If the WWE changed styles...

[JoeDirt 0]

I was watching an old RAW the other night from early 1999, when Mankind had just beaten the Rock for the title I believe leading into the Rumble. Looking back...damn that show wasn't very good. An opening 25 minute mic segment, several 2-3 minute matches, the horrible Undertaker forming the Ministry segment...uggh.

 

But do you think if the WWF changed styles, and went back to the Russo-esque style of having lots of 2-3 minute matches, lots of entertainment skits, mic work, everybody having catch phrases, etc, do you think ratings would go up?

 

It's not a question of whether or not this would be good TV or not...after all, most Hollywood blockbusters are HORRIBLE, and yet the people flock out to see them. So do you think that if the WWE went back to this "crash TV" style ratings would go up, or that it wouldn't change things at all?

[Guest Brian]

All I can say is it'd be a watse. They've invested a lot in moving away from that and attempting to "educate" their audience, and to just throw that all out in hopes of peaking some ratings seems worthless. They're better off trying to build a fanbase then gets some short-term gains in terms of viewing audience.

[Hunter's Torn Quad 0]

You can't go forward by going back. Crash TV was always bad for the long-term, but it was exciting because it was something new and different. Going back to it now would requre regressing the product, and that isn't going to do anyone any good.

[Guest LooneyTune]

I doubt it. Fans back then were casual fans, and quite honestly, nothing is going to keep them around for a serious amount of time.

 

The main draws of the 98-99 run were Austin & D-X, or what I would call "Wrestling Rebels". They didn't listen to authority, used foul language and rude gestures, and just clicked.

 

However, Austin is gone, and Triple H is the only remaining member of any of the D-X members, and he's just completely stale.

 

8 2:00 matches really doesn't help anything, as PPV Buyrates for random shows between the Big 4 (or 5) during Russo's era were never that great to begin with.

 

Wrestlers now hardly are allowed to be themselves in promos, and usually are scripited down to the facial expressions.

 

For WWE to change, they have to do the exact opposite of everything they are doing now, and even then I doubt it will work.

 

Vince tried the Nostalgia Route of bring Hogan back, which really didn't help, as well as the nWo, which also didn't. They brought Piper in at WM XIX for no real reason, and that didn't work.

 

Then they brought Austin back last year, and it helped for about a week, because his gimmick was as tired as the Dudleyz, and the "Rebel" character is dead and burried.

 

Vince and Co. will need something new, or at least original but not over-used to death like everything is today.

[Hunter's Torn Quad 0]

Another big problem with filling TV with short matches, is that when it times come for PPV, and you've got 10-20 minute matches going on, you get little heat, because fans have been condition to 5 minute matches, and lose patience for anything longer than that.

[Guest Brian]

Does Crash TV even work without a draw like Austin or Rock around?

[Guest LooneyTune]

Does Necrophillia count as Crash TV? If so, then no.

[JoeDirt 0]

Good points made so far...

[Kahran Ramsus 0]

No, it won't help, it would probably drive away the current fanbase even more actually.

 

Good storylines and pushing the right people will get people watching again. Also, minimizing the crap that just drives away viewers, like the Diva Search. Better to be boring than alienating.

[Guest Fook_Theta]

They would get a decent boost in going back to WCW first-hour booking + Last hour Attitude booking. However, it would only be marginally better than what they are doing now. I hate squashes, and I like about two-world title changes on TV a year.. so I'm obviously heavily biased(and perhaps ignorant.)

 

Going to a more RoH/Japanese/Xdivision based matwork would see a steady boost and what is more important, would immediately start generating a fanbase that both has money to spend on a good product and would be consistant in staying with WWE. Retaining the audience while slowly building it, along with stuff the real demographic(24-44 or something) of WWE wants to see. I doubt there would be a backlash of the younger kids not watching WWE if their parents/uncles/grandfathers started watching regularly.

 

More realism and legit/preceived legit heat would go a long way. Making "three dimensional characters" that us older fans can truly get behind. Alittle more specific sports entertainment with athleticism.

[Guest LooneyTune]

I disagree on the comment WWE should be like ROH. The problem isn't the smart fans who LIKE good wrestling, it's the marks who have no attention span to a good, long, mat-based wrestling match. Vince and company have made the crowd so used to quick 2-3 minute matches that reverting back is going to be a difficult task.

 

Besides, with people like Snitsky, Big Show, Kane, Tomko, Heidenreich, Viscera, and countless other useless slugs on the roster, long wrestling matches aren't what I'd want to see right now.

[Kahran Ramsus 0]

You also have to remember that ratings aren't really a problem. It is the buyrates and attendance that are killing the company right now.

[Guest Fook_Theta]

Then why the huge pops for "Flair" chops? Some other stuff that gets a solid pop live on Raw as well. The marks would and do pop for some of the most basic protected moves, mainly because they aren't used to seeing them as often in this new superb "WWE" vanillas style. Seriously, watch a solid three-star match from the early 1990's and you'll see stuff you don't see often nowadays. Doesn't take two Canadian Destroyers and one Styles Clash to pop the crowd.

 

I am basing 1/5th of my statement on hearing the pops on Velocity, which could very well be piped in.

[Guest LooneyTune]

It's pretty much a given that the crowd reactions on Velocity and Heat are piped in. You can see everyone in the view of the camera sitting on their hands, yet the crowd is bursting with excitement for The Bashams (Velocity) and Viscera (Heat).

[TheBostonStrangler 0]

I think that fewer long matches on TV would be a positive for the product. It accomplishes the following things:

 

1) It allows more time for interviews/angles. This way, people have more of a chance to develop some kind of character, as well as creating some midcard angles. Sure, this would also involve the writers pulling their heads out of their asses, but I think that a massive change in the style of the show would require that as well.

 

2) It makes the longer matches seem more special. If the matches are kept to 5 minutes or so, then when a match suddenly starts running long, it's a big deal. It makes the competition seem that much more legit.

 

3) The PPV becomes more special. When we see Benoit vs. Batista in a singles match every six weeks that goes 15-20 minutes, what could those two ever do in a PPV match together? If their collective load is blown on free TV, the PPV match just becomes a rehash. Making PPV seem "special" again should be a major priority for the WWE, and this would help accomplish it.

 

4) It makes the matches more exciting and hides people's flaws. Who wants to watch Gene Snitsky in a 14 minute match with Christian? Nobody besides the diehard wrestling fans are going to watch that. However, if the match lasts four minutes, features lots of spots, some angle development, and a little wrestling, then it will keep people's attention.

 

5) It allows more people to get on the show. If there are four matches, and the angles revolve around those matches, maybe a dozen to fifteen people figure into the show. By having a lot of matches, they get to show off their talent and make them household names. It just gives them more material to work with, which (if done correctly) would be a major positive in creating new opponents and feuds instead of the same old tired matchups we're always seeing. Make the roster go 30 deep, not 12.

 

6) It would help revive the Cruiserweight division. The cruiser division would be PERFECT for short matches with some cool spots, and there would always be room on the show for them. Exposing the cruisers to the mass audience would be just another big benefit of the show.

 

Those are six reasons, off the top of my head, why a change in formatting would be good. I don't really want a return to Crash TV, since the nonstop swerves weren't helping anything, but shorter matches would increase interest in PPV's, expose more talent, hide flaws of talent, allow for more angles, and help keep channel surfers. That'd be a major benefit for the WWE, in my opinion. Ratings have slipped with the way things are going, so it stands to reason that a change in format would be worth looking into.

[Kizzo 0]

Since crash tv was a Russo concept...only he knows how to book it correctly(with help from McMahon of course), plus you need the right wrestlers...neither Stephanie McMahon or Brian Gerwitz can book crash tv.....they tried a few times and failed..

 

The only writer that I can think of who was sucessful with that formula besides Russo was Chris Kreski...but he had a little twist with it....and it wasn't the full version...in fact I like his style of booking in 2000 better than the one Russo had.....he had the skits...the promos...but Kreski actually booked in the long term...and everything was planned wayyyy in advance....plus all the skits and promos all had a PURPOSE....

 

If the current writers had to steal anything from the past writing teams....that one thing would be to make sure everything is logic and makes sense...do not insult the audience intelligence(especially the casual viewer)...

[Guest Brian]

Can Crash TV succeed without a Rock or Austin attached to it? That's the question we need to answer before we can even think about whether it will draw if they change the style.

[Tawren 0]

Going to a more RoH/Japanese/Xdivision based matwork would see a steady boost

This is such a stupid comment.

 

Anyways, I think by changing the overall style to be more wrestling based, the state of the WWE would get better. People need to have fun watching wrestling. Watching HHH talk for 30 minutes, then HHH backstage for 30 minutes, then Benoit vs Edge for no reason for 15 minutes, then HHH coming to the ring for 15 minutes, then HHH talking for 30 minutes is no fun for anybody, so they turn it off. But if you give them matches where they can cheer for people (I think more would be inclined to say "Orton won!" than "Orton served HHH with a huge diss!"). Also, more matches (booked correctly, of course) can lead to a better development of character than interviews can. Okay, Carlito hates the Pittsburgh Penguins and Eddie Guerrero OR Carlito beat the crap out of Eddie Guerrero. Which sounds better? Of course.

[Guest Fook_Theta]

Going to a more RoH/Japanese/Xdivision based matwork would see a steady boost

This is such a stupid comment.

 

Anyways, I think by changing the overall style to be more wrestling based, the state of the WWE would get better. People need to have fun watching wrestling... But if you give them matches where they can cheer for people... Also, more matches (booked correctly, of course) can lead to a better development of character than interviews can.

What on earth do you think RoH/Japanese/Xdivision based matwork means then? More matches. Better matches. More time to get over performing in the ring. How does saying WWE learning a thing or two from the successful booking RoH for instance has done on a regular basis, go against what you typed?

 

Stupid comment yet you didn't back your argument up over anything I glossed over.

[Tawren 0]

It's a stupid comment. ROH/Japanese/Xdivision matwork? What the hell? You do know there is more than one Japanese promotion, right? You do know that ROH isn't the only indy, right? You do know the X Division is shitty highspots for matches about 5 minutes long, right? It's just a completely retarded thing to say. You're grouping three completely different things together in a completely random way.

[Guest Fook_Theta]

Do you know how stupid it is to say WWE should move to more wrestling based program. More fun wrestling. Giving matches where the people can cheer. More matches booked correctly, even though that can mean several hundred perhaps thousand different combonations.

 

I didn't know RoH was now being challenged as being booked nothing but solid. Didn't know that by taking a look at a shitton of "smart marks" that list atleast half of the best wrestling matches from the 90s on Japanese wrestlers. Didn't realize the X Division was nothing but a spotfest, even though Daniels, AJ, and plenty others are listed among indie veterans that are good at what they do.

 

I could have been more specific, and I still could if I wanted to take the time to name of matches and mat psychology, but I didn't. That doesn't mean you should just throw out "Stupid comment har har har."

 

edit: To clarify just a little bit further for you, I'm lumping the best Japanese feuds, RoH's last two(?) years of booking, and the excellent X Division moments together. I doubt that any of the best wrestling feuds taken as a template to modernize them for two superb workers wouldn't get over in the WWE. They would, and that would make a small dent in what the topic is asking.

[RavishingRickRudo 0]

It is 2004.

 

That is your answer. 5 years have passed. This is akin to saying "Do you think there should be more Backstreet Boys-style bands?"

 

Now, I think there could be a time in the future where the WWE might be able to somewhat go back to that style and be successful with it. Right now there is a trend on TV for more 'quality' television. That was in response to reality tv. So you have shows like CSI and LOST getting really high ratings and critical acclaim. Look at the top 5 shows for Nov 15-21 (CSI, Desperate Housewives, CSI Miami, Without a Trace, ER). Watch, next fall there will be even more hour longs featuring large casts. Then the fall after that the TV market will become saturated with melodramas. There will be overkill and there will be a natural desire for something more "light", where someone can "shut their brain off" and sit back and watch. This is where wrestling will come in and meet that need.

 

However, it won't be the raunchy style that Vince Russo popularized.

[Guest DeathBecomesYou]

In my humble opinion, things that could seriously help to make WWE TV more interesting:

 

1. A bit of variety in the matches would help, the matches don't need to be 15-20 minutes long and full of highspots, however it'd make a world of difference IMO if the wrestlers were able to do more than the same old punch/kick/chop/slam/suplex style that almost the entire roster does. Having 6-7 minute matches, where the guys in the ring can be a little creative, show some individual style would be a start in making everyone a little distinctive.

 

2. Cut down on scripting everything to the last letter, with some guys, okay it helps that they have their promos scripted, but for a lot of guys I believe it's a major handicap, most promos nowadays seem so forced, as if they're being read off a cue card, which they pretty much are. A return to the time of just giving the wrestlers a basic direction and a few points to touch on and letting them come up with the rest, would add a bit more credibility to what is said.

 

3. Return to the old school (to an extent), for me this is the biggest problem with modern WWE, the bulk of the angles have little or no relevance to what actually happens in the ring anymore. Trying to draw casual fans back with pregnancy angles, endless GM struggles, feuds between announcers/valets, crap like the divasearch etc, probably won't work, all it's doing is pissing off the fans that remain. A return to a more old school approach, where the emphasis of the feuds and angles is what happens in the ring would IMO be better at keeping the fans they have left. When all else fails, go back to basics.

 

Anyway, that's my view on a few possible changes that could improve WWE.

[Guest Loss]

5) It allows more people to get on the show.

 

I hear this said a lot and I disagree. If you try to make EVERYONE a star, no one ends up a star. That's been sort of a problem for WWE over the past few years. If anything, the main eventers need to be MORE protected and the challengers to the throne need to be kept strong in losing by delivering good matches where a winner can't really be predicted. The main event needs to be special. It's the key -- it's what draws the next PPV buyrate and it's what sells the show. The key is to figure out who you're wanting to let get to that level in 2-3 years and protecting them on their way to the top.

 

But, quite frankly, I don't think we need to have shorter matches just so people like Hardcore Holly and Viscera can take up three minutes of air time. The roster isn't *nearly* as loaded as people seem to think it is, especially with the split.

[Guest LooneyTune]

The one Russo booking I liked was he gave mid-carders reasons to be on the show. He didn't try making them Steve Austin or The Rock, but he made them feel like they were important to be on every week.