It's...Baylariat!
Team Finnley Baylor
As I've been watching more and more older wrestling shows and territories, I've noticed a common theme with why some of these territories failed. The promotions I'm talking about are primarily World Class Championship Wrestling, Universal Wrestling Federation, and Mid-South Championship Wrestling.
All of those territories had major stars. We're talking The Von Erichs, Freebirds, Gentlemen Chris Adams, Dr. Death Steve Williams, Terry Taylor, Eddie Gilbert, Sting, and many others. The issue with those promotions was the fact that they went to the proverbial well too many times. They recycled old angles and tried to revive them. The best example is using the Von Erichs and the Freebirds. The first time it was done, it was great. It was new, and there was some real hatred and a great story behind it. During WCCW's final days, it seemed to be recycled and just didn't have the fire it used to.
Another example is anything involving Cowboy Bill Watts in the UWF. He interjected himself in major stories constantly and with the same story... being old, but wise and able to still go when needed. We got it the first time, but the subsequent times it was done, it got stale, and ended up becoming a detriment to the promotion.
Many say that you need talent to make your shows work. I agree to an extent, but give me some great bookers who know how to tell a great story and come up with more original ideas. I'd take that over talent. You can make stars if you have the intangibles to help put a wrestler or stable over in a great, original story.
So do you agree with this assessment? Did these promotions go to the well one too many times with their superstars? What if these promotions were able to come up with more creative stories? Did recycling angles do in some of these promotions?
All of those territories had major stars. We're talking The Von Erichs, Freebirds, Gentlemen Chris Adams, Dr. Death Steve Williams, Terry Taylor, Eddie Gilbert, Sting, and many others. The issue with those promotions was the fact that they went to the proverbial well too many times. They recycled old angles and tried to revive them. The best example is using the Von Erichs and the Freebirds. The first time it was done, it was great. It was new, and there was some real hatred and a great story behind it. During WCCW's final days, it seemed to be recycled and just didn't have the fire it used to.
Another example is anything involving Cowboy Bill Watts in the UWF. He interjected himself in major stories constantly and with the same story... being old, but wise and able to still go when needed. We got it the first time, but the subsequent times it was done, it got stale, and ended up becoming a detriment to the promotion.
Many say that you need talent to make your shows work. I agree to an extent, but give me some great bookers who know how to tell a great story and come up with more original ideas. I'd take that over talent. You can make stars if you have the intangibles to help put a wrestler or stable over in a great, original story.
So do you agree with this assessment? Did these promotions go to the well one too many times with their superstars? What if these promotions were able to come up with more creative stories? Did recycling angles do in some of these promotions?