WWE through the years

DLman91

Alright, everyone seems to be in agreement that the WWE seems to be a in a slight downturn right now, so I thought it would be kind of fun to look at how this compares to history...

The last "Golden Age" of the WWE culminated with WrestleMania III, almost 75,000 fans (real number) crammed into the Pontiac Silverdome to see the biggest match in wrestling history. Everynight was a party with women, money, and music. The only place to go was down...

Vince tried to recapture the audience that left him after 1987, Hulkamania was starting to limp to the end, yet Vince kept the title on him. When they tried to push the "superstar of the future" the Ultimate Warrior, they realized he wasn't in it for the long run and he wasn't the answer, even though he was pushed over everyone. After Hogan left, Vince tried to sign Lex Luger to recapture the magic, but the fans were gone for good. It was only after the WWE cleared out all the old stars (Hogan, Savage, Luger, Warrior, etc.) and pushed new talent (HHH, Rock, Austin, Foley) that the business came back.

Which leads to....

The "Attitude Era" culminated with Wrestlemania X-7, the highest rated PPV of all time. Almost 65,000 fans packed the Astrodome to see the ultimate Austin vs. Rock confrontation. Everynight the ratings were better and more merchandise was sold. The only place to go was down....

Vince tried to recapture the audience that left him after 2001, the failed InVasion angle. HHH's time had run it's course as champion, and yet the title was kept on him. When they tried to push the "superstar of the future", Brock Lesnar, they found out he wasn't in it for the long run and wasn't the answer, even though he was pushed over everyone. McMahon tried to sign Bill Goldberg to recapture the magic, but the audience was gone. The Rock was off making movies, and was finding out that it was easier to make "fake" movies for 2 million dollars than to take bumps on the road 200 days a year for $500,000. Business seemed gone...never to return....

BUT WAIT....

As of today, Benoit and Guerrero were the world champions, which is a step in the right direction. However, Bradshaw is not the challenger people want to see, and HHH and Shawn need to step aside. Where does the WWE go from here? Only time will tell...


Sorry about the length

Miakal

Length is a good thing my friend (or so I'm told).

I believe your assumptions to be generally correct. It's interesting.

Benoit and Guerrero clearly is a step in the right direction. It will be interesting to see how they pan out as leaders in the sport.

I think something more than them needs to come about before we see another boom, though.

I think you could make a comparison of more "real" shoot-like wrestling in WWE returning as well. We're seeing more emphasis on wrestling than we have in the past. The same thing could've been said with HBK and Bret Hart at the start of 'attitude'.

AudioSavior

The boom will be TNA on tv!!! woooo! This could do A LOT for wrestling.

BackLash

I see WWE like this:

WWE is finally going to use it's stars to the best of it's ability. The ratings might be down on Smackdown now, but when Brock left that's what happends. Now it is time to push all the OVW guys you have and all the people that have been loyal.

Booker T: Being pushed as Booker heel and in mere months will go after Eddie for the WWE title.

JBL: Being pushed as a Mexican hating, money making, market genius dynamo. Some people say that no one wants to see Bradshaw for the WWE. Oh to the contrary, while some people may feel that way. Many want to see his new character get pushed. Many wamt to see Eddie kick his ass. Either way you call it people want to see Bradshaw.

Randy Orton: After his match with Foley at Backlash, his career can go nowhere but up.

John Cena: Yo my boy here will be a main 'venter in time you, for rizzle.

Charlie Hass and Rico: While Haas's push isn't as spectaular as Shelton's it's a push none the less. I absolutly am offended by Rico's gimmick, but hey at least he's getting pushed now. And speaking of...

Shelton Benjamin: He beat Trips twice, Ric Flair once and all of Evlolution once, I always knew Shelton would be a standout. Now this kid is going places.

Tajiri: Some people look at him moving to Raw as a mistake, like Matt Hardy and The Hurricane he should have stayed in the cruserwight devision. The WWE sees more in him, and we all know he has more tallent than the former. Tajiri is the ace in the hole.

RVD: He's Mr. Thrusday Night ...... nuff said.

Mark Jindark and Teddy Long: The man with the perfect body, I was hoping he'd pair up with Sean O'Haire but the WWE dashed that hope.

Garrison Cade and The Coach: Going to get over on the fact that he was trained by Shawn Micheals and is going to finish people off with Elbow Drops.

Dr. Giganto

I made a point simiular to this a few weeks ago...

Cena, Orton, Dupree, and Benjamin are the future of the company

watch for a Cena-Orton WM main event in a few years

Steveo

Did you guys see the Shelton/Ryno match on Heat this week? It was horrible. I hope they just didn't bust Benjamin down to Heat for good.

Mity1

I view it as a 'life's lesson' kind of thing. Just like when you were a kid at Easter, if your parents would let you you'd eat chocolate until you were sick of it. But next year you would gorge yourself stupid again. I think every good thing gets to be too much at some point so you actually have to let it slide a bit before people get turned off it totally. Then when you rebuild and shake things up it gets your interest again. But recently the 'shake up' hasn't been as effective as in the past, but these things sometimes take time to establish. Too bad Benoit and Guerrero may be caught in the transistion phase... meaning they may not be at the top of their game when the resurgence hits again.

I hope I conveyed my thoughts so they can be understood? You need low points to build up the high times and too much of a good thing can get sickening...

Ten out of ten people die, so don't take life too seriously.

Danny Diamond

Founder/Admin

That is a great theory and comparison done on your part. Well done.

Also factor in that now Vince will actually be competing with someone again ala TNA/NWA now that they have a tv deal. This could be the beginning of some good stuff done the line.

Also Mity, your damn sig makes me screen all screwed up. Its too big.