WWE to Netflix, Network presumably doomed

[Merzbow]

I've never heard Marc so mad.. more bile than Jim Cornette after watching a Young Bucks match.

 

[The Gaffer]

Obviously it's hyperbolic and reactionary to make its point, but that's one of the best send ups/breakdowns of modern WWE I've ever seen. They nailed it. 

Especially the idea that you need all that crap content. The meaningless stuff, the stuff that didn't work, because it's what fills out wrestling and makes it fun. 

 

[d-d-d-dAz]

I feel like we're going down the route of saying the WWE are 'wrong' for the decisions they make.

They're not. It may not be to our tastes, or to the tastes of other wrestling fans, but whatever the WWE is doing is really working.

There's loads about the shows I absolutely cannot be arsed with, including the way it's presented or some of the marketing/commercial decisions they make with the product; but there's literally no evidence to say they're wrong. The logical conclusion - if anyone has to be wrong - is that I'm wrong, because this version of WWE is much more successful than any other iteration of any other wrestling company in history.

Whatever they're doing, it's clearly working.

Even if The Rock is a bellend and wrestling matches sponsored by slim salami is a stupid idea.

[Hannibal Scorch]

10 minutes ago, d-d-d-dAz said:

I feel like we're going down the route of saying the WWE are 'wrong' for the decisions they make.

They're not. It may not be to our tastes, or to the tastes of other wrestling fans, but whatever the WWE is doing is really working.

 

I’ll refrain from using the Principle Skinner meme. But you’re both right and wrong.

I think 2025 is going to be a really interesting year, 2026 more so. TV ratings are down, Ticket sales and revenue are well up. But people often buy tickets, especially for the big 4, months in advance. So what I’m saying is watching what happens post mania will be interesting, especially with the first 2 night Summerslam.
 

Watching the very pro WWE or at least fairly positive “journalists/podcasters” comment on Raw as being mid to poor is interesting. But I don’t think you can write off Raw on Netflix after a single episode, unless they format it the same as the debut episode (which I don’t think they will). 
 

If ticket sales continue doing well and TV ratings remain consistent, they are playing to the newer WWE fans, and some legacy ones perfectly. If they start to drop off, maybe they aren’t.

[d-d-d-dAz]

1 minute ago, Hannibal Scorch said:

I’ll refrain from using the Principle Skinner meme. But you’re both right and wrong.

I think 2025 is going to be a really interesting year, 2026 more so. TV ratings are down, Ticket sales and revenue are well up. But people often buy tickets, especially for the big 4, months in advance. So what I’m saying is watching what happens post mania will be interesting, especially with the first 2 night Summerslam.
 

Watching the very pro WWE or at least fairly positive “journalists/podcasters” comment on Raw as being mid to poor is interesting. But I don’t think you can write off Raw on Netflix after a single episode, unless they format it the same as the debut episode (which I don’t think they will). 
 

If ticket sales continue doing well and TV ratings remain consistent, they are playing to the newer WWE fans, and some legacy ones perfectly. If they start to drop off, maybe they aren’t.

If revenue is up, ticket sales are up and they've just secured the biggest TV deal in their history, then they're doing absolutely everything right. That's all they're in it for. Not to create good TV, or put on good matches; if those things achieve the former aims then great, but if it's something else they'll do that too.

I'm not saying that as a blind fan. They're a million miles away from being my idea of a perfect company, but some podcasters disliking Raw isn't a sign that the company is in trouble.

They're absolutely flying right now. I'm not fully sure how they've manage it, but they are. And that's fine. Good for them.

But there's a fine line between picking things apart because you subjectively don't like it, or because it's objectively a bad decision. 

Subjectively, Raw regularly isn't my kind of show. Objectively, the company is absolutely hitting home runs in their sleep at the minute.

[DavidB6937]

It's the same as Disney or Marvel etc where things can be massively popular and successful but still have a fuck ton of people that look at it and think it's absolute garbage and wonder why it's so damn successful.

People just want different things. There have been weeks I've watched AEW and then gone on Bluesky and some have called it the best episode ever and I wonder if I watched a different show.

It doesn't make anyone right or wrong really, which is probably why a lot of the discussion goes round in circles on here. Even though we all like the same thing as a whole - wrestling - there's just so many different flavours of it that many of us are in it for different things.

[Chili]

I thought Marc was absolutely hilarious there. Brilliant.

[d-d-d-dAz]

21 minutes ago, DavidB6937 said:

It's the same as Disney or Marvel etc where things can be massively popular and successful but still have a fuck ton of people that look at it and think it's absolute garbage and wonder why it's so damn successful.

People just want different things. There have been weeks I've watched AEW and then gone on Bluesky and some have called it the best episode ever and I wonder if I watched a different show.

It doesn't make anyone right or wrong really, which is probably why a lot of the discussion goes round in circles on here. Even though we all like the same thing as a whole - wrestling - there's just so many different flavours of it that many of us are in it for different things.

I think the overriding issue is the closer you get to the centre of the fan circle, the less likely a product is going to be targeted at you.

It's the old truism about Coca Cola marketing, that they don't market to the small percentage of people who drink 3 coke a day or those who don't drink coke at all and are unlikely to ever drink coke. They only spend money on those that drink coke every now and again, or might drink something else, or might drink coke in the future... whatever... they don't care, they're not fussed.

You don't waste time worrying about people who are going to consume your product no matter what, or those who aren't going to like it no matter what you do.

And, us lot, we sat through the barron years and didn't leave. They don't need to worry about us at all.

Their TV is entirely aimed at casual audiences or potential new audiences. It's why I don't like a lot of it; at times it's calculated marketing content aimed at non-wrestling people as opposed to a pure wrestling show.

But it is what it is. You can't reasonably argue with their success. You can point out why you don't like it (I regularly do), but in terms of 'are they doing the right things based on what they're trying to do', the answer is unquestionably yes. They're building audiences, attracting new audiences and making a lot of money.

Job done, as far as they're concerned.

I'm just very glad companies like AEW exist to get a hit of something slightly different when the WWE hypercapitalist circus gets too much. It makes for such a better scene, to have different companies. During the barron years when your options were 'utter shit' or 'nothing at all' it was pretty bleak, but a choice between different types of 'occasionally good' is quite nice.

[SuperBacon]

6 minutes ago, d-d-d-dAz said:

And, us lot, we sat through the barron years and didn't leave

Indeed! 

[TheScarlettChad]

I'm just happy that people are (Mostly) positive about WWE these days. It was so tough being a fan in the Vince years. I get why people wouldn't like it etc, but objectively, it's a great product right now and I think ultimately is why they're hot. Good storylines, good matches, and I hope RAW wasn't a sign of the steam running out. 

[Chili]

Yeah, whilst I don't watch, I see enough that it's a lot better than the dark ages. Anyone who lived through the guest host Raw's, those early three hour Raw years and anytime Vince hijacked the product to settle petty grudges with sports owners absolutely deserve the product being a lot more comfortable to watch now.

[garynysmon]

40 minutes ago, d-d-d-dAz said:

You don't waste time worrying about people who are going to consume your product no matter what, or those who aren't going to like it no matter what you do.

And, us lot, we sat through the barron years and didn't leave. They don't need to worry about us at all.

Their TV is entirely aimed at casual audiences or potential new audiences. It's why I don't like a lot of it; at times it's calculated marketing content aimed at non-wrestling people as opposed to a pure wrestling show.

I think that’s a really important point actually.

I spent years wondering what planet they’re on thinking people have the time and/or inclination to set aside 6 or so hours a week just for the two main WWE shows.

But by now its quite clear they don’t expect that by any means. Any newbie could have tuned into SNME without having watched an episode for years and, thanks to the setup and pre-match videos, would have been totally clued up with all the storylines going in.

They’re so good at that, and while not exactly rewarding for those that watch everything, its bloody accessible.

For the same reasons that a lot World of Sport content leaves me cold, I can see how WWE’s content is so much easier to digest than heavy in-ring concentrated alternatives.

Edited January 10, 2025 by garynysmon

[Kfogg1991]

It's absolutely embarrassing how much the first episode of raw on netflix was given...... it's the first smackdown tonight and until little over a hour ago all that's set was 1 match being knight Vs Nakamura

 

It's really confusing for one why nothing big or exciting has been made for this one as it's own brand and entity even NXT got pushed.......in comparison it's like a trainee show 

[d-d-d-dAz]

4 minutes ago, Kfogg1991 said:

It's absolutely embarrassing how much the first episode of raw on netflix was given...... it's the first smackdown tonight and until little over a hour ago all that's set was 1 match being knight Vs Nakamura

Smackdown is on the same US broadcaster as every other week. It's a normal show, as far as they're concerned.

[Lion_of_the_Midlands]

55 minutes ago, Kfogg1991 said:

It's absolutely embarrassing how much the first episode of raw on netflix was given...... it's the first smackdown tonight and until little over a hour ago all that's set was 1 match being knight Vs Nakamura

 

It's really confusing for one why nothing big or exciting has been made for this one as it's own brand and entity even NXT got pushed.......in comparison it's like a trainee show 

Dessicated Darren is correct. Smacky-D has only changed to Netflix outside of the US. Its still on its regular channel stateside. I suppose Netflix are going to be happy with all this new content now that the next series of Selling Sunset has literally gone up in smoke.