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The new presentation of WWE

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I've noticed a few things lately that are pointing to the WWE trying to become more like other pro sports (notable football):

- Instant Replay
- Pre/Post game shows
- Miked up refs (Kioda was miked last night)

These are little things, but it's worth paying attention to if it continues in this direction.  Is this a good thing or a bad thing?

Rob 

Any change is a good change at this point, I think.  I don't know that a pre or post game show is the cure for staleness or anything, but it at least shows they're willing to try something else.  

Comments

  1. HitmengMay 21, 2013 at 11:42 AM

    How about having some win / loss stats for those pre/post game shows? Otherwise, I don't see the point.

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  2. kbjoneMay 21, 2013 at 11:52 AM

    Not an option... because Wins and Losses mean jack and shit to WWE today.


    Or at least the perception is there.

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  3. pstork670May 21, 2013 at 11:54 AM

    It's the silliest little thing that won't bump ratings or buys one bit, but I'd love it if they brought back match times. "The following contest is set for one fall with a fifteen minute time limit..."

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  4. Knuckleberry PinnMay 21, 2013 at 12:16 PM

    One thing that I really am annoyed with is the contrived nature of commentary these days. During any marquee matchup, Michael Cole has a checklist of things that have to be gotten in:

    - (one wrestler starts a comeback) "Building momentum!"
    - (series of near falls for both wrestlers) "Back and fourth we go!"
    - (middle of a match, usually with both combatants down, cue the wide shot of the arena that makes the attendance look good) "Ladies and gentlemen we are LIVE from the Kiel Center!

    To me, this is problematic because all of the marquee matchups, despite the fact that they are usually well worked, all blur together.

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  5. Chris JordanMay 21, 2013 at 12:19 PM

    Other sports have their own network or programming package. How about one of those? *ahem*

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  6. HitmengMay 21, 2013 at 12:34 PM

    Most heinous!

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  7. Topher0820May 21, 2013 at 12:37 PM

    I don't think they can make a habit of using instant replay to affect
    match decisions, b/c then how do you have heels cheat to win ever?
    Unless they use it selectively and arbitrarily like they when the GM
    comes out and restarts a match which always bothers me.

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  8. goshonMay 21, 2013 at 12:38 PM

    They did announced time limits for a recent TNA house show I went to on Long Island, it was a nice throwback when they also stated that the matches were sanctioned by the New York State Athletic Commission.

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  9. CulturebUllyMay 21, 2013 at 1:06 PM

    Do other sports get all social media happy the way WWE does?

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  10. flair4dagoldMay 21, 2013 at 1:09 PM

    No. NBA for example may mention twitter on the way to/from commercials. When the actual game is going on, you don't have Mike Tirico or Marv Albert tell us how "Lebron James" is trending worldwide or any of that shit.

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  11. BiscuitMay 21, 2013 at 1:57 PM

    Obviously instant replay is a nonstarter, except when used by nefarious authority figures. One thing I'd like to see to add the concept of a sport is a tale of the tape before matches.

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  12. SatanMay 21, 2013 at 2:02 PM

    It comes with a hat display case, so they pretty much own my money.

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  13. Knuckleberry PinnMay 21, 2013 at 2:07 PM

    Haha I pretty much came here to give this exact reply so thank you.

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  14. kbjoneMay 21, 2013 at 2:20 PM

    With a few exceptions (Cena, Orton, and the lowest jobbers), pretty close.

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  15. VibeRaiderMay 21, 2013 at 2:48 PM

    There's also creating separation. Whatever that means.

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  16. cultstatusMay 21, 2013 at 3:02 PM

    They already do.

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  17. cultstatusMay 21, 2013 at 3:03 PM

    How about they try and be more like a wrestling show next?

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  18. Nick SaikleyMay 21, 2013 at 3:11 PM

    Really? I haven't seen/noticed it yet.

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  19. cultstatusMay 21, 2013 at 3:12 PM

    I've seen it in UFC, and they do it during baseball games. The Pirates use twitter a lot actually.

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  20. CulturebUllyMay 21, 2013 at 3:20 PM

    Twitter Championship Title... you know its coming

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  21. Rob CerroneMay 21, 2013 at 3:28 PM

    I wrote this last night after the HHH pass out thing (and stoppage of the match).


    The whole reason I wrote this question is that for YEARS, McMahon made it clear that this wasn't a SPORT, that it was entertainment. He wanted to separate his brand from all other sports, especially UFC which had moved in on his PPV buys. Now under COOHHH, it appears they are changing course and trying to have a legit sports presentation. I know these are little subtle things, but it's something to keep an eye on for future weeks.

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  22. CulturebUllyMay 21, 2013 at 3:54 PM

    Pure insecurity. They hate how non-wrestling fans look at them as "stupid wrestling people", and allowed it to get to them to the point where they won't even call what they do "wrestling". So sad...

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  23. David Bonzai Saldana-MontgomerMay 21, 2013 at 3:56 PM

    I just don't know what to believe in anymore. Now what the hell am I supposed to call my original XBOX 1?

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  24. David Bonzai Saldana-MontgomerMay 21, 2013 at 3:57 PM

    I'm thinking sub-.500 teams making the playoffs in the NBA.

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  25. Scream09_HartKillerMay 21, 2013 at 4:01 PM

    Like Sunday Night Heat was the night of a pay per view. A couple of lower card matches, interviews, maybe an angle that plays into Raw....but it's more something to watch if you feel like 3 hours of wrestling and not something you really have to watch.

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  26. Brian McGrathMay 21, 2013 at 4:27 PM

    "turning point in the match-up"

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  27. Brian McGrathMay 21, 2013 at 4:28 PM

    most non-triumphant

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  28. Paul MeekinMay 21, 2013 at 4:29 PM

    If that's part of a plan, that's cool. If it's just because, I think we'll be bummed out.

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  29. MyronBMay 21, 2013 at 4:31 PM

    Threadjack

    The head writer they hired just six weeks ago is gone from the company.

    http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/WWE_News_3/article_70761.shtml

    Here's a thought, why not hire writers who know something about pro wrestling, or better yet, hire bookers instead of writers.

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  30. zanadudeMay 21, 2013 at 4:33 PM

    I hate the shaky camera thing they do. Makes me nauseous to watch a match now.

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  31. zanadudeMay 21, 2013 at 4:35 PM

    That's exactly what they will be showing on Yahoo soon.

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  32. zanadudeMay 21, 2013 at 4:37 PM

    Does the NFL have cameras floating over the field? Yes, but only because Vince tried it first.

    There are a lot of things to knock WWE over, but trying new things shouldn't be one of them.

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  33. zanadudeMay 21, 2013 at 4:40 PM

    "Back and fourth we go!"

    Especially when a simple "Back and third" would suffice.

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  34. zanadudeMay 21, 2013 at 4:52 PM

    Woo woo woo you know it's coming.

    FIFY

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  35. spicollidriverMay 21, 2013 at 4:58 PM

    exactly. using instant replay in certain situations sucks because it totally destroys the suspension of disbelief.

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  36. Nick SaikleyMay 21, 2013 at 5:05 PM

    If it's treated like it is in the NFL and MLB, the reviewing ref will STILL make the incorrect call at least 50% of the time. Or the camera won't have quite the right angle to see the dirty deed in full.

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  37. aboynamedartMay 21, 2013 at 5:13 PM

    Keller wrote about this today; an outgrowth of that, originally, was to make the company more palatable to broadcast outlets while being able to slam NWA/WCW as "rasslin."

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  38. Ripner CabbitMay 21, 2013 at 5:26 PM

    I do like the new pre/post shows mainly because they've been giving midcard talent not on the show a chance to show some personality while previewing the PPV's. Mic-ed refs are a horrible idea, preferred the TNA ref cam to this heh. Instant replay always has been around, just being abused a lot more as of late . . .

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  39. nebb28May 21, 2013 at 5:43 PM

    Woo woo woo you know I'm jobbing.

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  40. Lerxst_PrattMay 21, 2013 at 5:48 PM

    NBC shows used to use that effect years ago. West Wing was one of the worst offenders.

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  41. Lerxst_PrattMay 21, 2013 at 5:48 PM

    Here's a thought, why not hire writers who know something about pro wrestling, or better yet, hire bookers instead of writers.

    Pfft. "Logic."

    That'll put butts in seats!

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  42. Lerxst_PrattMay 21, 2013 at 5:50 PM

    Yeah, but making it part of RAW proper would be better. Who the hell wants to watch 4+ hrs of RAW (pre/post show, RAW itself)?!

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  43. Lerxst_PrattMay 21, 2013 at 5:55 PM

    The pre- and post-shows are a good enough concept, but no one is going to watch that much RAW, especially if they have to switch media to do it (with the pre/post-shows being online only).

    I bet they would never put the pre-show as the 1st half hour of RAW b/c people would learn it's not important per se, so overall ratings would tank. But I bet their hits for pre- and post-shows won't be anything great.

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  44. zanadudeMay 21, 2013 at 5:55 PM

    If we include what would have happened in the abandoned 1994 MLB season, then sub .500 teams have made the playoffs in every major sport.

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  45. zanadudeMay 21, 2013 at 5:57 PM

    I'm detecting some serious sucktual overtones here.

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  46. ARRRRGHMay 21, 2013 at 6:05 PM

    LOL, they don't want marks, so they hire people who have no knowledge of wrestling. And then they fire them afterwards... for not having knowledge of wrestling.

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  47. Scream09_HartKillerMay 21, 2013 at 6:14 PM

    I think a baseball team would hire a GM who's never watched baseball. It could revolutionize that game.

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  48. zanadudeMay 21, 2013 at 6:15 PM

    Pre-shows get much lower ratings. USA would veto it like The Bobby Heenan Show.

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  49. Lerxst_PrattMay 21, 2013 at 6:18 PM

    Yeah, I noted as such in a separate post above. I'm not going out of my way to watch it online, before RAW, as I imagine will be the case for many people.

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  50. Scream09_HartKillerMay 21, 2013 at 6:19 PM

    It's like a gay guy who goes overboard with stereotypically male behavior to prove he's not gay - what I'm saying is that they're wrestling, but embarrassed it's wrestling, so they try really hard to act like they're not wrestling, and Vince is likely a homosexual.

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  51. Knuckleberry PinnMay 21, 2013 at 6:22 PM

    Haha that one gets me all the time.

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  52. Donald PalugaMay 21, 2013 at 6:25 PM

    F____ BULL____!-YOUR Twitter Champion, @the_ironshiejk

    ReplyDelete
  53. Andrew DeanMay 21, 2013 at 7:36 PM

    Who wants to see New Jack, Iron Sheik and Honky Tonk Man all together in one two-hour shoot? I'm only 20 minutes in and it's both the greatest and worst thing I've ever seen.


    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pjPQIlnQd1U

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  54. Andrew DeanMay 21, 2013 at 7:47 PM

    Game? I dunno. Everything in an entertainment system, sure. I like the look of it and I'm sure I'll eventually get one. But almost everything I've seen announced seems to be for the benefit of making it a living room entertainment and social hub. Which has long been MS and Sony's strategy.


    I like it. But only the fact that they've upgraded the controller, that it won't be backwards-compatible and that it /will/ play used games after all, actually interests me as a 20+ year gamer.

    ReplyDelete
  55. Andrew DeanMay 21, 2013 at 7:50 PM

    Yeah, I've noticed in the past year that it's actually used a hell of a lot more than I ever noticed. Watching 1998 RAW and old random 80s/90s PPVs, both companies use 'building momentum' all the time.

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  56. Scream09_HartKillerMay 21, 2013 at 7:55 PM

    I tried but I can't get past New Jack randomly yelling things while the others are talking.

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  57. BiscuitMay 21, 2013 at 8:06 PM

    If only this company employed experienced wrestling bookers like Jerry Lawler, Paul Heyman or Dutch Mantel.


    Wait...

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  58. Paul MeekinMay 21, 2013 at 8:16 PM

    Uhm I don't think The West Wing had a single shakey cam in the first 100 episodes, good sir. You must be thinking of The Shield.

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  59. Lerxst_PrattMay 21, 2013 at 9:41 PM

    No, it definitely did, as did ER. It might have been more like a floating cam, but there were plenty of times where the shot looked like it was recorded on a cam that was just sort of bobbing along in the water.

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  60. David Bonzai Saldana-MontgomerMay 21, 2013 at 10:44 PM

    I love the daily Dodger polls, because hearing Vin Scully try to describe using Twitter without losing his mind is amazing. He's the greatest.

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  61. brocoreMay 21, 2013 at 11:04 PM

    I'm pretty sure Vince's sexuality is defined as "will fuck anything that moves."

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  62. BasscaseMay 22, 2013 at 8:20 AM

    The XBrick.

    ReplyDelete

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