10 Failed Concepts WWE Needs To Revise And Revisit

3. Prime Time Wrestling

Prime Time Wrestling
WWE Network

PrimeTimeWrestlingWasn'tAFailedConcept.

Just getting that out of the way quickly, in order to avoid getting pitchforked in the face by a legion of fans with cherished memories of the G.O.A.T banter shared between Gorilla Monsoon and Bobby Heenan.

WWE considers Prime Time Wrestling, if not a failure, then an anachronism; a model rendered extinct by the apparent requirement for live in-ring action. That is the real anachronism; trends indicate that tape delay doesn't affect ratings, and it's not as if Eric Bischoff is there to give away match results. The internet is, but regardless: the in-studio context is a mainstay of other sports. In the UK in particular, Match of the Day is a bonafide, irreplaceable institution. Fans enjoy being involved in the wider conversation. It's comforting.

Led by a pair of presenters with natural chemistry - Renee Young and Corey Graves - a Prime Time reboot would make extinct the dire, overly-verbose RAW formula, allow fans to share in that wider conversation, and repurpose the cult classic Talking Smack as a loose framework with which to share WWE's shattered universe by way of connecting fans to the product and the performers.

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Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!