Downhome 0 Report post Posted September 5, 2003 This is just something of a poll I suppose, just without the poll. For your wrestling shows, RAW, SD, or whatever else you watch or have watched, do you prefer the in-ring happenings at the very beginning or at the very end of a show? Obviously, if I had to pick one I'd choose neither, but let's not go down that road. When it's at the very beginning, it can help set the tone for the rest of the show and can help set up the matches for the night. Of course, if it's a very ugly segment, it can really sour people on their outlook of the rest of the show. When it's at the end of a show however, I feel so..."empty" and screwed. When the show goes off, I prefer to have an ending with a match. I don't know, this entire Brock/Zach deal got me thinking about this for some reason, and I don't remember seeing this topic before, or at least lately. Sincerely, ...Downhome... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RavishingRickRudo 0 Report post Posted September 5, 2003 Last. Case in Point: Raw beings with a Promo. I turn Raw off for the rest of the night. Smackdown ends with a Promo, I tend to only not watch that. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Deviant Report post Posted September 5, 2003 First, for the reasons Downhome stated. If it sucks, they often advertise the top couple of matches right after it anyway, which gives you a fair indication of where the show is going. I'd rather get it over and done with and have it be of some use. I haven't seen SD yet, so I don't know what they did with it last, but I haven't seen (m)any good promos to end shows. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lil' Bitch 0 Report post Posted September 5, 2003 I say beginning. It gets that shit out of the way. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
iggymcfly 0 Report post Posted September 5, 2003 I feel that most shows should start with an in-ring promo. A match just ends, and leaves you with no hook to stay tuned, but a good in-ring promo sets up the story for the night which builds until climaxing in the last segment. The television shows should be more than random matches and build for the PPV. They need to have some sort of storyline which resolves itself that night. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jester 0 Report post Posted September 5, 2003 I think the shows should always start with a wrestling match. A decent little opener between midcarders, or even lower carders if they can work. I think the promo should come in the middle of the show. If you absolutely must have one, it should always establish a major point. Not just "let's have a match later tonight." Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
notJames 0 Report post Posted September 5, 2003 I feel that most shows should start with an in-ring promo. A match just ends, and leaves you with no hook to stay tuned, but a good in-ring promo sets up the story for the night which builds until climaxing in the last segment. The television shows should be more than random matches and build for the PPV. They need to have some sort of storyline which resolves itself that night. I always thought that the commentary team should carry the onus of hooking the viewers with a rundown of the matches, whatever history the wrestlers have with each other, and generally telling the audience to "stay tuned". 20-minute in-ring promos do nothing for me except remind me that I hate Vince McMahon and everyone related to him. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RavishingRickRudo 0 Report post Posted September 5, 2003 Totally agree James. The way I watch Raw is if they don't hook me in the first 15 minutes I stop watching. The first segments dictates the pace of the show and the priority of the WWE - if they don't put effort in hooking me, why should I continue to watch?? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kahran Ramsus 0 Report post Posted September 5, 2003 I agree with the middle of the show approach, or even after the first match. The show should always start and end with a match. Given the choices though, it makes more sense to start the show with a promo then end it with one. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest webmasterofwrestlegame Report post Posted September 5, 2003 Well WWE's best ratings during the boom period came with an opening promo setting up something later in the show (usually a main event) that would form something of a longer program. It goes down the pan when the opening promo is used to set-up a one week programme i.e. a random challenge to HHH's title that is forgot the next week. I would rather the last thing on the show be a main event as well. It allows for much more dramatic moments and a 'find out next week' set-up. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Dynamite Kido Report post Posted September 5, 2003 [i always thought that the commentary team should carry the onus of hooking the viewers with a rundown of the matches, whatever history the wrestlers have with each other, and generally telling the audience to "stay tuned". 20-minute in-ring promos do nothing for me except remind me that I hate Vince McMahon and everyone related to him. If only you booked the WWE....... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
notJames 0 Report post Posted September 5, 2003 Totally agree James. The way I watch Raw is if they don't hook me in the first 15 minutes I stop watching. The first segments dictates the pace of the show and the priority of the WWE - if they don't put effort in hooking me, why should I continue to watch?? Exactly. And BTW, I'm notJames. James is the guy I'm not. [i always thought that the commentary team should carry the onus of hooking the viewers with a rundown of the matches, whatever history the wrestlers have with each other, and generally telling the audience to "stay tuned". 20-minute in-ring promos do nothing for me except remind me that I hate Vince McMahon and everyone related to him. If only you booked the WWE....... I would have quit 10 minutes after having to write any of the McMahon's into a program. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Austin3164life 0 Report post Posted September 5, 2003 I say in the middle of the show (RAW-9:50-10:10, SD-8:50-9:10). Start the show off with a nice little match to gain the live crowd's, and the t.v. audience's interest. Then in the middle, they should have all of the promos that lead up to the main event, to get people psyched up about it. Occasionally, at the end you can have a small promo that gives a prelude for next week's show, as long as it's not offensive. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
iggymcfly 0 Report post Posted September 5, 2003 [i always thought that the commentary team should carry the onus of hooking the viewers with a rundown of the matches, whatever history the wrestlers have with each other, and generally telling the audience to "stay tuned". 20-minute in-ring promos do nothing for me except remind me that I hate Vince McMahon and everyone related to him. If only you booked the WWE....... Then those 4.3 ratings would be down the toilet, and the WWE would lose all the progress they've made in the last 2-3 months. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RavishingRickRudo 0 Report post Posted September 5, 2003 Yes, like those increases in... House Show Attendance? Buyrates? Merch? Revenue? James, you're clearly in denial. Accept who you are and be the best damned James you can be. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Corey_Lazarus 0 Report post Posted September 6, 2003 [i always thought that the commentary team should carry the onus of hooking the viewers with a rundown of the matches, whatever history the wrestlers have with each other, and generally telling the audience to "stay tuned". 20-minute in-ring promos do nothing for me except remind me that I hate Vince McMahon and everyone related to him. If only you booked the WWE....... Then those 4.3 ratings would be down the toilet, and the WWE would lose all the progress they've made in the last 2-3 months. Because "Kane uses CIA-style torture to hurt Shane McMahon" is SUCH progress from "HHH said Kane fucked a dead chick." Not the same? True. But equally stupid? Yes. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
notJames 0 Report post Posted September 6, 2003 James, you're clearly in denial. Accept who you are and be the best damned James you can be. Damnit, Ravishing Rick Rudo... if that is your real name... I'm telling you I'm notJames. James is someone else, possibly Prince Paul. You've got the wrong man. See, here's my license... [License removed in accordance with Federal Witness Protection regulations] Aarrrgghhhh... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Highland 0 Report post Posted September 6, 2003 I think it all depends on the promo, though I had better be for a VERY good reason to end a show with one. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest OnlyMe Report post Posted September 6, 2003 Ignoring the content of the segment, the Triple H confronting Kane after TLC4 was done perfectly. 1) Kane was already out there 2) Triple H had something specific to say, and he got straight to the point 3) There's a hook for next week Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Deviant Report post Posted September 6, 2003 The perfect place for a promo segment is directly after the first match. We get a nice little opener, then we set up the show, and then the show progresses from there allowing JR to overhype the outcome of the promo rather than what's going on in the ring. Yep, perfect. The use of the end of show promo should be used like OnlyMe said, short and to the point, but with some hook for next week. We're talking no longer than a minute. More than that usually sucks, as shown by Smackdown this week. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
