Pro wrestling isn’t complicated.
Yes, the training, moves, and psychology is supremely difficult to master, but the formula for success? That’s pretty straightforward and has been for most of wrestling history.
Put stars people care about in the ring, find stakes or a story for the stars, and then let the stars do their thing. In an entertainment world that leeches onto the idea of “content,” it can be easy to lose the thread of that winning strategy.
Wrestling companies — like other entertainment brands — need a high volume of eyeballs to succeed. It’s not only about having the best two-hour television show of the week. It’s about churning out enough shows in the week that make sense in order to satisfy the needs of multiple licensing partners.
Stars = content
For WWE, that’s Netflix, USA Network, CW Network, Peacock, ESPN, A&E, Tubi, and I’m sure I’m forgetting at least one. That’s a lot, but because that’s where the money is, the priority is more, more, more.
It doesn’t have to be. On WWE Raw this week, Roman Reigns and CM Punk reminded the wrestling industry that stars still matter. More importantly than that, they showed that the tried and true pro wrestling formula of “put stars people care about in the ring, find stakes or a story for the stars, and then let the stars do their thing” can satisfy the needs of thirsty and content starved business partners.