Quote:
Originally Posted by The CyNick
I think you're mixing things up.
Wrestling is and always has been a pretty basic level form of storytelling and character developmental. Even the greatest angles in the history of the business were not exactly Emmy Award winning pieces of writing. Was Vince ending up as the Higher Power more compelling than the stuff today?
I personally think the storytelling is no different today than it was 15 years ago. Triple H and Steph are the new Mr McMahon. You have the same cheesy love triangle storylines (Mero-Sable is Rusev-Lana). You have the cowardly heel champion gifted the belt (Rock was in the same spot Rollins is today). And most of those storylines have been staples in all wrestling territories.
There are several differences that cause people to percieve the current product as being not as good and the IWC faithful like to blame creative because it's the easy thing to do. When they should look closer at external factors.
First, the talent just isn't as good. In the ring, generally speaking each generation gets better in the ring. As athletes evolve they are able to do more things. If Kofi Kingston came along in 1990, he would stand out, today he's just another guy.
But the other aspects of being a sports entertainer are lost on a lot of guys. I think a lot of it has to do with the millennial generation. I think they expect creative to cultivate every aspect of their character and tell them what to say. In reality they should take ownership of the character they are given and contribute to the creative process so their character comes off more genuine. If you listen to the guys who made the serious money in this business they all talk about taking charge of their own characters. More guys should take that advice and run with it. Don't sit back and wait on the bench for your name to be called. Leave no doubt that you should be a star and if you are skilled, you will be one. Daniel Bryan is a great example of this and unfortunately he's rare in todays crop of talent. He proved he belonged at the top, and creative cultivated that.
The other problem is people remember the Attitude era fondly but in reality it was scumbag level TV. I was in my late teens during that era so it seemed cool, but looking back I would never want children exposed to the filth that was being presented on a weekly basis. At the time it was okay for WWE to present such a product because they were a solely owned company that was seen as renegade.
It wasn't a sustainable business model for the worldwide publicly traded entertainment conglomerate that the company has flourished into. Advertisers wanted no part of them, they were getting crucified in the media, nobody wanted to be associated with them. Now they are a much more mature brand, and you see the benefits of some of the cross promotional efforts that exist today. It's a product you are not afraid to watch with your children and grandparents alike. On top of that and more importantly is fiscally healthier.
The last thing is the violence. I think people have this fond memory of the late 90s because every other night you had someone risking life and limb or spilling blood to pop a rating. As a lifelong fan, i'm happier with the current toned down product. Hopefully fewer guys have concussion issues and crippling neck injuries. I can do without the off the ladder spear every month. I'd rather watch Xavier Woods play the trombone.
Once i stopped reading the sheets, I enjoyed wrestling for the same whackiness that got me hooked on it in the first place. If i find myself not enjoying a show i will stop watching. For example, I hated this past season of House of Cards. My reaction isn't to subscribe to Mave Deltzers newsletter to find out which writer had the most power last season, i'm just going to stop watching. Life is too short to waste time. If you enjoy, watch. If not, go check out anything on TLC and let me know how WWE writing stacks up.
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everything about this is accurate and you guys can't see it because you still believe you should be the demographic focus because you have been fans for so long. we aren't the demographic and the extreme days and all the crash tv stuff is dead, it isn't coming back, nor should it.
You guys clamoring for someone that you have a crush on to get elevated are the same guys who shit on a superstar once he's in the spotlight. IWC are hands down the most fickle group to ever exist and that is why you can't have nice things.
there are stars and they will always shine through. I would love for the company to push the guys i like most, I'd love less Cena, i want managers brought back, i want cole put out to pasture, i want superstars back on saturday mornings to watch squash matches, etc, but if you don't like the product it's because they aren't catering to you anymore and you feel like youare more important than the masses. or you don't understand corporations, or you are so stupid you actually believe wretlemania 32 is booked the night after wrestlemania 31 and there are never more than one option in place.