How would you handle the split?

[Guest mastermind]

I just thought this would be a good topic. You know so the spies can get some GOOD ideas and not make this flop number 283884902 for the last year.

[Guest mastermind]

Seems no one is responding. Well, I will start things with mistake #1 the wwf should have two different writers for the shows. To create real heat like the monday night was era this would cause a good kind of rivalry behind the scenes.

[Guest Brian]

No cross-overs. It should feel like Vince and Flair are really competing against each other.

[Guest imajackoff?]

Seems no one is responding. Well, I will start things with mistake #1 the wwf should have two different writers for the shows. To create real heat like the monday night was era this would cause a good kind of rivalry behind the scenes.

This certainly is the most important aspect of the split.  I think for these shows to flourish, they have to be distinguishable from one another in many ways..  One show should use a ramp to the ring, the other shouldnt.  Perhaps to compensate for the rather vanilla Micheal Cole, they should go with a 3 person booth on Smackdown.  Or how bout this for an idea.... do like a football broadcast set up, with the announcers away from the ring (ala early Nitro) and have a 3rd announcer be like a roving reporter  from ringside.  They also need to give this time and not trash it after 3 weeks if the ratings havent popped.  To be honest with you, I've been waiting for this split to happen as sort of a "last chance" for WWFe to keep interest.  This split is my last hope for things to change.

[Guest oldschoolwrestling]

No cross-overs. It should feel like Vince and Flair are really competing against each other.

I agree.  They should even go so far as to badmouth each other with the previous week's ratings.  And the loser each week should have to sleep with Linda Mac.

[Guest Kahran Ramsus]

One should be wrestling oriented, and the other SE oriented.

 

Also, stick JR & Lawler on Smackdown, and bring in new announcers for RAW.  Like Schiavone & Tenay.  Schiavone can bee good when he isn't being a corporate shill for Bischoff, and Tenay is exactly the type of commentator RAW needs.  Stick in Don Callis as a heel announcer, and that could be a very good team.

[Guest dreamer420]

If they change anything it should be the announce team on Raw.  Unfortunatly there is no one out there can come in and take over for JR and the King.  The only announcers I see as possible WWF announcers are Scott Hudson and possibly Arn Anderson.

[Guest converge241]

First and foremost, different writing staffs. Nobody should have say in the others (except vince of course). Thats the best way to get a special signature for each show.

The second thing to get that signature would be the focus on differnt elements (ring work - sports entertainment). You have elements in both , but stress one or the other.

Do not talk about the other show or recap events that happened (unless it directly involves like the world title).

[Guest Tony149]

For those wishing for two different writing teams...keep wishing. As the same WWF "creative" team will write both shows. I think thats a big mistake. If Raw does becomes more wrestling, let somebody else book it. Let Heyman, Flair, Ace. Just ANYBODY but the same team.

[Guest goodhelmet]

"The only announcers I see as possible WWF announcers are Scott Hudson and possibly Arn Anderson. "

 

Are you crazy? Arn Anderson would be crap in an announcers role. Great on the mic in the ring. Not so good calling the action.

[Guest Austin3164life]

I think for Flair's half (Raw, should be more wrestling oriented), the two chief bookers should be Paul Heyman and Arn Anderson.  I feel that they would book sweet matches if guys like Austin, Angle, Benoit, Booker T, and RVD are on their side.....

[Guest bps "The Truth" 21]

I would have had all the title holders be floaters.

 

I really don't need 2 15 minute HHH interviews a week...

 

What happens to the IC title and the tag title?  

 

What happens a few months from now when you want to elavate someone to one of the belts...but oops...they're in the wrong league.

 

And if their are only going to be 2 titles floating...why the womens?

[Guest Kahran Ramsus]

I would have had none of the titles floating, and both RAW & Smackdown have their own championships.

[Guest Kinetic]

I would have had non of the titles floating, and both RAW & Smackdown have their own championships.

I agree.  With the exception of the joint PPVs, the two groups should have nothing to do with each other.

 

I'm starting to get the impression that we're in for a big disappointment if we expect RAW to be more wrestling-oriented.

[Guest dreamer420]

I thought Arn was the only thing good about Booker T vs. Buff Bagwell from last July.

[Guest Kahran Ramsus]

I thought Arn was the only thing good about Booker T vs. Buff Bagwell from last July.

 

Bagwell being fired was a good thing too.

[Guest RedJed]

-Different writing teams, obviously

 

-Make one of the shows more of an oldschool feel to it (this would probably be Raw since Flair=oldschool) even showcasing small things like the ring lights dimmed when the matches begin. No long drawn out promos unless they lead to a really worthwhile angle. More focus in on the in ring product. CW division starts here. Actually never use the term "sports entertainment." Push that this company is "wrestling the way it used to be." Announcers would be Jim Ross and Joey Styles, who turns pseudo heel ass an announcer but still calls very well. No backstage "crash TV" type segments other than straight interviews. Bookers should be Heyman and Johnny Ace on top with Arn and Flair also helping. No womens matches are allowed in this company, or no real T & A is showcased either to any ridiculous degree. Generally let the wrestlers get their characters over more in the ring. Only gimmick matches allowed in this company would be street fights, strap matches, and an occasional cage match or HIAC. Start every show with Ross and Styles plugging the rundown of the show and then a match begins.

 

-Other show will stay your typical SE stuff in every way. No really new changes here, except maybe more of a harder edge to things. This couldn't be the same SE product we see today.....more Attitude needs to be brought back into the fold. Keep crash TV here. Show off the ladies as much as you want. Keep the same writing staff as they have now sans the guys lost on the Raw show. Bring in a few new faces as well to the writing staff.....maybe even consider bringing back Russo or Ferrara in a short term plan of action to get back to basics with making SE interesting again. Generally get the characters over more on their promos and handling of themselves in backstage happenings. Shorter matches, heavier on the angles than anything. Announcers would be Cole and Lawler. Bring back alot of the more gimmicky matches like matches in the backstage or outside or whatever, as well as ladder and table matches. Start every show with the typical promo in the ring or else an exciting angle or something.

 

-Only the world champ and tag team champs are allowed on both shows. This stuff with the ladies champ on both shows is ridiculous. Have the IC and CW titles on Raw. Euro, Womens, and HC titles on Smackdown.

 

-No matter what, there can't be any talk of the other show unless there is interpromotional stuff going on. As far as promoting ppvs go......if they go in two month cycles, start promotion for the companys show right away. Don't wait until that other companies ppv is finished to start it. This will give the company two months to promote properly, which is plenty of time. Keep in mind that is actually the same amount of time the WWF has had before all this, since they were using up 4 weeks of TV a month, which equals the same amount of time for 2 hours of promotion for a ppv a week for 2 months.

 

-Every company gets 5 of their own ppvs. I think it's a given the Backlash will be a split ppv, which will showcase primarily Raw v. Raw and SD v SD matches. Start out like that, thats fine. Then by May, the split fully happens with the ppvs. Raw gets Judgment Day, Fully Loaded, Unforgiven, and Survivor Series (bring back the survivor matches to this, concept with be by the end of the night there is one true survivor and he would get a good push from there). SD gets KOTR (perfect way to push a SD wrestler to another level much like the Raw crew with do with Survivor Series), the ppv from Australia in August, No Mercy, and Vengence. The new year will have a joint ppv sort of with the Rumble. Both companies compete in the Rumble for the Mania title shot. The undercard is just Raw v Raw and SD v SD though. No Way Out is this same way, a joint ppv but yet it just features Raw v Raw and SD v SD matches. The key to these two ppvs though is that there will be some sort of angles and interaction with the companies leading to Mania. SummerSlam also will be a interpromotional ppv with both companies against each other, BTW. So the only true interpromotional ppvs will be SummerSlam and Mania. Rumble will be half and half, and No Way Out and Backlash will feature both companies, but just in matches against guys from the same company.

 

-Do NOT make any drastic changes into the layout or everything else until about 4-5 months into the split. Time needs to be given to see if the respective changes work or not. Then go from there......the ratings will project what is bad and good about them.

[Guest]

i would slice the banana dow the middle and then place the ice cream and choco sauce. or maybe divide x by y and the quotient for pie. but the best way to do itis always the best way quoth the hamburglar nevermore

[Guest mastermind]

Okay good ideas here. Here are some of mine. I think this is a very important business move on the wwf's part. The industry needs some kind of freshness to it like the monday night wars brought.

 

This is what I think. The wwf should really play this out like the NFL or MLB. Having two different conferences or leagues. RAW becomes the conference similar to the National League that it takes the old school stuff more to the product(you know pitchers hitting instead of DH). SmackDown taking the newer school sports entertainment approach. RAW's name alone should give the meaning that we get wrestling in the raw. The drastic changes coming in like 4-5 months as someone said with the set up of the shows. This is important.

 

RAW having the dimmer look and no ramp entrance. It still needs to have pyro and an entrance set though. The commentators doing their stuff from afar is old school as well. I don't know I think the mic being used through the arena would give a really different feel. I remember SNME use to do that early in the day. The Intercontinental Titlist should be the top champion since historically as some have stated it was the strap with the best technical wrestler or the hottest youngster in the fed. The Cruiserweight Titlist should also be on this show. The show should definitely have different writers in about 4-5 months(you have to do the transition from the current state a bit slow), but the whole writing team should work together to do the interdivisional matches which should be rare. This way the two divisions would be on the same track.

 

SmackDown's set can stay since it's pretty new. The current SE program. I think the current staff who contribute with mostly the SE stuff should do this show. Not much of a drastic change here. The titles being competed in this division would be the European Championship and the Hardcore Championship. The Hardcore title is sports entertainment to a tee. The European Championship can finally gain some kind of respect as the top wrestler can hold the strap. This way the title situation is split amongst Vince and Flair and each conference is given a unique division. The importance of the titles would be higher because the division's competitors would only have 2 titles to compete for.

 

Now I will talk about the ppv schedule. The wwf has 12 ppv shows. I say they can really build some heat throughout the year for both conferences competitors by doing this. At KOR Vince sends his field in the tournament to compete. Flair sends his field in to compete. So, two upcoming midcarders from Flair and Vince's division would face off in the finals of the KOR tourney. Either Vince's division or Flair's division would have bragging rights of being KOR for a year. This could be used to create heat amongst the two divisions.

 

SummerSlam is traditionally the second biggest show of the year. I will make this show have the WrestleMania annual blow-off of both where competitors only battle against their conference. This is the only event on the ppv schedule where this happens. You get to see both divisions on one ppv squaring off within their own conference. No mention is made about the matches for the other division. Both divisions build their own "summerslam" and in doing this jointly promote SummerSlam without actually noticing each other.

 

Survivor Series is another ppv show to build heat between the two divisions. I say there be conference survivor series matches. The main event being a wild card match where the two division have to team up with one another against their own will. This leads to the survival of the fittest finale in a war games situation. This is where the winners of the wildcard go back to their conference in the war games match. One of the divisions wins and is the sole survivor. This creates heat and gets fans talking about which division is better.

 

Using that heat you now go to the Royal Rumble match. Use the same stipulation that the winner gets the world title shot at WrestleMania. Flair sends in his field and Vince sends in his field. This is where you set up the match rivalries for WrestleMania for the interdivisional matches. This is how you continue to build the illusion of competition. I agree mentioning the other conference should be kept to a minimum though.

 

WrestleMania now is the big interdivisional ppv show. ####, I saw at another thread that the show should be broken into Vince's half in one dome or arena and into Flair's half into one dome or arena. I think that's a great way to make WrestleMania seem like the world cup of soccer or Olympics. Throw in the interdivisional matches and you get the traditional world series affair before MLB changed their philosophy.

 

That makes WM, KOR, Series, and Rumble the interdivisional ppv shows. SummerSlam is also a big blow-off show. So, the big five are still the top ppv shows. SummerSlam is the split show that makes the divisions have 4 ppv shows each to do their own match-ups.

 

Now you need to have trades and whatnot. I think this is the role for managers. You can also create free agent storylines by stating tha certain wrestlers contract deadlines are coming up. The wrestler becomes a free agent for managers and Vince and Flair.

 

What ya think? I think this creates a whole different atmosphere in the industry.

[Guest]

- I agree there should be seperate writing teams for each division, but on the Raw group, i say make Ric Fliar head writer. When Ric Flair has the book, he is like Midas, everything is golden.

 

- Make it competitve! I don't want to hear aout Raw if I'm watching Smackdown and vice versa. They should have different ref's, different ring annoucers, the whole nine yards.

 

- Give the divions some edge! Yes, there has to be comedy in wrestling, but a fued like Triple H vs. Jericho should have no comedy. I'm looking at you stephanie.

 

- Make diffent Titles. While I think the World Title should stay as is, for the time being, bring back the US Heavyweight title and everything. I mean, if they keep everything sperate, it won't seem like there too many titles.

 

- Set design should be different. For Raw, i say have a lil brighter set up, like Nitro was, while Smackdown should be more dimmed, like '98 Raw.

[Guest muzanisa]

Flair show wrestling, Vince show SE. I'm only interested in Raw as Smackdown can continue just as it is.

no headliners against each other in the main event unless it's just before a feud blow-off so if HHH and Jericho are feuding instead of HHH/Kane against Jericho/Angle it's HHH against Eddie and Jericho interferes or after trips wins appears on screen for a promo.

Feuds to last past one PPV and have a beginning middle and an end. Edge/Regal should have concluded at WM with Edge getting the belt and then he could have dropped it to RVD.

In blatant contradiction of my last post title wins to mean something and long title reigns. Big celebrations by wrestlers when they win and at least three feuds per title reign.

If we take the split as year zero by the end of year one I would like to see only about ten of the roster having had title reigns including tag teams.

Only proper tag teams to win the tag title.

Tag teams against any wrestler in a handicap match win, always.

No McMahons on screen.

fewer chickenshit heels.

loads of other stuff that I can't think of

[Guest Rabies]

There really should be the perception/illusion of actually having two seperate feds. One World champ for each, one midcard champ (IC/U.S.) for each, and a Tag Team title for each. Having a "American League" and a "National League" of the WWF will BOMB IMHO. If the "draft" seems lop-sided, fan perference will dictate the ratings. One show may keep the same ratings it's been getting based on the WWF superstars the fans prefer, and the other show will drop in ratings because of disinterest. If Vince wants each show to have consistant ratings they been having, why even ''brand extend?" They better not fuck up the draft. Who knows, maybe they will end up actually splitting into actual two difference feds, why have they been keeping the Gold belt around so long? If they have no intention of actually having another fed, the Gold belt will eventually disappear soon. This "Brand Extention" is kinda really gay in my opinion.

[Guest nl5xsk1]

I'd have Ric Flair re-create the wcw, but instead of the NWO, I'd have him add some of those who were run out of wcw by the likes of Hogan, Hall, Nash.  So instead of those dinosaurs, wcw would have Jericho, Austin, Benoit, Raven, Saturn, etc.  

 

From the WWF he'd draft Angle and Tajiri.  Flair would also draft a returning Eddy, a debuting Rey Jr, and, as the last pick of RAW surprise, Scott Steiner.  

 

The premise could be that Flair has always felt the traditional approach of wcw was superior to the "flash" of sports entertainment, and that would explain why Flair created his federation as so wrestling-oriented and McMahon left his very sports entertainment.

[Guest Tanzan]

I'm confused with one thing, Triple H and Jazz won't be drafted as they will be defending their titles on both shows. But, what if one loses? If HHH loses(not like it'll happen any time soon, Fuck HHH), which show will he go to? Raw or Smackdown? I'm confused by that since I remember on Smackdown that whiny bitch Cole said Triple H and Jazz wouldn't be drafted.

[Guest Hogan Made Wrestling]

I would run things basically the way they are now in terms of an operational standpoint. Split the rosters in 2, evenly, and then bring up some new guys to fill the holes. Cross promote a bit but not too much. Don't do anything too drastic, the new rosters and new feuds should be enough to sustain interest without having to do some radical shift in philosophy. Give the belt to someone the fans really want to see (Rock, Austin, or Hogan, or continue with HHH provided he turns heel first) so there is more incentive for people to watch both shows.

[Guest Brian]

I wast thinking along the lines of InVasion and WrestleMania being somewhat interdivisional (co-promoted card for InVasion with five-on-five tag, dream card for Mania); and Rumble featuring the Rumble and KOTR as the young lions' tournament.

 

The winner of the rumble should face the WCW champ at No Way Out and then champ vs. champ at WrestleMania. Maybe the rumble winner gets his contract in addition to the double title shot, making it even more enticing.

 

So Survivor Series becomes the WWF's main show, since that is when they triumphed over WCW. And SummerSlam becomes Flair's. And they just rotate between shows with the exception of the WM and InVasion, with the WWF getting four big shows (and one IYH) as their personal (with minimal Flair's wrestlers appearing) and Flair's division gets five, one big show and four IYH's.