– As noted earlier, WWE’s 2009 financial results revealed a sharp decline in the 2009 Survivor Series PPV buyrate (down 26% from 2008) while the company’s new gimmick-themed events (Hell in a Cell, Bragging Rights, TLC) all did better than their 2008 counterparts.
In a survey sent out to the WWE Universe this morning, WWE asks fans what their level of interest is in the following potential PPV event themes:
Tournament Event Single elimination “bracket style” tournament where Superstars would compete in multiple matches during the night to become the tournament winner.
Street Fight Event Main events would include”street fight” matches where there are no disqualifications and pin-falls count anywhere. Superstars often compete in normal street clothes.
Legends Event Match participants would include WWE Legends from the past.
Money in the Bank Event The main event “Money in the Bank” match requires Superstars to climb a ladder and retrieve a briefcase hung high above the ring. The winner can “cash in” the briefcase for a championship title shot throughout the year. Qualifying matches earlier in the event will determine participants for the “Money in the Bank” match.
WWE Draft Event WWE’s annual Draft where Superstars and Divas learn which brand they’ll be a part of for the next year. The Draft is often the beginning of new conflicts and matchups.
Battle Bowl Event Random tag-teams compete together – sometimes arch rivals – with the winning teams being put in a 2-ring Battle Royal. The winner could potentially receive a championship title match.
Roulette Event Main event match stipulations would be determined by the spin of a roulette-type wheel.
War Games Event Teams of 5 collide in 2 cages. 2 participants begin the match with a new participant added every 5 minutes. This process is alternated between teams until all members from both teams are present.
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There’s nothing new about any of these matches they are just recycled idea’s
we know what happens when WWE has “new” ideas. We get ridiculous storylines featuring amongst other things: necrophelia, Mae Young giving birth to a hand and a hell in a cell match that features dog crap. There is a huge need for real competition in this business because without it all we get are rehashed ideas (some may be good ones) but no real innovation. Even the elimination chamber which was supposed to be this revolutionary idea is just a really fancy cage match. What’d really be nice, new and fresh is to see a pay-per-view that featured straight up wrestling action and had wrestlers who could carry a match given more than 10 minutes to do so.
A straight-up wrestling PPV would be pretty amazing. I don’t know if today’s younger generation of fans would know how to handle it, though.
Yeah, unfortunately the fans have been conditioned to “Big Spot” wrestling as opposed to truly telling a story with a match. And I think that the wrestlers of today have become somewhat conditioned to the same (with some exceptions). I guess I’m just stuck in the past and expect quality wrestling as opposed to skit driven entertainment…..maybe that’s why I haven’t watched a full episode of anything for over 5 years.
hell… I have seen some great 1 hour time limit draws… All wrestling the whole time no gimmicks… but it was also 20 years ago when that was happening on a regular bases.
Even going back a couple of years. The last pay per view I REALLY enjoyed was the original ECW One Night Stand. Even though a couple of the matches were a little puny, it was GREAT seeing just a wrestling show with no crappy story lines (save the Crusaders and Invaders dragging the show down) and letting the quality of in ring work tell all the story that was needed.
I agree about the 1 hour time limit matches. Even going for a 2 of 3 falls match in the time limit is great (as opposed to the pin fest that is the iron man match) if you have two wreslters who can carry it. Watching Flair and Kerry Von Erich from World Class back in the day or Flair and Sting are tremendous matches and good examples of that.