Is this the worst year WWF/E has had since 1995?

[CBright7831 0]

96, 02, and 03 are all contenders, but they all had something that kept my interest.

 

This year has nothing good about it at all. There has been about 5 above average ppv matches. The only two things that were great about this year were Benoit and Guerrero winning the belt.

[Kahran Ramsus 0]

No, because at least this year had Chris Benoit's World Title march early in the year and five month reign as champion.

 

The worst was 1999.

[Guest The Shadow Behind You]

Content Wise it has been FAR much better then 1999, 2002 and 2003.

 

The first half of 2004 was kicking serious ass which has come down dramatically. The storylines have been boring but not Katie Vick or Mr. America levels.

 

2004 Overall was better then 2002 and 2003 and 1999.

 

Business wise? Yes.

[Kahran Ramsus 0]

I don't see why we should concern ourselves with the business aspect. The numbers are there in black and white to tell us that it is.

 

The real discussion is in terms of quality.

[teke184 0]

Quality-wise, this year may not be the worst in 10 years.

 

HOWEVER, it certainly feels like it because they've fucked up on so many levels that there's little hope that they'll turn things around anytime soon.

 

 

 

Eddy and Benoit title reigns were always seen as ace-in-the-hole solutions. Those are now gone. In addition, we've got:

 

1. Bradshaw becoming Smackdown champ as a "Fuck you" to MSNBC for firing him over his "Sieg Heil" routine in Germany.

 

2. Angle as a near-cripple and now a political asshole in league with Undertaker, with both of them effectively killing Smackdown as a viable show.

 

3. Triple H as the focus on RAW, but that's nothing new.

 

4. The uber-push of Orton, which no one was particularly happy with to begin with, ending with a job to Trips within one month of winning the title.

 

4a. As part of screwing up the Orton-Trips feud, they went with Trips et all staying as heels rather than the youth movement of Evolution rising up and kicking out both Trips and Flair. While it would have meant babyface Trips, it would have made a LOT more sense.

 

5. Massive roster cuts, including a few of the company's cult favorites.

 

6. Bungee-talent from OVW. Big tall guy shows up one day as Mordecai, gets a PPV match, gets sent back to OVW. (It's also happened to Matt Morgan, amongst others)

 

7. Cheap-heat Arab heels

 

 

 

This is not Katie Vick level crap BUT it's the kind of thing that kills faith in the product, which is already on a low ebb.

 

 

Anyone else want to add any crap from this year to distinguish it?

[Guest LooneyTune]

WWE Firing 3 Lady Wrestlers (Jazz, Nidia, and Gail Kim) and hiring worthless sacks of shit in the losers of the Diva Search contest, where you were hired based on your talent of sucking a dick.

[teke184 0]

WWE Firing 3 Lady Wrestlers (Jazz, Nidia, and Gail Kim) and hiring worthless sacks of shit in the losers of the Diva Search contest, where you were hired based on your talent of sucking a dick.

Honestly, I think that is the same kind of private contest that Sylvain Grenier won. It's the only way to explain why he's still employed.

[Guest fanofcoils]

If you liked Survivor Series 98 you would like first half of 1999? No great matches but an entertaining show? Did anyone like the Ministry of Darkness?

[CBright7831 0]

I thought they were interesting for about five minutes.

[Hunter's Torn Quad 0]

The thing with introducing the Diva Search rejects is that they did it on the same show as the TE contest. If the fans see the Diva Search rejects get jobs, then they'll assume, correctly so, that the TE rejects will get jobs too. And if the rejects of both contests get jobs anyway, why bother voting on who you want to win ? Why bother choosing who you want to get the job, when everyone is going to get a job, regardless of voting ?

[Masked Man of Mystery 0]

I remember getting into wrestling with the very first Smackdown(when it was a special) and seeing the Corporate Ministry and I think the feuds may have been better put together, but the minimal Austin involvement this year helps(I'm sorry, his gimmick revived the fed, but I CANNOT STAND HIS MATCHES. It's true we have to deal with Heidenreich, but in general its more his weirdness we have to put up with rather than his utter lack of talent.

[The Mandarin 0]

I don't think this is NEARLY as bad as 1995, but there's been more missed opportunities than 1995. 1995 they had nothing coming their way, right now they could have so many things going that they didn't capitalize on in late 2003 and earlier this year.

[Hunter's Torn Quad 0]

They didn't even bother making something of Rene Dupree's black eye. They could have at least attributed it to Van Dam or Rey Mysterio, since he's in a program with them. Instead, they said his dog bit him.

[JoeDirt 0]

2004 has been better than 2002 or 2003. At least now they are pushing some new people...Benjamin, Snitsky, Carlito, etc. A year and a half ago we had Roddy Piper vs. Mr. America and Kevin Nash vs. HHH on pay per view. 2002 had Hogan vs. HHH and Hogan vs. Undertaker for two months as the main event on PPV, followed by HHH vs. Undertaker. I'd say now is better, they're just going through a rebuilding time.

[The Mandarin 0]

2. Angle as a near-cripple and now a political asshole in league with Undertaker, with both of them effectively killing Smackdown as a viable show

What's Angle been doing to kill Smackdown?

 

All we know he's done with his IMMENSE BACKSTAGE POWER OF DOOM is give Luther a push. Not much harm there.

 

He has the potential to kill SmackDown, but from what I've read, he's not doing anything backstage that would be a detriment to the show.

[Hunter's Torn Quad 0]

2. Angle as a near-cripple and now a political asshole in league with Undertaker, with both of them effectively killing Smackdown as a viable show

What's Angle been doing to kill Smackdown?

He convinced WWE to have Guerrero tap out clean at Summerslam, when there was no reason for such a finish, and it would have been better for some sort of cheating finish, so as to better prolong the feud.

[Guest Anglesault]

2. Angle as a near-cripple and now a political asshole in league with Undertaker, with both of them effectively killing Smackdown as a viable show.

Has he done anything all that politically evil yet? I can't think of anyone booked to look more inept over the last three months.

[The Mandarin 0]

2. Angle as a near-cripple and now a political asshole in league with Undertaker, with both of them effectively killing Smackdown as a viable show.

Has he done anything all that politically evil yet? I can't think of anyone booked to look more inept over the last three months.

The only thing I'd really blame on Angle is allowing the feud to continue.

[Guest Anglesault]

2. Angle as a near-cripple and now a political asshole in league with Undertaker, with both of them effectively killing Smackdown as a viable show

What's Angle been doing to kill Smackdown?

He convinced WWE to have Guerrero tap out clean at Summerslam, when there was no reason for such a finish, and it would have been better for some sort of cheating finish, so as to better prolong the feud.

It might have been a bad finish, but anything that put the kibosh on that feud is a-okay with me.

 

::gets powder thrown in eyes::

[Guest LooneyTune]

Not that I'm standing up for it, but Hogan/Piper was a midcard match that went 4:00 at Judgment Day 2003. Thats quicker than most Velocity & Heat matches, and I honestly don't see a problem with it.

[The Mandarin 0]

Not that I'm standing up for it, but Hogan/Piper was a midcard match that went 4:00 at Judgment Day 2003. Thats quicker than most Velocity & Heat matches, and I honestly don't see a problem with it.

Yeah, but that's 4:00 that was STOLEN from Benoit, Spanky and Friends vs. FBI and Cena.

[Guest LooneyTune]

No, it was stolen from Nash/HHH, who only got around 8:00. The purpose of booking a Sable/Torrie Bikini Contest on PPV is worse which dragged on longer than Hogan/Piper.

[teke184 0]

No, it was stolen from Nash/HHH, who only got around 8:00. The purpose of booking a Sable/Torrie Bikini Contest on PPV is worse which dragged on longer than Hogan/Piper.

Yeah... there's nothing more worthless than a bikini contest between two women only known for appearing NUDE in Playboy.

 

Once you've seen the cuffs and collars there, the bikini becomes less of a selling point.

[Guest Anglesault]

No, it was stolen from Nash/HHH, who only got around 8:00. The purpose of booking a Sable/Torrie Bikini Contest on PPV is worse which dragged on longer than Hogan/Piper.

Hey, I'd rather watch Sable and Torrie jiggle that Piper and Hogan.

[Kahran Ramsus 0]

Why don't they just send them out there nude then? At least it would be worth watching then.

[teke184 0]

No, it was stolen from Nash/HHH, who only got around 8:00. The purpose of booking a Sable/Torrie Bikini Contest on PPV is worse which dragged on longer than Hogan/Piper.

Hey, I'd rather watch Sable and Torrie jiggle that Piper and Hogan.

Me too, but none of the above really belong on a PPV to begin with.

[Guest dreamer420]

The WWE has been on an epic slide downwards the Invasion. The reports say the situation grow worse every week, yet the WWE continues to blow money like there's no tomorrow. How can they think that honest wrestling fans can really give a flying fuck about crap like the Diva Search, or the latest Tough Enough. The WWE has signed and all ready gotten rid of all the big name free agents on the market, so there is no chance of signing a big name and turning the ratings/attendance figures around. With the exception of the Rock returning full time, I don't think there is a wrestler or group of wrestlers on the planet capable of turning thing around for the WWE.

 

And this is coming from one of the biggest WWF/E marks that ever lived. When I think of the fact that the only show I have watching in full this year was Wrestlemania 20, it tells me that there is something wrong.

[Guest Coffey]

It's not even close. This year, as far as I'm concerned, has been good. Chris Benoit won the Royal Rumble. Eddie Guerrero won the WWE title from Brock in a GREAT match at No Way Out. Chris Benoit won the World Title in a GREAT three way at Wrestlemania. Hell, just those three events alone make it a good year to me. I'm a fan of Evolution and how they've progressed over the months as well. Then you throw in some HBK/HHH from early in the year....

[Taker666 0]

I started watching wrestling in 97. And Honestly, Now that I think about it. I really much perfer this year more than both of 98/99 combined. Face it, the wrestling back than completly sucked as well as some of their PPVs. the storylines and angles were fun and much more entertaining. but thats all it was. nonthing BUT storylines and Angles. Not to mention the WWF Roster during those times can't even touch today's WWE Roster. I see more wrestling on TV in WWE today than back than. Some storylines today sucks, but some are pretty decent and entertaining aswell. These past few Raws have been off the chart, and with the exception of this week's SmackDown! only being decent, that show has also been alot of fun to watch.

 

So yeah, 04 > 98/99

[iggymcfly 0]

Well, I didn't see any WWF before 1997, but this is the worst year that I've actually seen some of. The storylines are SO bad right now that I can't even watch the product. It seems like they just throw all the people they have out on Raw and Smackdown, build no storylines, and then let the Raw and Smackdown matches run a little longer when they have a PPV.

 

The last thing the WWE did that was worth watching at all was the beginning of the Orton/HHH feud.