So, the news today that broke is that RAW will definitely be going to three hours all the time starting in June. It makes sense. Regardless of how anyone reads the "low" ratings (which are only low compared to the late '90s when there were fewer channels, fewer options available and lesser technology that made people watch live or else... but don't tell any of the news sites that), RAW is still pretty much USA's flagship show. Why not milk the cow for all it's worth? That's not the issue though.
As a fan though, this is dubious news. There are two ways this can go. Firstly, WWE could use the extra hour on a regular basis to develop some kind of a midcard, give the colorful personalities who only get short matches if that to showcase what they can do in featured matches and actual feuds. If that happens, then the move to three hours will be fantastic. However, especially lately, the other option is that they'll use the extra hour completely as a means of beating the audience over the head with recaps of what happened anywhere from one week to one nanosecond prior. Three hour RAWs, especially lately, have dragged because of the latter, so it's completely fair to expect that maybe this won't be a good move for the people who matter, the viewers.
Already, the backlash to any kind of backlash this move would generate has come out with people saying shit along the lines of "why criticize it because you're gonna watch it anyway" or "don't bitch about something that hasn't happened yet." Y'know, the regular lines of defense of questionable WWE moves, because God forbid anyone shows any concern. I'd say that maybe this would be invalid if WWE had the track record of making three hour RAWs something more than two hour RAWs with the recaps and fluff ads turned up to eleventy billion.
Hoping for anything regarding a more fully fleshed out roster right now is wishing against the grain. That being said, we're being dragged into this show extension kicking and screaming. There is one definite positive I can think of to come out of this. The frequency of longer RAW matches at any level should skip up a bit.
Also, TNA announced that Impact would go live, which is actually a good move if coupled with them gradually phasing out the Impact Zone. Who knew that both companies would release news on their flagship shows on the same day with TNA's news being the BETTER of the two.
