{"id":124258,"date":"2024-05-05T07:00:10","date_gmt":"2024-05-05T11:00:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/?p=124258"},"modified":"2024-05-03T00:04:33","modified_gmt":"2024-05-03T04:04:33","slug":"the-wwe-needs-to-consider-an-offseason","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/2024\/05\/05\/the-wwe-needs-to-consider-an-offseason\/","title":{"rendered":"The WWE Needs to Consider an Offseason After a Lackluster Post-WrestleMania Month"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Another year, another frankly lackluster post-<em>WrestleMania<\/em> period capped off by the<strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/2024\/04\/26\/wwe-draft-2024-everything-you-need-to-know\/\" target=\"_self\">2024 WWE Draft<\/a>.<\/strong> With <em>Backlash c<\/em>omes the actual start of the WWE season, it almost always ends up that way. The period between <em>WrestleMania<\/em> and the subsequent premium live event is typically inconsequential, so WWE needs to consider an offseason for that time. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Taking time away from the regularly scheduled programming will give the WWE Draft a lot more meaning, give creatives time to write, give wrestlers time to unwind, and make the product feel more energized when it returns for an actual season premiere. They say absence makes the heart grow fonder. WWE can make its <em>WrestleMania<\/em> season buzz last longer by giving fans and their employees a little break.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">WWE Needs to Consider an Offseason\u00a0for Inflating Ratings<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Look at any great television series; the big ratings come from the special episodes. That means big moments like &#8220;Election Night&#8221; in HBO&#8217;s <em>Succession<\/em> or, more commonly, premiers and finales. Even live sports like football see certain marquee games get a ratings bump, along with season openers and final games heading into the Playoffs for specific teams. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">WWE and especially NXT do have specialized episodes from time to time. They do not have a start or end point, which puts them behind every other show on television.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Top 10 Raw after WrestleMania moments: WWE Top 10, April 8, 2024\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/DH0Y12HwJY8?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\">If WWE had a season premiere and a season finale, not only would they have built-in episodes of importance to fans, but<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">they could also advertise those shows to try and build anticipation. In the lead-up to a season premiere, for example, gives the roster time to sit down with ESPN, Barstool, or<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">any of the wrestling media infrastructure to talk about the year that was and their goals for the upcoming season. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">These moments make WrestleMania month chaotic but <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/2024\/02\/09\/review-of-the-live-wrestlemania-press-conference\/\" target=\"_self\">must-see<\/a>, but they likely tire out the roster quickly. Having time to continue the press without the training, official fan events, and wrestling could help to keep that energy up while not exhausting the superstars.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Taking a Break Will Help the Company as Much as Its Fans\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The most obvious benefit of a WWE offseason is rest for the roster and the road crew. They work excessive hours to keep the content rolling on television and to appear in front of live audiences around the world. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Many talents from literally any era have described the road as challenging. It is undoubtedly draining to perform in such a physical way that often and to record and produce those shows for TV and live audiences. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Injuries are not uncommon in the aftermath of <em>WrestleMania<\/em> every year.\u00a0 This year, of course, <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/2024\/04\/19\/top-wwe-championship-reigns-derailed-by-injury\/\" target=\"_self\">has been challenging<\/a> for fans and the roster. The offseason would allow them to break from those stresses, even if the work is not done.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"tiktok-embed\" cite=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@rhearipley_wwe\/video\/7352996154772180270\" data-video-id=\"7352996154772180270\" data-embed-from=\"oembed\" style=\"max-width:605px; min-width:325px;\">\n<section> <a target=\"_blank\" title=\"@rhearipley_wwe\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@rhearipley_wwe?refer=embed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">@rhearipley_wwe<\/a> <\/p>\n<p>A got a fair bit to say with @arielhelwani on the <a title=\"mmahour\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/tag\/mmahour?refer=embed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">#MMAHour<\/a> today. Stay tuned @Becky Lynch <a title=\"wwe\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/tag\/wwe?refer=embed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">#WWE<\/a> <\/p>\n<p> <a target=\"_blank\" title=\"\u266c original sound - Rhea Ripley\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/music\/original-sound-7352996215900670766?refer=embed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">\u266c original sound &#8211; Rhea Ripley<\/a> <\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p> <script async src=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/embed.js\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The period after <em>WrestleMania<\/em> is also often known for its unfortunate roster cuts. An offseason could alleviate this. For one, it gives the writers more time to think of stories that will resonate with audiences and consider all their available talents. It is easy in the aftermath of Mania to focus only on the stars from that show. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Every series has its stars, but new seasons often mean new roles for lesser-known characters or even new characters. Perhaps talent can work with WWE&#8217;s growing list of partners to raise their profile or test out a new gimmick. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">If there is no path forward, talents worried about their future can begin to appear outside the WWE stricture in ways that could boost their value. It is not ideal for anyone involved, but that time away can offer a fresh start in life after WWE.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The WWE Draft Could Mean More in The Offseason<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Perhaps the biggest issue or concern that WWE and all wrestling promotions would have is fulfilling their television contracts. Most shows have time off the air, so the idea that streamers and networks wouldn&#8217;t be open to that for wrestling isn&#8217;t particularly compelling. However, in the case of WWE, they can quickly fill that time with less intensive programming for their stars. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Some of that comes from the bulk or archival and original content they have produced. The rest can come from a WWE Draft that matches the company&#8217;s apparent goals for that structure. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The draft&#8217;s usual fare is a trade between a few stars and several NXT call-ups. It does little to change the WWE landscape, and many superstars still need to get officially drafted. Instead, they remain on the show they had been on or become free agents who disappear from television entirely.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Every pick of the 2024 WWE Draft: Raw highlights, April 29, 2024\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/ubVboDCFNqQ?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\">What if, instead, WWE made a big deal about who was being draft-protected on a special GM&#8217;s roundtable? Or what about WWE running an official combine for a week or two, where NXT talents who previously declared for the draft and the recently announced &#8220;Free Agents&#8221; try to raise their stock value? I<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">nclude press conferences with top free agents and a week of draft programming aired in front of a live audience. All of these would be a gamble but could pay off. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">WWE tries most years to conjure images and feelings of the NBA or NFL draft, failing each time to get anywhere closer than surface-level parody. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">If they made an effort to create attractive free agents, tell actual draft stories about <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/2024\/04\/12\/wwe-draft-2024-predicting-the-biggest-moves-we-could-see\/\" target=\"_self\">who goes where<\/a>, all scripted, of course, and have folks end up in NXT or un-rostered at the end, it would give them the feeling they want and make the draft meaningful. They can only have the time to do this if they create an offseason first.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Outside of The WWE Needs to Consider an Offseason Too.<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Safe in the pole position, it is downright tragic that the WWE doesn&#8217;t take a pause every year. The WWE needs to consider an offseason, thus fixing any number of issues they are facing right now. This month, WWE has faced down burnout or injuries that derail Raw every week. The product lacks clear direction and has thoroughly missable shows, punctuated by the draft. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">However, even the alternatives to WWE could benefit from an offseason. Nobody is immune from the injury bug, which only time off the road can heal. Also, the recent popularity <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/2024\/03\/24\/aew-and-the-hr-pr-nightmare-of-pro-wrestling\/\" target=\"_self\">of AEW<\/a> through the NFL Draft shows and podcasts that taking time to meet fans outside the squared circle can pay dividends. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Not every company can take a month off TV or stop running live shows. Also, while television deals must be followed, every other show and live sporting event manages to do it. Wrestling should be able to keep a contract with a streamer or network and have time off. With all the talk of a new era, new ideas are ripe for exploration. This one, which comes up occasionally, should be top of the list.<\/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>Another year, another frankly lackluster post-WrestleMania period capped off by the 2024 WWE Draft. With Backlash comes the actual start of the WWE season, it almost always ends up that way. The period between WrestleMania and the subsequent premium live event is typically inconsequential, so WWE needs to consider an offseason for that time. Taking [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4470,"featured_media":124268,"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":[396,4994],"class_list":["post-124258","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-wrestling","category-wwe","category-wwe-universe","tag-wrestlemania","tag-wwe-draft"],"modified_by":"Michael Joseph Sugue, Manager","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/124258","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=124258"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/124258\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/124268"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=124258"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=124258"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=124258"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}