Case Study: World Wrestling Federation

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Executive Summary

Case Study: World Wrestling Federation

        The World Wrestling Federation (WWF) become the world's dominant international entertainment business by the creative management of Vince McMahon. Wrestling used to be restricted to perform only in its territory and respect other domain, but McMahon neglected the rules and started to monopolise the business. McMahon was a brilliant promoter who innovate the WWF as varities wrestling show. The WWF joined with music, movie and television business. Many merchandises were produced under the WWF brand. After several years of the WWF domination, the WCW were established and started to be a big threat for McMahon. Many of his wrestlers were recruited to the WCW under new management of Eric Bischoff. The competition was getting worse for the WWF when Bret Hart's contact was about to expire. However, retaining Hart in the WWF couldn't change the situation. Finally, Hart was released to the WCW.

Strategy alalyse.

1. Medias such as television and cable networks were effective in order to expose a new product (the WWF) to aware American consumers. Providing varieties of the WWF's wrestlers distinguish this crowd from others.

2. McMahon put a lot of effort to create characteristic for his wrestlers. These produced charmful   wrestlers for the fans. In the other word, they are qualities product from the WWF. Scripts and costumes were neatly selected for each character, emphasizing attractive persona.

3. Leaving the Georgia territory was the biggest mistake of McMahon. To monopolise the business, it is very important to make sure that the business is difficult for anyone to enter. But the WWF abondoned the territory leaving a chance for Ted Turner to enter the business.

1. Introduction

        1.1 Background of Wrestling

        World Wrestling Federation (WWF) is one of the most well known association in the world, especially, among men and boys. Many people may misunderstand that it is a gentlemen fighting club as well as other ones such as WBA, WBF or K-1. However, according to its owner, Vince McMahon Jr., WWF is in an entertainment business, not wrestling one.  The wrestling, originally showed in circus, has long history in American entertainment business. There are several regional wrestlers and promoters. Their domains are clearly divided and the gentlemen's agreement to respect their domain and others had ruled for two decades, until Vince McMahon Jr. entered into the business.

        1.2 About Vince McMahon

        Vince McMahon Jr. followed his father footsteps became a wrestling promoter after he had struggled in bitter life with his stepfathers. Despite his father firstly discourage him to join the business, McMahon Jr. was fulled with inspiration and ambition to succeed in this business. Being trained by his father provided him valueable experiences which cannot be acquired through other promoters espectially the McMahons' domain covered big cities like Washington, D.C., Boston and New York City. Operating wresting matches in Madison Square Garden would be a great classroom for young McMahon, and also had a chance to study the television side of the operation. One fortunate day, he had a chance to try ring announcer because an absence of his father's ringside announcers and his talent was recognised. By taking up this position full time, McMahon started to understand viewers' wants.  When McMahon Sr. was retiring as a result of cancer, McMahon Jr. had to buy the WWF outright instead of take it over from his father. The first move of McMahon was harsh and beyond the line of wrestling promoters that "borders" are no longer respected.

        1.3 Rising of the WWF

        In the first year of taking control the WWF, McMahon started to create next generation fans focusing on kids in town and tried to eliminate the "border idea" which had ruled wrestling for years. Television is the strongest and most effective influnce in such big country like the U.S. Soon, half of the country on the eastern coast could see the WWF at home. Certainly, McMahon's breach of borders caused conflicts with other promoters. However, to win the competition was not as tough as it seemed. McMahon accurately estimated his competitors were lack of business experience. Most of them were former wrestlers and overestimated McMahon by the tremendous presence of the WWF in TV. As a result, these  rivals gave up their territories and the WWF now broadcast across the country. After TV media achieved the WWF to counquer national territory, McMahon then move forward to cable network with a vision that this can increase revenues by pay-per-view, at the same time, it extends fan-club base. Merchandises and licensing revenues such as action figures, foam fingers, cereals and many other toys generated enomous amount of money from the popularity of the WWF. The WWF was not about only wrestling things anymore, opening the matches with rock concerts, explosions and excitement of speculators fascinate speculators and attracted millions of viewers at home. Growing together with the cable, the WWF became world-wide wrestling team. Japanese, Mexican and Canadian wrestlers were imported to the WWF and these contenders dared to do more dare-devil actions for fames and fortune.

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1.4 WCW: A New Challenger

        Ted Turner owned a cable television empire and broadcasted the WWF programme in his TBS station. Turner wanted to join the business with McMahon but the agreement could not happen, followed by the move away of the WWF from TBS and McMahon sold a territory out. Ted Turner then bought the territory and established the World Championship Wrestling (WCW). The WCW was an out-of-leage competitor at the first, but with capital reserve, cable networks and patience, he turned up to be a dangerous competitor McMahon ever faced. Eric Bischoff was a hero brought ...

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