As the days go on, the current-state of the WWE is taking a gradual path towards failure. That sounds like a harsh statement, but the recent layoffs and WWE Network debacle has every professional wrestling analyst trashing their every move to save the slightest bit of money. Not to mention, the WWE critics insist the company is failing.
That isn’t true, but their gradual spin backwards is coming true. The process started with the roster cuts, escalated during the first round of budget cuts, and climaxed with one of the darkest days in WWE’s history last Thursday.
Now, news is coming out of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter stating that WrestleMania 31 could have less pyro. The massive spectacle of special effects is something the fans look forward to every year and reducing them is not going to save the company.
On a more positive note, there is also mention of a possible return to a combined RAW and Smackdown “Supershow.”
“Because of the ongoing budget cuts in which the WWE is planning to slash $30 million next year, WWE Management has been discussing the idea of bringing back the combined RAW and SmackDown “ Supershow” tapings in 2015. In addition to more office and roster cuts, it’s been said that the WWE will likely scale back on WrestleMania pyros next year.”
Since WrestleMania 31 will be at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, the show will begin at 4:00 p.m. PST. So, it will be light out, and fireworks aren’t generally done during the day. Regardless, the appeal of a WrestleMania will be hindered by the lower budget and daylight factor.
The shocking news comes from the combination of Raw and Smackdown to re-create the “Supershow” format. The combined shows began in 2011 and ended in 2012, and the plan was to bring the best of the best to every live event. In theory, the Supershow was a great idea. However, the mystique died out quickly, and Raw started to re-brand its shows as just Raw.
With the earlier news from the Inquisitr that mentioned the WWE may have problems getting big names for WrestleMania 31, their pyro may get cut. Will that affect you watching the big event or even buying a ticket for it? Many people watch for just the theatrics of the worldwide show. For example, Daniel Bryan’s phenomenal WrestleMania 30 victory came with the aid of pyro and confetti.
This tweet below sums it up:
Confetti, Pyro, EVERYTHING. Daniel Bryan. Legend. #WrestleMania
— WrestlingNewsSource (@WNSource) April 7, 2014
At the end of the day, the WWE is a gigantic display of theatre, designed to attract an audience with storylines, moves that make the viewer look twice and the over-the-top appearance of it all. WrestleMania is always a sight to be seen. In fact, many memorable photos from WrestleMania are often used with pyro in the background.
The scenery lasts a lifetime, and the WWE might not have that this year, due to budget cuts and the time difference. Major changes will have to be made in order to make up for the lack of fireworks. Hopefully, it will still be the Grandaddy of Them All.
[Images via Google]