CONTACTABOUTFACEBOOKTWITTERPODCAST IPHONE APPANDROID APPAMAZON APPRSS
Pro Wrestling Torch
Pro Wrestling Torch Reaches The Most Wrestling Fans Every Week: #1 in iTunes • #1 on iPhone and iPad • #1 on Android • #1 on Kindle
GOT THE PWTORCH APP YET?
iPhone & iPad
Android
Amazon Kindle
Windows Phone
PWTorch Phone App
THE SPECIALISTS
GARDNER'S KEY MOMENT OF THE WEEK: WWE reshuffles the Bragging Rights PPV line-up

Oct 25, 2009 - 1:16:08 PM
PLEASE TAKE A MOMENT TO BOOKMARK US & VISIT US DAILY


By Richard Gardner, Torch specialist

Are you enjoying the guest host concept? There is no question that it is hurting the build for WWE's big events. Precious time between Pay-Per-Views is being taken up by comedy skits with Santino Marella, segments designed to get the host over, and the never ending feud between Hornswoggle and Chavo Guerrero. The Bragging Rights Pay-Per-View is the latest casualty.

I like the idea behind Bragging Rights. Heels and faces teaming up for a common cause is unique. That cause being the Raw and Smackdown rivalry reinforces the brand identity of both shows at a time when roster switches occur with alarming regularity. Three weeks is not enough time to sell a completely new Pay-Per-View concept, though.

TNA president Dixie Carter spoke recently about the difficulties of TNA's obligation to produce a Pay-Per-View every month. Certainly a three or four week build-up does not lend itself the pacing of an effective story, and leaves little margin for error when it comes to forward planning. WWE are also suffering from the need to sell shows on a monthly basis.

Monday was the first and last night that the Raw team appeared in the ring together. A story involving dissention in the ranks and eventual reconciliation played out over the course of two hours. In the meantime, segments involving Snoop Dogg arguing with Chavo Guerrero and dancing in the ring with Hornswoggle aired. This isn't an attack on Snoop Dogg, as he was one of the better guest hosts WWE has had, and was one of a few celebrities who didn't act embarrassed to be there. But WWE was already rushing through the Bragging Rights build without having to incorporate numerous comedy segments into the show.

While the deficiencies of the WWE's PPV model have hurt the build for Bragging Rights, there is little that the company can do to change the frequency in the future. WWE is a publicly-traded company, and it would be difficult to explain the long-term benefits of reducing the number of events to stockholders. Additionally, WWE may have commitments to Pay-Per-View companies that they are obligated to fulfill.

What WWE does have is control over the content of their shows. And the booking decision to change Team Smackdown this week is a prime example of poor planning, which has been such a predominant feature of the build for the Bragging Rights PPV. Friday night saw the Smackdown team completely changed, with Drew McIntyre, Eric Escobar, Dolph Ziggler, and Cryme Tyme removed and replaced by Hart Dynasty, Matt Hardy, Finlay, and R-Truth at the last possible moment.

There's no excuse for making such wholesale changes to a PPV event two days in advance. A little forward planning could have avoided such an incident, where any fan who bought Bragging Rights on the basis of Monday's episode of Raw will see completely different participants in the main event.

WWE may be tied to a PPV schedule that is almost unworkable, and this has been exacerbated by the commitment to write segments for the Raw guest host. However a little forward planning could have avoided the farce that took place on Friday night when the PPV main event was completely changed.


We suggest these recent related articles...
10/5 WWE Raw Hits & Misses: Natalya vs. Paige, Owens vs. Cara, Stephanie McMahon, Sasha Banks, Xavier Woods
COLLECTIBLES COLUMN: The History of Foam Hands in Pro Wrestling
9/28 WWE Raw Hits & Misses: Kane's Split Personality, Divas Revolution, Heyman & Big Show, Reigns vs. Wyatt
prowrestling.net
CLICK HERE FOR EVEN MORE PW.NET HEADLINES


CLICK TO EMAIL THIS ARTICLE
CLICK HERE TO RETURN TO MAIN LISTING

NEW! SIGN UP FOR FREE PWTORCH BREAKING NEWS EMAIL ALERTS
BECOME A PWTORCH VIP MEMBER
-FORMER MEMBERS LOGIN HERE TO RENEW
-NEW MEMBERS CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP
SELECT BY ARTICLES CATEGORY
SEARCH PWTORCH.COM



CLICK HERE FOR LIST OF UPCOMING PRO WRESTLING EVENTS
MORE HEADLINES AT AFFILIATE SITES
MMATorch
LATEST HEADLINES - CLICK TO READ CLICK HERE FOR MORE MMATORCH HEADLINES


PWTORCH POLL - VOTE NOW!
RAW POLL 10/12: Vote on Monday's show
 
pollcode.com free polls


RAW POLL 10/12: What was the Best Match on Raw?
 
pollcode.com free polls
MCNEILL LIVECAST POLL: TNA will have a 32-person tournament to determine a new Hvt. champion - your thoughts?
 
pollcode.com free polls
CENA POLL: If John Cena takes a year-end break, who should win the U.S. Title from Cena?
 
pollcode.com free polls
VOTE IN OR SEE RESULTS OF PREVIOUS POLLS



LATEST HEADLINES - CLICK TO READ CLICK HERE FOR EVEN MORE INC HEADLINES

_
LATEST FREE AUDIO SHOWS - CLICK TO LISTEN VIEW MORE PWTORCH LIVECAST EPISODES
DOWNLOAD PWTORCH LIVECAST APP
SUBSCRIBE TO PWTORCH LIVECAST IN ITUNES


ABOUT US

THE TORCH REACHES MORE COMBAT ENTERTAINMENT FANS THAN ANY OTHER SOURCE

PWTorch editor Wade Keller has covered pro wrestling full time since 1987 starting with the Pro Wrestling Torch print newsletter. PWTorch.com launched in 1999 and the PWTorch Apps launched in 2008.

He has conducted "Torch Talk" insider interviews with Hulk Hogan, The Rock, Steve Austin, Kevin Nash, Scott Hall, Eric Bischoff, Jesse Ventura, Lou Thesz, Jerry Lawler, Mick Foley, Jim Ross, Paul Heyman, Bruno Sammartino, Goldberg, more.

He has interviewed big-name players in person incluiding Vince McMahon (at WWE Headquarters), Dana White (in Las Vegas), Eric Bischoff (at the first Nitro at Mall of America), Brock Lesnar (after his first UFC win).

He hosted the weekly Pro Wrestling Focus radio show on KFAN in the early 1990s and hosted the Ultimate Insiders DVD series distributed in retail stories internationally in the mid-2000s including interviews filmed in Los Angeles with Vince Russo & Ed Ferrara and Matt & Jeff Hardy. He currently hosts the most listened to pro wrestling audio show in the world, (the PWTorch Livecast, top ranked in iTunes)


REACHING 1 MILLION+ UNIQUE USERS PER MONTH
500 MILLION CLICKS & LISTENS PER YEAR
MILLIONS OF PWTORCH NEWSLETTERS SOLD
PWTORCH STAFF

EDITORS:
Wade Keller, editor
(kellerwade@gmail.com)

James Caldwell, assistant editor
(pwtorch@gmail.com)

STAFF COLUMNISTS:
Bruce Mitchell (since 1990)
Pat McNeill (since 2001)
Greg Parks (since 2007)
Sean Radican (since 2003)

We also have a great team of
TV Reporters
and Specialists and Artists.

PWTORCH VIP MEMBERSHIP

PWTorch offers a VIP membership for $10 a month (or less with an annual sub). It includes nearly 25 years worth of archives from our coverage of pro wrestling dating back to PWTorch Newsletters from the late-'80s filled with insider secrets from every era that are available to VIPers in digital PDF format and Keller's radio show from the early 1990s.

Also, new exclusive top-shelf content every day including a new VIP-exclusive weekly 16 page digital magazine-style (PC and iPad compatible) PDF newsletter packed with exclusive articles and news.

The following features come with a VIP membership which tens of thousands of fans worldwide have enjoyed for many years...

-New Digital PWTorch Newsletter every week
-3 New Digital PDF Back Issues from 5, 10, 20 years ago
-Over 60 new VIP Audio Shows each week
-Ad-free access to all PWTorch.com free articles
-VIP Forum access with daily interaction with PWTorch staff and well-informed fellow wrestling fans
-Tons of archived audio and text articles
-Decades of Torch Talk insider interviews in transcript and audio formats with big name stars.


**SIGN UP FOR VIP ACCESS HERE**

CONTACTABOUTFACEBOOKTWITTERPODCASTIPHONE APPANDROID APPAMAZON APPRSS
VIP SIGN-UP
VIP LOGIN
THE TORCH: #1 IN COMBAT ENTERTAINMENT COVERAGE | © 1999-2013 TDH Communications Inc. • All rights reserved -- PRIVACY POLICY