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New WWE Geographic Strategy?

By

Scott:

Just wondering if you think Sunday's Rumble crowd is going to force the WWE to re-think where they book major events? I mean, we all know they sure as hell aren't gonna change how they book. But would a final four of Reigns, Show, THEDEMONKANE, and Rusev played better somewhere in fly-over country? Is the company going to try and avoid these kind of reactions by avoiding smark cities?

Been a fan for a while--thanks for all the information and entertainment!

Ryan

Yeah, but how many excuses can they make for this stuff before they run out of cities?  We've now heard "It's not us, it's Philly" and "It's not us, it's Pittsburgh" and "It's not us, it's Toronto" and "It's not us, it's New York" and "It's not us, it's Chicago".  How many places can they burn through before they find the idealized smark-free city that will happily accept the Roman Empire as their conqueror? Plus, as noted, that Rumble was basically booked to get the worst reactions in every conceivable way, so it's not like putting it in, say, St. Louis was going to save it.  It just happened that the Philly crowd was much less shy about expressing their frustrations with the product.  

Comments

  1. BonzaiDBSMJanuary 28, 2015 at 11:56 AM

    Just have a permanent arena at a theme park and just let any schmo get in for free. I hear that works.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Greg PhillipsJanuary 28, 2015 at 12:19 PM

    In fairness, Cena got booed out of every smark building (and most others), it seemed, in 2005 and 2006 and that didn't stop them then. Like Cena, Reigns does fine with women and kids.

    And, again, this appears to be deliberate on their part, as they've taken away all of Reigns' strengths and are accentuating his weaknesses.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Greg PhillipsJanuary 28, 2015 at 12:21 PM

    I agree with your line of thinking, BUT nobody really cancelled their network subscriptions Sunday night and I, for one, have no plans to do so regardless of how bad the current product gets.


    So I can kind of understand, in a backhanded way, where they're coming from.

    ReplyDelete
  4. y2j420January 28, 2015 at 12:26 PM

    I'm still surprised (and disappointed) they have never held the Royal Rumble here in Chicago...we've had every other Big Four PPV, but not that one...shame too, our crowds are the best...

    ReplyDelete
  5. C BREEZYJanuary 28, 2015 at 12:26 PM

    Yeah I think they would've figured that out by now. I honestly think they just don't give a shit, and as mentioned they'll do what they can to make you hate even harder, because they know we've got the pro wrestling disease and won't stop watching no matter what happens

    ReplyDelete
  6. KenolaJanuary 28, 2015 at 12:26 PM

    They like to think most of the people who are dissatisfied with their product are a minority of internet nerds without realizing that "minority" of internet nerds are all who are left that still follow this bullshit. Everyone else simply didn't care enough to voice dissatisfaction with the product, they just left.

    ReplyDelete
  7. John KeaneJanuary 28, 2015 at 12:26 PM

    How many places can they burn through before they find the idealized
    smark-free city that will happily accept the Roman Empire as their
    conqueror?

    Pretty cool line.

    ReplyDelete
  8. dynamic_daveJanuary 28, 2015 at 12:27 PM

    Durr those are just Internet fans. Real fans don't even know to use a computer.

    ReplyDelete
  9. wpoc3January 28, 2015 at 12:27 PM

    The reaction would have been bad anywhere, maybe somewhat worse in Philly/Chicago than Ohio or Arizona.


    There is a difference between TV/PPV crowds and house show crowds; the Torch had a house show report from one of its editors that said Reigns was getting an 80-85% babyface reaction. But even if some of the crowd would have cheered Reigns, most weren't going to cheer him over Bryan in general (even though he was off for months, brought back with no hype, and lost to Bray Wyatt on Raw), and definitely not with how badly Bryan (and Ambrose and Ziggler) were treated as afterthoughts and how weakly Reigns was booked in this match.


    WWE live crowds are very much sheep, in that they will repeat what they've heard in other places on Raw or what a small portion of the show they are at starts: remember Fandango's theme going crazy? The "boo Reigns" group of fans (wherever they are in the country) are strongly motivated to boo now, and the issue is whether fans who might otherwise cheer for Reigns when opposed to Lesnar/Heyman will now stay quiet or even boo Reigns because "it's just what you do at a live show."

    ReplyDelete
  10. recallberserkJanuary 28, 2015 at 12:27 PM

    WWE management mocks crowds who don't eat up their shit booking according to that podcast Punk did.

    Every fault within WWE is someone else's fault and not their own.

    ReplyDelete
  11. ParagonofvirtueJanuary 28, 2015 at 12:27 PM

    Ironic that they're trying to marginalize the Northeast area (NY/NJ/Philly etc.), which were historically the (W)WWF territory. MSG was their place, and now it's "Those crazy New Yorkers"

    ReplyDelete
  12. dynamic_daveJanuary 28, 2015 at 12:27 PM

    Atlanta: Home of the world's most apathetic fans.

    ReplyDelete
  13. dynamic_daveJanuary 28, 2015 at 12:27 PM

    I did. Didn't see any need to give a company that takes delight in pissing off its fans to get me money.

    ReplyDelete
  14. recallberserkJanuary 28, 2015 at 12:27 PM

    Come to the UK we cheer all wrestling.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Bruce ChungJanuary 28, 2015 at 12:28 PM

    Rome?

    ReplyDelete
  16. MrTuesdayNightJanuary 28, 2015 at 12:28 PM

    Boring is boring no matter where they go. Forget about whether or not Reigns is a good choice to win, the rumble match was just dull and had no good flow or heat to it. I was barely paying attention to it personally. Even if the crowd didn't boo it out of the building, if they keep putting out a lackluster product then people will tune out at some point.

    ReplyDelete
  17. BulldogBobBrownJanuary 28, 2015 at 12:30 PM

    I live in Omaha, and I would've booed the shit out of them.

    ReplyDelete
  18. chris deeseJanuary 28, 2015 at 12:32 PM

    I'm from Atlanta, and couldn't agree with you more. Lots of good sheeple fans.

    ReplyDelete
  19. teenagewildlifeJanuary 28, 2015 at 12:33 PM

    i liked the kane/show teaming-up aspect and even the slapstick finish(es) but i dont know if u can throw the top babyface out 1/2 way through and not get booed out in any place

    ReplyDelete
  20. Biscuit!January 28, 2015 at 12:36 PM

    St. Louis is a classic wrestling city! That garbage would have gotten the Minneapolis/Bootista treatment had it gone down at the Kiel.

    ReplyDelete
  21. ScottyHJanuary 28, 2015 at 12:38 PM

    Awesome heel stable name. Trademark that SK, post haste!

    ReplyDelete
  22. Ryan YoderJanuary 28, 2015 at 12:39 PM

    I thought the problem was Canada

    ReplyDelete
  23. Mar SoloJanuary 28, 2015 at 12:48 PM

    But that didn't start until after he was well into his first title reign.

    ReplyDelete
  24. Biscuit!January 28, 2015 at 12:48 PM

    Pfft, like there's some sort of huge number of legendary wrestlers from the South, or several major promotions that ran the South, or that to this day WWE is not close to capturing the fanbase of old Southern promotions in the region.



    Oh, wait...

    ReplyDelete
  25. Dougie2876January 28, 2015 at 12:54 PM

    They made shitloads of money off of those booers. Why would they change anything?

    ReplyDelete
  26. YankeesHoganTripleHFanJanuary 28, 2015 at 1:02 PM

    I wonder how the New York crowd would react to Reigns? They have historically liked bigger guys, (see Sid vs Michaels from the Garden at SS 96, and Hogan will always be a favorite there.)

    ReplyDelete
  27. crossbonesJanuary 28, 2015 at 1:09 PM

    The WWE has to realize that smarks are becoming good leading indicators on what fans in 6 months will think of the product. This isn't the 90s and Billy Kidman love. They've been right on Batista, Reigns, Punk and Bryan.

    ReplyDelete
  28. RosAlGhulScoeJanuary 28, 2015 at 1:17 PM

    I said in this Rumble thread, but the biggest issue I had with it is their total lack of conviction with their decision. They were so afraid of the crowd reaction that they let it hurt the quality of the match.


    For there to be drama in the Rumble, there have to be multiple people at the end that legitimately could win the match. There were only two genuinely legit contenders to win the match in Reigns and Bryan and then some guys that the crowd could probably talk themselves into, like Bray, Ambrose and Ziggler. Those guys should have been there at the end, but Bryan needed to be there.


    The only hope they had to overcome the crowd's disapproval of the Bryan elimination was to provide good drama down the stretch and that wasn't going to happen with Kane and Big Show as the possible winners. If they would have ended it with Bryan and Reigns, the crowd would have still booed the shit out of the winner, but at least would have been into the drama of the match.

    ReplyDelete
  29. Biscuit!January 28, 2015 at 1:20 PM

    I assume you mean Rome, Georgia.

    ReplyDelete
  30. Daniel SwinneyJanuary 28, 2015 at 1:20 PM

    Soon they're going to have to stick to Fayetteville and Des Moines.

    ReplyDelete
  31. Scott CarlsonJanuary 28, 2015 at 1:21 PM

    Part of the problem with looking for a less smarky city is that those places often have the crowds that sit on their hands. I'd think a silent crowd that doesn't react to anything would be worse in many ways. I just don't think there's this mythical place where fans cheer what WWE wants them to and doesn't offer any smarky chants.


    Oh wait, there is a place: Taped episodes of Smackdown.

    ReplyDelete
  32. Biscuit!January 28, 2015 at 1:21 PM

    Booers tend to go away. People who cheer means more money longer.

    ReplyDelete
  33. Jason ClarkJanuary 28, 2015 at 1:26 PM

    It's Diesel Power all over again!

    ReplyDelete
  34. Brian NielsenJanuary 28, 2015 at 1:26 PM

    Yay!! Denver just got 52 weeks of Monday Night Raw!!

    ReplyDelete
  35. Rock Star GaryJanuary 28, 2015 at 1:26 PM

    What about Los Angeles? Has that crowd been smarked up? Obviouisly I mean the Staples Center crowd instead of the Anaheim folks. After all the OC crowd still remembers the Roddy Piper-Goldust skit from WM XII.

    ReplyDelete
  36. Virgil's Gimmick TableJanuary 28, 2015 at 1:26 PM

    India. There will be a sea of Jihn Cina and Romon Rains signs.

    ReplyDelete
  37. MrAJanuary 28, 2015 at 1:27 PM

    Roman empire would be a pretty good heel stable for him...

    ReplyDelete
  38. MrTuesdayNightJanuary 28, 2015 at 1:27 PM

    There is also a Paris and Dublin tx. They could do a fake European tour through the state

    ReplyDelete
  39. PrimeTimeTenJanuary 28, 2015 at 1:27 PM

    Psh. Canada has been turning against the product since 2004. You Yankees are just playing catch-up.

    ReplyDelete
  40. Ryan NorcrossJanuary 28, 2015 at 1:27 PM

    Fly Over Country. SMDH

    ReplyDelete
  41. MrAJanuary 28, 2015 at 1:27 PM

    And khali would be useful again!

    ReplyDelete
  42. Joe Q. PosterJanuary 28, 2015 at 1:27 PM

    "How many places can they burn through before they find the idealized
    smark-free city that will happily accept the Roman Empire as their
    conqueror?"

    They could always try Rome.

    ReplyDelete
  43. Dougie2876January 28, 2015 at 1:27 PM

    Dude, the booers are the ones that never go away.

    ReplyDelete
  44. Aric JohnsonJanuary 28, 2015 at 1:27 PM

    Yep, we're up here secretly pulling ALL the strings. Don't tell anyone, though.

    ReplyDelete
  45. KenolaJanuary 28, 2015 at 1:27 PM

    I'd say having a hard time giving away PPVs at $9.99 instead of $50 is reason enough not to stay whatever course you're on.

    ReplyDelete
  46. YankeesHoganTripleHFanJanuary 28, 2015 at 1:27 PM

    To be fair, during my tween years, the Disney taping's DID give me something to watch on Saturday night's when I was allowed to stay up late but needed something to do after Are You Afraid of the Dark was over.

    ReplyDelete
  47. Biscuit!January 28, 2015 at 1:27 PM

    It depends which booers you mean. Regardless, not having a person or people to cheer means the casuals and kids don't watch. The Network is being propped up by hardcores and is not growing because of hamfisted booking.

    ReplyDelete
  48. VintageJanuary 28, 2015 at 1:27 PM

    "It's not like putting it in, say, St. Louis was going to save it."


    The St. Louis crowd would have been wondering where Randy Orton was, not realizing that he's been given the "Creative has nothing for you" spiel for the last couple of weeks.

    ReplyDelete
  49. Jason ClarkJanuary 28, 2015 at 1:27 PM

    I believe he was referring to Rhome, TX. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhome,_Texas

    ReplyDelete
  50. Biscuit!January 28, 2015 at 1:28 PM

    LA crowds are the worst in all sports.

    ReplyDelete
  51. Dougie2876January 28, 2015 at 1:28 PM

    It just grew to a million subscribers.

    ReplyDelete
  52. Biscuit!January 28, 2015 at 1:30 PM

    Oh no we're still too scared to buy tickets because of the Ferguson unrest! Survivor Series didn't sell so hot here. The problem with "nice" cities like us is that we just don't bother to show up if it's a bad product. Philly is that 20% of customers who will complain.

    ReplyDelete
  53. Biscuit!January 28, 2015 at 1:30 PM

    After adding several countries. Spin this how you want, but let's see where we are in six months when yes it is Vince's libido above his paying customers.

    ReplyDelete
  54. Rock Star GaryJanuary 28, 2015 at 1:31 PM

    I realize they drool for Kobe Bryant and Blake Griffin, so why won't they drool over the Rock's cousin?

    ReplyDelete
  55. Biscuit!January 28, 2015 at 1:32 PM

    I'm looking forward to the live episode of Smackdown this week.

    ReplyDelete
  56. Rock Star GaryJanuary 28, 2015 at 1:35 PM

    The good thing about a crowd that sits on their hands is that they can be manipulated by audio sweetening to the TV audience.

    ReplyDelete
  57. Jason ClarkJanuary 28, 2015 at 1:35 PM

    Mark Madden on JR's podcast also brought up Reign's pouting over getting booed. It was something I could sense but couldn't quite put my finger on until I watched the replay. The booing is something you can't control as a performer, but your reaction to it is something you can control. Madden brought up a great point - in spite of not being a Cena mark, you have to respect Cena's ability to not be butt-hurt by the boos and to stay in-character. That's something that Reigns lacks due to his level of experience. He may eventually get there, as this could be a "Rocky Miavia" situation, but he's not there yet.

    ReplyDelete
  58. Dougie2876January 28, 2015 at 1:35 PM

    The booers will never stop paying. Look at all of the comments since Sunday. That's why they don't give a fuck about what you all think. Because you're not going anywhere.

    ReplyDelete
  59. MagnumDAJanuary 28, 2015 at 1:37 PM

    AIN'T NO STREET CORNERS LIKE THAT IN ROME (puts up the Horsemen hand gesture)

    ReplyDelete
  60. PATRICKisLEGENDJanuary 28, 2015 at 1:37 PM

    I swear... they run Corpus Christi, Texas about every three weeks.

    ReplyDelete
  61. Michael KehmJanuary 28, 2015 at 1:41 PM

    In 2006 he was already champion for a while. Look at the second ECW PPV.

    ReplyDelete
  62. Biscuit!January 28, 2015 at 1:42 PM

    WWE big company! Big company need lots of fans. Neckbeards small number of fans. Shit booking drive away non-neckbeard. Neckbeard only mean less money. Less money BAD for Vince.

    Get your social worker to read that for you.

    ReplyDelete
  63. Mar SoloJanuary 28, 2015 at 1:44 PM

    I almost like Cena as a character when I see his reactions to the boos in smark cities. He has the BIGGEST shit eating grin on his face that's almost impossible to hate.

    ReplyDelete
  64. chicagodem79January 28, 2015 at 1:46 PM

    I have a different take on this, and pouting is the wrong reaction (unless the ultimate plan is for him to turn heel). I think it's OK to show some suprise/disgust/confusion over the crowd's reaction to you. It shows you're not a robot, and gives you the ability to pivot to different angles rather than the John Cena "ignore and move on" strategy.

    ReplyDelete
  65. Dougie2876January 28, 2015 at 1:47 PM

    Man, you're dumb. You're the neckbeards. You're the ones complaining. You're the ones that never leave. That's why they book for little kids and try and get casuals back. Do you think Cesaro, Kevin Steen and Ambrose are going to do that? I'm sorry if this is beyond your comprehension.

    I'll dumb it down. You no like show? Why you watch show you know like? You am dumb.

    ReplyDelete
  66. tzunsetJanuary 28, 2015 at 1:49 PM

    L.A. wrestling crowds are pretty quiet overall, aren't they? That's not a good thing either.

    ReplyDelete
  67. Dougie2876January 28, 2015 at 1:50 PM

    Have you tried shaving?

    ReplyDelete
  68. dynamic_daveJanuary 28, 2015 at 1:51 PM

    No, I'm just amused that you think "neckbeards" is clever.

    ReplyDelete
  69. dynamic_daveJanuary 28, 2015 at 1:55 PM

    Fair enough. I forgot that you've been calling people fat and ugly. So instead of using a mid-2010s insult, you're ripping off Rick Rude's material from 1988.

    ReplyDelete
  70. Rock Star GaryJanuary 28, 2015 at 1:57 PM

    Did you see that PPV? The crowd won't have them back after that one!

    ReplyDelete
  71. Adam "Colorado" CurryJanuary 28, 2015 at 1:58 PM

    Miami is worse, but L.A. is a close second.

    ReplyDelete
  72. Brian NielsenJanuary 28, 2015 at 2:01 PM

    I think a "Barrow, Alaska street fight" would get my vote on the app.

    ReplyDelete
  73. Adam "Colorado" CurryJanuary 28, 2015 at 2:01 PM

    I think that had more to do with Shawn's babyface car being staler than month old bread than Sid's size.

    ReplyDelete
  74. WaylonMercy2K15January 28, 2015 at 2:04 PM

    But Canada still gets Danko Jones tours and Relic Hunter reruns on TV so they still win.

    ReplyDelete
  75. WaylonMercy2K15January 28, 2015 at 2:07 PM

    "WWE RAW, coming to you from the entertainment capital of the world...Branson, Missouri!"

    ReplyDelete
  76. Charismatic eNegro Jef VinsonJanuary 28, 2015 at 2:11 PM

    Hell, I don't think the crowd in the Impact Zone would have accepted that ending, and they cheer everything.

    ReplyDelete
  77. Charismatic eNegro Jef VinsonJanuary 28, 2015 at 2:13 PM

    "Our main event is the fist ever empty arena Royal Rumble!!"

    ReplyDelete
  78. PhilStubingtonJanuary 28, 2015 at 2:13 PM

    British crowds tend not to boo or get sullen - but they often start cheering for the heel. I've been in quite a few British crowds where old school "lets go ...." chants have broken out only with the name of the heel there.

    ReplyDelete
  79. John EdwardsJanuary 28, 2015 at 2:14 PM

    You're the first person I've ever heard call st louis nice lol

    ReplyDelete
  80. dynamic_daveJanuary 28, 2015 at 2:26 PM

    The neckbeards? In 2015? Really?

    ReplyDelete
  81. RosAlGhulScoeJanuary 28, 2015 at 2:26 PM

    A buddy of mine brought up Diesel when he was WWF champ (I wasn't watching at that time) saying that the fans that wore his glove, he knew were with him, everyone else can essentially GFT. I think if they had Reigns respond to the question about being booed with something like, "I walk through the crowd every week if you have a problem with me," instead of stealing's Cena line about paying fans.


    And then have him just talk a lot less and be badass a lot more.

    ReplyDelete
  82. dynamic_daveJanuary 28, 2015 at 2:27 PM

    You realize comments on Scott's blog don't equal dollars to the WWE, right?

    ReplyDelete
  83. Dougie2876January 28, 2015 at 2:27 PM

    He brought up the term. I just went with his example.

    ReplyDelete
  84. Mr.SnrubJanuary 28, 2015 at 2:27 PM

    The last WWE PPV to be held in Canada was Breaking Point in September 2009.


    So clearly being blackballed by the company can happen.

    ReplyDelete
  85. Biscuit!January 28, 2015 at 2:27 PM

    Also a good representation of the worst cities in America.

    ReplyDelete
  86. Kyle WarneJanuary 28, 2015 at 2:27 PM

    I have no idea what this is in refernce to

    ReplyDelete
  87. John EdwardsJanuary 28, 2015 at 2:27 PM

    Smarks just threaten to go away while never fulfilling the promise.

    ReplyDelete
  88. WaylonMercy2K15January 28, 2015 at 2:32 PM

    "I tell you Maggle, this is so excitin', it's too much excitement for even the WWE Universe to handle!"

    ReplyDelete
  89. WaylonMercy2K15January 28, 2015 at 2:37 PM

    "You've still got it!"
    - Chanted at a horribly out of shape Jim Neidhart.

    ReplyDelete

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