WWE's next "boom" period.

[jindrak]

The attitude era (circa 96-01) was WWE's last boom period. During that time, WWE pushed Austin, Rock, Mankind, HHH, Kane, and Angle to the main event status. The wrestlers I previously mentioned all signify the attitude era, and represent the last boom period for the WWE, in which ratings, PPV, and house gates were at their greatest. The list of stars I mentioned followed a boom, that although not as successful as the attitude era, did unleash a crop of WWE maineventers which includes, Bret Hart, HBK, British Bulldog, Scott Hall (Razor Ramon), Kevin Nash (Diesel), and the Undertaker. Before this boom period, Hulkamania occurred, which took the landscape of wrestling to unprecedented levels. Hulkamania signified mainstream acceptance of wrestling, heavy merchandise sales, wrestling PPV concept (Wrestlemania), and the idea of professional wrestling being known as "sports entertainment". During this time period, Hulk Hogan, Randy Savage, Ted DiBiase, Ultimate Warrior held the reins of the most successful era of WWE, at that time.

My question is this- Now that it is 2004, and we are years removed from the attitude era, now the Ruthless Aggression period, when do you perceive WWE's next boom period to be? Right now it is clearly evident that the WWE is in a transitional phase, with them getting over young talent, and developing successful gimmicks. Orton, Cena, and Benjamin, are all wrestlers I can visualize being the future Hogan, Rock, and Austin's of the WWE. The question arises as to when this next boom period will take place. With TNA getting a national TV deal, and Turner searching for a wrestling promotion that will include SCSA and Goldberg, I can see the next boom period in the next two to three years.

Any thoughts?

BTW, whenever I post in casual forum I keep getting negatively repped, even if my posts are "good". While this situation does suck, I am definately not a one green dealy poster. If you thought this post was good, then do me a favor, and show som3 love (meaning give me a good rep). Thanks.

NEVER as long as eddic a champion

[Shadow]

Originally Posted by The icon killer NEVER as long as eddic a champion

IK...let me just tell you this. Its Eddie you ass!

[jindrak]

Originally Posted by HBK They probably won't have another boom period like the Attitude era any time soon, because during that time wrestling was "cool" all across the board, like American Idol or football. Stone Cold Steve Austin was like the Bam Margera of the late 90s. (loose interpretation, but you get the picture) In order for them to have another boom, they need to get someone like Russo or Bischoff pulling shit to get attention from the mainstream. A jackass like McMahon does good business, but his idea of cool is a WWE Diva competition.

I mentioned the whole notion of wrestling having to be percieved as cool for casual fans to get into it. I do not agree with the idea of Russo or Bischoff being the guys to pull the strings for the nest boom period. I liked Russo, even when he was with WCW. At that time, when he was with WCW, I thought the company had a great chance to compete with WWE, and they did with Russo in charge. However, he burnt out, and stayed out of the business until...TNA. I said liked Russo, but the garbage he conducted on TNA was just abyssmal. It was so sad to see him try to rehase old storylines and concepts. This is why I believe he can't be the person to get attention from mainstream, because he is just out of any "good" ideas. I really enjoy Bischoff as Raw Gm, so I'm hoping he stays with WWE. Anyways, I mentioned Tuner wanted to start a wrestlign promotion, so we will see how he runs it. Remember, he was the one that financed WCW, so he does have stroke to make a boom happen.

[PureHatred]

Originally Posted by The icon killer NEVER as long as eddic a champion

Not even special ed is an excuse for that comment.

[jindrak]

Originally Posted by PureHatred Not even special ed is an excuse for that comment.

What scared me was that one guy in the casual forum put my name alongside Icon Killer.

Originally Posted by jindrak What scared me was that one guy in the casual forum put my name alongside Icon Killer.

Yeah, my bad.

Your MILF stuff was kinda dodgy, but in the right setting (ie. the wrestling forum) you have a way with words that most people here can't come close o achieving. I'll edit your name out of my topic if you agree to keep the MILF stuff to yourself.

And to answer the topic, I think we're slowly approaching the next boom. How soon we get there and how long it lasts depends on TNA's success and potential as a competitor and the WWE's short term choices. It's clear that they are going to push Benjamin, Orton, Cena and Edge (and to a lesser extent Jericho, Christian, Dupree and Batista) into the top spots as the Austins, Rocks and even HHHs get old and appear less frequently. If they can get a solid mid card (made up of Nick Dinsmores and Charlie Haases) to round out the show, we may yet see a return to wrestling being mainstream.

[jindrak]

[QUOTE=Funky Fly]Yeah, my bad.

Your MILF stuff was kinda dodgy, but in the right setting (ie. the wrestling forum) you have a way with words that most people here can't come close o achieving. I'll edit your name out of my topic if you agree to keep the MILF stuff to yourself.
QUOTE]

I bring up the MILF stuff because I work in a supermarket that has MILF's coming in shopping all the time. Admittingly, I am turned on my MILF's but I can see why some posters might not like the topic. Some people think its sick, and an extremely perverted idea, but I'm just fascinated by it. Anyways, I don't see myself brinigng the topic of MILF's into casual anytime soon.

[OssMan]

wut

[Kane Knight]

IT's all in the WWE's hands. They have awesome talent right now, and could easily make a new era.

Or they could stumble upon it out of sheer luck.

[jindrak]

Originally Posted by Kane Knight IT's all in the WWE's hands. They have awesome talent right now, and could easily make a new era. Or they could stumble upon it out of sheer luck.

That brings about another set of questions. Back during Hulkamania, the Attiude era, it was actually cool to liek wrestling. However, during the wanign days of those glorious era's, die-hard wrestling fans went back int he closest, disguested at the marks who in a sense ruined it. The people in this forum are all fans that would watch wrestling, even if it sucked. WWE needs to attract the casual, mark fan. WWE last did this by having wrestlers play more to the crowd (i.e Rock, Godfather, DX, Austin). Currently, only Cena plays to the crowd, and is the only wrestler that marks would watch. Cena should be pushed more because he has that appeal to attract the casual fan. You are right that it is in the WWE's hand, and they must realize Cena is the man to give the ball to like they gave the ball to SCSA in 97. ALso, creating a buzz will get back fans who lost interest after the attitude era. Look at it this way- Back in wrestling's last boom period, the Nielson ratings were a 10 (combined Nitro and Raw score). However, Raw now only averages a 3.5. They have a huge market to capture back, so creating a bizz will help, and this is most evident from when the nWo was formed. The nWo created a buzz, and brought back fans who hdan't watched wrestling in years.

[jindrak]

Sorry about the typo's in the above post.

[Kane Knight]

I'm less concerned about the typos and more with the lack of paragraphs.

Breaking up your thoughts makes 'em more legible.

A ton of people play to the crowds, it's more an issue of who has a really trendy gimmick. Cena does, but he's become so vanilla of late, that it'll be hard for them to keep him over with the mainstream.

[jindrak]

Originally Posted by Kane Knight A ton of people play to the crowds, it's more an issue of who has a really trendy gimmick. Cena does, but he's become so vanilla of late, that it'll be hard for them to keep him over with the mainstream.

If you remember, there was a time when Cena was trendy. He would come to the ring with throwback jerseys on, and throwback jerseys were in. His raps were not only funny, but those that he conducted with serious tone definately made him look like a future maineventer. He has charisma, and I think a heel change will cast off the vanilla from being a face. By being a face, he lost much street cred, and that is the whole part of his gimmick that got him over in the first place.

[Kane Knight]

Originally Posted by jindrak If you remember, there was a time when Cena was trendy. He would come to the ring with throwback jerseys on, and throwback jerseys were in. His raps were not only funny, but those that he conducted with serious tone definately made him look like a future maineventer. He has charisma, and I think a heel change will cast off the vanilla from being a face. By being a face, he lost much street cred, and that is the whole part of his gimmick that got him over in the first place.

It's not the fact that he's a face, it's the fact that he's been toned down as a face. his freestyles aren't quality or provocative anymore, his rassling sure doesn't pick up the pace, and his catchphrase "Choke on deeeeez nutz" is annoying as shit.

Personally, I think he could be mad over, even as a face. He just needs to be that sorta Austin-esque character who doesn't really care who's "face" or "heel," and who does what he wants. He's not exactly a face, but he's not really a heel, but still a little more overtly face (because he's obviously appealing to the fans).

[jindrak]

Originally Posted by Kane Knight It's not the fact that he's a face, it's the fact that he's been toned down as a face. his freestyles aren't quality or provocative anymore, his rassling sure doesn't pick up the pace, and his catchphrase "Choke on deeeeez nutz" is annoying as shit. Personally, I think he could be mad over, even as a face. He just needs to be that sorta Austin-esque character who doesn't really care who's "face" or "heel," and who does what he wants. He's not exactly a face, but he's not really a heel, but still a little more overtly face (because he's obviously appealing to the fans).

I think his brawling style of wrestling is very much like an Austin. You are correct about him being a tweener (neither face nor heel), and he should stay that way until he gets a good program. What I meant by street cred is this- when he first appeared in the rapper gimmick, fans immediately waved signs of him being a vanilla Ice wannabe. However, over time, and through some great freestyling, he got over with the crowds, and was awarded street cred (when he was a heel).

When WWE had that draft lottery, I was hoping Cena would jump over to Raw because UPN was on the WWE's case about Cena's raps. On cable Cena could rap about whatever he wanted to (within limits of course) . When you mention Cena being waterd down, I don't place the blame on Cena, but rather the networks for forcing this upon the WWE.

[DaveWadding]

LOL...

John Cena with street cred...

[Kane Knight]

Originally Posted by DaveWadding LOL... John Cena Any Pro Wrestler with street cred...

[Kane Knight]

His brawling style is reminiscnet of Austin, which would be more acceptable if he was backing it up with more interesting promos.

His noveaux patriotism is annoying the fuck out of me.

[jindrak]

Originally Posted by Kane Knight His brawling style is reminiscnet of Austin, which would be more acceptable if he was backing it up with more interesting promos. His noveaux patriotism is annoying the fuck out of me.

The patriotism is just the consequence of him feuding with a Dupree, a French heel. After this program, he needs to be pushed as a smart ass character that bucks authority, does whatever he wants, doesn't care about the fans, etc.= he should take on the root characteristics of a 96/97 Austin. I got an awesome scenerio for Cena to go over huge, want to hear?

[Kane Knight]

Originally Posted by jindrak The patriotism is just the consequence of him feuding with a Dupree, a French heel. After this program, he needs to be pushed as a smart ass character that bucks authority, does whatever he wants, doesn't care about the fans, etc.= he should take on the root characteristics of a 96/97 Austin. I got an awesome scenerio for Cena to go over huge, want to hear?

By all means, if you want.

I think the patriotism also comes from the US title. Remember, Smackdown's been trying to milk the armed services more, too.

[jindrak]

Originally Posted by Kane Knight By all means, if you want. I think the patriotism also comes from the US title. Remember, Smackdown's been trying to milk the armed services more, too.

Actually the scenrio I have planned will be for another posted thread because it is a long post. It will be much like the Kane unmasking post I did a few days ago, so if you liked that post, you will hopefully like the next Cena posts I have coming up.

Cena is supposed to be a rebel, and there is an easy formula for him to follow. It is basically blueprinted from the rise of SCSA, therefore it is entirely in the WWE's hands.

[Kane Knight]

Originally Posted by jindrak Actually the scenrio I have planned will be for another posted thread because it is a long post. It will be much like the Kane unmasking post I did a few days ago, so if you liked that post, you will hopefully like the next Cena posts I have coming up. Cena is supposed to be a rebel, and there is an easy formula for him to follow. It is basically blueprinted from the rise of SCSA, therefore it is entirely in the WWE's hands.

It should be a no-brainer for the WWE. But given they couldn't even do the Deadman right with the original Deadmna, the question is how they'll screw this up. and with them toning him down, it looks like the FCC prolly beat 'em to it.

[PureHatred]

I defended you.

[jindrak]

Yea I saw. Thanks.

[Aussie Skier]

People seem to talk about the wrestling "economy" as being exogenous. Exogenous btw means that it happens outside the model (in economic terms). This is not so. Wrestling peaks and troughs dont simply just happen. They re triggered by something.

In order for wrestling to BOOM once more, they require an endogenous variable (endogenous means something happens inside the model.) This is like Hulk Hogan capturing the attention of the world, or the NWO, or the rise of WCW.

Wrestling will not boom again until something happens which gets people interested. Possibly, the whole concept of the roster split was to try and make the two shows rival each other...however, they are still far to linked together.

I'd say, in order for wrestling to once again boom, they require fans for each show. This will create a rivalry between the shows, and a fan base for each show.

The reason why wrestling isnt booming now is because there is nothing for Mr. I dont mind wrestling, but dont love it, to get excited about.

I think the best way would be to get smackdown and raw to go up against one another, in a competitive manner. This has slowly begun with bischoff and Heyman going up against one another. However, more needs to be done if they want this to happen.

The other hope is that NWA-TNA can become a force in the wrestling world. However, this is probably still very unlikely (as we in Australia dont even get it).

The final hope is for a big star (ala Hogan, Austin) or a big collective of stars (NWO, DX) to start up.
I remember i was a fan of wrestling up until about '96, and then i dropped out of it till around 2003 (and am only now catching up to it once more). I remember walking around my place and just seeing people EVERYWHERE with NWO t-shirts. You hardly ever see people with wrestling shirts on now (u see very occasionalyl a hogan shirt), but certainly never a john cena or rey mysterio shirt.

so, in order for it to boom once more, they need either:
a new, big star (which no one in the wwe currently is or will be)
a new stable to capture ppl's attention
competition

[Rob]

Originally Posted by jindrak My question is this- Now that it is 2004, and we are years removed from the attitude era, now the Ruthless Aggression period, when do you perceive WWE's next boom period to be? Right now it is clearly evident that the WWE is in a transitional phase, with them getting over young talent, and developing successful gimmicks. Orton, Cena, and Benjamin, are all wrestlers I can visualize being the future Hogan, Rock, and Austin's of the WWE. The question arises as to when this next boom period will take place. With TNA getting a national TV deal, and Turner searching for a wrestling promotion that will include SCSA and Goldberg, I can see the next boom period in the next two to three years. Any thoughts?

Yeah you are wrong. Orton. Cena or Benjamin will never be close to the level Rock, Austin and Hogan got too. TNA will be long dead in 2 years and Turner could have started a wrestling company ages ago if he wanted to. He hasn't so take a hint.

I would LOVE it if you were right. LOVE IT honestly. I hope you are mate. But you are wrong. If this business turns around, it's gonna take a hell of a lot longer than 2-3 years. The best bet is when Undertaker and HHH retire and they are forced to push new stars.

[Xero]

Originally Posted by Rob Turner could have started a wrestling company ages ago if he wanted to. He hasn't so take a hint.

Actually, apparently there was a "no compete" clause that Turner signed... He agreed not to start up/support a wrestling promotion until the contract runs up, which is in 2005...

One thing WWE needs is serious competition, ala the Monday Night Wars, and believe me, TNA aint it... If it's anything, it's Turner, who led WCW to ratings which beat WWE what, 81 weeks in a row? Yet, there were always WWE fans in that year... When the WCW boom was over (The 81 weeks), WWE took over again...

TNA could be, at best, the next ECW, whereas they are the #3 promotion in the country... They wouldnt have a huge fan base, but like ECW, they would have a loyal fan base...

The next boom will most likely happen within 3-5 years, when Turner's promotion really gets off...

As far as WWE only, and as far as stables go, it better be fresh... Remember when WWE brought back the nWo? Granted, it was watered down, but it didnt get over very well... Evolution really isnt going anywhere... As much as I'd like to see another Ministry, that wont help much either... Something new has to come up, like the nWo/DX, but at the same time, not like the nWo/DX...

[Rob]

Originally Posted by Xero Limit 126 Actually, apparently there was a "no compete" clause that Turner signed... He agreed not to start up/support a wrestling promotion until the contract runs up, which is in 2005...

AOL Time Warner has the no compete, not Turner himself. Also nothing to stop him putting programming on any network other than TBS and TNT.

[Rob]

The problem WWE has right now is that they think there is this HUGE audience out there ready to watch wrestling. Like the 7.0+ they lost from the days of the Monday Night Wars. They spend more time trying to get that audience back than they do pleasing those who are currently watching. BIG MISTAKE. That 7.0+ is long gone. They aren't interested. The wrestling fad is over. The 3.4 - 4.2 they have now is their audience. Build on that. Please them first and let word of mouth take over. That's how the other boom's started. The last generation of fans are gone. Start looking to attract the new generatopn of 8-18 year olds.

[Goldbird]

Originally Posted by Rob The last generation of fans are gone. Start looking to attract the new generatopn of 8-18 year olds.

Force the nursery kids to watch wrestling.

[jindrak]

Originally Posted by Goldbird Force the nursery kids to watch wrestling.

Which is why they started WWE Experince, a Sunday morning wrestling re-cap show. Heck, I got into watching wrestling from WWF Superstars every Saturday morning when I was 7, so I don't doubt WWE will attract a younger audience.

[The CyNick]

Its impossible to tell who will be a Hogan-Austin level star. I mean I knew Rock was going to get a huge push, and I knew he would be good the first time I saw him, but who could've predicted he would be as big as he is? Ditto for Austin.

So people can creep up on you,a nd you never know who will be the next big breakthorugh star.

I think Rob hit this thing on the head, build up what you have.

In terms of a new boom period, what they need is someone to catch on with the public. Like Nitro with WCW and Austin with the WWE. Until that happens, we wont be seeing any kind of booms. However on the bright side, they have a much bigger fanbase right now in their so called down period, and the comapny is still really profitable, so it could be a lot worse (which it will be, but for now, everything is okay).

[Wildcat789]

I think the only way for the WWE to attract new fans is push Cena, BIG. None of the guys now can connect to the people that don't watch wrestling, but Cena is huge with the fans, and I think is the only guy capable of bringing a new fanbase.

But that's a bad idea. The WWE should nurture the fans they have. Word of mouth always gets out. When you think about it, that's probably what started the Additude era.

As for 'eddic' being champion... Well how the hell did your hand move all the way over to 'c'? The letter 'e' is on the top of the keyboard..

[HankScorpio]

^^^
hahaha

Does anyone else think that Shelton could be the next "big" thing? I can't explain it, I just have this strange feeling he be going places and taking the SmackDown! brand with him.

[Gerard]

The roster split like someone else said was meant to make it look like 2 shows competing...then you look at the fact the 2 shows advertise each others shows with raw highlights on smackdown and smackdown highlights on raw and the whole illusion of comptition is just gone. Would be a bit more interesting if they did more bitching about each others shows and make it somewhat more beleivable that they are competing.

I don't really see any boom period inside the next couple of years, at the minute wwe has problems being competant running smackdown and raw, for ages raw was lacking against smackdown, now raw is far more enjoyable whereas smackdown is becoming a show thats good at putting people to sleep. For the first time in years the wwe has 2 deserving champions and not people that f*ck their way to the title so i suppose thats a plus point. Smackdown really does need a kick in the ass to get back on track though.

[jindrak]

Essentially I thought the roster split was a great idea. The WWE was already an in abyssmal period, so why not try anything? The answer was the roster split, which in theory is a incredible idea. When the WWE does take off with the next boom period, they will be able to captialize on revenue stemming from 2 PPV's/month, and house shows. Although currently Smackdown is far superior to Raw, I don't doubt that changes to the brand can be made to improve the show. If I had to point out to the nadir of the Raw brand, it would definately be the Raw show when Jacky Gayda screwed up big time. A week removed from that show saw McMahon come to the ring and kill off the nWo, stating the nWo will NEVER appear in the WWE ever again. Vince took drastic changes to make sure the Raw brand didn't fail, and his favoritism towards the Raw brand is evident in the moving of Orton, Christian, HHH, Batista to Raw in return for...the Big Show? Clearly that shows Vince would rather see Raw succeed than Smackdown. However, it is in the WWE's power to make Smackdown a watchable show, and not a show that is second fiddle to Raw.

[FourFifty]

I'm going to be blunt and say I didn't read this whole thread, however, I'd like to state my viewpoints anyways.

I, too, got hooked on WWE by watching Superstars on Saturday mornings right after cartoons.

Triple H is the WWE's top heel right now. Now what if a blue chipper decided he had enough of Triple H... Said he could be more than his bitch... That's right, Randy Orton! Don't laugh because Hulk Hogan was the toast of the coast and he only did four moves. Big Boot, Body Slam, Leg Drop, Punch.
"What the hell is your problem Always450! You're saying we need a new Hulk Hogan and you're talking about the master of the botched RKO?"
It's all a matter of getting him over. Let him prove his worth in the ring by, I don't know... DEFENDING THE IC TITLE!!!! Anywho, he'll drop that to Shelton. Triple H, once again, becomes the World's champion. On a night where HBK and Beniot are not in the arena Triple H does an open challange... and out comes Randy Orton. They can do the same promo that Hogan and Andre did when Andre turned heel.

"Time flows like a river, and history repeats" (reps to who ever can call me on that quote)

The detials are tweaked, but it can work. Put Randy on some late night talk shows, teach him how to work the stick better, give him a catch phrase, get him to do some charity work, get his face out there, all before his title shot. Hype his title shot for two months, make him fued with Evolution (Flair, Batista, Triple H, maybe put someone like Maven or another blue chipper to take Orton's place), have Orton say he was born for success, end the Orton/Triple H title shot with Orton using Triple H's finisher, and BOOM, a star is born!

[Innovator]

Originally Posted by Always450 I'm going to be blunt and say I didn't read this whole thread, however, I'd like to state my viewpoints anyways. I, too, got hooked on WWE by watching Superstars on Saturday mornings right after cartoons. Triple H is the WWE's top heel right now. Now what if a blue chipper decided he had enough of Triple H... Said he could be more than his bitch... That's right, Randy Orton! Don't laugh because Hulk Hogan was the toast of the coast and he only did four moves. Big Boot, Body Slam, Leg Drop, Punch. "What the hell is your problem Always450! You're saying we need a new Hulk Hogan and you're talking about the master of the botched RKO?" It's all a matter of getting him over. Let him prove his worth in the ring by, I don't know... DEFENDING THE IC TITLE!!!! Anywho, he'll drop that to Shelton. Triple H, once again, becomes the World's champion. On a night where HBK and Beniot are not in the arena Triple H does an open challange... and out comes Randy Orton. They can do the same promo that Hogan and Andre did when Andre turned heel. "Time flows like a river, and history repeats" (reps to who ever can call me on that quote) The detials are tweaked, but it can work. Put Randy on some late night talk shows, teach him how to work the stick better, give him a catch phrase, get him to do some charity work, get his face out there, all before his title shot. Hype his title shot for two months, make him fued with Evolution (Flair, Batista, Triple H, maybe put someone like Maven or another blue chipper to take Orton's place), have Orton say he was born for success, end the Orton/Triple H title shot with Orton using Triple H's finisher, and BOOM, a star is born!

the quote was from Secret of Mana, the beginning of it

[Kane Knight]

The roster split was, in essence, a good idea. so was invasion. The problem is, the WWE didn't seem to want to do either right.