Comparisons to 1996-1998

[Guest drdrainoscott]

So last night, I was listening to the LAW after the PPV, and I started thinking about how WWF rose from the ashes in 1996-1998. They did this by adding a bunch of new characters to the mix, some of which clicked and others didn't. Now while that has been talked about at great lengths, other similarities that I noticed were that in PPV's during that period, the undercards were very lackluster while the main events were the only redeeming parts of the shows (and I would claim this helped get the new main eventers over). Also during that time, the WWF began handing the ball off to new stars (Austin, Rock, Foley, Kane) who were not proven draws.

 

Are we experiencing the same thing now? In the past couple of months, new talent has begun to be elevated, and I'm not just talking about Beniot and Eddy (Cena, Chavo, Christian, Orton, Henry, Holly, etc). Obviously, some of them have clicked and some of them havn't. Also, as has been evident the past couple of months, the PPV's have been pretty lackluster except for the main events.

 

The more I think about it, the more and more I could see the WWE coming out of their slump in the coming year. What do you all think?

[Guest TheZsaszHorsemen]

It may not be the right bunch to get the company out of the slump, but pushing new guys over established ones who can't turn the company around is almost always a good thing.

[Guest drdrainoscott]

How come you don't think they are the right guys? In 1996, who would have thought that Stone Cold Steve Austin, Rocky Miavia, Mankind and Hunter Hearst Helmsly would have turned out the way that they did? I guarentee that not one expected any of those four to have any impact in the main event seen. All the focus was on Vader, Ahmed, Faroouq, and Sid out of the "new stars". Austin didn't catch on big until the end of 1996, Rocky, Hunter and Mankind until the end of 1997.

[geniusMoment 0]

Anyone who saw Mick and Austin in ECW knew what they could bring to the table. Virtually every smart fan at that time was clamoring for their elevation. You obviously were not one of them.

[Guest drdrainoscott]

Actually, I was one of them, having been "smart" since about 1995 when I got AOL. While I knew the talent that Austin and Foley had, they were not portrayed as stars at the time, and, much like Lance Storm or Matt Hardy, while we may know they have talent, the casual fan didn't seem to show any interest in them. And even if I wasn't smart, as you said, nobody was clamoring for a Hunter or Rocky push in 1997.

[2GOLD 0]

Actually, I was one of them, having been "smart" since about 1995 when I got AOL. While I knew the talent that Austin and Foley had, they were not portrayed as stars at the time, and, much like Lance Storm or Matt Hardy, while we may know they have talent, the casual fan didn't seem to show any interest in them. And even if I wasn't smart, as you said, nobody was clamoring for a Hunter or Rocky push in 1997.

 

Matt was getting a pretty loud reaction before his de-push it seemed to me.

 

It doesn't depend on the workers anymore, it depends on the writers. This isn't the old writing team that let guys like Austin, Foley and Rock go out there and see what they could do. It seems this staff wants to write up every last word and not let the younger guys either stand or collapse.

 

If the writers chill out and just map out the angle and let the wrestlers carry them then yes they will get out of the slump.

[Guest MikeSC]

How come you don't think they are the right guys? In 1996, who would have thought that Stone Cold Steve Austin, Rocky Miavia, Mankind and Hunter Hearst Helmsly would have turned out the way that they did? I guarentee that not one expected any of those four to have any impact in the main event seen. All the focus was on Vader, Ahmed, Faroouq, and Sid out of the "new stars". Austin didn't catch on big until the end of 1996, Rocky, Hunter and Mankind until the end of 1997.

Heck, I picked Austin to be a huge star...

 

In 1991.

 

I almost miss Prodigy. Where else can you get in a flame war with Dutch Mantel and his wife?

-=Mike

[Austin3164life 0]

The wrestlers have almost no say in their own direction and the established stars have not moved on from the WWE to pursue other things (a la Hogan, Nash, Hall going to WCW), and they're not forced to push the newer and fresher talent. In the mid-90s, Vince saw the ratings tank, but don't forget that there was NO ONE else to push besides Bret Hart, Shawn Michaels, and a bit later, Steve Austin. Once Austin, Taker, Shawn, and Foley are completely out of the picture (no way Triple H is leaving soon), then Vince will amp up the pushes of guys like Benoit, Guerrero, Cena, & Brock.

[haVoc 0]

Once Austin, Taker, Shawn, and Foley are completely out of the picture (no way Triple H is leaving soon), then Vince will amp up the pushes of guys like Benoit, Guerrero, Cena, & Brock.

Those four aren't pushed now? Cena's an upper mid-carder. Benoit is in an WMXX world title feud. Eddie IS WWE Champion and Brock speaks for himself.

[Guest THE MIGHTY THOR]

Once Austin, Taker, Shawn, and Foley are completely out of the picture (no way Triple H is leaving soon), then Vince will amp up the pushes of guys like Benoit, Guerrero, Cena, & Brock.

Those four aren't pushed now? Cena's an upper mid-carder. Benoit is in an WMXX world title feud. Eddie IS WWE Champion and Brock speaks for himself.

Actually Benoit will get a Jericho title reign b/c the Kliq won't allow him to get over.And if you noticed all 4 of them were or still are SD wrestlers, it's sad and funny that hardly anyone from the RAW roster is over.And if they are over then they get stuck with the Tag titles or doing soap opera bullcrap.

[Papacita 0]

Actually Benoit will get a Jericho title reign b/c the Kliq won't allow him to get over.

 

I love how that's stated as fact.

 

I won't say that he'll get a strong reign, but at least give them a chance before you condemn them. For all their missteps in this Wrestlemania build, they do seem intent on getting Benoit over as a serious main event player.