It needs to be done.

[2Sweet_4Life]

I was just sitting here thinking about TNA's releases and how it's a better thing to have a smaller roster so younger guys get more time to show their skills on TV. In order for WWE to do this I think they need to do a bit of spring cleaning.

1.Stop bringing back Lesnar,HHH, Rock, and now possibly Batista on short term deals because unless they're putting younger talent over then the younger guys aren't going to be stars because these older guys are only coming back for the money and aren't going to be available in 2-3years. People may say that they only take up 2-4 spots up at Wrestlemania but that's how you create new stars by making them the main attraction at PPV's.

2.Release ALOT of dead wood. Such as:

Alex Riley, Aksana, Alicia Fox, Camacho, Curt Hawkins, David Otunga, Primo & Epico, Evan Bourne, Ezekiel Jackson, Khali, Hornswoggle, Hunico, Jack Swagger, JTG, Justin Gabriel, Kofi Kingston, R-Truth, Santino Marella, Ted DiBiase, Tensai, Zack Ryder.

I can't actually believe that there is that many. It would save the WWE a lot of money as they barely ever feature on TV and would mean that WWE could use the same guys on TV each week to get them more exposure rather than meaningless matches featuring all of these. And for all the people I named it'd be better if they did leave as they'll never accomplish nothing in WWE.

I think it'd be great for WWE in building new stars by doing the things I've mentioned.

 

[LoudClearVoice]

As for point 1, I understand the point you're trying to make but I've said this over and over again: The reason why WWE has to keep bringing back the old timers and part timers is because many of these young guys the IWC is obsessed with can't get over. The part timers are there only PART of the year. So, the rest of the time, the young guys have a chance to get over. If a guy is good enough to get over he will (good enough doesn't mean he's a great technical wrestler). If a guy can wrestle, talk, entertain and has the "it" factor, WWE will give him a chance. It's a business. They're in it to make money, not to "give everyone a chance."

WWE knows a lot more about getting guys over and talent than you or I or anyone else here knows. Just because I like a particular guy doesn't mean he "deserves" a chance. If he isn't good enough to get over, he isn't good enough, it's that simple. No offense to you (because you actually said it in an articulate and not whining way like most) but I'm tired of everyone blaming the part timers for their favorite wrestler not getting over.


As for your second point, I completely agree with all those names. They need to go. THAT would give some of the younger guys who legitimately have what it takes to get over, a chance to get over. We should be mad at Khali, Hornswoggle, Swagger, etc. for wasting roster spots, and TV time, not at the part timers.

 

[Jerichoholic8894]

As much as I may disagree with a couple of the names you listed, you're 100% right.

It's time to focus on rebuilding, it's just like the NBA or NFL, a good owner/GM will see it's time to rebuild and start doing so before their franchise falls too far.

WWE is at that point, people are tired of the same ol thing, and it's not the fault of John Cena, Randy Orton or anybody in particular, it's just that time in the game.

Vince needs to throw nostalgia out of the window and start bringing guys up and making them stand out! Such as The Shield.

BUT, as long as people are crying about Zack Ryder's TV time, Evan Bourne's recovery and why a 40 year old Christian isn't World Champion... It gives Vince an excuse to oversee the young guys.

 

[JoeyJoeJoe]

The WWE needs to find the right balance between pushing new stars and bringing back old talent. You can gripe about guys like Rock and Lesnar but the fact of the matter is that they bring in more PPV buys. That's why you keep hearing rumors that it'll be expanded to include guys like Batista and Austin for short stints or one off matches at WrestleMania. They make money. If the WWE can bring them back, as well as raise the profile of guys like Punk, Bryan and Ziggler at the same time, then that's the best case all around.

Second, we don't much carrying a guy like Camacho or DiBiase costs the WWE. Certainly, that list is not being paid the same kind of money that your top tier or even second tier are making. Jobbers have an important function, even to this day, so you need to keep some of them around. As much as I don't like Khali, he's a comedy routine and now near jobber who can appear threatening even if there's no chance of his winning. He serves a purpose. I just happen to think some of these guys need to be recycled at some point in favor of others, and that's why I can get on board letting some of them go. But you'll still need jobbers who will eventually be criticized for taking up space. I also don't see too many of those names cutting into the time given to others who you think are worthy of being pushed.

 

[LoudClearVoice]

WWE is at that point, people are tired of the same ol thing, and it's not the fault of John Cena, Randy Orton or anybody in particular, it's just that time in the game.

Vince needs to throw nostalgia out of the window and start bringing guys up and making them stand out! Such as The Shield.

I do agree with this in general however, don't forget that it's a business. A multi-billion dollar business. So long as Cena, Orton, Rock, Lesnar, etc. keep bringing in money hand over fist, then it would make no business sense to force them out just to get younger.

Would it make sense for Vince McMahon to say, "you know what, I'm going to try something fresh and give them Dean Ambrose vs. Bray Wyatt, rather than Brock Lesnar vs. The Undertaker at Wrestlemania?" No it wouldn't make sense. I know that's not what you said but I'm using this example to make a point.

When Cena, Orton, etc. stop bringing in money and being the top draws, that's when the new blood will be main eventing wrestlemania.

You have to look at it from Vince's perspective, not yours. Then it makes sense.

Your points make absolute sense and are smart, from a fan perspective but not from WWE's perspective when the goal is to make as much money as possible.

 

[Magic Mark]

2.Release ALOT of dead wood. Such as:

Alex Riley, Aksana, Alicia Fox, Camacho, Curt Hawkins, David Otunga, Primo & Epico, Evan Bourne, Ezekiel Jackson, Khali, Hornswoggle, Hunico, Jack Swagger, JTG, Justin Gabriel, Kofi Kingston, R-Truth, Santino Marella, Ted DiBiase, Tensai, Zack Ryder.

Well, I sure am glad you don't work for WWE! Why would they release Kingston, Bourne, Gabriel, and all others? If you want to build young stars, you actually have to KEEP the young stars!!! But I do think they should release Khali, Hornswoggle, Tensai, Otunga, and maybe even Hunico/Camacho.

Anyways, WWE is doing a fine job at building young stars as it is. Guys like The Shield, Wyatt family, and some others are SUPER OVER. WWE should NEVER, under any circumstance, do ANYTHING that TNA does. iMPACT is facing a financial crisis, similar to WCW back in the early 90s.

Bottom line, WWE dosen't need to get rid of all the superstars that you have mentioned to save money, because The E has all the money in the world! And besides, every company NEEDS a jobber or two =p

 

[BeastFromTheEast]

Really? Get serious bro, why would a billion dollar company need to save money? What a joke. Don't compare TNA and WWE because they are two different products that can not be compared to each other to begin with. I could agree with some of the names as dead weight such as Khali, Santino, and Hornswoggle but not for moneys sake, just purely because they suck.

 

[2Sweet_4Life]

Anyways, WWE is doing a fine job at building young stars as it is. Guys like The Shield, Wyatt family, and some others are SUPER OVER.

How the hell are The Shield and Wyatt Family super over?
Shield are doing pre-shows, Wyatt family have been on Raw twice.

 

[2Sweet_4Life]

Really? Get serious bro, why would a billion dollar company need to save money? What a joke. Don't compare TNA and WWE because they are two different products that can not be compared to each other to begin with. I could agree with some of the names as dead weight such as Khali, Santino, and Hornswoggle but not for moneys sake, just purely because they suck.

If you look at that paragraph I said how they were taking away TV time from better younger wrestlers who aren't getting over and need exposure.

 

[2Sweet_4Life]

Well, I sure am glad you don't work for WWE! Why would they release Kingston, Bourne, Gabriel, and all others? If you want to build young stars, you actually have to KEEP the young stars!!!

They'd release them because...
How can Kofi Kingston become a star? He's a spot monkey who can't sell a story to a library he can't talk, and had been a babyface since day 1. Too late for him.

Evan Bourne-Seriously? Injured for over a year another spot monkey who has two strikes on wellness policy.

Gabriel- Another spot monkey who can't talk and is just boring the only reason these 3 are wrestlers is for a cruiserweight division and WWE doesn't have one.

So STFU talking out of your ass.

And by young stars I meant:
Rhodes,Barrett,Sandow,Ambrose,Rollins,Wyatt,Reigns,Cesaro,Fandango.

 

[Mustang Sally]

....and how it's a better thing to have a smaller roster so younger guys get more time to show their skills on TV.

Yes, it's good to be concerned about saving money and giving young people a chance at the brass ring. The difficulty is that dumping the old guys and featuring only the new doesn't address the problem of keeping the buy rate up for PPVs and merchandise.

The Rock's inclusion shows the good things that can happen with getting people to purchase the big pay events. Fans (even casual fans) want to see the recognizable names and the fact that Vince McMahon has changed with the times and now allows people like Brock Lesnar and Rock to negotiate "limited" deals allows us to see them in the ring; whereas if he insisted on them signing traditional full-time deals.....we wouldn't have them at all.

As to merchandising, let me put it this way: would you rather buy a Rock t-shirt.....or that of a NxT guy who's being given at shot at the big time in place of the wrestling legend he's replacing so the company can save money?

Fact is, a balance of tried-and-true stars being mixed with the stars you're trying to build is the way to maintain profitability while structuring your company toward the future.

No one ever said it would be easy.

 

[BrianFNPillman]

How the hell are The Shield and Wyatt Family super over?
Shield are doing pre-shows, Wyatt family have been on Raw twice.

Correction, Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins were on the Pre-Show. Ambrose was in a Main Event MitB match. Shield as a whole may be flailing, but they still hold all the mid-card titles, and still dominate as a faction. The fact they were on a pre-show means nothing, especially when the PPV is revolved around 2 huge spot matches.

As for Wyatt Family, I'm sorry but they are over as fuck. never knew Bray Wyatt had a promo in him until they came around. But he is awesome on the mic. And they've only been on RAW twice because they only debuted...2-3 weeks ago? That's still pretty good for a debuting faction from FCW.

The Wyatts are over. Period. Partly because Bray is awesome on the mic, partly because of gimmick, and partly because of the age old Drunk-Scott-Hall-Logic of "You got cool entrance music maaaaaan."

I really don't understand your logic, you seem to want to get rid of everyone you don't perceive to be worthy of WWE television. And that's that.

 

[BestntheWorld]

The only reason the shield was on the preshow was because of the to 30+ minute ladder matches and they still had an amazing match, the fans were going insane. The Wyatts are very over, if you actually watch and listen to how the fans react when they come out. You dont have to have a 5 match win streak to be over with the fans, it's all about the reaction.

 

[Magic Mark]

They'd release them because...
How can Kofi Kingston become a star? He's a spot monkey who can't sell a story to a library he can't talk, and had been a babyface since day 1. Too late for him.

Evan Bourne-Seriously? Injured for over a year another spot monkey who has two strikes on wellness policy.

Gabriel- Another spot monkey who can't talk and is just boring the only reason these 3 are wrestlers is for a cruiserweight division and WWE doesn't have one.

So STFU talking out of your ass.

And by young stars I meant:
Rhodes,Barrett,Sandow,Ambrose,Rollins,Wyatt,Reigns,Cesaro,Fandango.

Kofi is a spotmonkey? If i recall, I remember him having some awesome technically sound matches with Dolph Ziggler a year or two ago. Kofi is also over with the kids, and even the adults think he is a great wrestler. And do you even know what a spot monkey is? Jeff Hardy and Mick Foley were spot monkeys, Kofi isn't anywhere close to that.

Bourne is an IWC darling, so I don't see WWE releasing him anytime soon, unless of course, if he gets high again. Again, not a spot monkey.

When it comes to Gabriel, some people don't like him, but if WWE released him tomorrow, people would be furious. He is stale on the mic, and he dosen't have much of a personality, but he's still a better wrestler than most of WWE locker room.

Oh, and nice insult near the end there, you REALLY put a damper on my day.

 

[fouldsy91]

Alex Riley - was supposed to be a big star, fell out with Cena, they could potentially do something with him but if they don't want too, I'd release him
Aksana - Definitely should be released
Alicia Fox - Actually can perform in the ring, but one week she's a heel, the next a face, I don't understand it. They should just use her to put future divas over, then release her
Camacho - Release him or send him back to NXT
Curt Hawkins - Either reform him with Ryder, or release him
David Otunga - Should be used as a manager, but there's a lof them already
Primo & Epico - They should be in a cruiserweight division, most likely only kept about in case they do ever make a Cruiserweight programme for the network
Evan Bourne - Has a lot of potential, but does stupid things (e.g. wellness policy) I'd keep him because he could either become an upper midcard guy, or they could actually fire someone off the wellness policy, works out either way because the media won't have doubts over the policy anymore
Ezekiel Jackson - release him, too many big men that are better than him
Khali - release him, only good for the India market and they don't see to care anymore
Hornswoggle - Kids love him, I'd keep him for that reason
Hunico - Release him or keep him for cruiserweight show
Jack Swagger -Definitely keep. He has done some idiotic things in the past, but he is really good on his day and can outwrestle the majority even if he isn't a very good talk (that's what Zeb's for)
JTG - Should have been released a long time ago
Justin Gabriel - Keep him for crusierweight show or release him
Kofi Kingston - Definitely keep, very good worker in my opinion. If he turned heel most people would probably love him
R-Truth - Keep, he is entertaining, and showed how good he was with his heel turn
Santino Marella - Keep for comedy, but don't give him anymore titles unless they make him more serious
Ted DiBiase - Seems to be a flop, give him one last chance or release
Tensai - He can put on good showings, but the Albert stigma has got in his way, but I'd keep him
Zack Ryder - Reform him with Hawkins, or release

I'd release Darren Young, Jinder Mahal, Rey Mysterio (seems to be injury prone now), Sin Cara, Rosa Mendes and Yoshi Tatsu to go with the people I said to release also.

But, WWE don't really need too do this. Also, The Shield have beaten people such as The Undertaker, Kane, Daniel Bryan, Randy Orton, Ryback, John Cena etc and have took out The Rock, they are insanely over. And The Wyatt's have only debuted a week and a half ago? Give them a chance.

 

[H33LTurn]

As far as your first point is concerned, the reason all of these old timers are being brought back is due to the inability of WWE's current roster to get over. There are no major established stars except for Cena and Punk who can draw a crowd like Brock or Triple H. Also, if these guys have a desire to wrestle and the fans want to see them then theres no logical reason for WWE to turn down that offer. Triple H put Curtis Axel over not too long ago and Brock right now is helping CM Punk cement his legacy with such a personal storyline.

As far as dead wood goes, fact of the matter is these guys make up about half of WWE's current TV shows (Superstars, Smackdown, Main Event, Saturday Morning Slam) and wrestle house shows. While they dont get any TV time they do have in ring styles that are exciting to see live.

 

[pyrusane]

I was just sitting here thinking about TNA's releases and how it's a better thing to have a smaller roster so younger guys get more time to show their skills on TV. In order for WWE to do this I think they need to do a bit of spring cleaning.

In TNA's case this is true, since they have 2 hours of TV each week plus one Live PPV per quarter. WWE has 5 hours to fill each week, and that's just with Raw and SD, I don't watch ME or Superstars so not sure how long they go.

1.Stop bringing back Lesnar,HHH, Rock, and now possibly Batista on short term deals because unless they're putting younger talent over then the younger guys aren't going to be stars because these older guys are only coming back for the money and aren't going to be available in 2-3years. People may say that they only take up 2-4 spots up at Wrestlemania but that's how you create new stars by making them the main attraction at PPV's.

Rock comes around for a couple of months each year, and his presence causes the young guys to get far more exposure, because more people are watching. What they do with that exposure is up to them. Lesnar works limited dates, and his appearances don't exactly eat up a lot of time. But his presence does draw in people that might not ordinarily watch, and they spend most of that time seeing the young guys you so adore. Triple H is filling the role that Vince filled during the Attitude Era, except it is a lot more convincing when he gets involved physically in a storyline because he was an active wrestler just a couple years ago, not a body-building grandfather.

Another part-timer that you didn't mention but I am sure you meant to include would be Chris Jericho, right? He works a part-time schedule, he's older than most of the roster...and all he does is put over the young talent.

2.Release ALOT of dead wood. Such as:

Alex Riley, Aksana, Alicia Fox, Camacho, Curt Hawkins, David Otunga, Primo & Epico, Evan Bourne, Ezekiel Jackson, Khali, Hornswoggle, Hunico, Jack Swagger, JTG, Justin Gabriel, Kofi Kingston, R-Truth, Santino Marella, Ted DiBiase, Tensai, Zack Ryder.

I can't actually believe that there is that many. It would save the WWE a lot of money as they barely ever feature on TV and would mean that WWE could use the same guys on TV each week to get them more exposure rather than meaningless matches featuring all of these. And for all the people I named it'd be better if they did leave as they'll never accomplish nothing in WWE.

In the same paragraph you say "they barely feature them on TV each week" and "WWE could use the same guys on TV each week to get them more exposure." Which is it? Do these guys barely get featured, or do they steal time from the ones that you like?

Alex Riley, Evan Bourne, Ezekial Jackson, Camacho, Curt Hawkins, David Otunga, Hunico, JTG, Justin Gabriel, Ted DiBiase, Santino Marella...I can't name the last time I saw any of those guys on Raw. Maybe a few of them have the occasional match on Smackdown, but I rarely see any of them.

R-Truth, Kofi Kingston, Khali, Tensai...this group is a little different. Kofi is a great worker, has the ability to bring a higher level of intensity when needed, and is a great option if you need to drop the IC title on a face to transition it from one heel to another. He can be totally believable as a threat in that capacity. R-Truth is the same, although not quite as dependable as Kofi. Tensai and Khali, along with Brodus Clay (who you didn't mention) are both big guys that are useful when you need a smaller guy to get a win that showcases his strength or determination, or just for that impressive visual of one of these guys being lifted by a powerhouse like Ryback or Barrett.

Jack Swagger...c'mon, really? Yeah, he can't talk, but with Zeb he doesn't need to. A month ago he was in the midst of the WHC picture, and now he has this new tag team with Cesaro that is actually somewhat interesting.

Hornswoggle serves no real purpose, but he does make the kids happy, and it's not like he steals a lot of TV time anymore.

The point is, just because you aren't interested in the people you mentioned doesn't mean they aren't valuable to the company. They may not be the next big breakout star, but not everyone has to be. Some of them are destined to be no more than enhancement talent, some are good for the bigger names to work out with to develop new moves and sequences, some just have a connection with a certain element of the fanbase and help keep that demographic interested in the product. Whatever the reason, just because you don't like them doesn't mean that no one else does, and it certainly doesn't mean that they must be released for the company to be successful.

I think it'd be great for WWE in building new stars by doing the things I've mentioned.

I'm sure you do. If you thought it was a bad idea, then it would pretty stupid for you to post it and say "Look at this crappy idea I just had!" Instead, you let all of us say that for you. Thank you.

 

[newwaveknight]

Alex Riley, Aksana, Alicia Fox, Camacho, Curt Hawkins, David Otunga, Primo & Epico, Evan Bourne, Ezekiel Jackson, Khali, Hornswoggle, Hunico, Jack Swagger, JTG, Justin Gabriel, Kofi Kingston, R-Truth, Santino Marella, Ted DiBiase, Tensai, Zack Ryder.

I heavily disagree. You're wanting to release damn near the entire undercard? How will mid-carders get over then? Having an undercard/jobbers is how we get to know a new character in the ring and see what that character is about. If our mid-card is nothing more than main-event guys that they don't have any storylines ideas for, then there is no way for them to slowly and surely build characters that are going to stick around for a while, since midcarders who haven't ever been main-event guys before will automatically be facing guys who have been headlining Wrestlemanias.

You see, that's one of the problems with the WWE: Once someone starts to get over a little, they push them WAAAYYY too hard, too fast. Let them grow a little bit, THEN push them to main-event status. If they released the people you just mentioned, then there will be no undercard for these mid-card guys to have matches with to build more steadily.

What needs to be done? SEPARATE THE BRANDS BACK OUT AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!

Seriously, WHY did the WWE think integrating the brands was a good idea? All it did was:

1) Devalue the World Heavyweight Championship.
2) Devalue the IC Championship.
3) Overexpose the same people who are main-eventing RAW already.
4) Push the lower main-event guys to the mid-card (since RAW main-eventers are now also main-eventing SmackDown).
5) Turn the midcard into the undercard.
6) Make sure that the undercard gets NO TV time.

 

[The Perfect Max]

You have contradicted yourself a little. You say that young stars need to be built, but 95% of the list you gave off who you believe should be released could be those young stars. It isn't the fact the WWE has too many stars, it is the WWE is failing to capitalize on those stars. Admittedly, there are a select few stars that should get released, perhaps five or six, but for the majority, they need a correct push. Once they get that push, that opportunity, then we can see whether they are good to go or forever failures.

Alex Riley, for example, is a bright young star. He has a good look, he is pretty decent in the ring (and there is always room for improvement), and has had experience at the top with guys like John Cena, The Rock and The Miz during his WWE Championship reign in 2011. Since then, he has been majorly lost. Just because of that, you would fire him? That is a daft move considering the potential he possesses. All he needs is that push. Look at Damien Sandow now, or better yet, Curtis Axel. These guys had no chance a few months ago, but now look, these two are being set up as two of the next big players.

In terms of big stars like The Rock, Brock Lesnar, Rob Van Dam and perhaps Batista returning, bare in mind this is entertainment. The WWE is looking for the money, and these guys draw. WWE fans love to see these on their screens, and whenever they are involved, the audience is watching. It works, and WWE knows it. Again, I understand your viewpoint. It is frustrating that these guys get so much time, and the younger prospects sometimes get none at all. I sometimes wonder if in 10 - 15 years time, will there be guys like The Rock or Brock Lesnar from this era to come back part time? I would like to think so, but you never know.

All WWE needs to do is get the ball rolling with these young stars, and regardless of how many part timers are involved, it doesn't matter. If WWE are going to push a star, they will do so. Daniel Bryan and Dolph Ziggler are on the verge, Damien Sandow, Cody Rhodes and Curtis Axel are coming on and have a bright future, and The Shield and Wyatt Family seem to be popular prospects. WWE are building stars, and with the help of popular part timers bringing in the ratings, potentially outsiders are becoming aware of these new talents.

 

[Jack-Hammer]

When it comes to TNA, the alleged reason they've released so many is due to "budgetary reasons". None of the wrestlers released or have been granted their release are really major stars. If I'm not mistaken, three of the four original Cut Check winners have been released, which only make the concept seem even more worthless, Matt Morgan is gone and TNA has played stop & go with pushes for over 6 years, D-Lo Brown was a nobody 15 years ago & is a nobody now, Bruce Pritchard is an executive that very few people seem to care about. Tara, while still hot, is 42 years old & could stroll back into WWE in 3 or 4 months & I doubt that many would care or remember who she is, Crimson is a young guy with a lot of potential upside but they decided to let him go. If TNA is so concerned with its pocket book, then maybe Hulk Hogan is someone who should be let go or ask to have his contract changed. Allegedly, Hulk Hogan makes $30,000 per appearance. Hogan, Sting & Angle make FAR, FAR more than any other wrestlers on the TNA roster; and they're also extremely close with Dixie Carter. They don't contribute to ratings as they've all, a lot of the time, been featured a the central focus point of the company. The reason they're kept around? As someone else said in regards to WWE, they're FAR over than anyone else on the roster despite being unable to move the needle when it come to ratings or television buys. TNA popped the biggest rating they've had since late January last night and one could argue that one reason why is because someone like Chris Sabin, a young guy who has paid his dues, was a major focal point for the show.

I don't see that WWE has "too many" stars on the roster, but rather they're reluctant to give someone the big chance. It's understandable when you stop and think with your head for a second. Guys like Cena, Orton & Punk have shown to be long term moneymakers after all. You just simply don't shaft guys who draw you top money just because the IWC wants to you shake things up. As I've said on many occasions, WWE is a business and not a fantasy league. Even if WWE gives the IWC what they seem to want in terms of certain wrestlers getting pushed or being put into certain spots; how long is it usually before the IWC gripes about something? Vince knows that there's no pleasing the fickle smarks that make up a hefty portion of the IWC, so they do what they do for the sake of business. As for young guys who aren't getting great responses, it seems to me that Daniel Bryan has been getting a monster response for the past couple of months. Fans are rallying behind Dolph Ziggler, The Shield have made a big impact, which is especially impressive considering they haven't been on the main roster for even a year and are 27 & 28 years old respectively. Bray Wyatt is generating a lot of positive buzz since his arrival. I know that everyone likes to use The Rock or Stone Cold as a measuring stick but if you're honest with yourself, you'll realize that they're an example of lightning in a bottle. Wrestlers who get over to their degree ad who connect with fans on such a level is extraordinarily rare. As much as some want to give the impression that it's easy to get someone to that level, it's bullshit. Unless you're a handful of guys such as Daniel Bryan, CM Punk, Chris Jericho or Rob Van Dam; then you often catch a ton of hate from the IWC. Anyone who gives Cena the "you can't wrestle" treatment is a fucking moron as he's proven that statement wrong time & time again. Truth is, some fan are just plain old assholes. Take Cena's Make A Wish video during the WWE Hal of Fame induction ceremony in which a ton of smarks booed the video. Yeah, a lot of assholes from New York & Jersey ridiculed a video depicting children with life threatening illnesses because they thought it was "fun". Those fans would probably cheer their heads off if you showed them WWII footage of Holocaust victims. And these sorts of fans are an example of who wrestling companies have to get their wrestlers over with in modern times.

As usual, internet fans seem to view that their views represent those of the majority of WWE's audience. When you factor in DVR viewership into WWE programs, Raw & SD! draw in the mid to upper 4 million and mid 2 million to low 3 million; which is what they've drawn for the past couple of years. If WWE viewers had a tenth of the complaints of the IWC, then WWE wouldn't have had almost $660 million in revenue for 2012, $659.33 to be exact.

 

[ultramattman]

People may say that they only take up 2-4 spots up at Wrestlemania but that's how you create new stars by making them the main attraction at PPV's.

WRONG. This is a popular misconception. You create new stars by giving them a spotlight on television, not PPV's. PPV's are for cashing in on the star power you've built. TV is where you build exposure. People will watch Raw or Smackdown every week, no matter who's on. That's where the audience gains familiarity, and where superstars have a chance to grab people's attention. Then, if the superstar is creating interest, people start to want to see more. Then they reach the point where people are willing to pay to see a match.

Also, why exactly should WWE stop making money off Rock, Lesnar, Taker etc? Those are stars that WWE built. In fact, WWE spent years investing in those stars to get them to the point where they sell tickets and PPV's today. Think about how much time it took to build The Streak. It took a decade and a half before WWE really started making money off it. I don't understand why people think WWE should just ignore all that equity, especially to put less popular wrestlers in their place.

It's very important for WWE to invest time into building new stars on Raw and Smackdown. But PPV's are for wrestlers that, well, that people are willing to pay to view.

 

[newwaveknight]

WRONG. This is a popular misconception. You create new stars by giving them a spotlight on television, not PPV's. PPV's are for cashing in on the star power you've built. TV is where you build exposure. People will watch Raw or Smackdown every week, no matter who's on. That's where the audience gains familiarity, and where superstars have a chance to grab people's attention. Then, if the superstar is creating interest, people start to want to see more. Then they reach the point where people are willing to pay to see a match.

Also, why exactly should WWE stop making money off Rock, Lesnar, Taker etc? Those are stars that WWE built. In fact, WWE spent years investing in those stars to get them to the point where they sell tickets and PPV's today. Think about how much time it took to build The Streak. It took a decade and a half before WWE really started making money off it. I don't understand why people think WWE should just ignore all that equity, especially to put less popular wrestlers in their place.

It's very important for WWE to invest time into building new stars on Raw and Smackdown. But PPV's are for wrestlers that, well, that people are willing to pay to view.

I agree with you to an extent and disagree with you. To me, it's a little bit of column A and B.

TV should be used to build stars, but you have to put them on a PPV at SOME point in time to test the waters and see if they can main event for sure. They should let talent that they're building as main eventers hedline SOME PPVs. However, the Big Five (Wrestlemania, Survivor Series, MITB, SummerSlam, and the Royal Rumble) need to be headlined by sure-fire draws since those are the biggest PPVs.

 

[JBK2008]

The part timers are needed to either help draw in people while the young guns continue to develop or they come boost ratings or draw in money for the short term. That's not going to change anytime soon.

As for releasing talent, a lot if guys need to go. So much can be done as far as clearing space which is sad considering how much one there is every week for these guys. Trim a little fat off and see how everyone reacts.

 

[MCMG]

I'm sure the WWE are doing fine financially but if they were pressed to make cuts there is certainly people they can cut. Guys like JTG, The Great Khali, Curt Hawkins, Hunico etc have no future and are just a waste of a wage. There are plenty of guys that can still make an impact in the company but it depends on booking. Kofi Kingston is talented but has struggled to really make the leap to the top of the card. That doesn't mean he can't be a solid mid-carder giving us good matches and feuds.

The part timers bring the WWE revenue through PPV buys. The Rock, Lesnar, HHH, Taker are people that the fans want to see and giving the fans what they want is good for the business in the short term. Of course, when looking into the future it may be logical to give some younger superstars the chance in the main-event but there is not guarantee that they will become a big star. With the "part-timers" the WWE are guarentted to benefit from greater revenue; whereas, pushing a younger superstar isn't a quick fix and abandoning Brock or The Rock won't do much.

 

[The 1-2-3 Killam]

I was just sitting here thinking about TNA's releases and how it's a better thing to have a smaller roster so younger guys get more time to show their skills on TV. In order for WWE to do this I think they need to do a bit of spring cleaning.

Yeah, but the difference being that TNA has two hours of television content every week (5 on PPV weeks) and WWE has eight (11 on PPV weeks) counting Main Event, Superstars, and NXT. Even if you don't count developmental, it's still 7 hours a week (10). That's over 30 hours of television every month to book.

1.Stop bringing back Lesnar,HHH, Rock, and now possibly Batista on short term deals because unless they're putting younger talent over then the younger guys aren't going to be stars because these older guys are only coming back for the money and aren't going to be available in 2-3 years. People may say that they only take up 2-4 spots up at Wrestlemania but that's how you create new stars by making them the main attraction at PPV's.

Do you know what happens when you make new stars the main event of major attractions? People tend not to buy them. I hear so many people bitching about how so and so isn't in the main event; if they were good enough to be (also read: ready to be), or sold enough tickets to be, they would be, with very little exception. Another factor is that the exposure some of these guys bring in is actually, in fact, putting over the under-card talent. More viewers = more exposure. No one thing makes a star over. It's a bunch of different things, and filling one or two segments with part-timers isn't going to take anything away from anybody. Except maybe CM Punk.

2.Release ALOT of dead wood. Such as:

Alex Riley, Aksana, Alicia Fox, Camacho, Curt Hawkins, David Otunga, Primo & Epico, Evan Bourne, Ezekiel Jackson, Khali, Hornswoggle, Hunico, Jack Swagger, JTG, Justin Gabriel, Kofi Kingston, R-Truth, Santino Marella, Ted DiBiase, Tensai, Zack Ryder.

There will ALWAYS be undercard talent that's barely on TV. Even in the Attitude Ear and post-AE there were talents only being used on Heat and Velocity. Funaki, anyone? These guys may not be getting anyone over, but ever match Jack Swagger wrestles in more experience. Any time Antonio Cesaro goes over one of these guys, he gains that much more exposure, and ultimately pays those imaginary dues. Plus,
WWE fills live events with these talents. It gives the main roster guys a break, and allows them to split schedules and make booking cards easier.

I can't actually believe that there is that many. It would save the WWE a lot of money

Not a problem.

as they barely ever feature on TV and would mean that WWE could use the same guys on TV each week

You'd get really bored really quickly. It's better to have squash matches than wear you out with Orton vs. Sheamus five times in a month. Trust me. The smaller a roster gets, the more you're going to see repetition in the product.

And for all the people I named it'd be better if they did leave as they'll never accomplish nothing in WWE.

So your argument is that it'd be better for these guys to go and work indy companies in front of 100 people a night, than only get used at live events in front of 10,000 people every night? Or maybe go to TNA and not get real contracts, and have a lot less job security? Look, being a WWE SUperstar or Diva is a lot more than just being John Cena for a lot of these people. For Otunga it's given him routes to work law cases he probably wouldn't have gotten on his own. All these guys do media rounds and get to work with Make-a-Wish, and dozens of other foundations. Everyone on WWE's roster is working damn near every day, doing something. Just because you don't see them on TV, doesn't mean they're sitting at home accomplishing nothing for the company.

Pro Wrestling will always need jobbers. THey will always need the lesser, to make the product run. If they got rid of Alex Riley or David Otunga, than somebody closer to the top would have to start doing all the jobs to get people like Ryback over. You need guys to trample underfoot. It's just the nature of the business.