What do you think needs to happen to make wrestling like late 90’s early 00’s or are we to accept the ratings are what they are now?
There is a significant difference today in terms of measuring growth and fan engagement than only television ratings. Ratings are becoming an outdated metric, however, it is clear professional wrestling is not what it was in the earlier decades. I am confident there will be another period of “mainstream popularity,” it is just a matter of determining when. What needs to happen? Right now, the COVID-19 pandemic is holding everything, including professional wrestling, back. So that will have to end before there is any chance of another “boom period.” Beyond the pandemic it is up to the promotions to create storylines and characters that engage the audience.
Do you think someone like Stone Cold Steve Austin, with his personal life and attitude, could have risen to the superstardom like he did in the Attitude Era?
It is impossible to say whether or not Steve Austin would reach the levels of success today he did a couple decades ago. The Attitude Era would not have worked today. People are offended far too easily and WWE could not get away with it. However, Austin is talented enough where he could prosper even in the updated environment. The real factor would be whether or not Vince McMahon would book him “bigger than the brand” or if he would be booked under the “brand over talent” philosophy. Obviously all of this is strictly hypothetical as Austin was over like rover and along with The Rock, helped WWE reached heights never seen before and have not been seen since.
What is WWE’s end game putting Lana through a table every week?
The table bumps are most likely in response to her husband, Miro, telling Vince McMahon to kiss his ass on AEW Dynamite. Vince can behave like a child in certain situations and the table spots are consistent with that behavior. There is reporting WWE hopes the table bumps will babyface her but ultimately, I look at the spots as Vince being Vince.
What’s your opinion on how Impact is handling wrestling with no crowds?
Impact is doing the best they can, just like the other promotions. WWE has the best setup with the ThunderDome and while better, nothing replaces live fans. The business has been damaged horribly by not having live fans at shows. It is the reality we find ourselves in but I truly believe the lack of live fans has forced promotions to go into a holding pattern, in hopes of producing enough content to prevent from going out.
The next installment of Ask WNC is scheduled to run on Monday, November 9, 2020.
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