Are we in a Wrestling BOOM period?

[LiquidLarry2GhostWF]

Trust me wasn't much falling were I was at before either ... Also company I work for didn't exist 30 years ago ... Sam Muchnick ain't signing my checks or paying my rent brother

Well, perhaps if you got on the fuckin podcast it can be discussed!

 

[ThomasTomasz]

The business is growing up a bit. It's hard to put a finger on exactly but I can't recall a time in recent memory where there were as many closet wrestling fans coming out. It seems cliche but I wonder if Twitter, Facebook and social media has made people more accepting of professional wrestling and has brought people back in. Instead of hiding out and watching by yourself, you know have millions of fans at any given night watching right there with you.

It's also broken the wall of "YOU KNOW THATS FAKE RIGHT?!" we have entire generation that's well aware (most times) what's fake and what's real and doesn't care. Shit, reality TV is the farthest thing from reality but people still suspend their disbelief to get lost in some hillrods jumping on gators in a swamp.

Doing the website alone I've been connected with hundreds of people I didn't even know were wrestling fans or had subtle hints about that are huge fans. This past weekend rappers were flooding websites with wrestler theme remixes, wrestler tribute songs, etc.

Also as Kevin mentioned, mainstream publications have covered it much better as well. Deadspin did some basic work and eventually The Masked Man moved over to Grantland (he's largely the inspiration for VOW) where he's doing great work looking very deeply at the WWE. By that same token, yeah, ESPN covers it with power rankings now too.

Also iPPV has helped out a ton. I have some personal wrestling fan friends that have recently come up and wanted to chat Ring of Honor with me. 5-6 years ago when I was watching it? Not a chance. They weren't interested at all, but they were able to sample a show or two via iPPV or via some YouTube video and now they are hooked.

I agree with everything, especially social media. I remember seeing on Saturday that DGUSA was trending third in the Twitter top 10, right behind Wrestlemania and the first topic, which was promoted by someone. The ability to interact with wrestlers via that outlet, and also with like-minded people, is definitely helping to increase the popularity of wrestling.

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

Not a boom period.

New Japan is on the verge of one but not there yet. Okada & Naito will likely lead one. The rest of Japan aside from Dragon Gate is struggling to survive, let alone make money.

WWE domestic PPV isn't anything close to booming.

The next boom period will happen for the same reason all of the boom periods do. A new megastar emerges. Steve Austin isn't walking through that door, and when the next one does, you won't even see it coming.

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

I wont speak for St Lickem but theres not much scraps falling from King Vince Table here in Texas just yet ...

The east coast groups like PWS & NWS and the group that booked Hogan in Long Island last year (might have been NWS, don't remember) that pop these big houses are also breaking the bank on talent so in many cases these shows barely break even.

PWS paid $30k to talent alone this weekend. Thursday was a disaster, because they did well under 1,000. Friday they did a big house, like 1500, but if you do the math, nobody is getting rich on those two shows. It's a risky model.

Chikara I can honestly say has steadily grown. Plus half of his guys are students paying off training or guys who don't command big payoffs. They did like 1100 Friday, but the net profit on that is substantial.

EVOLVE does nothing. Gabe only draws ok when he does Dragon Gate shows, but obviously they are very expensive to run.