3 reasons why the Superstar Shakeup won’t really help WWE ratings

It is a well-known fact the WWE ratings and ticket sales go down after the WrestleMania pay-per-view and there is a need for change. For that purpose, the company tries to bring in new twists and turns and they have confirmed that the Superstar Shakeup will happen one week after the RAW following WrestleMania; on the 16th and 17th of April on RAW and Smackdown Live respectively.

However, as we have seen in the past few years, the event has not really done too much for WWE ratings in the long-run. Also, the ratings had fallen to their lowest ever recently this year, which has hurt the company.

With that being the case, the McMahon family had to make their on-screen return and took charge from their respective general managers. Now, with the fans awaiting the Superstar Shakeup with high expectations, here are three reasons why it will not really help WWE ratings.

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#3 The preferential treatment for RAW

It is tough to remember any combined pay-per-view featuring both brands, which hasn’t really favoured Monday Night Raw. Be it last year’s Superstar Shakeup, which depleted Smackdown of a number of top stars or this year’s Survivor Series, which saw the Red Brand do a clean sweep, the company’s B-show policy towards Smackdown Live has always been quite evident. Whether they like to admit it or not, this has hurt their overall ratings many times too.

If that is the case once again this time, the fans will just not tolerate it anymore, as the Raw locker-room is already full of talents that are being wasted or eventually leave. Also, Smackdown can’t afford to lose their top stars yet again as they are already low on top full-time stars who are injury free, though the situation has improved a little in recent times.

Further, their switch to the Fox Network means that even they need a strong squad of talents and can’t afford to lose any after WrestleMania, as they transition into the next phase of their overall development.

#2 Same old product and the arrival of AEW

AEW is the new promotion in town

No matter which star comes in or which star goes out, the WWE product has not shown any real difference. Though the mandatory re-match clause has been removed, the booking still fails to impress.

Often, we see that stars get chances after chances by either winning qualification matches or by attacking another star to make their point. Also, every time there is interference, it still turns into a tag match and the product is more or less the same. In either case, the fans can see through these things.

This needs to change as the company is now being challenged by the likes of All Elite Wrestling (AEW) and if there is no innovation or change in the attitude and style of writing; things will get real messy soon. No matter how many how many stars are switched between the brands, there will not be any real feeling of change.

#1 Not giving what the fans want once again

Fans wanted Lynch vs Rousey at WrestleMania

The best example of not giving the fans what they want has been the Ronda Rousey-Becky Lynch feud, in which the WWE has now involved Charlotte Flair. The fans can’t stop booing the “Queen” who replaced Becky in the main event at WrestleMania, though she was the last person eliminated by the Irish Lass Kicker in this year’s Women’s Royal Rumble match.

It was clear that Ronda was getting a lot of heat from the fans, who were booing her right through the promos and she was struggling at times. Due to this, WWE wanted a plan-B and introduced Flair. However, the crowd had made it clear that they were taking none of it, though the McMahons haven’t listened to public demand yet again.

If this continues to be the case, no amount of shuffling or great build-ups will help the ratings, as the company has a very limited understanding of what the fans need and are trying to force feed them instead. They could be handing the advantage to some of their rival brands and despite having all the right stars in one place, the fans may lose interest in the long-run.