Will WWE ever get the edge back?

TheCandystripes

No not Adam Copeland hahahahahahahah, but that feeling that makes Raw,Smackdown or 'ECW' worth watching?

The storylines are key, I'd be happy enough with a return to 2006(Cena Edge feud, ECW returning) period.

GSPfan

The only edge in WWE right now is Randy Orton. Too many face characters.

davrho

Not to sure what you mean but dont think so.

What was shocking and surprising 10 years ago is now nothing. Internet has destroyed that.

No competition does not help either.

Can I ask what was the edge you are asking of?

Diabhal Beag

If WWE stays on this PG style they have no chance of ever getting any edge. By bringing down the age bracket they have limited their possible explicit storylines. They have shot themselves in the foot. There has been no big increase in viewers with the Raw hosts so it is a waste of money. So many negatives about a company I really used to love and my interest is decreasing with every PPV they do.

TNA is suddenly looking better if they can get a consistent TV show that doesn't make your attention disappear with them pushing so many persona's in such a time limit.

This business is in a real **** state ATM

Rjd2

GSPfan wrote: »

The only edge in WWE right now is Randy Orton. Too many face characters.

Punk, Orton, Jericho not enough for you?
I admit the E this year has irritated me sometimes, but we still do get some great stuff, for example Rey v Jericho, Punk v Jeff, Edge v Jeff were all very good feuds this year.

GSPfan

Rjd2 wrote: »

Punk, Orton, Jericho not enough for you?
I admit the E this year has irritated me sometimes, but we still do get some great stuff, for example Rey v Jericho, Punk v Jeff, Edge v Jeff were all very good feuds this year.

Punk and Jericho? Two guys who use "I'm better than you fans caused I'm educated" as their gimmick to beat down the audience. Thats not what I define as characters with edge. Granted they are Heel characters so I'm but hardly in the Orton league.

John Cena as a heel would excite me just cause he's "as Face" as a wrestler can ever be and would have a great reason to turn on the fans after all the stick he gets. (and rightly) There should be more stables of fighters. The Batista Heel turn that was hinted at bragging rights is promising but they've done this kinda thing in the past and what looks like a heel turn is merely forgotten about next month.

The whole Triple H situation annoys the hell out of me. The best heel character other than Orton is now a walking t-shirt salesman. LLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLets get ready to Suck it? What? Are you serious!

I watched TNA the other day and the level of wrestling ability compared to WWE is on another level. They had this 6 or 8 way match with an x hanging over the ring with guys called Amazing Red, Daniels, Suicide, Homocide, and some other guys I never heard of and it was amazing to watch. There was a few holy **** moments!

I'm over critical of WWE because I want it to be better but there's no sign of it happening for me. Anyway, cant sleep so off to watch Raw......... maybe that'll help

rossie1977

Diabhal Beag wrote: »

If WWE stays on this PG style they have no chance of ever getting any edge.

wwf had no good storylines during the 80s.........

wcw had no edge or good storylines in 1996 when they were pg, i cannot remember one decent storyline wcw put out that year ..........:eek:

rossie1977

GSPfan wrote: »

I watched TNA the other day and the level of wrestling ability compared to WWE is on another level. They had this 6 or 8 way match with an x hanging over the ring with guys called Amazing Red, Daniels, Suicide, Homocide, and some other guys I never heard of and it was amazing to watch. There was a few holy **** moments!

i watch tna all the time, have been to their 2 live shows in ireland, been to orlando impact zone, but this statement made me lol, you cannot be serious, tnas wrestling ability on another level?? no chance, seriously go watch undertaker vs michaels, morrison vs mysterio, jericho vs mysterio, cena vs edge, one thing you cannot complain about wwe these days is the quality of wrestling or the quality of ppvs because its as good today as its ever been, i cannot remember a period in wwe history where wwe have had as many ****+ matches as the last 15 months; the problem is not the wrestling, its the storylines that are either completely lacking or rubbish

Cactus Col

I don't believe that the PG-ification of WWE is what's keeping it from getting it's edge back. If it keeps the beastiality innuendo to a minimum I'm all for it. For me it is just too scripted. The wrestlers need a bit more freedom to improvise their promos and angles.

krudler

I watched TNA the other day and the level of wrestling ability compared to WWE is on another level. They had this 6 or 8 way match with an x hanging over the ring with guys called Amazing Red, Daniels, Suicide, Homocide, and some other guys I never heard of and it was amazing to watch. There was a few holy **** moments!

Its really not though, not that TNA doesnt put on some amazing matches, it does, but all those 6 way X division, something on a pole matches are just spot after spot after spot, fine if you like that but theres zero reason for the match to take plac most of the time and no psychology or story running through the match itself, wrestling isnt just about who can jump off the highest ladder or legdrop someone from 15 feet in the air

Right now WWE is going through a transitional period, like it did in the early 90s after Hogan left, Bret was on top, Shawn was on the way and the rest of the roster was either saddled with crappy gimmicks or childish storylines, right now Cena is about as over as you can get but the older crowd are beyond sick of him, Orton is a great heel, ditto Edge, Punk and Jericho, but theres a big gap between the established main eventers and the guys who will be in the main event scene in a few years, Morrisson is on the right track, MVP could be huge if they give him something interesting to do, Kennedy was meant to be the next big thing but that didnt work out, Jeff is gone, Edge is injured, Taker, Shawn, maybe Batista are all on the way to retirement, once Linda McMahon loses the republican vote they may not see the pg thing as such a bit priority but right now we're stuck with it

flahavaj

Caught a few live ones there GSPfan, good work.

Best part was the "TNA multi-man match" part "with the big X overhead." Made me genuinely LOL, but no for the reason you intended.

flahavaj

Also "Homocide" was great.

GSPfan

Ha, God forbid you criticise WWE these days.

I understand what all you mean by TNA not having the build up and psychology and all the rest. I did say wrestling ability tho......
I'm not a wrestling fanatic (anymore) so I'm speaking from a passing fans perspective. I bow to your collective knowledge.

Posting an opinion on here reminds why I shouldn't.

GSPfan

More lingerie matches would be good also. Forgot to say that.

michael.etc...

GSPfan wrote: »

I'm not a wrestling fanatic (anymore) so I'm speaking from a passing fans perspective. I bow to your collective knowledge.

Posting an opinion on here reminds why I shouldn't.

So what.. you expect only those who agree with you to pass comment on your posts?

The simple answer as to whether or not the WWE will ever get "the edge" back, for me- is, of course they will. But only when, and IF, they begin to place fresh characters in the right roles.

Undertaker and Big Show have been working one another for literally, ten years, and they're expected to draw in a PPV buying audience?

I have no desire to see any combination of Orton/HHH/Cena ever again, and I suspect alot of fans are of the same mind-set. They need to take chances more often, and commit to following through with pushes for younger guys. It's all been said before though...

GSPfan

michael.etc... wrote: »

So what.. you expect only those who agree with you to pass comment on your posts?

YES. :rolleyes:

Take a chill pill, I'm only messin around.

briany

How can the WWE ever get it's edge back? I don't think it can. Look at it this way, the caught onto something good in the late 90s with the attitude angle and that was largely from ECWs lead. That was just a phase like any other though and I don't know if they're ever gonna capture the casual 18-35 market like that since they're all gone with MMA, y'know, real fighting? I say fair play to Vince, he's realised that he cannot compete in the older bracket so he's targeting the younger fans with the PG stuff while also attracting a small segment of older fans with orton and the divas. It's seems to work as a business strategy, the company is staying afloat in tough economic times so who are we to knock it? Would there really be any money in pleasing the internet "Smarks"?

JohnMc1

I apologize for hijacking but did anyone else get this survey that WWE just sent out? Its to guage reaction from Bragging Rights. Here's a copy of some of the questions.

We're interested in finding out why you didn't watch Bragging Rights. Please select how much you agree or disagree with the following statements.
.
Strongly Agree Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly Disagree
A pay-per-view featuring Raw vs. SmackDown matches does not interest me.
I preferred to watch Bragging Rights clips on YouTube.
I'm generally less interested in WWE.
I didn't know the date or time of the event.
I was unsatisfied with previous WWE pay-per-view purchases.
I preferred to read Bragging Rights results online.
The announced matches did not interest me.
I opted to watch other non-WWE pay-per-views in October.
I thought the match outcomes would be too predictable.
I was not interested in the main event participants.
I was satisfied learning about Bragging Rights results on TV.
The matches were similar to previous pay-per-view events.
Everything I need to see is available on WWE's weekly TV shows.
WWE's TV programs were not focused enough on Bragging Rights.
I tried to order Bragging Rights, but couldn't due to technical problems.
Due to the economy, I've limited my spending on WWE pay-per-view.
I was not available to watch the event.
Storylines leading into Bragging Rights did not interest me.

tdv

Well its basically just for the kids now. Which I'm fine about if thats what they think is best for business. I certainley havent really had any intrest in the WWE since about 05/06. My brother is 11 years old I catch the odd bit here & there when he's watching it. But how any self respecting adult could follow any storylines in todays WWE is beyond me.

I know alot of people are glad since the attitude era died out because of all the more brutal match types & the promos being more entertaining than the actual matches. But the WWE was never just about great wrestling ability it was about the show & circus atmosphere. It was like a soap opera.

Put it this way...

Hogan Era - Is like watching Faulty Towers
Attitude Era - Is like watching the Sopranos
PG Era - Is like watching the Power Rangers

davrho

tdv wrote: »

. But how any self respecting adult could follow any storylines in todays WWE is beyond me.

That was quite a popular opinion 10 years ago too:).

Wrestlers wearing mini hats and singing to their boss. Coffins been stole at funerals with wreslters chasing the herse. Yes your right. WWE was great for the self respesting adult 10 years ago.

Fair play to you for being the big man about town now.

Snakeblood

tdv wrote: »

Well its basically just for the kids now. Which I'm fine about if thats what they think is best for business. I certainley havent really had any intrest in the WWE since about 05/06. My brother is 11 years old I catch the odd bit here & there when he's watching it. But how any self respecting adult could follow any storylines in todays WWE is beyond me.

I know alot of people are glad since the attitude era died out because of all the more brutal match types & the promos being more entertaining than the actual matches. But the WWE was never just about great wrestling ability it was about the show & circus atmosphere. It was like a soap opera.

Put it this way...

Hogan Era - Is like watching Faulty Towers
Attitude Era - Is like watching the Sopranos
PG Era - Is like watching the Power Rangers

ME CHOPPY CHOPPY YOU PEE PEE
If that made it into the Sopranos, I'd stop watching the Sopranos.

briany

Snakeblood wrote: »

ME CHOPPY CHOPPY YOU PEE PEE
If that made it into the Sopranos, I'd stop watching the Sopranos.

Holy crap! Here I was thinking I'd missed that episode but then I searched my memory banks.....kaientai wasn't it??

Vince135792003

briany wrote: »

..kaientai wasn't it??

Indeed.

flahavaj

Pfft, 80's Mid-South and Memphis were the Sopranos of pro wrestling.

The Attitude Era was Beavis and Butthead or the Simpsons.:)

flahavaj

Also if there was any money in appeasing the smarks as briany asks, ROH would be the biggest company in the world.

But theres not and they aren't,sadly: instead they still average 600-800 on a very good night.

Bottom line, smarks make up a tiny niche of the overall wrestling fanbase, and while Vince will throw them a bone every now and again to keep them watching, like making Benoit or Guerrero champion, or release a decent DVD set, he knows the real money is flogging merch to a younger audience.

tdv

davrho wrote: »

That was quite a popular opinion 10 years ago too:).

Wrestlers wearing mini hats and singing to their boss. Coffins been stole at funerals with wreslters chasing the herse. Yes your right. WWE was great for the self respesting adult 10 years ago.

Fair play to you for being the big man about town now.

I didnt actually say it was appropriate for adults to watch it back then either.

Well I think most shows had a 15 or 18 rating back then not a PG rating, with alot more adult orientated storylines. I was around 13 or 14 during the Attitude era anyway so...But it would have been alot more acceceptable for adults to watch it back than in my opinion.

Who wore the mini hat and sang to there boss? I rember Foley putting a sock on his hand & singing to his boss alright.

tdv

Snakeblood wrote: »

ME CHOPPY CHOPPY YOU PEE PEE
If that made it into the Sopranos, I'd stop watching the Sopranos.

Hmmmm maybe South Park would have been a better comparisment alright.

Red Sleeping Beauty

I fancied talking about this PG stuff and this is a recent thread hence the post

Diabhal Beag wrote: »

If WWE stays on this PG style they have no chance of ever getting any edge. By bringing down the age bracket they have limited their possible explicit storylines. They have shot themselves in the foot. There has been no big increase in viewers with the Raw hosts so it is a waste of money. So many negatives about a company I really used to love and my interest is decreasing with every PPV they do.

TNA is suddenly looking better if they can get a consistent TV show that doesn't make your attention disappear with them pushing so many persona's in such a time limit.

This business is in a real **** state ATM

No I think you're wrong there because the TV-PG progamming and no blood policy today is (in a strange way) kinda how the WWF was from around 92-97. edit: actually even during the 80s there wasn't much colour. Hogan bladed once or twice but not much else I don't think. Today there isn't as many ridiculous characters like Doink or Tl Hopper or Rad RAdford, Man Mountain Rock, Mantaur etc. etc. but the audience is of the same kind of age bracket in that they're basically marketing to kids.

What made the attitude era what it was was the competition from WCW and also, the kids who grew up watching the PG stuff were turning into teenagers and that was just a perfect time then for tits and ass and blood and beer and racey language and every other envelope they pushed.

Jim Cornette says the business has been "hotshotted" for the last 15 years. WWE no longer has the sex, drugs, (bloody) violence or profanity.

http://www.jimcornette.com/Ask_JC.html

Q.---Why do you believe Ring of Honor is, as you've said, the "wrestling of the future"?

A.---In the old territory days, when business was drastically down, even in danger of folding up, you would "hotshot" the territory. You would give them as much blood, violence, heat, angles and edgy content as you could get away with, until the fans either came back or the territory closed down. If they came back, the art was to pull the hotshotting back soon enough and get them hooked on the wrestling again, before it got to where you "couldn't follow it", and you closed up anyway. The base of it all was still two guys are gonna fight, who's gonna win? With the corporate world involved, the ratings wars, WWF vs. WCW, WWE vs. TNA, etc., wrestling has been hotshotted for 15 years straight, and it's finally gotten to where we can't follow it. So many angles and so many bumps, with special effects and outrageous stunts and preposterous stories and hardcore matches with buckets of blood.

The rise of UFC in particular and MMA in general has shown that people have a desire to strip away the hokey bull**** and get back down to the base of it--two guys are gonna fight, who's gonna win? Whether it's "real" or not is about number 5 on the list of reasons the UFC is kicking wrestling's ass. People want to see two guys, charismatic, colorful, and athletic, engage in an exciting contest with flashy moves or hard strikes ending with one guy winning, sometimes in a controversial fashion and often necessitating a rematch. That describes both MMA and pro wrestling. They will pay to see that when properly promoted. They will watch sports entertainment on TV for free, but it's getting harder and harder to get people to get attached enough to "sports entertainment", presented outright as scripted entertainment and generally comedic in nature, to buy it on PPV or at the arenas.

ROH is, in my opinion, the wrestling of the future because it's the only promotion now concentrating on the product, letting the wrestlers wrestle and letting the fans decide who gets over. The stars are young, athletic, dedicated and hungry. They may be green in some cases, but time solves that. They bust their asses, both in trying to get over and in trying to get their matches over. They have no special effects budget, so instead their special effects are great matches, and who wins and loses is presented as important, so the fans actually CARE. The promotion is a perfect fit for both HDNet's and MMA's audiences which are predominently males under 45. I believe as their TV exposure increases, and more fans are exposed to this style, ROH will grow. I am hoping that my experience in helping develop personalities and logical, long-term booking will help them maximize their potential. I had hoped to bring that perspective to TNA, but that is not the direction they want to go. ROH is much more interested in expanding on that more serious, athletic style.

I think Jim's on the money there with what he says about the UFC. WWF fans gave up on it years ago as UFC rose in popularity and UFC's got that "what's going to happen next/anything can happen" kinda live feel to it. It's exciting, unlike WWE were you get Orton/Cena for 6months which might have been fine int he territory days but when it's PPVs packed so closely together and weekly TV shows it doesn't hold attention as well. And also, the title changes in WWE is a bit of a joke, or rather the frequency. Maybe they're trying to mimic UFC's frequent title changes but they're worlds apart.

It was weird, I was in town earlier and saw a little kid (about 7-9) with a WWE magazine. I was thinking I remember that age and what WWF was like then but also I of course remember the good shi and the chances of him understanding what it was like watching WWF from 97-2002 are slim.



When did WWE turn PG anyway? Was it after the Benoit thing?
How many blade-jobs have there been in the last two or three years ? (I don't keep up to date so ain't as clued in).


Austin sang a song to McMahon btw, then smashed it over his head and he may have been wearing a mini hat. I think Al Snow wore a sombrero once and Steve Blackman wore a big "cheese hat".