1.) EVERY character needs a storyline of some kind. Doesn't have to be huge, but they need something, anything. Case in point, Ziggler and Sheamus, up until a week ago these guys were holding the two mid-card titles, but with no champion for months they should basically be carrying the company, right? Nope. Neither one of them is doing anything of note. Ziggler had a bunch of matches with Cesaro, and Sheamus with Russev, but neither were really what I would consider feuds, neither of them had a goal or purpose, or were building towards any kind of PPV, they're just kind of there, and these are the guys who should be at the TOP of the card. What about the guys at the bottom?
2.) The commentating team needs focus/direction. Each commentator should play a role. 1. Straight man-calls the action in the ring, generally sides with the faces. 2. Color/comedy-makes jokes generally sides with the heels. 3. Product shill guy-rambles about the app, the network, the guest host, etc. Agrees with the straight man. This is a simple formula, that would hopefully cut down on the inane chatter about god knows what. The current team talks pure shit about half the show, I think I heard them talking about football, voodoo, etc. tonight, it was 20 mins ago and I don't even remember because it did nothing to sell Survivor Series, and when they were trying to sell it they were so boring and monotone, my brain out tunes them. JR's excitement level didn't allow for you to ignore him.
3.) There is no unpredictability. In tonight's Raw, the only small examples would be Rowan joining team Cena, and Cesaro pretending to join. Neither made any sense whatsoever, but at least they weren't totally obvious moves. In the attitude era, there was a swerve every 5 minutes and you could barely keep up with who was heel or face, and yes it was stupid, but at least it kept you on your toes. The whole "anything can happen in WWE" mentality hasn't existed for at least 2 years now, with the exception of the streak ending. That Dolphins1920 guy on Reddit, is probably just your average fan because I can successfully predict the outcome of about 95% of the current product.
4.) Match variety. I understand the roster isn't as deep as it has been in the past, but that said, they simply have to find a way to mix things up. I feel like I've seen some similar combination of the same matches each week for the last 2 months, it's especially bad in the tag division. They need to make better use of the full roster, guys like Ryder, Kidd, Gabriel, Slater, O'Neil, Fandango, R-Truth, etc. Maybe start swapping guys in and out of NXT from time to time? Or have a mid carder work a main-eventer. Also, stop giving away a PPV match with a different stipulation the same week you want people to watch the PPV, this is booking 101! If two guys are feuding they shouldn't lay a hand on each other until the PPV, that way you actually care to see it, and it feels fresh.
5.) The show is too formulaic. Every show I can think of in recent memory has started/ended with Cena or the Authority. This is simple, mix it up occasionally. Open with an exciting match, close with a promo/debut/vignette/etc. something to build intrigue for the following week.
6.) WAY less emphasis on social media. I realize this is probably the least likely to change, but heres the truth. They are doing this because they want attention and ratings, but this isn't resulting in that. What it is doing is annoying the same loyal fans that have been watching forever. In the times when wrestling was getting its highest ratings ever social media didn't even exist. It had ratings because it was a good product, period. I feel the exact same about the network. Instead of saying it's $9.99 every other breath, why not try the Field of Dreams approach
"If you build it, they will come." Create a product that is so compelling that people actually want to watch it and talk about it. If they put half as much effort in to the building of exciting story lines and characters as they do in to twitter, the app, .com, youtube, Facebook, tout, the network, etc. etc. They wouldn't have to try anywhere near as hard because people would be talking about this stuff voluntarily.
Anyway, just a few things that stood out from tonight that I thought could easily be improved. If you've got any others I'd love to hear them.
Okay, I'm gonna play devils advocate with you? Just to argue some points and hopefully keep this thread from becoming a hate WWE thread.
1. You want every single character to have a story? This is the problem with 1 brand. With 2 brands, half the guys were gone doing their thing on the other brand. People still sat around with no story. While it might bother you that Ryder has no story, I'll sacrifice that in hopes that the Authority loses at Survivor Series. Not every guy needs a story, I do agree it should be more than the like 25% they give now, it's just too many guys for Raw. Adam Rose has a story now, which a lot of people hate on. Just saying, not everyone needs one. Champs do though like you said, but I think that has more to do with prestige on the belt than anything. Moving on.
2. The commentators aren't too bad sometimes. Yea they all play funny guy during jobber matches, I agree it's stupid. They should be having me believe that Adam Rose could be champ one day, but it's Adam Rose! I'd be surprised if he has a job next week. The commentary team works if you want them to be comedians, and if you want a respectable match usually they're better.
3. I'm glad you say that too many swerves are bad, but you're asking for swerves on the go home show. AJ the face attacking Brie a face was expected right? Brie coming out to AJ's music, expected? The Bunny trying to hump Adam Rose...expected? Sometimes things are expected because they're logical. The interference in Sheamus/Big Show for instance, if you're at war with 2 countries and they're shooting at each other depleting their soldiers, why not go in drop some bombs and knock em both down? Ryback was way too predictable though! I do agree with that, but for the casual fans Ryback is being given a lot of attention which might be useful for his push.
Also, a lot of unpredictability is ruined by the internet. I'm not, defending the WWE on this one but really. We hear every single storyline possible before the WWE even hints at it. So how can you be unpredictable when people are constantly analyzing every single shred of your show? Yet if there's no reason, it's a swerve that makes no sense at all(i.e all of Bray's character)
4. If you would've said this a couple weeks ago I'd be all about it. When we had 6 man tags start 3 of 4 Raws in a row. But this week aside from the Kidd/Rose match, I believe every match was new? Or at least hasn't happened in a month or so to my memory. Brie/Nikki happened at HiaC in October? They are pushing some of your list, Slater and Titus O Neil had a team a little over a month ago "Slater Gator" and it got shat upon by the IWC and the arenas. They wrote Swagger off with injury I believe? And Luke Harper and Erik Rowan are getting singles pushes. I specifically remember people saying they wouldn't if the Wyatt Family broke up. If the WWE used every wrestler the show would just be 6 man tag after 6 man tag.
5. Who else can start the show? 9 guys were a part of the angle today, so none of them are aloud to start, even though the main event for the PPV in 6 days is based on these 9 guys. Not too mention they keep building this match as Authority or no Authority, if one team loses those 5 will be losers for months to come based on the GM. The ending has changed? This week it was a contract signing, last week it was a match? Hell even the first match changed. For like a month straight it was Usos + partner v Dusts + partner. This week they were the main event match! It does change up, even Rose moved to the first hour, usually he's on the third hour. I don't agree with this point. If they had more star power those stars would be the opening match, Reigns had first match one night while Cena main evented. But Reigns, Bryan, Barrett, Orton are out now.
6 . I didn't see this as an issue tonight, the Network plugs get old but the use of Twitter isn't bad. Go on Youtube for somebody trying to make it modern Youtube, I promise they plug a Twitter, Tumblr, Facebook, secondary Youtube, Instagram or another website. It's how the world is now.
I personally don't think modern WWE is that bad. Key word being that. The problems are everywhere. Chris Jericho mentioned it on the podcast or whatever he was on: "If I lose, I'm a jobber. If I win, I'm burying the talent. I can't win in this situation." What's the WWE to do? Too many swerves people complain it doesn't make sense. Not enough and it's boring to some. How can WWE win?
They pushed Luke Harper and Dolph Ziggler as the first match, people still complain. Ryback is getting pushed, complaints. Reigns pushed to the moon, complaints. The WWE physically can't make everyone happy, they target the IWC and the casuals are bored. If they target the casual fans, the IWC complains...hell both will complain regardless.
Again, don't take this response as hate towards you xD because it really isn't! I'm just bored and wanna play the other side for this thread.
oh man i was lookin forward to new game, is their an actual story mode??? and on 2k14 i managed to only get one roster just delete show from calender
