WWE News: Former WWE writer Kevin Eck reveals reason for main event on the second hour of RAW

What’s the story?

On a recent edition of The Wade Keller Pro Wrestling Podcast, former WWE writer Kevin Eck revealed that the reason behind WWE lately scheduling RAW’s main event in the second hour of the show, is largely owing to ratings dropping off in the third hour of the broadcast.

Additionally, Eck opined that Vince McMahon was considerably high on Brodus Clay, and the WWE only halted his push as they weren’t happy with Clay’s attitude toward the ‘Funkasaurus’ gimmick.

In case you didn’t know…

The WWE has been broadcasting Monday Night RAW as a three-hour program since the show’s 1000th episode in 2012.

However, the WWE management is said to have grown increasingly concerned about the drop in RAW viewership after the second hour of the show, owing to which Vince McMahon and co. now resort to putting the most important segment/match of the night during the second hour as opposed to having it close out the show as the ‘main event’.

The heart of the matter

Kevin Eck elucidated that WWE RAW (8-11pm) has seen a drop in television ratings during its third and final hour, hence, the WWE now refrains from putting the most important segment/match on the final hour when people are tuning out.

Eck explained that the WWE now prefers putting on its best segment/match of the night toward the end of the 9 o’clock hour and the beginning of the 10 o’clock hour, as the show seems to be getting the highest ratings on a given Monday night around its second hour.

Furthermore, Eck emphasised that under the old format, where RAW would usually have its main event close out the show, McMahon would have never allowed Enzo Amore and the Cruiserweights close out RAW.

Besides, Eck also revealed that Vince always believes in turning a negative into a positive, and ensures that the show always goes on despite multiple top Superstars (Big Cass and Jeff Hardy being recent examples) getting injured.

Eck also revealed that Mr. McMahon initially pushed Brodus Clay as a heel then moved to the Funkasaurus gimmick: “Vince was really behind the guy, but his push kind of died and it was because of his attitude…Vince saw a guy who wasn't completely not 100% embracing the gimmick; he also wished for him to lose weight.”

“It's up to the guys a lot of times, and Vince will say that it may sound cliche where he says he will give you the opportunity and it's up to you to do something with it, and he feels like he gave Brodus Clay a golden opportunity and that in his mind Clay dropped the ball."

What’s next?

The WWE continues to put on a three-hour long RAW for fans, irrespective of ratings dropping in the third hour. Besides, Brodus Clay now performs on the indie circuit, having recently departed from Impact where he worked as Tyrus.

Author’s take

I for one enjoy the three-hour long RAW, however, I may be one of the few who do so, given that it’s the only show I religiously follow every Monday night.

Regardless, the WWE seems to be shifting towards favouring the third hour of RAW as ‘main event’ time, and it’ll be intriguing to see whether Vince and co. choose to go back to RAW as a two-hour presentation just like the old days. Which one do you favour? Sound off in the comments!