Reborn- The Saga of World Wrestling Entertainment

[Guest The Last Free Voice]

"The more things change, the more things stay the same."

 

This adage may never have been more true than in World Wrestling Entertainment. Since the year 2000, and arguably before, the Main event scene of the worlds largest "sports entertainment" company has been stale. The same people have been on top of the cards. Fans were losing interest. And quickly.

 

The wrestlers were becoming complacent, their morale killed by lack of upward mobility. Their matches were becoming worse, and they were being punished for it. Truly a vicious cycle.

 

Vince McMahon has been called many things. From genius to evil and a million in between. But even his biggest detractors have conceded that he is a very good businessman and cares for his company deeply.

 

Things need to change. He realized. He did not know how, but things had to change. He sat and thought. Alone, in his plush office. He sat for a long time. When his daughter, Stephanie came in to check on him, it was dark, almost pitch black.

 

"Dad? You in here?" She asked, her voice, which has irritated many fans was filled with concern. She heard the squeak of a chair spinning and then her fathers voice.

 

"Yes. I'm here Steph." He said. He sounded like he had just been awakened from a deep slumber.

 

"Are you okay?" She asked him, walking over and turning on a light that sat on his desk. He looked distant, in deep thought.

 

"I'm fine. Just thinking." He replied softly.

 

"Oh, okay Dad." She said and turned to leave. However Vince started speaking again.

 

"We need to change. It's time to change." He said. She turned back and looked at him.

 

"What?"

 

"Things need to change, or we are going to end up like all those company's I put out of business. There will be a meeting in the morning." He said, rising from his chair and started to walk out of his office.

 

"For who?" Stephanie asked him.

 

He turned back to her, a grave look on his face.

 

"Everyone."

[Guest The Last Free Voice]

Chapter 2- Drastic Measures for Drastic Times

 

April 1, 2004

 

The entire writing staff is assembled. No one quite knows what is going on. The mood in the room is one of confusion. There is a buzz there. Not only for the fact that they are all together, along side the road agents and the other brass, but also for the fact that the entire roster of wrestlers are there as well. Something is about to go down. They can feel it. Something big.

 

He walked in. Vince McMahon, their boss. His face was set in grim determination. He stood at the front of the room and began to speak what very well could have been a great promo. But there were no camera's here. This was real.

 

"It is time for a change. I have realized that for far to long I have been to steadfast in my ways. It is time for us, for World Wrestling Entertainment, to change to suit the current wrestling fanbase. We need new stories, new main eventers, new matches. We need a shakeup." He began as the best staff in the history of the business hung on his every word.

 

"First off, we need to shake up the brand extension. That is why I have decided to relaunch ECW." There was an even louder buzz in the room. Paul Heyman, the mastermind of the original Extreme Championship Wrestling was shocked.

 

"Paul, it's all yours. You write it. You hire whoever you want. Thursday, you're gonna lead an 'uprising' of talent from both shows. Heat is now ECW TV. We can talk more later." Vince said. Heyman nodded silently, still in shock.

 

"Next. Our shows have become dull. To much of the same interviews and matches. We need variety. New faces, cruiserweights, elevation. I think the new collective writing staff will help with this."

 

"Collective writing staff?" Brian Gerwitz, one of the head writers asked.

 

"Everyone will be writing for all the shows, save ECW, and will put together one card, for approval by me." He said. "Enough said, as we have more to discuss."

 

The conversation went on for hours, with each person finding out their new place in the WWE. The conversation was then repeated with the Talent, and was met with great response. The talent was in high sprits. The staff was ready. Tonight there would be a true rebirth, and it would happen on Smackdown!....

[Guest The Last Free Voice]

Chapter 3- Revelations and Fallout

 

Smackdown, 4/1/04: Emanating LIVE from MSG. How fitting. Live SD! Was another of the new implements of Vince McMahon.

 

Michael Cole and Tazz are your commentators.

 

No promo's to start, but cruiserweights action.

 

Out first is Jamie Noble, flying solo now that Nidia has dumped him. Fair heel heat for him. Out next is Paul London, who gets a surprising pop for not being on TV more than twice.

 

Jamie Noble Vs Paul London.

 

They worked the mat for the first few minutes of the match, with Noble targeting London's leg in an attempt to neutralize the London Calling Shooting Star Press. (A point Tazz is sure to point out) London stays with him and ends up taking control after an enziguri and dropsault. They trade moves, with Noble countering the Waffle Face into a Tiger Driver attempt, but London Huracanranas him mid move and goes up and hits the Calling for the win!

 

Winner: Paul London via London Calling Shooting Star Press

 

 

Paul Heyman is out now, to do his gab session. “I made Smackdown!” He booms. But before he can spew off any more of his egomaniacal diatribe, “No Chance in Hell” blares over the speakers and Vince McMahon comes out to the ring, Mic in hand.

 

“Paul Heyman!” He yells. “I am SICK of your self righteous ramblings!” The crowd pops as the Boss speaks.

 

“But sir! I've taken Smackdown to the Top!” He screams back. “I have a right to be boastful!”

 

“Oh do you?” McMahon roars back. “I think ANYONE can do what you've done here!” He continues to massive crowd response.

 

“Sir, with all do respect,” Heyman fires back, his voice not quite as confident now. “I don't think there is a single person here who can do HALF the job I have.” He boasts. The camera zooms in on Vince’s face, which shows a “oh yea?” look.

 

“You really feel that way?” Vince responds in a quiet voice.

 

“Yes, sir!”

 

“Well, in light of that, YOUR’E FIRED!” He booms out of no where. The crowd erupts as Heyman has a fit.

 

“NO ONE CAN DO THIS LIKE I CAN! NO ONE!” He yells.

 

“Oh, I think I can find someone…” Vince trails off as Heyman is escorted out by Security.

 

“THIS IS NOT OVER! THIS IS NOT THE LAST OF THIS!” Heyman yells as we head to break…

 

We are back with tag title action!

 

The Basham Brothers Vs World's Greatest Tag Team.

 

Very little reaction to the Basham’s, due to their weak gimmick. Pretty good heat for the WGTT. This was a back and forth match, with both teams using every advantage they could. (Or in other words, they both cheated enough to cause Grandma Gurerro to say "That aint right!") So says Tazz anyway.

 

Basham’s controlled for the first part of the match, using various double teams and illegal tactics. The WGTT took over with some good (maybe not clean) mat wrestling and never looked back as they take the win with the Worlds Greatest Double Team (formerly known as the Broken Arrow)

 

Commercial

 

 

We come back and Booker T is back stage.

 

"Ya know, I don't understand all the hype bout Smackdown. I really don't get it." He begins. "I mean, who's the top guy here? Eddie? Brock? Angle? Please, I'm Booker T. I faced HHH at Wrestle Mania XIX. I am A FIVE TIME WCW champion. I'm to good for this place. But I'm stuck here. So I'm gonna show all the sucka's in the back just why Booker T is the NEW top talent on Smackdown. Believe that, Sucka."

 

And now we go to:

Hardcore Holly vs. Billy Gunn.

 

Crowd doesn't care for either guy here, and the two know it. The match drags along with Holy playing a psudo-heel, stiffing Gunn about the ring, to the delight of some of the fans. The match goes on until SEAN O'HAIRE jumps the guardrail and lays both out with the new version of the Widowmaker, which is now a (uber-safe) burning hammer. No contest as O'Haire destroyed both.

 

We are outside as a camera man catches Paul Heyman on his cell phone.

 

"You're sure about this?" He says into the phone. "And it's legal? I don't want to get sued over this now." He listens for a second. "Okay then." More listening. "Oh yes. This will be a Velocity NO ONE will forget. See ya in Philly." He says before hanging up.

 

We're back from commercial and it's time for US Title action.

 

Big Show Vs John Cena.

 

Your typical big man Vs littler man match, with Show dominating with power stuff but Cena fighting back with all he has. This goes on until Cena hit's an FU for the win. It was a bland match, okay?

 

As we come in from break a highlight video of Kurt Angle plays. It shows his best moments as a bad ass kicking machine. Yea. Foreshadowing Bitch!

 

Now Cruiserweights Title action! (Or there's a cruiserweights title on this show?)

Rey Mysterio Jr, Ultimo Dragon.

 

This was a solid, Japanese style Jr's match. It started off slow with some mat work centering on Rey's leg, and built to a climax full of cool highspots and signature moves. Finish came as Dragon hit his kick combo, but the last was blocked as Rey spun him around into perfect position for the 619! One Springboard Rana later and Rey Mysterio retained his coveted title.

 

Backstage Josh Matthews is with Sean O'Haire.

 

"Sean, why did you run in on Holly and Gunn's match earlier?" He asks.

 

"Why? To make a statement of course." He answers.

 

"And what statement is that?"

 

O'Haire laughs. "What statement?" He asks. "The statement is that I belong out there, not guys like Holly or Gunn. I am the future of this business. Those guys are in my way. And they will be put out. I am on a mission." He says.

 

"A mission?"

 

"Don't worry Josh, all will be revealed in good time. Trust me. I'm going to make an impact here on Smackdown. But then again, I'm not telling you anything you don't already know..."

 

The Main Event is NEXT!

 

Brock Lesnar Vs Eddie Guerrero. (Or: Someone forgot to change the champions!)

 

Match Background: This match is for the WWE Heavyweight title.

 

Well, Eddie try's to control with High flying moves and Brock tries to control with power. Eddie wins after the Frog Splash and I have to try to figure out whether or not to fire Lesnar to keep up the realness. This was just a match to get the belt back on Eddie, so I really didn't think out how it would go. Deal with it. Eddie wins and celebrates and SD! is done for the night.

[Guest Real F'n Show]

good stuff man, keep it up.

[Guest Corino 1000]

Your Smackdown was good. But I don't agree with recreating the matches from the old WWE so quickly. Big Show vs. Cena, Eddie vs. Brock????

[Guest The Last Free Voice]

Okay two things, one I'm going to Freewrite this thing, so EWR is not gonna be used. I think this will let me be more creative and less handicapped by the restrictions that a gaming medium naturally has. Two, I had to get the title the way they were supposed to be, and Brock and BS had the belts. Lol, it's what i get for not checking the File Editor. So, The next stuff will be up soon.