If You Were WWE, What Would Be Your Method of Pusing Main Eventers

[nish2231995]

so earlier today, im thinking why the hell did alberto del rio get a wwe championship within the space of 1 year under his belt as opposed to other superstars who have had upto 5 years of wrestling in wwe without having yet to win a wwe or world heavyweight championship.
my question is what would you have your superstars achieve first before being able to have the big one around their waist.
i think the way wwe handled the miz was perfect upto to his title reign ended, dissapointed with how he has not come off looking very strong at all here.

if i was wwe i would require all superstars who have been considered to be major title contenders by first giving them at least 6 months ring experience in front of raw and smackdown crowds. i would then toss a us/intercontinental championship around their waist and give them a good 3 month reign at least. this way wwe can test the superstar as to whether he can come off looking strong with a belt around his waist and manage his promo's of being face/heel looking to see whether they can get a reaction out of the crowd. this superstar should then lose his championship and make the person who they lose the title to, look strong. after this, the superstar should then have a 2 month minimum feud with a more experienced upper midcarder/main eventer to then see if the superstar can draw another reaction in this sense. then place the title around his waist.
all disagreement/agreeements encouraged here.
using wade barrett and miz as examples. both (using barrett's post nexus run) had midcard title reigns, both lost their titles making their opponents look good in some respect (jackson and bryan) and currently wade barrett is contending with randy orton. i think this is what wwe is trying with dolph, he's had the strap since capitol punishment and will drop it to ryder because of a cena interference, he will fued with cena until rumble and continue to get groomed before a title fued with punk after wrestlemania, or even at wrestlemania
thoughts?

 

[WORD-LIFE-16]

Well, to begin with, I would not call a single member of the roster up the main roster until they were ready. I would make sure they have had long enough and is ready for the main roster because this is one of the aspects to developing a WWE superstar no matter what level you want them at, they have to be ready. I would have them feud with some new guys, help each other out and have a few matches, and I would have them do this for 6 months to a year. Beyond this, I would then have them put in a feud for either the US title or the IC title. This all depending on what their look was, their style and their size and most importantly their charisma. They would need a character that could connect to the crowd and draw money like John Cena for example. Whether it booing or cheering, heel or face, it doesn't matter, me personally, I would have them begin as a face and then become a heel later. Have them in rivalries in the mid card level for a year or so and then, if they were ready and had developed a fan base, and made progress, they would get an opportunity to become. Main eventer. This is the way to develop a true main eventer. But also remember, the best stay at the top, the worst skink to the bottom. It isn't difficult to tell who is main event material and who isn't. E.G Cm Punk (main eventer) or Kofi Kingston ( in the doghouse this time next year) talent is noticed and does not get ignored. Developing a mian eventer, means they have to have what it takes from the beginning, you cannot really just make a main eventer, they have to take an initiative and do everything they can to connect with the crowd as this is how main eveners are made. It is more of a natural talent to posses, you cannot develop it. You have to have intangibles that none other have. And as for del rio, he payed his dues before he got to WWE, he does deserve to be champion, he is 34 so he is by no means a younger up and coming type.

 

[FearMyBeard]

Everything starts with the creative team. The packaging and the booking early on. They'll provide the base and it's ultimately up to the wrestler to further his character.

Packaging: Assigning of gimmick,character,etc. Take into consideration how the wrestler works(Is he a big man? Cruiserweight? stuff like that), his look, and charisma. In pro-wrestling, particularly in the major leagues like WWE and TNA, one has to have charisma. That ultimately decides if the wrestler can become marketable at a faster pace.

Booking: Start off with the jobbers. Have him run down the competition. After familiarizing the wrestler with the audience, proceed to putting him in a program with a relatively established and over wrestler. Have him go over of course. Establish him as "legitimate" in the eyes of the audience. Maybe a run or two with a midcard title. Don't rush but if the wrestler oozes with charisma, that can hasten the process and put him on the main event quicker.

The 2nd half is where one finds out if a certain wrestler is main-event caliber or destined to toil in midcard purgatory for the majority of his career.

Once establishing him as a threat, you put him against the big stars. It shouldn't matter if he comes out on top or not, what matters is that he can sustain and even increase his popularity with the audience regardless of the outcome with his wrestling ability but mostly with his charisma. Booking still matters here but it just serves as a "guiding hand" so to speak and it's now up to the wrestler to get himself over and become established.

If the popularity of the wrestler is retained or better yet, increases, then that's a good sign. Afterwards, have him go at it with other big stars. If he gets more over, then it's most likely time for a feud for the top-tier title. Winning or losing the feud doesn't matter, what matters is the interest the wrestler generates. If his popularity already rivals/surpasses the big stars he was feuding with, then it's time for that world title run.

A major indicator that one has truly become main-event caliber is when the wrestler has amounted a popularity level that is good enough to elevate and establish other wrestlers who are lower than him.

I think that's pretty much how every company should book a maineventer, not just the WWE.

 

[wweking]

I would start of with putting him in wwe superstars and just face off a few jobbers , and try to get noitced in anyway possible. It would be easier to get noticed by being non heel , but you can still get noticed by being a heel. After he has beaten a few jobbers, try putting him or raw or smackdown. Then try being in a few backstage segmants or talking to the crowd and then you will get noticed more. After that try putting him in a few matches and see how good he can do at that and see if people are taking an intrest in him.

Next you sahould try putting him in a fued (but not put him in a title piture just yet). Maybe just a 1 on 1 fued , and if the crowd like it then try putting that fued on a ppv in midcard match. If he wins that and gets some momentum then try giveing him a push and putting him in a fued for the US or Interconital title , and maybe even put him in a "big 4" ppv at midcard and eventually when he wins the title start putting him in bigger fueds for the title and see if he could face a main eventer once or twice even.

After that try dropping him the title and if you really want to give him a push maybe start fueding with main eventers not for the title just yet though. And maybe even putting him in a title match or two. If you dont want him to have a title match then mybe let him win Money in the bank. Not the royal rumble though becasue that will be a bit too soon. Because he cant main event wrestlemania just yet. If you want to give him a bigger push see what the crowd think of him its its good then give him that push.

Then you have to let him win the title on a ppv probabley not the big four put on a ppv , or maybe even raw then if you want to carry on the push i would say keep the title but if you want him to go back to mid-card then just have him drop the title and lose his rematch. Finally if you want him to have a bigger push maybe let him win the royal rumble or have a WWE or a WHC match at wrestlemania. Now he's a main eventer.

 

[kokoBawesome]

All smart ideas, all too formulaic. The Giant came into WCW and won his first match for the title against Hogan. Goldberg started his streak destroying jobbers, working his way through the midcard, and pushed right through to Hogan. HBK and Bret both work their way through the tag division, spent a number of years going after the IC belt, had a few title matches and than eventually earned that world title. You never can tell whats going to work with a main event guy. I love to see guys earn it though years of hard work, but the surprise win can be fun too.

Stone Cold was the face of the WWE for over a year before he won the title for the first time. Arguably longer. I think I'd prefer things work out like this. If you really want someone like Dolph to be a champion, I'd love to see his fan base grow to the point where people are dying to see him win the title. Dangle that carrot for another year or two, have him come up short a few times.

 

[CleverName51]

It would depend on the character/person involved.

For instance: I'm going to critique 2 Superstars pushes to the top, John Cena and Edge

Cena: the definition of "slow build" he comes in against Angle, works a great program as a face. Turns heel with his rapper gimmick and gets noticed...the gimmick is in fact, so over that it turns him face in 2004. With Brock Lesnar and the Rock leaving in 2004, someone needed to be built to take over the show...Cena became that man....JBL was built as a super heel holding the title for about 9 months before dropping it at Wrestlemania to John Cena.

Perfect build-no overly needed heel-face turns, just let the man work and react to the crowd's desires. The audience wanted Cena in 2004-05. Then Cena got overused and turned half the audience against him (which isn't relevant for developing a Main Eventer, that's a topic called sustaining a main eventer)


Edge: Edge was a career midcarder and tag specialist. After missing a good portion of 2002-03 with injuries, I personally thought Edge was going to become like Chris Jericho-he'd get 1 title reign to make him "a former world champion" but that he'd never actually have a main event feel, he'd then job to the next generation of stars...but Edge played MiTB perfectly and became...well more than he should have been


Del Rio/Swagger/Sheamus before his face turn/Randy Orton 2004: bloody hell, I'll show what happens when you shoot someone straight to the main event...these guys all fizzled out because they were hot shotted to the main event without any substance to their character.... Del Rio's destiny was to become champion, but he had nothing under that speech....Swagger MiTB'd with no build, Sheamus had the fluky tables match for his first title win and his second title win was more about Nexus and less about Sheamus winning and Orton beating Benoit was more about HHH getting the WHC back than Benoit/Orton

The key: Give the crowd/tv audience a reason to care about the character. Give the character substance and depth as well as flash. And finally: GIVE THE CHARACTER AN ENEMY WHO IS ABLE TO BE A THREAT!

Austin had Rock/Corporation
Rock had Austin, HHH, DX, McMahon-Helmsley regime
HHH had Rock, Foley
Undertaker had Kane
Hogan had Andre
Hart had HBK
Cena had Edge, Orton, JBL

notice a pattern?

Building credible players comes from the proper build with the proper supporting cast, no one person can carry a (good) show by themselves

 

[The Dragon Saga]

If you believe that every guy ought to be built the same, you're an idiot. It depends on who the person is, their capabilities and how far you believe they can go. You can't take someone who has the inability to speak on the microphone, give him interviews and promo time every week and expect people to like him, same way you can't ask someone with limited in-ring experience to go out and put on an above calibure match every week because it isn't in their arsenal. It depends on the person, not the way you build them.

Look at John Cena. WWE brought him in and put him in the ring with Kurt Angle, people got behind him due to his guts and determination. Randy Orton was brought in and built as what he is, the next generation in the Orton legacy, their was a difference in both men's beginnings and yet who are two of the top guys within the company? John Cena and Randy Orton.

Take CM Punk for instance, currently WWE's top merchandise seller, biggest all-round face that they have, current WWE Champion and then take a look at how they built him upon debut. He could speak, so they gave him microphone time. They didn't put him in their with guys like Kurt Angle and expect people to get behind him like John Cena, they sent him out their and put him over several people first like Justin Credible and CW Anderson.

Their isn't a method where as you can take every guy and build them in a certain format, you look at what they can offer first and then you decide how they should be utilized. Anyone who believes they've a sure fire format for getting people over or "developing a main eventer" is an idiot. If WWE who've been at it since the WWWF days can't get someone to crack that code an armchair critic on WZF sure as hell won't. It ain't that easy.

 

[THTRobtaylor]

A lot of formulaic stuff coming out and what is needed is a radical rethink... the tried and trusted way that they used since the attitude era hasn't worked for a while and hot-shotting guys like Del Rio hasn't either...

First you have to decide what you are basing WWE on... is it PPV buys, is it the match of the night, is it the hero or is it the title?

Think back to the Hogan era... WWE worked because you had multiple main eventers all achieving every one of the above in different fueds and matches. Hogan had the title for most of it but he was definitely still behind the buys when Savage had it. But you believed that it was the most important belt in the world cos it changed hands so rarely and took such herculean effort to attain, Andre HAD to lie cheat steal to get it... and it was worth turning his back on years of popularity to do... Guys like Yoko would employ every trick possible to keep it... guys like Bret Hart would dream and aspire to one day hold it, never looking likely of getting near making their eventual success astonishing to the fans and a true achievement.

You had Savage, Flair (for about 3 months before it got ruined), Jake Roberts, DiBiase and Piper. Guys who regularly carried the ball in terms of generating the interesting stories the shows were based around. Jake and Piper ALWAYS had great stories, cos it played to their strengths as sympathetic characters. DiBiase the same from the reverse side, people were invested in seeing he and guys like Andre lose...

Then you had the guys who were main eventers on work rate... guys like Rude, Perfect, Steamboat, The Hart Foundation and the Rockers... it's no coincidence that 80's WWE shows often had tag matches as the last bout... the "main event" traditionally being the match of the night... no one could follow them in the ring so nobody did... Guys like Rude and Perfect could work rings around Andre or Bundy and did so... they never got the gold, but they were always "dark horses" and got title matches and mid card runs during the Hogan untouchable era... if there's 2 singles belts and the juggernaut that was Hogan or Savage had one, then if you had the other you were something damn special.

Finally you had workhorses, guys who never got near "main eventer status" or did they? Big Bossman was a main eventer for much of his run, either fighting or teaming with Hogan. Brutus Beefcake, sure he was Hogan's stooge but most people in that era thought that they were just partners not the relationship we all know about now. Main eventing a Mania and Summerslam is not bad for a guy who never got a title.

Once Nash got the belt, it signalled the end of that era, soon it became about the title and getting it at all costs, then about 2 world titles.... the Attitude era created more "champions" thus more slots and chances to be a main eventer by my original criteria, but it became about just holding a belt...

So how would I do it...

For a start unify the belts down to 5... World Heavyweight, IC Title, TV Title, Cruiserweight and Tag Team and from now onwards every talent from FCW to Trips knows only the best for the company will hold those titles. No more contractual title runs, no more ego salving titles... the right man at the right time for each of those 5 divisions. Belts are no longer a prop or macguffin... they are valuable assets to be guarded and respected.

At the same time, make clear no-one who has been in FCW for less than a year solid gets called up and no one who has been in WWE less than one year will even get a shot at a title unless exceptional circumstances occur. Most talent will be involved in the TV title hunt as that will be defended on every TV show WWE produces, be it RAW, Smackdown, NXT or Superstars whoever holds that title will be someone who can regularly work top grade matches with anyone and help elevate talent, in effect your "workhorse". A similar system for the cruiser would be in order, but minimum every 3 weeks for a title match on a TV show.

The IC title and tag titles would be the "storyline" belts, much like back in the day, teams will have to qualify for shots at the title and the belts are defended regularly against all teams. The IC belt would work on a top 8 ranking, but the champion defending against lower contenders at least once a month on TV. Every man in that 8 is feuding with someone else in that 8... or 2 of them in some cases, this then drives the storyline aspect of the show with each action having a consequence... if Dolph and Cody team up now, the rankings may throw up that they have to face off... that kind of thing.

Your world title becomes the most valuable belt there is... and whoever has it will have time served with the company, a strong title record and be over enough as a face or heel to be credible against the majority of the roster. No more rotating turns or 9 time runs in 2 years.. if you've got it, you've got it for months, maybe even a year... it only gets defended every 60 days, thats Mania, Summerslam, Survivor Series and Rumble, with a few specials on Raw thrown in... the remaining main eventers fight over the course of the month on a mixture of storyline and "reality"... your World contenders are gonna be tough guys, they are gonna work stiff and they are going to be credible, not monsters all the time, but one or 2 reigns doesn't get you into this club... It's guys like Jericho, Triple H, Taker, Cena and Orton on a top 8 system... but heres the kicker you can be promoted to or relegated from this "division"... lose one world title shot and you get another... lose 2 you don't get another one for some time and someone moves up to replace you in that 8...

For all this to work it means that the wrestlers have to give up their "comfort blanket" of titles... what honestly is the point of Trips or Cena breaking Flair's record the way things are? cos most of those reigns are meaningless... but if they can do it and accept that the main event is EVERY match on the show... then it can work.

WWE built that Hogan era success on everyone being a true main eventer, everyone having an opportunity but doing the right thing as a collective... those early Mania cards were STACKED with main eventers, former World Champions and legends... in tag matches, opening matches, anywhere on the card! If WWE can get back to that, then WM 30 would be a sight to behold...

 

[ryan86]

Major props to the OP on not only this topic, but his great and at-leangth analysis. You know, it takes a very "bigger picture idea" thead like this to draw me in. I'm known on this thread for ripping apart common wisdom, and this topic forces people to break it down.

I 100% agree with the straegy layed out by the OP, but i disagree on the exact specifics, like times frames.

People, i know your eyes are going to roll, and sombody might come through my I-Pad and strangle me, but Cody and Dolph are the two stars that WWE is handleing perfectly. Cody spent two years with consistant, on TV exposure, before getting a year-long push that cultimated in him becoming the best IC champ in 10 years. Like him or not, that belt hasnt meant ANYTHING in 10 years. He is now being excelerated torwards a main event push that is starting with being put over by a legend (Booker T). This push will have him "main event" ready by April. Now when that title actually gets around his waist is all up to the fans.

Handled PERFECT.

 

[nish2231995]

@Dragonsaga
while you are right with there shouldn't be a sure fire method of how a superstar should be built with specific time frames and specific methods otherwise it would become predictable and lacking, but have we not seen failures from some superstars by being elevated straight to the top without being in programs involving a smaller midcard title, a fued against a higher midcarder that legitamizes the superstar and given a specific time to develop character and wrestling/mic abilities?
there has to be somewhere where you draw the line here
sheamus' push went down the drain after he lost his second wwe championship and eventually turned face earlier this year. swagger's went down the drain after he lost the title to rey mysterio in 2010.
you are right with there will be different circumstances with everybodies individual push, but sometimes not having specific requirements with a superstar may lead to a sheamus style push, or may lead to a brock lesnar style push.
your call.
in short, im saying there should be some basic requirements as to how a superstar should be elevated to main event status, but im recognising that each individual push is based off circumstances

 

[J.D Lethal]

I have a method like this when i play SvR a
1.Package/theme of the superstar
-what i mean by this if you look like a self-absorbed pretty boy imma use you as the self-absorbed pretty boy,know what you look like play to his or her strengths.
-Have assortment of moves in your wrestling style that fit your character I.e Finese moves for the quick... cheap shots for the heels...strong for the bulit
-if your green and cant talk or move be prepared to be a jobber or mid-carder...best Example David Otunga can talk but cant move another is Kofi...Can can move but cant talk(now i know he has the ability to talk but he isnt given the mic)

2.know your crowd
-if your demographic is for the kids have your champ be a role model for the kids... if its for the adults have and adult like star...if your clashing in your demographics have some1 thats the best of both in that order its Cena,Punk,the Great white Shemus

3.Titles and Fueds
wrestling is nothing but a story we see see the grow and changes in these superstars over the years
-Fueds should be used to show who the better man/women when you feud the winner should go toward the next step in reaching there goal...if you feuding for the IC/US title and you have had the 5 times already...you need to be pushed into the main event. its already being proved that you can win. you need stronger better ppl to go against. For the Champions feuding with contenders gives your reign cred

-Titles are nothing but stepping stones till you get a world title/tag world title, the number 1 and 2 contenders feud for the chance to fight the champ for title...it also makes the title fight worth it....

 

[kokoBawesome]

ryan86, your loyalty is admirable. today you get a pass.

 

[Best in the World 79]

If you just know that the guy is the man, like lesnar was. Then throw him in there instantly as an animal, or stealth kind of guy, or notexactlyundertakerLIKE, etc...

Ex: Brodus Clay. If you wanna build this guy. Have him come in and destroy everybody. Then, have him team up with a face(random) he then destroys the face(instant heat) and goes into a tag title match alone vs (tag champs). He wins. Holds the tag titles by himself until he loses to a credible opponent on a credible tag. What from there? Dude is obviously a beast cause he beats tag teams alone and wore the belts for like 1 1/2 month. Maybe?

Another Ex: Take Ted Dibiase. His dad was THE million dollar man. HAHAHAHAHAH.......anyway. Have his dad cut a promo about his son, cheap pop, have ted be mad, quiet during the promo, then grab the mic and cut a somewhat demented promo about how his dad was never there. just the money?? good Idea folks?...........Have him be insane. He's got a good build. tall. I could totally see him changing his character and attire and having some kind of sick rich kid killing spree.

One last example: Take...........uhm.......that one guy...OH YEAH. THE CHOSEN ONE? Take Drew. He's been off tv far as i know. Have him in a match randomly with like, big show, obviously drew is gonna lose. make it look like a squash and have drew kick out 'da' chokeslam. Have show look like wtf? then drew low blows the ref and show. show rolls out ring. drew assaults ref. WE NEED A REF TO GET BEAT UP SOON. drew gets a chair. demolishes show. even two 2 TWO shots to the "SKULL"
-that immediately lets everyone in the building and everyone watching that that motherfucker is not even trying to play any games. stritcly ass blastin.

may be bad ex's.... but.. i tried. it'd be something new. storyline to maybe make you think, feel uncomfortable, go like damn.. ya know? new interesting shit.

dibiase posse? lol
drew mcytyre is dead i guess?
brodus clay is still king kong bundy with hair and tattoos

 

[WrestlingFanSinceThe80s]

First, let me start with the WWE tag team division. You DON'T just put together 2 WWE Superstars at random AND hope for the best. That's LAZY on the part of the creative team. Now, I can understand the team of AirBoom (Evan Bourne & Kofi Kingston), and The Usos. However, the team of Vladimir Kozlov & Santino Marella is obviously a comedy team, NOT a real tag team.

Next, let's say Kofi Kingston is the REAL BREAKOUT STAR of Team AirBoom, Kofi would then compete for a singles championship (ex: The U.S. Championship OR the Intercontinental Championship) BEFORE competing for the world title, so Kofi can prove to the audience and the world that he's ready to main event matches, becoming a future world champion AND one of the top stars of the WWE.

IF Kofi Kingston SUCCEEDS on winning a singles championship AND FUTURE PUSH as a main eventer & world champion, THEN Kofi would go after the world title.

Finally, I would continue the "pushing the future main eventers of the WWE" process UNTIL I am satisfied that there is enough wrestling talent that can carry the company.

Please comment AND let me know what everyone thinks, thanks.