DISCUSSION - How can Smackdown become a BETTER show in your OPINION?

**Heyman** · 05-18-2004, 12:18 AM

PREFACE: Yesterday was the 1st time I have watched something SMACKDOWN related since August of 2003 (I didn't watch the PPV....just watched Heat). Still - I'm feeling pretty excited! Now that I'm back in Portland Oregon, I'll be able to watch and comment on Smackdown more often.

DISCUSSION - How can Smackdown become a BETTER show in your OPINION? (assuming that the WWE starts giving a shit about it again )

Here is my premise: Raw right now, has the foundation and talent needed to be a tremendous show in the not-so-distant future. If it were up to me, I would not change ANYTHING about it right now (in terms of who is on Raw, etc.).

Smackdown however - has been in decline since the Lottery Draft. In your opinion, what needs to be done in order to get Smackdown back on track?

Here are a few suggestions of mine:

From now on, all "new talent" in the WWE gets sent to Smackdown: If the WWE signs anyone from now on (and assuming that no one significant from the current Raw roster gets released), then I suggest that all new talent head to Smackdown.

As far as this 'new' talent is concerned, I would argue that most of them should receive "Kurt-Angle-like" pushes to the top. At a time when Smackdown could use 'new' stars (and in an era where the fans aren't too quick to take a liking to wrestlers who have been in the mid-cards for too long), I think this would be a good route for Smackdown.

I'm really glad that the WWE decided to move Kenzo Suzuki to Smackdown (and get rid of his "Hirihoto" gimmick as well). Once Mordecai has set in nicely, I think that would be the perfect time to introduce Suzuki. In BOTH Mordecai and Suzuki's cases, I'd like to see them receive IMMEDIATE pushes.

Again - I don't want to see them get pushed too fast like they did with Lesnar, but perhaps an "Angle-like" push (or even Orton-like) would be ideal in my opinion.

One of Undertaker, Guerrero, RVD, or John Cena needs to turn heel VERY soon:

On Heat, I watched some John Bradshaw Layfield promos. To be honest......I actually liked the character quite a bit. HOWEVER - I don't think that he's a suitable main-eventer.

Even a guy like Big Show (when he returns) isn't a suitable TOP heel main-eventer in my opinion.....and ditto for Booker T.Unless Suzuki and/or Mordecai receive HUGE pushes upon debuting (which I'm against), I really think that one of the top faces needs to make a heel turn.

The question is, who? Who would YOU turn? Personally - I'd love to see the old ECWesque heel RVD return (under the leadership and guidance of Paul Heyman). A heel Eddie Guerrero would be awesome as well (although it might be very tough to turn the crowd against Eddie). One must also wonder how long Cena's 'rap' gimmick will be interesting for.

Re-hire Road Dogg Jesse James and put him back with Billy Gunn?

I'd suggest to release Billy Gunn ASAP, but the WWE doesn't seem to want to do that. Therefore - I say re-hire Road Dogg. Put him back with Billy Gunn to reform the New Age Outlaws. Atleast this way, Billy Gunn becomes useful again (Gunn hasn't received a crowd reaction since 2002

). The New Age Outlaws, when they tag together, can also put over some new teams.

Get rid of the CW division

I mentioned this in another thread (and for those of you who responded in that thread, do not feel obliged to re-iterate your points in this thread).

In a perfect world - keeping the CW division would be awesome. In a perfect world, putting the CW title on 'almost' the same level as the WWE title would be awesome as well. However - this is almost an INVERSE of a perfect world. It is the WWE.......run by Vince McMahon, Stephanie McMahon, and Triple H.

Hence - the CW division has been ruined beyond belief. In this day and age where it's a STIGMA (not 'stigmata'

) to be labelled a "CRUISERWEIGHT", there's just no point in the division existing. Why not just use the depth in the CW division, for other divisions?

-Guys like Rey Mysterio and Billy Kidman can become a legitamate US title contenders.

-Noble and somebody could become a tag team.

-As for the rest? I say Re-create the Hardcore title.....24/7 YES - it makes the title a JOKE, but most of the competitors in that division are seen as a JOKE (by WWE management) ANYWAYS. The Hardcore Division was always a great comedic relief for the fans. It can make for some decent TV.

If the WWE decide to keep the CW division, then here is an idea (it ties in to my earlier point of Smackdown needing a legitimate main-event heel).

Have Eddie Guerrero re-align with the two Chavo's again.....and turn heel in the process

Some advantages:

-Since Chavo would be associated with Eddie again, perhaps the CW title would get more attention due to Chavo's association with Eddie. Have Chavo be CW champ, Eddie be WWE champ, and have the Guerrero's be tag champs as well.

-With Guerrero as a heel, guys like Cena, RVD, and even Rey Mysterio can 'step up'. Before these guys however, a feud with Taker would probably occur (and I wouldn't neccessarily mind seeing this, because Guerrero could probably carry ME to a decent match

).

-The fans love Guerrero, but they love chanting "Eddie sucks" even more. Eddie seems to be kind of like Angle (where the fans LOVE Angle, but wouldn't really have a problem 'booing' him because they love to hate him so much).

05-18-2004, 12:18 AM	#1
Heyman Father of Hinduship Posts: 21,083	DISCUSSION - How can Smackdown become a BETTER show in your OPINION? PREFACE: Yesterday was the 1st time I have watched something SMACKDOWN related since August of 2003 (I didn't watch the PPV....just watched Heat). Still - I'm feeling pretty excited! Now that I'm back in Portland Oregon, I'll be able to watch and comment on Smackdown more often. DISCUSSION - How can Smackdown become a BETTER show in your OPINION? (assuming that the WWE starts giving a shit about it again ) Here is my premise: Raw right now, has the foundation and talent needed to be a tremendous show in the not-so-distant future. If it were up to me, I would not change ANYTHING about it right now (in terms of who is on Raw, etc.). Smackdown however - has been in decline since the Lottery Draft. In your opinion, what needs to be done in order to get Smackdown back on track? Here are a few suggestions of mine: From now on, all "new talent" in the WWE gets sent to Smackdown: If the WWE signs anyone from now on (and assuming that no one significant from the current Raw roster gets released), then I suggest that all new talent head to Smackdown. As far as this 'new' talent is concerned, I would argue that most of them should receive "Kurt-Angle-like" pushes to the top. At a time when Smackdown could use 'new' stars (and in an era where the fans aren't too quick to take a liking to wrestlers who have been in the mid-cards for too long), I think this would be a good route for Smackdown. I'm really glad that the WWE decided to move Kenzo Suzuki to Smackdown (and get rid of his "Hirihoto" gimmick as well). Once Mordecai has set in nicely, I think that would be the perfect time to introduce Suzuki. In BOTH Mordecai and Suzuki's cases, I'd like to see them receive IMMEDIATE pushes. Again - I don't want to see them get pushed too fast like they did with Lesnar, but perhaps an "Angle-like" push (or even Orton-like) would be ideal in my opinion. One of Undertaker, Guerrero, RVD, or John Cena needs to turn heel VERY soon: On Heat, I watched some John Bradshaw Layfield promos. To be honest......I actually liked the character quite a bit. HOWEVER - I don't think that he's a suitable main-eventer. Even a guy like Big Show (when he returns) isn't a suitable TOP heel main-eventer in my opinion.....and ditto for Booker T.Unless Suzuki and/or Mordecai receive HUGE pushes upon debuting (which I'm against), I really think that one of the top faces needs to make a heel turn. The question is, who? Who would YOU turn? Personally - I'd love to see the old ECWesque heel RVD return (under the leadership and guidance of Paul Heyman). A heel Eddie Guerrero would be awesome as well (although it might be very tough to turn the crowd against Eddie). One must also wonder how long Cena's 'rap' gimmick will be interesting for. Re-hire Road Dogg Jesse James and put him back with Billy Gunn? I'd suggest to release Billy Gunn ASAP, but the WWE doesn't seem to want to do that. Therefore - I say re-hire Road Dogg. Put him back with Billy Gunn to reform the New Age Outlaws. Atleast this way, Billy Gunn becomes useful again (Gunn hasn't received a crowd reaction since 2002). The New Age Outlaws, when they tag together, can also put over some new teams. Get rid of the CW division I mentioned this in another thread (and for those of you who responded in that thread, do not feel obliged to re-iterate your points in this thread). In a perfect world - keeping the CW division would be awesome. In a perfect world, putting the CW title on 'almost' the same level as the WWE title would be awesome as well. However - this is almost an INVERSE of a perfect world. It is the WWE.......run by Vince McMahon, Stephanie McMahon, and Triple H. Hence - the CW division has been ruined beyond belief. In this day and age where it's a STIGMA (not 'stigmata' ) to be labelled a "CRUISERWEIGHT", there's just no point in the division existing. Why not just use the depth in the CW division, for other divisions? -Guys like Rey Mysterio and Billy Kidman can become a legitamate US title contenders. -Noble and somebody could become a tag team. -As for the rest? I say Re-create the Hardcore title.....24/7 YES - it makes the title a JOKE, but most of the competitors in that division are seen as a JOKE (by WWE management) ANYWAYS. The Hardcore Division was always a great comedic relief for the fans. It can make for some decent TV. If the WWE decide to keep the CW division, then here is an idea (it ties in to my earlier point of Smackdown needing a legitimate main-event heel). Have Eddie Guerrero re-align with the two Chavo's again.....and turn heel in the process Some advantages: -Since Chavo would be associated with Eddie again, perhaps the CW title would get more attention due to Chavo's association with Eddie. Have Chavo be CW champ, Eddie be WWE champ, and have the Guerrero's be tag champs as well. -With Guerrero as a heel, guys like Cena, RVD, and even Rey Mysterio can 'step up'. Before these guys however, a feud with Taker would probably occur (and I wouldn't neccessarily mind seeing this, because Guerrero could probably carry ME to a decent match ). -The fans love Guerrero, but they love chanting "Eddie sucks" even more. Eddie seems to be kind of like Angle (where the fans LOVE Angle, but wouldn't really have a problem 'booing' him because they love to hate him so much).