Have we reached a critical point in wrestling?

[The Lach is very tired]

With all the bad press, the low ratings & such has mainstream wrestling reached a do or die point?

I think that how the business as a whole handles the current issues could be a major turning point in the history of wrestling. Even a lot of die hard fans are upset, frustrated & bitter about some of the current goings on & it is showing the the ratings right now. I may be overplaying my hand but if current trends continue wrestling may become a taboo thing to watch

[HMARK Center]

I'm not sure: most companies remain on a slow, steady rise today, while WWE seems to be on a minor downhill slope at the moment.

I know I, as a fan, am somewhat fed up. I applaud some corners of the industry for finally taking pro-active steps (for example, the NOAH-led alliance that seems to be moving towards setting up a pension plan for their wrestlers), but the industry has just felt more and more dirty the more and more I've learned about it. Yes, wrestlers must make responsible choices themselves, but, dear God, is there any more enabling an industry than pro wrestling?

I think we're in a serious transition period in terms of how fans view the products, and it might prove to be a point where the dinosaurs who don't catch up to the 21st century might find themselves at a serious disadvantage.

[bubbles]

Maybe as the internet fanbase is getting larger it results in the WWEs popularity taking a plunge because more people will be watching ROH or Japan matches on the internet.

[Mr. Mediocre]

I think that the WWE's ratings are indicative of general dissatisfaction both with the Benoit stuff and a huge drop in quality across the shows.

That said, it's not yet an industry wide thing. TNA's ratings are about the same as they have been, and I doubt this will affect the indies that have loyal fanbases. For instance, I don't see someone who's an ROH fan saying no more...though it might be troublesome for expansion.

[honsou]

I think in alot of ways we are moving into a retro age of wrestling, where we go back to the old days of just pure athleticism and the idea of actually wrestling to be the best, instead of what we had of wrestling just because of a story line or some weird gimmick. I think the success of ROH shows that fans are ready for simple booking and amazing wrestling. The question really is, will WWE figure this out in time to save it self, i personally think they do because they have the talent to easily switch over to this system and Vince when backed into a corner almost always does the right thing. Wrestling will survive this, just like it had survived many other crisis's in its history.

[HMARK Center]

It's not that people seem to be against complex booking...but they certainly seem to be moving away from sensationalist booking.

['Sweet n' Sour' A. A. Estrada]

hitmanmark said:

It's not that people seem to be against complex booking...but they certainly seem to be moving away from sensationalist booking.

It also doesn't hurt when ROH has feuds that go beyond,

Week 1) Heel attacks face to close show,
Week 2) Face gets payback on heel to close show,
Week 3) Contract signing, big brawl,
Week 4) PPV money match!!!

[HMARK Center]

vanvader said:

hitmanmark said:

It's not that people seem to be against complex booking...but they certainly seem to be moving away from sensationalist booking.

It also doesn't hurt when ROH has feuds that go beyond,

Week 1) Heel attacks face to close show,
Week 2) Face gets payback on heel to close show,
Week 3) Contract signing, big brawl,
Week 4) PPV money match!!!

Exactly. Some ROH feuds are DIRT simple (basically following the essentials: "you disrespected me!", "payback time!", "whoops, heel got away!", etc.), yet even the simplest feuds, like the McGuinness/Rave feud from last year, would take on twists and turns, and the in-ring action/psychology during each match would include something that fans would need to keep in mind for the next time they'd face one another.

And then you've got the ROH feuds that are complex from the get-go...but never "sensational". The whole Punk turn and heel run? Complex, sure, but never hard to grasp. Jacobs vs. Whitmer, and the Jimmy loves Lacey angle? Used a LOT of vingettes (remember the YouTube episodes?), "gimmicky" stuff, but it was never so far removed from reality that it made you think "this is ridiculous".

[KLRA]

I don't know, sometimes with the Jimmy/Lacey stuff I felt horribly bad for Jimmy and almost got mad at him for sticking around.

But most ROH booking decisions have me scratching my head in a GOOD way, not in the "Why the hell am I paying money for this again?" Which is what happens when I watch WWE and TNA. TNA's problem is that they try to reinvent the wheel with fueds to often. WWE's is just way to formulaic.

[samachine]

I hope so. I really think wrestling needs a break for a couple years, then come back in like.. 2015 or something.

[HMARK Center]

stevedave said:

I don't know, sometimes with the Jimmy/Lacey stuff I felt horribly bad for Jimmy and almost got mad at him for sticking around.

But most ROH booking decisions have me scratching my head in a GOOD way, not in the "Why the hell am I paying money for this again?" Which is what happens when I watch WWE and TNA. TNA's problem is that they try to reinvent the wheel with fueds to often. WWE's is just way to formulaic.

Exactly. What that says to me is maybe it's time wrestling stop "talking down" to it's audience. I understand the need to get younger fans involved, but its not like you couldn't have more complex storylines while not alienating the younger set.

[KLRA]

Part of the appeal of simple storylines is that you get the crux of it over in the ring. Also, you can take a simple storyline and turn it into something HUGE (see Nigel/Rave, or hell, go back to Orndorff/Hogan).

I always prefer simple storylines that start small, and just build and build.

[Mayonnaise]

I don't think its at a do-or-die level yet. Wrestling is in trouble but, change can still be made and things can still turn around. WWE is on a slide but, not one that they can't come out of (yet are still turning a profit) and, ROH and TNA are growing by leaps and bounds.

I also don't think wrestling is as in a bad shape as it was during Vince's steroid trial but, I do think we are in one of those times where most realize change needs to be made and some change for the better will occur. I am not sure what those changes will be or who will initiate them but, for as bad as it is, I just don't see this to be as bad steroid trial days.