Is the WWE Youth Movement a Failure?

[Loves2Spoon]

I dont think its a failure, i think that the use of the "legend" wrestlers are. Since HBK went out with the undertaker, if HHH does the same thing then who would the youth spring off of? You got like Cena, Orton, Undertaker, Kane, Edge. Thats really it that you can truely make a name off of, i dont see Alberto making a name from Rey though Rey is good but he hasnt been top performer in awhile. The way i see it is that HHH and HBK could end their careers to the youth using them not Undertaker, Let Barret face him. What they need to do is have a elimination chamber without any big names such as i listed, and then ill believe its in full swing, Alberto winning the Rumble was a step closer. The miz is fine but its got to be Miz vs Morrison sometime soon because what better of a feud?

 

[shafe_41]

Oh-Em-Gee. Why is every other thread created about the WWE try to talk about something being a failure, no good, or how much something sucks? This is getting insanely old kids.

Is it a "failure?" NOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!! Why? BECAUSE IT'S NOT EFFING OVER!!!!! How can you deem something a failure if it's not over yet? This has only gone on in the WWE with any kind of consistency within the last year. It's an on-going process. You're not going to have guys like HBK, Taker, HHH, JBL, etc... retiring and immediately sticking someone from the "youth movement" in their place and expecting them to be just as effective. It's not going to happen. Quit acting like swapping a body for a body on the roster is the judgement of success. And doing it after only 1 year? Shame shame.

A huge mistake everybody here is making is they think of it as a "youth movement." You can't think of it that way. You can't just throw in 60 young talents, and have whatever falls into place be judgement either. If anything, the WWE is rebuilding. That's how you have to look at it. The WWE is changing and you can't deny that. Part of the problem is that it's changing too fast even for Vince and developmental territories to keep up with it also. That's why HHH said a few weeks back that the developmental system the WWE currently has "is a joke." The WWE shot themselves in the foot around 2006 until the early part of 2009. That's why the talent and bodies you see on a weekly basis are not similar to Austin, The Rock, Hogan, Taker, etc... And guess what? I don't think you will ever again. The days of someone coming in to capture the fans the way Hogan, Rock, Austin, Sting, etc... did are over. At least for now they are. Don't expect to see any larger than life personalities develop over the next 3-4 years. That's why HHH thinks the WWE's farm system is a joke. He sees the problem and recognizes that he was probably part of it. Which is why he wants to do something about it.

Give it time. Everything isn't going to gel in one night, one month, or hell... even one year. You can't deem the WWEs rebuilding process a failure considering at this point it's finally finding its footing.

 

[achromat666]

I mentioned before the importance of actually giving the mid card a legitimate push that can help them develop, which is not happening enough for some people that are being pushed pretty hard. Miz had exposure as a mid card chapmion, Morrison, Ziggler, Mcintyre, and other younger talents have had similar exposure. But we still don't have a Us Heavyweight or Intercontinental division to speak of.

Who has Bryan or Kingston had a chance to test their mettle against and push these other talents? People like Sheamus, Barrett (and most of the NXT types for that matter) Riley, and Del Rio could actually make these divisions important again if the WWE booked those belts to actually mean something. They're suffering the same way the Tag titles are and not elevating talent.

That said, patience is the most important factor and honestly most of the people being pushed really hard are making strides. Others have mentioned it already, this is a transitional period for the company. Cena, Orton, Punk, and the like are going to be the major talents that help the younger ones along. The Rome that is the WWE was certainly not built in a day, pre or post Attitude era. This will be no different.

Still it would be helpful to have us care about the other titles...

 

[C.K.O.]

My only concern is Wrestlers don't seem to get the chance to build there character anymore.

In my eyes the only man who has built a character (gimmick) in the last few years has been CM Punk.

Everyone else is the same person, With WWE screwing themselves over they are rushing the young talents to become Superstars before they have a product that makes a superstar a superstar. Like Swagger, Del Rio, Sheamus, Morrison, Miz.. there is nothing original about WWE superstars anymore and when they get thrown into the spotlight and fail they get pushed to side for the next man to get the spotlight and dail until one man gives Vince that WOW factor he thirsts for.

 

[yur_momma]

youth movement sucks. wwe used to be where the elites were...vets who didnt have rookie mistakes, growing pains and learning how to be comfortable on the mic. now we have to suffer through all their sloppiness and by the time they are "vets" im begging for them to be taken away. batista, orton, cena, swagger, etc.

im old, yes, but i miss the days when a guy came to the wwf with something instead of watching wwe try for years to mold a kid and watching it fail miserably.

 

[wrestlingfan]

Is it a failure? Not completely. They''ve tried to push the young guns but it takes a lot more then pushing rookies to make stars. Personally I think WWE's Youth Movement is just pushing a bunch of young upcmoing heels that all have the cocky, egotistical persona.

 

[Scuba 06]

When you say youth movement you have to look at it from top to bottom. So start at the top. Which new guys won the strap over the last year or so.
-Sheamus, Swagger, Miz, Ziggler

2 out of the 4 had mediocre runs, one never got a chance to do anything with it. The other a lot of people still dont see as a legitimate championship material.

So none of these guys have been garunteed profit makers or made people tune in to watch the show. How is this success ?

Guys who have been on the show 2+ years and still havent broken through the glass cieling yet ... morrison, kofi, dibiase

Barrett got a huge push only to be pushed to the wayside. McIntyre failed ato get over a year ago and yet they are persistent to force us to like him.

Del Rio has the most potential but I fear they may put him in the spotlight before he's ready and when they dont commit, they drop him and leave him dry. Its been done a million times.

WWE is not using math, and they are not planning ahead. You think they are but their working short term than long term. All there decisions reflect desparation, and short term gains that wont fully commit to.

After Austin, Rock, who were the next big stars ... cena, orton, batista, edge
Can you say miz beating guys like kofi and mvp did a lot to build him to this point. Who did cena face during his midcard run, lesnar, taker, big show, booker t, angle. He beat a number of those guys and beating some of the top guys make you credfible. WWE wont give these guys those needed wins to put them over. Underdogs dont sell tickets unless they cant dish out solid performances ala rey mysterio.

Over the last 5 years who is anyway near cena/batista/orton in terms of star power ? C. Punk ? Please dont tell me Miz.

So in the last 4/5 years WWE chose to make guys who werent over and had in the biz less than 2 years the faces of the franchise. Now 3 out of 4 are in the toilet, and guys who have been around 2+ like jomo and kofi still cant get to the next level. Crappy gimmicks and the Pg boundaries are holding some of these these guys back.

The only way these guys will get over is if they have a steady rise to the top. Not instant gratification. People will remember if you busted you ass off to get there or whether you were handed the keys on the on the test run.
They will take you seriously when you played ball with the best and could hang with them. Then they will respect you and want to see you again. Give them time it dosent matter how long, do you want the best or do you want to just settle for mediocrity ? If they aint drawing drop and leave em. Give the guys who are time WWE, let them get better.

 

[You_What?]

In response to Scuba 06's last post. I think everyone will agree Del Rio ain't going anywhere! I know he's 33 and it might only be a 5 year thing BUT WWE has just signed a TV deal with some Brazilian network and the Hispanic viewings are said to be growing rapidly!! We all know Vinnie Mac is a bit eccentric but he is an astute businessman, and Del Rio is a cash cow... so to speak!

But you are absolutely bang on when you say "The only way these guys will get over is if they have a steady rise to the top". Who has Miz fueded with and beaten? Orton is the only real creditable star, and even then the fued was a terrible story-line (Has anyone noticed the whole Stone Cold thing Orton has going on? Suddenly is rocking a Lauthess Press! A Stone Cold winners pose! Don't be suprised if he starts smashing Stunners all over the place). Ziggler is another lad they are pushing but he has had a few creditable fueds with Edge, Kane and Mysterio. Okay he's had the whole spirit squad fued with HHH and HBK, so we are meant to forget about that because its a different character, but at least he has some pedigree to show why he should be a champ!

I reckon after mania, we're going to see some of the dead weight cut. R-Truth is garbage and I was gutted to see him in EC! Mark Henry is a muppet! He can't pull a promo! He can't sell! The other guy has to work 10 times harder to make the match look any coup because he doesn't bring anything to the ring..... I hate that Sheamus is fueding with him atm... on a side note I was in The Hilton, Belfast that night when he made a mug of himself, and if it weren't for the WWE security guy I reckon the lad would of got flattened!! Ted DiBiase brought everyone a drink after that!! Quality Bloke!! I think thats another reason why everyone in the IWC wants DiBiase to go places, a part from his obvious talent and is awful storyline (at the moment), the guy is geniunely nice bloke!!! Anyway I've gone completely off subject!!

Who is there, in the roster, for these young guys to get credability from in the run to a tile? Maybe its the right decision to bring Rock, HHH, Taker back? Not so they can be done over, but so that the youth can get some exposure!

 

[Kaneanite]

How could you already label it a failure? And half those guys you mentioned are on the wrong side of 30. Hardly part of the "youth" movement. Also, you called Bryan boring but Kofi underrated. Tehehehe

Give it time. You can't expect them to claim they are making a youth movement and have everyone ready less than 2 years later for WrestleMania. Especially since you're looking at superstars that are hardly youth they are just new faces.

 

[yur_momma]

How could you already label it a failure? And half those guys you mentioned are on the wrong side of 30. Hardly part of the "youth" movement. Also, you called Bryan boring but Kofi underrated. Tehehehe

Give it time. You can't expect them to claim they are making a youth movement and have everyone ready less than 2 years later for WrestleMania. Especially since you're looking at superstars that are hardly youth they are just new faces.

the problem is we are not supposed to wait for these guys to grow. this is wwe, the best in the world, the elite, the pinnacle of the business. not the place where future stars MIGHT grow. and most of the time they dont grow. the list of stars who were let go in less than 5 years of debuting is absolutely staggering from carlito, kennedy, elijah, croft, masters, serena, gallows (festus), knox, burchill, colt cabana, lance hoyt, jordan, cryme tyme..........my god thats off the top of my head, im sure im missing alot of them. it sucks. we watch these guys on tv going through growing pains and when it is found out that they have personal issues or lack of skills or no room for growth or just out of ideas for them they are gone and a new nobody takes his place. its a revolving door and wwe watches and hopes that all of them dont get spit out while we suffer through it hoping to see at least one gem then the gems we do get are forced down our throats until we cant stand seeing them. for example did you know until the EC ppv every single ppv had either orton or cena in the main event fighting for the belt for the last TWO YEARS.

so yeah. its an epic failure and is killing the business because if you put mediocre guys on tv hoping they develop it makes the show a mediocre show that you hope will develop. not a good business plan.

 

[UltimateHitman]

youth movement sucks. wwe used to be where the elites were...vets who didnt have rookie mistakes, growing pains and learning how to be comfortable on the mic. now we have to suffer through all their sloppiness and by the time they are "vets" im begging for them to be taken away. batista, orton, cena, swagger, etc.

im old, yes, but i miss the days when a guy came to the wwf with something instead of watching wwe try for years to mold a kid and watching it fail miserably.

This is an example of an unopen mind. What happens when they take away all of that growing talent and then the guys you like are too old to even move? Exactly. You have a bunch of nobodies thrown in at once and you have a clusterfuck. Nobody you know, nobody you remotely care about or that has had a chance to grow on you. This is one of the most ridiculous things I've ever heard.

I really hope you're a troll. If not, I'm seriously concerned for your mental health. A guy can't "come to the WWE with something" because there are no more territories to build guys up to the point they can just transition from one big company to another. There are indy feds and all that, yes, and they can find talent there, but you're not going to get established, well known names like in the past. Can't do it. I live in the past too, but not to the point of being delusional.

Fact is, is that it's not a failure and it's something that is necessary. It happened before and it's happening now. All the veterans you know and love today weren't immediate icon status from their debuts. They were in the same boat as these guys at one point in time and had to build up over a number of years, so to say that a talent building initiative is pointless is like saying a car never needs mechanical work. It's simply not a plausible statement.

How many years did it take for Sting to develop? How about Taker? Triple H? Stone Cold? Rock? Hogan even? All of the big names started out somewhere w/out their star status. Like I said before, you don't have the AWA, NWA, WCCW, WCW, etc. etc. for people to get built up before "moving to the WWE". It can't be done the same today as it was in the past. They have to be built up in front of you. Even some of the guys that were built up in other places had to transition and move up the ladder or grow on a different demographic a bit. That's just the way it is. If you can't see that, then you probably never will.