Why doesn't the 'E' create first-time heel power-houses anymore?

[Tastycles]

I can't help but think that you haven't really watched wrestling very long. Kane's debut was hyped for ages before he attacked The Undertaker, and Kozlov's title shot came at Suvivor Series, in a three way that was really a two way until Edge showed up. Anyway, that aside, I'm not really sure that you have a point.

The monster heel career trajectory is pretty much the same for everyone. Debut strong, move down the card, turn face, get released. Right now, we've seen Umaga and Khali follow this path, though Umaga got released for other reasons before turning face. Kozlov, debuted in 2008, is in the process of moving back down the card. Guys like Snitsky are a recent example ofbig guys too. Basically, once they've been stopped, they have fulfilled their purpose. One or two have managed to find extra dimensions and have stuck around, but for every Kane and Undertaker there are a hundred Big Daddy Vs.

There isn't one debuting right now, but there probably will be at some stage soon. I'm not sure that starting on ECW is tantamount to castrating them anyway, as long as they move them like they did Sheamus. After all, most of the others started off beating jobbers on the undercard.

 

[Shanks18]

The thing with this type of debut is that it is very hard to maintain and limits the character after their initial debut. They have to debut against an established star, usually a main eventer, which has the advantage of putting them straight in at the main event. But where do they go from there? It makes most other programs pale in comparison, unless the booking is strong and the wrestler is particularly good. Which is why Brock was such a success.

I think Brock left a bitter taste in the mouths of the higher ups in WWE, they invested so much into him and then he left them high and dry. So, they have been skeptical to put as much into another wrestler. That and the wrestlers haven't been nearly as skilled as Brock.

In regards to Kaval, I think that was the original idea before he got injured. Bring him in strong against Rey Mysterio as someone from his past. But we'll never know. He is an example too that the guy doesn't have to be a monster. Book him against the right people in the right way. Easier said than done I guess.

 

[prophefixz]

I don't know how many times I have to negate these examples. You guys either really aren't understanding what I'm asking for here, or you don't care, because I am not talking about developing a monster or a superior heel – I am talking about debuting them off the bat – likely at a PPV or a high profile episode of a flagship show.

Who's to say fans can't connect with a character straight away simply because they weren't developed? If anything, the characters that need to be developed are being developed because they're probably too difficult to get over without the continuous exposure.

I get what you mean, i don't see why people are having so many problems.

Shaemus, Zeke, kozlov were all pre-built against jobbers THEN faced a main event wrestler (not so much with zeke).

Kane came in and attacked the undertaker and fueded with him and stone cold!
Big show came in and destroyed austin.
The thing is though, both were heavily built prior. Big show - gained exposure in WCW. Kane as Dr. Isaac Yankem. They avoided that by having him don the mask, which made him seem like a completely new guy, but still retaining his years of experience.

Khali debuted against the undertaker.
Personally, its nice to see anyone debut against a made name.

John cena could be counted as not only is he a powerhouse, but he also entered straight into a fued with Kurt Angle.

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For people in general doing it and making an impact. To a certain extent i'd add carlito and mohammed hassan. Cena was upper midcard when carlito beat him and Hassan Came straight in against Foley then Jerry lawler, who made more of a legend killer impact i guess. It's not about promos beforehand, its about the actual first appearance.

 

[mister_b1LL]

Regardless of size I think the most recent one that I can think of was Carlito. John Cena's star was quickly on the rise as the US Championship, then Carlito debuts and faces Cena in his first match with the title on the line and wins it. He won the US Championship in his first ever match. Not to mention when he got drafted to RAW, in his first match with that brand, he won the Intercontinental Title, becoming the only person to win a Championship in their first matches on both flagship shows.

You know I was typing this and for some reason I thought of Santino. A straight up unknown from Italy comes out of the audience and defeats Umaga to win the IC Championship. Obviously Santino was made to be a face, but it instantly gave him recognition and made him (dare I say it) a threat. Obviously for both guys it's not the case now.

 

[matman8540]

Actually, the first time heel powerhouses that were mentioned were the exception, rather than the rule. The blueprint in the 70s was to debut on TV with one of the big 3 managers; Captain Lou Albano, Classy Freddie Blassie, and the Grand Wizard. They would mow through the competition before getting the big match at Madison Square Garden a few months down the road against either Bruno or Backlund. In the 80s, the blueprint was similar, except it was appear on TV, mow down the competition, THEN interfere in a match or interview involving Hogan, and get the title shot. In the 90s and the 00s, there was no blueprint for elevating someone to the top. This was due to the fact that there were more heels becoming champion. For the decade of the 70s, there were 3 heel champions, and their title reigns lasted 1 month (Koloff), 10 days (Stasiak), 10 months (Graham). It was worse in the 80s. 1 month for the Iron Sheik, and 2 months for the Macho Man (This was because he started his title reign as a face, and turned heel 2 months before he lost to Hogan). If memory serves, I believe the first heel to debut against an established star (Survivor Series 90 as Ted DiBiase's hired gun to take out Dusty Rhodes), became a monster heel, and wound up not dropping into complete limbo; was the Undertaker. As for why they don't do this now, this is not the normal blueprint for moving up the ladder in the E.