Does booking really count?

[Promoter 0]

I just want to ask a simple question because in a debate elsewhere a person made a point that we all know it's scripted and that winning and losing doesn't impact the drawing power of a wrestler.

 

I completely disagreed because of the numerous botches I've seen in the many years I've watched wrestling. I think the booking is very important and is even pyschological in terms of how the masses see wrestlers value. The argument came up because the person thought Austin should job to Coach even clean and it wouldn't have a problem with him drawing. That there shouldn't be any politics because it's not needed. All I got to say is Hogan is the legend he is because he knows how to handle and protect his legacy properly as one example why I think how people are booked is important.

[Dangerous A 0]

Was the person you were arguing with Vince Russo?

[Black Lushus 0]

LOL

 

how can booking NOT count...look at Poor Shelton, for example...he's on fire for the better part of a year, suddenly they book him to lose to Carlito then to the confused Mexican and his goofy caddy over and over again...now he's jobbing to some lame ex-teacher...if the WWE doesn't do things to make us care about a guy, to make us believe "hey, this guy is gonna be somebody", then why the hell should we?

[MillenniumMan831 0]

I REALLY want to believe they're just testing Shelton to see if he's a "team player" by jobbing him to anyone that can execute a rollup while holding onto a rope.

 

But, even I know better.

[Guest Leelee]

Well, for a person in Austin's position, I honestly don't think losing a match would hurt...

 

If it was clean, that would be pretty stupid... but, if it was booked with interference, I don't see how it would hurt.

 

I don't see HHH being hurt because JR pinned him.

[Dangerous A 0]

Not just booking of wins and losses, but portrayal of the wrestlers is just as important. No one wants to get behind incompetent babyfaces. HHH has killed a ton of potential guys by being booked to look smarter and laying guys out and such, which is why it is so hard to get over when working a program with him. Notice how Batista pretty much never was laid out or out smarted by HHH and how over he is now. It's what kept Austin strong over Vince in their feud. Austin was almost always one step ahead of Vince and while sometime Austin would take a lump or two, no one would ever say Vince out smarted Austin during their feud.

[Promoter 0]

I never thought of the outsmarting thing and it does ring true. I think that's probably why JR pinning HHH didn't make Triple H look stupid. It was Batista putting one over on HHH. I mean, no matter how you slice it JR beating HHH is a joke and the fans know it. With Austin and Coach though? If the big superstar legend Austin makes his big comeback on a Tuesday ppv and then jobs to a junior anouncer don't you think it might pyschologically make fans think the guy's career is going down the toilet? I mean, I don't know it's kind of inexcusable for a commentator beating a wrestler anyhow including JR over HHH. It's kind of like Russo and Mcmahon winning the belt. It just kind of made the belt seem like anyone can be given the belt instead of only the absolute top guys getting that honour. All the titles have sunk since 1999 anyways.

[UseTheSledgehammerUh 0]

Vince outsmarted Austin at KOTR 98, but Austin got revenge a NIGHT later.

 

Vince outsmarted Austin at Judgment Day 98, but Austin got revenge a NIGHT later.

 

Vince outsmarted Austin at SSeries 98, but Austin got revenge THAT NIGHT by attacking Rock.

 

Vince outsmarted Austin at Rumble 99, but Austin got revenge a MONTH later in the blowoff.

 

It's also about how QUICKLY the face recovers.

[Dangerous A 0]

Follow up does matter a whole hell of a lot as well. A lot of HHH's programs end once HHH outsmarts or defeats his opponent. Austin kept getting shot after shot against McMahon and Co. Not to pick on HHH, but he's the best example. You can also probrably use a lot of Undertaker's programs following the same patterns. In the end, he'll just come back from the dead and no sell anything you throw at him. It's one of the reasons Brock became disenfrachised with WWE. He was scheduled to do a program with Taker Post WMXX and Brock saw the writing on the wall where Taker just came back as "The Dead Man" and knew he wouldn't be going over and Taker wouldn't be selling for him.

[Guest Reservoir_Kitty]

It definitely matters. But personally, when it comes to my preferences (and my tendancy to have blinders on about someone I like/dislike) of wrestlers, I still like the crappy jobbers like Nunzio/Hurricane even though they're booked terribly, never win, what have you.

 

But then, I have a lot of love for Batista, who is booked in a monstrous fashion, steamrolling over everything. So yeah, it matters to some extent, but if you like someone, you're more than likely going to stick behind them if they're jobbing on Velocity or the World Champ.

 

All a matter of preference, I'd say.

[Hunter's Torn Quad 0]

If the big superstar legend Austin makes his big comeback on a Tuesday ppv and then jobs to a junior anouncer don't you think it might pyschologically make fans think the guy's career is going down the toilet?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Then there is the small point that it makes zero sense and is terrible booking for a bad ass character making his big return.

 

Why are such simple concepts beyond some people?

 

And you have to tell us more about the moron that thought Austin should lose clean.