WWE has reached unheard-of heights in terms of global popularity, with a record number of sellouts and success with their PLEs. The promotion is currently enjoying a boom period that it hasn’t experienced since the late ’90s. So it only makes sense that they continue to build their brand.
In turn, World Wrestling Entertainment has added several new shows like Evolve, Speed, and LFG on multiple platforms. Plus, they have a partnership with TNA Wrestling and recently launched the WWEID program, as well. In a world where content is king, the company essentially puts out plenty of material every week. In fact? It’s hard to flip through your cable guide or YouTube feed without seeing some kind of WWE programming.
While that’s normally a positive, it can also be a hindrance. There’s such a thing as having too much success, and the company might be standing at that crossroads right now. Despite their loyal fan base, are they asking the audience to indulge in too much wrestling?
Is WWE Giving Fans Too Much Of A Good Thing?
There’s An Excess Of WWE-Related Content Right Now
WWE has certainly done this before. After the expansion of NXT into the United Kingdom, there were rumors that they were looking to expand the brand into other nations, one by one. As they drew back from that original blueprint, they have re-directed that vision. With NXT essentially becoming the third brand – at least in terms of their recent television ratings – Triple H and his team have looked to add more platforms to develop young talent.
WWE Evolve, Speed, and the ID program are all focused primarily on being the first tier of scouting and development for the company. And considering they have plucked some top talent through their partnership with TNA, that could also be included as part of their star-making pipeline.
Legends & Future Greats is another example of how the company is trying to help brand its youngest prospects with at least a cross-section of the audience. They’ve also produced (or helped produce) hours of biographical and historical footage based on the promotion’s past, which air regularly on the A&E Network.
While all of these programs have merit, it’s hard to avoid the feeling that this seems like “too much WWE” right now – especially considering how well things are already going on the main roster. And in the long run, could juggling all this content eventually cause the two jewels of their programming – RAW and SmackDown – to lose their luster over time?
Do Any Of These Outside Brands Draw New Fans?
A Large Portion Of WWE Fans Don’t Even Watch These Shows
For many of the most die-hard wrestling fans, these “extra shows” are just filler for the promotion. They might watch an episode or two of Evolve or LFG if there’s nothing else on, but they typically aren’t heavily invested in it. The average WWE viewer doesn’t typically take any interest in any of the people or personas until they reach the NXT level. The Tuesday night show appears to be the cut-off for a large portion of the regular audience.
While the most rabid of rabid fans will likely tune in, will anyone else? You already have a large percentage of the wrestling base that doesn’t take any stick in these programs. So, are they aiming for the mainstream crowd for something like LFG? What about all the A&E specials that are constantly airing as well? The wheel of content seems to constantly be spinning.
Do they feel these real-life, behind-the-scenes reality shows will draw in non-wrestling fans? That’s debatable, but what isn’t is the promotion’s long-term chase after more mainstream exposure. That goes back to the rock ‘n’ wrestling connection of the mid-1980s. Now, the powers-that-be would like WWE to be considered on the same level as pro sports like the NFL or NBA.
While that may be a pipe dream, it’s not the first time WWE has reached across the aisle to the everyday audience. It certainly won’t be the last. Still, the promotion’s bread and butter is its loyalists, and many of them are already being overwhelmed by the onslaught of new programming.
Over-Saturation Could Lead To Apathy Among Loyal Fans
It’s Hard To Keep Track Of All The WWE Content Right Now
A recurring theme in WWE’s history is that when they extend too far, it always comes back to haunt them. In this case, the expansion of so many brands under their umbrella threatens to dampen some of the product’s current excitement. By no means would that lead to the overall downfall of the company; Its financial standing is just fine.
However, asking their loyal fan base to invest so much time, attention, and even sometimes frustration is going a little too far. As a loyal viewer of RAW and SmackDown, I will try to catch NXT on Tuesdays from time to time, as well. My guess is that’s the same for most WWE fans. They have become accustomed to viewing every Monday for decades and – in recent years – tuning in on Friday. But as far as the rest of the content, I don’t think many in the regular viewership make a point in seeking it out.
In the end, WWE certainly has the right and the resources to produce as much content as they want to. And a subdivision of their fans will probably follow along with all of it. But at the same time, there will always be the belief among the majority of fans that they might be spreading themselves a little too thin. That could exhaust the audience’s attention spans, leading to apathy. Particularly if the three main shows start to have a drop in quality, or PLEs become overdone and boring. The WWE Universe will quickly point to the company having too many irons in the fire.
