Is this the worst WWE roster since late 1997?

[Larry]

It depends how you define "star".

Wins matter. That's why they pushed so hard that CAWdy beat Seth 3 times in a row. Clearly they were trying to push CAWdy at that level and separate him from everyone else.

The whole reason this thread exists is because of the perception that WWE's roster is weak and doesn't have star power. The guys who are seen that way are part-timers (Brock/Roman).

So 2.5 mil ppl were watching the Reigns-Riddle match, the biggest audience WWE has had in a while watching TV. I'm sure most ppl were watching because of Reigns, because he rarely wrestles on TV and because he's truly a star who NEVER LOSES. When was the last time he got pinned? I can't even remember.

Not saying Riddle should basically go undefeated after that match, but my thing is this. Even if you think everyone was tuning in because of Reigns - Riddle WAS his opponent and he IS over. So ppl who don't normally watch might tune in & see this guy is over, having a great match and go aight, this dude is legit. Let me check him out next time and see what's up.

So that person turns on RAW a couple days later and sees him basically get squashed and then get his ass kicked after the match.

It's not gonna change the fact that he's popular & ppl like him, but to me you had a chance to try and put someone on a different level from everyone else. You don't get those chances very often in wrestling now a days. I don't fukk w/ Riddle like that but I would have gone with the momentum off that match and the rating and see where it goes. But he gets beat and it's just the same ol shyt.

I do think wins and losses matter too an extent of course, but that’s not the be all end all to making someone.


It’s literally as simple as being over with paying audiences. The New Day could never sniff another title again and that won’t change the fact that they are stars. People recognize them in public. They move a shyt ton of merch. In this wrestling world, they are as big as anyone could hope to get. That’s not changing with a win or a loss.


The issue is that ya’ll expect a “star” to be literally John Cena or The Rock. There’s only a handful of guys that make it to that level. Everyone doesn’t need to transcend the sport to be a star within it.


You don’t have to do Drake numbers to be a rap star. There’s levels. Not many will ever be on the tier ya’ll unfairly hold over these wrestling dudes heads.

 

[Buggsy Mogues]

I do think wins and losses matter too an extent of course, but that’s not the be all end all to making someone.


It’s literally as simple as being over with paying audiences. The New Day could never sniff another title again and that won’t change the fact that they are stars. People recognize them in public. They move a shyt ton of merch. In this wrestling world, they are as big as anyone could hope to get. That’s not changing with a win or a loss.


The issue is that ya’ll expect a “star” to be literally John Cena or The Rock. There’s only a handful of guys that make it to that level. Everyone doesn’t need to transcend the sport to be a star within it.


You don’t have to do Drake numbers to be a rap star. There’s levels. Not many will ever be on the tier ya’ll unfairly hold over these wrestling dudes heads.

I didn't say wins and losses are the be all end all, but it's a big part of it.

The whole point is that yes there is levels, but if your booking is what is preventing someone from reaching the next level then that's a problem. You said yourself Riddle is over and sells a ton of merch. So why isn't the booking matching that? When Austin got hot and started selling shirts they didn't have him go out and get squashed by Justin Hawk Bradshaw. And again, I'm not saying Riddle should never lose. But literally THREE DAYS after he has a huge TV rating with Reigns, you immediately send him out to get squashed and kill any momentum he had? There's a time and a place for losses, but that is tone deaf booking. You have a chance to have a dude separate from the pack and completely miss it.

And so Cokeboy sits around going well fukk nobody is over enough to face Reigns, let's call up Brock. But the reason they have to keep going back to Brock to sell tickets is all self inflicted bc they don't book anyone to stand out at that level.

The only regular roster guy who has any shot right now is CAWdy bc he was lucky enough to get injured before they could eventually have him in a 50/50 feud w/ someone like Sheamus.

Literally the best way to boost your stock in WWE is to be booked like teflon like Reigns, or be off TV frequently enough that they can't book you to always lose.

 

[Rell84shots]

No, Because they have a ton of talented wrestlers. It's the worst era for creative ever. They're literally booking the same matches every week, and then just alternating the winners each time. This is why the brand split needs to end, because the arguments people had against ending it are no longer valid.

 

[KFBF]

Roman
Brock (should he be listed?)
Randy
AJ
Edge
Cody
Riddle
Lashley
Drew McIntyre
The New Day (no one cares about them as individuals)
Seth Rollins
Kevin Owens
Miz

No one else matters -- and I think half of those names suck. Some of the women are over but I feel like it's disingenuous to use them as a measuring stick. Once they are regularly main-eventing PPV's without it being a novelty then we can have that discussion.

 

[showtime]

No depth, barely any stars, Roman part time, they're doing Roman vs Brock pt 37 as their centrepiece program, most of their best workers are now in catering at AEW, their women's division has fallen off a cliff, and Rick Steiner's son is the only young talent who looks like he might be a star. It says a lot that someone like Cody getting injured made such an impact on their booking

This MITB card

Post Survivor Series 1997 roster was a struggle until the attitude era got cooking but even that roster had a red hot Austin, Rock on the come up, Michaels, Taker, Owen and some others.

Wtf are you talkin about late 97 roster???

Attitude era was in full swing in late 97 u can tell who didn't watch this shyt back then

 

[Womb Raider]

Nah I think they just book everyone like shyt….who tf repackages the Burserweight as a goddamn bipolar maniac? Riddle is a star but you jobbing him out? Ricochet getting pump faked still? Where the fukk is Shinsuke Nakamura???

 

[Peter Parker]

I didn't say wins and losses are the be all end all, but it's a big part of it.

The whole point is that yes there is levels, but if your booking is what is preventing someone from reaching the next level then that's a problem. You said yourself Riddle is over and sells a ton of merch. So why isn't the booking matching that? When Austin got hot and started selling shirts they didn't have him go out and get squashed by Justin Hawk Bradshaw. And again, I'm not saying Riddle should never lose. But literally THREE DAYS after he has a huge TV rating with Reigns, you immediately send him out to get squashed and kill any momentum he had? There's a time and a place for losses, but that is tone deaf booking. You have a chance to have a dude separate from the pack and completely miss it.

And so Cokeboy sits around going well fukk nobody is over enough to face Reigns, let's call up Brock. But the reason they have to keep going back to Brock to sell tickets is all self inflicted bc they don't book anyone to stand out at that level.

The only regular roster guy who has any shot right now is CAWdy bc he was lucky enough to get injured before they could eventually have him in a 50/50 feud w/ someone like Sheamus.

Literally the best way to boost your stock in WWE is to be booked like teflon like Reigns, or be off TV frequently enough that they can't book you to always lose.

“I can go out there and do the job every night and still be just as over” - The Bad Guy

 

[all3rd]

The most bored I have been with the WWE these past two months since 95.

 

[Saysumthinfunnymike]

“I can go out there and do the job every night and still be just as over” - The Bad Guy

That was after he already became a star Lol. He wouldn't have been a star if he was out there losing all the time. He could afford the upset loss to Waltman because he won a ton of matches. First year or so after he came over from WCW he was main eventing shows with Hitman. They put a lot of time into his character as well. He had new vignettes all the time.

Guess some of yall don't realize all the effort that went into these stars initially.

 

[Wolfpac]

Nah, it's arguably the worst booked WWE roster ever.

 

[KFBF]

Ricochet sucks.

 

[Peter Parker]

That was after he already became a star Lol. He wouldn't have been a star if he was out there losing all the time. He could afford the upset loss to Waltman because he won a ton of matches. First year or so after he came over from WCW he was main eventing shows with Hitman. They put a lot of time into his character as well. He had new vignettes all the time.

Guess some of yall don't realize all the effort that went into these stars initially.

Aside from the guys Vince hates and ends up burying who didn’t debut with a bunch of wins and vignettes?

 

[Silkk]

Aside from the guys Vince hates and ends up burying who didn’t debut with a bunch of wins and vignettes?

Kross debuted without his valet & took an L as NXT champ then started wearing that dumbass mask

Keith Lee debuted in a skirt and had to shave his mustache off

 

[Peter Parker]

Kross debuted without his valet & took an L as NXT champ then started wearing that dumbass mask

Keith Lee debuted in a skirt and had to shave his mustache off

Both got fired directly after that, I said guys that Vince doesn’t hate and wouldn’t have pushed anyways

 

[Silkk]

Both got fired directly after that, I said guys that Vince doesn’t hate and wouldn’t have pushed anyways

Ok…Name the guys we know for sure Vince doesn’t hate…


Roman
Cena
Brock
Theory

The End