Tommy Platinum

...Brand Exclusive PPVs shouldn't return?

This is an old topic to an extent, as I've definitely made a thread on it in the past and it comes up in threads now and again, but I thought it was time to discuss it once more in it's own thread, taking current circumstances into account.

Basically, a lot of people seem to agree that Brand Exclusive PPVs were good and that they are sorely missed nowadays. I personally don't see any disadvantages of brand exclusive PPVs compared to regular PPVs, other than the fact that WWE can have their biggest draws on every PPV and theoretically get better buyrates because of this. I say theoretically because I don't really believe it makes good business sense. If you have the same guys on PPV every month, not only are they overexposed, meaning it isn't a big deal to see them, but it also holds back midcard guys, who will never be seen as a big deal because they rarely get PPV time, and obviously this creates problems for the future as the stars of tomorrow have to come from somewhere. If the same guys have to be on PPV every month (HHH, Cena, Orton, Jeff, Punk...like everything, this is more a problem on the RAW side) and with HBK, Taker and Batista set to return in the near future, things are going to get stale faster than they should.

I think the reintroduction of Brand Exclusive PPVs would solve a lot of the WWE's current problems, and would allow midcard feuds to be showcased more and up and coming stars to look a bigger deal, as well as helping to combat the staleness of RAW's main event, and leaving more time between matches in feuds.

You might ask what I would do with ECW. Well, I personally wouldn't give ECW it's own PPV's. I would just have ECW matches on the big 4, and apart from that, it would be kept to TV. ECW matches don't really get enough time anyway, and I'd rather see big ECW title matches on TV which get 20+ minutes than an 8 minute match crammed onto the B level PPVs. I don't think ECW exclusive PPVs would be workable or draw, but this would get ECW better ratings.

So my PPV plan would be:

Royal Rumble
No Way Out
Wrestlemania
Backlash
Judgment Day
The Bash
Vengeance
Summerslam
Unforgiven
No Mercy
Survivor Series
Armageddon

Basically how it used to be. Obviously the gimmicks (Breaking Point, Extreme Rules, Hell in a Cell, Night of Champions) have been scrapped, partly because it's a horrible idea, and partly because it doesn't really work having a gimmick PPV exclusive to one brand. I realise that in reality this is just another reason why they'd never do it. Having less PPVs, especially in these hard times, would definitely make it more realistic to expect good buyrates I'd say, in addition to all the other advantages.

The only problem I have with this is that I never liked No Way Out being brand exclusive, but I think if RAW was actually booked well in the build up to Mania, the lack of a RAW PPV in February wouldn't be a problem, and in truth, it never worked badly.

Would you rather see this than the current PPV system?

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TheUnforgivableOne

I like it. If this were to happen, however, I'd prefer ECW to be two hours. I say this because it is a seperate brand, with its own championship, and it should be treated as one of the world titles. ECW (in your format) has no PPV's to build for, so it would need ample time for better matches to add credibility to the title. But that's a different discussion.

As for your main question, I'd be in favor of the brand exclusive PPV's. Right now, PPV's are stuffed with matches from all 3 brands, which makes you wonder why they even have brands in the first place. Brand exclusive PPV's would enable more opportunity for people to get over, prove their mettle, and eventually get a push.

It also gives fans the opportunity to see matches that they normally wouldn't see on PPV's as they are now. For example, there could be Jack Swagger vs. Evan Bourne for the number one contender's spot for the US Title. This match would normally be on free TV, which would not allow the match to get enough time for Swagger and Bourne to put on the best possible match they could. It would also be an opportunity for more people to be used on the roster, leading to less dead weight. (Curt Hawkins..)


There would also be more time to build matches for the PPV's. This gets more people interested, which leads to more people buying them, and more money in WWE's pockets.

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Tommy Platinum

Yeah I agree ECW being 2 hours would be a very good thing if they went this route, but we all know they won't, rendering my thread somewhat pointless lol.

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dxanman

I don't really watch a whole lot of WWE programming anymore, but I liked the Brand-exclusive PPVs in the past. I agree with a lot of the points posted above in that it would give lesser-used talent more of a platform to prove they belong there. And, it could give the shows that don't have PPVs in a particular month to work on their storylines and gain interest leading into their own specific PPV.

I also agree that ECW should be given an extra hour so that they can build (and hold on to) their own talent instead of building them just to move on to the already crowded rosters of RAW/Smackdown.

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TheUnforgivableOne

Then ECW would just be a complete failure. ECW is probably the second most watchable show as far as WWE is concerned. It should be two hours right now imo. Much like SmackDown, it goes back to basics. And at the end of the day, basics work. ECW being an hour is actually holding it back from being on par with SmackDown. Doing this, and leaving ECW by the wayside would be very stupid on WWE's part.

EDIT: Should have quoted Tommy, don't take that as a response to your post, dxanman.

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dxanman

Heh... no problem.

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CGS

Because from a business point of view it could mean they gain less money.

Even though it does keep a lot of talent back from performing on PPV's having all the top stars competing on a show makes the show look more exciting & is likely to attract a lot more people to purchase it. A show full of mid & lower card wrestler will not look as exciting. Maybe to the hardcore smarks it will but then most of them will just stream it. The casual fans are the ones who are more likely to actually purchase the show & giving them a show full of mid & lower card wrestlers just may not tempt them enough to purchase the show.

I would prefer brand exclusive PPV's to come back though. Much rather see talent that don't really get there oppertunity to shine on PPV's have a chance rather than seeing the same names on the PPV card every single month. Also it gives the WWE a lot more time to actually build up some feuds. Right now it seems as if they only have a matter of 3 - 4 weeks to build up a decent enough feud to stick on a PPV which isn't really enough.

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King Steventon

ECW doesn't need 2 hours with a roster the size it has.

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Tommy Platinum

Yeah but they could send a few more guys over who don't get used elsewhere, as well as calling up new guys from developmental, if they were to go this route. Also there were rumours of WWE trying to sign a few ROH guys who I imagine would start out on ECW as Punk did.

I agree that right now they don't need 2 hours obviously.

As for CGS's point, I do think that you could make more money from PPVs if we didn't see the same shit every month. It would be a bigger deal when Cena or Hardy wrestles on PPV than it is now, and obviously long term, these midcarders need to be built up and look a big deal if they are going to make money for the company in the future. Basically WWE needs to look at the bigger picture.

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Bigpapa42

Exactly. If a fan only watches one brand, then they are only going to be interested in about half the PPVs.

As well, with there being only slight distinction between the brands besides the rosters at this point, there is the different brand PPVs wouldn't be much different besides the rosters.

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