{"id":123881,"date":"2024-04-08T09:00:13","date_gmt":"2024-04-08T13:00:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/?p=123881"},"modified":"2024-04-08T00:01:01","modified_gmt":"2024-04-08T04:01:01","slug":"wwe-needs-to-rethink-its-sponsors","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/2024\/04\/08\/wwe-needs-to-rethink-its-sponsors\/","title":{"rendered":"Ads or Eyesore: WWE Needs to Rethink its Sponsors Presentation"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">This past weekend was possibly the most &#8220;branded&#8221; show in <em><strong>WrestleMania<\/strong><\/em> history, and <strong>WWE<\/strong> needs to rethink its sponsor&#8217;s presentation. The show was <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/2024\/04\/07\/the-rock-return-at-wwe-wrestlemania-40\/\" target=\"_self\">a huge hit<\/a>, but the ads were still a talking point. Many fans don&#8217;t love the branded matches, and they especially don&#8217;t enjoy the <strong>PRIME <\/strong>Center ring logo. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Change is not always bad, though, and adding sponsorship isn&#8217;t inherently bad just for being different. There are non-revenue-based reasons ads can help WWE, and money is always a factor. However, fans have expressed real issues about the presentation.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Of course, the money is too alluring for a big business like <strong>TKO Holdings<\/strong> and WWE to ignore. It would be unfair to expect WWe to pass up revenue for online sentiment. Likewise, ad money could keep roster spots safer for new talent still looking to break out. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The new TKO group has much more experience in this area, but that may not be helpful. Yes, <strong>UFC<\/strong> does a lot of advertising, and much of it could work in WWE. Other aspects of their plan will not. Instead of powering through the complaints, WWE needs to think outside the box. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">It may be worth it for WWE to revisit the pros and cons of sponsors to inform their future branding.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">WWE Sponsors can Portray Legitimacy<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Apart from the profit-generating potential, ads add something to the overall presentation of a significant WWE premium live event. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Authentic stadiums and professional sports programming have advertisements all over the place. There is a nostalgia for seeing local and national advertising signs on a baseball stadium&#8217;s scoreboard and back walls. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Basketball arenas have the sponsors hanging from the rafters, immediately visible when you take your seats. WWE can often be too protected and manufactured, which makes it feel surreal\u2014seeing ads on the set is a way to plant the WWE Universe firmly in our reality.<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Congratulations to the <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/SlimJim?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">@SlimJim<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/WrestleMania?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">#WrestleMania<\/a> sweepstakes winner! YEAH! <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/4kRX0Pi36G\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/4kRX0Pi36G<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; WWE (@WWE) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/WWE\/status\/1777127603909865927?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">April 8, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">When select corporate sponsors surround the ring, it can conjure those same feelings among wrestling fans. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Another way adds can add to the combat sports element of their presentation is that some WWE stars can also wear branded gear. <strong>Roman Reigns<\/strong> has his own line of <strong>Jordans<\/strong>, and <strong>LA Knight<\/strong> has a longstanding partnership with <strong>Slim Jim<\/strong>. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Utilizing those relationships to entice sponsors and advertise their brands on TV with WWE superstars would also not distract them from the action. Instead, it will make the talent feel more like professional athletes in a way. The branding could add legitimacy, but it comes with a few pitfalls WWE still needs to prove they can avoid.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">A lot of Logos Are Designed to Capture Attention<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Any marketing team will tell you that logos are supposed to be memorable. In commercials or billboards, a logo is supposed to draw your attention, build brand awareness, and generate sales. In a television show, the performers are considered to be the main attraction. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Running too many ads on a TV show while the action is going no less is counterproductive. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Two forces, both meant to draw your attention, competing is never good. Also, some brands carry an immediate reaction, positive or negative. In an emotional program like professional wrestling, you want the story to make people feel a certain way, not the logos. Likewise, a strong brand could pull people out of your narrative and into one about your business dealings on social media.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Prime Hydration has become the FIRST-EVER WWE ring mat Brand\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/dHC-EkUhvl8?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The biggest culprit of this was the PRIME logo in the ring. It was impossible to ignore; all of the action had PRIME at the center. It is also a brand that has its detractors online outside and inside the wrestling fandom. Most of the negative discourse about branded matches falls into one of those criticisms. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The brand itself, like Prime, needs to be fixed. Or, the brand is too centralized, such as Center Ring PRIME or the <strong>Mountain Dew<\/strong> Pitch Black Match. Graphics and ad reads are one thing, but centering the action on your corporate partners will always be met with disdain. W<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">WE has missed this lesson more than a few times, but they can fix it going forward to keep the revenue while removing the negative feedback.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Rethink, Don&#8217;t Remove, its Distracting Sponsorship Presentation\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The consensus has been passed by fans online and WWE needs to rethink its sponsors going forward. WWE needs to rethink its sponsors specifically to ensure that its own brand isn&#8217;t dragged into uncomfortable positions and that the matches remain the focal point, not the commercials. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The stars need to be in the ring, not the sponsors, and the Prime partnership, while historic, was not so in a way WWE should try and replicate. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Despite all of that, much of what WWE does is actually great. As they go on to expand their sponsorship programs, and they will, there are more than a few opportunities for future growth that don&#8217;t draw nearly as much adverse reactions from fans online.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">We wanted Cody<br \/>We got Cody <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/v9rgUe3sYC\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">https:\/\/t.co\/v9rgUe3sYC<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Logan Paul (@LoganPaul) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/LoganPaul\/status\/1776627668210889073?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">April 6, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Sponsoring individual matches, individual stars, and major shows is a great way to improve revenue. The specialized match cards are an easy way to give brands a spot. Also, while it may be unpopular online, the branded barricades and arena screens also work well. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Having that branding along the ringside and commentary adds something to the presentation. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Keeping the brands cohesive with the WWE product is critical, and only premium sponsors should share space with the talent, especially as the company <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/2020\/07\/21\/wwe-partners-with-wargamings-world-of-tanks-for-special-summerslam-event\/\" target=\"_self\">explores branding<\/a> a WWE superstar. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">If WWE can do that and keep the ring, turnbuckles, and apron sparse of corporate sponsorships, it will make the ads a positive revenue driver and not an unsightly distraction.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>More From LWOS Pro Wrestling<\/h3>\n<p><em>Header photo \u2013 WWE \u2013\u00a0<span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Stay tuned to the\u00a0<\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Last Word on Pro Wrestling<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0for more on this and other stories from around the world of wrestling, as they develop. You can always count on LWOPW to be on top of the major news in the wrestling world, as well as to provide you with analysis, previews, videos, interviews, and editorials on the wrestling world. You can check out an almost unlimited array of WWE content on the\u00a0<\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/watch.wwe.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">WWE Network<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0and\u00a0<\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.peacocktv.com\/watch\/home\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Peacock<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>This past weekend was possibly the most &#8220;branded&#8221; show in WrestleMania history, and WWE needs to rethink its sponsor&#8217;s presentation. The show was a huge hit, but the ads were still a talking point. Many fans don&#8217;t love the branded matches, and they especially don&#8217;t enjoy the PRIME Center ring logo. Change is not always [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4470,"featured_media":123901,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2192,4,3],"tags":[7482,7612,8417,8790],"class_list":["post-123881","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-wrestling","category-wwe","category-wwe-universe","tag-la-knight","tag-logan-paul","tag-wrestlemania-40","tag-wrestlemania-xl"],"modified_by":"Michael Joseph Sugue, Manager","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/123881","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4470"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=123881"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/123881\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/123901"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=123881"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=123881"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=123881"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}