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This is typical of the very active and entrepreneurial approach that’s helped him to grow WWE over the years. Many observers also believe that other sports could well benefit from following his approach if they too want to grow their audiences. Here are ten ideas that could help him along the way.
As an alternative to the three-hour draft usually held on an episode of weekly broadcast RAW, it could be a good idea to make it a special event, similar to the glitz and glamour of the Hall of Fame ceremony. By holding it in an iconic venue like Madison Square Garden and inviting only the most hardcore fans, the occasion could be a dramatic start to the season.
Take the world tour even further
The sport is watched by thousands of fans on online channels like YouTube.
When the sport goes on the road it certainly starts to bring in new fans who can then have almost unlimited access to more action through YouTube, thus growing the global audience. But why not expand the tour to visit any more venues in many more countries? There’s sure to be an appetite for it, and it could easily add millions of new fans across the globe.
Build up the popularity among female fans
Although it was once a very male-dominated sport, the arrival of an ultra-competitive Women’s division has changed perceptions of the sport – but more could definitely be done to build up the female fan base. One of the first things to do would be find a great replacement for the departing Cathy Kelley who has always been an inspirational presenter. Then it could be to push the female bouts even more using a mix of veteran workers like Natalya and Charlotte Flair to promote upcoming talents such as Rhea Ripley and Bianca Belair.
Create a slots game or two
Creating slots games inspired by WWE will instantly help to reach and engage a new audience.
One of the more unusual ways other sports have promoted themselves is by having casino games themed around them. WWE would lend itself perfectly to this as there are big characters who could feature on the reels, and players could also be rewarded by seeing videos of momentous moments in the sport from the past when they hit the jackpot. It would also be a certain way to draw in a whole new audience, especially if the games were positioned on a one of a kind site like 888 Casino, which already features many online casino games inspired by leading movies, TV shows and sports.
Change up the format
WWE could shake things up by working out what prevents many people from following and devise a new format itself to overcome these reservations. Some people love the drama that’s attached to the it, while others would prefer to see a lot more wrestling and less character development.
Make the mini feuds bigger than ever
Mini feuds are like the frosting on the cake when it comes to WWE. They’re not the main event, but they certainly add a little something extra. But sometimes they can be just too mini to really matter. So by cranking them up by a small degree they could be made to be just that little bit more engaging, without detracting from the big clashes that fans obviously want to see run and run.
Take it to even bigger stadiums
Of all the events in the WWE calendar, WrestleMania stands out as the only one that’s held in a mega stadium. With attendances regularly topping 100,000 at the annual extravaganza, playing out a packed card of must-see matches on the biggest stage of all is what makes for an awesome TV event. Perhaps adding another one or two stadium dates could be key to attracting more fans, for more of those unmissable moments. The Royal Rumble, held every January in the week before the Superbowl, is traditionally viewed as the second-biggest event on the WWE calendar. If it could also be linked to a big star’s dramatic comeback, so much the better.
. . and smaller venues
Conversely, letting true fans get up close and personal in smaller venues could do a great deal for the sport’s allure. If you compare it to music, a few years ago the “unplugged” phenomenon appeared in which bands stripped their songs down to the basics and this proved to be a winning formula. By staging events in more intimate surroundings, with strictly limited ticket numbers, it could achieve the same result.
Make it more realistic
Although the larger-than-life characters and overblown feuds are undoubtedly what make WWE so appealing to so many, there is such a thing as going too far over the top. The Undertaker and The Fiend Bray Wyatt are two of WWE’s most popular characters of all time, using supernatural powers and psychological warfare to spook their opponents. While their brand of storyline usually delivers the biggest shocks, their antics can occasionally detract from the wrestling itself.
End with a bang!
The rise in women participating in the sport has brought a whole new element to WWE which looks set to continue.
When people tune in to anything, from a drama to a sporting event, they want to know that it’s leading to a dramatic climax. In soccer this can take the form of a penalty shootout and, while something like this wouldn’t be possible in WWE, if all events promised a genuinely thrilling climax even more people would be inclined to tune in.
The best and most recent example of this comes from the 2019 edition of Wrestlemania, which for the first time ever was main evented by women. More than merely a token gesture to reward the resurgent Women’s division, the friction between Charlotte Flair, Becky Lynch and Ronda Rousey was far and away the most exciting storyline happening within WWE at the time, so it made sense to put the match on last to stoke the fans’ fires.
So, we’ll leave it to the powers that be to work out how this is going to be achieved, as well as whether they’ll be taking any other of these recommendations on board too!