The 4 P's of the WWE: Promotion and Product

Who out there watches the World Wrestling Entertainment? I know I don’t. However, despite the fact that I do not watch the WWE, I sure do know a lot about it. Its roots can be traced back as far as the 1950’s. In the early 2000's, because of trademark issues with the World Wide Fund for Nature, it had to change its name from "World Wrestling Federation" to "World Wrestling Entertainment". I am familiar with the careers of such famous wrestlers as The Rock, Andre the Giant, Hulk Hogan, and more. How do I know all of these things? Because the WWE is something people talk about. You see the advertisements and can’t help but feel like watching the WWE is going to be a good time. Additionally their product is attractive to the masses. In marketing, there are 4 P's you must accommodate in order to be successful. These "P's" are product, promotion, place, and price. The WWE is a prime example of how balancing these four big things can lead to great rewards.



Let's start by looking at how the WWE  promotes itself. The marketing campaign for the WWE is so effective, that reaches far beyond the target audience.  Why is this marketing so affective? Let’s take a peak! Here is a reel of various commercials throughout the years:

Through these commercials, any audience member can tell that the marketing committee at WWE has a sense of humor about their product. That is to say, they have no problem making fun of their “let’s fight anyone, anywhere, JUST DO IT!!!!!” attitude. This use of unadulterated humor in their commercials portrays the WWE  brand as being “badass”, fun loving, strong, and pseudo-psychotic. This, in turn, attracts an eclectic group of individuals who are ready to be entertained. And, if there’s one thing the WWE doesn’t like doing, it’s disappointing the fans. 

I know what you’re all thinking, “What does the WWE have to do with stage combat?” That's where the WWE product comes into play. The WWE wrestlers are masters at creating exceptional stage combat. I know for some of you this may feel as though I'm telling you Santa Clause isn't real but, the WWE wrestling matches are all stage combat performances. Need some proof? Check out this epic battle between Andre the Giant and Hulk Hogan.

In my humble opinion, these two are individually some of the best unarmed stage combatants there ever has been and ever will be. When you put them together in the ring, only incredible things can happen. They both work seamlessly together and really "sell" the pain they are portraying. They communicate both with their eyes and the use of audible grunts and groans. That being said, if you start the video at 14:08, you may notice something strange. This is the part where Andre the Giant goes to stomp on Hulk Hogan’s head.  Only problem is, from where the camera is shooting, you can clearly see that Andre is just stomping on the floor and not actually hitting Hulk Hogan at all. Because of the “theatre in the round” styling of the ring, there are bound to be some “angle issues”. So, it’s really not a huge “faux-pas” that instances like this occur. It is, however, solid evidence that the WWE if nothing more than an incredibly well done stage combat scenario. The quality of fights that the WWE puts out is so exquisite that even today, people truly believe that the fighting is real. 

The WWE has an excellent product. Even more incredible is their ability to market and sell their product in a fun and playful manner.  Because of  the quality of their product and promotion, the WWE is one incredibly successful business.

Reference

WWE.com: The Official Site of the WWE Universe. WWE.com: The History of WWE. Retrieved June 06, 2013, from http://www.wwe.com/classics/history-of-wwe/page-3