The Impact of Eddy's Death on the WWE

[chaosrage 0]

In terms of Smackdown, the WWE needs to do a few things.

 

If they're going to take the belt off Batista while he's injured, the better choice is Rey Jr. rather than Benoit.  Despite the issues of Benoit's contract status, and as much as I'm a Benoit fan, Rey has been more closely associated with Eddie lately and in terms of a sympathy win, Rey with the belt is better than Benoit.  Also factor in that Eddie is one of the maybe two guys on the roster who actually added viewers when they were on TV - Rey is the other one.

 

Also, they need to try and do whatever they can to resign Benoit, if the contract is up in the air.  If that means adding more money to the offered contract, do it.  I don't care if Benoit only plans to wrestle for another couple years and then retire, right now, they REALLY need him.

 

Finally......anyone know what the status is for the return of RVD to the active roster?  If he was ready, or will be sometime soon, I'd quietly move him back to Smackdown.  He's a familiar, and very popular, face that people can turn to now that Eddie is gone.  No one is ever going to fill Eddie's spot, but RVD would be a huge asset to Smackdown.  It would help fill the void.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

But more likely, if he goes to SD, he'll be in the same situation and they'll just put the belt on Orton for a year or something. Raw needs a fresh new face just as much if not more than SD. I would say they should send Shawn, but Raw is seen as more the entertainment show. (And besides I don't get SD in Baton Rouge and won't be able to see him) If they center SD around Benoit and Rey, and just do things right, they shouldn't have to move anyone.

 

I really think they should move Chavo to SD though. If Rey can be a legit contender for the title, can't Chavo as well? I think moving him would be a better idea than RVD.

[Guest jumpingbombangel]

I wonder if WWE will take any backlash like it did with Owen's death here for "going on with the show" and "exploiting the death of it's star".

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

No, this is very reminiscent of Brian Pillmans' death, in matter of handling. That was a very moving PPV and I'm sure tomorrow's Raw will be full of great "memory moments" of Eddie. I'm looking forward to the tribute.

 

No widow on the show though, Vince. Please.

[Guest [censored]]

No widow on the show though, Vince. Please.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

Why not? Would that be offensive if she were to be in the front row? I think it would be fine as long as she didn't get pedigreed or something.

[ISportsFan 0]

He's referring to when Brian Pillman's widow was interviewed the night after Pillman's death on Raw, and it was not a good PR move to say the least.

[Guest hasbeen]

Merge the brands. With so many stars retiring, undependable, on their last legs apparently (Flair, Rock, Austin, Taker, several more), or now tragically passed away, there's room to develop the Lasleys and Kennedys without needing separate rosters. A Kennedy doesn't need to be main eveting Smackdown yet, though, as much as I like him, same for Carlito and Masters not needing to be main evening Raw at least yet.

 

Here is the male in-ring talent on the two rosters, from the WWE site. I counted 62. It may seem like a lot, but some should still be primarily Velocity types. Some are injured like VanDam and Batista but I still put them in. WCW had about 100 wrestlers, it seemed at least, I know it was many more than this. They could bring up the younger wrestlers slowly instead of pushing them into main event levels just because there was no other talent in the slot. I'm not calling for any talent to be released and never will, but some have been pushed too highly and this would help in that regard.

 

Raw:

Viscera, Val Venis, Tomko, HHH, Trevor Murdoch, Shelton Benjamin, Tajiri, Shawn Micheals, Rosey, Romeo, Rob Van Dam, Rob Conway, Ric Flair, Rene Dupree, Matt Striker, Lance Cade, Kurt Angle, Kane, Chavo Jr, Johnny Parisi, John Cena, Gregory Helms, Snitsky, Eugene, Edge, Danny Basham, Chris Masters, Carlito, Big Show, Antonio

 

Smackdown:

William Regal, Vito, Undertaker, Sylvan, Super Crazy, Stevie Richards, Simon Dean, Scotty 2 Hotty, Road Warrior Animal, Rey Mysterio Jr, Randy Orton, Psychosis, Paul London, Paul Burchill, Orlando Jordan, Nunzio, Matt Hardy, Lashley, Mr Kennedy, Juventud Guerrera, Mercury, Nitro, JBL, Heidenreich, Hardcore Holly, Funaki, Doug Basham, Chris Benoit, Brian Kendrick, Booker T, Boogeyman, Batista

[SilverPhoenix 0]

 

No widow on the show though, Vince. Please.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

Why not? Would that be offensive if she were to be in the front row? I think it would be fine as long as she didn't get pedigreed or something.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

I think what he means is that the night after her husband died, she shouldn't have an interview that would bring an assload of undue attention and swellflow of emotions that are charged right now.

 

If she's in the audiance, it's fine.

[MrRant 0]

It's probably wrong to laugh but the thought of HHH pedigreeing someone's widow is slightly amusing.

[David Blazenwing 0]

It's probably wrong to laugh but the thought of HHH pedigreeing someone's widow is slightly amusing.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

I laughed too... that's like the ultimate in heel heat. As long as Linda McMahon doesn't kick Eddie's widow in the crotch, I'm okay.

[Guest hasbeen]

Merge the brands.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

Can't really sleep for obvious reasons. Here's what I quickly did with the rosters:

The first group is for the types who could main event a major PPV such as Wrestlemania or Summer Slam, right now. Seven isn't many for two brands. The next group is just what it says, those who could wear the IC belt without it seeming forced. High midcard is for those on the way up for the most part, or those who still get some heat like William Regal. Low midcard is for those just starting or those who got the chance and couldn't get over. I think some in the midcard level could form tag teams and get over where they couldn't as individuals, and some listed as singles often team with others. These are opinions and observations, and with a little tweaking some that don't seem like much now could be a star in the coming years. The point of all that is there's not enough established talent for separate brands anymore. Two two-hour shows, plus the online shows, should give enough time. I wish they'd make the Saturday morning show original programming too and I might actually record it just once.

 

Top Level: (7) HHH, Shawn Michaels, Kurt Angle, John Cena, Undertaker, Chris Benoit, Batista

 

IC Level: (12) Shelton Benjamin, Rob VanDam, Rey Mysterio Jr, Ric Flair, Kane, Gregory Helms, Edge, Big Show, Randy Orton, Matt Hardy, JBL, Booker T

 

High-midcard: (14) Rob Conway, Chavo Jr, Gregory Helms, Chris Masters, Carlito, William Regal, Super Crazy, Psychosis, Paul London, Paul Burchill, Lasley, Mr Kennedy, Juventud Guerrera, Brian Kendrick

 

Low-midcard: (19) Viscera, Val Venis, Tomko, Tajiri, Rosey, Rene Dupree, Matt Striker, Johnny Parisi, Snitsky, Eugene, Danny Basham, Sylvan, Stevie Richards, Simon Dean, Scotty 2 Hotty, Orlando Jordan, Hardcore Holley, Funaki, Doug Basham

 

Tag teams: (5) Trevor Murdoch and Lance Cade, Romeo and Antonio, Animal and Heidenreich, Mercury and Nitro, Vito and Nunzio

 

 

I don't have the Boogeyman or the new "dick" team listed, not sure where they fit in.

[Annabelle 0]

without an ounce of pretense or sarcasm, there isn't a solitary piece of me that cares about where the wwe goes without him. it all seems like such fruitless speculation. plus, i don't think i can bring myself to really enjoy the show without being reminded of him. i doubt i'm alone. the question is: where does the viewer go after such a painful death? face it, never has a such a popular star died in a wrestling company. we could bring up owen hart, but he was always a heel & most really didn't have an emotional attachment to him as many had for guerrero.

[Fökai 0]

Agreed.

 

I don't see how I can watch anything WWE-related after the tribute shows this week. I always thought that a major wrestling death would be the only thing I'd give up on wrestling for. TNA might just be the only thing that I could *possibly* watch without being reminded of Eddie. I just can't imagine the pain and anguish his friends are going to feel everytime they step into the ring.

[Guest hasbeen]

without an ounce of pretense or sarcasm, there isn't a solitary piece of me that cares about where the wwe goes without him.  it all seems like such fruitless speculation.  plus, i don't think i can bring myself to really enjoy the show without being reminded of him.  i doubt i'm alone.  the question is: where does the viewer go after such a painful death? face it, never has a such a popular star died in a wrestling company.  we could bring up owen hart, but he was always a heel & most really didn't have an emotional attachment to him as many had for guerrero.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

This is something to keep the mind off the reality of the situation.

[MarvinisaLunatic 0]

In the small chance that it was Kennedy's chairshot that somehow caused this, I think that would have some major effects on the Pro Wrestling business as a whole. I seriously doubt that it had any role in his death given his past, but the timing between the chairshot, which looked pretty sick to start with, and his death are too close to not rule it out in speculation..

[The Amazing Rando 0]

To make a point about the thread title - the impact will be very big, ironically because of Batista's injury. Had Batista not been injured, the impact would have still been significant, but not as much as it is now. Even if he is only out a month and a half that's still a VERY long time in the wrestling world.

 

Vince and the creative team and even the wrestlers need to look at everything they can do and try to pull everything into a new direction. I know, deep down, that there are places wrestling companies haven't gone that aren't unspeakable atrocities like Katie Vick and etc, and this could be the time to do it.

 

 

I would love to see Vince put everyone on more of the same level, especially if they have been in the business awhile, and try to get a good look at what those around him and under him feel would be good for the COMPANY and not just themselves, and he should know the difference.

 

As sad as it is, this could be the best time WWE could change for the better and have it really make an impact (no pun intended) on the wrestling business.

 

There is so much potential (and in some cases lack of potential) that need to be dealt with and explored. During the Euro tour, they need to look at the cards they hold and how to best play them, and who knows - the cycle might kick back into an upswing.

 

Right now though, the wrestlers need to try their best to get through the next few days as best as they can. They know Eddie would want the show to continue.

[Fökai 0]

In the small chance that it was Kennedy's chairshot that somehow caused this, I think that would have some major effects on the Pro Wrestling business as a whole.  I seriously doubt that it had any role in his death given his past, but the timing between the chairshot, which looked pretty sick to start with, and his death are too close to not rule it out in speculation..

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

I had to rewind the tape last night so many times because that chairshot was so eerie.

[2GOLD 0]

In the small chance that it was Kennedy's chairshot that somehow caused this, I think that would have some major effects on the Pro Wrestling business as a whole.  I seriously doubt that it had any role in his death given his past, but the timing between the chairshot, which looked pretty sick to start with, and his death are too close to not rule it out in speculation..

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

I would think that the effects of previous abuses and the car accident had more to do with it than the chairshot. Course it's not out of the realm of possiblity until we know for sure what he died of.

 

Whatever the cause though honestly doesn't matter much to me.

[Precious Roy 0]

A part of me thinks Chavo or Rey Mysterio should win the title....but another part of me thinks that would just be wrong. I think it's way too much pressure to put on Chavo with all he must be going through right now, and while I think Rey deserves it, I don't think it should be under these circumstances.

 

I think Benoit should get the belt....I think it should be done in a tournament dedicated to Guerrero....and I think it should be over Rey Rey in the finals. A million gold stars to whoever suggested that.

[Vern Gagne 0]

Billy Graham shouldn't of brought it up on Meltzer's show. If you think it could of played a part in Eddie's death, he should of told Meltzer off the air. Too much bad can come in speculating on what killed Eddy Guerrero.

[Darthtiki 0]

I wonder if Eddie will now be part of the Class of 2006 in Chicago

[Vern Gagne 0]

I think it's maybe a little to early after Eddie's death.

[Lil' Bitch 0]

I really hope Benoit gets a run with the title especially after today's news.

[Fökai 0]

I wonder how the WWE will portray the news to the casual fans that it was unrelated to what happened on Smackdown last week. The last scene we get of Eddie is him half-heartedly telling Batista he's okay, which...I don't know...I just feel sick thinking about it. Ken Anderson, the human being, is going to be a tortured soul until he's completely absolved of what led to Eddie's death.

 

Moderators, feel free to delete this if you don't want it here.

[Guest New Jake]

Well, thats it for me. WWE will no longer have any viewing importance after this tragedy. After all the backstage termoil, booking chaos and quality declinement this goes and happens. The company cannot pick it's self up and I have high doubts that they'll even bother with a new champion. The WWE will just die. It will crumble in it's own mediocrity and just DIE! Does anyone wan't to be around to see that?

 

Not this humble viewer. So tonight and for the rest of the week, these tribute programs will be the last WWE shows I ever watch because I'm just hanging my boots up after this. I refuse to see the company kill it's self on bad booking decisions and poor, unmarketable champions(Batista, Orton, JBL).

[Guest Ransome]

I wonder if Eddie will now be part of the Class of 2006 in Chicago

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

It wouldn't surprise me if he was inducted into the HOF next year, even though I'd personally prefer that they waited. Not that it really matters either way, since the WWE HOF has no credibility right now. It would be easier if they had some specific criteria for entry, eg, wrestlers only being eligible for induction 20 years after their WWF debut, or some such. Still, if Eddie was inducted into the class of 2006, I wouldn't complain, but there are definitely other, easier ways for WWE to recognise Eddie's unique contributions to wrestling.

[Guest Edgehead]

It is too early to know the long term effects of this tragedy on the company. But to be honest there has to be a new focus. That is wrestling. It says wrestling on the marquee and that is the direction it should now go in if it is to be successful. No more storylines that are purely entertainment. Who is going to care about a gimmick like the Undertaker now? If Chavo turns face and goes back to his roots, will the fans watch him get beaten down by a heel and hope he gets his own back? Or will they refuse to watch it because he and the whole Guerrero family have been through enough? Who is going to care now about WWE enough to really emotionally invest their time into Monday and Friday nights?

[Guest QUP2CME]

Firstly RIP Eddy. You were one of the greats.

 

Onto the WWE and more importantly SD!, or should I say What left of SD!.

 

RVD's on Raw. Christian's gone. Eddy's Gone. Batista is out for the next couple of months (best case Scenario). Taker will be gone soon.

 

Who's left that can carry the brand? Benoit and Booker T? No thanks. Benoit is a great wrestler, one of the best ever but he really isn't made for carring a company on his shoulders.

 

Booker T's heel turn has gone well but it;s nothing new. Orton has potential but is being booked wrongly. FFS get rid of the cowboy.

 

Kennedy and Lashley have potential but are still very Raw.

 

Who does that leave?.......

 

A whole heap of cruiserweights and tag teams. Rey Mysterio's name has been said as a champ but Vince will NEVER do it.

 

I really think the brand Wars should continue but culminate at WM 22 where the brand extension is buried.

 

It's ironic because without the brand extension Eddy perhaps would never of been champion.

 

When the brands in you can have Cena, HHH, Angle, Orton, Batista cycling in the main events.

 

RVD, Booker T, Rey could be thrown in there as well. So could Big Show and Kane.

 

US titles and Intercontinental titles are unified. As are the tag titles.

 

Also Brock Lesnar should be brought back at whatever cost. WWE needs credible main eventers at the moment.

[Guest jumpingbombangel]

 

No widow on the show though, Vince. Please.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

Why not? Would that be offensive if she were to be in the front row? I think it would be fine as long as she didn't get pedigreed or something.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

No, no, no. Remember the night after Pillman died? Vince brought Melanie Pillman on Raw and interviewed her via satellite (actually it seemed more like an interrogation set up solely to clear the WWE of drug issues; Vince came across as less than comforting) when she was clearly not in the condition to be on national live television.

 

If the family wanted to be present at the tapings, that's all right. Just no on-camera interviews about the details of the death.

 

Actually, I think karma already taught Vince a lesson about doing hasty post-death interviews since it was only a few years later he'd be in Melanie's confused and distraught place when the media grilled the WWF about Owen's death.

[Guest Ronixis]

Firstly RIP Eddy. You were one of the greats.

 

Onto the WWE and more importantly SD!, or should I say What left of SD!.

 

RVD's on Raw. Christian's gone. Eddy's Gone. Batista is out for the next couple of months (best case Scenario). Taker will be gone soon.

 

Who's left that can carry the brand? Benoit and Booker T? No thanks. Benoit is a great wrestler, one of the best ever but he really isn't made for carring a company on his shoulders.

 

Booker T's heel turn has gone well but it;s nothing new. Orton has potential but is being booked wrongly. FFS get rid of the cowboy.

 

Kennedy and Lashley have potential but are still very Raw.

 

Who does that leave?.......

 

A whole heap of cruiserweights and tag teams. Rey Mysterio's name has been said as a champ but Vince will NEVER do it.

 

I really think the brand Wars should continue but culminate at WM 22 where the brand extension is buried.

 

It's ironic because without the brand extension Eddy perhaps would never of been champion.

 

When the brands in you can have Cena, HHH, Angle, Orton, Batista cycling in the main events.

 

RVD, Booker T, Rey could be thrown in there as well. So could Big Show and Kane.

 

US titles and Intercontinental titles are unified. As are the tag titles.

 

Also Brock Lesnar should be brought back at whatever cost. WWE needs credible main eventers at the moment.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

Booker T could have carried Smackdown but HHH buried any chance of that in WM19.

 

Orton was the most legit guy, but his father is holding him back.

 

Ken Kennedy (Anderson) needs more of his fathers move set then hes legit.

 

Lashey is very talented but they need to build him up very slow.

 

If RVD does come back- he has to have a main event program. Period.

 

I know all of you want Rey as world champ but hes only going to get IC/US Gold.

 

Chavo... I dont want to put so much pressure on him. I would build him for an IC shot and if he can run it he will get a world title run.

 

Outside of that, they just need to get better writers but as long Steph wants good bookers out and Hollywood writers in the brand will soon be owned by a Video Game Company (Yes, if you didnt heard, Yuke's Bought New Japan and I would not be suprised if THQ or EA buys the WWE if not next year, sooner before the decade is out)

[Mystery Eskimo 0]

Well, thats it for me. WWE will no longer have any viewing importance after this tragedy. After all the backstage termoil, booking chaos and quality declinement this goes and happens. The company cannot pick it's self up and I have high doubts that they'll even bother with a new champion. The WWE will just die. It will crumble in it's own mediocrity and just DIE! Does anyone wan't to be around to see that?

 

Of course they'll have a new champ - Eddie wasn't even planned to get the title anyway. WWE won't die. Let's not start getting hysterical. This is tragedy but it's not the end of the wrestling business.

[EricMM 0]

I'll say this:

 

if it comes out that his death was in any signifigant way related to taking steriods, I've had it.

 

No more hosses. You cannot convince me that most of the roster in WWE doesn't juice at one point or another, especially the monster freaks like Snitsky, and the people who suddenly grew bigger like Guerrero.

 

Dead at 38!? Just up and died? If it was the chemicals, and WWE doesn't stop requiring a massive build, fuck them. It would be sickening.