Five-Star Conversation: 07.21.09: Splitting The Brands Feedback

Posted by Geoff Eubanks on 07.21.2009

Brand split feedback...now with purdy pictures!

DID YOU KNOW?: Because of the bawdy reputation of Acting General Manager Seth Green, Raw aired on a three-second delay on Monday. Wisely, the production crew was forced early to snap into action when Green went into business for himself and added himself to the main event, saying, "Triple H…John Cena…and ME! What, it's fake, right?"

First and foremost, I need to apologize to the readers of 411, specifically, of 5SC, for my absence last week. There was simply some minor miscommunication between Upper Staff and me with regard to the importance (read: mandatory use) of including pictures/video in our columns now (it has always been highly encouraged, though not mandatory). I posted my column then went on a computer-free vacation last week, not realizing this column had been rejected for lack of such accouterments. So here we go, pics and video and snarkiness, oh my! I think this is just Larry's way of trying to turn me into the Perez Hilton of the wrestling set. Hurray. I'm counting the days till I get punched out by Lashley. And, NO, I will not be tinting my hair pink.

I just wanna toot my own horn here for a quick moment. I know, many's been the time you've sat and read this column, thinking, man, he sure reads like a stud, but I wonder what he sounds like…?! Well, friend, ponder no longer. Go to http://www.scion.com/HD and click on the button on the top right-hand corner to hear my newest voice-over! It's an on-line tutorial for their new GPS/sound system thingie. And, yes, I am getting paid for this one! Tooting complete.

There was a great deal of discussion last week following my musing over whether WWE would benefit, as suggested by reader thegunisgood, from doing away with the brand split, and, as such, the comments deserve response. Bear in mind, though, I, myself, wasn't sold on the idea as I suggested it last week, and still was not having finished writing the article. This tells me that WWE is slowly but surely getting on track as being the world's only franchise at its level, because, five or so years ago, I'd've written a very different column, demanding an end to the split. I've mellowed on that hardline stance quite a bit, because I'm seeing a lot more working currently that was not in the past.

With regard to ending the brand split though, there was an outpouring, first and foremost, of the following responses:

Question to people who want to end the brand split :

Do YOU want to have HHH, John Cena or Dave Batista as THE ONLY WWE WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION EACH YEAR?

NO ?

Then stop talking about ending the brand split RIGHT NOW.
Posted By: Brand Split >>> HHH/Cena/Tista

Word. It's bad enough having to see that piece of SHIT HHH on the Raw Recaps they run.
Posted By: Guest#2308

I agree. Let's end the split. That way HHH can not only main event every PPV but also headline every show!
Posted By: HHH Rulz

People are complaining about the brand split? I refuse to watch John Cena 4 nights a week. I just can't do it.
Posted By: Guest#4462

I definitely see your point, gentlemen, and I agree with you. However, in my mind, I thought, perhaps foolishly so, that different stories would follow a sensible arc, that the talent involved in such arcs would appear only when it made sense to do so. Let me clarify. Because they are the top names (notice I didn't say draws) on Raw, Triple H, Randy Orton, John Cena, etc. are written in to the story to be featured in a prominent manner. The same is true on Fridays with Jeff Hardy, CM Punk, Edge, etc. That's just good business, whether we like it or not.

However, it was my intention that different stories be showcased at different times on different shows, based upon the arc it follows, not for the writers to be responsible for having to come up with something for Tri or Edge to do on the next show just because there's another show to be written and they need to be a part of it, simply because they're top draws for that brand and need to be featured.

I recall watching "Days Of Our Lives" with my mom growing up (which was actually great training for growing into watching wrestling and looking at it from a clinical point-of-view for myriad reasons, BTW) and one of the things I learned in terms of producing serial television, is that not all cast members, even those around whom the major stories revolve, are on each show, each day. There, for example, would be maybe three of the five days setting up one major story, work to a crescendo, and then jump to a different story the next day to further that plot, while the viewer is left hanging on the story that had been developing all week, with both working toward even bigger cliffhangers for Friday's broadcast, thus leaving the viewers just dangling by a thread the entire weekend, thus ensuring that they tune in on Monday for some kind of resolution.

I don't see why a unified roster couldn't work along those lines, as well. Let's say we have a story involving CM Punk and Jeff Hardy coming off a PPV involving the WT being up for grabs as a result of a screwy finish the night before. The main story on Raw would be the status of the belt and who is the true champion, while we have the other main story, surrounding Triple H and LEGACY, say, as an undercurrent story that night. As the show goes off the air on Monday, Hardy, who has been somehow named/earned the right to be called World Champion, has been found attacked and bloodied in the parking lot by an unknown assailant. We get to Friday night and the Orton/HHH story takes precedence over the WT picture because we have some cooling off on that story as a result of Hardy's infirmary, which will be picked up the following week on Raw. And, of course, we allow for all the other stories to occur as they happen, too. I don't think that's as solid an example as I'd like to use, but hopefully the general meaning carries through.

Elsewhere in this scheme, to the end of overexposed top-of-the-card talent, it was also my intention, should the brand split be nixed outright, to cycle off some of the performers, especially those at main event level. With so little room at the top, but with so much expected of a performer at that level (to say nothing of the fact that, as we've mentioned here in the past, some of such talent is getting up near, is at or has exceeded the age of 40), it makes sense to make allowances for all main-eventers to earn a little time off to rest, recoup and revitalize. It would help to keep the top of the card fresh and invigorated and, moreover, healthy.

A pertinent example to this would be, when Edge was commenting that he was hurting following a rough match just before he tore his Achilles' heel, he'd have been allowed some time to chill and recuperate. I'm certainly not going to point any fingers or anything, but might Edge's unfortunate and lengthy injury/recovery time be the result of missing a step due to being banged up and not at his full capacity, at least in terms of concentration? We've seen the careers of Shawn Michaels and The Undertaker lengthened by just such a scheme, it seems to me that the same could be extended to others who have worked their entire lives to obtain the spot they currently enjoy, while still allowing for the top of the card to be vibrant and fresh.

While there could be a case for ending the brand split, the biggest counter-argument is that every show would be the Cena/Orton/HHH show, instead of every other show. This would pretty much kill upward mobility in the company, and wrestlers like Punk, Jericho and Jeff Hardy would never get past the midcard, except on a temporary basis.

One thing I would like to see is getting the Divas back on one brand. There are far too many of them, very few have any distinctive personality, and even fewer can actually wrestle. Let's shrink down the complement to about 10 or so, have them all on Raw, and get rid of the worst of the bunch.
Posted By: Michael L

Here again is where the notion of cycling main event talent out of the mix periodically would help to keep the young'uns (at least by comparison) still up at the top and in the mix, plus allow for some upper-mid-card talent to flirt with established main-eventers, such as John Morrison, Jack Swagger and MVP, just as Steve Austin was allowed to do with The Undertaker and Bret Hart before he fully ascended to rule The WWF a little over a decade ago. I'm not saying this is a perfect plan, BTW, and again, I'm not sold on going this route; rather, I'm just playing devil's advocate in terms of "What if…?" because the option was suggested and I ran with the option.

As for the unification of the Divas, I'd not be opposed to that at all, Michael…the question is, who would we keep? In terms of competition, my top ten to keep would be Jillian Hall, Mickie James, Kelly Kelly, Gail Kim, Maryse, Beth Phoenix, Katie Lea Burchill, Natalya, Michelle McCool and Melina. However, and I've said this till I'm surprised it just doesn't come out of my keyboard automatically, there's a ridiculous lack of valet/manager talent on the current WWE scene and I think virtually any of the Divas could excel at being a cornerperson for some young up-&-coming performers, so those ladies who haven't quite managed to master grappling could be used in a managerial capacity, thus giving ladies such as Alicia Fox, Rosa Mendes (these two, actually, I'd like to continue to watch develop as in-ring performers), THE BELLA TWINS, Layla, Maria and Eve Torres a different role where they can still be lovely but not stink up the ring. Any other ideas…?

So it would just be exactly the way it is right now?

I do like your idea about the divas, along with Geoff's plan for tag teams.

I don't remember the WWE having this problem during the Attitude Era. They were able to have an awesome main event, a great midcard and low-card, plus tag teams and divas. Plus, they were able to do all of these things at the SAME time and on BOTH RAW and Smackdown. What the heck happen?

While the brand split was fun at first, I think it has outlived its usefulness, with one exception. I think ECW should be kept the way it is with promising newcomers along with veterans who need some freshening up. Then you can bring them up with into the main roster when ready.

But there is no reason not to combine the RAW and SD rosters. During the Attitude Era, both shows were mandatory viewing because performers and feuds carried over to both shows. Now you can safely just pick your favorite show and skip the other. That has to be costing the WWE some money.

Both shows should be about wrestling, exciting performers, and great stories. Why should one show be about one thing while the other show be about another?

Vince just need to pick the best writers from Raw and SD and have them work together on both shows.

As for the wrestlers that would be out in the cold in a combined roster? Chances are they aren't be wisely used now (looking at you Paul Burchill) and can safely be eliminated. Sad but true.
Posted By: JLAJRC

You see, JLAJRC, that's one thing that amuses me when younger folks are confronted with the notion of ending the split, they FREAK, because they've largely come onto the scene within this decade, when all they know is a fractured WWE. They don't realize that Vince McMahon made WWE what it is today with a unified roster and two different touring groups (which is why I've never seen Hogan live; growing up, Bakersfield always got the "B" group that hit the smaller markets, and Hogan was on the "A" group that toured mainly the larger areas…that, predictably, is just fine by me).

As for the difference between The Attitude Era WWF and the current WWE, that is, in and of itself, a topic all its own. Let me mull that over. If I come up with anything, we'll discuss it next week, but it's a hell of a point.

Also great points are that ECW has really hit the ball out of the park with respect to fulfilling its purpose as the "televised graduate course", and (especially) that fans can make expendable a show they dislike, considering the difference in personality existing now between Raw & SmackDown! (which could also be a possible means of describing why Friday's numbers are down…could it be that WWE fans really do prefer Uncle Vince's Circus of Sports Entertainment Extravaganza over a solid wrestling show…?).

So, JLAJRC, you expressed the interest in trimming some proverbial fat (and even named Paul Burchill); to who else would you like to give the ol' heave-ho?

Great column this week - main reason I inspired it (well, not really but I have a huge ego)!

I just hated the split because of reasons I have beat to death and will beat some more under my own banner soon enough. However, that is just me.

Geoff, you read me well as you should after roughly 10 years of us bantering. I believe that that if you run a company, you shouldn't intentionally limit yourself by imaginary position criteria. If the brand split was dissolved, then you see each structure level (main eventers, midcard, women's, tag, comedy, jobbers) sort itself out more definitely.

I don't want to dissolve the brands because I have a certain favorite wrestler that I want to see triumph over all of the others. I want to see entertaining programming with that hint peeked interest I don't have with the current E product and I really haven't had it in a sustained case in a long time. I am really enjoying TNA at the moment because they can and will work with an upper crust in a smart crafty way to keep my interest. I don't always agree with the booking decision outcomes but I want to watch next week to see what will happen next.

What happens next is the key to wrestling lifespan, if no one cares about what happens next, you really have the death of WCW or Global or the AWA (Jake "The Milkman" Milliman's home).

Geoff, you outlined the tag team situation spot on. I agree, the belts aren't unified until there is only one set of belts. More workers could benefit from tagging than working meaningless single's matches. Sure they might be meaningless tag team matches to but there is something about a team being recognized instead of a single being recognized, even when they are stuck on the spin cycle. For instance, The Bushwackers, even though they never realistically challenged for any title are remembered quite well. Butch William's single's career, not so much. Replace The Wackers with High Energy or The Killer Bees or The Fantastics or even TWGTT post Angle and you have about the same type of results.

I hadn't given a lot of thought to the Diva's/women of the fed under my plan. I have an admission though, McCool might be the best female worker I have seen because her moves are fluid and not set into motion mechanically. As a result, it looks like all of the other women hate working with her because they appear to be getting stiffed in the ring. Frankly, there are only a couple of women who could keep up with her and that isn't enough for me to justify a division of them. I like them being the icing on the cake though, be it valets or managers. A plus is if they could be believable as someone who could interfere, ala Martel.

Geoff - I like the idea with the Bella Twins - A LOT!

Solid column-Anxious to see what others think!
Posted By: thegunisgood

Well, gun, was the response all you'd hoped it would be and more?

Quite frankly, gun, it strikes me that just looking at a single, complete roster listing and some planning and consideration should give one a really solid view of the possibilities inherent in the talent under the WWE umbrella. Hell, that's all I did when I was researching last week's article. Stick everyone's name on a list, then re-appropriate everyone into their respective place in Vince's caste system then see what's left over at the bottom and find ways to use them. I've no idea how Vince works, but it seems to me that if he'd do this exercise more often, he wouldn't one day discover that David Hart Smith has been languishing in the developmental farm league for months and months and throw a shit fit to get him elevated upon such discovery.

I learned it from you, old pal, that not everyone on a given roster is going to be your star or be a huge draw, but everyone can and should serve a purpose (and, no, employing them so Dixie can't have them isn't a good enough purpose!). As I said last week, it is down at the bottom of the card, the "fringe" talent, from where the tag team division could be borne. Even if only to get over and elevate one of the two involved (which really isn't a bad strategy, either, because a team is likely to produce singles careers much more along the lines of Michaels and Jannetty as opposed to Edge & Christian), then pair up a hopeful star with a confirmed JTTS and let em go! Really, doesn't that sound a hell of a lot more viable than bringing up some generic, fresh-faced kid named Dick Weedicus who might actually have some mic skills, but never gets passed the stick, and, despite a charismatic demeanor and dynamic move set, just gets to job to Kane for two minutes, only to be wished the best in his future endeavors because he "failed to connect"…?

Do you really, though, favor TNA over WWE, at least in terms of storytelling? I need to get my shit together and get back into watching it, because once the whole MEM/FRONTLINE story spun out of control (in my own eyes, at least), I lost interest as, yet again, as I've said before, TNA Brass has turned the entire main event scene into the Senior's Tour, while the kids are all playing hardcore pattycake in the undercard, and, true, although they keep one guessing, it's generally because of Russo's ADD-influenced "commitment" to logical storytelling. (Incidentally, is it just me or is Kurt Angle looking more and more like "Honey, I shrunk The Big Show"?)

Agreed completely where the ladies are concerned, gun. We've always pretty much been of the same mind on the topic of women…in wrestling, anyway! And it does my heart good to see someone else who sees in McCool that which I do. I really think she's got a hell of an edge over the vast majority of the other female workers in WWE, and she should especially shine now that SD! has become a wasteland of talented, ringwise Divas, save for Natalya and, to a lesser degree, Melina (not that Melina can't work, but she's not in the same league as McCool or Natalya). And, yes, we are, again, in complete accordance in wanting to see a Diva manager/valet who has the chops to get involved physically, just as Sherri Martel did so well in her day. It's been this role to which I've been dying to see Melina return in a heel capacity because she's just so good at it, and, now, with her own in-ring career under her belt, her ringside physicality would be taken all the more seriously.




But what do we know, right?

So you say "under your own banner"…have you finally scored your own column?!

Got to say, I think you are way off base on Eve Torres. She may not be able to wrestle for shit, but she is smokin hot, not sure where the Skeletor name calling is coming from.

We've went back and forth on the brand split, and have agreed to disagree in the past. I think the opportunities afforded to more talent makes the brand split worth it, no matter how much WWE shoots themselves in the foot with it by constantly mixing the brands. I absolutely hate it when they mix the brands without rhyme or reason.

How Vince doesn't see the potential in keeping the brands separate is beyond me. I'd compare it to PPV. Wrestling fans know that a PPV is supposed to be where the big payoff is. As wrestling fans, for the most part, we have been conditioned to believe that the best matches are on PPV, the rivalries end at PPV's. We've been conditioned to believe that. Of course now that isn't always the case, but for the most part it rings true.

To get to my point quicker, why would I choose to tune into Smackdown on a Friday night, if I have something better to do, when I know I won't miss anything by not watching it? They constantly recap raw on Smackdown!, and vice versa. Add to this the fact that I know I will see CM Punk, and Jeff Hardy on Raw at least once every two weeks, and suddenly Smackdown! loses some of it's potential appeal.

While I never commit to any ratings talk, because I don't get that stuff and would be talking out of turn if I tried, I've nothing to say about that. However, I agree with Todd, because WWE finally seems to be hammering down a committed business model (even if it did require a tweak by "Donald Trump", although, for those in the know, it served as perhaps more of a graduation for some) and that fans will find themselves perhaps preferring one style of show over another, but embracing them both completely.

We all witnessed the absolute stupidity of Eric Bischoff having put perhaps one of the biggest money matches in modern pro wrestling history, Goldberg versus Hulk Hogan, on free TV. I don't care what anyone says, that single move proved to me that all of the posturing surrounding Bischoff's "genius" was just that, posturing. Yes, we've been conditioned to believe that the big matches occur on PPV, because that's where they should happen! That's where promoters make the bulk of their cash and the buy rate, by and large, is how they gauge the popularity of their talent. Granted (and this goes back to what I said earlier about writing effectively for a serial drama), important, high profile matches do need to go down on TV at times, but these are pivotal matches, action that turns the proverbial page in the story to get us to PPV and the "big money match". There's a difference and such difference really should be observed and acted upon appropriately.

I support 100% Toddo's final paragraph. It seems to me that there's really no good, goddam reason why McMahonagement should find the need to mess with the segregated brands. It seems as if a rash of injuries leaves them with the need to borrow from one brand to help out another (even though there's someone else on the same roster who could very well use the opportunity to step up, but is passed over in favor of taking the easy route), or to bust some fan-popping reunion, say of THE HARDYS or THE BROTHERS OF DESTRUCTION…and for no real good reason. It just seems that, after only so long, Vince has to have his cake and eat it too. I do have some faith this time around, though. With the exception of Edge showing up on Raw to demand a divorce of My MooMooCita, there has yet to be any inter-brand fraternization. Let's hope it sticks!



Totally agree that the only way we'll see a real tag division is through brand unification (SD and Raw, not ECW). I'd go one further with your plan and reintroduce the US Tag Title and Six Man Tag Title. At the same time, the WWE unifies the two world titles and the IC/US titles. Maybe they create a TV title to be defended only on Superstars.

That gives you more than enough props to futz with in regard to feuds. Orton drops the title, then takes Legacy to Six-Man Gold. Then, HHH reunites the remainder of Evolution to take Randy's new gold. This also allows creative to try new guys in high profile programs.

More tag teams are never a bad thing.
Posted By: Iron Knee

I love the idea of a TV Title, Knee, and, if we unite the world and mid-card titles, such that we have only one of each for Raw & SD!, then I can actually see each of those two brands having its own TVT, as a means, mainly, to spotlight new/up-&-coming talent, although established acts could certainly hold the belt, too, as a way to advance a story with a young'un. (This, of course, would necessitate the return of a lost art in and of itself, the time limit! What a dramatic storytelling tool we've allowed to fall by the wayside!)

As for bringing in six-man tag belts at this point, especially when WWE's tag scene is so anemic, I have to disagree. We're looking to reduce the amount of gold in the company here, not create more, especially when the decision to bring in six-man belts would seem like a good idea in terms of helping LEGACY, but, beyond that, we'd just be looking for ways to make the presence of the titles seem important and vital, and that's booking from the wrong way around.

However, I agree with you that more tag teams is not a bad thing at all!

As a previous poster said, the brand split does give more talent the chance to rise up the ranks. Without it every show would be dominated by Cena/Orton/HHH with a little help from Undertaker. If you add Shawn Michaels and Big Show to that as well, how much time will Edge, Jericho, the Hardys, Punk or anyone else get to make an impact. People like MVP, Morrison, Swagger, Christian, Bourne and Ziggler wouldn't get on a lot of the shows.

As for you ideas for Tag Teams, I really like the idea of Truth and Zeke. I think the charismatic and flashy Truth would gel well with the tough and imposing Zeke.

As a Brit myself, I'm all for a TNA style British stable. My idea would be to have William Regal manage a stable (say "Rule Britannia" as their name) which includes Paul Burchill, Sheamus O'Shaunessy and Drew McIntyre (you could also include Steve Lewington). Have them terrorise ECW and taking a cue from the Hart Foundation, make them heels in the US and faces in the UK. It would be pure gold!
Posted By: Pure West

Is it wrong for me to want to disagree with the first paragraph? I'm sorry, but it seems to me that there have been enough vacations for part-timers, injuries, suspensions, plus, fan outpouring for at least Punk and Jeff, such that they'd get a shot at being elevated with or without a brand extension. Now, we're seeing McMahonagement getting to a point to where it has little choice but to start elevating young talent, what with the old guard starting to really get up there in age. And when you look at John Morrison, MVP, Jack Swagger and Dolph Ziggler, it goes to show exactly how easy it can be to push a new, young, vibrant talent when they get their minds around actually doing it and staying committed to it (I mean, really, do think Ziggler is chaffing from all that rub he got last Friday?!).

I'm pleased you liked my take on Zeke & Truth. I think it might be a little more interesting, fun and functional than whatever they've got Killings doing now with those awful fake teeth running around like a rejected third season Chappelle skit.

Also, I LOVELOVELOVE the notion of calling the UK stable RULE BRITANNIA! Maybe we could get Hyacinth Bucket to sing them to the ring…?



And, yes, okay, Regal can manage, as long as he can still get in the ring and mix it up, to show the nippers how it's done!

Geoff, I'm digging the idea of having Chavo and Ortiz put together and it was a nice touch to have Chavo as a mentor. I really don't care about the brand split one way or another. I will admit that it is nice to see different types of shows. RAW is the "entertainment" show, SD is the "wrestling" show, and ECW is the "future" show. One final question: Who are some people you want to see be the "guest" GM on RAW? After he leaves TNA, I'd love to see Sting.
Posted By: The Great Capt. Smooth

You know, Schmoove, my initial intention in having paired them together was the Latino connection, Guerrero and Ortiz. However, upon further reflection, it dawned on me that they could do a less over-the-top-than-Kerwyn White-kind of gimmick based upon Ortiz' motivational speaker character and sort of combine them into one wacky, albeit dangerous once the bell rings, amalgamation of the two gimmicks and have one another off of whom to play. I think that could be the key to Ortiz gaining that which he's missing now is just someone to play to, and who better than Chavo?

As far as who I'd like to see guest GM in the future…I don't really know. I've never been a fan of Sting's, so I could definitely take him or leave in this role (although I've come to respect the man a great deal for the way he apparently carries himself backstage). How about Michael Phelps? He comes out smoking a bowl and brings in RVD, yes, FOR A ONE-NIGHT APPEARANCE, to trash some of these dickweeds who need a good, solid kick to the teeth, then he gives Brian Kendrick a WWET shot for having smoked him out before the show.



I like the Noble-Yang team, but with one adjustment. Noble needs to go back to his Jamie-san persona from WCW.

Asian trying to be a Redneck + Redneck trying to be Asian = comedy.
Posted By: guest

See, it's just this kind of thing that is so simple and so silly, but that would totally get over and work, not in a HUGE way, but in a total BUSHWHACKERS kind of way. They'd come out, pop the crowd, fans would laugh and enjoy their awesome ring work, but they'd never win, and exist solely to put smiles on faces and another team over. There's absolutely nothing wrong with that and it's a damn site more than they're doing now. THIS is what I'm talking about!

I have a way to save the brand split, actually make it a BRAND SPLIT. In Kayfabe anyway, what you could do is have Vince make "territories" again, turn Smackdown into WCW, that way we'll have WWE, ECW, and WCW, (World Heavyweight Title becomes WCW title.) to start off you have Vince re-hire both Heyman to run ECW (as owner not representative) and Eric Bischoff to run WCW as owner as well. Have a 3 way dance at WrestleMania between the WWE champion ECW Champion and WCW Champion to become the WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION with it's own history. Unify TAG TEAM, and Woman's/Diva's and the IC/US title.

Now you have 1 World Champ the way it should be, and you have "regional" champs the way it used to be (Each champ is default #1 contender and they can have their own feuds for their titles.) There would be 1 Woman's Champ, Tag Champ, and Mid-card title to share between the "companies" so that way "creative" can finally find something to do with the other titles.

This is another thing that is crucial to make this work, each brand has their own PPVs and TV shows Raw is TV 14 for the more mature since it's on cable, ECW is TV-MA move it up to 11 PM time slot for the hardcore fans who loved the old ECW (which this will be the old ECW backed by Vince's money) and have WCW's show, be TV-PG since it's on network TV, and aim it at the kids, hey it's WCW after all.

PPVs
January - Royal Rumble - Tri brand (just have it be ROYAL RUMBLE no branding)

February - No Way Out - WWE PPV

March - Guilty as Charged - ECW

April - WRESTLEMANIA - TRI-Brand (night of champions)

May - Spring Stampede - WCW

June - King of the Ring - WWE

July - Great American Bash - WCW

August - SummerSlam - Tri-Brand

September - Armageddon - WWE

October - Barely Legal - ECW

November - Survivor Series Tri-Brand

December - Starrcade - WCW

PPV's are spaced out far enough to make storylines possible (Royal Rumble same format 3 Championship matches and Royal Rumble, Survivor Series traditional matches Teams made from brands so it's face ECW vs. Heel ECW teams and so on) the World Heavyweight Champ defends on every PPV as the Main Event Make that title mean something.

I think that this would help Vince make Wrestling fun again and create some form of competition and rating wouldn't matter because they are all aimed at a different audience.

he would still have Raw to run WCW would be on that "second rate network" and ECW would still be tv developmental but have some meaning behind it.

Let me know what you think if this gets published in the comment section
Posted By: Eric D

Eric D
If Vince didn't do this in 2001/2002 what's the point of doing it now.
WCW is nothing but a bad memory to many people
Posted By: nanoman

Yes but if the Rise and Fall of WCW DVD does well we might get a revival of WCW the same way that we got a revival of ECW granted ECW still was awesome towards the end where WCW was a run away truck just waiting to explode. I'm sure there are still tons of WCW fans out there. They would probably watch it plus it's Friday night show aimed at the preteens and tweens. It doesn't have to be WCW but for the sake of my argument I used WCW so that it would make the idea of the new "territories" work better then having Raw Champ, ECW Champ, and Smackdown Champ under the full WWE umbrella, plus if done correctly there could be no mention of WWE on Friday or Tuesday, and the Thursday show can be called WRESTLING SUPERSTARS instead of WWE superstars, and keep the whole "only place to see all 3 brands at one time" If anyone else has any suggestions, or input I'd love to hear it, because maybe someone from TNA or WWE read the comment sections, and if we give them enough good ideas they might just use them…who knows stranger things have happened...
Posted By: EricD

This was my favorite post/exchange of the week. I really think Eric is on to something here, for the most part. I agree with him that ECW is better best left alone, as it, as we've discussed and I think unanimously agreed, has finally found a valuable little niche for itself, as well as his direction for the titles (one World champ, one Diva's champ, one set of tag champs), although, as I've said earlier, I'd be on board for adding at least one TVT, either one TV champ to share among the "territories" or one for each Raw & SD!.

One thing I can really possibly see occurring is the resurrection of WCW to replace SD!. Bear with me (and I was actually going to talk this week about this subject independently of this submission, so the fact that someone else is on my wavelength either makes me feel quite good or makes me concerned for poor Eric.

Look, Vince eventually saw to it to resurrect ECW from the ashes because fans proved to him that they weren't willing to see the franchise die (never mind the fact that Vince fully believes that it was he who trained the fans to chant "ECW!" at WWE events…that's Vince's own particular brand of crazy popping up to say hello). It took some finagling and some time, but we're finally seeing the WWE-driven ECW brand serve a specific and successful purpose.

So why not turn SD! into a neo-WCW? Granted, WCW is ultimately regarded as a failed brand, but that's in business terms. Fans have proven to have a place in their heart for good ol' Dubbuh-See-Dubbyuh and I think the retirement of Ric Flair helped to really tug at fans' hearts in that respect. We either recall the great (and not-so-great) moments with a tear in our eye or a chuckle in the chest and realize that, for as bad as it got toward the end, this was still, by and large, a great organization that bore a ton of talent. Why relegate it to history?

Raw is already the WWE baby. It will always be the flagship, synonymous with WWE and everything for which it stands. SD! is and always has been the "B" show, whether anyone in Titan Towers will admit as much or not. We've seen a striking effort made since The Draft to establish a distinct personality to differentiating the two main brands, with Raw's definitely displaying that of the WWE sports entertainment approach to the product, hell, we even have Jim Ross announcing on Fridays. So why not turn SD! into WCW? It would certainly help to keep the titles straight…we'd have the WWE, WCW and ECW World Titles and Tag Belts, plus each brand would have it's IC & US Titles as midcard belts, just as was the case back in the day (yes, the midcard belts would have to be swapped back, but that's done easily enough). As Eric said, "WCW" is already on that network, so it's already the bastard step-child of WWE, so really, why not?





Granted, though, I, for what it's worth, don't agree wholeheartedly with Eric's proposal in totality. I think re-hiring Bischoff and Heyman to re-create their roles as franchise figureheads, except without all the power they had back in the day, trading that in for a paycheck and the opportunity to be neo-Jack Tunney seems to be going out on an unnecessary limb. Also, it seems to me that going so far as to mess around with each individual brand's TV rating is a bit much, too. WWE wouldn't do that, at least not now. The key to thinking in terms of WWE is to keep it simple and consistent and I think that rocks the boat too much for now, at least.



Plus, although I can agree with the PPV plan to a point, but it's just not practical for now. I think Eric has a clear business model and it just might mirror Vince's long-term plans, only Eric is content to make vast, sweeping changes all at once, whereas Vince appears to want to do it a step at a time, as if easing into a very hot bathtub.

I know there's always been the failed brand stigma surrounding the WCW name, but it strikes me that Vince could be testing the waters of acceptance among fans with WCW the same as he did with ECW back in the beginning. I'd really value thoughtful feedback on this concept!

We have a saying in education (I know, Angry Bear the Educator is a damn scary thought) that some kids are going to be CEO's, some are going to be plumbers (raising future sonsth of plumbersth, if you weeel), and some are going to work fast food. Like you guys said, that's how it is in wrestling. Not everyone is going to be that future main eventer, but many can be valuable members of the undercard that fans can rally for or against. That's where a TV Title (perfect focus point for Superstars) or other secondary titles come in handy. They could be defended only on the regular shows and save the world and other major title matches for PPV.

I like your idea for the tag teams. However, I'd make Festus and Knox a tag team and let Jesse do something else. Is it too soon for a new Blue Blazer?

Also, is it a bad thing that I watched all of Raw Monday night until Triple H and Cena hit the ring, then changed the channel to Dude, Where's My Car? Is it a bad thing that I would rather see Mark Henry in the Main Event instead of those other two. I'm done with the Orton/HHH/Cena triangle. I can live with Orton as champ but the other two need to move on to other things. I'd like them to keep pushing Miz vs Cena until Miz earns his respect and Cena puts him over (at least verbally) with the fans.

I'd also like to see a Diva with a female Ric Flair gimmick. They all seem so personality-less.

Gotta run, still up in NC for one more day.

Take care.
Posted By: Angry Bear

Yes, the notion that you, sir, are shaping the minds of tomorrow does kinda make my knees knock together. Thank God I'll never have kids!

Also, YES, it is always going to be too soon for a new Blue Blazer. I think that gimmick needs to be and stay gone.

Festus & Knox, huh? Likes em big, do ya, Bear?

With respect to secondary titles and such, it seems to me that the IC & US Titles should revert back to their former identities, serving as a signpost for the upper-mid-card talent who has reached the pinnacle of his niche and is ready to ascend on to the main event, not just as a "Thanks for playing" token. The TVTs would then come in to play for your Zigglers and such, performers upon whom McMahonagement has its collective eye and wants to elevate, the TVT being their first opportunity with a belt, just to break them in and set them apart in the eyes of the fan.

And, no, I don't blame you at all for your feelings of malaise once the Raw main event took the stage. I've been there myself. I find myself to be quite entertained by the undercard on Mondays and end up checking the clock when the established guard takes over to bring us still another installment of "Seen It All Before Theatre". You're not alone, man.

BTW, I had dinner a few years ago with director Gregg Araki, who happily admitted that his favorite movie of that year was "Dude, Where's My Car?" because it was so unabashedly homoerotic. I saw it. I saw his point. But really, Seann William Scott? He was kind of a self-absorbed, homophobic dick when I interviewed him. Nothing to see there for me. Moving along…

That's all for this week! Thanks for reading…RESPECK!