The split

[Guest goodhelmet]

From the Observer:

"Most wrestlers are under the impression that they are going to be told on Monday which show they will be on. It is believe the final decisions were made yesterday although i don't know that as a fact. "

 

I find it hard to believe the WWF has made the desicions already since they like booking day to day. Personally, I'm looking forward to the split. Just like I looked forward to the Invasion, Ric Flair's return, Jericho as chimp, etc....

Why should the split fix anything when the writers don't know how to write consistent entertaining tv?

[Guest BA_Baracus]

This is totally illogical like all their recent decisions.

 

The WWF is currently struggling in the ratings with *all* their tops stars.

 

So they want to split the fed up?  How will that help say...Smackdown ratings when they don't have Austin or Taker?  Or Raw ratings when they don't have the Rock?

 

I don't get why they're doing this at all.

 

It's almost as stupid as bringing in the NWO, when they're image as being old and outdated as well as the backstage problems were one of the major things that drove WCW to destruction.  

 

Better versions of the NWO had been failing in WCW for a couple years...why did WWF think that another lame re-hash would work in their company when the WWF fans had been taught for years that Hogan, Nash and Hall totally suck (and for the most part, they do)?

[Guest goodhelmet]

What's illogical is raising the price of your ppv's when your fanbase is dwindling. I don't see how raising the price of your shows will help increase buyrates.

[Guest BA_Baracus]

*Nothing* the WWF does makes sense anymore.

 

I'm seriously considering quitting on wrestling if it doesn't show some improvement after Wrestlemania.

 

...I really don't see it happening though.  They haven't come up with a really good storyline since HHH vs. Cactus Jack.

[Guest goodhelmet]

"...I really don't see it happening though.  They haven't come up with a really good storyline since HHH vs. Cactus Jack. "

 

I agree. The Kurt-Trips-Steph triangle was fine until we realized there was no payoff.

 

what's kept me going has been some amazing wrestling but the last couple of months have been shit. There's not even a viable MOTYC yet.

As for quitting the WWF, as long as Benoit is employed, I'll find a way to keep watching. But it's killing me while he is on the shelf.

[Guest Tony149]

I think the split is a good idea. Supposedly Jim Ross was the one who put the rosters together. Each show will have stars. Of course all of that is down the drain if the same "creative" team write both shows. They have trouble writing two shows. I hope Vince doesn't think that by having two different rosters the "creative" team will get better. Then again it was reported on 1wrestling that Vince liked Raw last week.

[Guest The Vanilla Midget]

well if 1bob said it, it *must* be true

seriously though, they need separate booking subcommitees under a single head booker (for the interpromotional champ), though each side needs a degree of autonomy, and there should not be a dominant overlord booking both sides.

[Guest JAMES900]

It's going to be done soon the whole Macmahon having all the power stuff from smackdown (or was it ran?) has set the split off.  I cannot wait as maybe Lance Storm will get more TV time.

[Guest Mystery Eskimo]

and Helms, Kidman, Saturn, Raven etc. I think the split could be great, especially if we get a CW division.

[Guest The Mighty Damaramu]

Well supposedly SMACKDOWN! will be the show with the good wrestlers and RAW will be the storyline driven sh*t.

[Guest goodhelmet]

Then I guess I'll adjust my viewing habits and schedule around thursdays instead of Mondays. Good wrestling beats bad storylines anyday of the week.

[Guest]

I don't see this split experiment working out well, as I don't think WWF will give it much chance.

 

If they split the main-eventers between the 2 time slots, they will get desperate when the ratings will drop like they have been, and face them off against each other.

 

I also think this will drastically change the ratings, too.  UPN is a problem.  I am 1 of the many people that do not get this channel with the dish I have, and many cable outlets don't carry it either.  I also think that many kids don't have the time, and don't the attention span to care about 2 different federations at the same time.

 

All in all, I think it will be a mistake that will be gone in the few months.

[Guest Just call me Dan]

I personally believe one half is going to tank.  Sure, you need good characters and you can't always have great wrestling without angles and character driven storylines.

 

I hear all this about smackdown being wrestling oriented where Raw becomes a big Sports Entertainment fiasco.

 

I'm incredibly glad that Smackdown will be Wrestling oriented.  but I'm sure all of you have noticed when we get little wrestling and a bunch of overbooked crap angles ( See Year 2002 )  The ratings tank.

 

This means Raw will be  load of crap with no great wrestling to save it or round it out.

 

Raw will totally flop, Smackdown will do better in the ratings, and Vince will want to change it all up and make crazy changes to get it back balanced.  In the end it may all be a big clusterfuck and just stink up the overall product.

 

I mean could you imagine watching a program consisting of only people like the nWo, Undertaker, Kane, Godfather, Goldust, Venis, etc?

 

I sure as #### would rather watch Angle, Austin, Jericho, Benoit, Storm, Booker and RVD tear it up in the ring rather than botched and crappy angles on Raw.

 

The split is something I want to see but I fear.