Entertainment streaming services are the present and future of how people get access to movies, TV shows and web content. WWE Network may not get the headlines of Netflix or Hulu, but the subscription-based streaming service has become a perfect tag-team partner for wrestling fans. Not only can viewers watch weekly WWE programming and all the monthly pay-per-views, but the Network is a vast pro wrestling library filled classic matches and events.
Wrestling fans can indulge watching the current WWE product or virtually every past major promotion like National Wrestling Alliance (NWA), World Championship Wrestling (WCW) or Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW). But even the most hardcore wrestling nerd out there, will eventually tire or zone out. There’s only so much spandex and false finishes one can take before wanting something different. WWE knows this creating original content that takes us out of the ring with shows like: Ride Along, Camp WWE, Table for 3 and The Edge and Christian Show That Totally Reeks of Awesomeness.
While those shows are a good start for WWE Network, it’s time for them to up the ante and get wild with the next wave of original programming. Instead of demanding for them to come up with new content, we’ve gone ahead and created a slate of new ideas for series that capitalize on the company’s history and superstars.
Parts Unknown
The title is in reference to the vague location a wrestler is billed from, creating a mystique around that character (ala The Ultimate Warrior).
If only Robert Stack were still around, he’d be hosting this WWE version of Unsolved Mysteries, exploring the urban legends, tall tales and mysteries of the squared circle. Since Robert isn’t an option, the perfect host for our show is Jake “The Snake” Roberts. One of the all-time great mic workers in wrestling, only Jake can paint a picture of dread and menace for viewers using that raspy and soft voice of his.
Each week Jake would appear from a dark alley or in an abandoned warehouse, setting up the episode’s mystery. Using re-enactments, we’d explore stories like how did Hulk Hogan really get that black eye at WrestleMania 9; the unbelievable feats of Andre The Giant; who was really supposed to be the Black Scorpion in WCW and will Emmalina ever debut? Currently WWE Story Time is a similar take, with animated short segments exploring past stories, but our show has more edge as it delves into the conspiracy theories and unexplained rumors fans have been wondering about for years.
Three Count Stops
Your average Joe hasn’t heard about Ribera Steakhouse, but ask any pro wrestler about it and they’ll tell you it’s a rite of passage — almost a mecca for them. Located in Tokyo, Japan, the small, wrestling-crazed restaurant offers good size steaks for massive wrestlers looking for a filling meal. On top of that, the eatery gives out their Ribera Steakhouse jackets to the men and women of the ring, creating an exclusive club of sorts.
While there aren’t many special places like Ribera, pro wrestlers do have their favorite spots to catch a meal in cities they travel to. The life of a WWE Superstar means that you’re on a plane or in a car four to five days out of the week, so finding and having a good rotation of eateries wherever they are is crucial for staying in shape and for one’s sanity.
The Anthony Bourdain of this show would actually be split up into three rotating hosts, because the world can’t handle two Bourdains! Big E, along with Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson get the call due to their entertaining personalities (and social media feeds). All three active wrestlers would review and offer tips on where to find the best wrestler-friendly meals when traveling in the US and overseas.
Dropkick The Dead
Do you remember that time CM Punk went hunting for ghosts?
You might have missed Punk’s appearance on the popular reality show Ghost Hunters, but it happened. In fact, a few other wrestlers like Kofi Kingston, The Miz and Elijah Burke (D’Angelo Dinero) also did their best Ghostbusters impersonations (sans proton-packs) appearing on the show back when WWE use to do cross-promotions with SyFy.
Seeing these muscle-bound, larger-than-life characters shriek and freak out as they make their way inside dark and haunted locations would be amazing. This would be laughs galore for viewers as they get to experience a different side of “tough” WWE Superstars as they witness apparitions or hear footsteps/children laughing. Having already laid out a supernatural road trip of locations, the series would have eight episodes each with different wrestlers assigned to find proof of the supernatural.
These fish-out-of-water episodes might have The Four Horsewomen (Charlotte, Bayley, Sasha Banks and Becky Lynch) spending a weekend inside The Shining’s Stanley Hotel. Another episode might have BFFs Kevin Owens and Christ Jericho walking through the halls of Waverly Hills Sanatorium. We could care less if they actually capture ghosts on film, just as long as trickles of pee and some tears are shed by the grapplers!
WWE Character Factory
The show spotlights the behind-the-scenes process that happens when WWE comes up with a new character/gimmick for a wrestler. Incorporating pieces from reality shows like Face Off, Project Greenlight and The Pitch, the show will follow WWE executives, TV crew and designers as they meet and game-plan with incoming talent, in trying to discover the perfect gimmick that connects with crowds. Very similar to the NXT reality show Breaking Ground, except going further and focusing on the corporate side.
While wrestlers today aren’t as cartoony or superhero-centric as talent from the ‘80s or ‘90s, there’s still lots of detail and preparation that goes into the creation of a character. From the ring attire design sketches, to the props, entrance music and marketing, the show focuses on the various steps a wrestler goes through before making his or her WWE debut.
WWE Takedown
Cut from the same cloth as game shows like Double Dare, Jeopardy and The Price is Right, WWE Network finally offers up their version where contestants are quizzed and compete in physical challenges to test their pro-wrestling IQ. The dream host would be good ole Jim Ross — dropping “Bah Gawds!” left and right — but since he’s not currently with the company, a just as qualified talent is Chris Jericho. Who knows, WWE might just change the show’s name to “The Game of Jericho” with Chris running things.
Having hosted specials for VH1 and forgotten game shows like Downfall, Jericho would oversee the madness here as wrestling fans get to show off their skills competing for money and prizes. Instead of having them dig in a large nose prop like in Double Dare, here they’ll have to scurry into an oversized wrestler’s boot digging through that nastiness for a golden flag. On your mark, get set, go!
Karaoke Truth or Dare
I’d never change the channel if there was a show where you could see the likes of Dean Ambrose or Randy Orton trying to do some karaoke. That’s better than any bloated RAW or Smackdown match we get every week. The premise here is simple: lock up a group of WWE Superstars inside a karaoke room and let them either surprise us with their lovely singing voices or entertain us by mangling songs. If they opt not to sing, then they’ll have to do an outrageous dare like eat something nasty or perform an awkward stunt. Regardless of the outcome, it’s nothing but gold for the WWE Universe to witness their favorites sing or make fools of themselves.
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