The topic of the night

[Guest bps "The Truth" 21]

Every night (well...it's night here, anyway) Some of the posters (Goodhelmet, Tony, ihatesmarksandmarks, Dames, AlwaysPissedOff...and others) discuss whatever is at the top of the board.  Usually there are 2 or 3 good topics to discuss.  Tonight there just...isn't.

 

Therefore I will create the first:

 

Assuming there is no immediate split...How do you elavate new blood...with so many old dogs at the top?  

 

1.  If Jericho loses the title at Mania...does that set back the effort?

 

2.  Will Hogan work with guys like Jericho, Benoit, RVD, Booker, Angle etc...

 

3.  How do we elavate if there is no split?

 

discuss...

[Guest I'm in the conversation]

I don't really know how to address the questions you listed, but I am 100% positive that this split MUST happen. Without, I think the we all (we being fans) are doomed.

[Guest Tony149]

1. I think it can. With the nWo guys back, Jericho could fall right back into the midcard.

 

2. Not right now. The nWo will be messing around with the top guys for a while. When the nWo angle is done they'll probably start wrestling with the nWo members. Will Hogan do it? Vince better make him.

 

3. There probably won't be any elevation if the split doesn't happen. You can't job out the nWo guys yet. Maybe a pin over an nWo member for some over midcarder. That would start a feud. Maybe RVD/Hall or something.

[Guest goodhelmet]

Excellent topic

 

Jericho losing to HHH doesn't have to set it back provided that they continue their feud and as long as the NWO doesn't enter the title picture. Guys like Rock and Trips are still young enough to work for a good ten years. On the other hand, Austin and Taker don't need the belt anymore than the NWo. Keep them away from the belt also.

 

I don't want Hogan to work with the younger guys. Let him wrestle some Godawful matches with Taker and Big Show and the audience will turn apathetic. If Hogan's job is to elevate the new guys and to go out like Andre, then rock on! If not, keep him with the slugs.

 

If there is no split, you elevate by putting younger guys over old guys. This doesn't mean guys like Rock or even Trips whose best years are ahead. This means guys like Stone Cold and Taker and definitely the NWO. If they refuse, then screw em Montreal style. Or flat out fire them. It has already been proven that with Austin and Taker out that the ratings can be solid and it is time they know their role!

[Guest bps "The Truth" 21]

Even factoring in the split...

 

The reports say that the "Big Names" will be on Raw...and the midcard guys will be on Smackdown.

 

How do the midcard guys get elavated if they aren't wrestling Main Eventers?

[Guest Man name is always different]

How do the midcard guys get elavated if they aren't wrestling Main Eventers?

Simple: They don't.

[Guest goodhelmet]

I think the big names listed as going to Raw are Austin, Taker, NWO, and Jericho

That doesn't include Trips, Rock, or Angle. Smackdown could be really good.

 

They have to elevate someone NOW! None of the above SD! names are above jobbing. Eventually, you elevate someone by interupting a Main guy, challenging him and eventually scoring the pinfall. It's easy to do.

[Guest Tony149]

Even factoring in the split...

 

The reports say that the "Big Names" will be on Raw...and the midcard guys will be on Smackdown.

 

How do the midcard guys get elavated if they aren't wrestling Main Eventers?

I find that stupid. They should split the big names out for both feds. Keep Austin & the nWo with Vince's WWF (Raw). I've read the WWF Champion will be the only guy to appear on both shows. Jericho & RVD should go to Flair's WWF. I would put The Rock in Flair's WWF, but he has his feud with Hogan.

[Guest goodhelmet]

So what do you propose they do bps?

[Guest um... Potatoes?]

Well, RVD could go to main event status fairly easily. The fans are behind him.

 

Edge could go main-event, but he doesn't really have the crowd support. Also, his move set is stale, so he needs to add some shit. I hate his spinning wheel kick.. and his new leglock finisher. I also hate the micheal cole names given to his moves. He could go though.

[Guest bps "The Truth" 21]

OK then...

 

Without elavation...how will the WWF succeed when the following people are done in the next 3 years:

 

Austin

Hogan

Flair

Taker

Nash

Hall

 

And then if Rock goes to movies...and Angle pulls a Shamrock...

 

We'll be left with the HHH show.

 

What then?

[Guest um... Baby Ruth? Snickers?]

Benoit, Awesome & Kanyon can all be main-eventers too once they return. So can Lance Storm.

 

They could all be established in no time. It would take two show and one ppv.

[Guest bps "The Truth" 21]

What would I do?

 

I stand by my column...which can be found at

 

http://www.gwpwrestling.com/features/bps/first.html

 

[cheap plug]

 

well there...be sure to check out my Royal Rumble recap and my second column (which is just the house show report...with extra stuff)

 

[/cheap plug]

[Guest Tony149]

I know (Well, not really, but I have a gut feeling) Flair is willing to put over the young guys. I can see him putting over Angle in a heart beat. Probably Jericho, too.

 

I think Jericho, RVD & Kurt Angle should be the main guys in Flair's WWF (Smackdown).

[Guest My name is now Beef Jerky]

Where are the Dudleyz going to go? They have grown stale, but an ECW type heel run would rejuvenate their careers. They almost started riots at one time.

 

By the way, who is going to write for each show? Is it going to be the same writing team for both, or will they split up the writing team?

[Guest Tony149]

The Dudley's will be stale until they get different teams to wrestle and something to make them stand out. I think a return to  tie-dye would help.

Give them some mic time and I think they could make awesome heels.

 

Unless plans change, the current WWF creative team will write both shows. I think that's a bad idea. They should have another writing team write the other fed.

[Guest goodhelmet]

Yeah, I've read your columns bps, keep up the good job

 

back on topic- Hell, we have the gut feeling that Wrestlemania will be a bomb, quality wise, so we better look forward to Backlash. The next month with the split, nwo angle, and Mania will go a long ways in determining the direction of the WWF.

 

Names on the upper-teir of the Midcard-Booker, RVD, Edge- have to have a good showing at Mania. Immediately after that, involve them into feuds with the big guns. Bring up some developmental noname and have him run roughshod over the place. The WWF is stale and the dinosaurs, poor writing and politics aren't helping.

[Guest Human Fly]

It would be awesome if the WWF would let the Dudleys tear into crowds again. They need to do something with the Hardys while they're at it too. Why not have them wrestle more singles? Keep them as a team, but have them in the IC title hunt as well. Also, I look for Kanyon to really step it up when he gets back after the split. I've always liked his work and now is the time for him to go for it.

[Guest bps "The Truth" 21]

If Edge wrestles Booker...it could be the match of the night (and get Edge back on track)

 

RVD has to clash (literally) with Regal...(although the good match with Goldust at No Way Out gives some hope)...As long as Van Dam walks out with the gold...he should come out ok.

 

What about the NWO?  After Mania?

 

Rock and Austin...then what?  Are they blowing their load to early?

[Guest BernieLicious]

I don't see any need to elevate new blood.  Everyone pays lip service to the fact that the WWF needs to elevate "new talent".  In fact, ever since I can remember visiting Internet wrestling boards, there has been those kinda complaints.  Well, the WWF very rarely elevates a midcarder and pushes them into main event status.  Austin, HHH, The Rock, Jericho, Angle.....They are all the exceptions rather than the rule.  They were all midcarders at one point who were pushed into the main event scene.  Some took years to get to the main event point.  None of them are "old" however and I don't see any room, split or not, where any midcarders could be elevated.  I think it's the fact that there is so much overexposure (monthly PPVs and two weekly television shows) and seeing the same main event matches over and over, that people want to see something new.

[Guest Tony149]

I say have a 6-Man tag match at Backlash. Have the nWo vs. HHH, SCSA The Rock. Have Hall/Austin end in a DQ. Have Rock beat Hogan. Then the nWo do a beat down on The Rock, causing SCSA to come out nd help. Then after HHH wins in the main event. Have the nWo do a beat down on the WWF Champ. The nWo steals the Big Gold belt Spray paint nWo on the belt. Hogan claims that title as the nWo Title. SCSA & The Rock come out and a huge brawl erupts with the nWo & HHH, Rock & SCSA. The show ends with a brawl. On Raw, Flair is pissed that the nWo raised hell all over WM, and says he talked to UPN, and they voided Vince's contract and gave Flair the Smackdown timeslot. Flair says half the locker room wants out of the WWF. Boom splits happens. Backlash has it's main event one night after WM, and WM ends in a big way.

[Guest Red Hot Thumbtack In The Eye]

1.  If Jericho loses the title at Mania...does that set back the effort?

 

Absolutely. How can you push a new up and comer when the title belongs to the "government". They can get close enough to smell it, but thats as close as it comes.

 

After the roster get some stars back(the return of Chris"Mr. God, sir" Benoit and rhIno), it will be worse because there will be even more clogging.

 

Assuming there is no immediate split...How do you elavate new blood...with so many old dogs at the top?  

 

2.  Will Hogan work with guys like Jericho, Benoit, RVD, Booker, Angle etc...

 

If he doesnt, the company will have a lot of trouble. Vince might be crazy, but he isnt stupid. He won't be having that shit.

 

With that said I would love to see Hogan swallow the pride and put some of the guys over before he rides into the sunset.

 

3.  How do we elavate if there is no split?

 

Have the mid-carders start taking out knees.

 

I think the best hope here is that if there is not split, wwfe will do business as usual until the fans start going away and internal problems become unmanageable(maybe like wcw except without the disorganized management). Then the wwf would HAVE  to do something, right?

[Guest goodhelmet]

"I think it's the fact that there is so much overexposure (monthly PPVs and two weekly television shows) and seeing the same main event matches over and over, that people want to see something new."

 

This is exactly the reason why midcarders need to be elevated. With so much tv time to fill, you need more than 4 or 5 guys who are seen as credible threats. When the WWF increased the amount of shows (and now PPVs) the rules of the game have changed. Now more than ever is when you need more main event caliber players to fulfill your audience demands to see something different. Elevation is a must!

[Guest as;lrekgthjn]

Well, when the nWo was new in WCW, they got over by taking over. The WWF are just using them like the alliance angle. Making the WWF top guys look like He-Men. In WCW the nWo would do a run-in in a chavo vs hector garza match... just for mic time.. they didn't give a fuck and the fans ate it up. That is what the WWF need to do. The nWo needs to be out of control making enemies with everyone, not just in the main-event.

[Guest cabbageboy]

I don't think Jericho losing at WM hurts him as long as he remains in a big feud with HHH, which I think he will.  They just started the feud and it hasn't really come to any blowoff point.  If he trades it back and forth with HHH, he's in good shape.  If they just job him out and forget him, he is screwed.

 

I'd have to see who goes to what part of the fed in regards to the split.  It could be a decent idea though.

 

Lastly, can you imagine Hogan wrestling RVD?  Do you know how utterly sad and in slow motion Hogan would look there?  The only sadder thing would be Hogan dragging the match (and RVD) down to a crawl with his crappy 80s offense.

[Guest On that note:]

I'm going to wait until Hogan makes his in-ring return. He may surprize a lot of naysayers. Only time will tell.

[Guest TheDames7]

Bout time I got here...anyway.  

 

1. Jericho losing the title....will he become a midcarder again...

 

I don't think so and this is why.  When it comes to main eventers, we have a shortage of heels.  Other than the NWO, Angle and Jericho are the two biggest heels in the WWF right now.  The WWF doesn't look like they are going to make the NWO the all destructive force that they were in WCW, so Jericho and Angle will have some top roles in the company as heels.  Besides, if the split does happen, I'm sure that with the division of talent, Jericho will have less competition in the top heel spot.  

 

2. If Hogan does work with these guys, it won't be for their benefit, but that is just stating the obvious.  The matches will be carried totally by the other guys, but it could have some good drama, with the way Hogan works.  Ok, ok,its still not answering the question.  Will he work with them... I think he's going to have to eventually.  They've signed on for about 3 years I hear and I'm sure that the NWO will have to move past Austin, Rock, HHH by the end of the year, surely.  

 

3. If there is no split, how do we elevate.  If we are concerned about the talent in the company right now....then have them play an important part in the NWO storyline.  Not as a lackey, or a stooge if they are in it.  If they are against the NWO, they would have to be made into a legitimate threat against them.  

 

As for the guys who are waiting to be called up.....good luck if there's no split.  

 

Dames

[Guest cobainwasmurdered]

1.Assuming there is no immediate split...How do you elavate new blood...with so many old dogs at the top?

 

:  can we shot the old dogs?

 

1.  If Jericho loses the title at Mania...does that set back the effort?:

 

yes it sets back the effort because we'll bee back to hunter dominating the main event just like the last coupla years.

 

2.  Will Hogan work with guys like Jericho, Benoit, RVD, Booker, Angle etc...

 

 

he'll work with angle, and booker, but i doubt the others would even want to work with hogan.

3.  How do we elavate if there is no split?

 

if there's no split, we redefine what elevation is, to not just holding tittles, but the quality of the feuds. accomplish that by bringing back the crusierweight divison and elimanting the women's divison and filling the hardcore divison with ecw guys.