WWE 24/7: Pro Wrestling on Demand, Twenty Four Hours a Day, Seven Days a Week

For years wrestling fans have wondered if there would ever be a 24 hour wrestling channel. The closest thing prior to October 2004 was The Fight Network but that's available in Europe and Canada. But in October 2004, WWE debuted its video on-demand service titled 'WWE 24/7'. The service is only available on digital cable and is carried by some of the biggest cable providers in the United States. Comcast and Cablevision are among 33 other cable providers who carry the service for its customers. You can call your cable provider to see if they offer the service (if they don't, ask them to pursue it). It's cost ranges from anywhere from $5.95 upward per month and is in no way going to put a dent in your wallet.

WWE since purchasing WCW in 2001 has gone on a bit of a spending spree as far as video libraries are concerned. Since purchasing WCW they have bought the tape libraries for the following wrestling promotions: ECW (Extreme Championship Wrestling closed its doors in 2001), WCCW (World Class Championship Wrestling was the home of the Von Erichs and ended in 1990), AWA (American Wrestling Association was led by Verne Gagne), NWA Jim Crockett Promotions (the precursor to WCW), Smokey Mountain Wrestling (owned by Jim Cornette, an independent promotion which lasted for just a few years in the mid 1990s), Stampede Wrestling (the famous territory run by Stu Hart in Canada) and CWF (Championship Wrestling from Florida, booked by Eddie Graham and existed for over 20 years ending its run in 1987). This is in addition to WWEs own library which includes events from the early 1970s.

24/7 features about 40 hours per week of programming ranging from several different promotions and decades. World Class footage recently debuted in late February and is going to feature the advancement of The Fabulous Freebirds and Von Erich feud from the early 1980s. That's just one example of the kind of programming that's available on a weekly basis.

Each month a new theme is presented. For example, February 2007's theme was 'Beauties and Beasts.' Wrestlers such as Sensational Sherri, Andre The Giant, George "The Animal" Steele, Trish Stratus, Moolah, Big John Studd, and many others were highlighted throughout the month. March 2007 is based aorund Wrestlemania. Throughout the month, various different Wrestlemania events from the past are shown in their entirety (they are believed to be the versions from the recently released sets).

Each month there are a certain number of categories which feature content. The six categories are: Hall of Fame, Shorties, Big Ones, Prime Time, Territories and Specials.

The Hall of Fame section highlights a single wrestler per month. A documentary feature hosted by Mene Gene Okerlund is available all month long. It usually features a look at their career with emphasis on key matches and moments. A excerpt of their WWE Hall of Fame induction speech is also shown. Besides this, there are four separate matches available during the month. They involve the superstar highlighted.

The Shorties section is filled with several selections which are usually short (hence the name) in nature. Whether it's a wrestling match, interview, in-ring segment, or a variety of other possibilities, they reflect the theme of the month. For example this month under the Wrestlemania banner, celebrity moments at the big show are highlighted. Among the selections are Pete Rose, Lawrence Taylor, Ray Charles, Pamela Anderson, Bob Uecker and others and their experiences whether it be interviews, matches, singing or any other actions.

The Big Ones section usually features pay per view events. 24/7 usually features recent WWE pay per view events on a three month delay. Survivor Series 2006 from last November aired in February. Past pay per view events from WWE, WCW, NWA, AWA and ECW are shown. Also, old WWE house shows from the 1980s (or earlier) are shown ranging from Madison Square Garden to the Boston Garden to the Philadelphia Spectrum and many more locations.

Prime Time is where the television shows are shown. During the course of a month, WWE's old Prime Time episodes (which aired on Monday nights before RAW began in 1993) and Tuesday Night Titans (a Johnny Carson type show hosted by Vince McMahon in the 1980s) are shown. This is also the category where you can follow the famous Monday Night Wars of the late 1990s between WWE and WCW. Anywhere from 2-3 new updated shows are shown per month. Hosted by Michael Cole, both WCW Monday Nitro and WWE Monday Night RAW are shown from a particular night. In March 2007, they are in December 1996.

The Territories section is where other promotion's television shows are shown. NWA Saturday Night (a staple on Ted Turner's Superstation for over 20 years) featuring stars like Ric Flair and The Four Horseman, Dusty Rhodes, Magnum T.A., Sting, Lex Luger and many others. ECW's television show is shown and hosted by Joey Styles and Tazz. In March 2007, they're up to the fall of 1995 where the likes of Steve Austin, Rey Mysterio and Psicosis debuted in ECW. Classic footage from a promotion which featured future superstars Mick Foley, Steve Austin, Chris Benoit, Eddie Guerrero and so many others, it's a blast watching them before they "made it." Also in this section is TV from World Class, CWF and the AWA. It's expected in the coming months both Smokey Mountain and Stampede footage will begin airing here.

The Specials category features documentary styled footage. WWE airs their old Coliseum Videos sometimes. Recently released DVDs are also featured here on occasion. For example, Hulk Hogan's Ultimate Anthology is highlighted for March 2007 (airing in three parts over the course of the month). WWE has also created their own original content to air here. A roundtable discussion featuring legends Jim Ross, Dusty Rhodes, Pat Patterson, Michael P.S. Hayes and Mike Graham was featured for a couple of months. They discussed the superstars of the 80s including Ric Flair, Hulk Hogan, Bob Backlund, Terry Funk, Roddy Piper, Sgt. Slaughter, Andre The Giant, Iron Sheik among others. Another roundtable was shot and is scheduled to air next month. That will include Jim Ross, Jerry Lawler, Michael P.S. Hayes, Mick Foley and Eric Bischoff discussing a new topic.

24/7 airs footage you probably never saw before and if you're a new fan to professional wrestling, it's like going back in time and watching WCW, NWA, AWA, ECW, WCCW and the others as if it were 1986 or 1995.

The only drawbacks are the obvious edits (of music, logos, etc.) and sometimes, they repeat some footage. But they always update their schedule on a weekly basis with new footage to the line-up.

If you're interested in reliving the days of oldtime professional wrestling or looking to watch something new, WWE 24/7 is for you. It's only available on digital cable so remember that. You can call your local cable provider or log on to the WWE 24/7 website to see if you can order it. If you can, it comes highly recommended.