I hope everyone had a peaceful and relaxing and chaotic and blurry summer (delete as appropriate). I was going to come on here and blog about last night's Summerslam to get things going again. I have a point to make about Chris Jericho apparently legit making fist contact with Mrs. HBK (although most likely accidental), but it can wait for another few days. It doesn't look like it's a problem that will be quickly brought to light and solved anyway.
Instead, through slightly gritted teeth, I want to post an old blog that I didn't post on here for one reason or another, and (domestic violence references aside) try to paint a more positive picture of the structure of WWE. This was written on the 7th of July (the first week of shows after the draft) when I had some free time, and when held against the current situation of the company, makes for fairly positive reading. Especially after last night, when Punk went over clean against JBL. Check it out...
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I’m fully aware that in the world of pro-wrestling journalism (both professional, amateur and…ahem…very amateur) statements made one week can be rendered completely redundant and almost comical the next. Now, I’m also fully aware that opening a blog with a disclaimer is hardly the best way of engaging an audience, but I’m about to say something that I haven’t said in a very long time. Here goes…
I loved every moment of Raw and Smackdown this week.
This is a tentative time to be a WWE fan. The draft, and the way the title situation has been handled since has played absolutely perfectly into the hands of both of the shows. Even the internet experts had Night of Champions booked to be a tie-up-loose-ends pay per view. Most said Matt Hardy would drop his U.S. title and go on to pursue the ECW strap (he STILL has it after retaining in a fatal four way on Smackdown!), they said John Cena would most likely win the WWE title back from trips to keep it on Raw and that Edge would enter into a lengthy feud with the Game and the Undertaker for his Heavyweight title. Heck, I even said it myself. What we were given on night of champions was the blueprint to a re-vamped and fresh WWE. It was not the best of PPV’s by any means, but the two main events (asides from the finish of Edge and Batista’s match) were wrestling gems. Triple H and Cena told a simple and gripping story and had the crowd drawn straight in. Have you ever noticed that there’s something about a main event involving Cena and a top face? The split in the crowd is reminiscent of the old ECW arena. Fans get emotionally involved in the matches, and that is exactly what the company needs in these post-kayfabe days. But I digress…
It’s not only what I’ve mentioned already that is resulting in a product I’d almost be happy to spend money on. There is something else, something which I consider myself a world authority in harping on about. It’s probably another statement which deserves its own paragraph. Are you ready for this one?
Vince McMahon is pushing smaller athletes.
Kofi Kingston is put over by Chris Jericho for the Intercontinental title at N.O.C., the crowd pops hard. CM Punk cashes in his briefcase with a tasty big GTS on Edge for the World Heavyweight Championship, crowd loses its mind. I’m so glad that the younger, and smaller guys have a chance to prove just how desired they are in the main event spots. The bottom line is this. Fans want superstars, and heroes that they can relate to. Wrestlers who could be any average Joe, who look like fans themselves. Why on this earth do you think Jeff Hardy has remained a firm fan favourite over some 10 years, pushed or buried, heel or face, high or rehabbing? Because he is one of us! It is beyond me what Vince hasn’t noticed this many years ago. It’s not like him to miss out on a big payday. My only concern for this current trend is that it’s a stopgap measure. Was CM Punk the ‘pull the wool over the fans’ eyes’ option for getting a title onto Raw again, or are the company investing time in him? Y2J only won the IC title because Jeff was on his way out on his second suspension. Is giving it to
Like I said, redundant statements and tentative long term restructure. Only time will tell if the WWE has decided to make some legitimate changes, or if it is all just temporary cement to help prop up draft week.
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