it now.

Mikk

WC's Sexy Beast

It kind of is failing because of 1 thing, competition. TNA is growing at the moment but it is still going to be some time before it becomes a rival for wwe and it seems Vince is happy putting on any old crap to please himself and not looking from a fans perspective.
As soon as he does that and realises the company is slipping then he should decided to fire those hollywood writers and get some decent people on board to at least give us something we may have some small interest in.
And once TNA becomes what i hope will be the 2nd biggest promotion we should hopefully get what we want and that is quality programming.

Daredevil

If it doesn't work out with USA, I think it would be awesome to be on one of the movie channels, like HBO, Shotime, etc. Their wouldn't be any censors, and they already show boxing, so sports are not new to them.

Dakstang

WC's Resident Redneck

I don't think that the TNA t.v. will deal last very long. I think the WWE will always have a network willing to keep them on. I don't think there is a chance that they will not succeed on U.S.A.

ArabianTuna

I think WWE will be around for a long time. They've been on cable tv for like over 10 years now, and they've survived lots of times when people thought they might fall. I don't think WWE is going anywhere

Jfreeze101

yea tna has abetter chance of failing than wwe. spike put impact on saturday nights aT 11, WHO IS GONNA WATCH IT! well except for u hardcore tna fans, noone

ICEMAN

WWE will always have a place on television. If worse comes to worse WWE would just go back to syndication and try and build back up from there. But, I see no reason why the USA deal won't be good for them...long term. Yes, they are going to encounter some bumps initially, but sometimes you have to be willing to do that to make greater gains.