Browsing lordsofpain.net today, I saw a headline regarding the WWE and how it wants to rebrand itself. One major change is simply going by the name of WWE, to take wrestling out of the company's name. In addition, they want to expand their offerings beyond their in-ring product. Reading comments, a lot of people are viewing this change negatively, but was this announcement really a surprise? They stopped calling their performers "wrestlers" a long time ago, have movies they created ("Knucklehead" and "The Chaperon"), and Vince McMahon even tried the XFL a decade ago.
My thoughts on this change are mixed, with my biggest fear being that the WWE will begin straying from the in-ring product that it always has been known for. As a viewer of WWE since 1985, this prospect is distressing to me. What is also distressing is the fact that WWE became as huge as it did for its wrestling, and it almost feels like a slap in the face to fans who've helped make the company what it is today by going to live shows, purchasing merchandise, etc.
Another thing I personally didn't understand is why are they making this move now. As mentioned in my opening paragraph, they've been dipping their fingers in other entertainment avenues for awhile now. Back in 2001, when WWE had their restaurant in NYC, and the XFL, the company was in the tail end of their mega-successful "attitude era". Back then, it was okay to say you watched professional wrestling. In 2011, it's not as hip. Try to think if you saw anyone recently wearing a piece of WWE merchandise (and not a kid in a John Cena shirt). Chances are, you probably haven't. The WWE is going through a time now where their product just isn't going over with fans, and they are having difficulty with bringing new fans into the fold. This was reflected in last Sunday's Wrestlemania XXVII, where they had to bring in The Rock and "Stone Cold" Steve Austin. There are possible reasons for this, but now is not the post for it. What it comes down to is the WWE realizes their in-ring product now caters to a niche market (as it did before the attitude era), and their current entertainment offerings don't expand outside of this market.
In the end, Vince McMahon and the WWE want to disassociate with wrestling as much as they possibly can in order to make money. Why? Perhaps McMahon is being greedy, but at the end of the day (or financial quarter), they have to answer to their shareholders as WWE is a publicly traded company on the NYSE. Despite my lack of embrace with this rebranding it is understandable. In the business world, companies are always changing strategy to earn profits. However, I am very concerned about the future of the in-ring product, or at least how they approach it IF their expanded entertainment offerings are actually successful. Only time will tell.
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Monday, April 4, 2011
Views of Wrestlemania 27
I was looking forward to Wrestlemania 27 due to how well I thought the event was being built up. What was my ultimate opinion of the show? It was ultimately average. It had some good things, and some bad. Here's my quick take on the show.
What was good? We get a few quality matches. The Edge vs. Alberto Del Rio championship match (which was the first match for some reason), was well done. It had a good pace to it, Del Rio was excellent in the ring, and the ending that nearly everyone thought would happen didn't. Christian didn't turn on Edge, which I'm glad they didn't do.
Cody Rhodes vs. Rey Mysterio. We get an entertaining match here that had a nice pace to it. Cody looked real good in this match, and I was impressed. After his performance tonight, I'm hoping he gets a serious push.
CM Punk vs. Randy Orton. Very good match here, and a testament to how good a worker Punk is. He carried this match. He did an outstanding job working with Orton's slow, deliberate style. Randy gets move to the night so far. Punk comes off the top rope, and Orton counters it into an RKO.
Undertaker vs. Triple H. Match of the evening hands down. While not as good as 'Taker vs. Shawn Michaels matches from WM 25 and 26, it was still outstanding. Especially the selling of both competitors. Triple H hits with three Pedigrees and a Tombstone piledriver, yet taker still won with the Hell's Gate submission move. If it weren't for this match, this 'Mania would've felt like an exaggerated RAW.
John Cena vs. The Miz. This isn't good for the match itself, or the outcome. In fact, this was one of the least overwhelming Wrestlemania main events. However, there were a lot of old school heel actions going on here. Miz taking off a turnbuckle cover. Alex Riley, Miz's lackey interfering, Miz using a metal briefcase to hit Cena as examples. Nice homage to the style of heel antics I recall fondly from my youth.
Segment with Rock and "Stone Cold" Steve Austin stare down.
Once again, the WWE has an awesome stage set up.
Now for the bad...
Jerry Lawler vs. Michael Cole. While better than Vince McMahon vs. Bret Hart from last year, this could have been cut by a few minutes. There were funny moments, but this match would have been better served at a lesser PPV event. However, Stone Cold tosses out some Stone Cold Stunners.
8-man tag match. Yawn. Out of the 8 men, only two do anything. Santino wins with the Cobra to Heath Slater.
Mixed tag match. Only special guest Snookie did anything of interest in this match. John Morrison and Dolph Ziggler did next to nothing. However, I was impressed with Snookie's athleticism.
John Cena vs. The Miz. An underwhelming main event. If anything, Triple H and Undertaker should have been here. Anyway, the ending kinda sucked, with the Rock getting involved, giving Cena a Rock Bottom, and allowing Miz to win. Once again, The Miz comes off looking like a weak champion. However, if we get a payoff of an awesome Cena/Rock feud, then perhaps my gripe was in vain. Speaking of the Rock...
The Rock's promo to start off Wrestlemania. This promo ran WAY too long. I felt like I was watching an episode of RAW. Is this why Sheamus vs. Daniel Bryan didn't take place? I hope not, because that would be unfortunate.
Overall, this Wrestlemania was okay, and as usual with these events, only time will tell how it ultimately measures up in the scheme of things. I feel that Wrestlemania is where most feuds end and new ones begin, but I didn't feel that way for this one. An over glorified RAW would be the best way to sum this one up.
What was good? We get a few quality matches. The Edge vs. Alberto Del Rio championship match (which was the first match for some reason), was well done. It had a good pace to it, Del Rio was excellent in the ring, and the ending that nearly everyone thought would happen didn't. Christian didn't turn on Edge, which I'm glad they didn't do.
Cody Rhodes vs. Rey Mysterio. We get an entertaining match here that had a nice pace to it. Cody looked real good in this match, and I was impressed. After his performance tonight, I'm hoping he gets a serious push.
CM Punk vs. Randy Orton. Very good match here, and a testament to how good a worker Punk is. He carried this match. He did an outstanding job working with Orton's slow, deliberate style. Randy gets move to the night so far. Punk comes off the top rope, and Orton counters it into an RKO.
Undertaker vs. Triple H. Match of the evening hands down. While not as good as 'Taker vs. Shawn Michaels matches from WM 25 and 26, it was still outstanding. Especially the selling of both competitors. Triple H hits with three Pedigrees and a Tombstone piledriver, yet taker still won with the Hell's Gate submission move. If it weren't for this match, this 'Mania would've felt like an exaggerated RAW.
John Cena vs. The Miz. This isn't good for the match itself, or the outcome. In fact, this was one of the least overwhelming Wrestlemania main events. However, there were a lot of old school heel actions going on here. Miz taking off a turnbuckle cover. Alex Riley, Miz's lackey interfering, Miz using a metal briefcase to hit Cena as examples. Nice homage to the style of heel antics I recall fondly from my youth.
Segment with Rock and "Stone Cold" Steve Austin stare down.
Once again, the WWE has an awesome stage set up.
Now for the bad...
Jerry Lawler vs. Michael Cole. While better than Vince McMahon vs. Bret Hart from last year, this could have been cut by a few minutes. There were funny moments, but this match would have been better served at a lesser PPV event. However, Stone Cold tosses out some Stone Cold Stunners.
8-man tag match. Yawn. Out of the 8 men, only two do anything. Santino wins with the Cobra to Heath Slater.
Mixed tag match. Only special guest Snookie did anything of interest in this match. John Morrison and Dolph Ziggler did next to nothing. However, I was impressed with Snookie's athleticism.
John Cena vs. The Miz. An underwhelming main event. If anything, Triple H and Undertaker should have been here. Anyway, the ending kinda sucked, with the Rock getting involved, giving Cena a Rock Bottom, and allowing Miz to win. Once again, The Miz comes off looking like a weak champion. However, if we get a payoff of an awesome Cena/Rock feud, then perhaps my gripe was in vain. Speaking of the Rock...
The Rock's promo to start off Wrestlemania. This promo ran WAY too long. I felt like I was watching an episode of RAW. Is this why Sheamus vs. Daniel Bryan didn't take place? I hope not, because that would be unfortunate.
Overall, this Wrestlemania was okay, and as usual with these events, only time will tell how it ultimately measures up in the scheme of things. I feel that Wrestlemania is where most feuds end and new ones begin, but I didn't feel that way for this one. An over glorified RAW would be the best way to sum this one up.
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