Posted in: Mr. Tito
MR. TITO STRIKES BACK - WWE Needs to Stop Relying on the Attitude Era to Save Them
By Mr. Tito
Oct 13, 2014 - 11:59:55 PM

Follow Mr. Tito on Twitter.com: @titowrestling

Welcome back to the Excellence in Column Writing known as MR. TITO STRIKES BACK exclusively here at LordsofPain.net / WrestlingHeadlines.com. The Internet Wrestling Community is already formulating Wrestlemania 31 possibilities thanks to the recent and excellent Smackdown backstage segment between the Rock and Triple H. Rumor has it that this segment was to plant the early seeds of what may truly headline Wrestlemania 31.

I'm actually FINE with that match. Why? Because I didn't like what happened at Wrestlemania 28 when John Cena, full time wrestler and top WWE superstar, lost to the Rock who didn't wrestle for the WWE since 2004. You would think that 8 years would not only create ring rust, but also cause you to struggle against WWE's top wrestler. But we're in 2014 and psychology has long been flushed down the toilet. Sure, John Cena "got his win back" at Wrestlemania 29, but the WWE kicked many younger fans in the balls by letting an oldtimer defeat their favorite superstar. With Rock vs. Triple H, it's great because they are kept away from the rest of the active full-time roster. Ditto for Sting vs. Undertaker, which might happen as well. Psychology is way off when older, part-time wrestlers can walk into the WWE ring and defeat current active wrestlers.

But where I have a problem with Triple H vs. Rock is the continued reliance by the WWE on the Attitude Era to "save them". Instead of developing and creating new superstars, the WWE has a very expensive model of paying millions to the Rock, Brock Lesnar, and Batista to come back while Hulk Hogan is NOT cheap either. Rumors of a Steve Austin comeback for Wrestlemania as well? Yeah, that won't be cheap...

What happens AFTER Wrestlemania 31 when all of those part-time superstars go back to their mansions? Oh yeah, there's another 11 Pay Per Views to sell and convince everyone to spend $9.99 per month of their hard earned money. Now, WWE will shove ads down their throats because the United States subscriptions are well under expectations and has yet to break even on revenues versus cost. Sure, you might get a WWE Network bump around Wrestlemania, but what happens when the 6 month term ends? What about RAW which is stuck around 4 million viewers? What does having Rock, Undertaker, Austin, Sting, Triple H, Brock Lesnar, and maybe Batista do for the WWE long-term?

Because the WWE has been unable to create new Superstars since the 2002 Developmental System call-ups (or the Ohio Valley Wrestling "Class of 2002"), they must rely on the short-term fix. Again, bringing in Rock, Batista, Brock Lesnar, and maybe Steve Austin doesn't come cheap... Worse yet, the WWE is too reliant on John Cena and Randy Orton to carry the ball with Orton being a weak draw (contrary to the 12 World Titles that the WWE has given him in 10 years). What would happen if both Cena and Orton retired tomorrow? The bench for the next top superstar is rather weak... WWE is full of wrestlers that they've overpushed or developed poorly.

If the WWE Corporation was legit and not just an easy way for the McMahons (strong majority owners) to raise capital, the WWE Board of Directors would called in former EVP of Talent John Laurinaitis, current EVP of Talent, Creative, and Live Events Triple H, and former EVP of Creative Stephanie McMahon and legitimately evaluated their job performances. They could look at the many poorly developed talents and question by the 2002 developmental system talents (John Cena, Randy Orton, Brock Lesnar, and Batista) are so relied on to carry the company. Jim Ross was the former VP of Talent through 2004 and he replenished the talent roster with his eye for adequate talent and developing them properly. WWE was so lucky to have him that it's embarrassing that they fired him last year. Jim Ross was the true "Architech of the Attitude Era" and obtained the WWE talent that not only saved the company (Rock, Austin, Foley), but sustained its success (Batista, Lesnar, Cena, Orton). Even through 2014.

But where Laurinaitis, HHH, and Stephanie own the problems of the current era are for the many failed pushes they've tried, particularly for the World Titles. Here we go again... Jack Swagger, Miz, Sheamus, and Alberto Del Rio. I'd argue that the WWE pushed the likes of Daniel Bryan and CM Punk too early with their Money in the Bank victories (Punk twice), but when both wrestlers became naturally over (Punk in 2011, Bryan in 2013), WWE Creative did everything in their power to sabotage their momentum. For Punk in 2011, the WWE pushed Alberto Del Rio over him. For Bryan in 2013, the WWE went back to old reliable Randy Orton to own him and Orton has Survivor Series 2013's BOMB of a buyrate to show for it. Sin Cara debacle... Screwing around with Ryback's character... And more recently, the overpushing and then pulling back of Bray Wyatt and now the desire to make Roman Reigns the #1 company guy.

We could go on and on... Since 2004 when Jim Ross left his post as VP of Talent, things have clearly gone downhill aside from his developed talent, John Cena, carrying the company on his back.

And so here we are... Because of the last decade of talent blunders, the WWE becomes very reliant on the Attitude Era to "save them".

Not just Wrestlemania, but the WWE Network and video games as well. The WWE is selling the Attitude Era as main focus points of both products in hopes that 30+ individuals will not only come back for nostalgia, but that younger fans will finally experience one of the greatest eras in WWE history. That's right... Even though everything besides Wrestlemania and a few SummerSlams show no bump in numbers from featuring Attitude Era stars, we'll keep pushing them!

Let's just discuss an 18 year old WWE ran right now. They were born in 1996, just as World Championship Wrestling (WCW) became the #1 company with their hot "New World Order" angle. WWE gets lucky that Steve Austin caught fire with his "Stone Cold" gimmick and then by 1997, WWE changes their booking to have more adult themed storylines. By 1998, they overtake WCW as the #1 company again and by 2001, WCW goes out of business to give the WWE the official victory in the "Monday Night Wars". By 2001, though, our 18 year old fan now just turned 5 years old. They are probably too busy figuring out the world and watching kid shows to become full blown wrestling fans yet. By the time 2003 rolls around when Austin and Rock last fought at Wrestlemania 19, our 18 year old fan now is 7 years old. Moving forward from this age, they are growing up with John Cena as the top star. Cena got hot in 2004 and was crowned WWE Champion in 2005. That's their wrestling hero.

Thus, when the WWE booked the Rock to defeat John Cena at Wrestlemania 28, it was a major disappointment to that wrestling fan born in 1996. John Cena was their favorite growing up and the Rock is a movie star to them. How is the freakin' Tooth Fairy beating their favorite active roster wrestler? To this fan born in 1996 (now 18 years old), the Attitude Era means jack and squat to them.

I feel their pain... To me, pro wrestling before 1988 is DULL to me. I cannot get into those old NWA events even with the Four Horsemen and Dusty Rhodes in their primes. I really struggle to watch all of those old 1980's Starrcades or Great American Bash events. Then, you have the WWE, especially the pre-Hulkamania stuff. I appreciate the draw of Andre "the Giant", but it's torture to watch some of his 1970's matches. And don't get me started on Bruno Sammartino. I had oldtimers telling me how great he was and I have yet to see one of his matches that interests me. And then Bob Backlund that followed him... As goofy as Hulk Hogan was, I'll take his stuff any day over pre-1984 WWE. But it's all a matter of what you grew up on. Just as fans born in 1996 consider John Cena, Randy Orton, and probably even Triple H (who was there for much of the 2000's as a wrestler) to be great, I consider many wrestlers whom I saw after 1988 (when I started as a fan) to be great like Ric Flair, Ricky Steamboat, Hulk Hogan, Randy Savage, and later, much of the wrestlers of the Attitude Era like Austin, Foley, Rock, etc.

However - I'm SICK of the Attitude Era myself, just as younger fans are also sick of hearing how "great" it was. How would they know? They were infants to young children when the Attitude Era grew the pro wrestling business. I, myself, enjoy the pro wrestling business and am always wishing for it to evolve in better ways. Much of my columns are very critical of WWE Creative and Developmental because I personally believe that WWE has weak managers and lack of innovators in both departments of the WWE Corporation. I write because I clearly see the flaws that plague the current WWE product, such as bad writing and incorrectly pushed wrestlers, and want the current product to impress me. I would BUY WWE Network myself if the current WWE product was stronger.

I'm actually BORED with seeing older events. Does nothing for me... Why would I want to relive the Monday Night Wars when I enjoyed them more than 15 years ago? And there's something about watching something unexpected versus something you've seen before. I already know what the New World Order will do next or what the next twist in the Austin vs. McMahon feud will be. I've watch all of those Pay Per Views before. What is rewatching 3 hour events over the last 30 years going to do for me NOW as a wrestling fan? The real deal of the WWE Network would be if ALL TWELVE Pay Per Views were good and not just Royal Rumble, Wrestlemania, and SummerSlam. My demand to have the WWE Network would be higher if the quality of all 12 events was there for my TIME and MONEY to be spent once a month for 3 hours of a precious Sunday evening. Sundays are my days off, so thus, the WWE has to earn my time/money to watch additional WWE content.

Most of all, the older wrestlers are proving to be obsolete. The Rock had a fun return promo before Wrestlemania 27 but once he was in a regular feud with John Cena and then had to wrestle, the Rock's age caught up with him. John Cena and CM Punk tried twice each but neither guy could get a good match out of the Rock. Undertaker looked very old at this past Wrestlemania although about anybody looks inferior against Brock Lesnar. Taker's body, however, broke up like glass in his matches against Triple H. Batista looked awful and out of shape upon his return. Sting did OK in TNA wrestling, but his age was clearly showing in both physique and being unable to wrestle beyond his formula. Steve Austin hasn't wrestled since 2003. But do you remember the non-wrestling role Austin had during 2003? The "Sheriff". His relationship with the WWE and fans has been murky ever since, although his excellent podcast (which WWE now advertises) might build his wrestling career back-up.

What I want to see is the CURRENT ROSTER growing and developing their own era. WWE seems to have a good crop of wrestlers with Seth Rollins, Dean Ambrose, Bray Wyatt, Cesaro, and Luke Harper, with other wrestlers like Rusev and Roman Reigns having promise but have been overhyped by the WWE Creative Team. In my opinion, Rusev vs. John Cena at Wrestlemania 31 will be a disaster if it happens. Calling it now... Wrong guy for that match. But even if I personally have issues with the Rusev and Reigns pushes, at least it's something new. While I don't believe that Roman Reigns could ever intimidate Brock Lesnar, at least the WWE is willing to use Lesnar to make him a star. It's using an older asset to transition to the new, and maybe that's the case for Rusev maybe defeating Cena at Wrestlemania 31.

I still maintain that the WWE screwed up their booking before and after Wrestlemania 30. WWE had real potential in a strong babyface push of Daniel Bryan and they could had him team up with John Cena to form a new "Mega Powers" like team. While I enjoyed the Shield vs. Evolution, WWE had real money in Daniel Bryan/John Cena vs. the Authority (Orton, Batista, HHH). Instead, John Cena was in a confusing feud with Bray Wyatt and Daniel Bryan got feuding against Kane. In the end, Bryan and Cena could ride the momentum as a babyface team and draw packed houses as a team... And then JOHN CENA TURNS. Now, the WWE has a heel John Cena that could eventually put over the next babyface wrestler (maybe it's Roman Reigns?). Instead, the WWE now has to hope that fans believe that Roman Reigns can look credible in defeating the true World's Dangerous Man in Brock Lesnar. I just don't see it... Former UFC Heavyweight Champion, yo!

The important thing is evolution... John Cena AND Brock Lesnar won't be there forever, and all it takes is one injury to take them out for good (unfortunately). I'm begging for new stuff and I'm very curious to see how well the NXT experiment can somehow start to influence the WWE main shows. I'll buy WWE Network if better booking and talent development happens with the WWE. I'm excited for what I'm seeing with Dean Ambrose and Seth Rollins lately, but I'm ashamed as a wrestling fan when I see Cesaro getting trashed in the booking.

What I specifically don't want to see are wrestlers I enjoyed 15 years ago trying to act like Father Time hasn't visited them. Secondly, I want to enjoy NEW stuff. I want to see what today's wrestlers can bring to the table. Just have Sting vs. Triple H vs. Undertaker vs. Rock vs. Steve Austin in a 5 way match at Wrestlemania 31 and be done with it. Keep them away from the active roster unless one of those older guys are willing to put current roster wrestlers over.

Booking 12 Pay Per Views AND 3 hour weekly RAW programs is easier than you think... All WWE has to do is take the Intercontinental Title, US Title, and Tag Team Titles seriously. They have improved over the past year on their belts, but the WWE has to do more to separate the roster for those titles. Now, the attitude is that "everyone is going for the WWE Title", which is why you don't see defined contenders for the US/Intercontinental Titles or why uniform tag team wrestling isn't taken seriously. There should be clearly defined contenders for both midcard singles titles AND they should NEVER interact with any Main Event wrestlers, ever. No matches, no segments, etc. PUT UP THE WALL! Furthermore, I would merge the United States and Intercontinental Titles and create a Television Title instead as the 3rd singles title. The TV Title MUST be defended on ALL televised shows and creates a "sense of urgency" for that title weekly.

I still say there is more improvements to be done with the Divas Title. Paige and AJ are good, but they need actual talented performers (NOT Total Divas) to help build the division further. Let Emma be a serious wrestler to be added to the mix... But I also insist that there is real potential for the return of the Cruiserweight Division. Vince McMahon holds the Sin Cara failure against Triple H while also hating on WCW's idea that worked in the past. There are MANY smaller and very talented wrestlers out there to use and build up that division. Hell, let Daniel Bryan be in that division. If you're going to insult us about his size when he's WWE Champion, why not just let us enjoy him in a Cruiserweight division? I just want to see him wrestle great matches... Properly handled midcard titles help make shows more well rounded and helps develop your talent on-air to become main eventers later. Hey, the formula worked well before 1999 when Vince Russo started watering down the Intercontinental Title with many title switches.

It's time to hammer nails in the Attitude Era. I gave up praising it a while ago (hence, discontinuing the On This Day in Pro Wrestling History and FINAL COUNTDOWN) and am hungry for something new. I'm disappointed in TNA Wrestling for their product while Ring of Honor is hit or miss for me. I really with that there was an easy way to watch New Japan Pro Wrestling. If SpikeTV wanted a strong wrestling product, they'd give New Japan the prime time slot that TNA will eventually lose and hire Jim Ross and another wrestling veteran (CM Punk?) to provide America commentary. I'd eat that up with a spoon... I'm thirsty for new stuff and wish WWE could be more consistent with its RAW shows and Pay Per Views.

I'm ready to move on as a wrestling fan... Is the WWE ready to move on from the Attitude Era or are they willing to spend millions per year trying to relive it?

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Some Monday Night RAW thoughts, though not a full blown review. I've been casually watching it as I wrote the above rant.

- I loosely followed the whole scenarios at Hell in a Cell between John Cena, Randy Orton, Seth Rollins, and Dean Ambrose, but I don't care... The fact that Rollins and Ambrose can appear credible enough to appear in Pay Per View matches with Orton/Cena is fine by me. I really like the tension played up between both the babyfaces and the heels, as well.

- More "WE WANT SANDOW" chants during a Miz match. But yet, the WWE will put on the ear muffs and not listen to a thing. The Miz must have many friends on the Creative Team or is related to the McMahons or else these many pushes wouldn't exist. Damien Sandow actually put on a decent match against John Cena last year and his reward has been mockery. At least with this stunt double gimmick, Sandow is actually embracing the role and selling it well. Much better than the rest of the goofy gimmicks granted to him this year.

- Who knew that Atlanta fans were actually passionate about their baseball team? They actually gave Lana/Rusev heat for the Braves bashing and then the Big Show vs. Rusev match adequate heat. Hmmm, it actually worked well this week. I actually thought Rusev vs. Show was pretty good and Big Show had the courage to try a top rope elbow! I would have let Big Show tap instead of having the cheap DQ ending with Mark Henry, however. There is no shame in losing a match especially when you're locked in a submission hold. It could have been a big moment for Rusev and in the right spot when the fans gave heat to the match.

- I really like the vignettes for the Wyatt Family splitting up... Nice way to build up Harper and Rowan.

- I still have no problem with the Susan G Komen stuff... Again, we have a 3 hour show and the WWE is dedicating some time to create awareness about Breast Cancer. As I said last week, if it saves a few lives by the funding raised, I'm OK with this. But again, this is a 3 hour show... There's enough room for some shameless plugs here and there, which the WWE already does for other stuff.

- The Total Divas 6 person tag match defined why Vince McMahon has his "No Divas Title to anyone on Total Divas" policy.

- And the Intercontinental Champion jobs again in a non-title match... Yes, that deserves a "FINGER OF SHAME". Just keep the Intercontinental Champion and the contenders for that title away from the Main Eventers. Separate worlds... That's how it worked in the past. But good match between Randy Orton and Dolph Ziggler, none the less.

Alright... I'm going to post my column now. There's some Smash Bros 3DS to play and dominate! Whooooooo!

SO JUST CHILL... 'TIL THE NEXT EPISODE!

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