Five things that would help increase the WWE ratings

Every year at this time, reports come out about the decline in the ratings, and how Vince McMahon throws tantrums, while being more hands on with the product. This year has been no different, with Vince reportedly taking control of the entire script of Monday Night RAW. Every week is just another reminder of how Vince has lost touch with the fans, while WWE gives more reasons for the fans to distance themselves from the product.However, with the depth in the roster and the growth of NXT, it should be the exact opposite. A show like NXT, which is catered to a specific fanbase and demographic has been putting on a much better product, and in the process, has been received positively by the fans. While the success of NXT proves the quintessential need of evolution in the business, it has also highlighted the drawbacks of WWE.In this article, we take a look at the five things WWE can do to increase the ratings of RAW.

#1 Depend less on part timers and veterans

The Undertaker takes on Brock Lesnar at HIAC

There was a time when WWE depended almost entirely on the full time performers; when we talk about the Golden Era of professional wrestling or the Attitude Era, the talent pool that existed back then was much thinner compared to the superstars WWE has on its pay roll. One can also argue that WWE never had a more talented and gifted locker room than the one it has today. From the former independent main stays to second and third generation superstars, WWE has a wealth of talent, and yet, most of them do not get any air time.

When the ratings go south, Vince McMahon, much like he did a decade ago, falls back on superstars such as Brock Lesnar and The Undertaker. Unfortunately, while that made all the sense in the world back then, it makes little to no sense under the current circumstances. With The Undertaker closer to retirement than before, and considering Lesnar won’t be around forever, WWE needs to look at the younger stars. Yet, the fact that WWE used a nearly 60 year old Sting in the main event of a PPV doesn’t speak too highly about Vince McMahon’s trust in the current crop of superstars.

#2 Avoid regurgitating old storylines

Orton – Sheamus, an example of WWE’s policy of rehashing feuds

One of the things that every promotion, not just WWE, has been guilty of time and again is rehashing old storylines often. While it is true that stories do tend to be repeated often, even if the culmination of the story isn’t the same, using the same old stories and feuds not only takes away the interest, but also drives the fans away from the product.

WWE’s policy of ending shows with a 6 man tag team match, often involving the Wyatts and the team of Dean Ambrose and Roman Reigns has definitely turned off quite a number of fans. While most people blame the creative team or Kevin Dunn for the monotonous, uninteresting storylines, everything essentially goes through Vince McMahon, once again highlighting the fact that Vince has definitely lost his ability to feel the pulse of the WWE Universe. The constant Sheamus – Randy Orton feud doesn’t do Vince any favors either.

#3 Invest in future stars

Cesaro – A victim of Vince McMahon’s indecisiveness

One of the major complaints about Vince McMahon has been his attitude towards stars such as Cesaro. While Cesaro had many opportunities to get over with the fans, almost on every occasion, Vince changed the plans for the Swiss Superman, putting him in questionable feuds and storylines. On every occasion, it ended up killing Cesaro’s momentum.

Much like in every situation, you eventually end up losing interest if you’re constantly let down. Whenever the fans care about Cesaro, Vince puts him in a predicament which isn’t favorable for any party. While the same can be said about a few other stars, the fact that stars such as Ryder and Rusev lost momentum after being inserted into mind – boggling feuds is just another indication of how WWE needs to invest and protect their superstars, instead of just the top guy in the company.

#4 Pass on the mantle to Triple H

Is it time for Triple H to take over the WWE?

Revolution is a word that is heard very rarely in the professional wrestling business. From the likes of Verne Gagne to Vince McMahon Jr. to Paul Heyman, very few individuals managed to change the landscape of professional wrestling, and arguably add an extra dimension – a much needed one, to help the business evolve. When WWE started NXT, it was primarily used as a breeding ground for young talent, and to give them a platform to perform.

With Triple H taking over NXT, it soon became his own vision. Triple H was always credited for being knowledgeable, and his idea to make NXT a brand of its own and to create a healthy competition worked wonders for the brand, as well as the organization. Very soon, people started talking about a revolution within the ranks, while the superstars on the main roster started sweating about their spots.

Handing over the reins to Triple H is inevitable; with Triple H knowing what the fans want, it’s easier to put out a much better product than what is being delivered, and one can only hope that Triple H takes on the mantle sooner rather than later.

#5 Women\'s wrestling and the surprise element

The divas revolution was ideated to capitalize on the changes taking place in the world today, but unfortunately, it hasn’t delivered. Although the divas title has changed hands, one has to believe that the whole point behind Sara Del Rey working with the NXT women is to change the perception of women in the company, and that remains the same. Unless WWE goes back to the formula of women being considered talented grapplers instead of eye-candies that can throw a few jabs, the sad state of affairs in the divas division will continue.

The other important aspect of the business is the surprise element. With the internet and the “inside sources” leaking information, it has become difficult for the promotions to pull off something memorable. However, with WWE becoming predictable, the creative needs to come up with a way to pull something off, similar to what they had done with Dwayne Johnson and WrestleMania 27.