Exploring The Success Rate Of 7 WCW Ideas In WWE

7. A Three-Hour Flagship Show

Arguing against more product is a tough thing to do for hardcore wrestling fans. That was the case in the late-'90s when WCW expanded Monday Nitro from two hours to an epic three, and it has been the case since WWE followed suit with Raw. Who doesn't want more wrestling? Those who want to be left craving more, that's who.

Beginning with the 1,000th episode of Raw on 23 July 2012, Raw extended an extra hour weekly and some have been complaining about it ever since. WCW got there first, producing a full three hours every Monday as early as 1998. Generally, the results have been the same for both companies: Raw, just like Nitro before it, isn't helped by the additional hour.

Yes, WWE do get extra advertising revenue from the USA Network, but at what cost to viewer enjoyment? Shows are now pay-per-view-like in length, only with annoying ad breaks and periods of the program during which nothing of note happens. Vince McMahon should have learned from Nitro's mistakes here, because Raw was fine in the old two-hour format.

Success: Financially, yes. Artistically, no.