10 Words That Most Accurately Describe Wrestling Right Now
2. Precarious
Is WWE's super-serving content strategy a sound one?
A fundamental practise of growing a company is convincing more people to use the service to grow it. WWE is doing the exact opposite of that by deadening their existing customer base with content, content, content. It isn't working. 205 Live infamously draws less numbers than old WCW pay-per-view streams. The failure of it means the status of the prospective UK weekly show is up in the air. It's also hard to imagine WWE trotting out an all women's show on the back of the Mae Young Classic. That might have been the intention. It can't be anymore, surely.
It is also hoped that localising content will instil a sense of tribalism within the fanbase through persuading them to forge the same lasting connections people have with their favourite sports teams. The success of that strategy remains to be seen.
It makes no sense to analyse this from the perspective of a wrestling fan, because even those alienated by the product will still fork out a very reasonable $/£9.99 to watch old WCW Clash Of The Champions specials. It has never been more daunting to become a fan of WWE because there has never been so much of it to consume; much like even the best prestige TV dramas feel like a commitment, a chore, that's never been more true of WWE.
WWE's long-term future isn't even in doubt, so vast are the cash reserves and so secure and expansive are the TV deals. But it's more precarious than Barrios may be willing to admit.