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I think what worked about the Attitude era, was that anything could happen. Remember when The Hardy Boyz teamed up to face Stone Cold Steve Austin and Triple H? Remember when Edge & Christian used to do important stuff while being a heel, yet entertaining tag team? Remember when the Divas, albeit not being as talented as some of the women in the WWE now, used to play a bigger part in WWE storylines?
They also had unpredictable Championship reigns. Matt Hardy winning the European Championship from Eddie Guerrero, Jeff Hardy winning the Intercontinental Championship from Triple H, Vince McMahon winning the WWE Championship from Triple H, etc. Now it's John Cena, John Cena, John Cena. Undercard guys never get that grasp at glory that they used to back in the day. Even with SmackDown! looking as shit as it is, you don't have Brian Kendrick bumping into King Booker in the back, and Booker then telling Kendrick he wants to kick his ass tonight, then having a HUGE upset when Paul London runs in for his partner and Bobby Lashley makes his return and takes out The Court with London. Brooklyn fucking Brawler beat Triple H back in the day. Now someone with Brawler's status would be lucky if they ever beat Johnny Nitro.
My point is: Everything in the WWE these days seems so fixed. If they want people to watch, they should make their shows more unpredictable. Have The Great Khali jump ship to RAW to avoid The Undertaker. Have Test appear on RAW the same week he appears on ECW. Have M.V.P. wrestle on Heat even though he's a SmackDown! Superstar. There doesn't seem to be enough unpredictability surrounding the rosters, both externally and internally.
My suggestion for next week's shows, taking a more "Attitude Era" approach:
RAW:
-Mickie James pins Trish Stratus to retain the WWE Women's Championship. She then cuts a promo about how her cousin has signed a WWE contract, and will be facing the WWE Tag Team Champions on SmackDown!, and as Women's Champion, she will be there in his corner.
-Vince McMahon appears on the Titantron and says that Triple H will face Umaga in the main event, but Shawn Michaels will also have to be in singles action, against a man he knows quite well. McMahon also announces that the Orton/Hogan match at Summerslam may be off due to an injury sustained by Hulk Hogan. A decision will be made by Vince McMahon next week on the matter.
-A promo airs announcing that the Natural Born Thrillers (Chuck Palumbo and Mark Jindrak) will be returning to the WWE.
-Kane pins Randy Orton with a Chokeslam. Orton is about to win the match after hitting an RKO, but Hogan's music plays and Orton gets distracted long enough for Kane to sit up and Chokeslam Orton.
-Montell Vontavious Porter appears in Vince McMahon's office. He wants a contract. McMahon says that Porter needs to justify the price he's asking for. Porter leaves the office and bumps into Armando Alejandro Estrada. The two exchange introductions.
-A promo advertising Carlito airs. Carlito will be facing Rob Conway on Heat.
-Shawn Michaels makes his way to the ring to face his mystery opponent. Shelton Benjamin's music hits, and he makes his way to the ring. HBK picks up the win when Shane McMahon runs in and hits Shelton Benjamin with a steel chair by mistake. A Sweet Chin Music later, DX's theme is playing. Lance Cade & Trevor Murdoch attack Shawn Michaels from behind, though, and hit him with the Sweet & Sour to Shane McMahon's approval.
-Johnny Nitro pins Ric Flair to retain the Intercontinental Championship in a match which barely even gets started. Ric Flair is making his way to the ring, and Mick Foley attacks him, rolls him in the ring, and Nitro hits a standing shooting star press for the pin.
-Melina is interviewed by Todd Grisham about what Nitro plans to do for Summerslam. Melina says that Mick Foley will be winning his match with Ric Flair, and that there is "Nitro doubt about it". Nitro beats on Ric Flair after the match, but John Cena runs out for the save.
-Cena gets on the microphone and says he would rather face Edge in a match with no rules than one with strict rules. Edge comes out and says that he is prepared to do that next week, but he will not defend wrestling's top prize in a fight. He wants Cena to be disqualified if he even so much as throws a punch at Summerslam. Vince McMahon comes out and says that next week, they will choose tag team partners to go one-on-one against each other, and the following week, they will go at it in a Non-Title Street Fight.
-A promo advertising Victoria and Beth Phoenix airs, claiming that the Women's Division has never looked better, and when two of the WWE's most talented ladies return from their injuries, WWE Women's Champion, Mickie James, will be on call.
-Kenny & Johnny of The Spirit Squad retain the World Tag Team Championship via disqualification against Charlie Haas & Viscera, when they are attacked by The Highlanders. Lance Cade & Trevor Murdoch then attack The Highlanders. Charlie Haas & Viscera then clean house of Lance Cade & Trevor Murdoch. Jonathan Coachman comes out and announces a Fatal Fourway World Tag Team Title Match RAW in two weeks. Next week, one member from each team will square off in a Fatal Fourway Match.
-The Diva Search is hosted by The Miz, as per usual, but Val Venis comes out and tells The Miz that he is not welcome on RAW, and that when it comes to the ladies on RAW, The Big Valbowski makes sure he doesn't swallow on his own lines. Venis goes on to host the Diva Seach, but Ryan Reeves attacks Val Venis from behind when it is over, with The Miz laughing, looking on.
-In the main event, Umaga pins Triple H after Montell Vontavious Porter runs in (whilst Armando Alejandro Estrada is distracting the referee) and hits Triple H with his own version of The Pedigree, allowing Umaga to get the pin.
It's pretty easy to do. Just get as many people as you can onto one show, promote each division, and when there is an excuse for top level talent to lose, let them lose. Also, have talent appear numerous times during one show. I am reminded of the episode of SmackDown! where Chavo Guerrero faced Rey Mysterio in a Street Fight. Guerrero and Mysterio both made many appearances on that show to promote it. Good times. Each episode should be able to be identified by what occurs on it. It seems these day each and every show blends together.
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