Jim Ross Blogs On Poor WWE Network Subscriber Growth, How To Book Brock Lesnar Through Mania

WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross has posted a new blog on jrsbarbq.com offering his thoughts on WWE financials, Brock Lesnar and WWE's creative situation. Highlights from his entry are as follows:

WWE reporting anemic subscription growth for the WWE Network on Thursday:

"Disappointing number on the total number of subscriptions but with the UK coming aboard that should help their cause ... This matter of the WWE Network can be analyzed in a variety of ways but the bottom line is that the WWE core product isn't 'hot' and when a brand isn't hot it's difficult to sell spin off products of the brand such as subscribing to their digital network."

"WWE Creative must do a better job of heating up the WWE TV shows, allow new, fresh, young talents to take on bigger roles and introduced new talents with a systematic plan to bring them in with fanfare and instant credibility. Plus selling he Network primarily because of the price of $9.99 which has essentially become a punch line in a joke and is not a selling point. It's akin to saying that we have a lunch special for $4.99 but not saying what the special menu item is"

How WWE should utilize Brock Lesnar going forward:

"It's going to be curious to see how WWE addresses the contractual issue with their part time, WWE World Champion Brock Lesnar as his contract is allegedly expiring shortly after WM31. There is no way that I would roll into Levis Stadium with Brock as the Champion if I did not have a new contract in place for the amazing athlete. If Lesnar isn't signed to a new, more WWE friendly deal by early January there is no reason for him to make it out of the Royal Rumble as the WWE World Champion."

His next podcast:

"Next Tuesday at 9 pm ET a new Ross Report podcast will drop with WWE HOFer JJ Dillon joining me to talk about his amazing career that started as a referee for Vincent J. McMahon, working the territories as a wrestler and a manager to his greatest in ring role as the leader of the Four Horsemen and moving to administration with NWA, WWE and WCW. This is a great show loaded with stories and history."

Ross offers more thoughts on the WWE Network and what WWE can to do drive subscriptions, WWE needing to commit to younger talent instead of relying on stars from the past and more. To read his entry, click here.