Can The WWE Be Saved At All?

[Guest Ash Ketchum]

Now, I know the second I post this, I will get a response from EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU stating:

 

No, you moron, there's nothing you can do to turn the WWE around! You are an asshole! It will die a horrible, painful death! I hope HHH sucks Vince's cock! I hope The Rock dies in a filming accident! I hope Flair and UT both have heart attacks from all the joints they puff! Fuck you! Someone permaban this jackass so I don't have to hear him again!

 

I think they can. It it going to take a LOT of work, several months, or a year or two to do it. The writers will need to use their brains, like Heyman's doing now, and make things make sense.

 

I know that I'm dreaming because the WWE's writing staff, minus Heyman, has a combined IQ of 3.

 

I thought out what they had to do, and should do... but logically, I can assume they wouldn't do it.

 

And that'll be my next post.

 

Peace out, yo.

 

~Ash~

[Guest Downhome]

If they survived the early '90's, then they can certainly survive now. There is no question as to if they can get through all they are facing now, and I see no reason to say otherwise. They just need to get back on track, loose the excess baggage, and change the writing team around, and they'll be well on their way just by doing that...

 

...however, is WWE doesn't learn what to do, then NWA-TNA could sneak in and become more of a threat than anyone in WWE currently think. If they sign some guys like Goldberg, Sting, Steiner, and maybe even Austin if he is released, then they become instant competition, and with fans craving something new, then that might be the very thing that happens...

 

...also, if Austin DID show up in NWA-TNA over time, then all of the fans who were pissed he left WWE would start tuning into the other show, just to keep up and follow Stone Cold once again. So considering on what WWE does right now, in these next few weeks/months, and considering what NWA-TNA does to set up their promotion, it will determine where this sport goes from here on out.

[Guest Ash Ketchum]

Good points, downhome.

 

I think they can survive this as well. It's a matter of finding the new talent and building it up over a period of time, making it unique and not like things we've seen before.

[Guest]

Sure I believe the WWE can be saved. All they have to do is fire everyone and have Mick Foley just sitting there in the ring telling stories of when wrestling was cool. That would save it.

[Guest Ash Ketchum]

Heh.

 

Not on your life, Denver.

 

But maybe Foley coming back as an announcer might help. He and DDP would be welcome additions.

[Guest]

The WWE needs to start giving the fans what they want to see... I'm not sure if all the fans agree on what they want yet.

 

Lots of people like RVD, and it's gotta be on ringwork alone... cause he hasn't done much else. Now, give him some out-of-the-ring character.

 

Some of the older fans like Hogan, Undertaker, etc. Keep them around, let them wrestle in the middle of the shows... build up guys that you have no idea what to do with... like Bossman, Rikishi, even Val Venis, Holly, RAven... and have them work programs with some of the older guys. Even if they lose to the old folks, they'll gain some TV exposure and people will know their names from seeing them fight Hogan on TV... then when all the fans know and have some respect for them, they can move up into I-C and World Title level feuds.

 

For the guys that are at the top of the hill and are a year or two from beginning to slow down (HHH, Austin) they need to work with, and give the rub to Edge, Angle, RVD, Jericho, Benoit and Booker T.

 

If they could get the belt off the older guys and on to someone like Benoit or Jericho, we could finally see some good main event matches. Give us Undertaker-RVD in the meantime, and then when RVD goes over Undertaker, give him HHH. HHH can beat the hell out of him with a sledgehammer and make him sympathetic. THen he can move into the world title picture. And since Jericho never really beat HHH and neither did Benoit, HHH could have at least 2 potential world title programs in the future to keep him happy.

[Guest Ash Ketchum]

Roman, dude... that's pretty much my thoughts exactly.

 

Don't shove it in our faces, but build it up gradually... that's the way to go. But not TOO gradually...

[Guest Hogan Made Wrestling]

Oh dear lord, another one of these retarded "WWE is going to die" threads. Maybe you should read some earnings/stock reports before posting this nonsense. Apart from the XFL disaster (which was a one-time hit) WWE hasn't lost money in 5 years (20 quarters). A little-reported news piece that came out a while ago discussed that WWE is in the process of buying back stock, and had a quote from Linda McMahon along the lines of "we have 293 million dollars in cash, so this is a logical thing to do". I guess you think they can blow 293 million? At their worst, WCW was losing 80 a year, with all their guaranteed contracts, hardly any revenue, etc.. So if WWE got that bad, it would take at least 3 years for them to run out of cash. Of course, they won't ever get that bad because of the way their revenue/expense system is set up.

[Guest]

I don't think anyone sees the WWE collapsing and Vince living on the street. If it got so bad that Vince didn't feel like dealing with it, he'd probably just pack up and sell to someone else who wanted to make it work. IF not, end all his contractual obligations, then sell all his stuff, and liscence the name and video library to someone else and still make millions a year doing nothing. The WWE is here to stay for quite a long time. It's not like they're part of another huge company that can just write it off, like Turner did to WCW (and WWF did to the XFL)

[Guest Downhome]

Oh dear lord, another one of these retarded "WWE is going to die" threads. Maybe you should read some earnings/stock reports before posting this nonsense. Apart from the XFL disaster (which was a one-time hit) WWE hasn't lost money in 5 years (20 quarters). A little-reported news piece that came out a while ago discussed that WWE is in the process of buying back stock, and had a quote from Linda McMahon along the lines of "we have 293 million dollars in cash, so this is a logical thing to do". I guess you think they can blow 293 million? At their worst, WCW was losing 80 a year, with all their guaranteed contracts, hardly any revenue, etc.. So if WWE got that bad, it would take at least 3 years for them to run out of cash. Of course, they won't ever get that bad because of the way their revenue/expense system is set up.

Oh yeah, of course. I don't think WWE will ever go out of business (EVER meaning, in the next 10-20 years, lol) simply because they have so much at state. First off, is the entire sport itself. If WWE was to go away, it would be a huge blow to EVERYONE in Pro. Wrestling. Also, they have many stockholders involved here, it is much more than just "a wrestling company" now, and they must deal with problems like they are in right now, as such...

 

...WWE could get worse, and could fall from being #1, but it will be around and active, and on TV, for many more years to come. Or hell...

 

...that's what many were saying about WCW when they were at their peak, so what the hell do I know? :-)

[Guest Brian]

...that's what many were saying about WCW when they were at their peak, so what the hell do I know?

Well, WCW wasn't the only game in town which greatly accelerated their dive plus they were part of a much larger company that's primary goal wasn't dealing with wrestling so they didn't always get the attention they needed.

[Guest WWF4Life]

...WWE could get worse, and could fall from being #1, but it will be around and active, and on TV, for many more years to come. Or hell...

 

...that's what many were saying about WCW when they were at their peak, so what the hell do I know? :-)

Who would replace WWE as number #1 exactly? Unless you have a craving for midget wrestlers, guys dressed up as penises and Jeff Jarrett, it's not going to happen anytime soon. You can't compare this to the WCW situation. The rivalry isn't there, neither is the market for wrestling in general.

[Guest Hogan Made Wrestling]

Except that WCW was never set up to remain profitable once the business dropped down. That's why WWE uses downside guarantees, developmental contracts that they can terminate, etc.. An interesting fact is that over the last 4 years or so, WWE earnings/share (i.e. net profit) has been relatively steady with some irregularites. Why? Because when they do big business (i.e. 2000) they are paying out more in PPV and merc. bonuses. When the business is down, those bonuses are also down, and so they are still turning a profit. And that's why they can stay in business where WCW died paying 3-7 million dollar guaranteed deals when they weren't making any money.

[Guest Ash Ketchum]

Oh dear lord, another one of these retarded "WWE is going to die" threads.

 

That's not the point of this thread, dude. I don't think the WWE is going to die. I just want to hear you opinions on this now that Austin is gone and the current situation with the nWo and such.

[Guest WWF4Life]

A lot of people have compared Austin leaving to that of Bret Hart...I'm inclined to agree in terms of the opportunities it creates. When Bret left, we saw Austin, Rock, DX, Kane et al step up and pick up the slack. I think it'll happen again this time, but it'll be a long term thing.

[Guest Black Tiger]

When Hogan left in 1992, people thought that the WWF was history. Vince realized that he had two mid card talents that were putting on great matches and getting very over with the crowd. Bret Hart and Shawn Michaels. Vince slowly pushed them and by the end of 1992 they were the top two guys.

 

Now ten years later, history repeats itself. Right now their roster has plenty of guys who fit the profile of good ring work and being over. RVD, Guerrero, Booker T, Kurt Angle, Chris Jericho, Edge, Chris Benoit. Any of them could be the next superstar. I purposely didn't name Lesnar, when he's involved in some upper midcard feud he'll be exposed as inexperienced and not ready for the big push yet.

 

This is the Puro fan in me talking now but Vince should check out some AJPW from 1990-1992. AJPW ran a two year long feud Misawa and Co. (young guys want their chance to shine) vs Jumbo and Co. (The top dog and his buddies). This is the best way to phase out guys who need to step away and phase in his new crop of potential superstars.

[Guest El Satanico]

Some of the older fans like Hogan, Undertaker, etc. Keep them around, let them wrestle in the middle of the shows... build up guys that you have no idea what to do with... like Bossman, Rikishi, even Val Venis, Holly, RAven... and have them work programs with some of the older guys. Even if they lose to the old folks, they'll gain some TV exposure and people will know their names from seeing them fight Hogan on TV... then when all the fans know and have some respect for them, they can move up into I-C and World Title level feuds.

Bossman? You're suggesting that they try to build Bossman up? Why would they do that when he is one of the old guys that need phased out.

 

Rikishi could be a decent mid carder, but i don't see any gain from trying to rebuild him. Holly is another guy that WWeee would gain nothing from rebuilding.

 

Raven and Venis wouldn't be bad guys to rebuild since they actually show ability.

 

But building up guys like Rikishi and Holly is useless. Don't use current jobbers that no one will take serious. It would work better if they bring in new guys that fans don't already see as jobbers to establish in mid card fueds with the older guys that are being phased out.

[Guest]

This is the Puro fan in me talking now but Vince should check out some AJPW from 1990-1992. AJPW ran a two year long feud Misawa and Co. (young guys want their chance to shine) vs Jumbo and Co. (The top dog and his buddies). This is the best way to phase out guys who need to step away and phase in his new crop of potential superstars.

Hey! Ironically, that's what WCW did too..

 

Come on, New Blood vs. The Millionaire's Club?

 

Talk about rehashing angles... And this time, sicne most people here aren't puro fans, we'll point it out as "rehashing a WCW Angle" than "utilizing a great idea for a feud from AJPW".. Funy how perspective can change someone's opinion so much..

[Guest Risk]

Here are some good rules.

 

1: No one over forty should wrestle.

 

2: No one over 350 lbs should wrestle.

 

3: No one who has been in the company before 95 should wrestle.

 

4: Bookers should not wrestle.

 

5: Bookers should not be on a TV.

 

6) Chairmens should not on TV.

[Guest Black Tiger]

WCW based the New Blood feud around the whole damn company, nobody had any room to do their own thing. AJPW based their version around eight wrestlers.

[Guest Vyce]

Sure I believe the WWE can be saved. All they have to do is fire everyone and have Mick Foley just sitting there in the ring telling stories of when wrestling was cool. That would save it.

 

I'm there, brother.

[Guest Human Fly]

1: No one over forty should wrestle.

 

I don't care if someon is forty if they can still go then I don't see it as a problem. When Bret Hart was around 40 he was still having very good matches. It's when guys who are old an can't go anymore is when I have a problem.

[Guest]

There is One Sure fire way to Improve the WWF (e)

 

take a quarter of their money... and under the table fund the likes of WWA NWA TNA XWF TCW and any other Fed that is big enough and closer to National Exposure..

 

Why?

 

Competition.

 

It doesn't matter if you fire everyone over 40 (even though thats discrimination and pretty sad)

 

Doesn't matter if every McMahon is never seen on WWF Tv again..

 

Storylines aren't gonna improve and creative writers aren't gonna come up with anything brillant because they feel no pressure to. WWF drove their strongest Competition to the ground in the WCW, and ECW... Vince must had a stock in ECW somewhere because in 98-99 he used it like a training camp to send Taka and the headbangers down, as well as basically took away nearly everyone remotely marketable. so ECW was absorbed into WWF.

 

if the WWF unbeknowst to anyone help bank role these other feds... just to get them off the ground, then they can get a viable Competition.

give it a year or two for the Competition to get off the ground and get the interest... then the WWF will roll up their shirt sleaves and come up with a better show!

[Guest]

Just to clarify a point I made earlier about Bossman, Rikishi, etc... I wasn't saying they should be used in any serious role with the company... just saying that they could be used as special attraction wrestlers as opponents for Hogan, Undertaker, and whatever aging superstar has come in for one last run. Hell, give them one match a week on RAW and SmackDown, or even run a special saturday morning "Superstars" show to feature them on in more kid-friendly angles and scenarios that would appeal to both the very young and the old-school fans, who are still secretly angry at Tugboat for having turned his back on the Hulkster.

 

The old guys would give some of the parents who used to be fans something to cheer for, and give the kiddies something to watch when they are otherwise "too little" for RAW. Think of it as a third brand... cultivating the fans of tomorrow.