Eat. Sleep. Wrestling Thread. Repeat. - Part 140

[H.U.S.T.L.E.]

Honestly, all the fault goes to the top. Vince and the creative team as a whole (the fault also goes to Stephanie as well). There are so many people being wasted and it isn't because the roster is bloated. A brand extension isn't necessary. Better writing is necessary. Reintroduce titles and actually make them have prestige. That within itself gives so many wrestlers something to do. Ambrose has been the US Champion for 9 months. All it has done was give Ambrose distinction among the rest of the upper-mid card when he is announced.

And maybe I'm just looking in the past with rose-tinted glasses but I remember when there were great feuds between mid-card wrestlers without a title involved. One thing I congratulate Haitch for is the tag team division not being in the background. I like the exposure that the Usos and the Rhodes Brothers get as well as Reigns/Rollins when they were champions. Let's see more of it. Let's get multiple tag team matches. Let's pair up aimless singles wrestlers as successful tag teams. Let's just be creative in general.

WWE doesn't need a brand extension. They need better writing in creative and they need management to make it a priority.[/end Smark rant]

I agree with everything you said man - I certainly don't think a brand extension is necessary either, but I can see the merits in it, that's all I'm saying.

And on a similar (but tangential) note, I often wonder how a group of intelligent wrestling fans would do if they were allowed to run the creative side as an experiment (without Vince getting in the way of course!). Just from seeing a lot of thoughtful responses here, I think we could form a solid booking committee t:

 

[Warhammer]

It may be a common smarky thing to say, but yeah, I think we could book a solid show every now and then. Alot of people in this thread have some terrific ideas.

 

[sweetre15]

It may be a common smarky thing to say, but yeah, I think we could book a solid show every now and then. Alot of people in this thread have some terrific ideas.

Contrary to what some WWE apologists might think, A hefty bit of longtime fans probably could book a better show then the average WWE Creative member for 2 reasons:

1) We are more hip to mainstream culture and what people like these days regarding movies and TV and trends in general.

2) We've been watching wrestling long enough to understand to basics of what wrestling SHOULD BE at it's BEST

To be quite frank, If you aren't being a self serving jerk, Booking pro wrestling is actually quite an easy thing to do. The problem is some overthink it.

 

[The Sage]

It may be a common smarky thing to say, but yeah, I think we could book a solid show every now and then. Alot of people in this thread have some terrific ideas.

I normally avoid saying something like that because I'm not a professional booker. But there are some things that are just common sense that get missed too many times.

 

[sweetre15]

I normally avoid saying something like that because I'm not a professional booker. But there are some things that are just common sense that get missed too many times.

Honestly, as long as you are not only booking engaging angles but using your eyes and ears by checking buyrates, segment viewership, attendance figures, and merch sales.

Booking really is a pretty easy thing to do. It's alot harder when said Booker has a self-serving agenda and tries to give the audience what they "should" want or What ONLY you want over what they actually want.

 

[runawayboulder]

I'm thrilled to hear about [BLACKOUT]Cesaro[/BLACKOUT] in the EC match. He doesn't have a snowballs chance in winning but it's a great opportunity for him to go toe to toe with the big names in the company.

I'm a little weary about another potential tag team breaking up. That's the [BLACKOUT]Prime Time Players[/BLACKOUT], possibly the Real Americans, the rumored Rhodes brothers break up and the Shield most likely dissolving. That really hurts the division....

 

[Herolee10]

Honestly, if I had things my way... these are the guys that I would be focused on and pushing towards being the top stars of the company:

1. Daniel Bryan
2. CM Punk
3. Sheamus
4. Roman Reigns
5. Big E Langston
6. Cody Rhodes
7. Dolph Ziggler
8. Dean Ambrose
9. Seth Rollins
10. Zack Ryder
11. Kofi Kingston
12. Bray Wyatt
13. Christian
14. Antonio Cesaro
15. Damien Sandow
16. Wade Barrett
17. The Miz
18. Goldust


Meanwhile, I'd phase out and transition the former main event players (John Cena, Randy Orton, Batista, Big Show, Kane, The Undertaker, Brock Lesnar) into positions where they would help further legitimize the superstars mentioned above.

I'd still keep the U.S. and IC titles, but I would at least make them come off as more prestigious, with the US title acting in as second tier to the IC one.

And these are the tag teams that I would prefer utilizing in order to make the division into a serious entity again:

1. New Age Outlaws
2. The Usos
3. The Prime Time Players (keep them together)
4. Primo and Epico (abandon their current gimmick)
5. The Real Americans
6. Justin Gabriel and Heath Slater
7. Yoshi Tatsu and Albert; emphasis on Japanese Style Wrestling
8. Bring back the Hart Foundation/Dynasty Tag Team


Oh and definitely bring back the "REAL" Women's Championship belt and abandon the Divas one. Also, bring back Beth Phoenix, utilize Natalya, and any legitimate female wrestler out there.

 

[Slushy]

Who would you have go in with him? DDP? nWo?

Luger
Page
Goldberg
Vader
Steiners
Mero
Malenko

 

[The Sage]

The "Daniel Bryan" situation isn't the first time fans have hijacked shows. It's happened for years, even in the early 90s:

Flair was in his legal rights to take the NWA/WCW World title belt with him to the WWF because Herd refused to give Flair back the $25,000 deposit that the NWA required of every wrestler upon winning the World title to keep him from appearing in a rival promotion (like the WWF); according to NWA bylaws, the deposit would be paid back upon losing, plus interest. Without Flair, the 1991 Great American Bash became what many fans consider one of the worst wrestling PPVs in history, as the Baltimore audience loudly chanted, "We want Flair!" throughout the entire show.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Herd#Lasting_impact_on_the_NWA

 

[Darkness Falls]

honestly thought impact was good this week, haven't said that in months
excited about these sting to wwe rumors

the elimination chamber news is great

 

[X Knight]

at some point, the WWE has to recognize that guys like Cena and Orton won't be around forever ( shocking, I know ).

at some point, they are going to have to build new stars and new faces of the company.

and no, returning old bores who no one really asked for, don't count........

 

[Wheels]

I wish Batista all the best with GOTG, and I'm okay with him being back, but him returning and main eventing the 30th WrestleMania is bizarre. He was behind Cena for the majority of his career, and yet he gets treated like he's some Rock level star who gets the big spot automatically because he's Drax? C'mon now, it's not like he's a big time Hollywood stat at the moment. I mean at least with The Rock it was understandable. WWE must have some partnership with Disney/Marval setup

 

[sweetre15]

I also gotta say that I think WWE should rethink some of the designs of Daniel Bryan's merchandise? While He's number 3 on the merch totem pole from what I can tell, Maybe he'd be number 1 if they cut back on the goat shirts and beard caps etc?

Make a shirt for #YesMovement or Ultimate Underdog.....Just something less cheeseball.

Punk's shirts look more like something people would want to wear as opposed to this:

 

[Slushy]

Theory:

Spoiler

I'm thinking that if Brock Lesnar isn't allowed a shot at Orton's title (Just because Heyman keeps saying it doesn't mean Helmsley has to approve it.) that he'll go on a rampage and destroy people every week until Paul E says if he can't get the WWE title, then he's going to end the streak!

 

[TheNextNolan22]

Cut back on that "Goat" ****(see what I did there ) and make some American Dragon esque apparel.

 

[vantheman77]

If Sting and Undertaker do not happen in this year's WrestleMania, I'm fine with that as Undertaker's streak will never be broken. I hope they don't make Sting look bad when facing Undertaker.

It seems the WWE want him for merchandise such as DVD's, t-shirts, and action figures than anything else along with the WWE Network launch to represent WCW. If Sting did sign a Legends deal, I can accept that as long as the WWE does not make him look bad on a weekly basis.

 

[sweetre15]

Cut back on that "Goat" ****(see what I did there ) and make some American Dragon esque apparel.

Agreed. Who besides kids, does WWE really think would buy Goat apparel? Goats have never been cool regardless of how popular Bryan is.

A Shirt saying #YESMOVEMENT, AMERICAN DRAGON, FEAR THE DRAGON, ULTIMATE UNDERDOG, I'M A WRESTLER etc would likely be more appealing provided that the designs are well done.

Hell, These could make a Rather Appealing T-Shirt design in light of the current situation:

 

[Slushy]

Punk walks out?!!

C.M. Punk has been removed from all house shows over the next several weeks.

C.M. Punk reportedly told Vince McMahon last night that he was going home, and did so. That's where things stand right now. At this point, he's off everything going forward.

I'm guessing he's pissed off Batista won the Royal Rumble instead of him (he was originally going to win it.) I don't blame him.

 

[sweetre15]

Punk walks out?!!



I'm guessing he's pissed off Batista won the Royal Rumble instead of him (he was originally going to win it.) I don't blame him.

Oh crap, I guess Punk can only tolerate so much politics Backstage.

 

[TheNextNolan22]

Oh ****....

 

[Incrediblejeff]

I really hope this is a rumor.It would suck to lose Punk.

 

[vantheman77]

Should we call this Daniel Bryan - The Yes Man?

 

[TheVileOne]

Please Sting, you don't have to wrestle with WWE. Just let us get the DVD's and you can get in the Hall of Fame. That's all I care about.

Sick of seeing you in TNA. It's bush league man.

 

[TheVileOne]

If Punk walked out, good for him. He's done more than most ever dreamed or expected he would in his career. He can probably do whatever he wants now. If he wants, he could probably come back at some point.

 

[TheNextNolan22]

Punk has every right to walk out. I would be fed up with the politicking backstage too if I was in his position.