As I have noted in the past, I am a member of the WWE Fan Council and often get emailed surveys from the WWE about how I thought pay-per-view shows went and the like, but in the past few days I received one aimed only at fixing RAW.
Vince, Stephanie, Shane and Triple H said in the RAW Opening segment that they wanted to empower the wrestlers and fans. Triple H went so far as to say the WWE Universe is the authority now. With the lengthy survey I received about RAW, I think the WWE is serious about trying to fix the show in a way fans will appreciate.
The survey started off with several questions asking fans to rate on a scale their satisfaction with certain types of matches, feuds, Superstars and everything from graphics, to statistics, to video packages, to backstage interviews and recaps throughout the show. At one point, the survey even asked for specific opinions about some of the biggest criticisms fans post online – repetitive matchups, length of feuds, predictable storylines and unrealistic situations within feuds between Superstars.
It is also important to note that the WWE had several questions trying to gauge what sort of stories – more comedic, more athletic, more dramatic – the WWE Universe wants to be told and what type of characters they want to see Superstars portray. There was even a poll about which Superstars fans thought were most developed on the show, which ones were least developed, who fans would like to see more of on shows and who they would like to see less (no doubt Baron Corbin got panned).
It was also clear that the WWE is trying to find a way to package the infusion of talent coming up from NXT shortly with the callups. There was a question which asked which storyline fans liked within the past two years that featured rising, younger Superstars only. For what it’s worth, I mentioned that I liked the revolution angle with Charlotte and Becky coming up with Paige to fight The Bellas and the other faction with Sasha Banks, Naomi and Tamina.
At the end of the survey, the WWE even asked fans essay type questions about what if anything that wasn’t mentioned that they want to see and requested fans be as specific as possible for their preferences. It will be interesting to see how the responses on these surveys shape RAW in 2019. Hopefully, we will all be pleasantly surprised with newer matchups and fresher content than we’ve come to expect in the latter part of 2018.