Topic of the Day 2/28

[Guest Dangerous A]

Here we go children. The burning question that will probrably get some good talk going on.

 

 

Can an ALL cruiserweight/junior heavyweight show get over in North America?

 

Sort of like a Michinoku Pro of North America. If you could have any cruisers in North America to build this, could you get it over into the mainstream and actually make money? Not just have great matches. We all know that the workrate will be off the charts, but could you profit with an all small guys organization?

 

This is the question I pose to you, the smarks.

[Guest RavishingRickRudo]

No.

 

I dont think any promotion can be successful right now.

 

However, cruiserweight wrestling CAN get over.  I refer to Eddy vs Rey HH97 for proof.  97 was pretty much well peak popularity for Wcw and the crowd was standing on their feet when the match was over, how often do you see that?

[Guest cobainwasmurdered]

it could get over yes. but the second it did vince would buy the top stars and have them rot in the farm leagues because he's a dick.

[Guest Mystery Eskimo]

Maybe,if it was booked carefully and the matches were given psychology and weren't just lots of spots as often happens in CW matches.

The roster you could get would be great, it would be a question as to whether the general wrestling public (alright, marks) would get into it.

[Guest HellSpawn]

"Can an ALL cruiserweight/junior heavyweight show get over in North America?"

 

Yes. (If you consider NA as Canada, USA, Mexico.)

 

But its gonna be a major handicap, not just Vince, but (IMO) mostly, USA fans, many of them only care for bigger wrestlers and just see juniors as funny spot guys.

 

Just look at Kaientai, Crash, Essa, Helms, Chavo, Kidman, Juvi, etc.

 

I mean, AAA is successful here in Mexico and I think it have a good buzz thanks to galavision, and is mostly Cruisers.

 

Of course, this promotion needs big names, and support, I mean, I read alot about ECW rules and all that, but ECW always had 1 point rating or less.

[Guest Just call me Dan]

No way.

 

No variety.  There is no way in hell I would wan to be subjected to federation with only a certain category of people.

 

Think about a fed with nothing but big guys?  Crap. Workrate would suck and the matches would not be enjoyable.

 

Mid size guys, there just would be a little something missing.

 

All cruiser weight guys?  No.  A division can't even get off to a good  start now ( Yes, I know it is Vince's fault.)

 

Give a whole Lightweight federation and see how bad you flop.

[Guest thefrenchargel]

I think an all-cruiserweight promotion would work well in Mexico, since there's already an established fanbase for it there. In the US, it would have a chance if ALL the wrestlers were junior heavies, no big guys. The moment someone the size of, say Mike Awesome entered the picture, the whole thing would go down the crapper as that person would dwarf everyone else in the promotion, making it look like a league of midgets. Cruiserweights who are muscular can look big on TV, but not when they're stacked up against your average larger wrestlers. Lowering the ring ropes would add to the deception, which I feel would be necessary because the fanbase in the US is for the big heavyweights, and the juniors have always been more of a novelty item, as opposed to something taken very seriously.

[Guest Rabies]

Come do to think of it, do CW wrestlers really WANT to be stuck in a CW division? The reason anyone ever breaks into the business is having the dream of one day becoming a World (HW) champ. Sure, some cruisers may feel comfortable competing in these "divisions", but they would only prefer it for the short-term. I'm sure established "cruisers" like Eddy Guerrero, Malenko, Tajiri, Misterio, etc.. wouldn't want to have that stigma stamped on them. Look at WCW, there was somewhat of a de facto segregation of CWs. It would be hard for any cruiser to break that stigma and hopefully earning thieir spot in the upper-mids or main-event. I don't know, I'm probably just talking out of my ass

[Guest Dangerous A]

I think it could work on an ECW type level. You'd have to distinguish yourself as something different and fresh. I personally wouldn't try to take on the wwf. Instead I would market it as something different. Something a little more work oriented. I probrably would book tours in small venues (1000-5000) and then hold the super card in a normal sized arena(10,000-15,000). I would still incorporate some comedy and a little promo/backstage stuff. Just not as much as wwf. Most importantly, I wouldn't call the guys cruiser/light-heavy/junior wrestlers. They would just be wrestlers. I would try to make it a point not to bring up their size. I would constantly be putting over the workrate though. If you put a name tag on them, then yes, you are already handicapping yourself.

[Guest goodhelmet]

I think it could work easily. You just have to have decent characters and storylines that the fans care about. Each cruiser would need to develop their own style. Some could use shoot-style (Lowki, tajiri), others could be great highflyers (hurricane, taka), others, bump machines (hardys), lucha (mysterio), matwork, etc...

 

we've all seen underwhelming cruiser matches so the work wouldn't always be off the charts and as long as they develop their own movesets and personas I see no reason it wouldn't work. It really depends on how it is marketed to appeal to wrestling fans. you promote yourself as an organization with more talent, who takes themselves and their athletes seriously, avoid b-level skits and you could have a winner. If the tv is compelling, people will eventually grab hold.