WWE Raw’s “season premiere” last week begs an interesting question: Should WWE implement an off-season?
Will Night of Champions be able to top WWE’s other major September offering, NXT TakeOver?
Assuming WWE is number one, which is the second-best promotion in the wrestling world?
We’re debating these—and more—questions in this week’s Gimme Five.
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1. Last week’s “season premiere” of Raw begs the question: Should WWE have an off-season?
Stevie:
Absolutely. It’d keep the product fresher, allow for more planning, and rest the talent. Perhaps if the Network eventually does what they hope it will, they’ll be in a position to do this – a few ex-writers for the company have commented on how WWE has considered this internally…
Blake:
This has been something WWE has used as a point of pride for decades now, the fact that WWE wrestlers don’t have an off-season. While I do think that the athletes and crew should travel less, I’m not convinced that having an off-season would be a good thing. Granted, it would create time for the entire production to have good creative direction, but that wasn’t entirely necessary back in the day. I generally feel that the first problem that needs to be dealt with is script-reliance. If we didn’t have this (and maybe less saturation from those on the main roster), WWE might be able to refresh itself again.
Dion:
There are certainly pros and cons, but at the end of the day, this is a business, not a sports league. And businesses do not have off seasons.
David:
WWE doesn’t need an off-season, but its wrestlers… that’s another story. It’s a shame some of the most interesting times in WWE over the past few years have come when someone—usually John Cena—has been injured. Wouldn’t it be something if the roster was split into, say, six groups, with each getting two months off each year?
2. True or False? WWE Night of Champions won’t be as good as NXT TakeOver.
Stevie:
True. TakeOver, like both specials before it, was an excellent show from top to bottom. Night of Champions isn’t even sold out yet. The people feel the same disinterest that WWE seems to have with their own booking.
Blake:
True.
Dion:
False. TakeOver was amazing, but it’s not the big show.
David:
True. TakeOver delivered in every way possible last week – a wonderful show. Night of Champions has potential to be great too, but there’s too much that could not live up to expectations. I’m still looking forward to the event immensely though. September is a fantastic month for pro-wrestling!
3. TNA is reportedly interested in signing Alberto Del Rio. Is there space for Del Rio in the TNA roster? Would his signing change anything for the company?
Stevie:
It will change literally nothing. This is because nothing changes TNA, it just meanders along, as well as Del Rio never having much of an impact on WWE despite how much effort they put into him.
Blake:
Is there space? Absolutely. Lashley needs legitimate threats. Would it change anything? It would be yet another case of TNA taking one step forward and two steps back. Alberto didn’t add anything in WWE, WWE didn’t lose anything by firing him, and TNA won’t gain anything by signing him.
Dion:
Yes there is a space, but it will not change anything for TNA.
David:
TNA definitely has space for Alberto Del Rio at the moment but, as everyone else has said, he’d quickly slip into the background.
4. Assuming WWE is number one, which—in your opinion—is the number two promotion anywhere in the world?
Stevie:
I don’t like ranking things. Too many variables. I’m just going to say SHIMMER and drop my mic.
Blake:
It’s got to be New Japan Pro Wrestling. It’s really the only other company with a large roster and history to rely upon, enough to give it a certain level of prestige. It may not be the second biggest in America, but probably the world.
Dion:
The company that makes the biggest profit behind WWE.
David:
New Japan Pro-Wrestling. They’re the only promotion who could outdraw WWE if the two were to go head to head. (Only in Japan, of course, but that’s still impressive.) They’ve got an iPPV on this weekend, too, by the way.
5. What’s got your attention on WWE Network this week? Are you watching more in-ring shows, or indulging in originals like Legends’ House and Monday Night War?
Stevie:
I like having Countdown on in the background. The revisionist history of Monday Night War is fun. NXT is always a must-see. I’ve been slowly making my way through the WCW Nitro episodes they’ve got up so far.
Blake:
I’m still sticking with the in ring stuff at the moment, but I’m hoping to get into Monday Night Wars soon. Also, it would be fantastic if Tough Enough actually came back. Even more so if there were results beyond the hiring of the second-worst wrestler on the roster. (That’s right, The Great Khali is only the third worst.)
Dion:
I’m really enjoying Monday Night War at the moment. The original content on the Network is fantastic!
David:
I finished off Legends’ House last week – what a ride that was! I’ve been enjoying having access to NXT and Superstars most at the moment though. There’s some wonderful in-ring action hidden away on those lesser-known shows.
