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**Mr. Nerfect** · 02-13-2005, 04:01 PM

I think the big problem with SmackDown! is that it isn't compelling enough. I know that's easy to say, but think about it.

I really don't care about the Barbed Wire Cage Match at No Way Out, which is not good. It also seems that the same angles have been running on SmackDown! for months. It takes three weeks to advance a plotline like RAW does.

RAW isn't much better, but if you do skip RAW, you do make sure you get to see recap videos or something, just so you know what did go on. RAW isn't "can't miss" compelling, but it is "should watch" compelling.

I personally think what would help SmackDown! isn't a backstage issue, but an on-stage one:

I think SD! should get a new General Manager.

Simply enough idea, but I think it could work. But how would a new General Manager work? I really think they should be a new character. No McMahons, no former owners of promotions, just a new addition to the WWE team, that looks big enough to be a wrestler, but is 100% a non-wrestling character. I don't know why, but someone of Erik Watts' build might be good for this role.

OK, maybe this won't "save" SmackDown!, but if you see all these recpas of the new General Manager, and have no clue who he is, and see he's causin an uproar on SmackDown!, people might flick over to see him. These are just the people who watch RAW, but not SD! on a regular basis.

But that won't save SD!. What I think might help though is if the General Manager is a badass, though. Not so much in a Stone Cold way, but in a "touch me, you're fired" way. I'll tell you what I mean:

Next week on SmackDown!, Vince McMahon appars on the titantron and says Teddy Long has been released form his duties on SD!. A new General Manager has been found. Maybe have him on one month's probation or something. Anyway, out comes the new General Manager out to the SmackDown! music (I'd have him keep it too, since it would suit the character). He then calls out what the 18-34 demographic wants to see, divas!

Michelle McCool, Lauren, Rochelle, Joy Giovanni & Amy Weber come out for a schelduled "contest". The General Manager then turns says this is a WRESTLING show. Not a house for SmackDown! Sluts. He then publicly fires them, and says if they want they can go be RAW Whores. He takes no excuses.

This brings out John Cena. Cena then cuts a rap on the new General Manager. The GM just laughs and says he expected Cena to be out here. The General Manager then strips Cena of the US Title, and renames Carlito the new Champion. In fact he rewrites history and claims that Cena's third reign with the Championship is void because Teddy Long forced Carlito to compete with a broken arm. The decision has now be reversed.

The GM then cuts a promo about how Cena has to wake up and realise that this is a wrestling show. If this is Cena's first pick of work, he needs o start taking pride in it, and start doing what's right for it. Cena has already started to build-up to a WrestleMania title shot, but the new GM can make that go away. He says that if Cena doesn't kiss his feet, he will fire Cena, and he will get to chose between working on the over-crowded SD!, or in some broken down studio recording music.

Cena then shockingly kisses the feet of the new boss, so he can keep his job on SD!. This might make Cena sound like a pussy, but I think it would come off like a demanding General Manager more than anything.

I can see him taking Big Show out of the No way Out main event when he touches the GM, and I can see him giving his place to the winner of the tournament finals at No Way Out. That means triple duty for Cena, and I can easily see him getting screwed out of the title and getting a rematch at WrestleMania.

But what I think would be best about this is it gives SD! a figure that embodies it. Eric Bischoff has become RAW. We may not realise this, but if they changed the RAW opening video to being mostly shots of Bischoff, it would just fit. I think they should do that with the new General Manager (if they take Teddy Long out of the role, and I don't mind if they don't because he's an entertaining character). I can just see the General Manager appearing on every second shot of the new SD! opening video.

I just get goosebumps about picturing the new General Manager staring down Bischoff.

It might not sound like much now, but I think they had a new character re-focus SD! (as a new GM should), people would begin to become compelled by it, and that is SD!'s biggest obstacle at the moment, IMO.

02-13-2005, 04:01 PM	#21
Mr. Nerfect Posts: 61,569	I think the big problem with SmackDown! is that it isn't compelling enough. I know that's easy to say, but think about it. I really don't care about the Barbed Wire Cage Match at No Way Out, which is not good. It also seems that the same angles have been running on SmackDown! for months. It takes three weeks to advance a plotline like RAW does. RAW isn't much better, but if you do skip RAW, you do make sure you get to see recap videos or something, just so you know what did go on. RAW isn't "can't miss" compelling, but it is "should watch" compelling. I personally think what would help SmackDown! isn't a backstage issue, but an on-stage one: I think SD! should get a new General Manager. Simply enough idea, but I think it could work. But how would a new General Manager work? I really think they should be a new character. No McMahons, no former owners of promotions, just a new addition to the WWE team, that looks big enough to be a wrestler, but is 100% a non-wrestling character. I don't know why, but someone of Erik Watts' build might be good for this role. OK, maybe this won't "save" SmackDown!, but if you see all these recpas of the new General Manager, and have no clue who he is, and see he's causin an uproar on SmackDown!, people might flick over to see him. These are just the people who watch RAW, but not SD! on a regular basis. But that won't save SD!. What I think might help though is if the General Manager is a badass, though. Not so much in a Stone Cold way, but in a "touch me, you're fired" way. I'll tell you what I mean: Next week on SmackDown!, Vince McMahon appars on the titantron and says Teddy Long has been released form his duties on SD!. A new General Manager has been found. Maybe have him on one month's probation or something. Anyway, out comes the new General Manager out to the SmackDown! music (I'd have him keep it too, since it would suit the character). He then calls out what the 18-34 demographic wants to see, divas! Michelle McCool, Lauren, Rochelle, Joy Giovanni & Amy Weber come out for a schelduled "contest". The General Manager then turns says this is a WRESTLING show. Not a house for SmackDown! Sluts. He then publicly fires them, and says if they want they can go be RAW Whores. He takes no excuses. This brings out John Cena. Cena then cuts a rap on the new General Manager. The GM just laughs and says he expected Cena to be out here. The General Manager then strips Cena of the US Title, and renames Carlito the new Champion. In fact he rewrites history and claims that Cena's third reign with the Championship is void because Teddy Long forced Carlito to compete with a broken arm. The decision has now be reversed. The GM then cuts a promo about how Cena has to wake up and realise that this is a wrestling show. If this is Cena's first pick of work, he needs o start taking pride in it, and start doing what's right for it. Cena has already started to build-up to a WrestleMania title shot, but the new GM can make that go away. He says that if Cena doesn't kiss his feet, he will fire Cena, and he will get to chose between working on the over-crowded SD!, or in some broken down studio recording music. Cena then shockingly kisses the feet of the new boss, so he can keep his job on SD!. This might make Cena sound like a pussy, but I think it would come off like a demanding General Manager more than anything. I can see him taking Big Show out of the No way Out main event when he touches the GM, and I can see him giving his place to the winner of the tournament finals at No Way Out. That means triple duty for Cena, and I can easily see him getting screwed out of the title and getting a rematch at WrestleMania. But what I think would be best about this is it gives SD! a figure that embodies it. Eric Bischoff has become RAW. We may not realise this, but if they changed the RAW opening video to being mostly shots of Bischoff, it would just fit. I think they should do that with the new General Manager (if they take Teddy Long out of the role, and I don't mind if they don't because he's an entertaining character). I can just see the General Manager appearing on every second shot of the new SD! opening video. I just get goosebumps about picturing the new General Manager staring down Bischoff. It might not sound like much now, but I think they had a new character re-focus SD! (as a new GM should), people would begin to become compelled by it, and that is SD!'s biggest obstacle at the moment, IMO.