Motley Fool Questions Early Success of WWE Network
The Motley Fool website has published another article looking at WWE's current management and financial situation, and below is an article excerpt. You can read the full piece by clicking here.
In theory the WWE Network, which uses a subscription model, should give the company more predictable revenue than the volatile PPV business. The network also allows the company to charge its customers less while giving them much more. That's usually a win-win for customer and company, but it only make sense if enough people sign up.
So far that has not happened. And while it's still very early in the game, it's at least worth considering that the WWE Network could fail or at least be a drain on the company for longer than expected. The company's struggles to get people to sign up for the network, along with its disappointing TV deals, leads to questions of whether WWE's management overplayed its hand and blew up its declining (but still lucrative) PPV business earlier than it should have.
Dreamer Weighs-In on Rollins Heel Turn
Tommy Dreamer recently appeared on Busted Open Satellite Radio, and he had the following to say about Seth Rollins' heel turn in WWE:
With the Seth Rollins turn, is it hard to shock fans these days?
"Oh yeah. I mean, that was my job back in the original ECW with the rise of the Internet. The Internet has so…. hurt as well as helped professional wrestling. When you talk to a lot of people, especially with me and I'm always known for having surprises at shows and people are like 'You got any surprises?' and I'm like 'Yeah.' and they're like 'No no no I don't want to know'. Which is cool. I mean, it's sometimes better to just sit back and be a fan because then we get so cynical and we want to think things our own way and stuff like that. I think the turn, and this is my opinion, the turn was really really cool. I don't think it was the right time and the Shield I think still had a lot more mileage to go. And if you also think about it isn't this kind of like the second Shield turn that they've already had? A lot of people sadly in wrestling nowadays forget about stuff. I don't, and I remember even when everybody was making the big stink about Daniel Bryan never getting the chance, never getting the opportunity. He was already champion twice before. That's how they, in wrestling, make you want to forget certain things. It's your memory by what we want to feed you. Me, I remember specifically when Barry Windham turned on Dusty Rhodes. It was like 'What the hell?!' or Larry Zbysko turned on Bruno Sammartino. It was like 'No way did that just happen!?' Again, I think it's…. in the long run will be good for Seth Rollins. I'm a huge fan of Seth Rollins work. Again, I think it's just a little too soon because you think about it the night before they just beat the biggest faction in the business. I also would have probably almost waited to WrestleMania to have them face the Wyatts. They basically did a throwaway match on a throwaway pay per view. I mean, there was big money in 6-man action with the Freebirds and Von Erichs. They (Shield & Wyatts) are some over acts and if you finally make those guys touch, I think you're on to something. Again, that's they're idea, they're booking. Not mine."
Nick was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, and lived there until the age of 18, when he decided to pack his flack jacket and move to New York City.
