What I Want...

Kevin Thron vs. CM Punk

Another guest post from Chad. 

There’s a new wrestling blog called, IWantWrestling.com. It’s the brainchild of former WWE writer and current ROH on HDNET Producer David Lagana. After writing my open letter to TNA, and seeing all the tweets with #IWantWrestling, I asked myself what is it that I really want out of today’s wrestling promotions.

When it comes to televised wrestling, I’ve given up on TNA. I watch WWE Raw, but rarely do I watch Smackdown. And after watching Raw, I usually have more complaints than praise for the show. I’ve only seen a handful of ROH on HDNet.

None of the shows are must see in my opinion. TNA, in my opinion, throws too much on the screen and hopes something is good instead of focusing on a handful of storylines and making them meaningful. WWE is so repetitive you can skip a couple weeks and not miss any major developments. If you do miss something, it’ll be recapped and repeated enough on commentary to make you think you saw it. As for ROH, as I said, I have only seen a handful of episodes to I don’t think it’s fair to make comments about the show.

So, with that being said, what would wrestling promotions have to do to get my regular viewership? Standard pre-body disclaimer; I don’t write this thinking my ideas are better than what WWE/TNA/ROH are currently doing. This is simply a list of things I’d do differently. This is not a magical list that will turn any wrestling program into the best show ever. While I have 12 years of television experience, I don’t know the first thing about writing or producing a wrestling show and dealing with all the variables that go with it.

Anyway. Onto my ideas.

TNA and WWE have monthly Pay Per Views. The purpose of the weekly shows should be to build interest in the PPV and entice viewers to pay to see guys wrestle. Therefore the first change I would make is I would not have the champions wrestle on the weekly show. Unless it’s a special event there’s no good reason for a champion to wrestle. Especially if you have a heel holding the belt. Unless the rules have been rewritten, the champion only has to defend the title once every 30 days. If the belt only has to be defended once a month, why would a heel want to defend the title more than he’s obligated to? If the champion refuses to wrestle on a weekly basis, hopefully the fans will get antsy wanting to see him wrestle, and if he plays his role right they’ll want to see him lose. The fans desire to see a champion wrestle will be so intense that they will shell out money to see him in the ring. When the champion wrestles on a weekly basis, and looks weak, why would fans want to spend $40 to see him fight?

When CM Punk was revealed as the new leader of Nexus, I was thinking a match between him and John Cena would make for a good Wrestlemania match. My concern was could the WWE creative team keep the buildup interesting for three months. After this past week’s Raw, the answer is no. For some reason in order to build a feud, the guys involved must interact with each other every week. Why? Flashing back to last year’s Wrestlemania, by the time the show went on, I had next to no interest in most of the matches because the guys fighting had been wrestling each other or interfering in matches for the previous 4-8 weeks. If you give me something on a weekly basis for free, why should I pay for it? I think the creative teams and those in charge need to think outside the box and find news ways to build interest in matches.

Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels

For instance, at Wrestlemania 26, Shawn Michaels and the Undertaker had a rematch from Wrestlemania 25. This time Shawn vowed if he couldn’t beat the Undertaker, Shawn would retire. The buildup was mostly Shawn attacking Taker after matches or the two of them having a face off inside the ring. If I had written the storyline, they wouldn’t have been in the same ring after Taker accepted Shawn’s challenge.

With Shawn’s career on the line, and Shawn having lost the year before, he should have been determined to not end up with his shoulders down for the three count. I would have taken a few pages from the Rocky IV script and had several weeks of training videos showing Shawn working out in the ring with a sparring partner learning how to escape Taker’s signature holds. Have Shawn talk about the need to end Undertaker’s undefeated Wrestlemania streak. How his loss the year before eats at him because the Heartbreak Kid is Mr. Wrestlemania. If you keep them apart from each other, building to match with vignettes and promos, when they finally step into the ring, the atmosphere will be more electric.

Less talk, more action.  Please!

Does every show have to start with a 15 minute in ring promo? Most of the time the meat of the promo could be said in 5 minutes or less and is going to be recapped multiple times throughout the show so what’s the purpose of an extended promo? At least mix the format up a bit. Maybe start the show with a match to get the fans excited, and then in segment two give them the promo.

It’s time for the GM to take a backseat. I remember back when I first started watching wrestling Jack Tunney was the President of the WWF. He was the one who would make big decisions when the time came. And when there was no decision needed, he wasn’t seen. Now the GM or whatever the person in charge is called is either on screen or mentioned in almost every segment. It’s overkill. Like having wrestler interact with each other every week kills interest in a potential money match, having a GM constantly adding or changing matches to a show makes the show look slapped together. Since the GM usually sets up the main event during the show, what would happen if the GM wasn’t there one week? Would there be no main event match. I’m slightly stealing this from one of Lance Storm’s blogs, but when a show goes on the air, all the matches should be set. Has there been any UFC or Boxing cards that get changed on the fly or matches added without warning? If the GM needs to make weekly decisions they should set up the following week’s show.

That’s just a short list of items I’d like to see on a wrestling program. I don’t see any of them happening anytime soon though. I’m sure I’ll keep watching anyway. What do you think of these ideas? And what would you change if you had the power?

Hall of Fame Heartbreak

Taking care of HBK at Axxess

The Hall of Fame is one of my favorite parts of Wrestlemania weekend.  It's a great time to see some of the old timers come back and talk about things way back when.  Luckily, my friend Chad and I have been able to attend the last several ceremonies.
And we'll be back this year.  When I heard last night that they'd be announcing the first inducted in the Class of 2011, I figured they'd be going for someone big to attract a big crowd, as tickets go on sale Saturday.  Then when the "King" said at the beginning of Raw that it was one of the greatest superstars of all time, I figured it would be have to be someone huge.

I think the WWE delivered with the announcement that Shawn Michaels is going in this year.  I'll admit I was surprised.  I had figured (based mostly on the online rumors) that it would be someone from WCW.  Perhaps Goldberg or Lex Luger or even the elusive Sting. 

My first reaction was also semi disappointment.  And not because I don't think Shawn has a spot in the Hall of Fame.  I've written before about the length of time a performer is done in the ring to the time they're inducted.  I guess there are no real rules here, as we saw Ric Flair get inducted the night BEFORE his "last" match. 

Saying good bye after Wrestlemania 26

The more I think about it, the more it makes sense for it to be Shawn.  He is still fresh in the minds of fans. Did you hear how they popped when he came out?  I think he'll definitely put "asses in the seats."  I also came to realize today that I've been there for some of Shawn's biggest matches.  At least the ones of the "second half" of his career.  We were at Wrestlemania 24 for his match against Flair.  Then at Wrestlemania 25 his first attempt to end the Undertaker's streak.  And finally at Wrestlemania 26, Shawn's final match.

I'd also like to mention that I was at the first Hell in the Cell encounter between 'Taker and HBK back in 1997.  It was the In Your House: Badd (yes two D's) Blood pay per view in St. Louis.

So Shawn deserves to be in the hall, no doubt.  Even when he left the first time in 1998, I think he'd accomplished more than enough to be inducted.  The second time around he raised the bar and solidified his legacy.  While the mark in me was hoping that this year's "1st Ballot" choice would have been "Macho Man" Randy Savage, I'm glad Shawn is getting inducted and can't wait to hear his speech in Atlanta.

Now, hit my music.

2010 Favorite Moments

The New Money Inc.

A lot of people have been updating their statuses on Facebook saying how lousy 2010 was and how they hope 2011 is better.  I had a pretty good year, and a lot of my memories of 2010 are wrestling related.  Of course they are, that's why I'm writing this blog.

I'm going to break this into a two different categories, my favorite things that happened in wrestling on the national level and then what I personally experienced this year.

Lots of cool things happened in the WWE (I'll stick with that because it's what I watch the most of).  First and foremost was the return of Bret Hart.  Him making up with Shawn Michaels in the middle of the ring was one of the best moments of the year in my opinion.

Bret locking Vince in the Sharpshooter

Getting the chance to see Bret "wrestle" at Wrestlemania was also a highlight for me.  Obviously the "Hitman" is well past his prime and the match was far from anything Bret did back in they day, but it was awesome to get to see a Hall of Famer and legend have one more Wrestlemania moment.  I'm glad was there to see it.

This match also helped to launch the Hart Dynasty into the spot light too.  While that push didn't last very long, it was great to see them win the tag team titles and at least have a little run on top of the tag team division.

Another high point of 2010 was the creation of NXT.  I thought the first two seasons were really good.  We got a chance to see the development of several guys who will truly be the future of the business at some point.  Daniel Bryan, Wade Barrett, and Husky Harris in my opinion are the standouts of the shows.  I look forward to seeing where these guys head in the New Year.

Awesome!

Another personal highlight for me came in January when I got to meet the Miz.  He was in Cape Girardeau for a house show at the Show Me Center.  Cape is about an hour from where I live and in the television market where I work.

I made arrangements to interview a Superstar prior to the show.  Up until a few days prior, I had no idea who it would be. I was very excited to learn it was the Miz.  Although I was nervous at first, not knowing exactly how he'd act.  But to my surprise, he was very cool and not at all the cocky character he plays on TV.

We spoke for a bit before the interview and afterwards too.  He also posed for a picture with me.  It was truly an awesome experience.

So you can imagine that I am happy with the fact that the Miz is the current WWE champion.  He's worked hard and I'm glad to see that his dedication over the last several years has paid off.  It's also my hope that we see the Miz continue to hold onto the title and stay in the main event picture in 2011.

HBK's last hoorah.

One of the best of all time hung up his tights for the last time in 2010.  At least I think Shawn Michaels is going to stay retired.  It was awesome being able to see his last match in person.  He had a great showing against the Undertaker at Wrestlemania 26.  The two also tore the roof off at Wrestlemania 25 in Houston the year before.  I am proud to say I was in attendance for that match too.  Also got to see Shawn's stellar performance against Ric Flair in what we all thought would be Flair's last match at Wrestlemania 24.

Money Inc. meets Chris Hero

Just being at Wrestlemania was a highlight of the year too.  Being at Axxess, the Hall of Fame, and the event itself was phenomenal.  We participated in a panel discussion about the WWE Network while at Axxess.  Then after the Hall of Fame, we saw several of the stars up close as they left the building.

Then dressing up like Money Inc. with my friend Chad was truly awesome.  We dress up like someone each year we go and I believe our costumes at Wrestlemania 26 were the best we'd done so far.  We got a lot of compliments on our attire even from Ring of Honor star Chris Hero.  He asked to get a picture with us too, another cool moment from the year.

In 2010, I also had a chance to referee a couple of matches for a local independent group.  USCW was running a show in McLeansboro and they had asked me if I'd be interested in helping with the show.  Of course I was, and got to ref two matches that night.  It was really cool, as I had never done anything like that before.

So, that's my year in a nutshell.  Hope you have some great memories too.  Here's to 2011 and hopefully more opportunities.  Check out my My 1-2-3 Cents on YouTube too.  I'm working on getting more videos uploaded.

Going for the Gold(berg)

Courtesy: WWE

You've probably figured out by the picture above this isn't a post about the View's Whoopi Goldberg, but instead Bill Goldberg.  Or just Goldberg, the former WCW and WWE world heavyweight champion.  Today my thoughts on Goldberg and his "worthiness" of being inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame.

Earlier this week, Triple H and Shawn Michaels were in Atlanta (site of Wrestlemania 27).  The two were being interviewed and the question about the Hall of Fame came up.  A lot of people are speculating the theme will be a WCW one because the company was based in Atlanta for so many years.  And of course, the biggest name from the last couple of years of WCW was of course Goldberg.  So naturally, fans (at least some of them) are foaming at the mouth over a possible Goldberg HOF induction.

Both members of DX shot down the idea.  Of course that doesn't mean a whole lot, but they went on to explain why they don't think the football player turned pro wrestler is worthy of the honor.  Triple H told SB Nation Atlanta report Jason Kirk this, "We get that all the time. We call a guy to honor him in the Hall of Fame, and he goes, 'I want to do an angle. I want a one-off. I need a hundred grand," Triple H added. "So when you say, 'What about Goldberg,' no offense to Bill, but you've got guys like Bruno Sammartino that were legends with longevity that should be in there, but they're holding out because they think they've got one more run. Just using Bill as an example, how many years did he wrestle? Not many." 

Shawn went on to say to that he's against the idea of Goldberg going in now, not because he isn't talented but because greatness doesn't happen in a few years.  

Goldberg himself acknowledged Hunter and Shawn's comments and said they were entitled to their opinion.  He went on to say, "They do have a point if induction is based on tenure."

I have to agree with the former tag team champions on this one.  For starters, I was never a big fan of Goldberg.  Personally, I thought WCW crammed him down our throats as a way to fight the Stone Cold Steve Austin craze that was sweeping the wrestling world in the late 90's.  Goldberg's time in the squared circle was short.  He was with WCW from 1997 to 2001.  He wrestled briefly in Japan for about a year, and then spent about a year in the WWE, where he won the world title ironically from Triple H.  

Unless I'm mistaken his match with Brock Lesnar at Wrestlemania 20 was his last.  That would give him  a little less than seven years in the ring.  Does that make him worthy of the Hall of Fame?  Maybe eventually, but not now.  When you've got guys like Bob Backlund, Bruno Sammartino, Randy Savage, and the Road Warriors not inducted, I don't believe Goldberg should be in there.

But on the flip side, there are some names in there that probably don't "deserve" to be.  No offense, but Koko B. Ware comes to mind immediately.  Pete Rose, William Perry, and Bob Uecker too.  I'm not a fan of the "celebrity wing."

That being said, I think it depends your prospective.  After all this is a hall of fame for a "sport" with a determined finished.  WWE controls how the matches end, they control who gets into their hall of fame. It is one of my favorite parts of the Wrestlemania weekend.  I know it's something the wrestlers take serious, but is it something fans take serious?  I kind of feel like Hulk Hogan and to an extent Ric Flair turned their back on the concept when they did the whole angle with their rings and Abyss earlier this year.  Epic failure in my opinion.

According to a poll on the Bleacher Report 38% of fans said "no" to Goldberg being inducted into the HOF.  36% were in favor.  The rest said not yet, but maybe in the future.  I'd say that's the category I fall into.  Although his tenure was short in comparison to most of the men and women in the Hall of Fame, I do think he made a significant impact on wrestling, whether you're a fan of his or not.

What are your thoughts?