If WWE became more of a shoot organization

Miakal

Do you think people would care?

If wrestlers stopped rapping and acting like Freddy K would the ratings drop off?

Imagine a WWE which was all about selling the product as real. These are real fights. Perhaps there would be a ranking system set up. If Cena won 12 matches in a row, they'd talk about that as a streak. It would mean something.

Run-ins would be very rare. and almost never happen. Such an event would result in a heavy fine or temporary ban of that wrestler who did the offense.

Titles would mean everything. They would be fought for with every bit of skill imagined. The World Title would be like a prize from heaven. A change of a title would be a major event, a celebration would take place. The winner would show serious emotion.

The only story lines would be the struggle for victory in the win.

Would anyone watch this? Would you?

Mr. Kennedy

I would. I think they would still want to keep the gimmicks, but inside the ring let them wrestle for real. The only problem though is that someone like John Cena would probably get his ass kicked by someone like Hardcore Holly.

I'm not sure how well it would work, but I would watch it since everything would seem more importent and I think it might even draw some fans back in as well as new fans.

G.A.T.

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Tyler Durden

So is this like real MMA fighting but with the current WWE roster stripped of it's gimmicks and promos? Would the winner still be pre-determined?

It's certainly an idea and a little reminiscent to the Brawl for All concept they once ran. The trouble with that was that with no control on who wins the WWE were left with the winner being a non-charismatic jobber that they then had no clue what to do with (Bart Gunn).

If it really is MMA (or just pure wrestling) I can't see it working. There is a reason why a lot of people prefer wrestling to genuine fights, the reason being that genuine fights (whilst unpredictable in outcome) can be absolutely god damn boring as hell. I for one can't stand watching UFC or MMA for any great length of time, especially when one guy gets another on his back and it's just two guys having a cuddle.....way to close to gay porn for my comfort levels!! (j/k). But seriously I just find it dull.

I like the unpredictability of wrestling (when it's done well) over the genuine, tough, but very dull, real action performers.

Miakal

But when is the last time wrestling has really been unpredictable?

No, I wasn't talking about MMA or Brawl For All fights. More like old school wrestling. WCW, AWA, that kind of thing but maybe even more so.

Give people the impression that it's real. That it is a real sport. Less cartoon'ish feel and more of a serious task.

If Cena were to fight Stone Cold this Monday you would probably wonder who was going to run-in on it or what the opening segment would be. But in my version of things you would wonder who would out wrestle who and win the match.

Tyler Durden

So it's just genuine old style 'rasslin between two guys.

No I would absolutely hate it. It can work in the context of a big WWE show when a match is set aside to showcase real 'rasslin, e.g Angle and Benoit did a similar thing once before in a submission style match.

But there are very very few guys on the WWE roster that could wrestle that style and impress. And even fewer that I would pay for the priveledge of seeing in this event type.

So for me, no, only if set in the context of being a unique one off match on a PPV.

As for "when was the last time wrestling was unpredictable" well that's one of the many reasons I don't watch anymore. It can be great, but I can't see it ever being so again with Daddy's little girl having the book.

ICEMAN

I think it would definitely make the product more compelling and interesting to watch. Seems like everything is just a re-hash of something done already on WWE TV right now.