Is it happening too quickly?

[The Yes Guy]

There's always been a smooth transition from one era to the other throughout WWE history.
The Hogans and the Warriors gradually making way for the Harts and HBKs.. While this happened, a certain bald headed SOB was lurking in background, waiting to take over.
The Attitude era had Austin/Rock at the top with HHH being groomed to be the top guy.
Through 2003-06 HHH ruled while Cena & Orton became relevant.
The same happened with Punk and Bryan.

But this new era feels like a reboot. You see a lot of new faces all over the product and barely relate to them. Getting people like Anderson, Gallows, Corbin, Enzo and Cass, Vaudevillains, Apollo Crews, etc. all at the same time feels odd.
I personally feel disconnected.
I fear this will alienate most of the Casual audience. What fo u think.?

 

[AegonTargaryen]

You've got a valid point.

I for one, am super selective in the things I like, especially as it relates to Wrestling. I am always in "disconnected mode" when the Miz, New Day, Women's wrestling segments/matches, and so on are on.

If something intrigues me, like the mushy and dramatic R-truth and Goldust video package they showed recently? or the Fandango and Tyler Breeze pairing(which I think is brilliant) , I will enjoy it.

When it comes to new faces, it's like there are just too many superstars on TV all at once. You can't, as a human being, be devoted to or invested in all of them at once. So for me, I haven't been able to be connected to Big Cass in the last few weeks, or the Vaudevillains. Apollo Crews didn't impress me. On the other hand, I have been wanting to follow Baron Corbin. (Unluckily for me, the dumbasses put both his PPV matches with Ziggler on the pre-show)

I agree it was a mistake they put so many of them on the TV all it once, just in the name of "New Era". Seth Rollins is already back, and John Cena, Randy Orton and Bray Wyatt/Wyatt family are due.

God only knows what when Lesnar, Nakamura, Finn Balor, and Austin Aries will be ready to debut/return by Summerslam or later.

As far as I'm concerned, I'm very selective. So I'll probably be watching for Rollins, Reigns, Styles/Club, Baron Corbin, Sheamus, KO, Cesaro etc. I'm bored to death of the New Day, Dudleys and the whole tag team division so I skip that.

 

[dsotm5150]

They don't really have a choice in the matter. Theyve been leaning on an aging roster in Cena, Undertaker, Brock, and Triple H far longer than they should have and been slow to introduce fresh talent to the main event scene, if anything 2015 proved just how unprepared WWE is for the futureas far as main event talent goes. Hopefully now that everybody is starting to return they'll continue trying to elevate the mid-level guys instead of going back to the Super-Cena well.

 

[Makaveli31]

What is up with the Miz? It looks like he ripped off John Morrison's old gimmick. The narcisissit Hollywood-type with the shades? Morrison could actually pull it off though. Miz just looks stupid. His girl is hot though.

 

[MERPER]

I am always quick to rip apart WWE for its booking, lack of creativity and storylines but I don't have a problem with this.

This "new era" with so many new faces at once is a direct result of all the injuries piling up over the last 6 months. The product was stale prior to the injuries and injuries to such huge stars made it even worse.

I like a majority of the new guys and the fresh vibe they bring with them. I am far more inclined, for instance, to watch Enzo/Cass than the USOs (who I am sick of) or Styles/Owens as opposed to Sheamus/Dolph Ziggler for the 28th time. These examples could go on and on.

Now, it will once again rely on the writing team to figure out how to make this "new era" relevant and what exactly they do with it. We saw a glimpse of what it could be last night with Sheamus where the "old/established" guys get angry and start a feud with "new era" guys which creates some sort of brand split.

 

[shooter_mcgavin]

It would have been fine if there was a smoother transition but the roster we had around 6 months ago was so thin that the sudden roster change was a much needed abrupt change.

As for alienating the casual fans, I don't think so. Cena will be back, Rollins will return, Jericho is still around and Lesnar will have his appearances here and there. And then you now have guys like Cena or Orton having fresh feuds and match ups.

 

[lil steroid meat]

Yes.

They were forced to do so because they have made all of 2 REAL stars in the past ten years (Daniel Bryan and CM Punk).

In between, they've made respectable stars out of Rollins, Reigns and Del Rio, but for the most part those are knee jerk guys that were all kind of pushed to their positions in times where the WWE needed star power quick.

Even still; you've got guys like Wyatt and Ambrose who are just floundering around, they still haven't learned their lesson of taking too long to put guys in the main event.

If that mass exodus of injuries didn't happen we'd probably still be seeing the same old shit.

Out of the entire 06-10 class of Dolph Ziggler, Cody Rhodes, The Miz, Jeff Hardy, Mr. Kennedy, Bobby Lashley, MVP, Wade Barrett, Zack Ryder, Kofi Kingston, John Morrison, Daniel Bryan, Shelton Benjamin, Carlito, CM Punk, Ryback, Sheamus, Jack Swagger, Drew McIntyre, Ted DiBiase etc., the only one still on the roster who could be taken seriously as a main eventer is Sheamus. They've done a horrible job of building stars the past decade and thus they are now forced to rapidly push people to the top which is why they are going so hard for Roman Reigns because they desperately need a Cena replacement within the next two years.

 

[ShinChan]

Nah, I don't think that it is happening too quickly. It is happening gradually which is a good sign.

WWE needs to make credible young stars as there isn't much left in John Cena, Randy Orton, The Undertaker or Brock Lesnar. These stars should put over young talents now.

There is a lot of potential in WWE roster now. They just need a good booking.

Here are the stars to be made: Kevin Owens, Sami Zayn, Seth Rollins, Cesaro, Dean Ambrose, Baron Corbin, Apollo Crews, Roman Reigns, Finn Balor, Rusev, American Alpha, The Revival, Enzo/Cass Sasha Banks, Bayley, Becky Lynch, Paige.

You already have some stars like Shinsuke Nakamura, Austin Aries, AJ Styles, Samoa Joe etc.

WWE shouldn't waste talents like it did with Drew, Cody, Damien, Wade etc

 

[Deoxyribonucleic A.C.I.D.]

WWE has been building up the Shield guys for 3 years. Owens for one year. Miz has always been there. Zayn, Styles and Cesaro are the new faces in the upper-midcard spot. Rusev has also been with the main roster for 1.5 years. Bray Wyatt is here since 2013.

I don't think it was something done quickly, I think it was just long overdue actually. The past 3 years have been all about new talent. Wrestlemania 30,31 and 32. And it's funny, because those Wrestlemanias feel very similar with WM 20,21 and 22, which was a time when WWE also built new stars.

 

[Shannibal]

Injuries to top stars will always help expedite any forthcoming change.

 

[A11oftheLights]

There's always been a smooth transition from one era to the other throughout WWE history.
The Hogans and the Warriors gradually making way for the Harts and HBKs.. While this happened, a certain bald headed SOB was lurking in background, waiting to take over.
The Attitude era had Austin/Rock at the top with HHH being groomed to be the top guy.
Through 2003-06 HHH ruled while Cena & Orton became relevant.
The same happened with Punk and Bryan.

But this new era feels like a reboot. You see a lot of new faces all over the product and barely relate to them. Getting people like Anderson, Gallows, Corbin, Enzo and Cass, Vaudevillains, Apollo Crews, etc. all at the same time feels odd.
I personally feel disconnected.
I fear this will alienate most of the Casual audience. What fo u think.?

Punk and Bryan were never the top stars. Sure for small periods they were over but Cena has been #1 and probably still is. Bryan could have taken over and been the leader of a new era if it wasnt for the concussions.

As for the rushed booking, i think nxt probably plays a part in this. When someone gets called up they really need to make an impact. Combine this with the 50-50 booking and the mid card having no attention being given to it and you haven't had a star built up to take over, this means people have to be pushed to the moon at the drop of a hat and it feels rushed

 

[kadroan]

Nah, I don't think that it is happening too quickly. It is happening gradually which is a good sign.

WWE needs to make credible young stars as there isn't much left in John Cena, Randy Orton, The Undertaker or Brock Lesnar. These stars should put over young talents now.

There is a lot of potential in WWE roster now. They just need a good booking.

Here are the stars to be made: Kevin Owens, Sami Zayn, Seth Rollins, Cesaro, Dean Ambrose, Baron Corbin, Apollo Crews, Roman Reigns, Finn Balor, Rusev, American Alpha, The Revival, Enzo/Cass Sasha Banks, Bayley, Becky Lynch, Paige.

You already have some stars like Shinsuke Nakamura, Austin Aries, AJ Styles, Samoa Joe etc.

WWE shouldn't waste talents like it did with Drew, Cody, Damien, Wade etc

Especially Orton. After WWE didn't take advantage of the buzz #RKOuttaNowhere got with Orton, he might as well start putting over guys.

 

[Sean Valjean]

Depends on what type of fan you are. If you watch NXT in addition to the main shows, you don't feel a disconnect as you've been following these names some time (years in some cases). We know all about them.

The problem is that it feels like WWE is counting on you having at least some familiarity with NXT. They've done a mediocre job of telling you who these guys are and what they're about. Just who are the Vaudevillians and why are they manly? Sami Zayn hates Kevin Owens, but what else is there to him? Commentary might fill us in at times, but the newcomers need vignettes and backstage segments to really get their personalities and motives across.

In terms of how this "New Era" started, I look at it more poetically. Considering that Rollins, Reigns, and, to an extent, Ambrose are at the top of the card, you could argue the "New Era" has its roots in the Shield's debut in 2012. Besides the literal debut, look at what that group represented: young, hungry guys who took WWE by storm because they wanted to be the best and said "screw the status quo".

Considering the relevant names to come during and after the Shield's wake (Cesaro, the Wyatts, Rusev), I'd say those three led the charge for what's happening today – especially since two of them are on top with the third not far behind. The marketing term "New Era" is merely the culmination and literal exclamation point of a movement that's been building momentum since 2012. When you look at it that way, it doesn't feel as sudden. Not to me, at least.

They were forced to do so because they have made all of 2 REAL stars in the past ten years (Daniel Bryan and CM Punk).

Three stars. Jeff Hardy was most certainly up there with Bryan and Punk in popularity and top-level status.

 

[TeamAwesome]

Sorry to be a bit late to post but,
In my opinion the transformation has happened a little too quickly, as a fan who only really keeps up-to-date by reading the spoilers these days I do still have an understanding of what is going on but how is the WWE now going to appeal to the casual fan?
If you don’t watch WWE programming religiously or watch NXT some fans may not know who AJ Styles, Anderson, Gallows, Enzo and Big Cass, The Vaudevillians and Apollo Crews are. This will alienate the casual fans and cause them to switch off.
As for the fans who are more up-to-date with programming, some may feel it is long overdue as it freshens up the roster, brings so many new matches. For the more loyal fans this could be the next golden era, for the casual fan, not so much.
Injuries haven’t helped the fact that this change was probably a forced one due to the lack of star power on shows for the last 6 months or so. Maybe the brand split will help slow things down so to speak..

 

[Vanilla Midget]

I've been thinking about this same thing. I don't think it's a matter of pushing too many people at the same time so much as who and how they push them.

Enzo and Cass are beyond charismatic. They're not being hot shotted to the tag titles, just getting a light brush. I disagree with a bit of the booking as the Dudleys aren't being presented as enough of a threat (Cass seems to be able to handle them on his own) but ultimately these guys ooze so much charm that it won't hurt them.

On the other hand Apollo Crews has been a master class in how to get the audience to not care about someone. The vignettes, the lack of promo time on the main shows, and good lord the vignettes. They're giving this guy the Roman treatment instead of letting him connect with the fans.

Basically the name of the game is showing and not telling. They have to let the new characters show us that they're great, not beat us down with vignettes every time they have a damn match. When's the last time Roman had a vignette because he was wrestling a meaningless match on Raw? You can't do that with these new characters.

The refresh is necessary, though I get it's happening too fast for some people. Hardcore wrestling fans already know The Club, Styles, and the NXT guys. The younger guys are the ones that will struggle the most to get over as less fans know them.

The name of the game is to not force these guys. Fans won't respond if say suddenly next month Baron Corbin is headlining PPVs for the World title. They have to let these new characters breathe, and let the fans get to know them.

This transition has feels fast based on the rapid fire debuts this year. There's no precedence to say that too many debuting at once is a bad thing. The closest might be the WCW debut, but those guys flopped because they were pushed as jobbers (that is an oversimplification of a complex issue).

I don't see the problem other than the high potential for poor booking. If you cram these characters down fans' throats then they're likely doomed. They need to let things progress naturally and not overexpose these new characters.

 

[TWJC: The Beginning]

No, these guys are forcing the issue. These guys are over. This is why there is a brand split. It's a good problem for WWE to have. If they didn't have a brand split, then maybe there would be an issue, but the brand split is perfect for the new guys.