POSITIVES - That I am seeing in the WWE right now

[Heyman]

POSITIVES - That I am seeing in the WWE right now
Creation of New Stars:
Utilization of Money in the Bank:
PPV Unique Value Pro██████████
The Face-push of Randy Orton
The fading Glass ceiling
NXT
The evolution of Jack Swagger's character.
Storyline build-ups (i.e. HBK vs. Taker at Mania)
Some Suggestions for the WWE:
Re-package Shelton Benjamin and make him the way he was in 04'
Turn Santino Marella into a heel again

[Heyman]

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POSITIVES:

The above is the short-version of my post for those that have a short attention span. :p I have been very impressed lately with some of the things the WWE have been doing. In the last few years, we have seen guys like Santino Marella, Sheamus, Kofi Kingston, Jack Swagger, CM Punk, Cody Rhodes, and Ted Dibiase get over with relative ease. Even guys like Drew MacIntyre and Dolf Ziggler are fairly over.

Even though it's not a perfect formula, I like the role of MITB at Wrestlemania. Now granted - The WWE may have made a mistake with CM Punk (and Jack Swagger if it's actually true that he "cashed in" and defeated Jericho), but the truth of the matter is that being the "World Champion" has far less signficance than in years past. In today's Wrestling world, one doesn't even have to be the world champ in order to be considered "the best" amongst the marks. Hell - even at this year's Wrestlemania, neither of the World title matches were last on the card! In today's wrestling world, one can even argue that the WWE/World title can basically serve as a pretext in getting a guy over (i.e. Punk a few years ago, Swagger now). I am also a fan of the WWE's recent commitment to "PPV Unique Value Proposition." More PPV's in recent years have been unique in their own way. The next PPV for instance is "extreme rules." I definitely think the WWE are on the right track with this line of thought. Hopefully, each and every PPV will be extremely unique one day.

Although some other posters on here have alluded to it, I am also a huge fan of Randy Orton's face push....and how the WWE are pushing his character. Hopefully, the WWE continue to push him as the "anti-hero." The WWE fucked up badly with Orton's face turn in 04'. Lets hope they don't make the same mistake again. So far - so good. :y: When Orton RKO'd Batista and Swagger on RAW, I marked out quite hard. I can't even recall the last time I did that (maybe 2005 when HBK superkicked Hogan?). I am also pleasantly surprised with how the WWE are pushing Triple H. Now that Triple H, Orton, Cena, and Batista are not dominating the main-events, it has really allowed for other guys to "step up." Hopefully, this is another trend that continues! I would love to see Triple H be similar to the way Shawn Michaels and Undertaker have been over the past few years (i.e. be a top guy, but not necessarily dominate the main-event scene).

As I've mentioned before, I am also a huge fan of the NXT concept. Finally - the WWE's "3rd show" is about something....and isn't just "WWE lite." The show is openly marketed as being a show that showcases future talent. With the advent of this show, the WWE should be able to successfully market up-coming talent. Great job! :y: I am also a huge fan of Jack Swagger's character. I absolutely love his music, and I love the slight "goofiness" that the WWE has brought to his character (i.e. trying to 'cash in' against Cena only to change his mind once Cena got back up to his feet :lol:-). Hopefully, the WWE doesn't make him TOO goofy....as they did with Santino Marella. The way the WWE are pushing Swagger right now is perfect. Hopefully, his title win against Jericho was an April Fool's joke. Regardless however, Swagger is over. :y:

For the 1st time in years, I genuinely felt curious about the "main-event" at Mania: HBK vs. Taker. The last time I felt 'goosebumps' in anticpation, was Rock vs. Austin; Wrestlemania 17. The storyline build-up for a number of the matches at Wrestlemania this year was tremendous. It wasn't just "thrown together" like it was last year. Hopefully, the WWE keeps this up!


Some things I think the WWE can do better:

I really don't know how...or why...the WWE completely wrecked Santino Marella, but they should really turn him back to the way he was. The guy was an awesome heel, and awesome heels WILL get cheered by the crowd. There's nothing wrong with giving Santino a goofy side, but don't do it to the point where no one takes him seriously. This was one problem that the WWE had with guys like Kurt Angle and Christian....and they were *way* less goofy than Santino. If the WWE handle Santino the correct way (i.e. the way he was pushed in 08'), then they could have a real blue chipper. I also feel the same way about Shelton Benjamin. Get rid of the bullshit blond hair, the slow version of his entrance music, and turn him back into the Benjamin of 04'. You know what I would seriously do? I would have HBK come back to RAW for *one last promo*. Fans would then get curious as to what he'd want to say. HBK could then say, "Don't worry....I'm not unretiring....but I do have one person I would like to address: Shelton Benjamin."

Benjamin then comes out and HBK says, "Do you remember the match that we had in 04'? HBK then shows Benjamin the clip. HBK then says, "What happened to THAT guy? THAT guy had promise. THAT guy had "all the tools." Does HE still exist? Benjamin could then cut a slightly 'shoot' promo and say, "You know what? I appreciate what you're saying Shawn but the truth of the matter is that I don't care anymore. I get paid well, I get enough wins, I lose a few matches, and I go home. The fans don't care about me since I don't have any "kewl" catchphrases like The Rock did....or like Cena does. I'm happy where I am." HBK then tells Benjamin that that's fine....but there will come a day when he retires...and when that day comes, Benjamin will always wonder as to what he COULD have acheived. HBK then walks off and waves to the fans. Benjamin goes into "soul search" mode....and disappears off TV for a month. A month later, Benjamin comes back as the Benjamin of 04'.

It's a scenerio I thought of, and I thought it was interesting. OK - I'm really tired of typing now. I will now finish this post. :)

[Mr. Nerfect]

I've been thinking that the WWE would benefit by pushing Shelton Benjamin, recently. I enjoy Shelton's ring work and promos, and I dunno -- I guess I just want to see him make it. The same goes for MVP.

The King of the Ring concept would be great for creating new stars. Then there's Money in the Bank and NXT, as well. I'm hopeful that we'll see a lot of fresh guys in the main event shortly.

[Juan]

wow, a Heyman post I can actually agree with. I didn't read the second post though tbh

[Mr. Nerfect]

It seems to me that you are being very general when talking about the positives, but very specific when talking about your personal dislikes. And it's not just what is being done, but what could be done but isn't? Very interesting. Makes me want to read more of your thoughts.

[Heyman]

wow, a Heyman post I can actually agree with.

Looks like you're getting wiser in your old age. ;)

[Heyman]

It seems to me that you are being very general when talking about the positives, but very specific when talking about your personal dislikes. And it's not just what is being done, but what could be done but isn't? Very interesting. Makes me want to read more of your thoughts.

Hey Noid,

Let me see if I can help:


Creation of New Stars: I think for a few years there, the WWE kept pissing away their promising stars. Guys like Carlitto, Ken Kennedy, etc. would all look promising on Smackdown, only to then get moved to RAW and get buried by a glass ceiling (only to then be 'spat back' to Smackdown and/or be released). Over the last 18 months or so, the WWE seems to have deviated from that. Now - we are FINALLY seeing under-card wrestlers get more of an opportunity (i.e. Sheamus, Swagger, Kingston, etc.).


Utilization of Money in the Bank: I think the WWE has accepted the fact that their World/WWE titles have greatly devalued over the years.....but are actually using it to their advantage. Nowadays, the World/WWE title doesn't necessarily mean that "such and such" wrestler is your top guy in the company. Often times, the World/WWE title is just a way of getting someone 'over' (i.e. Punk a few years ago, Swagger now).


PPV Unique Value Pro██████████ Again - I think if the WWE continues to make each and every PPV extremely unique in some way, they will maximize revenue. This was in contrast to a few years ago where we saw random PPV's being strung together every 3 weeks on average (with no real "unique value proposition" of that specific PPV).


The Face-push of Randy Orton: The WWE seems to committed to push Orton as the "anti-hero"....and not just make him into a "loveable babyface that caters to 12 years olds." For so many years, the WWE have been NOTORIOUS for taking great heels and turning them into mediocre faces (as a result of not knowing what to do with them). Ken Kennedy, Santino, Carlitto, etc., etc., etc. are just a few of MANY examples. Hopefully, the WWE will do something different here with Orton. If pushed right, I believe that Orton will easily be the top face of the company.


The fading Glass ceiling: Pretty much ties into what I was saying with what I was saying earlier (i.e. wrestlers immediately cashing in and winning the title with their MITB - the WWE/World title being used as a 'vehicle' to get someone over, etc.). The WWE have also stopped having Triple H dominate the main-event scene. If this past year is of any indication, I think what the WWE will do with Triple H is give him 1 brief 2 month title reign every year....at some point during the year. Outside of that though - Triple H won't be in the main-event match-up come Wrestlemania time. Triple H will mainly be used as a guy that wins 90% of the time, but will do significant jobs to the *right* wrestler. At WM, Triple H will either win or lose against promising stars.


NXT: Like I said - I like NXT far more than the "watered down" verison of ECW. NXT is actually "about something" and isn't just some "C" show that will never come to fruition. NXT has an identity, and fans can see who the 'future stars of tomorrow' are.


The evolution of Jack Swagger's character. Swagger's character has really developed over the past few months. I love his music, and I also love how the WWE have given him a slightly goofy side (without having gone overboard).


Storyline build-ups (i.e. HBK vs. Taker at Mania): One reason why there was so much anticipation for Wrestlemania this year, was because there were so many storylines that had been well developed. Contrast this to last year where a lot of the matches were just kind of "strung together" after the February PPV (i.e. JBL vs. Mysterio, Cena vs. Edge, HHH vs. Orton, etc.). Hopefully, the WWE continues to do that next year.