As I stated in my opening post, I believe that the WWE could benefit from bringing back a hardcore element to its professional wrestling product. The simple fact of the matter is, there has always been a demand for the genre of hardcore wrestling, and there's absolutely no reason to suspect that demand is not still there.
The Extreme Rules and TLC pay per views don't satisfy this demand? As I said earlier, hardcore wrestling doesn't need to make a full time return, because both pay per views can fulfill any cravings wrestling fans might have for hardcore wrestling. Both of these pay per views can be a treat for hardcore fans, and you can see great matches on either show. Here's another prime example:
[YOUTUBE]ESVeZ3NS0q0&feature=plcp[/YOUTUBE]
[YOUTUBE]kQ_oFlI8E20[/YOUTUBE]
As far back as the 1950's, professional wrestling was looking to lure in an ever expanding audience, trying to utilize shock value and the allure of blood lust to entice a more significant viewership. Guys like Giant Baba, Classy Freddy Blassie, and Dory Funk were amongst the pioneers in this regard, and their trailblazing efforts were continued by the likes of The Sheik and Terry Funk, onwards and upwards to the guys who I depicted in my opening post.
Times have changed, Habs. You can't expect to see a true hardcore character in WWE. You're not going to see a guy bust himself open with beer cans and a kendo stick before the match. The PG era has its limits, and true hardcore characters wouldn't have a place in today's WWE.
The enticement of the blood, the lure of the violence, it's been present for decades. And it's still there. Just look at the encounter between Brock Lesnar and John Cena recently. While this was not true hardcore, the dominant point of discussion subsequent to it was the fact that Lesnar busted Cena open. How did it happen? Was it a head butt or a fist? Was it real or kayfabe? Are there real life tensions between the two, or was it all part of the script? It is the allure of this type of interaction that makes hardcore wrestling as appealing today as it's ever been.
Blood? Can you really expect to see blood in a PG environment? You can't expect to see bloody battles in WWE's PG era, and there is no middle ground, when it comes to WWE's no blood policy.
As far as the Cena/Lesnar brawl goes, Cena's busted lip had to be an accident. I would have to lean in the direction of an accident, because nobody is above WWE's no blood policy. Not The Undertaker, not Brock Lesnar, and not John Cena. Nobody. Lesnar probably missed the mark with his "punch", and Cena's bloody lip was the result of his misfire. We'll see footage of Cena's bloody lip in the promos for his match with Lesnar this Sunday, but I'm sure fans will forget about it soon enough. One busted lip isn't going to cause an urge for the full time return of hardcore wrestling.
And I am supposed to believe that just because it's the PG Era, with a younger target demographic, that all of a sudden, this demand for hardcore action is suddenly gone? I don't accept that and I for one don't believe it. Hardcore wrestling still has and always will have it's niche audience, and that's just as evident today as it's ever been.
I can't believe wrestling fans are foaming at the mouth for the return of hardcore wrestling. The PG era can still be highly entertaining without hardcore wrestling. And hardcore fans can still get their fix for hardcore wrestling at WWE's more extreme pay per views. Here's another example:
[YOUTUBE]t1ZQ5QIXT2g[/YOUTUBE]
If you question the appeal of the hardcore element of the pro wrestling business, check this out:
Wrestlemania 22 saw this gem go down. This match further added to the legacy of the Hardcore Legend Mick Foley (not that he needed to add to his legacy mind you). Simultaneously, this event catapulted Edge into the main event, as he defeated Foley at his own game. And the fans absolutely loved this matchup and still talk about it to this day. It has even been suggested that this match ranks amongst the top twenty Wrestlemania matches of all time:
http://sports.ign.com/articles/775/775590p2.html
This is one match up of many which displays the profound effect a solid hardcore match can have upon the careers of the participants, as well as the lasting impact it can make upon the fans who enjoy it.
Thumbtacks, blood, fire, barbwire? Can you really expect to see this stuff in the PG era? Foley VS Edge at Wrestlemania 22 did provide a memorable experience for hardcore fans, but you will not see blood, thumbtacks, and fire in the PG era. Other wrestlers will be thrown through tables guys will fall off of ladders, but we're not going to see blood and burning tables.
And it's hardly alone:
Again this match, which occurred at Backlash 2004, was yet another in an extended history of hardcore classics from Foley. But it was more than that, as it too established one of our biggest superstars of the current age, into the main event, as the Legend Killer essentially killed the Legend in his own element. Once again, an instant classic amongst the fans, which had a profound effect upon the combatants. Yet another example of how impactful hardcore wrestling can be. And another example of why there should still be a niche available for it in today's environment.
The Intercontinental Championship match from Backlash 2004 did provide an entertaining match for hardcore fans....but that was in 2004. You can't expect to see this type of match in 2012.
Also, how did this match establish Randy Orton into the main event? Orton would later defeat Chris Benoit at Summerslam 2004 for the World Heavyweight Championship, and his run as a face champion was a big flop. Orton was given big pushes for years, but he didn't become a true fan favorite until 2010. The fans started to go nuts for him during his feud Cody Rhodes and Ted DiBiase, and his popularity finally took off, after he defeated both men in a triple threat match at Wrestlemania 26. Bottom line, Orton became a true star four years after this match.
And you don't necessarily need Foley to put on a hardcore wrestling clinic:
RVD and Tommy Dreamer, showing yet again, the appeal of a quality hardcore wrestling match, the effect it can have upon the fans, as well as the impact upon their respective careers. Hardcore wrestling should still be relevant in pro wrestling today, this cannot be disputed.
Tommy Dreamer is gone, and RVD is TNA, so how could they help
WWE?
My opponent would have you believe that are no plausible wrestlers on the current roster who could fit this hardcore style. And no doubt about it, his examples of Cody Rhodes, Zack Ryder, or Dolph Ziggler do not appear to be hardcore candidates. I disagree, however, with Daniel Bryan, and I believe he could easily transition into that genre if desired. Over and above him, a few other guys come to mind:
I can see where you're coming from here. Bryan's character could have more of an edge, but the obnoxious "YES! YES! YES!" gimmick is starting to catch on with the fans. Bryan has been on fire with this gimmick since his Wrestlemania loss to Sheamus, and the "YES!" chants have become VERY popular with the fans. Bryan's character is hot right now, fans are more than willing to spend money on "YES!" shirts, so you can't expect any major changes in the future.
What do you really see, when you look at Lord Tensai? Do you see this unstoppable monster, who supposedly reeked havoc in Japan, or do you see Prince Albert? His new character and tattooed face couldn't fool fans upon his return, and when I look at Lord Tensai, I just see a fat version of A-Train in red tights.
Kane could be that
one guy, but do you really think of hardcore, when you look at Kane? Kane's character doesn't remind of Tommy Dreamer or Mick Foley. Kane is an evil force, and his character possess supernatural abilities. Also, the PG era is in full swing. Violence is limited, and there is no blood, so you can't expect to see the same Kane that tried to burn Jim Ross alive.
Ryback could have a bigger future. He has the perfect size, look, and build. For a man of his size, Ryback does have some nice speed, he's loaded with intensity, and with time, he could easily become a contender for world championship gold, so why should WWE waste his talents with hardcore wrestling? Ryback has the potential to become a serious #1 contender for the World Heavyweight Championship, and wasting his talents in a pointless hardcore resurrection would be a terrible mistake.
Ezekiel Jackson just has a look. That's it. Jackson can be incredibly bland and boring most of the time, and his lackluster run with the Intercontinental Championship was very forgettable. Jackson couldn't provide a jump-start for anything, especially hardcore wrestling.
Not to mention Big Show, Mark Henry, Sheamus, Tyler Reks,a reinvented Brodus Clay, or any of several guys down in FCW who could be called up and groomed for this genre.
Big Show is doing fine as the loveable face right now. The fans love him, and his IC title win at Wrestlemania did provide a feel good moment, so there's no need for a change.
Since losing the World Heavyweight Championship, Mark Henry's character has taken some steps backwards. Sure, he's kept Punk busy for the past couple of weeks, but will WWE feature Henry in a prominent role again? After all, Henry only enjoyed
one successful push in the past sixteen years, so he isn't known for consistency.
Sheamus was on the path to being an ass-kicking, Irishmen, who could destroy anything in his path...but since his face turn Sheamus' character doesn't have the same edge. His promos and segments feature a lot more comedy, and he isn't the same bad ass, tough guy anymore.
Tyler Reks? I have good reasons for mentioning Ziggler, Ryder, Bryan, and Rhodes. These men are the future in WWE, they have received strong pushes, and all of these men have worn championship gold. And they receive meaningful TV time. Can you think of a memorable Tyler Reks moment on Smackdown or Raw? I know I can't. Tyler Reks hasn't done anything worth remembering in WWE. His brief run on Smackdown was forgettable, he looks like a fool on NXT, and being a former FCW Heavyweight Champion can't be considered an impressive accolade.
Also, I'm not sure about Brodus Clay. He has the size and look of a monster heel, but could he become a believable, dangerous threat again? The Funkasaurus gimmick will be hard to change, and audiences probably won't accept a serious version of Clay's character. Transforming Clay into an unstoppable monster won't be easy, and audiences will remember Brodus' moments as The Funkasaurus, because you can't forget this:
[YOUTUBE]9PXUW1tMgF0&feature=fvst[/YOUTUBE]
WWE can't rely on a forty-six year old Mick Foley anymore. They need to put their faith in the younger members of their roster, If a hardcore resurrection takes place. Ziggler, Bryan, Rhodes, and Ryder give WWE a better chance for a successful resurrection. The fans know who they are, and they have received pushes, that resulted in successful championship runs. But none of these men fit the profile of a true hardcore wrestler, and in the end, an attempted resurrection would hit a brick wall.
Mitch mentions getting your hardcore fix from just two PPV's per year. In my opinion, this would be inadequate. They would be a sensible place to start, but they would need to step up the intensity a little. Much along the lines that Hell In A Cell or Elimination Chamber PPV's (if they were to continue) would need to step up the hardcore aspect somewhat as well, rather than being regular style matches with a cage in the background, blocking the camera. If they were going to reintroduce hardcore wrestling a little more, as I have been suggesting they should, they need to make more of a commitment to it. Not just a couple of times a year, but more of a presence throughout the year. I'm not suggesting it needs to happen every single week on television. However, for the fan base to get reinvested into the genre, they need to see more of it again.
The material from TLC and Extreme Rules is more than enough, Habs. Both pay per views can be the fulfilling treat for hardcore fans. TLC and Extreme Rules can give fans a taste of the hardcore style, both of these pay per views can provide good and great matches, so what's the problem?
Also, the Hell In Cell pay per view can't bring back hardcore wrestling. The PG era and the no blood policy has restricted a lot of the violence in Cell matches, so you won't see gruesome bloodbaths (Shawn Michaels VS HHH from Bad Blood 2004, or Undertaker VS Brock Lesnar from No Mercy 2002 would be a few examples). When it comes to Chamber matches, you will see the very redundant and predictable plexiglass (i.e. one wrestler is slammed or forced through one of the chamber pods) spot, but Chamber matches don't feature the same levels of brutality and violence anymore. And Like Hell In A Cell, Chamber matches have become more tamed.
WWECW was a flop because they were never truly committed to it. I don't want to see hardcore wrestling come back for nostalgic purposes. And as I said, I don't want it to come back as the focal point of entire PPV's or as an entire brand. I want to see it come back, spread out over the entire season, on television, house shows, and PPV's, in small but effective increments, so that the fans can get behind the style again and guys being called upon to display it again. Surely, amongst the divas matches and the comedy sketches, they can find the time to reconnect the fans with the hardcore wrestling style. No hardcore belt required, with no silly 24/7 defense stipulation. Just a more physical, brutal style of action, interspersed amongst the other programming, to appeal to the niche audience that still enjoys this style, without alienating the others.
WWEECW was a flop. It was WWE's C show, and this version of ECW was treated like a third rate brand, so why would WWE put faith in hardcore wrestling again? The ECW brand provided the perfect opportunity for a successful hardcore resurrection. The original ECW was a well known and respected promotion for hardcore wrestling fans, WWEECW featured popular stars from the original brand (Rob Van Dam, Tommy Dreamer), and ECW had the pleasure of enjoying the WWE's huge platform. WWE's exposure, original stars, and Paul Heyman? This was a once in a lifetime situation. Hardcore wrestling did have a chance at a resurrection during ECW's rebirth, but the resurrection flopped in the worst way.
And now, RVD is gone, Dreamer is gone, and you can't expect a Jerry Lynn sighting in the near future. Hardcore wrestling had the elements for a successful resurrection, but hardcore wrestling couldn't thrive in a PG environment. The perfect opportunity for hardcore's second chance in the WWE is long gone.
My detractors would have you believe that hardcore wrestling does not have a place in the world of professional wrestling of today, because of the supposed fact that the target demographic of the PG Era audience is predominantly kids. But guess what, the target demographic of professional wrestling has always largely been kids. There's nothing new there. I remember watching guys when I was a kid, using chains around their fists to bust their opponents open, while concealing said chains in their mouths when the ever unobservant referees came looking. There was hardcore action back then and kids watched it. And there still can be hardcore action today, and kids can watch that too. In moderation and in a slightly modified form, more on that below.
Yeah, every kid isn't going to freak out over the sight of blood, but that doesn't matter, because WWE has made the transition to a more family friendly product.
But there is still a demographic getting missed here. What about the fathers, the grandfathers, the uncles, and the older siblings of these children? These are typically the ones who purchase the merchandise for their kids, who buy the tickets for their kids for the live events, and who purchase the pay per views. Why be totally oblivious to these people, when they can be profited upon? Because as I said in my opening post, I'm not suggesting full brands of hardcore wrestling, or even full episodes dedicated to it. I'm talking about 10-15 minutes on selective evenings, to appeal to the alternate demographic. Sure, focus upon the true target demographic for 1 hour and 45 minutes of RAW. But leave some time for the rest of the audience, that niche audience who still enjoys and craves hardcore wrestling.
Well, this guy can sell a lot of merchandise, that appeals to children:
John Cena is the face of the PG era. He can be a GREAT role model for kids, and his merchandise can always top the best seller's list in WWE. Plenty of fathers have purchased Cena merchandise for their kids along the way, you can be sure of it.
And Raw would be a bad place for any sort of hardcore resurrection. Habs, think about what's going on this year. Brock Lesnar has made his return to WWE. He will feud with John Cena. The Rock will make his return at some point, and he will find his way into the WWE Championship picture. And Kharma's return will receive some spotlight. Raw's lineup will be VERY crowded for quite some time, so where could hardcore wrestling possibly fit in?
Obviously, it's no longer 1990. In the wake of Chris Benoit, in the world of ever increasing awareness of concussions and other such injuries, and in the ever increasing litigious society we live in, hardcore wrestling does need to evolve with the times. Gone are unprotected head shots, absurd amounts of blood, and the days of barbed wire clubs called Janice. But there is still plenty of room for protected head shots, tables (either single or in stacks, sometimes afire and sometimes not), ladders (for jumping off, landing on, or using as a weapon), and chairs (just not unprotected to the head). There's room for such weapons as kendo sticks, brass knuckles, garbage cans, sledgehammers (just ask HHH), and headbutts. And there's still room for making full and effective use of cold hard steel, whether it be a traditional cage, a Hell In A Cell, or an Elimination Chamber. As I see it, hardcore wrestling can and should easily still have a place in the modern world of professional wrestling, regardless of the name placed upon the Era or the target demographic it is aimed at. As such, hardcore wrestling should return to the WWE to a greater degree.
Abyss and Janice are TNA creations, so they don't relate to WWE.
The return of hardcore wrestling wouldn't fit within today's WWE. WWE had the perfect chance with the rebirth of ECW, and they blew it. Trust me, they will never see a golden opportunity like that again, ever.
