Welcome, one and all, to the glorious debut of the Rajah Debates! For years, the best and brightest minds of the Rajah forum have done battle with words about a myriad of fascinating topics from the wrestling world, seeking to answer the questions that plague the wrestling community. Is John Cena actually a good wrestler? What’s the greatest wrestling show of all time? Is anyone as good as Bobby Lashley? (No.) But for the first time ever, we’re bringing the debates to you and letting you guys act as judge, jury and executioner.
The way this works is simple. Each match will involve a maximum of 3 350 word posts from each participant going in order. At the end, you guys and our panel of judges will vote to see you moves on to the next round to get one step closer to Rajah immortality. Over the course of the next month you’ll grow to know and root for these brilliant weirdos until we eventually crown a grand champion.
Sound good? I thought so! So let’s jump right in!
Now, two new combatants will enter the circle of debate from which only one can proceed. And here is the topic that they will do battle over:
Along with the concept of a union, this is one of the most discussed topics whenever the topic of wrestler safety comes up. The off season. Typically presented as a few months off after Wrestlemania, there are many people who are vehemently for and against the idea of WWE giving wrestlers several months off to rest and recooperate, but there are many obstacles standing in the way and many think it would be outright harmful to the product in general. So let’s bring that discussion here to Wilfred’s and answer the question…
SHOULD WWE HAVE AN OFF SEASON?
HERO – NO
KDESTINY – YES
The coin toss dictates that KDESTINY will go first.
Taking a look at the history of the business, I could come up with a huge list of reasons to have an offseason in wrestling.
1. Injuries become less of a problem. Wrestlers get less burnt out if they all get a few months away from the business. There have been too many stories of guys who have gotten burned out by the schedule and injuries hit them at the worst time (Punk and Bryan to name a few in recent years). This leads to…
2. Guys having more longevity in the business. If wrestlers had that offseason to not only rest their bodies, but their minds as well we would have more guys wrestling for more years. Heck, the part timers may become more involved knowing they got that offseason.
3. More excitement toward the product. I feel like the time away would build up more excitement in anticipation for the next season. Having 12 months of product now we have so many times where the product has suffered. We get the same old shit essentially until the Royal Rumble through Wrestlemania, rinse and repeat. It would leave us all in anticipation like other sports like the NFL and the NBA as well as beloved television shows, but with even more men and women to be their “cast” for the season. That sense of mystery going into the next season would be refreshing for sure.
4. More ideas for planning. I feel like sometimes The ideas from creative are short term and they fly by the seat of their pants too often. Having this off season would give them a chance to catch their breathe and to figure out where to go next without having to worry about what to do that night for Raw. It gives you time to develop long term storylines as well as helping develop talent as well. Recruitment for future seasons would be important as well.
There are several reasons the WWE should have an offseason, but these four are the ones that would benefit everyone the most. It is truly what is best for business.
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The idea of the “off season” is something that we say used in almost every major sport and across every television show. No other company put out weekly content 52 weeks a year, 7 days a week, and across as many countries as WWE does. The wrestlers are pushed to the limit and the crew is work tirelessly. Of course people think there should be an off season, why wouldn’t there be for such a large sports and television organization?!
The Answer? WWE is unlike any other organization in the world.
The key to pro wrestling and WWE’s longevity is the constant nature of the content. WWE doesn’t have the benefit that major sports do of being on prime time network television. Due to the stigma of professional wrestling, advertisers don’t like paying money to be on during their programs. WWE is fighting an uphill battle to be on TV and their key to survival is to ALWAYS BE ON. WWE does not go a single week without putting out RAW, Smackdown, NXT, Main Event, Superstars, and countless other shows for their international syndicates. WWE also puts on a PPV/Special event every single month, without fail. WWE survives because they oversaturate the marketplace with so much product that THEY FORCE THEIR WAY INTO MAKING MONEY.
If WWE took an “off season”, the lack of content would drop their value and worth to major networks. WWE survives in the harsh climate of television by keeping a constant presence and refusing to be ignored. While an “off season” seems like a nice idea, it is not an ideal business model. We’ve seen companies like WCW, ECW, and TNA flop and flounder without the consistency of WWE on television and in local markets (house shows).
WWE has been doing this for a very, VERY long time. The current schedule is grueling, exhausting, but most importantly: successful and that’s why no one should try and change it.
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You are right, WWE is unlike any other organization. They put out a lot of content and the wrestlers are pushed to the limit and the crew works tirelessly
Yes, WWE is “surviving” with a product that hasn’t done well lately. I don’t think an offseason would drop their value. Look at how hot Lucha Underground has become. Their first season was a success and it has become a breeding ground for some of the best wrestling on television.
That isn’t the case with WWE because it feels like we already know what will happen next. Using every hour of every day toward some sort of production has caused ratings to drop. If they had an offseason, I do feel the ratings would increase due to the fact that they have more time to prep in every aspect. I am tired of seeing rematches every week, aren’t you?
Audiences have been over exposed to the product. I think the networks can see that by now with the ratings dropping. WWE hardly gives a shit about Smackdown anymore and Raw has been below average for quite some time.
There’s the fact that this will extend careers. If WWE’s stars are able to wrestle longer, it should outweigh having mediocre ratings during the full year for networks. Cena extends his career, Bryan could come back ready to go, and you have young stars like Zayn, Owens, and Balor who can use this offseason as a chance to rest, that will mean more years for them in the ring. Give talent a few months after Mania, it would change everything (There can be consistency.)
Let the offseason be a training camp, and let your stars promote the next season of WWE. There is nowhere to go but up.
Money is definitely a big deal for WWE, but with the ratings dropping with them shoving so much content down our throats, I think this is a chance to settle down and think about what is truly the best option.
I know for some change is hard, but in this case, change is good.
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Originally Posted by kdestinyYou are right, WWE is unlike any other organization. They put out a lot of content and the wrestlers are pushed to the limit and the crew works tirelesslyYes, WWE is “surviving” with a product that hasn’t done well lately. I don’t think an offseason would drop their value. Look at how hot Lucha Underground has become. Their first season was a success and it has become a breeding ground for some of the best wrestling on television.
Lucha Underground is a brand new product that was paid for entirely by the network and still went over budget. Comparing a global television and entertainment entity like WWE to Lucha Underground is like comparing a worldwide film to limited run production. Sure, the movie showing in 5 theaters may be better and get better reviews, but why would major hollywood motion pictures follow that path and undermine their profits?
Originally Posted by kdestinyAudiences have been over exposed to the product. I think the networks can see that by now with the ratings dropping. WWE hardly gives a shit about Smackdown anymore and Raw has been below average for quite some time.
Both of these shows are still the top ratings draws on their respective networks.
Originally Posted by kdestinyThere’s the fact that this will extend careers. If WWE’s stars are able to wrestle longer, it should outweigh having mediocre ratings during the full year for networks. Cena extends his career, Bryan could come back ready to go, and you have young stars like Zayn, Owens, and Balor who can use this offseason as a chance to rest, that will mean more years for them in the ring. Give talent a few months after Mania, it would change everything (There can be consistency.)
Wrestlers can still get hurt and worn out working 100 days a year, just as they can working 300 days a year. Being out of the ring for an extended period can actually hurt a wrestler as the ring rust accumulates and they’re out of practice. So then what, you have tham use their personal time to train at the PC? Great, now they’re working for free instead of making the money they would touring and they’ve still got maintain themselves.
Originally Posted by kdestinyMoney is definitely a big deal for WWE, but with the ratings dropping with them shoving so much content down our throats, I think this is a chance to settle down and think about what is truly the best option.I know for some change is hard, but in this case, change is good.
Money is a big deal for any successful business…it’s sort of the biggest deal. WWE makes the majority of their profits from house shows and advertising. Neither of those things are viable to sustain profits with an off season.
To sum up your points: WWE should copy a company that has yet to prove itself as a business and the wrestlers should take time off to continue working for free and “promote” the brand. As nice as this crusade for time off is, it’s all just a big detriment to the WWE product and brand.
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Okay.
To start, I mentioned the fact that Lucha Underground had an offseason, that’s it. I figured you’d take the comparison as far as you did. If you look around the boards here and wrestling fans there is more excitement surrounding their product than for WWE at this point. I think a significant part of that excitement is the anticipation for the next season.
While Smackdown and Raw are tops on their networks, they really have 0 competition. They need to be taken more seriously. Having time off to let the product breathe and plan for the next season would not only bring more eyes because people are anticipating it, but it will result in a better product.
Wrestlers can be hurt in so many ways, that is obvious. Giving them this offseason to rest, then you’ve got stars who can wrestle for more years overall. I’d prefer to have the quality of great wrestling 9-10 months than have a bunch of mediocrity on television all year. They wouldn’t obviously be sent to sit on their asses during their time off. You don’t see football players doing that do you? Use that time off to improve yourself in the ring and develop your character. Find their direction. A training camp if you will.
Having this offseason can only help avoid many incidents as well (You remember Daniel Bryan, yes? Two years in a row after Wrestlemania.) it doesn’t force guys to keep competing through injury after the biggest show of the year.
House shows do make a lot, yes. Like I have said, the attendance has been declining for those as well. There is just too much WWE happening all year. With an offseason you promote promote promote. Keep talents paid (They are paid a salary not a per appearance deal, yeah?) Build up stories, build up young wrestlers, and build a solid foundation for the next season and have a long term plan.
Money can’t matter more than the well being of their employees either, and this +quality+anticipation=more eyes on the product. It can work for everyone.
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Originally Posted by kdestinyOkay.
To start, I mentioned the fact that Lucha Underground had an offseason, that’s it. I figured you’d take the comparison as far as you did. If you look around the boards here and wrestling fans there is more excitement surrounding their product than for WWE at this point. I think a significant part of that excitement is the anticipation for the next season.
While Smackdown and Raw are tops on their networks, they really have 0 competition. They need to be taken more seriously. Having time off to let the product breathe and plan for the next season would not only bring more eyes because people are anticipating it, but it will result in a better product.
All you’re saying here is that people are excited for LU. Wonderful. Wrestling fans are excited for a show that has limited viewing and makes pocket change financially. WWE has one of those too, it’s called NXT and you can watch it every week on the WWE Network for $9.99. It doesn’t have an off season, but just by having their specials set apart by 2 months, fans still watch the weekly TV show and get excited for the big events. This is the ideal system for a smaller show, but this method would destroy a massive production like the WWE television product.
Originally Posted by kdestinyWrestlers can be hurt in so many ways, that is obvious. Giving them this offseason to rest, then you’ve got stars who can wrestle for more years overall. I’d prefer to have the quality of great wrestling 9-10 months than have a bunch of mediocrity on television all year. They wouldn’t obviously be sent to sit on their asses during their time off. You don’t see football players doing that do you? Use that time off to improve yourself in the ring and develop your character. Find their direction. A training camp if you will.
Football players are also played 20 million dollars to play around 15 weeks and practice the rest of the year. The average WWE superstar earns a few hundred thousand dollars a year and a lot of that money comes from merchandise and touring. If WWE tours less, these guys work less dates and sell less merch, making a fuck ton less money. In order for WWE to cover this cost and pay their superstars some sort of wage during the off season, the company would financially cripple themselves.
Originally Posted by kdestinyHaving this offseason can only help avoid many incidents as well (You remember Daniel Bryan, yes? Two years in a row after Wrestlemania.) it doesn’t force guys to keep competing through injury after the biggest show of the year. House shows do make a lot, yes. Like I have said, the attendance has been declining for those as well. There is just too much WWE happening all year. With an offseason you promote promote promote. Keep talents paid (They are paid a salary not a per appearance deal, yeah?) Build up stories, build up young wrestlers, and build a solid foundation for the next season and have a long term plan.Money can’t matter more than the well being of their employees either, and this +quality+anticipation=more eyes on the product. It can work for everyone.
Again, all of this if just “oh how nice would it be if they could just work less and still be paid the same!”. As a matter of fact, you seemingly don’t even understand how the superstars are paid. Superstars are paid a base salary, paid for working house shows, paid merchandise and DVD royalties, and they formerly made Pay Per View bonuses. Taking 3-4 months off, absolutely kills 1/3 to 1/4 of their yearly income. Given that they’re already sacrificing their bodies, I doubt theirs much interest in sacrificing their body for 9 months when it also means earning only 9 months of wages.
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