What’s with the lack of consistent main eventers?

[Ben Rodrigues]

Looking back on the WWE, who was pushed to World Title status and so forth and where they are now… I can’t help but ask this question.

In the Attitude era, every star that reached World Title status (with the exception of maybe The Big Show) remained in the main event scene. Now days being given the ball doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll stay at the top of the card.

Look at Jericho. First ever Undisputed World Champion. Though his reign wasn’t the best of championship reigns, he no doubt has what it takes but is now reduced to a midcarder, currently on a push that surely won’t last. Chris Benoit & Eddie Guerrero, both who in my opinion did a great job as Champion (though Benoit kind of had to play second to Triple H), are now reduced to mid card status. These are the guys who should be headlining shows consistently along with Angle, not being used to put over guys like Orlando Jordan.

Is there something I’m missing? Other then the fact that they're ex-WCW/ECW stars and the “Triple H rule”.

[Fox]

I agree completely. Look at all the guys who could've been respected, credible main eventers had things gone differently:

-RVD, should've been pushed to the moon in 2001-02
-Booker T, should've gone over HHH at WM XIX
-Chris Jericho, shouldn't have been booked like a pussy before WM X-8
-Christian, shouldn't have been moved to SD!
-Eddie Guerrero, shouldn't have been jobbed to JBL
-Chris Benoit, shouldn't have been jobbed to Orton or moved to SD
-Kane, shouldn't have been put in a feud with Shane McMahon

[Kane Knight]

The WWE doesn't know what to do with these people any more. They don't plan or whatever, and end up botching most of the runs anyway. I can't believe someone thinks jobbing Benoit out to someone, only to have him get owned by the Undertaker makes sense.

A lot of these guys are inexplicable. I mean, Christian's getting depushed despite fan reaction. Could you imagine Vince McMahon deciding NOT to run with Austin 3:16?

The worst ones are the folks who are over, AND pushed, AND then ruined. RVD was bad, but Orton was over and getting pushed, and they decided to make him a vanilla babyface. Instant BLAH. Cena? More or less the same. Batista? Well, he's been ruined by words...Though I love his mic skills for other reasons (As explained in my thread on the matter), so I'm not complaining.

More importantly, there isn't a big main event field. It used to be that main eventers could go for the tag titles and US/Euro/IC/Whatever without being demoted. Hell, you had titles that were held by the likes of Val Venis and the likes of HBK. Nowadays, you're not really a main eventer unless you're vying for the title (Or in a feud with Triple H). There's not a large body of people who could challenge for the title and look like they MIGHT win it, even though they won't.

As for RVD, he's one of a thousand people who they've started a push off right...And odds are they will fuck it. They started him off good by cashing in on his shoot at ECW ONS. now all they need to do is keep it going. But odds are, he'll get fed to someone else. Like Kane. Or Hassan. Or Orton. Or Benoit. Or Heidenreich. Or Jericho. Or...

[Mr. Nerfect]

I agree with what's already been said. The WWE fails to keep their top talent "top talent". Look at Kane. Personally I think they need a change in the way they handle things. They need to establish more main events, ASAP.

Have Chris Jericho beat John Cena at Summerslam, perhaps with help from HBK or someone (the two are pretty friendly aren't they?). Cena is over enough to run without the big belt for a few months. When Rob Van Dam returns, you can have them feud over the title for a while, which would be one Hell of an unpredictable feud. You then have Triple H and Kurt Angle, heels who don't need the title to look like a threat. You also have Edge, who could really benefit from a feud with Matt Hardy, before picking up some tainted wins over Cena. The Big Show defeats Chris Masters somewhere down the line, and he plays the face that is guaranteed to destroy Jericho.

I'd have Kane "fired" by Eric Bischoff for abducting Lita, which leads to Kane heading to SD!, where he might get a bit of attention for the brand when his movie and book come out. With Brock Lesnar, CM Punk, Eddie Guerrero, Chris Benoit, William Regal, Rey Mysterio, Booker T & Christian on that brand, you have no shortage of guys who can wrestle a good match. Kane, The Undertaker, JBL, Batista & Randy Orton (who isn't bad, but probably needs a stronger opponent to look good) make good foils for them, and you can exchange the World Heavyweight Championship between them very easily, though the main event scene there needs more establishment before a title change.

I'm probably not making much sense, but I think the brands can be worked out, but it will require some strong creative decisions. The WWE have reached the stage where their product cannot be saved through routine, though, and some exciting decisions could really spice it up.

[Corkscrewed]

A three word phrase would explain this easily.

NO. LONGTERM. BOOKING.

[Corkscrewed]

Take away the periods to make it a phrase... I was just being dramatic.

[Shadow]

Corky's got it right there. The WWE is a victem of their own success. Without WCW around, they refuse to look at the long term picture. All they see is the flavor of the month. Or really the minute if you're being honest. TNA is really a joke when it comes to compitition and that's without the Shadow Conspiracy lurking over them. So why should the WWE try to be long term when there's really no reason to be long term?

[Kane Knight]

Corky's got it right there. The WWE is a victem of their own success. Without WCW around, they refuse to look at the long term picture. All they see is the flavor of the month. Or really the minute if you're being honest. TNA is really a joke when it comes to compitition and that's without the Shadow Conspiracy lurking over them. So why should the WWE try to be long term when there's really no reason to be long term?
Well, they've also seen past talent walk mid-push. I think the departure of Brock reminded them a little too much of Hall/Nash, even though it was on aimiable grounds.