A few weeks ago on Tha O Show we discussed what price tag Rob Van Dam would charge once he makes his transition into an independent wrestler. Friend of Tha O Show, Dave Linton thought the price of around $3,000-$5,000 was probably appropriate for someone of RVD's star power. To me, RVD is unique in that he is among the few current WWE performers with incredible indy marketability and thus has the potential to set the North American scene on fire.I am not a believer that just because someone has been on WWE TV they can all of a sudden become huge draws as indy wrestlers. Recent firings such as Sabu will probably do very well and charge a high price, while someone like Rob Conway may not be able to do as well.
So what is the difference? When Donnie asked me on the show why RVD would have more drawing power on the indy scene than a Christian Cage, I really didn't have an answer other then the fact that RVD is more popular with internet wrestling fans. No matter how well they were used in WWE, there's just some guys who are compelling characters and are able to draw strong internet crowds to indy shows. Because indy wrestling generally draws internet fans, the argument makes sense.......somewhat.
What gives certain guys that aura? To me, guys like Raven, Sabu, and RVD have done well on the indy scene because of their past with ECW. I understand that the original version of ECW went out of business in 2001, but for some fans it is still a thrill to chant "ECW, ECW, ECW" at wrestlers they remember from that period. Exceptional performers would also draw well. The most obvious example being Chris Benoit who would draw if for no other reason then he would perform with no strings attached.Unfortunately, for guys like Rob Conway and Vito, I don't see fans flocking to their local indy to check out one of these cast-offs. Why? I don't have an answer for that other than to say they don't seem to have that "indy marketability" to them. But who would you want to see? Are there wrestlers currently in WWE that might be able to make a better living on the indies than working for Vince?
Off the top of my head; Val Venis would be a big star on Canadian independents, The Sandman, Gregory Helms, and William Regal would be four guys that would be draws on the indy scene.
Who do you think has more marketability as an indy performer? Also, mad props to Tha O-ster who can help me define "indy marketability".
5 comments: on "Indy Marketability"
william regal vs eddie osbourne
T + C + E = M. I.
Talent, Charisma, and TV Exposure are the three key factors of indy marketability, in order of most to least important. Any mix of the three will make you marketable.
Sorry Fronte, but I don't think there is in general such a thing as "indy marketability", (henceforth, IM), as I believe you are using the term. (Also, may I suggest you go by the handle "The F'N One", for your postings?)
The beauty of the indy scene is that it can cater to smaller audiences with more concise and defined interests. Given the enormous numbers of indy promotions that are born and die on any given day, to lump them together and propose that there is such a blanket term as IM applying to all of them is likely false.
Indy shows can be extreme in ways the mainstream cannot. (I refer you to the much hyped Easter Sunday show recently in Ontario.) I propose that a guy like RVD would not add much to that show, and would take away from the overall spectacle since HE would be the focus. On a show like that, you could bring in only a few performers, and they would be right to charge a premium to be there. (Like that crazy ass New Jack.)
If we accept the idea that the audience for an indy show is different from show to show, then IM could be defined as the ability of a performer to sell tickets to a certain market segment. This definition, of course is only half-way there since every performers IM-score would be subject to the explanation of what "type" of performer they are and the show they are best suited to.
The performers you mentioned are a wide and varied lot of distinct styles, which I think goes to show there can be a place for everyone on the indy scene to make the cheddar. Even a dress wearing Vito.
The price you place on RVD of $3000 - $5000 dollars is certainly not unreasonable. I consider $25 dollars to be a pretty expensive indy ticket, and no doubt that a show with RVD on it would at least have to charge that much to pay his bill. Say Van Dam charges $4000, right in the middle of your range. He would have to draw 160 new fans at $25 dollars a peice for that to be a worthwhile investment.
There is a promotion a bit north of me that has a lot of super indy, ROH, TNA, and former WWE guys. The shows usually draw around 200 or 250, so I can only help but think they are losing money.
It seems to me that a Mick Foley or Bret Hart appearance has a greater dollar value to a promotor than a match between Raven and Sabu.
RVD is something special to see. He is a very unique and exciting wrestler. I actually think he may be able to pull off being a lucrative investment for indy promoters if your price estimate is correct.
Then again, years ago I went to an indy show with Nova and Rey Mysterio on it, and there couldn't have been more than 200 people in attendance.
The best option for RVD to really make some money would probably be a long healthy run in Japan.
I guess we will soon find out what his prcie will be as rumors from two major dirt sheets have said RVD was released today.
I also have a feeling if Sandman and Dreamer are let go that this could be an angle this ECW's "One Night Stand" is only a few weeks away , maybe they should rename it ECW's "Last Stand".
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