Post by Deleted on Jan 10, 2012 9:55:16 GMT -5
Apologies in advance for the long thread..I'm wondering how many of you can relate. I guess I'll be able to tell by the smites LOL...
Over the last few hours, there has been much discussion here on this forum regarding Daniel Bryan, Brodus Clay and Chris Jericho with regard to the change in direction that each wrestler/character is moving in.
I am an Old School Wrestling Fan, that prefers build-ups, belts, more clean endings, logical fueds and payoffs. I recognize that many of my views are dated to some degree and it really hit me last night after digesting Raw.
This dated way of thinking is probably why the WWE is the dominant organization today. This is why WcW, AWA and all of the other promotions succumbed one way or another to the WWE juggernaut. It doesn't mean that the net product result is better, it just means that it is generating more revenue and profit.
Looking at the current direction of many characters and storylines, many of us aren't happy with what's currently happening. Whether it's Daniel Bryan's sudden heel turn, CenaSuperman, Hell existing beneath a WWE ring, Brodus Clay's debut, Jericho's Silent Debut or a multitude of other examples, we all tend to look at these events as a fan.
I've come to accept the fact that my views are dated and that the change from Pro Wrestling to Sports Entertainment also ushered in the change to a more structured, professional environment. So many changes have taken place from the use of Hollywood Writers and use of social networking that the WWE looks nothing like the older promotions. The older promotions were run by wrestlers, who in turn were fans who grew up loving the business for the most part. Kayfabe was paramount and protected. Now, Sports Entertianment has become more of an assembly line, producing characters like mini-product lines that have a limited run. These products are exploited to the fullest and marketed in a different way than wrestlers were in the past.
I've come to realize that the only way I can enjoy the current product, is to truly embrace the fact that what we're given as the customer base is all about making the biggest and most profitable demographic happy and less about making MY demographic happy.
Santino, Ryder, Brodus, Teddy Long are all cut from the same cloth with gimmicks that are becoming more of the mainstay. Gone are the technically gifted legends such as Ric Flair, Ricky Steamboat and Arn Anderson showcasing their abilities. Santino and Brodus could be the most gifted performers on the roster, but we would never know it as they do not fit the "vision" that the WWE has for it's Main Event Performers. Knowing Santino was a Judo Champion both hurts and astonishes me, every time he does "The Cobra" after comedically butchering someones name.
While I loved CM Punk's shoot and the "Summer of Punk" the bottom line is that it was the result of the current WWE Product and would never have happened in the Classic Eras. Kayfabe would have never allowed the lines to be blurred like they have been. Yet, I loved it for what it was as it allowed Punk to showcase his talents. It was probably the only real storyline I've been that interested in over the last few years.
Most of us that post here are familiar with The Old School and can see the difference. Some of us probably have had issue transitioning from Wrestling to Sports Entertainment, where the business is driven by merchandise sales and branding, rather than by technical prowess of wrestling. I know I sure have had issues these last 15 years or so adjusting.
So I pose the questions to you all:
Do you find yourself adjusting to current WWE programming, watching with the mindset of the current WWE or do you still maintain that old school, fan viewpoint?
Do you see the WWE peaking in the near future based on the current direction?
Does the WWE need to reinvent itself or continue with the current formula?
Over the last few hours, there has been much discussion here on this forum regarding Daniel Bryan, Brodus Clay and Chris Jericho with regard to the change in direction that each wrestler/character is moving in.
I am an Old School Wrestling Fan, that prefers build-ups, belts, more clean endings, logical fueds and payoffs. I recognize that many of my views are dated to some degree and it really hit me last night after digesting Raw.
This dated way of thinking is probably why the WWE is the dominant organization today. This is why WcW, AWA and all of the other promotions succumbed one way or another to the WWE juggernaut. It doesn't mean that the net product result is better, it just means that it is generating more revenue and profit.
Looking at the current direction of many characters and storylines, many of us aren't happy with what's currently happening. Whether it's Daniel Bryan's sudden heel turn, CenaSuperman, Hell existing beneath a WWE ring, Brodus Clay's debut, Jericho's Silent Debut or a multitude of other examples, we all tend to look at these events as a fan.
I've come to accept the fact that my views are dated and that the change from Pro Wrestling to Sports Entertainment also ushered in the change to a more structured, professional environment. So many changes have taken place from the use of Hollywood Writers and use of social networking that the WWE looks nothing like the older promotions. The older promotions were run by wrestlers, who in turn were fans who grew up loving the business for the most part. Kayfabe was paramount and protected. Now, Sports Entertianment has become more of an assembly line, producing characters like mini-product lines that have a limited run. These products are exploited to the fullest and marketed in a different way than wrestlers were in the past.
I've come to realize that the only way I can enjoy the current product, is to truly embrace the fact that what we're given as the customer base is all about making the biggest and most profitable demographic happy and less about making MY demographic happy.
Santino, Ryder, Brodus, Teddy Long are all cut from the same cloth with gimmicks that are becoming more of the mainstay. Gone are the technically gifted legends such as Ric Flair, Ricky Steamboat and Arn Anderson showcasing their abilities. Santino and Brodus could be the most gifted performers on the roster, but we would never know it as they do not fit the "vision" that the WWE has for it's Main Event Performers. Knowing Santino was a Judo Champion both hurts and astonishes me, every time he does "The Cobra" after comedically butchering someones name.
While I loved CM Punk's shoot and the "Summer of Punk" the bottom line is that it was the result of the current WWE Product and would never have happened in the Classic Eras. Kayfabe would have never allowed the lines to be blurred like they have been. Yet, I loved it for what it was as it allowed Punk to showcase his talents. It was probably the only real storyline I've been that interested in over the last few years.
Most of us that post here are familiar with The Old School and can see the difference. Some of us probably have had issue transitioning from Wrestling to Sports Entertainment, where the business is driven by merchandise sales and branding, rather than by technical prowess of wrestling. I know I sure have had issues these last 15 years or so adjusting.
So I pose the questions to you all:
Do you find yourself adjusting to current WWE programming, watching with the mindset of the current WWE or do you still maintain that old school, fan viewpoint?
Do you see the WWE peaking in the near future based on the current direction?
Does the WWE need to reinvent itself or continue with the current formula?