Recently the WWE had their first Pay Per View of the year, The Royal Rumble, and once again, the WWE Universe let the people behind the curtain know they were not happy. I personally did not like the Rumble's finish. I was hoping for Dolph Ziggler to get the title shot at WrestleMania, however I could not be mad at Roman Reigns. Why? Cause he didn't do a damn thing wrong!
But if you read the reaction, there are apparently a large group of people who believe they should be running the biggest wrestling promotion. Everyone knows how to do things better. The tone of the complaints are basically the WWE creative team does not know what they are doing. Yes they do. They went from a regional northeastern promotion, to almost going out of business to being the largest promotion on the planet. They are four generations into this industry, you have to assume they might have an insight or two.
Now, I can honestly say, minus the triple threat championship match, the entire show was a let down. Four tag team matches in a row. Nothing of any interest. The weakest was the opening match between The New Age Outlaws and the Ascension. But really the Rumble itself was a let down. Though they were some highlights. The return of ECW great Bubba Ray Dudley in Philly was great. And Rusev really standing out as a heel by rolling out of the ring and waiting to strike, was great.
That said, the Main Event did not make a memorial mark. Both fan favorites Daniel Bryant and Dolph Ziggler were eliminated way to early. The surprise Boogeyman entry was a spot that should have gone to NXT Star Adrian Neville. And if the Rumble had of been in Atlanta then WCW Star Diamond Dallas Page makes sense. But they were in Philadelphia, home of EC F'N W, Tommy Dreamer makes more sense. And the finish was underwhelming. It just seemed it took forEVER for Kane and Big Show to go over the top rope. And the appearance of The Rock was a bad sign. It meant the WWE knew the crowd was not going to be happy with their decision.
So, while I openly admit, I have no idea about the true inner workings of World Wrestling Entertainment. I have some thoughts, so here are my armchair Quarterback thoughts. So get me a beer and listen up.
This is what the WWE needs to do.
Remember the Sport in Sports Entertainment.
If one listens to "Stone Cold" Steve Austin's podcast The Steve Austin Show Unleashed one learns that, "It's wrestling god damn it!" While Professional Wrestling is pre-determined outcomes, the performers do attempt amazing ATHLETIC feats. All of which require great trust in the partner/ opponent. But they also have belts which symbolize championships. If you watch ROH Wrestling, they put up a "tale of the tape" graphic with stats on the screen, and TNA Wrestling is starting to do the same. Same as MMA & Boxing bouts. In those sports all the fighters are ranked. This would give every match on TV some meaning. And will help fill out cards, where no feud was started.
Also, divisions and commissioners bring the product back into the sports realm. An authority figure, either someone like Hulk Hogan to stand against The Authority or Kevin Nash to be the enforcer for The Authority. Break everyone up into divisions, and not covertly complicated:
Main Event - those wrestlers in the hunt for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship
Mid-card - those wrestlers in the hunt for the IC/ US title
Light Heavyweights - those smaller wrestlers in the hunt for the Light Heavyweight Championship
Tag Team - those wrestlers who are in tag teams
Under what has been branded the PG era, the adult audience members are forced out. While TNA Wrestling is moving to be an adult alternative, one look at Impact Wrestling on Destination America, they are not. So we as an audience are getting more "gimmicky" characters. Now there are some performers who are playing the hilt out of their gimmick, but ... Curtis Hussey is not being helped by the Fandango gimmick, nor have Eddie "Primo" Colón and Orlando "Epico" Colón made waves as Los Matadores with El Torito or how far can Mattias Clement go with the the Tyler Breeze character? And be honest it would be easier to really enjoy the Rhodes Brothers if it was Cody Rhodes and "The Natural" Dustin Rhodes instead of Gold and Star Dust.
One also has to look at the under stellar runs of Curtis Axel or of NXT Star Bo Dallas. Talent like Titus O'Neil, Zack Ryder or David Otunga never seem to get any traction.
Late last year when the WWE Network had the special "ECW Exposed", former owner Paul Heyman said where he saw the promotion would be if it had of survied. And yes, there will a certain amount of hardcore matches, but what you also could see, is more Lucha Libre and maybe some Puroresu (Japanese Wrestling). Another thing which would be interesting on a program with the word EXTREME in it. Exposing the American wrestling audience to a form of wrestling from Mexico called Exoticos. Basically a glam rock/ drag queen look to pro wrestling.
On Austin's podcast HHH stated that they are currently catering to a wide audience, kids, parents and single adults, so they struggle on the balance. But if you do a show that airs exclusively on the WWE Network, you are only catering with set audience. And because the Network is different from ANY OTHER network, parental guidance control block the children from watching! So if children see it, that's just bad parenting.
Combine the Intercontinental Championship with the US Championship
When I was growing up, when the WWF placed the Intercontinental belt on people it meant something. The IC belt was the stepping stone to the WWF World Championship. It was for the Ultimate Warrior, Bret "The Hitman" Hart and Shawn Michaels. Even when Mr. Perfect and Razor Ramon had that strap it meant something. And to this day one of coolest moments with IC was seeing Rowdy Roddy Piper beat the Mountie at the 1992 Royal Rumble for the Intercontinental Championship.
The US Championship is officially the last holdover from World Championship Wrestling. And it has caused no real interest in awhile. What was the big moment from Sheamus's reign or the long reign of Dean Ambrose? Right now it should be drawing some interest, as the Anti-American, Russia loving, Unstoppable Monster Rusev has the strap. But him having a title has meant nothing...
Plus with two titles at the mid card level, both become meaningless. Also the titles area not actively defended. And the IC belt has traded between so many people in one year. Does anyone care that Wade Barrett got back a title he never lost?
And heading into WrestleMania is a pretty good place to do this. Set up a Three-way elimination match. You have Intercontinental Champion Wade "Bad News" Barret vs. United States Champion Rusev vs. Challenger Dolph Ziggler. You have Rusev take out Barret, and then Ziggler hands Rusev his first lose. And on the following RAW, Ziggler is crowned the Undisputed Intercontinental Champion.
So if one needs to go, it should be WCW's, since they lost the war.
Revive the WWF Light Heavyweight Championship
WCW's greatest, and ironically overlooked, contribution to professional wrestling was the Cruiserweight division. ECW may have brought Lucha to the US, but it was WCW that showcased it for a national audience. The WWE version of this was the Light Heavyweight Championship. The WWF launched this title back in 1987 as part a partnership with the now defunct Mexican wrestling promotion the Universal Wrestling Promotion, and then from '95 to '97 it was used as part of an agreement with New Japan Pro Wrestling. In 1997 it officially came to the WWF. Men like Christian, Dean Malenko, Jeff Hardy and X-Pac all held this title. When WCW was purchase by WWF in 2001, this title was dropped in favor of the Cruiserweight championship.
And there have been a lack high flyers or smaller guys. But their are some coming up. Both of the Lucha Dragons from NXT, Adrian Nevile also from NXT, and some other people on the roster. Also, as it would technically be a second mid-card title, make it exclusive to Smack Down, and have the Intercontinental belt exclusive to RAW.
Place a dedicated producer focus on the Divas Division
If you look at the WWE Divas, there are some truly talented women. AJ Lee, Natalya, Paige, Alicia Fox & Naomi are talent wrestlers that can do some serious work in the ring. Both the Bellas are improving their in ring talents, as are Layla & Summer Rae. Cameron , Rosa Mendes and Eva Marie are becoming solid performers, but could be utilized more. And don't forget Tamina Snuka will be returning, plus Emma has been sent down to NXT to get a jump start to her career.
And basic sport logic would say, Charlotte, Bailey and Sasha Banks time in NXT is coming to an end. But why would they leave for maybe a two minute match on Superstars? Currently TNA's Knockouts are given more respect. Are they better? No. It is just the women are given the opportunity to work. Hell on the YouTube series NWA Ringside, I watched a match between the NWA Women's Champion Barbi Hayden against Portia Perez. And this was in the regional NWA Inspire Pro promotion. And these two women were allowed time to do their thing. Side note, when will Hayden be recruited to NXT?
What needs to happen, on Main Event, Superstars, and even Smackdown, the women need to be given the time to show what they can do. This will allow them to get over with the crowd, and thus show they can have bigger roles on RAW and on the PPV.
Stop allowing Total Divas dictate your story lines. E! is not known for it's quality story telling. And allowing this show to dictate the story lines, is only insulting to your loyal fanbase. Plus the number of people who watch E! probably not big pro wrestling fans.
And take advantage of the NXT Arena at Full Sail University. The WWE has had very good success with their NXT Takeover events on the WWE Network. Why not have a special on the Network, shot at a facility you already have, and make it a Divas only event. Call it Ladies Night!
FYI, Triple H is for it, he said so on Austin's live podcast.
On his recent appearance on Austin's podcast, Triple H states he likes to slow burn storylines. Well here is a way to do just that. There is no way to deny John Cena is the biggest thing in Professional Wrestling right now. No matter what fans say, he is still the big man on campus. But... the "Cena Sucks" chants are becoming more and more loud. And Cena is like Hulk Hogan in WCW 1996, when the crowds booed him. He "betrayed" WCW, formed the nWo with Nash and Hall and then told the fans to stick it. And when the nWo was brought to WWE, and Hulk eventually returns to the Red and Yellow of Hulkamania, it was a story of redemption.
Cena needs this as well. Triple H was right when he said, Cena packs arenas and pushes merch. But, the character is stale. Not a failing of Cena, or a slam against the man. The hero who overcomes is boring. Even the "suffering" at the hands of Brock Lesnar, was a little, "Been there, done that, already lost the t-shirt". He needs a road to redemption. At Fastlane, Cena should lose to Rusev via disqualification. And then @ RAW, officially join with the Authority telling the fans to symbolically F off. And set a path from WrestleMania 31 in Santa Clara to WrestleMania 32 in Dallas which takes Cena from the Authority back to Cenation.
Bring back managers & valets to the show
It is simple, look at Brock Lesnar, Seth Rollins and Rusev. All three of these heel performers have either had a manager, valets or spokesperson. With Brock Lesnar and CM Punk, Paul Heyman can make the case he is one of the greatest managers in wrestling, second only to Bobby "The Brain" Heenan. It would been nice to see what he could have done when he found his groove with Curtis Axel or Cesaro. Rusev has truly benefited from the work of Lana as his spokesperson. And Seth Rollins has gotten over great as a heel due to his valets J & J Security.
When I was a kid, all heels had managers or valets. From The Weasel, Mr. Fuji, Jim Cornette, Sherri Martel to Miss Elizabeth. It allowed heels to be heels. Heels cheat, that's what makes them heels.
Right now, there are no managers per se. Something to be worked into the WWE Performance Center program. But, there are valets available. A large portion of the Divas Roster could "double" as valets. In fact minus Paige and maybe AJ Lee, unless her hubby comes back, every single Diva can do valet duty. Layla, Summer Rae and currently Rosa Mendes have been "dance partners" for Fandango. Now both Naomi & Natalya have been joining their real life husbands to the ring, but the reason? Who the f knows.
As for managers, not a whole lot of options. Paul Heyman cannot manage every up & comer. But, "The Nature Boy" Ric Flair has talked about wanting to manage. There are a couple of people he could work with, Zack Ryder, Darren Young and Damien Sandow (Mizdow). Another avenue is followers. While Harper and Rowan have flourished once set free from Bray Wyatt. But Wyatt has floundered since. He he was stronger with followers. Imagine what would happen if Wyatt brought on The Ascension as disciples, hey there is your feud for A New Day.
The WWE is not on the verge of collapse, or even a major fan revolt. Subscriptions are on the rise for the WWE Network, the talent coming out of NXT is truly impressive, and if Paul "Triple H" Levesque is truly the one in charge down there, then WWE will be in good hands.