5 changes that could be coming to WWE

In recent weeks, WWE has undergone changes to both its two television shows. Some of them are for the better while the others have not brought about the desired outcome. The company has been forced to pivot its direction due to several outsides and inside influences.

The major changes from within have come in part due to two moves within the company - the additions Paul Heyman and Eric Bischoff. Heyman and Bischoff were competitors in the attitude era and have worked within the company during the ruthless aggression era. Now, these two veterans hope to usher in a new era. This move was seen to be a forced decision to prevent them from pursuing outside adventures or jumping ship to another upstart company. As things stand, Heyman and Bischoff have powers that are unheard of within WWE.

The next big influencer is the move to Fox for SmackDown Live. Fox took the decision to get into the sports entertainment/wrestling, hoping to make the WWE into a major part of their weekly sports presentation. With the move to Fox, WWE is hoping to reach an even larger audience that they weren't getting on the USA network. Now that there will be more eyes on the product than ever, WWE is bound to take it to a different level.

With these changes coming, it's also WWE's job to do things to make sure they continue to better their product for the people that are both investing and watching. For the investing companies, they are wishing that the ratings - which have been sagging to new lows - rise to levels just like in the Attitude Era.

Wrestling fans hope to see continuity, talented wrestlers being given the opportunity to shine and a complete overhaul of an outdated systematic show for a new edgier presentation.

So what does the WWE have in store for us all? Here are the five changes that can be expected:

#1. A sports presentation

The major move to Fox is going to have the biggest influence on the product. According to numerous reports, Fox is hoping that SmackDown has a sports-oriented presentation of the product. What could that mean? Wins and losses are going to matter.

This move alone can grow and focus on the booking which would make logical sense compared to what has been going on. The trend where a wrestler has a dominant victory in one week to lose a match in the next week will need to be done away with entirely. This will improve WWE's week to week developments in various storylines.

The presentation will also change factors such as interviews going forward. Long gone are the awkward transitions from announcer to backstage interviewer. Authenticity is going to be more important. WWE can incorporate a style that New Japan uses where after the match, the wrestler who won and lost can share their views, which furthers an angle.

The goal of bringing this type of presentation for Fox is that it will make the sports weekend feel complete. They want a seamless package from Wrestling to college football to pro football, which would enable both the average and die-hard sports fan have a fulfilling experience.

#2. An edgier product

Over the last few weeks, WWE has brought out an edgier product and the best example is the Braun Strowman-Bobby Lashley feud. The rivalry lost some serious steam when they indulged in childish games and strength contests, effectively destroying the credibility of both men.

This all changed the day Paul Heyman was announced as the Executive Director of Raw. On a recent episode of Monday Night Raw, the show kicked off with a Falls Count Anywhere match that was the start of an edgier presentation. Strowman and Lashley proceeded to nearly murder each other on live TV.

Such a kick-off to the Paul Heyman Era was absolutely perfect. The push towards a catchy product can continue and force each wrestler to up their game Strowman and Lashley would have another match at extreme rules and met expectations that were set after their encounter on Raw. Edgier doesn't only mean matches, it also means promos and backstage interviews. Using profanity can always add a little flavour to a promo because it can be unexpected like we saw last week with Becky Lynch and Natalya.

The use of profanity and an extreme style of wrestling can continue to turn the product into what hardcore fans want to see.

#3. Focus on wrestling and not just entertainment

The days in the wrestling world have changed drastically. Long gone are the days of the Jerry Springer-like storylines, bra and panty matches and bikini contests; the fans want to see wrestling.

WWE has avoided the long-standing notion that they are a WRESTLING company. Selling a product as a source of entertainment is all well an good, but wrestlers are not actors they are wrestlers. Now, with the changes in production and the new Fox deal with a sports-like approach, WWE will have to become a more wrestling-focused promotion than an entertainment company. Sure, WWE's job is to entertain but wrestling is at the core of the product.

New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW) is one of the biggest promotions in the world after WWE which is wrestling based and have been successful for several years in doing so. WWE has some of the top wrestlers in the world but continues to try and put them in b-rated soap opera angles instead of a sport where then compete.

The focus on wrestling can lift the product to a newer audience and maintain the passionate fan base that they have built over generations.

#4. Having a real brand split

WWE has slowly managed to eliminate the brand split, but this time around, it has turned fans against the company. Vince McMahon instilled the Wild Card rule on the night after WrestleMania. This has been universally hated by fans due to the thought there was an actual brand split in place.

With the deal from Fox and two new Executive Directors at the helm, it's time to shake things up again. The brand split is going to be a much-needed concept going forward. Both shows need to have two separate rosters and setups; everything needs to be and feel unique from the other. Both Raw and SmackDown Live have become systematic.

Start the show with a promo, a few pointless matches follow along with many scripted backstage interviews - it's an old repetitive pattern. The shows need to feel different. This will liven up the product on both shows which would give new feuds, fresh angles, and promising teams. It would feel like vibrant start all around.

#5. Better utilization of talent

At the moment, WWE has the most talent it has ever had in its history. Talent utilization has always been one of the biggest problems in the company. Stars from other promotions have been booked in horrendous feuds, some have had losing streaks and others have been relegated to being enhancement talents. A star like Finn Balor, who was the Intercontinental champion was on TV only a handful of times, was booked to lose the title on the pre-show to Shinsuke Nakamura.

WWE has always tried to have a reliance on one star, which has now started to plague them since the departure of John Cena. They tried passing the torch to Roman Reigns, but his forced rise to the top was immediately ruined as it wasn't organic and fans proceeded to boo the Big Dog. WWE has the means to resort to a model where they can have multiple stars competing for the top championships of each brand. Stars like Drew McIntyre, Balor, AJ Styles, Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins, Kevin Owens, Samoa Joe, Brock Lesnar, Bobby Lashley, Braun Strowman, Kofi Kingston, Big E, Bray Wyatt, and Randy Orton; the list goes on and on. Having the top guys involved in meaningful feuds and keeping them relevant is important. The times where one guy is the only top star could be gone. In all honesty, it should be history.

The overall utilization of talent that they've acquired over the years has been rather poor. The hope for a brand split and the legitimization of the product courtesy of Bischoff and Heyman with using an edgier sports-oriented presentation can accomplish more for the talent that is being underutilized. This can continue to have bankable top stars that Vince McMahon and shareholders dream of having.

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