Complex Storylines and Character Development

[Serious Mozzarella]

For some reason, while watching Raw tonight, I was half expecting Ryback to just let Cena get beat up a little before jumping in to help him. But I guess expecting slightly subtle character development leading into a complex storyline was a little bit too much to ask in the WWE.

What is with the constant pushing of black-and-white storylines in wrestling? It's not only the WWE that does this. In wrestling-world, you're either an arrogant douche bag, a complete evil psychopath, a constant underdog, or superman.

I always lose my shit when someone drops a worked-shoot, dropping all kinds of logic and legitimate arguments as to why their opponent is wrong, or whatever, but then later on, they get a complete change in character. CM Punk is a good example of this. A lot of very legitimate complaints about the company and some of the people in it, and a very few short months later, he was self-absorbed to the point of clinical insanity, and just... why? Why do all heels need to be completely evil? Why can't characters just kind of keep their character, and have story-driven goals, and have reasons for doing things other than, "oh, he changed his mind, and now he hates all the good guys".

It's just all starting to seem a little juvenile to me. Ryback is more upset with Cena for not being around to protect him (I guess he's not capable of doing it himself) than he is at The Shield who cost him more title shots than I can count, and made him completely irrelevant. This whole feud is making Ryback look like a complete bitch, and it's not the first time this has happened.

(Spam section for more relaxed conversation)

 

[ABMorales787]

Dude, it's a company where Champions lose clean consistently. (3 in one night) Diversity and character development totally elude them.

 

[Serious Mozzarella]

It's not just the WWE. TNA can't seen to handle complex storylines either. 9 months of weird build up where a marriage took place simply so this dude can become champion... what? They tried going for complexity, completely lost track, and went pants-on-head ******ed with it. If wrestling were real, both of these companies are filled with a bunch of roided out psychological man-children, and I don't understand how some people take it as seriously as they do anymore. I actually laugh at "analysts" like Mark Madden who take themselves entirely too seriously railing on a product that's...not to be taken that seriously.

 

[Coco]

It's just all starting to seem a little juvenile to me.

Of course it's juvenile. Do you really think most wrestling fans are capable of handling better? Most of them are booger eaters incapable of wrapping their head around anything with even an iota of nuance.

 

[Poop Master Flex]

When Ziggler, the least realistic wrestler in the history of wrestling is champion its hard to take wrestling seriously.

With that said I wouldn't say Ryback is completely evil at this point. All he ever did was attack Cena and turned his back on him when the Shield attacked him and he gave a semi logical reason behind it. I can't remember how many times in life I've seen friends break up over similar circumstances. "I did this for you yet you didn't do the same for me so we aren't friends anymore". That happens all the time. A lot of people get upset when they stick their neck out for a friend yet when the role is reversed they are left hanging, it actually makes a lot of sense, more sense than most things in wrestling at least.

 

[Fire Marshall Bill]

When Ziggler, the least realistic wrestler in the history of wrestling is champion its hard to take wrestling seriously.

With that said I wouldn't say Ryback is completely evil at this point. All he ever did was attack Cena and turned his back on him when the Shield attacked him and he gave a semi logical reason behind it. I can't remember how many times in life I've seen friends break up over similar circumstances. "I did this for you yet you didn't do the same for me so we aren't friends anymore". That happens all the time. A lot of people get upset when they stick their neck out for a friend yet when the role is reversed they are left hanging, it actually makes a lot of sense, more sense than most things in wrestling at least.

While I don't think his heel turn is complete after just last night, it seems they're going that route since the commentators were pushing how Ryback was "blaming his losses on Cena." A clear heel tactic.

Anyways, on point, you have to understand the audience they're appealing to. It ranges from kids to morons to people who just want to be entertained, and everything in between. The easiest way to appeal to everyone is to overexaggerate everything, including the lines of good and evil. Is it easier for a dad to explain to his son that wrestler A resents wrestler B because wrestler B did such and such that wrestler A really wanted to do so now there's slight tension between them which is reflected during their interactions in the ring and backstage? Or is it easier to say wrestler A doesn't get along with wrestler B because wrestler B is an asshole?

Wrestlers and their storylines are always exaggerated. "Larger than life." "Flamboyant." Pick an adjective. They all work.

 

[The Butcher]

WWE's fine so far as I'm concerned, although they could spare to add a little more depth to their storylines and characters. Neither needs to be complex, as Sweep pointed out WWE's trying to appeal to a very broad audience. That doesn't excuse what is often lazy writing/booking.

Storytelling in a coherent manner has long been my biggest issue with TNA. That said, however, they're not afraid to try more complex angles and characters, and for that I tip my cap to them. If anything, they could spare to scale back and just make sure all the jigsaw pieces fit together so that audience members can get a clear picture.

Having said all that, it's fucking pro wrestling. No one's ever going to confuse this with Shakespeare. I try to enjoy it for what it is rather than bash it for what it isn't. That goes for the whole industry. If I'm at an indy show, I'm going to have indy show expectations. If I'm watching TNA or WWE, I'm going to have higher expectations, naturally; however, I understand that no matter the federation, there's only so much time, talent, and creative thinking to go around. Just try to have fun with it.

 

[Poop Master Flex]

While I don't think his heel turn is complete after just last night, it seems they're going that route since the commentators were pushing how Ryback was "blaming his losses on Cena." A clear heel tactic.

Anyways, on point, you have to understand the audience they're appealing to. It ranges from kids to morons to people who just want to be entertained, and everything in between. The easiest way to appeal to everyone is to overexaggerate everything, including the lines of good and evil. Is it easier for a dad to explain to his son that wrestler A resents wrestler B because wrestler B did such and such that wrestler A really wanted to do so now there's slight tension between them which is reflected during their interactions in the ring and backstage? Or is it easier to say wrestler A doesn't get along with wrestler B because wrestler B is an asshole?

Wrestlers and their storylines are always exaggerated. "Larger than life." "Flamboyant." Pick an adjective. They all work.

I understand it, I don't like it but I understand it. Oh well, I just got to accept the wrestling I love just isn't what WWE is about anymore.

 

[Serious Mozzarella]

I'm especially concerned with dropped storylines, the writers losing interest in characters, and backstage bullshit having an effect on what happens to these actors' characters. I'm glad to see Jack Swagger is doing alright right now, considering everyone was expecting him have jobbed out to Santino at this point.

Passing thought: I really with The Shield had clear objectives. They would get over huge as faces if they just attacked EVERYONE who cheats to win matches, thereby justifying them babbling on about justice and shit.

 

[Nate DaMac]

Fuck all of this. Why did Mark Henry get the win at Mania? No one has been able to give me a reasonable answer to this one yet.

 

[Papa Pillman]

Fuck all of this. Why did Mark Henry get the win at Mania? No one has been able to give me a reasonable answer to this one yet.

I think the "logic" is that it makes Ryback even more pissed at Cena. Cena, seen as the golden boy, gets his redemption and his title and all is right with the world, while poor Ryback gets screwed again on the big stage.

Cena gets to celebrate his Mania experience and gets to be champ again, while Ryback's first Mania experience is ruined and he seemingly falls that much farther away from a shot at the title that he feels would've been his by now if not for his getting perpetually fucked over. It helps to drive a jealous attitude change in his character, where he will just try to force himself back into the title picture through physically assaulting Cena.

Make your own decisions on how much sense it all makes, but that is what I believe was being set in motion by Ryback's loss.

 

[BaconBits]

Fuck all of this. Why did Mark Henry get the win at Mania? No one has been able to give me a reasonable answer to this one yet.

Because Mark threatened to sit on everybody in creative if he didn't win. I know I wouldn't want that fat fuck sitting on me.

 

[Richard Blonoff]

Fuck all of this. Why did Mark Henry get the win at Mania? No one has been able to give me a reasonable answer to this one yet.

Affirmative action

 

[NotaHippie]

It should be like Shakespeare. Imagine if we had villains who talked like this:

Good name in man and woman, dear my lord,
Is the immediate jewel of their souls.
Who steals my purse steals trash; 'tis something, nothing;
'Twas mine, 'tis his, and has been slave to thousands;
But he that filches from me my good name
Robs me of that which not enriches him,
And makes me poor indeed.

 

[Richard Blonoff]

I look at it the same way I look at being a fan of My Little Pony. As a brony I find a lot of enjoyment in a show that isn't targeted at me. I'm 23 and enjoy a show that until recently was marketed exclusively to six year old girls. The creators give the brony community a nod from time and time, but a majority of the show is designed for the target audience, early grade school girls.

The current WWE product and wrestling in general is much the same. There was a period in the late 90s and early 00s that you could say wrestling was geared to the 18-34 male crowd, but that isn't the case now. It is more family friendly and appealing to kids. I still get enjoyment out of it, but I realize that they aren't trying to please the demo I fall in. The stories and characters are black and white so the target audience can easily grasp them. The writers will give a shout out to the IWC and adult audience at times, but the show is no longer targeted at them, so they build around their target demographic.

 

[The Butcher]

Fuck all of this. Why did Mark Henry get the win at Mania? No one has been able to give me a reasonable answer to this one yet.

BECAUSE THAT WHAT HE DO!