So many fans in the IWC blindly believe headlines especially when it’s TKO talks about money. Narrative from TKO:: house shows lose money so we will limit them. 1. Limit house shows means limiting work rate AND character development. You can not substitute the energy you get and the pressure you get by performing in front of a live crowd 3-4 times a week 2. The narrative that they lose money is comical. There is very little overhead. The biggest cost is talent pay. So of course when that is the biggest bill they say this because they want talent to be limited except for the select few at the top. (Ask any talent ever and they will tell you this is true) 3. Longterm star development. HHH said there is no back up for Cody Rhodes. So how do you develop a new star. It certainly isn’t having them sit in a chair watching the show from a tv in the back. House shows allow you to figure out what works. What doesn’t. And what fans will react to. (Jay Leno famously practiced every joke in Manhattan Beach every Sunday night to know what would work during the week). This would lead to longterm success which leads to more revenue. No substitute for star power. 4. Ancillary income - house shows also add to merchandise sales and to connect with the audience. There are studies that every ticket sold translates into money spent at a show and also repeatable business. For being such great businessman and cutting some of the biggest deals in media the lack of knowledge when it comes to the maintaining of business longterm is so surprising. The wrestling business is different than any other sport and needs to be treated as such. I know practice games in the NFL are frowned on. In wrestling “practice games” can create Super Bowl champions.
