More Details on Storyline’s Effectiveness and Shortcomings
There are more details emerging on the White Rabbit storyline’s success, both in terms of ratings and merchandise. However, what fans have seen in the ratings suggests the storyline may be on the cusp of suffering from overexposure.
Fightful Select is reporting that there initially mixed feelings about using the QR codes. Fightful reports backstage sources in the WWE claim the angle has been a major success. (H/T 411 Mania).
The Patreon news site added that the WWE’s creative department has been largely hands-off with the storyline and has no idea where things are going. The report noted that only WWE higher-ups are said to know what the storyline’s endgame entails. (H/T 411 Mania).
Fans appear to be interested in the storyline as Dave Meltzer noted in the 3 October 2022 Wrestling Observer Newsletter that:
White Rabbit merchandise was also a hot seller over the past week. As a marketing ploy, it has been very effective.
H/T 3 October 2022 Wrestling Observer Newsletter
The Meltz noted that Extreme Rules could be where the person behind the White Rabbit mystery is revealed. As WrestleLamia has previously noted, the WWE can’t stretch the storyline out for too long or risk burning fans out.
Is the Rabbit Running the Ratings?
Meltzer mused on this, noting that the 23 September SmackDown’s ratings peaked at 9:23 PM, the time some fans thought the Rabbit (or a clue) would appear:
While the show started strong, about 400,000 viewers ahead of a usual start, it was the 9 p.m . quarter where it exploded with 2,767,000 viewers and an 0.70 in 18-49, the most viewers for any segment of WWE television in more than one year. From those with access to minute-by-minute numbers, there was a big drop starting at about 9:25 p.m., which made it clear a lot of people were there for that time spot tease while others stayed for the rest of the show, perhaps interested or just figuring something was still going to happen, or were just watching wrestling already.
H/T 3 October 2022 Wrestling Observer Newsletter
White Rabbit Storyline’s Success
Analysis: We’ll have to wait and see if the WWE can maintain the fans’ interest in the angle until next week’s Extreme Rules (if that is where the WWE unveils the character).
Given pro wrestling’s history of taking successful ideas and repeating them ad nauseam, it will be interesting to see if Triple H avoids this pitfall when booking successful programs.
If the theory that SmackDown’s ratings surged due to interest in the White Rabbit only to drop once there was no sign of the character, it doesn’t say much for the fans’ interest in the overall product.
As Meltzer suggested, some fans did stick around. The question is whether they were interested in SmackDown itself or looking for another White Rabbit clue.
What do you think of this latest news about the White Rabbit? Let us know in the comments below.
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