Jack Tunney's Ghost
Occasional Pre-Show
Ok, I know that for the most part, as we watch WWE, TNA as well as various other promotions (including the "indie" scene), we as fans, are expected to execute a certain "leap of faith" and not read too much into the writing of these shows. For the most part, yeah, that's fair, it is only, afterall, JUST a pro-wrestling TV show.
But, I'm sorry, sometimes, there are just some things that just irk the hell out of me as I watch these shows (especially the TV product presented by both WWE and TNA) where I just can't help but think, "Wow! THAT WAS REALLY LAZY WRITING!"
I've watched pro-wrestling for close to a three decades now, so, I believe it's safe for me to call myself a great fan of "the business." I've experienced everything from when the business was still promoting itself as a "legitimate sport" to it's evolution (or "de-evolution" if you will) to "sports entertainment."
As the business went away from retired wrestlers and promoters from simply "booking matches" to hiring experienced television writers scripting "sports entertainment" television, a whole new world of being "over produced and poorly written" production has wormed its way into what should be mainly wrestling oriented programming.
If the writing, and the storylines were consistent in quality and logic, it would probably not annoy me so much. But, instead, we have individuals with zero background in wrestling since they were writing B-grade daytime soap operas for most of their career... but, the worst thing it, the writing for WWE and TNA especially is LAZY and full of writing shortcuts that just annoys the hell out of me.
Yes, I understand that the average wrestling fan is often considered to be not very bright and there's a feeling that the product has to be greatly "dumbed down." But, because of the general nature of the business has it constantly trying to attract new fans or keeping casual fans interested (the hardcore fan isn't much of a priority to WWE and TNA as they know that the hardcore fans will keep coming back no matter what but their numbers are "capped."), so, it's hard to introduce "complex" storylines without alienating the new or casual fans. So, yeah, it's hard to introduce anything too complex in wrestling storylines most of the time as the promotions know that the majority of the newbies aren't interested in investing too much into such an angle.
But, I've found minor things in the writing often annoy me, mainly because the techniques used are recycled, make little sense lacking simple logic and just downright LAZY writing.
Because TNA is failing to maintain any consitency in their writing for the past year, it's hard to see any recyling on their end -- but, because they're trying SOOO hard to be like WWE, I've caught them recycling some of WWE's recycling of ideas.
So, here are some of my pet peeves about the lazy, recycled TV writing techniques I'm seeing in prowrestling television that I wish they would just STOP doing --
* Wrestlers and ESPECIALLY General Managers and C.E.O.'s (I'm looking at YOU McMahon!) showing up half-way through a broadcast. Ok, I can understand if the wrestler is a heel and feels that the world revolves HIM (ala Ric Flair) that he seems to be under the impression that he can show up to a wrestling TV show whenever he feels like it. But, the faces should be at the arena at least an hour before the show you would think... at least be there early to show the fans that he for not only respects the promotion, but the fans as well. When it comes to GMs and CEO of the companies... if you're the CEO of WWE (as an example) YOU'RE RUNNING THE FREAKIN' PROMOTION! You're the one people go to whenever something may go wrong... you should be hands on from the moment the houselights are lit up in the arena so the crew can set up the ring. Ok, I get it that it's for the money shot of the big limo pulling up into the parking lot so the camera can zoom in on your expensive shoes and expensive socks step out under the door onto the cement... but, that's lazy, lazy, LAZY writing. Only stylin' and profilin' heels should be allowed to show up late. That's ALL.
* Security guards, rent-a-cops, lawyers and such should never ever be used again on wrestling TV... or at least for 20 years. Sure, it may be a neat instantly gratifying visual to see a bunch of uniforms being tossed around in a schmozz, but, again, it's lazy writing and has no long term effect for anything.
* Why the HELL does Bret Hart keep agreeing to accept McMahon's offer to appear on RAW or ANYWHERE near the WWE & McMahon? Fool Bret once shame on Vince... Fool Bret twice, shame on Bret! You'd think by now, Hart would pick up on the fact that everytime he accepts Vince's invitation to appear in WWE, only bad things happen to him... he's been kicked in the gut the first time, then attacked by Batista only to spat in face (literally!), has his leg broken, and then Vince kicks the crutch from under Hart another time. If you believe the writing here, Bret Hart is either very dumb for not picking this up, or isn't suspicious at all even though all the mojo's he's had thusfar in his WWE return has only been... y'know... BAD MOJO. Other wrestlers have been written to be this dumb in the past, and this is just the latest incarnation of this lazy writing technique.
* When was the last time a "live" interview backstage that hasn't ended up with someone getting slapped in face only to be followed by a big fight?
* Here's a trivia question for you -- Who has THE most stroke in the WWE with the wrestlers? Is it Triple H? No. The General Manager of their repective brand? No. Is it Vince McMahon? Noooo. If you follow the logic of the writers, it would be and unnamed guy in the production truck! Yes! The production truck guy who runs the Titan Tron! Y'see, again, following the logic of the writers here, if there's someone in the ring talking smack in their promo about a particular wrestler to the point where the wrestler is back in the locker room watching and hearing what is being said about him, that wrestler will get SOOOO angry that he feels he must head to the ring to confront the guy talking smack about him in the ring. So, again, following WWE logic, once the pissed off wrestler leaves his locker room en route to the ring, he will storm out of the locker room, storming by everyone in management, the producers and everyone else as he marches his way directly to the production truck, tell the Titan Tron guy to have his entrance video ready, and then, heads directly from the production truck as his video and music is being cued, then heads to the ring once his music sets up his "surprise" confrontation. Y'see, in the WWE Universe, don't let your INTENSE anger distract you from heading to the production truck to set up your entrance.
* Guest hosts who claim that it's the "biggest thrill of their lives" to be hosting Raw that week, only for them to be dicking around back stage goofing off while watching, not Raw, but whatever DVD they're trying to plug by being there. I don't think we've seen a host, with the exception of Jesse Ventura, actually WATCHING RAW for more than 2 minutes... y'know... the show that they're thrilled to be hosting, but can't be bothered to watch which again, they're thrilled to be hosting. The Raw that Shaq hosted was soooooo interesting to Shaq, that he spent most of the show backstage playing Scrabble with Hornswoggle while paying ZERO attention to Raw. It was actually a smart move on Shaq's part -- that particular episode of Raw was pretty bad that week. Cheech and Chong were so disinterested in the Raw they hosted, they found eating cereal backstage to be more interesting that Raw. Yup... fan-freakin-tastic writing there!
* "Booking on the fly"... so, both TNA and WWE are greatly guilty of this. TNA has at least 2 hours of TV programming EVERY week, while WWE has 6 hours of TV programming EVERY week to fill. This has been the case for at least 3 years for both companies. So, why is it that these come as a c0omplete surprise to them EVERY week where the GM's/CEOs/The wrestlers them selves are booking matches at the absolute last minute... and during the show in progress?!? I'm sorry, but, if I'm a GM of a brand or promotion and has at least 2 hours or sometimes more of TV programming time, I would, oh, I dunno, do the best I can to make sure I have a plan in place and have the shows booked before going on the air! How is it they get away with "booking" the show as it's already on the air and in progress! Geeze... no wonder wrestling on TV is such a clusterfuck... not only are the managers and CEOs showing up when3ever they feel like it and usually when most of the show is half way finished, but, whenever they DO decide to show up, they're booking matches at the last moment! What would happen if none of the wrestlers pisses off the suits to be inspired to book a last minute match? Do we get an hour of The Abraham Washington Show? (I really should NOT say that... not even jokingly).
Well, that's my list of wrestling pet peeves... you guys got any?
But, I'm sorry, sometimes, there are just some things that just irk the hell out of me as I watch these shows (especially the TV product presented by both WWE and TNA) where I just can't help but think, "Wow! THAT WAS REALLY LAZY WRITING!"
I've watched pro-wrestling for close to a three decades now, so, I believe it's safe for me to call myself a great fan of "the business." I've experienced everything from when the business was still promoting itself as a "legitimate sport" to it's evolution (or "de-evolution" if you will) to "sports entertainment."
As the business went away from retired wrestlers and promoters from simply "booking matches" to hiring experienced television writers scripting "sports entertainment" television, a whole new world of being "over produced and poorly written" production has wormed its way into what should be mainly wrestling oriented programming.
If the writing, and the storylines were consistent in quality and logic, it would probably not annoy me so much. But, instead, we have individuals with zero background in wrestling since they were writing B-grade daytime soap operas for most of their career... but, the worst thing it, the writing for WWE and TNA especially is LAZY and full of writing shortcuts that just annoys the hell out of me.
Yes, I understand that the average wrestling fan is often considered to be not very bright and there's a feeling that the product has to be greatly "dumbed down." But, because of the general nature of the business has it constantly trying to attract new fans or keeping casual fans interested (the hardcore fan isn't much of a priority to WWE and TNA as they know that the hardcore fans will keep coming back no matter what but their numbers are "capped."), so, it's hard to introduce "complex" storylines without alienating the new or casual fans. So, yeah, it's hard to introduce anything too complex in wrestling storylines most of the time as the promotions know that the majority of the newbies aren't interested in investing too much into such an angle.
But, I've found minor things in the writing often annoy me, mainly because the techniques used are recycled, make little sense lacking simple logic and just downright LAZY writing.
Because TNA is failing to maintain any consitency in their writing for the past year, it's hard to see any recyling on their end -- but, because they're trying SOOO hard to be like WWE, I've caught them recycling some of WWE's recycling of ideas.
So, here are some of my pet peeves about the lazy, recycled TV writing techniques I'm seeing in prowrestling television that I wish they would just STOP doing --
* Wrestlers and ESPECIALLY General Managers and C.E.O.'s (I'm looking at YOU McMahon!) showing up half-way through a broadcast. Ok, I can understand if the wrestler is a heel and feels that the world revolves HIM (ala Ric Flair) that he seems to be under the impression that he can show up to a wrestling TV show whenever he feels like it. But, the faces should be at the arena at least an hour before the show you would think... at least be there early to show the fans that he for not only respects the promotion, but the fans as well. When it comes to GMs and CEO of the companies... if you're the CEO of WWE (as an example) YOU'RE RUNNING THE FREAKIN' PROMOTION! You're the one people go to whenever something may go wrong... you should be hands on from the moment the houselights are lit up in the arena so the crew can set up the ring. Ok, I get it that it's for the money shot of the big limo pulling up into the parking lot so the camera can zoom in on your expensive shoes and expensive socks step out under the door onto the cement... but, that's lazy, lazy, LAZY writing. Only stylin' and profilin' heels should be allowed to show up late. That's ALL.
* Security guards, rent-a-cops, lawyers and such should never ever be used again on wrestling TV... or at least for 20 years. Sure, it may be a neat instantly gratifying visual to see a bunch of uniforms being tossed around in a schmozz, but, again, it's lazy writing and has no long term effect for anything.
* Why the HELL does Bret Hart keep agreeing to accept McMahon's offer to appear on RAW or ANYWHERE near the WWE & McMahon? Fool Bret once shame on Vince... Fool Bret twice, shame on Bret! You'd think by now, Hart would pick up on the fact that everytime he accepts Vince's invitation to appear in WWE, only bad things happen to him... he's been kicked in the gut the first time, then attacked by Batista only to spat in face (literally!), has his leg broken, and then Vince kicks the crutch from under Hart another time. If you believe the writing here, Bret Hart is either very dumb for not picking this up, or isn't suspicious at all even though all the mojo's he's had thusfar in his WWE return has only been... y'know... BAD MOJO. Other wrestlers have been written to be this dumb in the past, and this is just the latest incarnation of this lazy writing technique.
* When was the last time a "live" interview backstage that hasn't ended up with someone getting slapped in face only to be followed by a big fight?
* Here's a trivia question for you -- Who has THE most stroke in the WWE with the wrestlers? Is it Triple H? No. The General Manager of their repective brand? No. Is it Vince McMahon? Noooo. If you follow the logic of the writers, it would be and unnamed guy in the production truck! Yes! The production truck guy who runs the Titan Tron! Y'see, again, following the logic of the writers here, if there's someone in the ring talking smack in their promo about a particular wrestler to the point where the wrestler is back in the locker room watching and hearing what is being said about him, that wrestler will get SOOOO angry that he feels he must head to the ring to confront the guy talking smack about him in the ring. So, again, following WWE logic, once the pissed off wrestler leaves his locker room en route to the ring, he will storm out of the locker room, storming by everyone in management, the producers and everyone else as he marches his way directly to the production truck, tell the Titan Tron guy to have his entrance video ready, and then, heads directly from the production truck as his video and music is being cued, then heads to the ring once his music sets up his "surprise" confrontation. Y'see, in the WWE Universe, don't let your INTENSE anger distract you from heading to the production truck to set up your entrance.
* Guest hosts who claim that it's the "biggest thrill of their lives" to be hosting Raw that week, only for them to be dicking around back stage goofing off while watching, not Raw, but whatever DVD they're trying to plug by being there. I don't think we've seen a host, with the exception of Jesse Ventura, actually WATCHING RAW for more than 2 minutes... y'know... the show that they're thrilled to be hosting, but can't be bothered to watch which again, they're thrilled to be hosting. The Raw that Shaq hosted was soooooo interesting to Shaq, that he spent most of the show backstage playing Scrabble with Hornswoggle while paying ZERO attention to Raw. It was actually a smart move on Shaq's part -- that particular episode of Raw was pretty bad that week. Cheech and Chong were so disinterested in the Raw they hosted, they found eating cereal backstage to be more interesting that Raw. Yup... fan-freakin-tastic writing there!
* "Booking on the fly"... so, both TNA and WWE are greatly guilty of this. TNA has at least 2 hours of TV programming EVERY week, while WWE has 6 hours of TV programming EVERY week to fill. This has been the case for at least 3 years for both companies. So, why is it that these come as a c0omplete surprise to them EVERY week where the GM's/CEOs/The wrestlers them selves are booking matches at the absolute last minute... and during the show in progress?!? I'm sorry, but, if I'm a GM of a brand or promotion and has at least 2 hours or sometimes more of TV programming time, I would, oh, I dunno, do the best I can to make sure I have a plan in place and have the shows booked before going on the air! How is it they get away with "booking" the show as it's already on the air and in progress! Geeze... no wonder wrestling on TV is such a clusterfuck... not only are the managers and CEOs showing up when3ever they feel like it and usually when most of the show is half way finished, but, whenever they DO decide to show up, they're booking matches at the last moment! What would happen if none of the wrestlers pisses off the suits to be inspired to book a last minute match? Do we get an hour of The Abraham Washington Show? (I really should NOT say that... not even jokingly).
Well, that's my list of wrestling pet peeves... you guys got any?
