Blog Question: More Themed Shows?
By Scott Keith on 6 February 2025
Hi, Scott:
I hope you are keeping well. With so many hours of television amongst
the various wrestling companies these days, I feel more could be done in the way
of using this time for a more self-contained type of storytelling.
the various wrestling companies these days, I feel more could be done in the way
of using this time for a more self-contained type of storytelling.
Personally, I like the idea of featuring one-night tournaments and other
match concepts to determine title contenders (or other honors) on episodes of
wrestling programming. I believe the notion of a story beginning and
concluding within the body of one show could add interest and intrigue to more
of these broadcasts.
match concepts to determine title contenders (or other honors) on episodes of
wrestling programming. I believe the notion of a story beginning and
concluding within the body of one show could add interest and intrigue to more
of these broadcasts.
For example – and although WWE has only utilized this format a couple of
times many years ago – I was always a fan of the format where winners of matches
on Raw or SmackDown advanced to a battle royale later in the show, with the
victor receiving a title shot. I also feel that other match types that
perhaps did not go over well on pay-per-view (i.e., BattleBowl or the Starrcade
1989 Iron Man and Iron Team events) may play out better as part of a singular
television program.
times many years ago – I was always a fan of the format where winners of matches
on Raw or SmackDown advanced to a battle royale later in the show, with the
victor receiving a title shot. I also feel that other match types that
perhaps did not go over well on pay-per-view (i.e., BattleBowl or the Starrcade
1989 Iron Man and Iron Team events) may play out better as part of a singular
television program.
In any event, I believe the amount of T.V. time at the disposal of
wrestling promotions in the modern era definitely lends itself to trying more
new things.
wrestling promotions in the modern era definitely lends itself to trying more
new things.
Sure does. I'm actually disappointed we haven't seen a return to the Jericho Cruise as a setting for AEW TV since the first try at it, for example. But the prevailing thought now seems to be both companies stretching out things episodically over several shows rather than doing self-contained episodes, which I guess makes sense, but yeah it does rob us of some fun one-night-only shenanigans.