WWE Celebrity Integration & Sponsorship

[FUM]

Wasn’t really sure where to put this latest news but thought the general theme of what WWE is becoming was worth a thread.

Where does this madness end?

Every show is absolutely littered with “celebrity” appearances. We had a skinny rapper decide the WrestleMania main event. The advertising is all over the show to the point it’s taking up a large portion of the programming.

I felt the sponsors on the ring weren’t too problematic but now sponsors on the folding tables to go with the collection of Prime bottles in the corner every match.

Is it all becoming far too distracting? Where does this end up because they will never give up the money but who supports the product when the hardcore fans leave which I wouldn’t say we are too far from seeing. Maybe I’m wrong and dramatic but which wrestling fan isn’t.

[DavidB6937]

If the product is good then I couldn't give a shit about sponsors or whatever else. 

Unfortunately at the moment it's not massively enjoyable, so every other little thing becomes a bit more annoying.

[FUM]

6 minutes ago, DavidB6937 said:

If the product is good then I couldn't give a shit about sponsors or whatever else. 

Unfortunately at the moment it's not massively enjoyable, so every other little thing becomes a bit more annoying.

For me, the argument is that the celebrity integration and sponsorship is actually causing the product not to be enjoyable. It’s hard to get engrossed in many of the stories when you’re being reminded how someone was “snapped into a Slim Jim table” in a serious blood feud or when the guy who done the theme tune is costing the “Quarterback” his championship.

It’s fair to say “if the product is good” but these things are actively playing a part in the product not being good now.

[DavidB6937]

Just now, FUM said:

For me, the argument is that the celebrity integration and sponsorship is actually causing the product not to be enjoyable. It’s hard to get engrossed in many of the stories when you’re being reminded how someone was “snapped into a Slim Jim table” in a serious blood feud or when the guy who done the theme tune is costing the “Quarterback” his championship.

It’s fair to say “if the product is good” but these things are actively playing a part in the product not being good now.

For you sure. For me not so much. I'm happy to look past the other stuff if there are things worth investing time in. I'm not watching the stories or the matches thinking "if only that shit wasn't on the mat!" or whatever else.

For me the issues go far beyond the little annoying Netflix changes. Granted it may mean their focus has shifted but there's a middle ground to be had. I don't see why this stuff has to stop the product actually being good.

[gmoney]

Imagine corrupting the wrestling business with commercialism. 

[SuperBacon]

If anything I'd like to see them lean more into it. It's hilarious. 

[Merzbow]

Ring posts made from cured meat, please, have wrestlers munch on it mid match saying how good it is.

[wordsfromlee]

Can't wait for the Cheetos® Barbed Wire Baseball Bat.

[Ro_y Disco]

I like the ring mat sponsorship, gave it a sport feel, but WrestleMania went too far with the advertising IMO. 

I can't take a match seriously when it's sponsored by Dude Wipes, which are apparently arse wipes specifically for men. 

[gmoney]

23 minutes ago, wordsfromlee said:

Can't wait for the Cheetos® Barbed Wire Baseball Bat.

Didn't Cracker Barrel sponsor a death match once? I can't remember if it was in WWE or AEW.

[Supremo]

“…and at Dude Wipe Mania, when I beat you for the Undisputed Cricket Wireless Title, the only thing that’ll ever cheer you up again will be Wheatley Vodka! Experience the smooth and clean flavours of Wheatley Vodka, a remarkable spirit crafted with the utmost precision and care!”

[LaGoosh]

9 minutes ago, gmoney said:

Didn't Cracker Barrel sponsor a death match once? I can't remember if it was in WWE or AEW.

AEW. The Crackerbarrel Brawl. AEW have done a couple sponsored matches but they try and tie it into the match itself if they can. The Like A Dragon Street Fight being the best example. 

[Lion_of_the_Midlands]

I don't understand your obsession with advertising in wrestling FUMbellina. Every other aspect of life is choc full of the bastard yet you clutch your pearls every time someone suggests adding a logo to a mat. Everything everywhere has advertising. The average person sees between 50 and 400 adverts per day. You seem to see about 8 billion just on Raw. If you want to see intrusive advertising I would suggest a few overs of IPL cricket, you can barely see the ball. 

[tiger_rick]

12 hours ago, Ro_y Disco said:

I like the ring mat sponsorship, gave it a sport feel

I like the company logos on the mat. Then I very much agree with this point. Makes it feel big time when you see clips and still images, for me. Once it's a mass of sponsors, it becomes a mess. I don't think it's as distracting in boxing, for example, because the action isn't on the mat. In wrestling, the mat is a big part of it and it's just a sensory nightmare, IMO.

10 hours ago, Lion_of_the_Midlands said:

I don't understand your obsession with advertising in wrestling FUMbellina. Every other aspect of life is choc full of the bastard yet you clutch your pearls every time someone suggests adding a logo to a mat. Everything everywhere has advertising. The average person sees between 50 and 400 adverts per day. You seem to see about 8 billion just on Raw. If you want to see intrusive advertising I would suggest a few overs of IPL cricket, you can barely see the ball. 

To the point above, I think it's different in wrestling. The football has big flashing ad boards (that could happily fuck right off) but I don't often notice them during matches because there's plenty else on the screen and lots of action. In wrestling TV, the ring is about 90% of the screen for most of the time. Ads everywhere are very hard to avoid. I get why they do it from a business POV. I also completely get why someone who just wants to be a fan would really hate it.

When it gets to the point where you're basically watching a big advert with some occasional wrestling breaks instead of the other way around, it's not something I'd be arsed with. AEW have done a couple of tie-ins that were big adverts pretending to be matches and they were shite. Thankfully it's been an occassional thing.

[Lion_of_the_Midlands]

I'd say this was comparable to wrestling Tiggs yet somehow people have managed. I understand that people don't like change. FUMbles seems to have the same attitude that Vince McMahon had when it comes to the sanctity of the wrestling ring canvas. It must be untainted by advertising at all costs. There's loads of things that are annoying about wrestling, this seems an odd one to be upset over.