Is Raven Right?

[BigCrippyZ]

I saw this quote from Raven today and I thought he was pretty much right on point. It's something I have thought about and mentioned previously but I couldn't quite come up with as clear of a way to explain it like Raven did here.

Is he right though? Has Vince & co. made the WWE company/brand itself the focus/star instead of talent like Rock, Austin, Hogan, etc.? If so, have they done so to their own detriment? It seems like that way to me, at least it's maybe ONE of several major issues/mistakes over the years. Feel free to discuss.

"I think a couple of the major problems are the General Managers (Hunter and Stephanie characters for example) are way more powerful than anyone else. I guess they had basically emasculated (Seth) Rollins as the champion... But the way they emasculated him is ridiculous. You can’t be the toughest or the strongest guy there if you are cow-towing to the owner. They’ve made it about the company not the individual players. By making it about the company and it’s all about the WWE that way you can lose any people and it is not going to harm the company and take away from the ratings or the money drawn. But by not having guys like The Rock or Austin or a Dusty Rhodes or Jim Londos or major stars on the show they are what draws the ratings.”

[Simple Fan]

Yeah, he's right but they had to if they wanted to create the WWE Network.

[BigCrippyZ]

I guess the real question is, do you think WWE, including things like the Network, would be more successful if they focused on individual talent as the stars as opposed to the company itself?

[Bad News Gertner]

It's been about the company since 84.

[Ol Dirty Dastard]

Look what happens when people become "bigger than the company". The Austin's and Rocks don't stay around and don't tow the company line. It turns into more of a headache than anything because you can't control those kinds of guys.

[Destor]

Look what happens when people become "bigger than the company". The Austin's and Rocks don't stay around and don't tow the company line. It turns into more of a headache than anything because you can't control those kinds of guys.

:lol:

Wrestling meets socialism

[Shadrick]

Look what happens when people become "bigger than the company". The Austin's and Rocks don't stay around and don't tow the company line. It turns into more of a headache than anything because you can't control those kinds of guys.

But when they do comeback the buyrates they generate by being brands outside of the company bring in astronomical numbers....

[Damian Rey 2.0]

Were Austin and the Rock really that uncontrollable? Feel like the Rock might be the biggest team player to ever reach the magnitude of stardom that he did.

I agree with Raven. I have nothing to back it up but I believe there's more money in having big names being the center of your product rather than the company just selling itself.

[Emperor Smeat]

Agree with Raven and it being one of the bad side effects from the Authority angle that dragged on for far way too long. Outside of Cena and Reigns, WWE has basically made everything be about the brand instead of the wrestlers.

Every "hand picked" WWE champion for the Authority was made to look like a big weakling instead of as the star of the stable. Instead of acting more like Vince with the Corporation, Triple H acted more as if he was the main star of the group. Same goes for Steph who was arguably the worst thing about the group since nobody got any real lasting revenge against her and her habit of emasculating everyone regardless of the storyline or her face/heel role.

[The Condor]

To be honest, it's been this way since around WM 27-28. The Brand, not the individuals who comprise it, is the focal point.

[Frank Drebin]

Never gonna get too low, never gonna get too high. Ah the safety of nominal success.

[DAMN iNATOR]

Never gonna get too low, never gonna get too high. Ah the safety of nominal success.

Apparently you've morphed into Jeff Hardy.

[Mr. Nerfect]

The Rock leaving probably made Vince a bit weary. Brock Lesnar leaving made him insecure. Bobby Lashley leaving was the final straw.

[Damian Rey 2.0]

Didn't they release Bobby Lashley?

[whiteyford]

Don't think anyone lost sleep over Lashley leaving.

[Mr. Nerfect]

He asked for his release after getting a massive push against Vince McMahon, forcing Vince to have a cold shower. He was supposed to replace Brock and told them to shove it and took his wife with him.

[Big Vic]

I heard he was having problems with Michael Hayes.

[Sepholio]

Uh how many guys are the required to have be a brand unto themselves at one time then? Because I see your Austin and Rock and raise you Cena and Brock?

[harmsway]

I completely agree with raven, but have always just seen it as wwe beating a dead horse concept that brought them their beat business,trying to hope for lightNing to strike twice. Vince as the dick boss who sides with heels and punishes faces worked in the late 90s and sticking with the heel authority figure has been prominent on raw for most of the time since.