Should they hire TV writers?

[Deoxyribonucleic A.C.I.D.]

Over the past 3 months I was thinking about WWE's writing team. RVD's shots on twitter, didn't help my thoughts go away either.

My two major concers are:
1) Lack of consistency.
You know what I mean, Edge & Cena, Cena & Orton appearing as buddies very often, Anonymous GM storyline, Reigns not giving two shits about Rollins, many things that we're supposed to forget etc.

2) Lack of creativity.
We haven't seen anything original since forever. Everything original that happens on the show doesn't come from the creative, but from the wrestlers themselves, like Punk's promo in 2011 or the Bad News Barrett gimmick, which was Cody Rhodes' idea. Shield & Wyatts were the most original thing of the last 5 years. But their spark lasted for 5 months, then it was all up to the wrestlers to keep themselves alive, since the creative is capable of creating an impact, sometimes; but not able to sustain that impact and keep moving forward.

So, I decided to do a check-up on the current writers. According to Wikipedia and IMDb, we have:
1) Brian Gewirtz, Creative consultant. Who also was a WWE writer since 1999. A guy with 16 years of experience under his belt.
2) David Kapoor aka Ranjin Sigh, Head writer. Has been a writer since 2010.
3) Ed Koskey, RAW writer. Has been WWE writer since 2005 and also was writer of SmackDown! in 1999. Another guy with 10+ years of experience.
4) Stephen Guerrieri, Smackdown! writer. Has been a writer since 2012.

Now what Wikipedia fails to mention, is that all ideas pass through Vince McMahon, but that's another subject.

I'm also a huge TV series viewer. I was watching Breaking Bad and the build-up of the characters was simply amazing. The transition of Walter White from face to heel was even better and bigger than any wrestling heel turn ever. Game of Thrones, everybody wants the WWE Champ.. I mean take the throne. See what I'm doing? I'm taking TV events and compare them to wrestling storylines. You have Arrow, a crazy guy fighting to protect his city from evil. Doesn't that sound like the perfect antihero vs The Authority storyline?

These shows are successfull because of their plot. We all know that wrestling without storylines doesn't work. Also, wrestling alone doesn't sell, otherwise ROH would be #1 in the USA. WWE's wrestling for me, is fine and I can say it is improved compared to other years. People rarely complain about the wrestling. The plot is always the focal point of discussion.

What's my point? My point is this: Nobody can write storylines and keep them fresh, for 15 years, not in wrestling. Ideas are going to get rehashed over & over & over again 'till the ratings reach 0.5. Add the no-continuity factor in there and it becomes a mess.

My controversial question: Should they hire successfull TV series writers as creative consultants? Mix those up with former wrestlers. Get fresh ideas on the table and then have the wrestling writers, take those ideas and apply them to a wrestling ring. Major co-operation. Wrestlers & TV-writers work as creative consultants, wrestling writers then apply those ideas, in order to fit a wrestling ring. Build up characters, deliver pay-offs, create intriguing and unpredictable storylines.

What do you think?

 

[Bockwinkel's Class]

How about getting rid of "writers" and bring back bookers? You know: People who actually know how to book a friggin' wrestling show instead of hacks who sucked at script writing so they couldn't get a job in Hollywood and had to settle for working for Bucky Beaver?

 

[Jack-Hammer]

Now what Wikipedia fails to mention, is that all ideas pass through Vince McMahon, but that's another subject.

Actually, it's not another subject. It may very well be the single biggest problem facing WWE's creative team. Everything that we see on television has to be approved of by Vince McMahon, he makes the FINAL creative decision. Once upon a time, that wasn't a bad thing because Vince McMahon had his finger on the pulse of the modern American wrestling fans and it's a major reason why WWE not only outlasted its rival wrestling companies, but thrived. However, I'm of the opinion that Vince McMahon no longer has his finger on the pulse of the modern American wrestling fans and is becoming increasingly out of touch with those fans.

Now, we have no idea what sort of ideas the writers ultimately have to leave on the cutting room floor, so to speak. Ultimately, their job is simple: to present ideas that they think Vince McMahon likes or that they flat out know that Vince McMahon likes because Vince believes that he's still the true creative genius that he was once upon a time who knows better than EVERYONE else around him. What I mean by "simple" is that their job description is simple, not that actually executing their job is simple because dozens of reports I've read over the years show that isn't true.

You mentioned a lack of consistency and one major reason for that is Vince McMahon flip flopping on a regular basis. Sometimes, Vince will be into an idea for a week or two then, for whatever reason, go completely cold against it and want it changed even if it's right smack in the middle of an angle. Sometimes, again, for whatever reason, he'll warm back up to the idea and writers will have to go back to the original plans even after something else has already been set in place. There've been times in which Vince has wanted Raw completely rewritten even while the show is taking place. Late last year, I remember reading an article that said Vince got the script for that Monday's episode of Raw, tore it up and pretty much rewrote the thing himself. Sometimes, the writers are able to make changes to an angle or storyline that's able to keep the natural flow of things going by and large; during other times, however, it looks like a clusterfuck with huge gaps in logic and common sense. A good example of something that falls about in the middle, but is definitely leaning a bit more towards the clusterfuck side of things, is the situation with Daniel Bryan & Roman Reigns. Arguably, the primary glue holding it together is Daniel Bryan's popularity and the fact that so many fans are invested in what he's doing. While Bryan is much more over than Reigns, Reigns himself is still pretty over and it's led to some confusion among fans as to who too cheer for. After all, despite the heat the decision to book Reigns winning the Royal Rumble has gotten, Reigns did win and it's common sense that he's taking advantage of the opportunity he's been given just like any sane, rational person would. However, there's well more than enough anti-Reigns fans who don't want to see Reigns vs. Lesnar to hijack their match at WrestleMania because Vince either underestimated Daniel Bryan's popularity yet again or simply decided to go with what he wanted while expecting fans to believe that's reason enough to get on board. IF reports are accurate, Daniel Bryan will wind up in the title match at WrestleMania either as a replacement for Reigns after winning this Sunday or as part of a triple threat match. Not only does it make Vince look pretty incompetent and, again, out of touch with a majority of modern fans, but it's the 2nd year in a row in which the concept of the Royal Rumble is undermined.

In my opinion, the problem doesn't lie so much with the writing as it does with the man making the final creative decisions. As I said, I think Vince is becoming increasingly out of touch and it's a full time job for the WWE creative team to just keep up with Vince's changing moods.

 

[Mighty NorCal]

By all accounts, pretty much the entire creative team ARE Hollywood writers.


No extremely successful writers would get involved, because they are showrunners on critically acclaimed TV series....Would not become involved in the Carny world of pro wrestling.

 

[OYDK]

It's a good concept, but its also a massive risk that probably wouldn't work out for either sides.. Sure, these TV writers may be accomplished at writing a script for a 30 minute TV show a few months a year, but put them together and ask them to put together a LIVE 3 hour show every Monday and 2 hour show every Friday, and they'd probably be lost.

There's also the fact that in your examples, the writers really only have to focus on one or two characters a show, whereas in the WWE you're dealing with a whole bunch of talent, some of whom need to be built much more than others. You can't just focus on John Cena and Roman Reigns and just let the rest of the roster go to shit. I'm not saying that's what you're implying, but I feel it would be a very difficult transition.

 

[George Steele's Barber]

"If I like it, it has everything to do with the wrestlers. If I hate it, it is the fault of management and the creative team.". - Everyone

Haven't WWE hired TV writers before? Don't they still use some former TV writers? Are Dan Harmon, Shonda Rimes, David Chase, Judd Apatow, and that guy whose name I can't remember waiting on Vince's phone call to take a huge pay cut to write for 52 weeks a year?

You get my point. I don't think WWE can really afford and recruit top talent. It seems every writer they've ever had goes on to be some podcast hound who will tell ever secret they can for twenty bucks.

In the end though, I don't think writing better is that hard for WWE. But Vince doesn't seem to care. It is a product based mostly for kids that some adults stick with regardless. The writing isn't a high priority right now.

 

[MC_Live]

Wrestling is a different and almighty business. Sure, we can look at Breaking Bad and Game of Thrones and other such show and praise how great they were/are. But if they had to make 5 hours of TV a week, 52 weeks a year, I'm sure there would be a much different reputation surrounding the shows. I will always give the writers the benefit of the doubt when it comes to having to make 52 weeks of RAW & SmackDown.

I often wonder what the problem is with the writing. Part of me thinks that WWE should be more character and story focused, like shows such as Breaking Bad or the Walking Dead or such. But, can they do that 52 weeks a year?

Part of me thinks, look at the differences. Current day there is a gigantic staff of writers who all come from TV show/Hollywood backgrounds. And as such, we have the worst product in a very long time. Compare that to the Attitude era and before, when the writers were either a group of about 3 people, or even just 1 or 2 bookers. The product was a lot better in the past. Heck, look at NXT. One writer, and Triple H looks over the product. Great product.

But maybe it's not the writers. Maybe it's Vince McMahon. Maybe the writers try their best, but Vince has final say. And he may not think he's out of touch, but he is. If he wasn't, the product wouldn't be in the shape its in.

There is literally nothing in the world like professional wrestling. Personally, I like a small group of people being in charge of creative. Wrestling should be booked instead of written, and the wrestlers need to fill in the blanks. The bookers tell them what to do. The wrestlers figure out what to say and how to do what they need to do to get the best reaction. It's not a black and white issue of where to go. But if NXT is any indication, I think it's better to reduce the writing staff and just leave it up to the boys. I feel like WWE's big problem today is over production.

 

[Papa Pillman]

How about getting rid of "writers" and bring back bookers? You know: People who actually know how to book a friggin' wrestling show

This.

This times thousands.

"Writers" are the problem. Fire the "writers". Hire BOOKERS. Wrestling people. People who know how to book wrestling shows.

Pay Heyman whatever he wants and put him in charge of booking the show.

Or put Dutch Mantel in charge of booking the show.

Or find an aging or retired wrestler on the roster, or formerly on the roster, maybe one of the agents, someone who respected wrestling people(again like Heyman or Mantel) think may have a knack for booking, and just give him Smackdown and see how he does.

Fuck looking in Hollywood, look inside the business!

 

[Really?]

I have no issue with the use of Hollywood writers, IF they use them as Hollywood writers. Let the wrestling guys take care of the wrestling. Take the Hollywood TV writers and put them in charge of consistency, continuity and story layers. The wrestling booking should be left to wrestling people. The story telling can be done by plot writers. For my money. I'd focus my attention on getting soap opera writers since they are used to multilayer stories.

 

[FromGlasgow]

I think thats a huge part of the problem using TV writers instead of writers who actually know and understand the wrestling business, To be honest I don't know anything about the current writers you mentioned in the WWE if they have a wrestling background or not but wrestling seemed to work fine when it was written by wrestlers for years previoulsy and there are more than enough former wrestling talent with good creative ideas the WWE are capable of having them write for them instead, I don't mind stealing ideas from TV shows or movies or current affairs which they have always done anyway.

 

[GeminiGarlord]

I agree. Maybe hire something with some comic-book background since that's the style that seem more close to the WWE structure.

Hire good writers, give them more control and have them work with the agents to better adapt their ideas to the wrestling medium. Also involve a lot more the workers in the creative process.

 

[GoochOwnsYou]

How about firing the entire writing crew for Raw and replace them with the guys that book NXT.

And fire Kevin Dunn!!!

 

[TWJC: The Beginning]

They should have a diverse staff of writers. It brings in fresh ideas from a new perspective.

I don't think a lot of you realize how hard that job probably is. Think about it. Every week you have a 3 hour show. You have egos. You have a live show. You have injuries. You have ideas that don't get over.

That's so much harder than writing anything else or armchair booking. You should also keep in mind that everything we "know" about the process is hearsay. "Vince calls this" "they have too many hollywood writers" really? The fuck do you know?

If I had a suggestion, it'd be 1) we stop assuming we know anything and 2) WWE keeps an open mind in the writing process. I like the idea about the comic book writers.

 

[PeterSellersSTL]

I share in the desire to see wrestling storylines elevated to the likes of breaking bad and game of thrones. I just don't know if wrestling audiences have the patience for slow burns.

I have a storyline idea that would take 4 years from start to finish but I'd be afraid of it being derailed by todays audience.

I don't care where good ideas come from bookers, hollywood, whoever I just want to see them executed and happen.

 

[MrTDG]

They should have a diverse staff of writers. It brings in fresh ideas from a new perspective.

I don't think a lot of you realize how hard that job probably is. Think about it. Every week you have a 3 hour show. You have egos. You have a live show. You have injuries. You have ideas that don't get over.

That's so much harder than writing anything else or armchair booking. You should also keep in mind that everything we "know" about the process is hearsay. "Vince calls this" "they have too many hollywood writers" really? The fuck do you know?

If I had a suggestion, it'd be 1) we stop assuming we know anything and 2) WWE keeps an open mind in the writing process. I like the idea about the comic book writers.

The 3-hour show is part of the problem. Now, they could use it as an opportunity to put more talent on television (divas, tag teams, cruiser weights, etc), but it's highly unlikely. I think shorter segments and mixing things up a bit more would give the show a feel where it doesn't seem to drag as much. Or if they want to continue to do 3 hours (too long in my opinion).

You essentially have five hours of television that these guys have to write for, with many limitations. I think they could really benefit from either cutting the time or changing the format. Instead of doing the pre-show on the WWE Network, go back to the old Prime Time Wrestling format for the first hour, then do the traditional Raw show from 9 to 11. I used to love the format of Prime Time Wrestling or even Tuesday Night Titans. For those that are unaware, what they did with TNT could go a long way in getting a character over and having them connect with fans in a smaller segment so that there is some familiarity with the audience when these guys appear on Raw.