Here's something I've been wondering about, and feel free to use it discussion:
Have you watched many of the WWE's B-level and C-level shows? They seem to be remarkably inoffensive with little to no cringe-inducing moments. There's a logical and smooth flow to the shows. There also seems to be a specific vision for the shows, and the wrestlers and backstage workers pretty much accomplish it. I'm talking about programs like NXT, Superstars, Saturday Morning Slam, and even some of their YouTube and Classics-exclusive content. Yet, the shows that have the biggest McMahon influence (Vince AND Stephanie, that is...it's weird how Stephanie somehow remains blameless despite being head of creative for 10 years) are disjointed messes. I dislike how WWE's ex-writers will try to blame Vince for squashing every good idea they have, but I almost have to think there's a little bit of merit to that. I look at the B-level and C-level shows, the shows without McMahon fingerprints, and think they're excellent shows for what they set out to do. What are your thoughts? While I still believe Vince knows how to create/develop characters, has he lost his touch when it comes to big angles and A-level shows? Thanks for your time.
Yeah, I watch NXT as background noise, and Superstars, but I just don't feel the need to blog about them because fuck all ever happens and it's really dull stuff to recap. Tommy Hall is a real man for putting up with it, believe me. I'd have to equate them to WCW Saturday Night in the Nitro era, where you get some wackier stuff than you'd see on the A-shows and a chance to see newer guys. But honestly there's not many of them I'm getting invested in right now, because the talent pool has gotten so thin. Kassius Ohno just isn't doing it for me with his character, and most of the rest of the NXT guys are pleasant but interchangeable talking heads. They really should rotate more "A" level guys onto NXT, like Swagger and Ryder, who aren't doing anything on the main roster and could look like SUPERSTARS in the small pond that is Full Sail. Of course, then the other problem is that they tape so far ahead of time that if you decide someone needs freshening up like that, it takes three months to see them on TV, seemingly.
Does smackdown count? Because I really like that show. Long matches, old school wrestling promos, no lawler, it's a good show.
ReplyDeleteNXT is great, but I worry I'll burn out on the new guys by the time they hit "real TV." Both Ohno and Rollins bore me to tears, and Steamboat isn't showing enough yet. Bray Wyatt in his one match was still the highlight of the current run. Big E has a good look and character so far, and I wonder if they plan an doing anything with the guys they squashed early on (CJ Parker, Aiden English, Rick Victor) because I'd like to see more of them.
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of Stephanie, was there ever any truth to that one WWE Creative story where she supposedly had a nervous breakdown backstage after Triple H torn his quad for the second time?
ReplyDeleteI just watched this weeks episode of NXT and I agree with Chris Hero's current Kassius Ohno character isn't doing it for me either. He did entertain me in his backstage segment with Ricky Steamboat however especially with the line 'WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO DRAGON? ARMDRAG ME?' which makes me think he would be much better off doing his cowardly sneaky heel schtick he did back in the indy scene, before the Young Knockout Kid persona.
ReplyDeleteLeo Kruger also showed some potential tonight and Paige put a lot of the current divas to shame but then again I'm generally biased towards her because I'm English and I think she's hot! I also loved her Cradle DDT finisher.
Speaking of Chris Hero and the Kings of Wrestling for that matter, man oh man I wish they had signed with TNA instead. We would now be watching Daniels/Kaz feud with the KOW on a weekly basis. How bad ass would that be?
ReplyDeleteNXT isn't that bad. Brodus popped up on it this past week so the big names are coming around a bit. It's WAY better than the fifth season which was just horrid.
ReplyDeleteEveryone is just so vanilla. It seems Bray only stood out because there's a gimmick/character to him.
ReplyDeleteSeth Rollins doesn't do anything for me. Agree on the Kassius Ohno character. It sucks. They have some talent but they are not using them well. Bray Wyatt is interesting and Big E Langston has the superstar look but that is about it. Although, thr Ascension is probably good enough to be on the roster with the rest of their tag-teams.
ReplyDeleteSmackdown is great, second only to Impact right now.
ReplyDeleteI don't really think you can compare RAW and Smackdown to Superstars, Saturday Morning Slam, NXT, etc.
ReplyDeleteThose are simple format shows, designed to expand the WWE brand, and showcase talent. The ratings for the B and C shows aren't a huge concern for the WWE, and the storylines those shows present are generally pretty simple, and not used to sell PPV's or build top stars.
Alot of stuff on RAW ends up flopping, like the walkout angle last year, but I think that's just part of the creative process. Not everything works. Writing impactful storylines to drive the company is harder than booking simple feuds to give lowercard guys a reason to fight.
Hardly anybody watches the B and C grade shows, and if RAW took on those formats no one would watch it either.
No.
ReplyDeleteIs there any way I can watch NXT in the U.S.? It's been off their website since June, when the swtichover happened.
ReplyDeleteSeconded, Smackdown is starting to grow on me again, the only real flaw that show has is the neverending Sheamus/ADR feud, that feud seriously needs a Tommy Rich/Buzz Sawyer-type stipulation in which after the final blowoff match, those two must never have any kind of interaction with each other ever again.
ReplyDeleteI don't even watch RAW all the way through anymore, much like Dougie I just skip the boring stuff and only catch the good stuff (which there is an ample amount of at least most weeks), stopped following NXT and Superstars because of the overwhelming sea of suck that is otherwise known as Jinder Mahal, and quit watching ROH regularly shortly after the start of the year because while the action is technically competent, it's just so damn dull and lifeless.
Really, the only wrestling shows that qualify as must-see TV are Smackdown, Impact Wrestling and to a much lesser extent, NWA Smoky Mountain TV because that show is SO hilariously bad (They have one guy on the roster called Tony Givens and for the life of me, I cannot figure out why this guy keeps getting promo time every week considering that he can't cut a promo to save his life, I guess he's related to the promoter or something.)
I am patiently waiting for Skyler Moon (Former Buggy Nova) to be on NXT and WWE main shows down the road. She's got more charisma than most of the current divas, IMO. An AJ & Skyler Moon feud would be solid. I am overall just a big fan of Skyler. If she gets trained well, she's going to be a big name Diva and not just another barbie doll in short shorts. She's totally seperate from that.
ReplyDeleteVery. Although even that's not as much of a missed opportunity as the fact they could have done Daniels and Styles vs. Strong and Aries at one point.
ReplyDeleteThey did exactly that on WWECW and NXT for the first two seasons. The first two seasons were basically "the Miz's show" and IMO NXT was a big part of getting Miz over before his title run.
ReplyDeleteSmackdown would be great if they lose the canned crowd noise.
ReplyDeleteMakes my ears bleed.
Totally agree - for a while there, both shows were breaths of fresh air to the jumbled mess that "Raw" (and, to a lesser degree, "Smackdown") had become. You'd get at least a good match or two, a short in-ring promo or segment that ACTUALLY ADVANCED A STORYLINE, and no angles involving non-wrestlers against each other. Plus, it was nice to see guys like Punk, Morrison, Bryan, Miz, etc., making progress in a slower, steadier fashion, instead of just having them squash everyone or get squashed themselves on one of the main shows.
ReplyDeleteThe pros were enjoyable (especially in Season 1), but it's also where the Michael Cole heel turn began, so that's one big strike against it.
ReplyDelete