Then vs. Now

[Next Big Thing]

We talk a lot about how bad or good this era of wrestling is and how it compares or doesn't compare to the Attitude Era, who sucks, who doesn't suck, it's the talent, it's the writing, etc... so I figured it would be interesting to go back to this day 10 & 20 years ago and compare the talent of today with the talent of yesteryear.

I'm using the current and past title holders only because they're people obviously deemed worthy by the company for the push or exposure. In my opinion, this era's crop does come off a little weak in comparison to the other two decades although the WWE championship titleholders and WCW/ WWE Heavyweight Champions could spark in interesting debate.

What decade had the best collection of titleholders in your opinion? Who are guys who could have held the same title in either of the other two decades and who are guys who probably wouldn't have been allowed to even think about holding that particular title? Which belt has seen the greatest drop in talent or prestige? How far, if at all, do you think the talent level improved over the decades and/or dropped over the decades? What was the difference from then and now that makes these improvements or drops the way they are. You don't have to answer any of those, just throwing some ideas out for the sake of conversation.

WWE Champion
October of 1990: Ultimate Warrior
October of 2000: The Rock
Current: Randy Orton

Heavyweight Champion (WCW didn't have its own belt in 1990 so I used the NWA Champion)
October of 1990: Sting
October of 2000: Booker T
Current: Kane

Intercontinental Champion
October of 1990: Kerry Von Erich
October of 2000: Eddie Guerrero
Current: Dolph Ziggler

United States Champion
October of 1990: Lex Luger
October of 2000: Lance Storm
Current: Daniel Bryan

Tag Team Champions
October of 1990: Hart Foundation
October of 2000: Hardy Boyz
Current: McIntyre & Rhodes

Women's Champion
October of 1990: :nono:
October of 2000: Lita
Current: Michelle McCool

[Droford]

Eric Bischoff

1990
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2073/2153992834_d7e6bc7175.jpg

2000
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_aYgYnqqagB4/S8lM4Lq-5aI/AAAAAAAAAvs/GpxyE1pG1C0/s1600/newera.jpg

2010
http://img.thesun.co.uk/multimedia/archive/00978/hogan-682_978025a.jpg

[Stealth-Icon]

Late 80's


http://www.tomzenk.net/nicerugeric_jpe.jpg

[Xero]

Eric Bischoff

1990
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2073/2153992834_d7e6bc7175.jpg


Woah wait what the fuck? When did Bischoff work for the WWF?

[Waylander]

Funny how Bischoff keeps going to worse and worse companies. From the WWF (apparently) to WCW and now to TNA. The only rung left on this ladder is no company at all :D.

Sorry that this is off topic.

[BizarroKing]

Funny how Bischoff keeps going to worse and worse companies. From the WWF (apparently) to WCW and now to TNA. The only rung left on this ladder is no company at all :D.

Sorry that this is off topic.

Or...ROH...don't shoot me, I'm just saying there aren't any options for him left I think...Oh and CZW

[Next Big Thing]

Whether you think he is a one trick pony or not, what Bischoff did in WCW up until his first hiatus/ firing changed wrestling for the better. Everything else after that... not so much.

[JimmyMess]

Woah wait what the fuck? When did Bischoff work for the WWF?

I believe its footage from his tryout if I'm not mistaken. He never amounted to anything from it

[Joey Slugs]

WCW started in 1988 but used the NWA title until '93

[Cool King]

Woah wait what the fuck? When did Bischoff work for the WWF?

I'm sure he mentioned something about being in the WWF for a very short time in "The Monday Night Wars" DVD.

[Jakob Synn]

Or...ROH...don't shoot me, I'm just saying there aren't any options for him left I think...Oh and CZW

I would find it a little funny if Bischoff bought ROH ala Vince buying WCW.

[Eklipse]

I would find it a little funny if Bischoff bought ROH ala Vince buying WCW.

Im sure Bischoff doesnt have the $ for that.
He could probably afford getting a kfc or popeye's in New Orleans though.

EDIT - When did NBT change his avatar pic??

[Next Big Thing]

What are you talking about? That has always been my pic :shifty:

[DLVH84]

Woah wait what the fuck? When did Bischoff work for the WWF?

This must've been his tryout in 1990, while he was working for Verne Gagne in the AWA.

[SlickyTrickyDamon]

Woah wait what the fuck? When did Bischoff work for the WWF?

He was the first GM of Raw, so for a long time he worked for WWF. :shifty:

[The Pope]

He was the first GM of Raw, so for a long time he worked for WWF. :shifty:

To work his way from the bottom right?:shifty:

[MoFo]

October 2000 was a great month.

[Eklipse]

What are you talking about? That has always been my pic :shifty:

Riiiiight...

[Schlomey]

I was busy comparing ultimate warrior to the rock. Honestly this should be considered a tie. Warrior was the most charismatic and energetic guy during his time. The Rock was the most charismatic wrestler of his time. To dig deeper: Ultimate Warrior was also equally as athletic and good in the ring (according to the standards of the times). Ultimate Warrior was considered a good wrestler for his generation where collar and elbow tie ups were key and a splash would pin a guy. The Rock pinned top guys with a shitty elbow drop.

Obviously people would argue that Rocky was a better wrestler than Warrior but consider the wrestling style of the 80s...while considered outdated today, he was one of the top workers of his generation and his energy and charisma could not be topped. Same could be said for Rocky during the 90s. He was one of the top wrestlers for the style of the 90s.


So I call stalemate after some serious evaluations.

[Jeritron]

WWF not giving Bischoff a chance when he felt he deserved it was one of his primary motivations for trying to put them out of business. He really had a fire under his ass about that

[Supreme Olajuwon]

I don't like Dolph Ziggler's chances of living past 40.

[Next Big Thing]

I was busy comparing ultimate warrior to the rock. Honestly this should be considered a tie. Warrior was the most charismatic and energetic guy during his time. The Rock was the most charismatic wrestler of his time. To dig deeper: Ultimate Warrior was also equally as athletic and good in the ring (according to the standards of the times). Ultimate Warrior was considered a good wrestler for his generation where collar and elbow tie ups were key and a splash would pin a guy. The Rock pinned top guys with a shitty elbow drop.

Obviously people would argue that Rocky was a better wrestler than Warrior but consider the wrestling style of the 80s...while considered outdated today, he was one of the top workers of his generation and his energy and charisma could not be topped. Same could be said for Rocky during the 90s. He was one of the top wrestlers for the style of the 90s.


So I call stalemate after some serious evaluations.

I think Warrior and Rock are definitely interchangeable. In fact, Rock would have done well in all three eras.

For me the biggest question is whether Orton could get over as champ in 2000 and whether Warrior could get over as champ today.

I feel like the crazy, painted face, oiled up muscle head who runs to the ring and goes through opponents wouldn't have done well in 2000, but the fans today would eat it up. That DVD they did about Warrior was a hack job. His promos back then, as weird as they were, fit the character and I think would do pretty good in today's environment. I don't think he would have gotten over in 2000 though.

Orton has the look and decent enough mic skills to have been a top guy in 2000. The only problem is, with all things being equal, does Orton have enough charisma to be someone you would make champ over Rock, HHH, Angle, Taker, Austin? He definitely wouldn't have fit in the early 90's where promos were a little lighter in nature and you had to be muscled up for Vince to make you champ.

[Next Big Thing]

Good catch by Supreme. The IC belt looks cursed. Plus there's that kid on twitter who seems to not be a fan... not looking good for Nick Nemeth.

[jskinnyg]

Good catch by Supreme. The IC belt looks cursed. Plus there's that kid on twitter who seems to not be a fan... not looking good for Nick Nemeth.

Scary...

Except for the cursed IC belt, I think the Class of 2000 has it beat slightly for me... I guess I am the only one who did not think highly of the Warrior... I hated that guy... The Rock was SO entertaining, but I think Orton's on his way...

[Damian Rey]

I think Warrior and Rock are definitely interchangeable. In fact, Rock would have done well in all three eras.

For me the biggest question is whether Orton could get over as champ in 2000 and whether Warrior could get over as champ today.

I feel like the crazy, painted face, oiled up muscle head who runs to the ring and goes through opponents wouldn't have done well in 2000, but the fans today would eat it up. That DVD they did about Warrior was a hack job. His promos back then, as weird as they were, fit the character and I think would do pretty good in today's environment. I don't think he would have gotten over in 2000 though.

Orton has the look and decent enough mic skills to have been a top guy in 2000. The only problem is, with all things being equal, does Orton have enough charisma to be someone you would make champ over Rock, HHH, Angle, Taker, Austin? He definitely wouldn't have fit in the early 90's where promos were a little lighter in nature and you had to be muscled up for Vince to make you champ.

I think an edgier version of Orton's current Viper gimmick could have been big back in the Attitude era. He has more than enough mic skill to have survived, and his gimmick is nice in that he's more of an "action speak louder than words" character.

His only issue, like you said, is would he have been able to crack the main event. It's hard to say. Being a 3rd generation wrestler was used to get him over initially, and they did the same with the Rock until he found a connection with the fans. I think Orton would've been given every opportunity to succeed, and maybe a transitional run as champ if the Viper gimmick would have worked back then.