WWE In Major Trouble? Details & More Backstage News

[PeepShow]

Source: F4Wonline.com

- What could become a major issue for WWE, sources say WWE and the USA Network haven't been on good terms as of late. Bonne Hammer of USA has been sending 10-20 creative suggestions to WWE on a regular basis. Sources say Vince McMahon gets the messages, reads them and then passes them on to Stephanie and then Brian Gewirtz goes over them during WWE creative meetings and basically puts them down infront of everyone. WWE hasn't considered a single angle USA has proposed, feeling insecure about someone else's ideas working better than their own. Also, they feel if they do start using other people's ideas, they will be pressured to use more and more.

WWE signed their deal with USA on April 4, 2005 which means their three-year deal would expire shortly after WrestleMania 24. Due to WWE's strong numbers, there's pretty much zero chance USA will cancel them but when Bonnie Hammer signed the deal in 2005, she was expecting and paying for ratings in the upper 4's and low 5's. WWE's best numbers as of late have been low 3's and this week they tanked with a 2.8. WWE has very little leverage for negotiations right now and they could end up re-signing a deal for a lot less than what they signed for three years ago. At a time when the company seems to depend on TV as a main revenue generator besides PPV, re-signing for less money could affect WWE overall.

Well, that doesnt sound too suprising. IDK what to believe.

 

[gashface]

Very interesting, I can't see the USA network dropping WWE. But as for less money now that could be very damaging to the WWE, as rich as they are - they still can't afford to lose millions of dollars.

 

[The Rated R CMStar]

I should not worry about this, there are tons of other networks that would receive WWE Raw with their arms open. But I don't think USA will let WWE leave. Raw remains their best show and one if not the best in ratings in cable network

 

[CenaMark54]

So the USA netowrk was expecting upper 4's and low 5's for ratings?

Way to do your research. They obviously had not been paying much attention to the rating the WWE was getting from around 2003 to 2005.

 

[monkeystyle]

Seriously, as far as cable goes Raw bring in the Ratings still even if it is only a 2.8, its still enough to be in the top 10 for the Nielsen ratings.

If USA was to drop them for some stupid reason it would be USA's loss and another networks gain.

 

[Montana]

I dont see how this is "Major Trouble" Raw could go to any network,and get the same ratings. The wwe pulls in Milliions in profits each month. The TV deal, isn't where the wwe makes its money.

 

[Bradders]

I (as other have said) don't see this as trouble. When a door closes a window opens. They could get a bigger and better deal and get even more viewers, only time will tell.

 

[C4]

So, have all PPV's Tri-branded and that's what you get. The Weekly Ratings of the Television Show drops. But it's impossible that USA drops RAW because it gives them good Ratings. The 2.8 was un-real. DAMN

 

[Mike Chaos]

When is the WWE going to use their money right and just buy USA Network? Duh.

 

[Fatal 55]

Either way County, people still complain! Remember this time last year or the year before!

I'd much rather the 2007 standard PPV's than the 2005 one's where they would struggle to even get 5 matches on the card. Yes sure it might limit people & it's now harder for people to get on PPV but that's what you want, the best of the crop making the PPV each month instead of pointless matches between people that the crowd don't even care about! & WWE Filling up time by adding random squash matches & stupid segments to try to enjoy the crowd!

Cross Branded PPV's > Single Branded PPV's!

As for the whole USA/Raw hiccup. If the worse comes to the worst & they do end up not renewing their contract then it's no big loss for the WWE IMO. There are plenty of other broadcasting networks who will gladly love having WWE on their network even if it's looked down upon & frowned because it's "Wrestling" & "Fake".

Raw moving network Is no big loss for WWE.

Raw moving network IS a big loss for USA! Network

 

[HHHforever]

I don't really understand why USA is freaking out. I mean obviously the ratings are going to be a little down right now, even though 2.8 is almost unbelievable, I mean they have to compete with Monday Night Football and currently they have to deal with the MLB playoffs. USA can't expect their ratings to be up or even close to either of those events. The WWE is looking really good right now with all the main eventers they have now and they are bringing back the element of surprise. So eventually the ratings will rise as the playoffs end and MNF ends.

 

[steve316]

there should be a problem this is around the ratings that there'll usally be around , not as high as recent years but finding the old versions on impact i realized wwe ratings were high because there was no brands wwe contiuned straight through and the star power was there having wwf/wcw and ecw stars wrestling or cuting promos on the same shows. How much do you expect out of a raw with only 3 real stars (hhh,hbk,orton) plus 3 small stars (umaga , hardy , kennedy)

 

[Wrestling Station]

Seriously, as far as cable goes Raw bring in the Ratings still even if it is only a 2.8, its still enough to be in the top 10 for the Nielsen ratings.

If USA was to drop them for some stupid reason it would be USA's loss and another networks gain.

Nailed it there.

 

[ROHisWrestling]

No big deal, if USA drops WWE RAW then some other channel will pick it up, probably Sci-fi

 

[This Guy]

the retarted thing is, the reason the rating tanked to 2.8 was because No Mercy for most peoples opinions sucked. So they pull Shawn Michaels out at the last minute. Why? Becauae it will create a buzz....the problem is No Mercy already killed that buzz. If the WWE was smart, at No Mercy Triple H should have come out and goated them into a title match but not for him. They accept then Shawn Micheals comes out. I wouldn't have done last man standing between Shawn & Orton then cause you could certainly milk the fued. Would have had Orton escape with the title by the skin of his teeth maybe with help from Umaga. Then people would have heard Shawn was back and tuned into Raw to see what happened. Then they announce Triple H & Shawn Micheals vs. Orton & Umaga for Cyber Sunday and let the fans vote on the stipulation of the match. Then this could go on to eventually having last man standing between Orton & HBK for the title. Let HBK win as a way of getting his revenge at Survivor Series, then at Royal Rumble Orton could win back the title in an Elimination Chamber match with say Umaga, Triple H, Kennedy & Lashley (who might be back by then) much better booking in my opinion.