In the past two months, the WWE has allowed their Monday Night Raw show on USA to be used as a promotional vehicle for guest hosts.
The alternative talk show format has been so well received that rotating hosts will continue to appear on the program until the end of the year.
“We wanted a different way to get our product out there and talked about,” says Stephanie McMahon, WWE’s executive VP of creative development and operations. “Tying us in with celebrities in Hollywood raises our awareness and gets a variety of people talking about us, which is always a positive place to be. Hopefully it will translate to new viewers.”
Jeremy Piven was the most recent douche celebrity to interact with the wrestlers to whore out his new film, along with Seth Green and Shaquille O’Neal.
“They have something to promote, and we have the platform they need,” says Chris McCumber, USA Network’s executive VP for marketing and brand strategy.
Viewership for Raw is up 10% since the hosts were introduced in June – bringing in audiences of about 5.6 million per week.
That’s huge for wrestling!
Upcoming talent includes Bob Barker, Rev. Al Sharpton, Nancy O’Dell and LeBron James. Yet,
Pete Wentz, Asslee Simpson, the Osbournes, Danny DeVito, Regis Philbin and Kelly Ripa, Jimmy Fallon, Rachael Ray, MC Hammer, Woody Harrelson and Ashton Kutcher are all considering hosting gigs.
We wanna see Pete vs. Asslee in the ring!
[Image via WENN.]
