Why WWE Needs An Off Season & How To Make It Work

john cena
(Photo by Rob Kim/Getty Images)

My Monday column for the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review talks about the need for an off season for WWE. Here’s an excerpt:

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.

CLICK HERE for when the off season should be and how to make it work.

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