Welcome to another edition of Kay's Korner.
I have often pondered on the thought of just how greedy one wrestling company could be. Let's face it; the WWE rules the wrestling world. They have monopolized the market just like Vincent K. McMahon always wanted to do when he had a vision years ago when purchasing the company from his father. Granted a lot of people have dreams but very few people have the means, resources, or the know-how in order to make their dreams come true. Vincent K. McMahon made his dreams come true and then some.
He did something that, at that current time in wrestling, was unheard of. He went national and broke all of the 'rules' of wrestling in the process. Wrestling, at that time, was broke down into territories in which the promoters traded stars and loaned stars without much headache. At least it wasn't a headache until Vince started raiding the territories of their talent. With their most talented stars leaving them, the biggest majority of territories had to disappear.
He also brought about the pay per views that are now seemingly the most important thing to the WWE. The pay per view started out as just a few pay per views a year. As time went on and the Monday night wars heated up between the WWF and WCW; each company finally made it so that they had one pay per view each month. Now granted, I realize that Eric Bischoff has a lot to do with that according to his own words on the Monday Night Wars DVD. I also realize that Vince didn't have to follow suit and have a pay per view every month. (Personally, I think that he couldn't stand for anybody to one up him.)
However, I am disheartened by the recent increase in the pay per view prices that the WWE implimented with ECW's One Night Stand. For those of you who are scratching your heads, go check with your local providers. The price of the pay per views is now $39.95. I had a hard enough time swallowing it when they went to $34.95 but I did because I love wrestling. Now, I'm taking a step back and wondering, "What in the heck are they thinking?"
They are thinking with their wallets and not their minds. They are letting their greed show in spades. They are taking advantage of the very fans who have made the company what it is today. With gas prices soaring and the middle man struggling day in and day out to make ends meet, I have to say that I'm very disappointed by this new turn of events. The biggest majority of fans are 'blue collared' workers; the fans are what has made the company what it is today. Without us, there would not be a WWE today.
To be honest with you, I do not purchase each and every pay per view that the WWE offers. My best friend and I made a pact when the price went up to $34.95 to only buy the 'big' ones such as Wrestlemania, Summerslam, and Survivor Series. There have been a few times between here and there that we have bought a few Raw pay per views but not many. Bottom line is, I don't know anybody who can afford to buy each and every pay per view that the WWE offers.
Think about it. There is usually a Raw & a Smackdown pay per view each month. Every three months when the joint pay per views come together, the amount goes to three. If you could pay for it, you would pay $79.90 (not including taxes) just for the regular pay per views. Add another $39.95 for the joint pay per views (with Wrestlemania getting a higher revenue) and you could be spending $119.85 just for pay per views per month. Now with the 'rebirth' of ECW, there is a definite probability that there could be 4 pay per views per month.
I honestly don't see the need in having so many pay per views. The WWE doesn't really need the money. They are currently trying to find ways to spend money, hence the movies that are coming from WWE films. While I can almost understand Vince's need to show Hollywood that he could do it, I don't really think it's necessary to his income for him to do so though I would imagine that it's a pretty darn good tax write off. However, I can't help but wonder how much more they would make if they did cut back on the number of pay per views per month.
Personally, I would be happy with one pay per view per month. Let's start with a Raw pay per view in January. In February, let's have a Smackdown pay per view. ECW can have their pay per view in March. Wrestlemania would continue to be a joint production for April. Start the cycle all over again and have Summerslam stay in August. Change Survivor Series to December and the whole pay per view schedule is done. (My stars, that was way too easy.) WhiIe I am realistic and know that this will probably never happen, I can't help but think that I would enjoy the pay per views more because I wouldn't have to sit and ponder, "Do I really want to see this pay per view?" each and every time that there is a pay per view.
Think about it for just a minute. By cutting back the pay per views, there is the opportunity to make more money. I know that there is a lot involved with the live television and the taped shows but there is more pressure with the pay per views to offer something worth buying. By cutting back on the pay per views, it cuts back on production costs which I'm sure are outrageous. It also would give the WWE more than ample time to make the storylines more believeable.
Is it just me or we all just idiots? We, as the consumers, do have some say so in what goes on. Why can't we just let them know that enough is enough? Why can't well tell them how we really feel about all these freaking pay per views? Because we know deep down that it really doesn't matter what we feel, the WWE (i.e. Vince) will do exactly what it wants and when it wants to do it. It's sad because in reality, we are the consumers and we do have a major say in which pay per views that we will purchase. If the revenue is not coming in the way the WWE would like for it to, then why in the world don't they think of cutting back?
I have always stood by the 'old school' idea of longer storylines and feuds. Today's wrestling in the WWE usually has a feud over by the time the pay per view is over which is really foolish to me. I would love to sink my teeth into a feud that has lasted a few years with the win/loss ratio staying about even the entire way. This could very easily be done if they would just cut back on the pay per views.
While I know that the chances for this happening are slim and far between, it is very doable. Personally, I would probably buy more pay per views if there was only ONE pay per view per month from the WWE. It just seems to me that bigger is not always better. There is a lot that can be said for less in this case.
Well that's it for this edition of Kay's Korner. Thanks for stopping by! All feedback can be sent to lilwrestlegrl@yahoo.com.
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