Without Proper Execution, Raw Underground Won’t Survive
Like every other other sports or entertainment industry, the WWE is facing some challenges due to Covid-19. The pandemic has forced them to pivot on their live shows, change up the way they present their PPV’s, and trim the fat on their roster. They’ve done everything they can to stay afloat until fans can fill up arenas. Their latest comes in the form of a new segment on Raw dubbed Raw Underground.
Raw Underground has all the look and feel of their regular programming but with a twist. Take their regular brand of wrestling, combine it with the movie Fight Club, and you’ll have Raw Underground. Set up in what looked like an old warehouse, a ring stood with no ropes and apparently there were no rules. If you were in the ring, you were fighting.
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At first this seems like an interesting concept. Unsanctioned matches where anyone can show up at any time and fight for the dominance? Count me in. However, it was poorly executed. At times it seemed off the cuff and sloppy. Granted it was their first go, but it comes off as though little thought was put into it. Maybe it will grow into something better but it needs to be more than a half baked idea.
More importantly, if they’re going to put real effort into it, why does it need to be a Raw segment? Wouldn’t fans who subscribe to their WWE Network be more likely to renew their subscription with more original programming?
Sure, watching old WrestleManias is cool, and the behind the scene interviews are great, but if they’re going to be in the streaming world they need more content. Since there were talks of them working out a deal to cut PPV’s to be an ESPN+ exclusive, what would even be the point of their WWE Network then?
If it were called WWE Underground and turned into it’s own entity, they might have a better leg to stand on. While they already have a developmental programming in NXT, that has blown up into many fans’ preferred programming. However, WWE Underground still can work as original programming. Take this concept and combine it with an unscripted behind the scenes look at up-and-comers trying to break even the NXT roster.
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Unscripted series give us the inside look at who our favorite athletes are outside their arena of choice. The NFL does it with Hard Knocks. Lebron James took a deal with HBO for The Shop. Why doesn’t the WWE take the opportunity to make Raw Underground a different experience for fans.
Even if the unscripted aspect of Raw Underground is never a thing, they have to do something to separate it from being just another Raw segment. Without proper execution, this will seem like just another cheap gimmick like their Tough Man boxing stint which ended a weak attempt to bring Butterbean into the fold.
Raw Underground has a place in their programming but it shouldn’t be featured on Raw. It makes almost zero sense as a place holder. When wrestlers already attack each other backstage. With fights down the isles, why do we need an “underground” atmosphere to be part of the show as well? The WWE needs to distance Raw Underground from Raw in order to have success.
Rick ODonnell aka Caveman Rick has many years covering the Miami Dolphins, Sports, and all sorts of movies and television.
