Smackdown Recaps on Velocity: Why?

[Spaceman Spiff 0]

Why do they recap Smackdown on Velocity? Seems like a waste of time to me. Consider:

 

1) SD was a mere 2 days prior.

 

2) They're only reaching a fraction of their normal viewers, most of whom have already seen SD (unlike Heat where the most recent Raw was almost a full week prior). Plus, at 10 PM on a Saturday night, if you're watching wrestling, you're already a big fan (and most likely have already seen SD). Is there a huge group of people watching Velocity that don't watch SD? Stopping the recaps isn't going to turn anybody off from watching Velocity.

 

3) The recaps don't tie into anything happening on Velocity.

 

A better use for Velocity, IMO, would be to drop the SD recaps in favor of 1-2 more matches and/or mic time for guys. Treat it like SD's "minor leagues". Run angle/feuds w/ the lesser used guys and/or guys w/ nothing to do to get them over, moving them up to SD as warranted. Guys can get a chance to work on their gimmicks/characters. Also, you'd give guys a chance to gain experience on the mic, rather than throwing them on SD and expecting Austin-like mic prowess. As it is, Velocity is more-or-less a throwaway show. Angles/feuds hardly progress on Velocity, and the majority of matches are just 2 guys out there w/ no reason for a match.

 

I know the general consensus is to make Velocity the "cruiser show", but I wouldn't limit it solely to that. Cruisers can be a big part, but you could build up guys for the US & Tag Team scenes. The SD roster has a bunch of talented guys sitting around w/ no direction (or, in some cases, no TV time), it just seems like Velocity would be a more productive way to use them.

 

(I realize I'm not breaking any new ground here, just bored @ work)

[Guest OnlyMe]

If people miss SD!, it's a useful way of catching up on the important things that happened. (Discounting the internet at this point.)

 

As you say though, few people watch Velocity, so having Velocity exclusive angles etc, would be pretty worthless. SD! recaps are also cheap to show.

[Mecha Mummy 0]

Well, actually, didn't Heat's ratings go up during the Raven Masterpeice angle...?

[2GOLD 0]

NO! HEAT RATINGS WENT UP CAUSE OF CLIPS OF VINCE WERE SHOWN!

STOP THE LIES!

NO NAME WRESTLERS WITH GOOD ANGLES DO NOT INCREASE RATINGS!

 

 

...Whoa sorry, I became a WWE writer there for a minute.

[Spaceman Spiff 0]

As you say though, few people watch Velocity, so having Velocity exclusive angles etc, would be pretty worthless

It'll give management a good idea of who can or can't get over. You could also run some Velocity feuds/angles over onto SD (typically opening match/segment).

 

Also, as I said, it would also give guys a chance to work on their gimmicks/characters, as well as work on & improve their mic skills, and get comfortable on camera in interview segments.

 

Besides, it'd be no more worthless than how they currently utilize Velocity. At least w/ using angles & feuds, you can improve morale by using guys & giving them a chance to make an impression.

[Papacita 0]

I'm not sure if the number is a great as it was a few years ago, but I know that there are a few cities and a couple of dish companies that don't carry UPN, so I'd imagine that the recaps would be somewhat useful for them...though I doubt they're watching anyway, so it doesn't matter. I'd say the best use of Velocity would be to touch briefly on Smackdown stuff and just run angles. They can save the full recaps for Bottom Line or whatever the other syndicated show is.

[RavishingRickRudo 0]

I think the bigger question is "Why don't they do anything with that 2 hours?"

[clean rob 0]

A better use for Velocity, IMO, would be to drop the SD recaps in favor of 1-2 more matches and/or mic time for guys. Treat it like SD's "minor leagues". Run angle/feuds w/ the lesser used guys and/or guys w/ nothing to do to get them over, moving them up to SD as warranted.

This is such an obviously good idea that there is no chance in hell of it happening. Plus if, as you said, the higher profile Velocity angles made appearances on SD occasionally, it might encourage more people to watch Velocity. They've already got Afterburn as a recap show, why bother with a second one spliced in with an actual wrestling show?

 

It could even be worked into angles, e.g. Vince could punish a wrestler for speaking out against him by 'relegating' him to Velocity for a month or something (which could build even more interest). Or possibly that's a little too close to reality.

[Silence 0]

It could even be worked into angles, e.g. Vince could punish a wrestler for speaking out against him by 'relegating' him to Velocity for a month or something (which could build even more interest). Or possibly that's a little too close to reality.

Matt Hardy to Vince in a creative team meeting:"Push me! I've got a character, better wrestling skills than my brother, and my MFers! Surely you're not pushing A-Train over me AGAIN, are you?"

 

Vince:"Yes I am! Now start Velocity duty and beat random jobbers like one of your fellow Carolina boys Joey Matthews because A-Train's BIGGER than you, and BIGGER is BETTER!"

[Kahran Ramsus 0]

Aren't recaps what Afterburn is for?

[Mr. S£im Citrus 0]

I can understand the complaints, but Smackdown isn't carried out here, and neither is Afterburn; if it weren't for Velocity, I wouldn't know what was going on on Smackdown (assuming I don't read spoilers, of course).

[SamoaRowe 0]

All I can say is that the WWE would be fools not to sign Poker Face to a contract right away!

[Guest Salacious Crumb]

This is honestly a silly question.

 

I mean they almost completely recap a segment when they come back from commercials. If they can't go 5 minutes without reminding the viewers of what's going on why would you not remind them after 2 days?

[Guest JacK]

Yeah, I'm absolutly amazed they don't do this . . . seriously, it's cRaZy! I mean, if I'd get like separate writers for it, and sort of do a mini-split of the Smackdown roster, and go; 'here, use these peeps on Velocity'. It wouldn't have to be solid, like peeps would go back and forth, but it'd like provide a basis for Velocity-specific Angles and Storylines and stuff, and maybe then people actually WOULD watch Velocity if there was some POINT to it, rather than endless recap nonsense.

[King Cucaracha 0]

Velocity is Smackdown's version of Heat. Heat has recaps, Velocity has recaps. Thing is, using seperate angles on Velocity is a good idea, but Vince can't even write storylines for most the full Smackdown roster.

 

Basically, they add the recaps so people have two chances to see what happened on Smackdown, just like they can Raw.

 

Nobody watches Afterburn or Bottom Line.