I think everyone is in agreement....

[Guest The Decadent Slacker]

The fist was ruined the first time the X-Factor purple light engulfed it, for me anyway. I'll take the old set with the ramp connected to the ring. Fuck the limos & lowriders.

[Si82 0]

I'd like to see a kinda cylinder style entrance for either Raw or Smackdown.

 

Kinda of like the one used at Royal Rumble 99 but on a smaller scale. Crossed with the laser style entrance that was used at Royal Rumble 2002.

 

Just my opinion.

[Jobber of the Week 0]

I would like a PPV with two entrances on opposite sides of the arena. To me, the idea of opponents walking out of the same doorway just a minute apart was always weird. If someone hurried up, they could ambush their opponent relatively easily.

 

 

I'm thinking of a double sided set where the steelwork from both sides arch up and meet in the middle in the ceiling near the gadgetry that holds up the HIAC cage, which lowers for WarGames, with teams entering from opposing sides of the building.

 

 

Now THAT would be cool

[JJMc 0]

To me, it goes deeper than the set. They need to change the whole atmosphere and get away from this "anything can happen at any time" bullshit. And every show needs to stop ending with "OH MY GOD! LOOK AT THIS CARNAGE!" Have a nice, clean ending to a match, then have the announcers wrap things up and prepare us for next week. Those "shocking" endings need to be reserved for big time Pay-Per-Views and the like. The reason PPVs don't feel important anymore is because they are just three hour versions of Raw or Smackdown. TV is supposed to entice people to come out to the shows and buy PPVs. It is supposed to whet peoples' appetites, not give away the product for free.

 

I kind of got off track there, and I'm sorry, but I think most can understand where I'm coming from. -Jim

[Guest KJ Brackish]

I believe my friend and I laid sight to the first appearance of the fist.

 

My friend, who is in no way a wrestling fan, questioned me a few times during the night, "Why in the hell is there a giant fist?"

 

I've never been big on watching Smackdown. Don't know why, but even when ****+ matches were being busted out every week, I just never watched it. For whatever reason, I go out on Thursday nights more than Mondays.

I disagree with you on this sir....... the fist set (complete WITH a ramp) debuted here in Salt Lake City in 2001 along with the new Marilyn Manson music and it was the FIRST EVER LIVE SMACKDOWN~!. I was *one* of the first into the arena, so I'd be bold to say that I was the first FAN to lay eyes on the fist. Thought I'd point that out (I was sooooooo early that RVD was chillin in my seat drinking a slurpee in his gear).

 

KJ

[Kizzo 0]

I want to see one of those old ramps that connects directly to the ring apron.

Now that would be interesting....

 

I didn't know Smackdown's anniversary was coming up this September...hopefully they will change it then.....

 

I wish they were more creative with T.V. sets...because they are going to be used all the time...and a new one will not debut until 3 years later down the road...

[The Czech Republic 0]

I disagree with you on this sir....... the fist set (complete WITH a ramp) debuted here in Salt Lake City in 2001 along with the new Marilyn Manson music and it was the FIRST EVER LIVE SMACKDOWN~!. I was *one* of the first into the arena, so I'd be bold to say that I was the first FAN to lay eyes on the fist. Thought I'd point that out (I was sooooooo early that RVD was chillin in my seat drinking a slurpee in his gear).

 

KJ

You forgot the part where you got laid.

 

 

Hey, maybe RVD's Slurpee was a little warm. You should've given him some ice.

[Lt. Al Giardello 0]

Fuck the limos & lowriders.

Fuck your life.

 

JBL's limo owns you.

 

But I don't mind Smackdown's set, it has nothing to do with Smackdown sucking.

[Guest Dan 420]

I wouldn't mind a curved ramp like last years Wrestlemania for Raw & Smackdown. Maybe a bit much for TV and also the arenas are small but it'd look 1000 times better than what they have currently.

 

Also get rid of all that mirror glass shit thats part of the Smackdown set. I hate it. Maybe just have a simple set like Nitro did -they looked good IMO and weren't over-the-top.

[LooseCannon25 0]

I'd like a simple design myself. Like back in the WWF Superstars days where they had the little metal entrance, with the metal floor and video wall.

 

I think the best RAW opening video was the one with Bret Hart, Steve Austin, Undertaker wallking in a warehouse through fire. That was some cool shit and pumped me up for Raw.

[Jobber of the Week 0]

I think car entrances should be limited to PPVs.

 

One of the reasons that SCSA driving things into the room was interesting was that it was at first rather spontaneous and unexpected. These days, Bradshaw drives a limosine all the way inside and up through the entrance just to fight Shannon Moore and leave.

 

At least the motorcycles were practical.

[Promoter 0]

Did anyone like the new generation championship belt spotlight they use to shine on the mat before the match started? Maybe they can do that again.

[SuperJerk 0]

Not so much the set, but I much preferred the black & white opening video to the laser/smoke/shadow opening they're using now.

I don't like the laser light show opening either. The black and white with the different wrestlers in the Unknown WWE Warehouse looking mean was much better. It's not quite as urban, but it looks better.

THe laser light show opening is the most fucking idiotic thing I've ever seen on a wrestling show that Kane was not involved with.

[ChrisMWaters 0]

Also get rid of all that mirror glass shit thats part of the Smackdown set. I hate it. Maybe just have a simple set like Nitro did -they looked good IMO and weren't over-the-top.

Which one...the early one that was eventually destroyed by Hogan and DDP...the futuristic looking one with the giant new WCW logo?

[Guest syncer55]

The blue themes need a change. They should change colors whenever the arcs change.

[Jobber of the Week 0]

Which one...the early one that was eventually destroyed by Hogan and DDP...the futuristic looking one with the giant new WCW logo?

Wasn't the futuristic looking one the one where people were tripping, falling down, and slipping a lot?

 

I didn't watch WCW, but I remember early in my searches for wrestling information on the internet that wrestlers were having a tough time with the new set.

[RavishingRickRudo 0]

I know what the Raw set needs...

 

HOLOGRAMS!

 

Make a Holographic Titantron!

 

...OK, don't have anything else. Still...

 

PRIDE used holograms at their Quarterfinals Grand Prix show a few months back. Infact, PRIDE smokes the WWE in terms of entrance-ways.

 

I think the entrances are an important aspect of the WWE. Their best attribute is/was their production. In the wrestling industry, the WWE stood above all others; and since wrestling is mainly a visual medium, strong production values does make a difference. The "old days" of RAW had their set changing every few months, but now they've had the same shitty rhombus and arty design for the past few years and it's boring to look at. The Smackdown set is horrible and just plain ugly.

 

Their entrance peak was at WM 17 (though WM 19 was nice as well.. WM 18 was shit) and they never went back to that epic style, which IMO, is better suited for wrestling.

 

Back to PRIDE; they continuously innovate and change the design of their sets. From using elevators to fire and rain to cylindrical video screens, you always get this "big time" feel from them. The WWE doesn't do that anymore. Then you get something like the UFC where there is _nothing_ for an entrance way and that works too. You get a more intimate ambience that makes you feel like you're there. The WWE doesn't do that anymore either (hell, I was happy with the giant gold WWF logo and a curtain). Instead, they're somewhere in the middle where they just throw up a big screen and some silly shit around it and think that's enough. Where they once were industry leaders, they are now way behind the game.

 

Whatever happened to the floor screen from WM 20?

[Angle-plex 0]

The WrestleMania 17 set would be good for RAW, I think, as long as they keep the gold coloring. The red is unbearable now, as it's been RAW's color forever. The black ropes that were used at X7 would work well too.

[LooseCannon25 0]

I know what the Raw set needs...

 

HOLOGRAMS!

 

Make a Holographic Titantron!

 

...OK, don't have anything else. Still...

 

PRIDE used holograms at their Quarterfinals Grand Prix show a few months back. Infact, PRIDE smokes the WWE in terms of entrance-ways.

 

I think the entrances are an important aspect of the WWE. Their best attribute is/was their production. In the wrestling industry, the WWE stood above all others; and since wrestling is mainly a visual medium, strong production values does make a difference. The "old days" of RAW had their set changing every few months, but now they've had the same shitty rhombus and arty design for the past few years and it's boring to look at. The Smackdown set is horrible and just plain ugly.

 

Their entrance peak was at WM 17 (though WM 19 was nice as well.. WM 18 was shit) and they never went back to that epic style, which IMO, is better suited for wrestling.

 

Back to PRIDE; they continuously innovate and change the design of their sets. From using elevators to fire and rain to cylindrical video screens, you always get this "big time" feel from them. The WWE doesn't do that anymore. Then you get something like the UFC where there is _nothing_ for an entrance way and that works too. You get a more intimate ambience that makes you feel like you're there. The WWE doesn't do that anymore either (hell, I was happy with the giant gold WWF logo and a curtain). Instead, they're somewhere in the middle where they just throw up a big screen and some silly shit around it and think that's enough. Where they once were industry leaders, they are now way behind the game.

 

Whatever happened to the floor screen from WM 20?

The elevators used in Pride are awesome.

 

The first one where the fighter first appear, and then the one where they're lowered to the ground floor looks sick as hell.

[RavishingRickRudo 0]

They need to keep the Red and Black for Brand Identity. They could change the logo into any shape they want so-long-as they keep the colour scheme. It's the throughline which connects RAW from 11 years ago, to now. However, some gold in the set design would be a nice touch.

 

Good Set

 

However the WM 17 set is too big for RAW (better for PPV's). I'd say something more compact for the smaller shows, so that when they get extravagant with the PPV's, it makes it seem like you're getting what you paid for... at least visually.

[RavishingRickRudo 0]

There's a shot from PRIDE 20 with Mario Sperry rising to the top of the stage on an elevator that is just so fucking balls. He's just smiling this big-ass grin and has his arms out embracing the light and the love of the fans. Then he comes down from another elevator and walks down this long transparent, blue-lit walk-way and it's like you're watching a god walk to the ring.

[LooseCannon25 0]

Pride is the king of Production values.

 

Everything from Nog coming out of the mist in his entrance shadowboxing with his hood on, to Fedor's soothing yet eerie music coming out in a sea of red.

[RavishingRickRudo 0]

At least the WWE is sorta cutting down on pyro. Right now, lights are where it's at in terms of creating an atmosphere and the only time the WWE has ever really used it well is in HHH's entrances (his regular one and his Evolution one). They need more big-ass strobe lights and lasers and use shadows and darkness better. Hell, the Undertaker got over partially because of his entrance and all that used was darkness (and eventually the crowd started throwing up their lighters which created this awesome effect). There are so many different avenues light can take them and they just don't look into it.

[RavishingRickRudo 0]

It helps that Nog and Fedor have the two best themes EVEAR. Shit, I made a Nog/Fedor highlight vid that was half entrance

[LooseCannon25 0]

It helps that Nog and Fedor have the two best themes EVEAR. Shit, I made a Nog/Fedor highlight vid that was half entrance

Fedor's theme is absolutely perfect for him. It's calm, yet menacing just like Fedor.

 

Nogs theme always pumps me up, especially when the hood is on and the team is surrounding him. You know he's goin to kick some ass.

[Angle-plex 0]

They need to keep the Red and Black for Brand Identity. They could change the logo into any shape they want so-long-as they keep the colour scheme. It's the throughline which connects RAW from 11 years ago, to now. However, some gold in the set design would be a nice touch.

I wouldn't mind the Red too much as long as they just changed the rope color to black or red/white/blue. I'm sick of looking at the "in your face" red ropes.

 

I think a black/gold color scheme for RAW and a black/silver one for Smackdown would make both brands look more professional and give both of them a different feel personally.

[RavishingRickRudo 0]

I fucking rock-out to Noguieras theme. It's all upbeat and quasi-christian rockesque and has an influx of english meshed around with some japanese and shit - it's fabulous. Fedor's is perfect. Hell, Taker probably wants it bad right now. I'd kill to be there live in the arena when "Oh Ah Oh... Oh Ah Oh - Oh.."* plays. That'd be fucking epic. Shit, I'm watching his entrance right now from PRIDE 25, and that -along with the music, the commentary, and the blue lights (which looks like a bright whiteish blue sun) - I am fucking PUMPED!

 

"The two best heavyweights in the sport right now .. about to step in the ring and clash... no match.. in the heavyweight division has more drama - these guys both have technique standing and on the ground; they have a different attitude; and they both come from the top team, THAT MAN, from the RUSSIAN TOP TEAM... FEDOR.. EMELIANENKO~!

 

"wow, whatta music too huh?"

 

*Camera shows Fedor standing in the ring and the lights immediately go out for Noguiera*

 

It's about creating an atmosphere, creating excitement, through the use of lighting, music, commentary and CAMERA WORK. The WWE is too formulaic with their camera work. They use shitty quick cuts when guys punch and don't sustain a shot for any long period of time and it all looks the same. They need to use zooms A LOT more. Spaghetti Western that shit down. Dolly that shit down. There's a shot that I'm watching right now of Noguiera coming to the ring - it starts off with a 20 second establishing shot zooming into the entrance way (which is a standing cylindrical video screen which rises up and separates from the base as the competitors come out from under it on an elevator). It then shows a close up of the screen which basically has Noguieras name flashing on it and the music playing "No Way Out" and dollys away while Quadros is listing off all the guys Nog has beaten as Nog comes up with his fists in the air and his hooded robe on. After 10 seconds of moving away it starts to curve and move back in as Nog is just about to fully rise to the top. The camera shot gets in almost up to Nogs top half as the lights fully comes on and reveals Nog in-full. About 30 seconds have ellapsed already and its still the same shot as they once again pull out as Noguiera walks along the elevated ramp (20 feet above the crowd, which you see as he walks along) and he moves past the camera shadow boxing (hood off) as the ramp lowers. The final part of this one shot is showing Nog's back. Infact, just over his shoulder is the ring and his opponent. This shot has gone on for ONE MINUTE. You'd never see a one minute shot from the WWE. You'd never see the quality of shot from the WWE. They worked in so many angles from that one crane - so many perspectives. Just absolutely amazing. It created this beautiful image of the champion. So much symbolysm conveyed. All of it was unconventional. The WWE tries too hard following the rules in their production that it goes against what wrestling is.

 

The whole point of production and set design is to convey a message - it's to say, without words, what they (the WWE) is all about. A picture can paint a thousand words - it can create an everlasting image - it can draw someone in or send them away. If you were to turn on SPIKE or UPN and see the WWE's sets... what is the impression you get?? Does it accurately represent what the WWE is trying to do? Does it intrigue you? Does it get your attention? Does it even have a message?? It's an area where the WWE is playing it safe, and when is the WWE about playing it safe??? How about they take their own advice and "Break the Rules" and "Smack (their) TV". Hell, when was the last time the WWE made you want to write about any of their wrestlers entrances in-depth??

 

(*Enae Volare Mezzo by ERA)

[The Czech Republic 0]

Red is Raw, blue is SmackDown. Just keep that constant.

 

 

Hey, let's try blue aprons for SD, the silver looks like tin foil.

[Guest Anglesault]

I find it funny that people rip Raw's theme music and ignore SD!s hideous theme music

Edited August 22, 2004 by Anglesault

[Spaceman Spiff 0]

I'm perfectly fine w/ SD's theme. Of course, it fit better w/ the black & white video.