Everything Wrong with the WWE in 2018

[MartyMcFly]

And this is the opposite of how women were booked from 97-maybe 2006. You had women that were feuding for titles, and then you had women paired up with a ton of men and made themselves apart of the show. Chyna was with HHH for awhile, then grew into her own, including being equals with Eddie. Ivory was paired up with D'Lo and Mark Henry for a bit, then apart of RTC, probably being equals with Steven Richards as far as talking. Jacqueline was with Marc Mero and APA for a pinch, Luna was with Goldust then Gangrel, Terri was with Goldust, Meat, The Hardyz, and Saturn, Lita was with Essa Rios and the Hardyz, Trish was with Test and Albert, Val Venis, and was key in the Jericho/Christian feud. All of these women made themselves apart of the show and weren't just background, even the ones that didn't at all belong in the ring. Currently it's either 2 women fighting for a title with the rest just aimless doing stuff (or not even on tv), or they just pile all the women in 6-8 women tag or elimination matches and keep it moving. That's why I was really digging the Usos/Naomi vs Rusev Day/Lana segments cause they still had something to do even though they weren't in the title picture. It's pretty sad that the WWE collectively has the most talented women they've ever had, yet those women only feel important for a fraction at a time.

Too. Many. Wrestlers.

 

[reigun]

A bunch of good points here, especially the presentation. With better advancements of technology have come a presentation that is extremely glossy, clean, over the top, hokey, and very safe. They have these massive elaborate sets, LED lights, super in your face graphics yet in plan lettering, etc, yet have completely taken away the things that made the WWE great before. They practically have made the show off-putting because of that.

Another things, the WWE doesn't do the little things well at all anymore. Barely have vignette to introduce new/returning characters, have micromanaged crowd signs to the point where they're nearly non-existent, every backstage segment is in the same areas with every possible advertisement in the background for the worst type of subliminal messaging they can offer, trash at making shirts (mentioned that earlier).

Right. Though I'll add I don't even think it's about things looking nicer and more about how things are used. Like, I think the new Raw intro is cool, but they don't even use it. 8:00 hits and the show just starts. No pyro, no excitement builder, no nothing except Cole coming on and then someone's music hitting. We may get a "previously on," but that's it. It's the most boring way to start a TV show.

Compare it to the way a show like "Black Lightning" starts. You get a "previously on" to catch up current viewers or entice new viewers while giving them some context for the episode, followed by opening scenes that set up the episodes A plot, followed by the intro. Lots of shows do this, and it's because they want those opening moments to be all about grabbing your attention. WWE could follow that exact format - previously on > short interview or backstage segment to set up the main plot > intro - and it would be a massive improvement.

They're just not concerned with grounding the viewer in the show. Why are Kurt and Paige's "offices" just a bunch of screens and some curtains instead of an actual office? Why does every conversation happen with people standing? Why does no one watch TV like a normal fukking person? What even was that ladder shyt? Film directors talk often about the importance of making the world feel "real." WWE doing things like this all add up to making the world feel plastic and fake moreso than even the kinds of cameras they use or the style of graphics.

The camera work is another issue. It's terrible. So many quick cuts and overabundance of shaky cam break the viewers connection to the show. Granted, you need some creative cuts in wrestling to preserve the "magic" - hiding calls and pulled punches - but the production teams acts as though they are shooting a Hollywood film rather than a live broadcast where clarity is needed.

Sidenote: The funny thing about the Sami Zayn example is that is exactly the kind of shyt they would have done in the Attitude or RA eras and that is why it was so bad. People today ain't trying to see that shyt; it's gonna be seen as lame at best and homo/transphobic at worst. Another sign the company is behind the times.

I'd argue you only get that investment through characters. They don't have characters anymore; they have catchphrases and monikers.

Seriously, in one sentence, can anyone sum up who any of the top guys/gals are? in one sentence.

I think that it's less that people don't have characters and more that their characters lack defining motivations. Now all characters in wrestling should want the same thing: a title. The real meat and potatoes is answering the "why?" when it comes to the titles. Do they want them for validation of their ideals? To prove they're the best? To get back at a rival? To make more money?

Take the Miz's IC title run for example. Why did he want the belt? Because (paraphrasing) he wanted to make the IC title the most prestigious and relevant title in the WWE. He stated that motivation every chance he got, and the implication was the title would only be relevant and prestigious if he was holding it. It's a straight forward, easy to understand mission statement that adds dimension to the Miz's character and creates investment in his feuds by giving his challengers something to refute while also making the title feel important. AJ Styles has a similar thing going on right now with the WWE Title; he wants the belt because he believes Smackdown Live is "the house AJ Styles built" and having the title backs up that claim.

Compare that to, say, the Bludgeon Brothers. They have the belts, but why do they want them? You can't say "to hurt people" because they were doing that even before they got the belts and could easily continue to do so without them. They're in a feud with Team Hell No, but the titles feel completely unnecessary as Team Hell No are the only ones with any real motivation here and they didn't even want the belts. They just wanted to get back at the BB for beating up Daniel.

Taking it further, even if a character has a clear motivation, there is rarely any actual momentum toward reaching their goals. Take the Riot Squad, who have a clearly defined motivation: causing trouble and fukking shyt up. They're basically a pack of violent bullies. Okay, easy to understand motivation, but what have they actually accomplished? Their goal, one would assume, is to have their leader Ruby Riot win the Women's Title. However, Ruby has been in the title picture all of once and lost. So now these three women are just floating around, being injected in random things but never truly working toward anything or facing any challenge or opposition beyond the odd tag match.

Now let's look at how Becky Lynch is being booked right now. What is Becky's motivation as she's stated in promos and interviews? To get back on top of the women's division after repeated setbacks and failures and to do it the right way. How is she doing that? By winning. Becky's been on a win streak that has her fighting women who throw her motivation in her face and call her a loser. When she beats them, it feels like she's being validated and has a chance at staying true to her word. And lo and behold, Becky is probably the most over woman on Smackdown because she has a motivation people can understand and it feels like she's actually making progress in her goal.

 

[Mike the Executioner]

Another TSC classic.

The year is only half over, but at least six years worth of gems are being dropped in here.

 

[Cartier Murphy]

There’s almost nothing I can add that hasn’t already been said, this is the definitive guide to everything wrong with the WWE for atleast the last 2-3 years

 

[FunkDoc1112]

Right. Though I'll add I don't even think it's about things looking nicer and more about how things are used. Like, I think the new Raw intro is cool, but they don't even use it. 8:00 hits and the show just starts. No pyro, no excitement builder, no nothing except Cole coming on and then someone's music hitting. We may get a "previously on," but that's it. It's the most boring way to start a TV show.

Compare it to the way a show like "Black Lightning" starts. You get a "previously on" to catch up current viewers or entice new viewers while giving them some context for the episode, followed by opening scenes that set up the episodes A plot, followed by the intro. Lots of shows do this, and it's because they want those opening moments to be all about grabbing your attention. WWE could follow that exact format - previously on > short interview or backstage segment to set up the main plot > intro - and it would be a massive improvement.

They're just not concerned with grounding the viewer in the show. Why are Kurt and Paige's "offices" just a bunch of screens and some curtains instead of an actual office? Why does every conversation happen with people standing? Why does no one watch TV like a normal fukking person? What even was that ladder shyt? Film directors talk often about the importance of making the world feel "real." WWE doing things like this all add up to making the world feel plastic and fake moreso than even the kinds of cameras they use or the style of graphics.

The camera work is another issue. It's terrible. So many quick cuts and overabundance of shaky cam break the viewers connection to the show. Granted, you need some creative cuts in wrestling to preserve the "magic" - hiding calls and pulled punches - but the production teams acts as though they are shooting a Hollywood film rather than a live broadcast where clarity is needed.

Sidenote: The funny thing about the Sami Zayn example is that is exactly the kind of shyt they would have done in the Attitude or RA eras and that is why it was so bad. People today ain't trying to see that shyt; it's gonna be seen as lame at best and homo/transphobic at worst. Another sign the company is behind the times.



I think that it's less that people don't have characters and more that their characters lack defining motivations. Now all characters in wrestling should want the same thing: a title. The real meat and potatoes is answering the "why?" when it comes to the titles. Do they want them for validation of their ideals? To prove they're the best? To get back at a rival? To make more money?

Take the Miz's IC title run for example. Why did he want the belt? Because (paraphrasing) he wanted to make the IC title the most prestigious and relevant title in the WWE. He stated that motivation every chance he got, and the implication was the title would only be relevant and prestigious if he was holding it. It's a straight forward, easy to understand mission statement that adds dimension to the Miz's character and creates investment in his feuds by giving his challengers something to refute while also making the title feel important. AJ Styles has a similar thing going on right now with the WWE Title; he wants the belt because he believes Smackdown Live is "the house AJ Styles built" and having the title backs up that claim.

Compare that to, say, the Bludgeon Brothers. They have the belts, but why do they want them? You can't say "to hurt people" because they were doing that even before they got the belts and could easily continue to do so without them. They're in a feud with Team Hell No, but the titles feel completely unnecessary as Team Hell No are the only ones with any real motivation here and they didn't even want the belts. They just wanted to get back at the BB for beating up Daniel.

Taking it further, even if a character has a clear motivation, there is rarely any actual momentum toward reaching their goals. Take the Riot Squad, who have a clearly defined motivation: causing trouble and fukking shyt up. They're basically a pack of violent bullies. Okay, easy to understand motivation, but what have they actually accomplished? Their goal, one would assume, is to have their leader Ruby Riot win the Women's Title. However, Ruby has been in the title picture all of once and lost. So now these three women are just floating around, being injected in random things but never truly working toward anything or facing any challenge or opposition beyond the odd tag match.

Now let's look at how Becky Lynch is being booked right now. What is Becky's motivation as she's stated in promos and interviews? To get back on top of the women's division after repeated setbacks and failures and to do it the right way. How is she doing that? By winning. Becky's been on a win streak that has her fighting women who throw her motivation in her face and call her a loser. When she beats them, it feels like she's being validated and has a chance at staying true to her word. And lo and behold, Becky is probably the most over woman on Smackdown because she has a motivation people can understand and it feels like she's actually making progress in her goal.

Great post, especially about the general structure of everything. I absolutely hate how inorganic and butchered the flow and presentation of the shows are...it's this Frankenstein Monster of regular TV, reality shows, and live sports that comes off as fake as hell because they don't have the chops to pull any of it off well. Generally speaking, when's the last time a backstage segment even remotely resembled an actual human interaction?

And then going even further, the fukk is the cameraman doing just randomly hanging out in people's locker rooms while they're doing absolutely nothing, right in their face while they have personal conversations like there's no camera there? Is it a real TV show with a fourth wall or live? fukking decide what you are.

The Attitude era, they knew what they were, and the presentation reflected that. They were trying to look like a live, spontaneous program. Backstage segments had a flow to them and a reason for being there: some shyt popped off earlier in the show and now the cameras are going backstage to get more, maybe they're doing a generic transition shot before the break and all of a sudden dude gets jumped or bumps into somebody. Not these cringe-worthy, meandering conversations that add nothing and make everything look fake. And even when they do cool backstage brawls nowadays, the shyt is filmed like a shytty B-movie with rapid camera cuts in places where a cameraman couldn't have been unless they already knew precisely what was going to happen.

It's this half-baked desire to be a "legitimate" TV show while still being a bunch of carny hacks at their core that's killing the television. They want it to be one way, but it isn't.

 

[PortCityProphet]

I could dap every post in here

The worst parts for me is that most of the wrestlers in the main event scene have 0 personality. Not even character wise cause nobody has a character anymore just in general. There's 0 difference between Finn, Seth, and Roman. Might as well all be the same boring guy. And the guys with personality are either in tag teams or not getting a belt. Should have had the belt on Braun last year, Elias should have a belt. For the fact that they are entertaining.
Vince always wanted to be sports entertainment but he left the entertainment aspect out a long time ago.

Also they have 3 hours on Monday bout to have 3 on Fox, they can easily work more people onto the mix to give them something to do, even if it's just little segments in the back, instead of the long drawn out promos by guys who can't do them (reminds me of HHH back in his day).
Also they never have a good reason for 2 people to start feuding. I feel like everything gets to a point where it's "wait why are they fighting?"
And they should book their shows better and mix up pairings.
Honestly I tried to give wrestling another shot thanks to the Roman and Braun fukkery from last year or whenever but it was so hard to watch when only a few guys are entertaining

 

[Beer Drinker]

I haven't watched the product in a few months now and I'm not sure I will. Every Monday/Tuesday I look at the time and think should I turn to it? I never do.

 

[PortCityProphet]

Oh yeah another thing...
The way they booked asuka and chucky pissed me off. They build up this streak and her as an unbeatable force, that's cool no problem. Wins the rumble also cool. But here's where they fukked up, they have her pick who she wants to fight 3 weeks before WM, with a weak build up some sign pointing then a L. you yl cooled her off and killed her mystique without giving her the belt. You know you're gonna strap it to chuck multiple times anyway, so why not have her drop it, and keep asuka hot? Then you have carmella win a few weeks later, totally devaluing asuka loss even more.
Which leads me to this they need to give people managers. If asuka can't speak English that well.give her a mouthpiece. You got all these folks who can't cut a promo well find someone to talk for them. It's simple really. Managers can give people that extra push

 

[PopOnCloud9]

My biggest issue is the build up of stars. Back in the day the Rumble was almost a guarantee that you are creating a main eventer of the future. Lately the Rumble has been a stat padder for overpushed talent. This year the Rumble was dope but Shinsuke's booking as a main event player has been atrocious and we won't touch on how winning the first womens Royal Rumble was ironically the catalyst to Asuka's downfall. In the midst of them forcing Brock and Roman it was clear that it was Braun's year but instead of captializing on his momentum they not only slowed him down but they let him bury a legit tag team in the process. Then like always to try to clean up they give Braun the Money in the Bank case when he clearly does not need it. They had a great opportunity to really capitalize on the Elias momentum by putting him over at MITB and letting him get the IC Title and making him the main focus of the midcard. Instead the gave the title to Ziggler the next night on Raw. Im sorry but Ziggler will never be as over as he was the Raw after WM29 and he literally has no passion to get to that realm again. NXT is literally setting the table for the future but rather than let these talents shift naturally and takeover they use them as filler for weekly programming. The sad thing about them not capitalizing on momentum is right now Rollins is clearly the guy and he needs to be the man. If they are smart they let him get the belt off of Lesnar and book Rollins as the man trying to save the business from part timers and nostalgia. If they keep Rollins red hot on Raw and keep AJ rolling on Smackdown they can let the champs go at it on Survivor Series when they go brand vs. brand and use this as a turning point on a crappy booking year. Yet it's clear that they are gonna have Roman get the belt of Brock and Braun cash in on Roman so the fans accept the mediocrity.

 

[Cartier Murphy]

Monday Night RAW is gonna be here in a few weeks, I think I might’ve mentioned passing up going before but I feel like it underlines how shyt the product is right now. All spring, summer, and really fall and winter this year I’ve been going to different concerts, shows, live events in general etc. Yet one thing I’ve always wanted to do is see WWE live. I went to a PPV nearly 10 years ago but I was a teen and it wasn’t with the seats I might’ve enjoyed more if they were ringside (even though I bought them shyts myself then too ) Yet now, as an adult with some disposable income, I was looking at hardcam seats for RAW, but I had to let em go. It bummed me out, honestly. I WANT the show to be good, I WANT to be as big a fan as I used to, I WANT to be proud of that. I WANT to experience it Live. But WWE sucks, in so many ways I think this topic could span a dozen or so pages and it still wouldn’t outline that point enough. I had considered going to Mania next year even, were there reasonably priced tickets since I’m on the East Coast. But to spend all that time, energy, and money (in addition to what I’d be losing with a day off work) for a subpar 3 hour show and 8+ in the case of Mania? Nah To me that explains my point in a nutshell, when a lifelong WWE fan doesn’t jump at the chance to go see the flagship show live, there’s an issue. When NXT house show tickets came up for sale though, I jumped at the opportunity and sure enough, ya boy is ringside for that (they were cheap af too ) Despite being the same company and even though the money is going to Vince anyway, NXT is WWE done right: it’s simple storytelling using defined characters in a way that makes sense. I don’t watch their show weekly yet every Takeover I’ve seen has been top notch, to where I had zero reservations plunking down my hard earned bread to see them live.

But the main shows are so plagued with so many issues it’s hard to just put into words singularly, to where we, as a board, have to team up like Voltron to talk shyt about it. SD Live has definitely picked up post Mania but they’re still suffering from mostly the same issues, they just happen to have a slightly better creative direction. The company creatively is 100% the worst it’s ever been, even in years previously considered universally bad, I can’t think of a year as devoid as this one. Lame feuds, matches, and virtually no storylines beyond you have a belt I want/I wanna beat you to be the best. The hottest, most interesting acts are mostly twilding their thumbs, biding time until creative finally, maybe gets Roman over, or waiting for creative to maybe give them something worthwhile. Even in a previously shyt year like, maybe 2011, you still had Punk blowing up, Cody’s gimmick change from Dashing to Disfigured, the Hall of Pain, etc. These days there’s like nothing worth watching outside of maybe one or two acts.


TL;DR Modern day WWE is WOAT and that’s truly a sad state of affairs

 

[DaHNIC82]

The lack of Kayfabe and mystique of the business is whats hurting the WWE. A prime example is that Hardyz Woken documentary. They exposed damn near everything and sold the fact that these guys are doing nothing but playing a role on TV for 2 hours and then their back to their normal selves.

The only way we would see heels and babyfaces together is wedding photos, charity events or if they on a talk show selling a angle.. These guys today kill each other on TV and then take IG photos together a day later like its nothing

 

[Playaz Eyez]

Monday Night RAW is gonna be here in a few weeks, I think I might’ve mentioned passing up going before but I feel like it underlines how shyt the product is right now. All spring, summer, and really fall and winter this year I’ve been going to different concerts, shows, live events in general etc. Yet one thing I’ve always wanted to do is see WWE live. I went to a PPV nearly 10 years ago but I was a teen and it wasn’t with the seats I might’ve enjoyed more if they were ringside (even though I bought them shyts myself then too ) Yet now, as an adult with some disposable income, I was looking at hardcam seats for RAW, but I had to let em go. It bummed me out, honestly. I WANT the show to be good, I WANT to be as big a fan as I used to, I WANT to be proud of that. I WANT to experience it Live. But WWE sucks, in so many ways I think this topic could span a dozen or so pages and it still wouldn’t outline that point enough. I had considered going to Mania next year even, were there reasonably priced tickets since I’m on the East Coast. But to spend all that time, energy, and money (in addition to what I’d be losing with a day off work) for a subpar 3 hour show and 8+ in the case of Mania? Nah To me that explains my point in a nutshell, when a lifelong WWE fan doesn’t jump at the chance to go see the flagship show live, there’s an issue. When NXT house show tickets came up for sale though, I jumped at the opportunity and sure enough, ya boy is ringside for that (they were cheap af too ) Despite being the same company and even though the money is going to Vince anyway, NXT is WWE done right: it’s simple storytelling using defined characters in a way that makes sense. I don’t watch their show weekly yet every Takeover I’ve seen has been top notch, to where I had zero reservations plunking down my hard earned bread to see them live.

But the main shows are so plagued with so many issues it’s hard to just put into words singularly, to where we, as a board, have to team up like Voltron to talk shyt about it. SD Live has definitely picked up post Mania but they’re still suffering from mostly the same issues, they just happen to have a slightly better creative direction. The company creatively is 100% the worst it’s ever been, even in years previously considered universally bad, I can’t think of a year as devoid as this one. Lame feuds, matches, and virtually no storylines beyond you have a belt I want/I wanna beat you to be the best. The hottest, most interesting acts are mostly twilding their thumbs, biding time until creative finally, maybe gets Roman over, or waiting for creative to maybe give them something worthwhile. Even in a previously shyt year like, maybe 2011, you still had Punk blowing up, Cody’s gimmick change from Dashing to Disfigured, the Hall of Pain, etc. These days there’s like nothing worth watching outside of maybe one or two acts.


TL;DR Modern day WWE is WOAT and that’s truly a sad state of affairs

This is pretty much why I’ve passed on going to live WWE shows other than NXT. I have people I’m a fan of on the main roster, but I just can’t bring myself to see 2018 Kane, a completely stymied Bobby Lashley, or watch Roman Reigns portray an underdog then hulk up and hit 6 Superman punches on someone who never had a chance of beating him in the first place. I’m more hype to see a Reality Of Wrestling Show the next time they have a big event here more than Raw/SD

 

[OmegaK2099]

I stopped watching full time i only peep the top 10 moments on YouTube

 

[AnotherRoute]

I agree with too many wrestlers. I had the network and I felt like they had access to me 24 hours a day but squeezed everything in on raw and smack down and 4 hour ppv.
NXT was my favorite part of things I loved the developmentanl side cause it reminded me of wrestling on non cable tv in the early 90s. I felt like they brought some people up too quick and once they had them they withered away.

The Network once again with all those wrestlers we could of had a more mature show for adult fans. Separate from everything else .

Hey I think the shyt sucks but them stock prices keep rising so there is no incentive to change.

 

[Amor fati]

Boxing and MMA has been delivering better melodrama and more storylines than pro wrestling this year

Right now, we got:

• DC gunning for the HW belt
• The rise of Max Holloway
• The State vs Conor McGregor
• Will Nick Diaz avoid jail time or come back to fight to pay for those legal bills?
• Anthony Joshua bytching out against Deontay Wilder
• The rise of the Charlos and Errol Spence Jr
• When will someone beat Demetrius Johnson?
• Battle of the Washed this fall with Tito Ortiz vs Chuck Liddell and Rampage vs Wanderlei
• How will a roid-free Canelo look against GGG?
• Bellator finally needing to book good cards because they got a big bag from DAZN
• USADA aiding and abetting a roided-up Jon Jones and presumably letting him return to competition this year

The problem with boxing is no fights are happening too much ducking.