So, after a very abysmal Royal Rumble I decided to make a thread that when WWE makes us irate at their decisions we have a place so we can get it off our chest. I'll start with my first topic, the Rock an their "Twice In A Lifetime" build:
The WWE bring in part-timers/legends because people today can't draw. That's just a simple fact. Nobody on the REAL roster can really draw if you're names not John Cena or to a lesser extent CM Punk. Orton used to be HUGE but WWE has done everything they can to make him seem like he's really not that big of a deal. This is where I get absolutely irate with Cena. Why does he need to be involved with the Rock? They had their match and there's absolutely no reason for them to do this again JUST so Cena can get his passing of the torch or Wrestlemania moment or whatever he's benefiting from this.
John Cena is a draw. There's no doubt about that. The Rock is a draw, something you can also not doubt. So smart marketing would say that you would split them so that fans of both are still seeing them but the two they are working with are getting exposure. I'm not speaking as a wrestling fan, I'm talking as someone who understands that it should be common sense to do this. WWE's main problem currently is that no star feels like a big deal because John Cena is god and everyone is stricken down by him. Don't try to convince me it's about the wrestlers being small either because size has nothing to do with it. Shawn Michaels, Ricky Steamboat, Chris Benoit, Bret Hart, Rey Mysterio, Chris Jericho, Edge, and many others aren't the biggest guys but still could be a big draw in their time. It's not even about mic work! Mysterio, Benoit, Steamboat, and Hart all were terrible on the mic! You didn't like them because they could drop Pipebombs but because WWE played to their strengths (Mysterio's heritage, Steamboat was the mecca of fan-favorite face, Bret Hart showed what he could do in the ring, and Benoit was the "workhorse").
When it comes down to it a gimmick can it as great as they come, but if the booking/storylines aren't interesting, it's going to flop(sadly the route the Shield is going.) Booking can make the show must-watch or absolute shit. They need to get rid of the D-list movie actors/writers they have and get actual wrestling minds in there (Heyman, Cornette, and Trips to start). Maybe even bring Russo in, I don't care just get people who actually WATCH the sport so that they understand what works. I feel like I strayed from what I wanted to say at first though, this is where Cena fans might want to use ear muffs.
Cena is what has killed the industry. Stories are slowly starting to leak from lower stars (Tyler Reks, Derrick Bateman) of the antics Cena does and its shockinglyreminiscent of Hulk Hogan. He has to be the top guy and always pick on the new guys and he even calls out a lower mid-carder because his finisher looks too much like his own (which it doesn't at all.) For a guy that is supposed to embody "Hustle, Loyalty, and Respect"sure doesn't respect his opponents unless their name is Dwayne. This is probably one of the most annoying things that Cena does. He absolutely degrades the guy he's facing (most recently Ziggler) and makes him seem like he isn't a threat to him. He ruined one of the most promising storylines in a while this way with Nexus and he's done it on multiple times throughout his reign on top. Even CM Punk the #2 guy has been made to see like he can't even contend with Cena without being dirty. If nobody can pin Cena, why does any 10 year old kid want to see anyone but a winner? CM Punk has created/tried to help out as many people as he can on the way to the top. If you don't look good in a feud with CM Punk you're doing something wrong. Daniel Bryan, The Shield, all the members of SES, and even older stars like Triple H and even CENA himself look better when they're facing off against Punk. It's because of his mic work and the fact that in the ring he'll actually put you over. He won't get hit by multiple finishers and a briefcase and still pop up. WWE is in denial if they think that the reason that they can't stars over is because Cena is the only guy that can. It's the fact that he's untouchable and everyone is beneath him.
Okay I think I need a break from Cena because it turned into just simply rambling things about him. Although I mentioned about the Reks/Bateman things I still think Cena is a good guy. I also think Hogan is a good guy, but I believe they both have this fear that if they let guys go over then they'll just be forgotten. Anywho, onto my favorite two divisions: Mid-card and Tag team. I've said it before that the WWE has the most talent wrestling-wise then at any other time (including NXT). People like Cesaro, Punk, Bryan, Kidd, Ziggler, Ohno, Neville, Generico are Indy darlings and there's only way to become an indy darling: be the best wrestler on the card. I hope someone can tell me what Kofi Kingston, Tyson Kidd, Justin Gabriel, or Evan Bournes personality or gimmicks are like because all I see them as is the guys that smile a lot and never have mic time to develop an actual character. Hmm, I wonder why people can invest in characters like that? You're not going to care about a wrestler for long if they do nothing interesting or have something to spark your interest. That's why I think they need to get rid of all the stupid recaps and give more mic-time to the entire roster. Prime-Time Players are hilarious on WWE: Inbox on Youtube but apparently they can't get any time with the stick on an actual show. Makes no sense. Come to think of it, watch a couple of WWE youtube shows. You'll probably see more personality from guys you never saw before. Mic-time is the key to the mid-card. I'm making another paragraph because this is that damn important.
Where is the harm in giving the mid-card/tag team more mic time? There is no reasonable excuse except that they want more of Cena or Punk to talk for 30 minutes each week. How about the benefits of them talking? It'll give the fans more exposure to them and their character which gives them another reason to watch the show and not just turn the channel until the end. It also gives them diversity. I loved the Cena/Punk feud and the Bryan/Punk feud but if that's all the show is about I'm going to grow tired of it. TV shows work well when there are different directions they're going in because you reach a broader audience and possibly spark their interest. If you have a main-event feud, tag team feud, and mid-card feud those are three different reasons for me to watch your TV show. Guess what else this little trick does? If everyones get air-time, then what the hell separates the divison? Oh yeah, the ACTUAL TITLES. When everyone has a story and a thing they're fighting for the only thing that matters in the end are the titles and the different levels let the audience know where you're at on the card and how much prestige each title has.
I think that is it for now but I know I have more that I want to get off my chest, tell me what you think and respond with rants of your own about things that bug you. My next rant will probably be more specific about the tag team divison, Daniel Bryan, overkill, and many other things.
Cheap shot.
