Finally, the WWE is properly adapting to the internet era in professional wrestling.
On Monday, just hours before an episode of Monday Night Raw that is to feature a roster shakeup that sees multiple guys and girls switching brands, the WWE has begun to release tidbits of information about its own in-story roster moves.
Apparently, Apollo Crews is headed to Monday Night Raw from SmackDown:
The first OFFICIAL @WWE #SuperstarShakeUp is none other than @ApolloCrews as he gets ready to make an impact on Monday Night #RAW! pic.twitter.com/0T4YoMBogo
— WWE (@WWE) April 10, 2017
And..there's a former tag-team champion duo on its way to Raw as well:
EXCLUSIVE: @MikeRomeWWE has gotten word that a couple of former TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS are on their way to Monday Night #RAW TONIGHT! pic.twitter.com/9NJSNrTfp7
— WWE (@WWE) April 10, 2017
This is ingenious and long overdue. While the internet has given a multitude of opportunities to folks like myself to write about wrestling, the technology has also played a major role in overpowering fans and killing intrigue.
It's almost impossible to surprise fans these days, and that's part of the fun of being a wrestling fan. By delivering selected news beforehand, the WWE has successfully created additional appeal for Monday's show and Tuesday's episode of SmackDown.
They shouldn't stop there. I believe the promotion should seed false rumors about storylines. How do you fight an uncontrollable element that threatens the integrity of your business? In this instance, the smart approach would be to contaminate it from within.
The WWE has the means to give publications a mixture of real and fake news. I'm sure this happens on some level already, but not as much as it should. The WWE can no longer depend on fans to be marks for the violence and outcomes of the matches and stories. Everyone over the age of 7 knows the entertainment is scripted.
Perhaps the uncertainty of authenticity should instead be about the leaked footage and reports that surface.
For example, many people were anticipating a potential Royal Rumble appearance by Kurt Angle. It obviously didn't happen, but if it was going to happen and the WWE wanted to throw fans off the scent, staging a fake arena entrance from another former Superstar could do the trick.
Allowing someone to photograph an Ezekiel Jackson lookalike entering the arena might create a buzz. The WWE wouldn't have to mention or say that Jackson is appearing, the WWE Universe and the thousands of members of the wrestling media will handle all the speculation.
Before you know it, there will be at least 100 articles speculating about Jackson's potential appearance. Jackson is perhaps a poor example, but you get the idea. Other times, the WWE should purposely leak some of their own real-life announcements to the same outlets. This could keep fans guessing about which stories they can believe.
Like it or not, this is where we are with the pro wrestling industry. If the WWE wants to do what's best for their product, they must do whatever is necessary to regain control of the storyline details.
