Watching SmackDown! right now, the opening promo with Kane, and I'm hating it. They're essentially turning live promos into extended video packages with cut-ins and background music. It makes it seem like literally a soap opera segment than a wrestling promo.
I wouldn't have so much of a problem if this was for one specific character, but other guys are getting this treatment. Jericho, for instance, has different lighting along with other guys. At first I liked it, but the promos like Kane's just completely ruin the whole concept for me.
And it's not just promos. McIntyre's entrance is similar. Although I do actually like it, it seems that this over-produced segment is becoming the norm.
I know this whole stylized production has been kind of gradual (it's been happening for a year or so) but it's just getting to be too much for me. The best way I can put it is that it's late 80s WWF with better production values.
Video below (it's the first promo):
Discuss this trend.