Rocky Mountain News article

[Guest Patorick]

http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/ente...2131157,00.html

 

On the ropes?

 

Optimistic owner-wrestler Vince McMahon goes to the mat for his WWE

 

By Mike Mehle, Rocky Mountain News

 

July 25, 2003

 

So this is what professional wrestling has come to.

 

At the Pepsi Center on Sunday, the 57-year-old head of the largest wrestling operation in the world will take it upon himself to climb inside the ring - against a one-legged opponent.

 

A desperate attempt to rekindle the excitement of pro wrestling's late '90s heyday? Not to Vince McMahon, the owner of World Wrestling Entertainment - who'll turn 58 in August.

 

"Desperate? Oh my God," McMahon says. "This isn't desperate under any circumstances. What makes this desperate?"

 

No, McMahon isn't in the business of conceding much, least of all that his operation is fighting hard to pump up flailing TV ratings and live-show attendance.

 

While his critics complain that the WWE failed to capitalize after swallowing its primary opponent, World Championship Wrestling, in 2001, McMahon will tell you his enterprise is still at the top of cable TV ratings and remains one of the longest-running programs in the history of TV.

 

And as far as his bout against Zach Gowen, the 20-year-old who lost his leg to cancer, that's business as usual at the WWE.

 

"To me, I'm doing what I always do," McMahon says. "My record's not too good in the won-loss category. But my character is so strong that he helps put the spotlight on whatever character I'm around and helps catapult them to another level, which is what we're trying to do with Zach.

 

"Desperate? I have no idea what the hell they're talking about."

 

Let's be fair: The McMahon-Gowen match isn't the main draw for Sunday evening's Vengeance, the first pay-per-view event at the Pepsi Center. The card also includes the triple-threat championship draw featuring Brock Lesnar, Kurt Angle and Big Show, a match between The Undertaker and John Cena, and what McMahon refers to as "a catfight" between his daughter Stephanie and Sable.

 

"To me, this is a huge variety show. I can't say that one individual is going to love all of it, but they'll love some part of it."

 

What's not to love about the WWE? Its critics say plenty lately.

 

After a monumental comeback that catapulted the organization from near bankruptcy to industry supremacy in the late '90s, the WWE has found an even rockier road after buying out its competition. Among the problems McMahon faces:

 

• Stars such as Steve "Stone Cold" Austin and Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson are no longer a prominent part of the WWE picture thanks to injuries and an acting career, respectively. McMahon and company have had a hard time creating stars to fill the vacuum.

 

• What many hoped would be a series of grudge matches between WWE and WCW opponents never materialized. Instead, the bigger WWE ended up splitting the combined roster into two separate nights of programming: Smackdown on Thursdays and Raw on Mondays.

 

• Story lines have failed to captivate audiences and create the buzz wrestling depends on. Even old warhorse Hulk Hogan walked out on the organization in recent weeks, unhappy with where his story was headed.

 

• Live attendance and audience ratings have tumbled from wrestling's salad days of the late '90s, dropping by as much as 50 percent.

 

"The critics - I've got to tell you - I wouldn't care if you believed in Jesus Christ and we brought him back as a guest appearance, we would be criticized for doing that by that audience," McMahon says.

 

"They're so negative. They're so . . . negative about what we do. I won't read it. I won't let our writers read it. I don't listen to critics. I listen to our audience."

 

McMahon won't dispute that his audience has been shrinking the past couple of years. But he prefers to keep eye on the bigger picture.

 

"I'll accept the fact that from our zenith we're down. But I don't know if that's a fair comparison," McMahon says. "You have to look at all (television) programs. If you look at all highly-rated shows in the late '90s, you'd learn that most of them aren't on the air anymore. We are and we're still doing well."

 

Indeed, while the overall numbers might be down, Raw remains at the top of the cable ratings and Smackdown occasionally has an impressive showing.

 

"We're definitely on the right track here. But we need to give the audience more," McMahon says. "We need to give them more in-depth looks at our characters and add new characters as well."

 

The path wasn't paved with gold after WWE bought out the WCW, McMahon explained, because his organization wasn't willing to pay for a lot of the WCW's overpriced stars.

 

"It's easy for anyone to be a Monday-morning quarterback - but based on the exorbitant salary level that WCW had for its talent, we just couldn't acquire those talents with those contracts. People make a lot of money here, but they earn it. It's not guaranteed like it was with WCW. We couldn't acquire (Bill) Goldberg and a lot of those talents that came later."

 

Also vexing for fans: The talent was separated into the two camps, limiting some of the marquee matchups.

 

"After WCW folded, we basically didn't have much of an alternative except to be in competition with ourselves," McMahon says. "To grow the business at all, it was important to have two distinct brands. When we split the talent roster, the public thinks it's a half-step back because you can't see all the talent on both shows. But this gives the newer talent a chance to develop.

 

"You can't do things overnight. When we went to war with WCW and lost a lot of our talent, we couldn't just snap our fingers and develop new talent. It took us a while to build 'Stone Cold' Steve Austin.

 

"We're getting there," he says. "We need to get more contemporary, garner more interest in our new characters. That means grabbing the right story line hook that people become interested in and start the water- cooler talk."

 

Some of those story lines have grown more raunchy, particularly on Smackdown, which is broadcast on cable's TNN.

 

"If where you're going is that (we) have done things that shouldn't be done, then I would take great exception to that," McMahon says. "We need to be compared with other television programs out there on cable. I would suggest that no one can do an action-adventure without rape, robbery or murder. Yet we do.

 

"We're calm compared to everything else out there on television."

 

And successful, he's quick to add.

 

"You can count on one hand the number of shows that have been around as long as we have. Hardly any show - with the exception of probably the Tonight Show - has had the longevity of our programming.

 

"We're in this for the long haul. Maybe we're not setting the world on fire at the moment, but it only takes creativity, work ethic and a little bit of luck, and you're right back on the top rung of the ladder again."

 

What do you add?

[Guest Choken One]

Let the good times....ROLL!

[Guest Vyce]

To answer the question posed in the title of this thread: neither.

 

Just lots and lots of denial.

[Guest Patorick]

At least he didn't threaten to beat up the reporter...

[Guest Fook_Hing_Ho]

Smackdown's on TNN now?

[Guest TheGame2705]

"It's easy for anyone to be a Monday-morning quarterback - but based on the exorbitant salary level that WCW had for its talent, we just couldn't acquire those talents with those contracts. People make a lot of money here, but they earn it. It's not guaranteed like it was with WCW. We couldn't acquire (Bill) Goldberg and a lot of those talents that came later."

 

You couldn't acquire Goldberg or Nash or anyone else like that not because of their price but because they didn't want to wrestle. Of those 24 people you got from the buyout, I can only remember Booker, Storm, Moore, and Hurricane being left.

 

Some of those story lines have grown more raunchy, particularly on Smackdown, which is broadcast on cable's TNN.

 

Maybe the guy trying to say McMahon's lost his touch should do some research on which show is on which station.

[Guest Kid Kablam]

Journalistic ineptitude aside, Vince is still full of shit. We're negative? That's cause you're shitting down our throats and calling it chocolate. No one does action adventure without Rape and murder? Well most shows also don't have necrophelia. Also Vince's argument that his show has outalsted most top rated shows only holds water because other shows knew how to quit while they were ahead, and didn't sink to his incredible lows. Does anyone actually consider Vince a genius anymore? He's obviously prematurely senile.

[Guest BDC]

It's funny that he calls the Gowan match desperate. Granted, Vince doesn't need to be on TV, but here he is and he's pushing Gowan as a face against the scumbag. It's a typical storyline.

[Guest Patorick]

Just because a person criticizes the product, that dosen't mean they aren't a fan, right? They just aren't a fan of what is the cause of their criticism...

[Guest Choken One]

"I wouldn't care if you believed in Jesus Christ and we brought him back as a guest appearance, we would be criticized for doing that by that audience," McMahon says. "

 

Son of a Bitch He stole my line.

 

Jesus...They ARE stealing from me...This is like the 5th thing they did that I suggested in F.B's

[Guest JaKyL25]

You couldn't acquire Goldberg or Nash or anyone else like that not because of their price but because they didn't want to wrestle. Of those 24 people you got from the buyout, I can only remember Booker, Storm, Moore, and Hurricane being left.

 

I don't think Booker was one of the 24. He came of his own accord.

 

O'Haire, Jindrak, Palumbo, DeMott--Those are some other names that remain.

[Guest Choken One]

"It's easy for anyone to be a Monday-morning quarterback - but based on the exorbitant salary level that WCW had for its talent, we just couldn't acquire those talents with those contracts. People make a lot of money here, but they earn it. It's not guaranteed like it was with WCW. We couldn't acquire (Bill) Goldberg and a lot of those talents that came later."

 

You couldn't acquire Goldberg or Nash or anyone else like that not because of their price but because they didn't want to wrestle. Of those 24 people you got from the buyout, I can only remember Booker, Storm, Moore, and Hurricane being left.

 

Some of those story lines have grown more raunchy, particularly on Smackdown, which is broadcast on cable's TNN.

 

Maybe the guy trying to say McMahon's lost his touch should do some research on which show is on which station.

You couldn't acquire Goldberg or Nash or anyone else like that not because of their price but because they didn't want to wrestle. Of those 24 people you got from the buyout, I can only remember Booker, Storm, Moore, and Hurricane being left.

 

I don't think Booker was one of the 24. He came of his own accord.

 

O'Haire, Jindrak, Palumbo, DeMott--Those are some other names that remain.

How so? He was the first WCW invader?(I don't count Lance or Stacy) I doubt Vince would let the Champion walk away without nabbing him first off.

[Guest JaKyL25]

I don't remember the exact details, I just think he was one of those with the GUARANTEED TURNER MONEY~! (but closer to Jarrett than Nash or anything) that opted to let Turner buy out his contract right away so that he could get right to WWE (like DDP did).

 

I could very well be wrong. That's just how I remember it.

[Guest the pinjockey]

I think Booker was one of the 24. Isn't that why they put the title on him the last Nitro, because they wanted it to be on someone already locked up?

[Guest Choken One]

Or because they wanted an FACE to leave WCW as opposed to a mega roided heel...

 

What type of final image is THAT?

[Guest TheGame2705]

No it was my mistake, Booker wasn't one of the 24. The ones from that group remaining are Palumbo, O'Haire, Jindrak, DeMott, Storm, and Chavo.

[Guest wrestlingbs]

"They're so negative. They're so . . . negative about what we do. I won't read it. I won't let our writers read it. I don't listen to critics. I listen to our audience."

 

McMahon won't dispute that his audience has been shrinking the past couple of years.

And who are these critics? Simple.

 

They are the people in the audience who don't like what your doing, Vince.

 

And I'm sure Vince was listening to his audience when he made the Raw X special, or when he made fun of his critics during the Katie Vick angle, or when he pushed countless idiotic gimmicks and no-talent bums down fans' throats while ignoring the potential of others because they didn't fit his vision of what the WWE should be.

 

Yeah, I know, i'm coming of as a whiny bastard just like the guy thinks his critics are. But the guy won't eve read his criticism? What does that tell you about how the WWE is run? Vince better start really listening to his audience, or there may be none left.

[Guest jester]

At the Pepsi Center on Sunday, the 57-year-old head of the largest wrestling operation in the world will take it upon himself to climb inside the ring - against a one-legged opponent.

 

"Desperate? Oh my God," McMahon says. "This isn't desperate under any circumstances. What makes this desperate?"

 

Vince, unable to put two and two together.

[Guest netslob]

"They're so negative. They're so . . . negative about what we do. I won't read it. I won't let our writers read it. I don't listen to critics. I listen to our audience."

 

McMahon won't dispute that his audience has been shrinking the past couple of years.

And who are these critics? Simple.

 

They are the people in the audience who don't like what your doing, Vince.

 

And I'm sure Vince was listening to his audience when he made the Raw X special, or when he made fun of his critics during the Katie Vick angle, or when he pushed countless idiotic gimmicks and no-talent bums down fans' throats while ignoring the potential of others because they didn't fit his vision of what the WWE should be.

 

Yeah, I know, i'm coming of as a whiny bastard just like the guy thinks his critics are. But the guy won't eve read his criticism? What does that tell you about how the WWE is run? Vince better start really listening to his audience, or there may be none left.

well, of course...Vince lives in his own little universe where he is infallible (because he keeps an army of yes-men on his payroll who tell him so) and can do no wrong. so of course he refuses to acknowledge criticism, even if it's constructive. just keep your head in the sand, Vince... or up your ass where it's apparantly more comfortable.

[Guest Trivia247]

heh Vince would probably turn violent if he was locked in a room full of Smarks...

[Guest Insane Bump Machine]

"They're so negative. They're so . . . negative about what we do. I won't read it. I won't let our writers read it. I don't listen to critics. I listen to our audience."

 

He's contradicting himself there (I'M SHOCKED!). The critics are part of your audience, Vince. There are almost no professional wrestling critics out there, almost all of them are fans who care about the product and want it to improve. So you listen to fans as long as they kiss your ass, but when they criticize something they don't matter anymore. Good strategy, idiot.

[Guest FeArHaVoC]

heh Vince would probably turn violent if he was locked in a room full of Smarks...

I would love to be one in the room when Vince turned violent. Not saying I could kick Vince's ass one on one, but a few of us beating Vince down and knocking some sense into him sounds like a good time to me.

[ChrisMWaters 0]

heh Vince would probably turn violent if he was locked in a room full of Smarks...

I would love to be one in the room when Vince turned violent. Not saying I could kick Vince's ass one on one, but a few of us beating Vince down and knocking some sense into him sounds like a good time to me.

Sounds good to me too.

 

I could debut a few submission moves I made up while in an E-Fed up.

 

Which to use on him though...

 

The Compressor (combination Dragon Sleeper, Knee in the back, leg pressed into chest)

 

Figure Four Anklelock (like the Figure Four Leglock...only the other leg gets the ankle twisted at the same time)

 

or...

 

Death By Torture (Camel Clutch position...but with a Dragon Sleeper insted of just pulling up on the chin.)

[Guest CoreyLazarus416]

"Death By Torture" is just LowKi's Dragon Clutch.

[ChrisMWaters 0]

"Death By Torture" is just LowKi's Dragon Clutch.

Ah, didn't know it was used already.

 

Thanks for the info...(goes to edit E-Fed bio with that move)

[Guest RavishingRickRudo]

"Desperate? Oh my God," McMahon says. "This isn't desperate under any circumstances. What makes this desperate?"

 

*Groan*

 

 

"To me, I'm doing what I always do," McMahon says. "My record's not too good in the won-loss category. But my character is so strong that he helps put the spotlight on whatever character I'm around and helps catapult them to another level, which is what we're trying to do with Zach.

 

*Groan*

 

"Desperate? I have no idea what the hell they're talking about."

 

*Groan*

 

"To me, this is a huge variety show. I can't say that one individual is going to love all of it, but they'll love some part of it."

 

*Groan*

 

"The critics - I've got to tell you - I wouldn't care if you believed in Jesus Christ and we brought him back as a guest appearance, we would be criticized for doing that by that audience," McMahon says.

 

*Groan*

 

"They're so negative. They're so . . . negative about what we do. I won't read it. I won't let our writers read it. I don't listen to critics. I listen to our audience."

 

*Groan*

 

"I'll accept the fact that from our zenith we're down. But I don't know if that's a fair comparison," McMahon says. "You have to look at all (television) programs. If you look at all highly-rated shows in the late '90s, you'd learn that most of them aren't on the air anymore. We are and we're still doing well."

 

*Groan*

 

"We're definitely on the right track here. But we need to give the audience more," McMahon says. "We need to give them more in-depth looks at our characters and add new characters as well."

 

*Groan*

 

"It's easy for anyone to be a Monday-morning quarterback - but based on the exorbitant salary level that WCW had for its talent, we just couldn't acquire those talents with those contracts. People make a lot of money here, but they earn it. It's not guaranteed like it was with WCW. We couldn't acquire (Bill) Goldberg and a lot of those talents that came later."

 

*GROAN*

 

"After WCW folded, we basically didn't have much of an alternative except to be in competition with ourselves," McMahon says. "To grow the business at all, it was important to have two distinct brands. When we split the talent roster, the public thinks it's a half-step back because you can't see all the talent on both shows. But this gives the newer talent a chance to develop.

 

*Groan*

 

"You can't do things overnight. When we went to war with WCW and lost a lot of our talent, we couldn't just snap our fingers and develop new talent. It took us a while to build 'Stone Cold' Steve Austin.

 

*GROAN*

 

"We're getting there," he says. "We need to get more contemporary, garner more interest in our new characters. That means grabbing the right story line hook that people become interested in and start the water- cooler talk."

 

BWWWWWWWWAHAHAHAHAH!!!

 

Oh, I mean.

 

*Groan*

 

"If where you're going is that (we) have done things that shouldn't be done, then I would take great exception to that," McMahon says. "We need to be compared with other television programs out there on cable. I would suggest that no one can do an action-adventure without rape, robbery or murder. Yet we do.

 

*Groan*

 

"We're calm compared to everything else out there on television."

 

*Groan*

 

"You can count on one hand the number of shows that have been around as long as we have. Hardly any show - with the exception of probably the Tonight Show - has had the longevity of our programming.

 

*Groan*

 

"We're in this for the long haul. Maybe we're not setting the world on fire at the moment, but it only takes creativity, work ethic and a little bit of luck, and you're right back on the top rung of the ladder again."

 

*Groan*

Edited July 27, 2003 by RavishingRickRudo

[Guest RavishingRickRudo]

...Fuck, McMahon is an idiot.

 

I mean, they already have Jesus and he does a picture perfect flying headbut, I ain't complainin.

[Guest Anglesault]

But my character is so strong that he helps put the spotlight on whatever character I'm around and helps catapult them to another level, which is what we're trying to do with Zach.

 

 

AW CRAP!

 

What are the chances that the other level is Velocity?

[Guest Retro Rob]

Also Vince's argument that his show has outalsted most top rated shows only holds water because other shows knew how to quit while they were ahead, and didn't sink to his incredible lows. Does anyone actually consider Vince a genius anymore? He's obviously prematurely senile.

Hold up. Vince McMahon has produced over 800 episodes of Raw/SD over the last decade. No other show in television that is not a talkshow or daily news can even come close to touching that, making WWE programming the only pure entertainment show to produce that much TV. His ratings now are not so low that he should throw in the towel. They are higher than 99% of everything else on cable, so why should he quit now?

[Guest RavishingRickRudo]

However, if the WWE were on say, Fox, ABC, NBC, CBS - and they had their high and their low, do you think that they would still be on television today?