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 Stacy Keibler, a WWE bimbo...we mean...Diva. (Photo by Greg Henkenhaf - Toronto Sun) |
Yesterday, Bradshaw's latest column was posted on the WWE's official Web site and in it he joined a host of other WWE superstars who have in frustration lashed out at the Internet. In particularly, he ripped into anyone who dared to disparage Triple H's reign as WWE Champion. Instead of addressing the real issue at hand - which is why people are turning off a stagnant WWE product - Bradshaw attempted to turn the tables on Triple H's detractors by essentially saying they were just jealous of his success.
"Here is a guy who has worked his ass off to be in this position, and I dare say, a lot of people that are negative are that way because they themselves are mad because they don't have that kind of discipline, so they have to make excuses for other people's success and blame it on other factors. A lot of people believe they haven't succeeded because something or someone is against them, when most of the time it is just because they are lazy and unmotivated?," Bradshaw wrote.
Huh? Seems to me that Bradshaw has inhaled too much of that cigar smoke and had one too many beers at an APA poker game before composing his column. Bradshaw's logic makes no sense. Instead of presenting facts he has fallen back on personal attacks to distract the readers from the true problem. He is just trying to cloud the issue by brushing off the criticism as petty resentfulness. That is not the cast at all.
The truth of the matter is this: People do respect what Triple H has meant to the WWE. Yes, when Austin and The Rock were out of the picture he successfully carried the company forward. He deserves all the credit in the world for stepping up to the plate and knocking that sucker out of the park. That was then though. This is now. People are tired of his persona and not interested in the angles built around him. They are just plain boring. That much is evident. It is the same thing broadcast after broadcast after broadcast. The sledgehammer comes into play. Ric Flair interferes in matches. Triple H's pals lay a beat down on someone. Yawn. Yawn. Yawn. Yep. It is triple boredom on Raw.
Nobody is waiting in anticipation for that inevitable HHH and Nash match, besides Nash and Triple H themselves. It is not what fans want to see but nobody at the WWE is listening. This is the main reason the WWE is in the position they are in now. They are totally out of touch with the fans and they know it otherwise they wouldn't be frantically handing out questionnaires hoping that in them is a business model that will turn things around. The mistake with that approach is that they are questioning the wrong people. The people they should be communicating with are those who gave up and moved on to something else on Monday and Thursday nights. If they actually gave those people the time of day, they would find that this is not the time to be forcing angles down people's throats until they learn to like them. It is the time to rebuild the ratings and the popularity by giving the fans exactly what they want to see and also something different than they might expect.
SLAM! Wrestling contributor Brian Fritz hit the proverbial nail on the head with his comments in our Countdown to BackLash. The reason for the present unpopularity of the WWE product is that the company refuses to "freshen up" gimmicks or put forth anything innovative. For example, you can guarantee that when Scotty Too Hotty returns to the ring he will look and act exactly the same as you've seen him before. What's the draw in that? What kind of interest level will that create? None whatsoever.
Instead of griping and moaning about all the negative comments fans and the media are deservedly dishing their way, the WWE should open their ears, listen for change and take some positive steps to reinvigorating their product. They should take their cue from such talent as The Undertaker and Mick Foley who understood that to stay current and engaging, you have to be open to change. Presenting a roster of moldy, decrepit, personas who are past their due date and have worn their welcome with fans years ago doesn't entice fans into investing time in what the WWE has to offer. Neither do angles like the brand extention which has made the problem worse by limiting the WWE's options and handcuffing their creativity.
If the WWE desires to shake things up, the task is an easy one. Let me prove it. Here is a few ideas right off the top of my head...totally free of charge.
Have Booker T join up with Teddy Long. Team him with that Dawg dude to create the new Harlem Heat. While we are at it, throw Christian into the Teddy Long stable mix as the guy who is trying hard to fit in. That should be good for some cheap laughs.
Bring in a female, Goth-like manager to take control of Kane. Alter Kane's persona into something new. Something really dark and really dangerous. Have him turn on Rob Van Dam and mount a challenge to Triple H as this new character. Let this Goth manager release another one of her men onto Rob Van Dam to rub him out. Keep this guy in the shadows. Reveal it to be Sabu who will set out on a series of insane-o matches against RVD like they did in the good old ECW days.
There needs to be some rivalry between Raw and Smackdown! Team Bischoff with Flair and Stephanie with Piper as warring camps trying to cripple the competition. Get The Hurricane to mock Matt Hardy on Raw week after week. Have Matt Hardy show up on Raw and challenge Hurricane. Let the warring factions send their wrestlers to the opposing show to shake things up or cause havoc with the production and its superstars.
Schedule a draft or time when the two shows can "trade" wrestlers.
Over time, change the personas of Test, Goldust, A-Train, Bill DeMott, Rikishi, Nathan Jones and others who are just plain dusty. That or get rid of them entirely.
Just like TNA did and the WWE should've done ages ago, form a Team Extreme with former members of ECW. Could Mick Foley be coaxed back as their manager?
For old time's sake, have Vince McMahon bring back some of Hogan's greatest foes (Ultimate Warrior, Macho Man, etc.) and give each of them their final chance to try and destroy him. Have Vince seek the advice of Bobby Heenan in such an endeavour. Maybe set up one of those Tower of Doom type deals where Hogan has to battle through them all one by one. What the hell. It is worth trying again.
Resurrect WCW's War Games idea.
Have Ric Flair finally turn on Triple H and set up a new Four Horsemen to challenge Triple H and a reformed DX or the Evolution team that was being played out.
Involve the Internet and have the fans vote on the participants of a tournament or a match.
Those are some of mine. What about you? Send in your thoughts and ideas by clicking here. They could be included in the next Mat Matters editorial.
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