5 things WWE should do to improve Raw ratings

John Cena is riding high as the top guy while Raw ratings continue to sufferThe news is not good for WWE. Ratings continue to slide for Monday Night Raw and while many fans have not been too concerned about it in the past, the fact is that there is no ignoring the mess that exists now.WWE made the headlines for too long to be denied and it is becoming clear to everyone that the company must do something to steady the ship. The truth is, the effort must be made now. WWE is accustomed to going through a slump when the NFL returns to TV but this time it'ÂÂs different. The vibe is a bit more desperate and the overall feeling is a bit more serious than ever before.Fans know when something’s up and now the question is what exactly will be done to get the world’s largest pro wrestling company back on track? WWE can throw more money at the problem in the form of celebrity guest stars or perhaps repeat main event matches from the Sunday night before, both of which have happened. But neither is a real solution as neither have really worked.This is more than just a simple problem solved by a quick fix. This is the industry’s flagship pro wrestling program struggling for ratings despite the return of legends like Sting and the elevation of NXT to the forefront. WWE needs to get moving and that is surely what will happen. But sometimes the best solutions are the most obvious ones.

#5 Fix the Divas Revolution

The Divas Revolution started off with a bang, but it’s nearly fizzled out

The Divas Revolution was meant to reinvigorate women’s wrestling in WWE. It all began on a great note, as Charlotte, Sasha Banks and Becky Lynch invaded the main roster and turned the Divas division upside down.

Fans were intrigued, the girls were excited and the world was finally ready to see the Divas shine in believable angles and hard-hitting bouts.

Nine women were involved in singles and tag matches, with every combination imaginable being displayed on TV and pay-per-view. The Divas got TV time like never before and that time was not being used as bathroom breaks for fans. Things were looking up.

But then the point was lost when the established and entrenched Bellas began proclaiming they were the true leaders of the Diva Revolution. Sasha inexplicably began to disappear from the storyline. Then the dagger in the heart came from Paige, who suddenly turned heel on the newly crowned Divas champion Charlotte.

The move made Charlotte look small and caused fans to laugh at the ridiculousness of it all. WWE had taken a great concept and ruined it before our very eyes.

If the company wants to keep viewers and bring back more, then this must be corrected. The women deserve a chance to succeed and they had it at their fingertips when it was pulled back. This must end now before any more collateral damage can be done.

#4 Feature more top stars on a regular basis

Brock Lesnar is a mega-star, but he’s not a full-time spectacle

WWE has a wealth of former stars and current top stars that get little to no TV time. Stone Cold, The Rock, Shawn Michaels, Edge, Daniel Bryan, The Undertaker, Brock Lesnar, all of these guys have tremendous star power yet are either never on Raw or are there on a less than part time basis.

The question is why? Why will the company not use former stars in guest appearances to boost ratings? Is the timing never right or is there even an effort being made in the first place? This is not to suggest that older stars be brought in to take main event spots from rising talents. It’s not even to suggest that any legends need to come in to work matches at all.

But how much of a ratings impact would it make if Stone Cold showed up on Raw to perhaps talk to Brock face to face in the ring? How many fans would tune in if they knew The Rock was going to be cornered by The Wyatt Family, then to be saved by Roman Reigns? If Daniel Bryan was named the new Raw GM and had the full backing of Vince McMahon behind him to counter The Authority’s rule, couldn’t fans expect to see a bump in ratings?

The answers to these questions may never be known, as WWE has shown no signs of wanting to utilize former stars. Granted, some like Edge have moved on and may not be interested, but some would probably jump at the chance to come back. Nothing gains ratings like star power and WWE has plenty of it; it’s only a phone call away.

#3 Set the pace from the very beginning

Promos help make the Superstar but excess time on the mic destroys at times

Promos are important, there’s no denying that. Without promos, Dusty Rhodes would arguably not have been half the star he was.

Stone Cold would never have gotten over. The Rock’s heel turn wouldn’t have mattered to anyone. But in every case, mic time helped make the talent excel and become the legend fans know and respect today.

But too much is overkill. WWE just does not know when to say when, as nearly every Raw begins with a talking segment that could last as long as 15 minutes. While some programs do indeed need a setup, the fact is it’s become a real problem for fans that have grown very tired of getting bored week in and week out. Even pay-per-view events have begun with these segments, much to the disgust of fans that paid big money and want to see big matches.

This needs to be addressed now. When Raw begins with a high octane match, the tone is set for the rest of the night. It’s a very simple concept, one that pro wrestling promotions have known for years. When the show kicks off with energy, fans are pumped up and are more likely to stick around. If the audience is spiritless, they may not come back.

Fans at home and in attendance need to know that what they’re about to see is going to be good, it’s going to be fun and it’s going to be exciting. Long overdrawn talking segments do not get this message across.

WWE does not want fans to change the channel but does very little to keep them from doing just that. Raw must begin with a bang or the show could end in a whimper.

#2 End The Authority

The Authority is in charge and that’s a problem

The Authority has been in power since 2013 which means that for two years, Triple H and Stephanie McMahon have ruled WWE with an iron fist.

Superstars have come and gone, storylines have succeeded and failed, fans have tuned in and tuned out. The only constant besides John Cena has been The Authority. While it’s universally accepted that Cena isn’t going anywhere, that doesn’t mean The Authority shouldn’t.

The time has come to wrap this up. WWE may love the heel corporate structure, but this is not Mister McMahon versus Stone Cold; that angle was entertaining and this is quite frankly just stale.

Fans caught a glimpse of change, but it was taken away from them when The Authority lost its power thanks to Sting, then regained it almost immediately, which left everyone scratching their heads. It was as if the company saw the opportunity to do something fresh but then changed the plan at the last minute.

The Authority also withstood Daniel Bryan’s victory over Triple H as well as Randy Orton and Batista, to win the WWE World Heavyweight Championship. Their most coveted trophy was lost to the one guy they despised the most, but it made no difference at all. The Authority remained intact and continued on. Despite what has been thrown at them, they have overcome.

The old adage is that heels never win and babyfaces never lose; it’s the only way to keep the drama alive and keep the constant struggle between good versus evil going. But in this case, the heels win every week. The Authority remains on top and there is nothing interesting about that anymore.

#1 Create more main event stars

Kevin Owens has what it takes to main event but does WWE see it?

This is the big one, the one that needs the most attention right now. The simple fact is WWE cannot improve ratings or move forward for that matter without building new stars to carry the company.

The Attitude Era is considered by many to be the best WWE has ever known and the biggest reason for that is the incredible number of main event talents that were in the locker room during that time. Stone Cold Steve Austin, Triple H, The Undertaker, The Rock, Chris Jericho, Shawn Michaels, Bret Hart, all of these Superstars main evented TV shows and pay-per-views all over the world. They all rose to prominence in the business thanks to WWE.

Some would argue that the timing just happened to be perfect for the legends of that era to be in the same company at the same time. But the fact is none of them would have been main event talents had it not been for the company’s desire to open the door for them.

WWE has the talent right now to get back on track. Kevin Owens, Cesaro, Dolph Ziggler, Bray Wyatt, Dean Ambrose, even Roman Reigns, all have the ability to succeed at the main event level. But as long as the primary champion and his belt is consistently owned by John Cena and returning legends are used in key main event spots instead of the talent that’s already there, nothing will ever change.

The guys themselves must have a hand in their own success, that much is for certain. But if the door is not opened, then there is no chance for them or anyone else to rise up. Fans are not interested in one to two workers trading the top belt with no chance of anyone else truly becoming serious contenders. The Attitude Era had a serious variety on the main event level but the PG Era has a serious lack of it, which is a shame.