Sports entertainment aka pro wrestling giant aims to listen to fans more; Is aware of new competition and competing for fans attention and entertainment dollar; Live events, creative and WWE Network on agenda Media Man Int

Sports entertainment aka pro wrestling giant aims to listen to fans more; Is aware of new competition and competing for fans attention and entertainment dollar; Live events, creative and WWE Network on agenda - April - May 2019

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WWE top brass Vince McMahon

by Greg Tingle

WWE top brass, employees and sports entertainers (independent contractors) and the like, are well aware that the stakes are getting increasingly higher, and that competition is getting stiffer, in the sports entertainment - professional wrestling genre.

At the most recent WWE Hall of Fame Triple H gave a public wink, wink, nod nod, to the AEW (All Elite Wrestling) "pissants", with booker / producer pissant formally known as Billy Gunn getting inducted, along with the rest of the DX (Degeneration X) fraternity.

The WWE may refer to themselves as "sports entertainment" these days, but their form of entertainment is built upon the art of professional wrestling, dating back to "smoke filled arenas" of the mid 50's, as top brass Mr. Vince McMahon has informed everyone over the decades.

For many, the rich history and nostalgia of pro wrestling is part of what keeps us watching, while we also marvel at the modern day wrestlers and move sets..."What a maneuver", you can just hear McMahon saying of a 90s Bret 'Hitman' Hart or Shawn Michaels combination of chain wrestling. It's almost more Cirque du Soleil at times, and less pro wrestling, with only masters like Cesaro and Daniel Bryan (currently injured), giving the avid fans some reassurance that the marquee does indeed say WRESTLING. I think of pro wrestling as stunt performers meets ballet meets martial arts and Shakesphere drama.

Before retiring from in-ring competition the likes of Hulk Hogan and Terry Funk would remind us that wrestling was also a brawl, with some good old theatrics thrown in, no doubt inspired by Gorgeous George (George Wagner). Hogan (Terry Bollea) also appeared to channel 'The Incredible Hulk' (the TV green version of Lou Ferrigno), and how can you forget the "Hulking Up" that the late, great, Gorilla Monsoon (Robert Marella) would refer to. By mentioning real names of wrestlers we are technically breaking Kayfabe, but as wrestling manager and historian Jim Cornette says, "Kayfabe died a long time ago". There's not that many secrets left in pro wrestling, especially after revealing documentaries such as 'Beyond The Mat', 'Wrestling With Shadows", and the more recent VICELAND series, 'Dark Side Of The Ring'.

The WWE Superstar ShakeUp is one of the WWE's most recent attempts to freshen up the WWE television product and to facilitate new and never before seen matches and feuds, and in concept that is a very good thing. Sometimes real life circumstances can hamper the process, such as breaking up real life couples (in same cases away from the television cameras). It's a balancing act with "many moving parts" - another apt expression by Triple H.

Women's division Superstar Charlotte Flair have been getting very serious with Andrad, so they are sharing the roster together, as are Aleister Black and real life wife Vega, making them SmackDown happy campers. Happiness and moral is something WWE has pro actively been trying to facilitate more of as late, with the likes of AEW (and even Ring Of Honour and New Japan Pro Wrestling), being seen as legit options for sports entertainers.

WWE top brass are listening to fans like never before, as it looks to weather the AEW storm, and further adapt to the ever changing and saturated sports entertainment - pro wrestling landscape. An avid fan can watch over 10 hours a week of pro wrestling, and that's not even including and endless supply of YouTube programming - past and present, and then there's the famous WWE Network - currently $9.99 per month, and about to be repackaged into tiers, with different packages and pricing on the cards.

Team McMahon knows that television ratings are down, along with a decline in live event attendance, and their rightly trying to do something about it. WWE also doesn't want to be seen as the "bad guy promotion", and some fans are rebellious by nature, and will jump ship to any other promotion at the chance, and no doubt some already have. Me, I enjoy both WWE and what I have seen of All Elite Wrestling, and like many, I have an emotional connection with the WWE, which used to be the WWF, and before that World Wide Wrestling Federation. I used to watch the matches with my late father in the 80s and 90's, and we used to discuss our favorite heroes and villains, and you get the idea. Shoutout also to our friends at the NWA (National Wrestling Aliance). Terry Funk vs Harley Race and Ric Flair vs Ricky Steamboat - NWA / WCW), ah, those were the days. Pro wrestling for many was somewhat of a family affair, but not quite on the Hart Family dynasty level.

Recently Rupert Murdoch's Fox has been broadcasting promotional material for SmackDown's pending arrival on October 4. John Cena, Rey Mysterio, Ric Flair and RAW & SmackDown Women's Champion Becky Lynch have been featured in the promos.

FOX will also been broadcasting a new wrestling themed show in October which Triple H discussed in the press including via his recent appearance on FOX Business, where he broke Kayfabe a number of times, and pulling back the curtain on the industry will feature strongly in the show's format. Such a move is a natural progression, as there's a number of books, documentaries and wrestling news websites which have been doing this for years, over a decade in some way, shape of form. WWE powers that be, in collaboration with FOX, are looking to take control of the situation and make money off the "secret" aspects of the business such as storylines, character development, and so it goes on.

It's a great time to be a wrestling fan at the moment, whether the WWE, AEW or other is your poison. If your high up in the industry there's millions, if not billions of dollars up for grabs.

Kudos to WWE for stepping up their efforts in listening to fans more, and also public congratulations to TEAM KHAN (Tony Khan, Cody Rhodes, Chris Jericho, Kenny Omega and friends).

It's New York / Stamford, Conn vs Team Atlanta, with the MGM Grand in Las Vegas to be one of many new media battlegrounds.

Whether you are a WWE Lifer, a AEW "Pissant", or shades of both, it's a hybrid version of WrestleMania season all over again. Who are you putting your money on? Are you a 'Money In The Bank' type of fan, or do you take to the casino more with a 'Double Or Nothing' perspective? At this point of time both WWE and AEW management and bean counters are just glad you are watching and still have some budget left for the sports entertainment that you have a love - hate relationship with. If you stop caring and the crowd goes to crickets, and news media stops writing about it, that is a real problem. At this stage both promotions and others shouldn't be too concerned, lots of folks and media are taking and writing away on weekly developments, and that's a good thing.

AEW's Tony Khan

Brandi Rhodes, husband Cody Rhodes (Runnels), and Dustin Rhodes. It's Cody vs Dustin at 'Double Or Nothing'

Kenny Omega announces his signing to AEW. It's Alpha Omega 2 (Chris Jericho vs Kenny Omega ) at 'Double Or Nothing'

Cesaro. A wrestlers, wrestler. Many WWE fans want to see Cesaro and other awesome wrestlers win the WWE or Universal Championship

'Good Brothers' Gallows and Anderson are one of the world's best tag-teams. The friendly war will offer even more opportunities for world class tag teams to shine

Gorgeous George (George Wagner) gave pro wrestling the Hollywood treatment and theatrics circa 1950

Andy Warhol, Hulk Hogan and 'Mean' Gene Okerlund. Warhol brought the pop art and pop culture connection, Hogan the superman and larger than life persona, and Okerlund the wit and tongue in cheek humour that pro wrestling can and should be associated with. A winning combination, backed by billionaire "evil genius' Vince McMahon!

Linda and Vince McMahon

The late, great, 'Rowdy' Roddy Piper. Piper and 80's star such as "Hot Rod' filled the WWE coffers with cash. McMahon masterminded WrestleMania in New York, with perhaps some inspiration of NWA's Starrcade and other pro wrestling supercards, and the rest is history.

Harley Race vs Dory Funk Jr (National Wrestling Alliance)

Hulk Hogan and John Cena. Two money machines for the WWE. Hogan in the 80s and Cena in the 00's

Roman Reigns, Brock Lesnar and Paul Heyman. All play an important (but not quite irreplaceable) role in the WWE. The WWE is the star, but many fans are saying that the WWE needs to have more star attractions. Brock Lesnar is due for another run in the UFC.

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