The return of WCW Nitro? The demise of WWF RAW?
06-22-01, 09:25 AM
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-The Torch Newsletter cover story two weeks ago broke the news nationally that the WWF was seriously considering giving one hour or both hours of either Raw or Smackdown to WCW once the relaunch takes shape. This week's newsletter gives greater detail on that situation, including the news that the working plan now is to give an entire show to WCW. PWTorch.com has learned that the show the WWF is now strongly leaning towards turning over to WCW is Raw. Whether that would incorporate changing the name to WCW Raw or WCW Nitro is unknown, although the WWF would have the choice of either since they own the rights to the name Nitro. The move would cut back on the oversaturation of the WWF and provide a major forum for WCW to establish itself as a separate entity. The big tag match scheduled for Invasion may include a stipulation that puts Raw up for grabs - i.e. if Shane's team wins, he gets control of Raw for WCW. Top WWFE officials continue to work through the plans and finalize their strategy leading into King of the Ring this Sunday.
WWFE officials originally sought out an additional program for WCW on TNN, but TNN balked at it due to lack of recognizable major names as part of the show (most notably Sting, Hulk Hogan, and Goldberg who were often the focus of Turner/Time Warner's mainstream promotion of WCW) and due to fear of oversaturation. The move to make Raw a WCW program would apparently not conflict with WWFE's contract with TNN since WWFE would still be providing the programming. As detailed in last week's Torch Newsletter, WWFE plans to send a number of major WWF names to the WCW promotion to give it strong credibility out of the gate.
-ANALYSIS: With separate crews of wrestlers and road agents, it's conceivable that Smackdown could go live on Thursdays on UPN since there isn't as great an incentive to keep the shows on back-to-back days since wrestlers and agents would be different. WWFers could work Thursday through Sunday, while WCWers could work Friday through Monday should WCW end up with a full house show and PPV schedule.
-ANALYSIS: With MTV Heat struggling in the ratings, it's conceivable that show would be revamped back to the previous pre-Smackdown format with more first-run matches and less talk and features to try to resuscitate the ratings and also provide the WWF with a separate vehicle to promote PPVs and house shows other than Smackdown since Raw would be exclusively a WCW show.
http://www.prowrestlingtorch.com/cgi...20010621_15089
- edited to include link
WWFE officials originally sought out an additional program for WCW on TNN, but TNN balked at it due to lack of recognizable major names as part of the show (most notably Sting, Hulk Hogan, and Goldberg who were often the focus of Turner/Time Warner's mainstream promotion of WCW) and due to fear of oversaturation. The move to make Raw a WCW program would apparently not conflict with WWFE's contract with TNN since WWFE would still be providing the programming. As detailed in last week's Torch Newsletter, WWFE plans to send a number of major WWF names to the WCW promotion to give it strong credibility out of the gate.
-ANALYSIS: With separate crews of wrestlers and road agents, it's conceivable that Smackdown could go live on Thursdays on UPN since there isn't as great an incentive to keep the shows on back-to-back days since wrestlers and agents would be different. WWFers could work Thursday through Sunday, while WCWers could work Friday through Monday should WCW end up with a full house show and PPV schedule.
-ANALYSIS: With MTV Heat struggling in the ratings, it's conceivable that show would be revamped back to the previous pre-Smackdown format with more first-run matches and less talk and features to try to resuscitate the ratings and also provide the WWF with a separate vehicle to promote PPVs and house shows other than Smackdown since Raw would be exclusively a WCW show.
http://www.prowrestlingtorch.com/cgi...20010621_15089
- edited to include link
06-24-01, 05:03 PM
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I don't see this happening. I would think that Vince doesn't want to give his top programming away to "free" tv. So in keeping with tradition, WCW will probably go to Smackdown since it needs all the viewership it can get. The downside is that it can be a ratings loser cause it is Thursday night.
