Credit: WWE.comCredit: WWE.com
In fact, if WWE didn't do that, it wouldn't have achieved record revenue in Q2 2017 because if its product doesn't appeal to the masses, then the masses won't consume it. That's why, as much as many fans hate that pro wrestling has become "sports entertainment," that was a necessary step in the evolution of the business, one that will allow WWE to appeal to a wide variety of fans across an array of different demographics.
But even though WWE as a whole must target the mainstream, the company also must ensure that its niche markets have more than one reason to consistently tune into the product. WWE can't simply book its major storylines with only entertainment in mind and must also realize that there is a very passionate and oh-so vocal fan base out there that takes pro wrestling very seriously and views it as a sport on par with the NFL or NBA.
Finding that perfect mix of drama-filled storylines and athletic based angles is what WWE must do to expand its audience, making sure that it appeases its hardcore fans, who expect nothing but the best both in the ring and out of it. How can WWE guarantee that it targets those passionate fans? Well, it's already doing that in many ways.
Here are five ways WWE is successfully appealing to diehard fans, who are much different from the casual fans that don't expect as much out of the product.
More Wrestling On TV
Credit: WWE.comCredit: WWE.com
Here are some interesting match time statistics, courtesy of TJRWrestling.net, from the two most recent episodes of Monday Night Raw and SmackDown:
- Cesaro vs. Seth Rollins (19 minutes)
- Roman Reigns vs. Elias (15 minutes)
- Randy Orton vs. Kevin Owens (16 minutes)
- Rollins and Dean Ambrose vs. Sheamus and Cesaro (19 minutes)
- Drew Gulak vs. Mustafa Ali vs. Cedric Alexander vs. Tony Nese (13 minutes)
- Reigns vs. Jason Jordan (21 minutes)
- Paige vs. Sasha Banks (16 minutes)
In part because WWE is without many top stars right now, including Brock Lesnar, John Cena and The Miz, the creative team has reverted back to what many diehard fans think wrestling should be mostly about: In-ring competition. With three-plus hours of Raw and two hours of SmackDown to fill each week, WWE has, as of late, done a fantastic job of appealing to its hardcore fan base by focusing much more heavily on actual wrestling.
Typically speaking, just a little more than half of WWE pay-per-views consist of actual wrestling, and while storyline advancement is certainly necessary and important, it's also nice to see the creative team realize that there is certainly a market out there for quality in-ring storytelling, which is exactly what we've been getting. Of course, there's really no telling exactly how long WWE's newfound obsession with lengthy matches will last, but it's certainly something worth enjoying while we have it.
In fact, with the blue brand's Clash of Champions and the dual-branded Royal Rumble show being the only PPVs set to take place in the foreseeable future, don't be surprised if WWE's lack of urgency in building up storylines leads to better wrestling for the next couple of months or so.
AJ Styles As WWE Champion
Credit: WWE.comCredit: WWE.com
There was mounting evidence that it was time for AJ Styles to dethrone Jinder Mahal as WWE Champion when he did so last month, especially when you consider that WWE's most passionate fans made it perfectly clear they didn't want to see Mahal holding the title anymore.
Mahal was not someone who appealed to "Internet" fans, who want well-rounded performers and elite level wrestlers fighting for WWE's most prestigious titles. Styles certainly fits that bill as arguably the best all-around performer in the world and a star who appeals to diehard, casual and younger fans alike. Need evidence? After Styles won the WWE Championship roughly a month ago, SmackDown viewership increased for four straight weeks, a strong sign that WWE made the right call by putting the title on "The Phenomenal One."
Styles, after all, is perhaps the perfect superstar to be carrying the SmackDown brand.
He has consistently put on incredible matches with a wide variety of opponents, ranging from Dean Ambrose to Chris Jericho to Roman Reigns and even to Mahal, who had the best match of his career with Styles. Fans have grown to appreciate and respect the tremendous work that Styles does in the ring but have also gravitated toward his character, which is one of the most likable and over acts in the company as evidenced by the consistently loud reactions he continues to generate.
Maybe the best part of Styles' reignited main event push, however, is that Styles is almost universally over with the fervent fan base that typically failed to accept the monstrous pushes of similarly well-rounded stars like Reigns and Cena.
">WWE must continue its attempts to infiltrate pop culture, and to do so, the company will push stars like John Cena and Brock Lesnar, who have plenty of mainstream appeal.
Credit: WWE.comCredit: WWE.com
In fact, if WWE didn't do that, it wouldn't have achieved record revenue in Q2 2017 because if its product doesn't appeal to the masses, then the masses won't consume it. That's why, as much as many fans hate that pro wrestling has become "sports entertainment," that was a necessary step in the evolution of the business, one that will allow WWE to appeal to a wide variety of fans across an array of different demographics.
But even though WWE as a whole must target the mainstream, the company also must ensure that its niche markets have more than one reason to consistently tune into the product. WWE can't simply book its major storylines with only entertainment in mind and must also realize that there is a very passionate and oh-so vocal fan base out there that takes pro wrestling very seriously and views it as a sport on par with the NFL or NBA.
Finding that perfect mix of drama-filled storylines and athletic based angles is what WWE must do to expand its audience, making sure that it appeases its hardcore fans, who expect nothing but the best both in the ring and out of it. How can WWE guarantee that it targets those passionate fans? Well, it's already doing that in many ways.
Here are five ways WWE is successfully appealing to diehard fans, who are much different from the casual fans that don't expect as much out of the product.
More Wrestling On TV
Credit: WWE.comCredit: WWE.com
Here are some interesting match time statistics, courtesy of TJRWrestling.net, from the two most recent episodes of Monday Night Raw and SmackDown:
- Cesaro vs. Seth Rollins (19 minutes)
- Roman Reigns vs. Elias (15 minutes)
- Randy Orton vs. Kevin Owens (16 minutes)
- Rollins and Dean Ambrose vs. Sheamus and Cesaro (19 minutes)
- Drew Gulak vs. Mustafa Ali vs. Cedric Alexander vs. Tony Nese (13 minutes)
- Reigns vs. Jason Jordan (21 minutes)
- Paige vs. Sasha Banks (16 minutes)
In part because WWE is without many top stars right now, including Brock Lesnar, John Cena and The Miz, the creative team has reverted back to what many diehard fans think wrestling should be mostly about: In-ring competition. With three-plus hours of Raw and two hours of SmackDown to fill each week, WWE has, as of late, done a fantastic job of appealing to its hardcore fan base by focusing much more heavily on actual wrestling.
Typically speaking, just a little more than half of WWE pay-per-views consist of actual wrestling, and while storyline advancement is certainly necessary and important, it's also nice to see the creative team realize that there is certainly a market out there for quality in-ring storytelling, which is exactly what we've been getting. Of course, there's really no telling exactly how long WWE's newfound obsession with lengthy matches will last, but it's certainly something worth enjoying while we have it.
In fact, with the blue brand's Clash of Champions and the dual-branded Royal Rumble show being the only PPVs set to take place in the foreseeable future, don't be surprised if WWE's lack of urgency in building up storylines leads to better wrestling for the next couple of months or so.
AJ Styles As WWE Champion
Credit: WWE.comCredit: WWE.com
There was mounting evidence that it was time for AJ Styles to dethrone Jinder Mahal as WWE Champion when he did so last month, especially when you consider that WWE's most passionate fans made it perfectly clear they didn't want to see Mahal holding the title anymore.
Mahal was not someone who appealed to "Internet" fans, who want well-rounded performers and elite level wrestlers fighting for WWE's most prestigious titles. Styles certainly fits that bill as arguably the best all-around performer in the world and a star who appeals to diehard, casual and younger fans alike. Need evidence? After Styles won the WWE Championship roughly a month ago, SmackDown viewership increased for four straight weeks, a strong sign that WWE made the right call by putting the title on "The Phenomenal One."
Styles, after all, is perhaps the perfect superstar to be carrying the SmackDown brand.
He has consistently put on incredible matches with a wide variety of opponents, ranging from Dean Ambrose to Chris Jericho to Roman Reigns and even to Mahal, who had the best match of his career with Styles. Fans have grown to appreciate and respect the tremendous work that Styles does in the ring but have also gravitated toward his character, which is one of the most likable and over acts in the company as evidenced by the consistently loud reactions he continues to generate.
Maybe the best part of Styles' reignited main event push, however, is that Styles is almost universally over with the fervent fan base that typically failed to accept the monstrous pushes of similarly well-rounded stars like Reigns and Cena.
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