3 Ups & 3 Downs From WWE Smackville
1. The Idea Has Legs If Developed
For all the complaints laid out in this article about Smackville's redundant status as a one-hour distraction, there is merit to the idea of airing house show specials if WWE are willing to go further. There's no good reason why they couldn't have beamed the whole thing live. That would've made the event feel like more of a pressing concern.
WWE's overhaul of the Network will likely be followed by some new tiered packages that offer even more content to those who want it. If they're going to be hauling camera equipment around with them anyway to film a match or three, then they should seriously think about making this a permanent deal.
There are fans who would pay a little extra to see what happens on the road even if it's largely inconsequential.
Of course, endless streams of live events won't suit everybody, but that's why there'd be choice. Those who don't want shows like Smackville can opt out and pay slightly less for what they do want. Saturday's show might just be a WWE experiment to see who's paying attention.
What did you think of WWE's Smackville special? Let us know down in the comments section below!