Scott
Before the WWE Network starts up, I've been watching Raws from 1999 (yes, I'm an Attitude Era kid and I couldn't wait!) and it's dawned on me that things built for a hell of a lot longer back then than they do now (yes, I've realised this for a while now, but watching these old shows back REALLY highlights it).
For example, X-Pac is teaming with Kane, who may or may not be realigning himself with The Undertaker again. At the same time as this, X-Pac and Road Dogg are feuding with Billy and Chyna over the DX rights. AT THE SAME TIME as this, Billy is helping Triple H beat on The Rock at every opportunity - which in turn leads to a Rock/Billy feud and match at Summerslam (the attempt to elevate Billy that didn't seem to work out).
As history shows, X-Pac would go onto team with Kane against Undertaker and Big Show (who Kane was feuding with around the time of the previous paragraph's events)... this all ties up really nicely, makes sense and was exciting. All of that stuff happened in July '99 and led to things in late August '99... this just doesn't seem to happen now...
So, I suppose my question(s) is why do we not get that sort of build now (apart from the main feud of the day e.g Cena/Orton)? Why do we get these short-term things that last for a few weeks instead of a couple of months of a feud that grabs our attention? Why do we not get things connecting and intertwining anymore? Is it just assumed that we can't keep up with something that twists and turns before a satisfying pay-off?? Or have the writers got too many hours of TV to cover (y'know, that excuse)?
Keep up the great work,
It's not an excuse, it's stone cold reality. The writers are overworked and burned out, period.
The wwe creative team is an embarrassment to the television industry. Vkm has phased into the diapers and drool portion of his life. That "nyuk nyuk Vince will out live us all" gag is so dumb. A steroid abuser and stressaholic won't make it too far past 70.
ReplyDeleteThe wwe is the worst entertainment company in world history.
Jesus this is some serious fucking revisionist history. There was a TON of shit that got dropped suddenly or without reason in 1999 WWF. I'm not even going to list examples cause anyone who actually lived through that era knows exactly what I'm talking about.
ReplyDeleteI will give you that Russo was good at giving everybody something to do, although that something was often pretty random and stupid. But it kept guys involved,
But come on man, using 1999 WWF to rip today's product isn't the way to go. Outside of the main event there was a lot of garbage.
I was recently watching some 1999 RAW episodes during that whole Ministry period.
ReplyDeleteI didn't seem to mind it at the time but it has not aged well at all.
Ken Shamrock came out something like four times on one RAW and Undertaker appeared six or seven times (either in the ring or on titantron skits).
Also of note, matches lasted two or three minutes a lot of the time-something that has carried over for the midcard to present day.
Finally, in a random throwaway match, Godfather defeated Goldust for the IC title. So that belt has been aimlessly passed around for quite a while now. I wanna see it restored too but it has been a prop for so long now I really don't think it's possible.
Not really related but that Summerslam Tag Title match with X-Pac and (awesome inverted colors outfit) Kane vs Show and Amish Taker surprised the hell out of me. I really enjoyed it.
ReplyDeleteI do NOT have a bad attention spa...oooh, COOKIES!
ReplyDeleteNot to mention that the writers had 2 hours of Raw per week to write (Smackdown only started in late 1999). Now they have 3 hours of Raw AND 2 hours of Smackdown every single week. It's basically impossible for them to fill every bit with perfect compelling TV.
ReplyDeleteAnother issue is that the "Creative" right now is just working with a series of completely chaotic issues. Note:
ReplyDelete1) WWE executives (McMahons/HHH) expected Batista to come back as a wildly over babyface, which didn't happen.
2) #2 face CM Punk just walked out of the company
3) Despite WWE expecting Bryan to just tool around in the midcard he is so massively over that the live crowd has actively "hijacked" shows if they don't see him in the ring
4) #1 & #2 have reduced company champion Randy Orton to an afterthought, unless it involves Bryan
And, most importantly...
5) The supposedly heel HHH/Stephanie team apparently refuses to get their comeuppance, which means we have had 6 months of them making the faces (Cena, Bryan, Punk) look like chumps
The amount of TV time to cover is not a legit excuse. The WWF's best year was 2000. They had five hours of first-run TV every week. In 2014, they have five hour of first-run TV every week. 6 if you want to count the Main Event, but they dont do angle there.
ReplyDeletePoint is: that's an excuse. The problem is that the direction changes every week so any long-term plans get ripped up.
Look at the Wyatt Family/Bryan thing. That was supposed to go to WrestleMania and they had to pull the plug in 3 weeks because the crowd was revolting.
We are about 6 weeks out from WrestleMania and they apparently don't even know the card yet. How is that to be blamed on TV time per week?
Blame Vince and Triple H. The buck stops with the boss and they keep changing their minds, so THAT is causing the burnout. Not the 5 hours of TV per week.