Possible reason for ratings falling

[Guest cabbageboy]

You know, I have read countless threads about the WWE's falling ratings and there are a lot of good theories.  However, no one has stated what is blindly obvious:

 

People hate, and I mean really hate the name WWE.

 

Hasn't anyone noticed that the ratings have fallen further and further since the WWF became the WWE?  It has been about 3 weeks or so and the ratings since then have plummeted to 3.7.  I think the shows have gotten pretty bad, but I'll keep watching.  I can't speak for some people who might be so offended by this name change that they simply refuse to watch anymore.  

 

Thoughts?

[Guest Brian]

Well, they can still use the name WWF just not internationally.

[Guest goodhelmet]

I think it has less to do with the name change and more to do with putting on a mediocre product. If they would have changed their name at the height of the WWF's popularity, no one would have given a shit. You can only take so much of mediocre wrestling, poor storylines and fossils gobbling up tv time before you finally get fed up.

[Guest RevEvil]

Well when someone tells me to get the f out, I don't really want to be near them.

[Guest RavishingRickRudo]

I think it is the accumulation of a bunch of things...

 

The Split

The Undesputed Title

The Invasion

The NWO

Ric Flair

WWE...

 

Q:What did they all offer?

A: An opportunity for change.

 

Q:What happened?

A: No change.

 

Build ups and let downs.  Fans can take only so much of them.

[Guest]

Q:What did they all offer?

A: An opportunity for change.

 

Q:What happened?

A: No change.

 

Build ups and let downs.  Fans can take only so much of them.

You know, I don't want to beat this dead horse into the ground, but...

 

What you just described...what does it sound like?  What does it remind you of?

 

Hint:  Starts with N, ends with "itro"

 

How many times did WCW promise an epic, world stopping event or surprise that was going to shatter the old paradigm and change wrestling forever, only to have fucking Animal and Rick Steiner come out and kill all heat in a half-mile radius around the arena?

 

Those who forget the past....

[Guest RavishingRickRudo]

....Tend to relive it

 

I don't think even Wcw had this many let downs in the span of 6 months.  Not to mention they at least kept part of their fanbase with some good WRESTLING.  Why can't the Wwf relive that part?

[Guest]

I honestly think the combination of the roster split and the name-change is a complete disaster for the WWwhatever.  I used to watch the shows religiously with friends who were casual fans at best, ie didn't care for the 'insider info', just enjoyed the actual show.  They have been losing interest for a while now, basically ever since the Invasion guys were given no proper introductions or build-up (what, they were assuming everyone knew them?)  There's been so little to get excited about over the last few months, and splitting the company in two has only given each show half the amount of talent they had before.  If casual fans liked, say, six wrestlers on the roster, they had a chance of at least seeing those six guys they liked on any given show.  That's the advantage of having a strong roster.  When there's now only three guys they like on each show, it's a real chore for them to pay attention.  Now that it's not even called the WWF anymore, that group of friends who still watches the wrestling has dwindled down to two.  I don't see how they're going to stay in business at this rate, and to be honest it's enough to make an old man want to cry.

[Guest]

Not really. If I'm not mistaking, Smackdown got a miserable 2.9 rating with the WWF name. It's the lousy, repetitive product that they are exerting which is turning people away. Reused, boring, and predictable sums it up.