WWE: Locker room leaders and trusted superstars.

[Kesteral]

I was wondering while watching some of the episodes this week who from each show is trusted enough to book their own finishes/come up with their own ideas or just lead the locker? So far I would say that it would look something like this.

Smackdown
Leader: (Everyone listens to him, helps out new talent and tells people what to do) Undertaker
Trusted superstars (Book the way a match is played out/Trusted enough to be given any match or segment and work with it): Jericho, Edge
Veterans: (Get a lot of respect but don't have the power or in some cases talent that Jericho or Edge do) Kane, Batista, Mysterio

ECW
Leader: Christian
Trusted superstars: William Regal
Veterans: Goldust, Tommy Dreamer

RAW
Leader: HHH
Trusted superstars: Cena, Orton, HBK
Veterans: Big Show

Now I'm not sure if this is how it actually goes backstage, but you'd think there would be degree of how much trust the WWE has in a talent. In my eyes: Jericho, Taker, HHH and HBK pretty much have the liberty to do what they want whenever as they've been around the longest and are all very talented. The newer guys like Cena/Orton are on the right track, but obviously need a few more years to get there. Has there been any reports to suggest this type of leadership structure backstage? Because it would be cool to see who really is respected backstage and who the WWE trust the most.

 

[byrnside]

I think you've got Smackdown down to a T with the exception of Batista, I don't know that I'd consider 7 years in the business being a veteran. But other than that I'd leave Smackdown how it is.

ECW: I'd say Tommy Dreamer is probably the locker room leader for them. I'd put Christian under the veteran status though, as well as trusted superstars. How about putting Hurricane on that "trusted" list as well? He's been in the business well over 10 years, is a great athlete and a decent draw. Hell I know he trained Piven for his spots on RAW, who knows who else he's helped along the way?

RAW: I think HBK would probably be considered the leader before Triple H. I feel like Triple H is probably too concerned with the booking and story line aspect of the business to be the locker room leader. I'm sure if and when he's needed he'd be there to throw a guy his two cents though. HBK just seems like he's probably more interested in what other, younger guys are capable of and bringing that out in them. I know if I was a wrestler, I'd probably go to HBK for advice before Triple H. Trusted superstars, you can definitly keep HBK and Orton on that list, and I suppose Cena, I guess I can't let my bias get in the way, that he knows how to do is job decently well, if he's not the greatest technical wrestler. Keep Big Show in the veterans, but you gotta keep Triple H and HBK on that list as well.

 

[drondog]

I would definately say Undertaker, demands the respect and is warranted to him. HBK has even caved to Taker's demands. (drop the title to Austin) I would say HBK doesn't really care to be one of the boys, because of the Cliq. On Raw I would say Orton is probably the locker room leader, as he hasn't had any problems of speaking against HHH. I would say another two veterans that talent may turn to are Jim Ross, and the King, they've been veterans before veterans in the current WWE were even wrestlers. JR has done it all in the WWE from talent relations, to VP he knows what works and doesnt. BEST OF LUCK TO JR, AND FAMILY AND HOPE HE'S BACK ON SMACKDOWN SOON!!!! GET WELL SOON OKIE

 

[S prince]

Sounds almost about right but correct me if I'm wrong, there is no ECW locker room. ECW and Smackdown are taped together on the same day so Undertaker is still the leader and people like Christian and Dreamer are just respected backstage.

 

[ThePeoplesChampion]

yea ECW taped same day as Smackdown so i group them together....and most defiantly Undertaker is the Locker room leader....i mean look what happen when CM Punk talked back to him? and the trusted stars of those combined shows...Jericho, Edge, and Kane cause Kane has been there quite sometime.

For Raw this is lil tougher with HBK and HHH there but i gotta say HBK...like someone said HHH more bout booking and Shawn puts over more stars and gives more advice too...from what john morrison said in his interview to ESPN he seemed pretty approachable with young talent asking for advice. trusted stars on that show...big show (even though his matches arent great), John Cena and Randy Orton....Orton has proven he's not scared to stand up to anyone even HHH backstage. so this my list

Leaders- Undertaker, Shawn Michaels, and HHH
Trusted Vets.- Chris Jericho, Edge, John Cena, Randy Orton, Kane, and Big Show

 

[Slam Master]

Well according to Bret Hart's interview the other day, HHH and HBK are "cancers" to pro wrestling. I don't know if that describes their locker room leadership. Thats also a pretty strong statement.

I've read in recent articles that a lot of younger wrestlers say HBK and HHH are alienated in the locker room cus if you don't get their approval or get on their good side you don't advance. Bret also said he wouldn't know what to do if Shawn showed up at his door step, and this is already known but he threatened to get on the plane so fast if HBK got within 100 yards of him. I know Shawn was involved in the screwjob and lied to him, but thats kind of childish. Thats life. Not everything goes your way. Bret didn't support Shawn, bashed him behind his back, and was leaving. HBK felt he did the right thing. Move on.

Jericho and Undertaker seem like they are solid leaders in the locker room. Some think Undertaker played politics to get the belt from Punk, but none of us were there. I guess thats the same with the Bret/HBK situation. None of us were there and we don't know what actually went on. Mysterio and Batista could also be good leaders. Sometimes Batista seems conceited but I'm sure he's a descent guy.

ECW has Christian, Regal, Benjamin is almost at veteran status. He's been with the company as a solid wrestler for over 5 years.

 

[LUMPYSULLIVAN]

Kind of a confusing thread. All the guys you have listed are in their respective spots for Monday and Tuesday and PPV's. What about when they are on the road? Undertaker does overseas tours, but rarely does house shows otherwise. HHH and HBK are in the same boat although HHH goes on the road for markets where they they play the bigger arenas and need the draw. Who are the locker room leaders then?

- Steven Regal is a huge stooge for HHH, so everyone is careful around him as he is a rat looking for HHH protection and approval.

- Jericho is a leader by example and rarely tolerates crap in the locker room by anyone or towards anyone, as he was on the receiving end so much at WCW, and early days of WWE run.

--Kane is a leader as well,, so much so, that Undertaker had asked him in the past if he would like to end the Wrestlemania winning streak

- Edge is a leader on the road

- Orton is a catch 22. He has been in the doghouse a lot (harassment towards women and authority issues) Some like to talk to him to help right wrongs as HHH/HBK hold absolutely NO authority over him, in his eyes, and he is very vocal towards both

****
Not sure who else holds "court" when on the road. I also know that JBL's leaving was a blessing to all. He abused his role both mentally and physically and was to old school behind the scenes. Unfortunately in this day and age, people need to change and he has not. Belittling, mental and phyical abuse were way to prevalent on his watch. The dressing room has been very stable since his departure.,

 

[UseYourBrain]

I have no idea who the "locker room leaders" are because I don't work for WWE, but I do know this:

If I were a wrestler in today's bland, boring, "everybody has short hair, short trunks, and a cocky half-grin wrestling environment", there aren't a whole lot of guys that I'd look to as leaders. All these boring wrestlers doing their quadruple moonsaults should slowdown and pick a few important and experienced brains.

You'd be an absolute moron not to be sitting there picking the brains of Shawn Michaels, Undertaker, Chris Jericho, and Triple H. I don't care about the ******ed internet whispers of politics or any has-been's bitterness toward current stars because he's on the outside looking in. I mean from a sheer talent standpoint, any wrestler truly looking to become the best he can be and, ultimately, make the most money he can make would be a respectful student of HBK, Taker, and a few others. It's a shame that they don't show that much initiative.

I don't care about the "Orton doesn't fear the bullies" crap because Orton IS a bully. That being the case, he understands "it" and uses "it" very well. Those same guys we call politicians are the ones who made Orton who he is today and you can bet your ass he watched, studied, and learned a LOT from them.

Locker room leaders? No clue. But if I wrestled in WWE I know that MY locker room leaders would be HBK and Taker, followed by Triple H, Jericho, Kane, Show, and Edge.

 

[dagoldstandard]

sorry, i'm excited, this is my first time, but i'm 14, and i know all about the business. i'd say taker and hhh run things over the talent lockeroom.

 

[H33LTurn]

your idea is about right. the thing is superstars praise hhh because they know he can cost them their job. they praise taker because he can pretty much do whatever he wants. two guys who have so much power, they can be leaders of brands without even being part of the brands. other than those two, the wrestlers seem to look up to the legends a lot. john cena, however, seems to have rubbed some people the wrong way.