LaBar: WWE needs an off season
The time has finally come when an off season for WWE sounds appealing and appropriate.
For years, I've rejected the idea each time a fan would bring it up. Professional wrestling being the traveling circus that never stops was a fact I always interpreted proudly. For all the negativity, misunderstanding and misinformed that can be attached to professional wrestling — it always had the around-the-calendar commitment as a badge of honor that no other sport or athlete could claim.
As time goes on, it seems that badge is filled less with honor and more with an obligation to continue making towns in the name of the almighty dollar. Making money is the goal of every business, but at what point does the risk taken by these characters, who the entire money-making operation is based off, become such that it has hindered money being made consistently?
Randy Orton, John Cena, Seth Rollins, Cesaro, Luke Harper and Neville are dealing with injuries keeping them out for many months. Daniel Bryan has been forced to retire. They are all money-making characters WWE has long-term investments in.
Professional wrestling is always going to have risk of injury. Taking time off won't eliminate all injuries. As Jim Ross famously would say, “this ain't ballet.” But it takes away weeks of their bodies having to be at risk, it adds week for their bodies to rest and, ultimately, that's a better probability for long-term health so the wrestlers consistently can be money-making assets for the company.
Take eight weeks off each year. Create an off season to rest physically and mentally. The quality of the performer will be better, and the quality of the programming undoubtedly will go up.
You can't miss something that doesn't go away. Right now, WWE doesn't go away. I'm suggesting this for WWE's good as I know its absence will make many of the viewers hearts grow fonder.
WWE powers would have eight weeks of not having to produce five hours of content each week. They can recharge their batteries while preparing for the next 10 months of touring and programming.
It's 10 months of worldwide touring and live programming. WWE can still stake its claim in the amount of programming produced compared to its competition on television.
WrestleMania is the conclusion to the WWE year. It would be the perfect year-long finale before taking time off. We all know the talent, crew and entire company work incredibly hard the weeks leading up to WrestleMania to make it the event it is. Time off or a slow-down period after WrestleMania would be extremely healthy for all involved.
The night after WrestleMania is very profitable being the number of fans from around the world already in town. Let that night be the final night before taking the break. The night can provide closure or cliffhangers for the audience before returning in the month of June.
WWE could return then with its Money in the Bank pay-per-view, a show that doesn't need a lot of build-up in the first place. WWE could have a few weeks of a returning Monday Night RAW to establish some stories or characters, then one of the most exciting shows of the year with multiple competitors fighting to climb the ladder for the briefcase which has their world title shot. A title shot they would have to cash in between then and WrestleMania.
The rest of the year would be the touring as normal.
In the eight weeks off, WWE could exploit its other endeavors featured via the WWE Network. As long as that keeps producing and adding subscribers, the train is on the track. Continue to push NXT, this new Cruiserweight show, which is set to come out later this year, or behind-the-scenes features like the documentaries they've started to shoot following wrestlers around on WrestleMania week. There's plenty of content to keep the WWE and its network relevant while still applying a break in the rigorous live schedule of touring.
WWE touts itself as being in competition with other television shows and dramas. Well, those shows all have off seasons and for good reason. It provides a natural reset for the viewer and performer. WWE taking time off wouldn't be looked at as any sign of weakness, but rather taking a break like every other show or sport does for the good of its content and performers.
In the current state of WWE and management, this won't ever happen. I hold out hope in the future it will be accepted. I just hope it's accepted intentionally, done as a proactive measure for the best quality of all involved and not done as a reactive measure because the biggest wave of injuries ever has hit.
Justin LaBar is a Tribune-Review staff writer. He can be reached at jlabar@tribweb.com or via Twitter @JustinLaBar
