WOW, how bored where you to find this thread from a longass time ago? What page was this on before u bumbed it?
Anyway, the point of that thread was me stating that WWE right no is headed in the right direction, and they are slowly getting better. Compared from mid2001 to about mid2003 the WWE has been doing a much better job. I believe that Attitude was in many ways better than the current WWE, but Attitude was far from perfect though.
But when you say that wrestlers such as Benoit, RVD, Booker T aren't as good as other because you believe they lack charisma, I think that you are completely wrong. If you believe that a sports entertainer is better than a Wrestler, you are completely wrong IMO.
I realize that an important part of the WWE is that performers need to have a character that people will take interest in and have charisma that people will be influenced by. I realize that backstage skits, promos, interviews and other things besides actual matches are important to the WWE. I realize that WWE calls itself a "sports entertainment" group. But the things is that what it all comes down to is that WRESTLING is th most important part of WWE, whether you want to call it sports entertinment or not. All of the Backstage skits and interviews, and confrontations between wrestlers ultimately lead to a WRESTLING match. Bret Hart said it right when he stated that when all else fails, just putting on great wrestling matche will always be entertaining, and is the backbone of what this industry is all about. Wrestling ability is more important than anything else.
Take John Cena for example (I'm obviously a big fan of his
) As far as having charisma and a character that the fans can relate to, Cena is light years ahead of most people in the WWE. But he is not ready to be a main eventer because of the fact that he can't wrestle a match that will tell a story to get the fans to support him. All of his trash talking and "entertaining" that he does always leads to a wrestling match in the ring. Until Cena is able to learn better psychology and how to tell a story in the ring, he is not ready for main events.
Now take someone like Benoit, who is obviously not the most charasmatic person in the WWE. And as far as his character goes, besides being a great wrestler, Benoit has no character. But in the last couple of years, Benoit has recieved like 3 standing ovations simply for putting on great performances. He even lost the match to Angle at RR03, but he recieved the standing ovation after the match. At WMXX, after what was a very long (and somewhat boring at times) PPV, Benoit put on a performance that led to all of Madison Square Garden cheering for him during the match, and giving him a much deserved standing ovation for an accomplishment that he has deserved for years. Wrestling is what caused the fans to show so much respect for Benoit, not "sports entertainment"
Look also at someone like Ric Flair, who will probably go down as the greatest wrestler of all time (and rightfully so) While Ric Flair has alot of charisma, he is known for being the best World's Champion of all time and still to this day putting on good matches. His DVD is the best selling DVD of all time for WWE, simply because of the fact that he has always put on great wrestling matches. Even today, fans yell, "WHOOOOO!" as a sign of respect to someone who has been always been a great wrestler.
I am saying again that having charisma and a good character are all important parts of making it in the WWE, but ultimately, being a great WRESTLER is the most important thing....