Has WWE Jumped The Shark for Anybody Here?

[chunkylover53]

For over 16 years, I was a loyal viewer to WWF/E programming. My father and brother introduced me to the product and my earliest memories were Hulk Hogan and The Ultimate Warrior. Since then, I was hooked.

I was more than into the company, I bought merchandise, video games, pay per views, study its history(and still do). Hell, wrestling and me were synonomis. The experience reached its peak when me and my friends watched RAW and Nitro every week during the legendary Monday Night Wars.

Even after their interest fizzled out, I was still devoted to the product. Hell, when I first joined the IWC I was shocked and appalled(sp?) with the hatred of the WWE(despite them watching it every week which I constantly questioned). You can say I was the epitome of an anti-smark.

However, things have changed recently. I like and respect John Cena, but the booking for his Superman run was very tiresome, and I took a brief hiatus. I got back into it before Wrestlemania 24, and I found the build AND the event(that I attended) impressive. I even continued to watch throughout 2008 and early 2009.

I enjoyed the build-up to the Randy Orton/Triple H feud for Wrestlemania 25, but the actual payoff was as anti-climatic as you can get. Hell, the whole event didn't feel like a Wrestlemania. I mean me, a life long and enthuastic fan BORED DURING A WRESTLEMANIA!?!?!?!

Maybe I'm overdramatizing it, but I've been drifting out lately. Yes, my TV is on(for about an hour) when RAW is on, but I'm usually on the computer watching it at the corner of my eye. For the last couple of weeks, I've been changing the channel or turning off the TV in the middle of the show. I don't bother to watch the main event, a notable example of X-pac heat.

Don't get me wrong, I am still a huge wrestling fan, I still invest a great deal of interest in it, I like reading their magazines, buying their DVDs, books, and other memorabillia, as well as discussing its history, but I just can't watch the current product. Its mainly been out of habit. Maybe I'm just getting older or maybe its a phase, I just don't know. I feel Wrestlemania 25 has jumped the shark for me.

So for those who currently don't watch it or are in my exact position, when has WWF/E jumped the shark for you?

[lordkain316]

I haven't watched a full episode of WWE programming now in almost 2 years so I know how you feel.

[Bub (BLM)]

I think for me, they were bordering on shark jumping, but the new SmackDown roster has really given a fresh feel to at least that show. I don't care much about RAW, but I find ECW and especially SmackDown wholly entertaining.

[nt86]

RAW has. I don't even bother with it anymore, aside from reading the results, or watching a highlighted show.

I watch Smackdown! and ECW every week.

[Deleted]

RAW would have if it weren't for Hardy,Kofi,Miz and MVP all contending for the void left by Cena and Trips

[glorydays]

I have said many times, wrestling has an expiration date. Eventually, somewhere in your 20's, you will become tired of watching the same stuff being rehashed by different characters. It happened to me in 2001. The only reason I watched in 2002 was for Hogan's return. I eventually stopped and haven't watched since (closing in on 7 years now). I was a fan since 86 and completely stopped in 02 due to sheer boredom. I still love discussing the wrestling I grew up on, which is why I am here, but I have no interest in watching the current product.

Wrestling now to me would be like if All in the Family kept running continuously and every 5 years a new actor played Archie Bunker. Eventually, those who saw the original would have no interest in the rehash. Those who saw the rehash years later would become bored of the next rehash, and so on. I have no interest in watching a new guy play Bruno/Hogan/Austin/Rock's character. Let the new fans enjoy Cena. It is meant for them, not for me.

It will happen to everyone. If someone passionately watches the WWF/E and wrestling in general continuously for 30+ years.....well, I don't know what to say. They would be dedicated.

[chunkylover53]

May 5, 2009 19:05:03 GMT -5 @glorydays said:

I have said many times, wrestling has an expiration date. Eventually, somewhere in your 20's, you will become tired of watching the same stuff being rehashed by different characters. It happened to me in 2001. The only reason I watched in 2002 was for Hogan's return. I eventually stopped and haven't watched since (closing in on 7 years now). I was a fan since 86 and completely stopped in 02 due to sheer boredom. I still love discussing the wrestling I grew up on, which is why I am here, but I have no interest in watching the current product.

Wrestling now to me would be like if All in the Family kept running continuously and every 5 years a new actor played Archie Bunker. Eventually, those who saw the original would have no interest in the rehash. Those who saw the rehash years later would become bored of the next rehash, and so on. I have no interest in watching a new guy play Bruno/Hogan/Austin/Rock's character. Let the new fans enjoy Cena. It is meant for them, not for me.

It will happen to everyone. If someone passionately watches the WWF/E and wrestling in general continuously for 30+ years.....well, I don't know what to say. They would be dedicated.

You are completely right. I think the problem is, wrestling is out of new material and have to rehash it or put a twist on an old storyline. I mean, how much material can the writers stretch to maintain the current fanbase(and add new ones)? You had The Federaton Years that was targeted to kids, then you had the Attitude Era that targeted young adults. Okay, so you had one or both of your necessary demographics, where do you go now?

[GaTechGrad]

The WWF jumped the shark for me around 1993. I think Doink and Dink is what got me out of it for good. Then I started watching WCW full time in 1996 when Hall and Nash showed up. I kept up with Raw after WCW went under just to see how the WCW guys were going to be used. Then I started watching TNA Impact once they got the Fox Sports Net deal and followed them over to Spike TV, and it's the only "must watch" show for me each week ever since. I still try to catch Raw just to see how bad it is... it's sort of like a carwreck... I just can't look away.

[Deleted]

May 5, 2009 19:27:25 GMT -5 GaTechGrad said:

The WWF jumped the shark for me around 1993. I think Doink and Dink is what got me out of it for good. Then I started watching WCW full time in 1996 when Hall and Nash showed up. I kept up with Raw after WCW went under just to see how the WCW guys were going to be used. Then I started watching TNA Impact once they got the Fox Sports Net deal and followed them over to Spike TV, and it's the only "must watch" show for me each week ever since. I still try to catch Raw just to see how bad it is... it's sort of like a carwreck... I just can't look away.

Have you tried SD or ECW in awhile?

[neilfrazier]

I understand where you are coming from completely. I've been a fan since Survivor Series 1991 when I was 9 years old. Since that time I watched consitently with the exception of long periods in 1994-95, and 2003 to early 2008 was all on and off again viewing.

As a diehard fan for nearly 18 years, the best of WWF ended when they became the WWE. When the Invasion failed, it was just never the same. The brand split dilluted the roster, and the last few years of The Rock and Stone Cold weren't nearly as memorable. The attitude era was so incredible that when wrestling became ordinary again, it just didn't feel the same. With jobs and women demanding my attention, I drifted away but still followed it online here and there.

Beginning of 2008 I got my own apartment and a DVR, so I started watching again regularly. My current opinion on the product is favorable, and the WWE is clearly on the upswing. I might be one of the few supporters of the brand extension, but I enjoy the current format very much. You can't argue the brand extensions has and is creating new stars, and with the upcoming retirements of many key main eventers we are going to see some fresh new faces.

I wouldn't quite say that all the characters are rehashes of prior ones. While Randy Orton seems to be the new Austin and Cena the new Rock, they really are completely different characters that stand for something much different. Yeah many of the storylines need work and seemed to be rehashed, but they are not all the same. The original ones are the ones that seem to get new stars over rather than rehashing an old gimmick. This is how a guy like Santino can get over and guys with "potential" can't.

[neilfrazier]

Even with all that said, I still conked out during the main event. I'm very bored with the writing, and it's like they aren't even trying at times. These days I find myself looking more forward to ECW, Smackdown, and Superstars. Hence, why I like the brand split. More variety in who is on my TV. There is more wrestling which I like, but still too many promos reminded me of how they are killing a perfectly good main event storyline.

[simplydurhamcalling]

I don't know if 'Jumped the Shark' is the right term but I honestly couldn't tell you the last time I watched an entire RAW.

My interest levels tend to go up and down. I started watching in '97 and watched WWF as much as possible through to about WM X-8. I also got into ECW during this time period and watched as much of that as possible until it's demise, I was never big on WCW for some reason though have since gone back and watched a lot of their product.

From WM X-8 to around summer '04 I kept up with results but pretty much stopped watching altogether, except for Wrestlemania. I then completely fell out of the loop in 2005 though I still watched older shows, lots from before I started watching. I got back into it after WM22 mainly due to Smackdown at the time and the matches between Finlay, Benoit, Matt, Regal, Booker and the emergence of Kennedy, MVP and even Lashley. Eventually I got bored again and went back to keeping up with results, watching anything I might like on the 'net and ordering Wrestlemania.

Then I got into RoH sometime last year and it really re-invigorated my love for wrestling. How even though you know it's all pre-determined you can still be drawn in to a match just like you're 12 years old again. It just all seemed so fresh. I know RoH isn't for everyone by any means but I love about 90% of the stuff I've seen on the shows I've bought.

I'll also probably start watching Smackdown! again now as it looks fresh and exciting. Jeff is still relatively new to the main-event, Jericho hasn't been on Smackdown in ages, Punk will possibly emerge as a real top player, Morrison, Shelton and Rey can all put on great matches. With Undertaker out the only real stal-wart is Edge and with Vickie out the way I expect to see a bit of a shift in character for him as well.

[vidalia]

That's me. I am a twenty three year fan and I can barely watch anymore. I dutifully crash in
front of the tv Mondays but since Jbl retired, I get bored and turn off at some point(usually Shane) , now I just read spoilers for ecw/smackdown.

[Deleted]

May 5, 2009 18:51:55 GMT -5 @tagteamspecialist said:

RAW would have if it weren't for Hardy,Kofi,Miz and MVP all contending for the void left by Cena and Trips

You just basically explained why I'm still watching RAW. Once both of them fully return, I'm tuning in entirely to ECW and Smackdown.

The matches are better, they seem to be getting people over better, mid-carders are playing a bigger role than on RAW, and, well, it's a lot more fresh instead of seeing the same old crap between the same old four people.

[Slim Loves Lily]

Raw certainly has.

[dabossftw]

They've jumped the smark by having such a terrible Raw this last week, I watched old VHS tapes of wrestling.

Oh....the SHARK.

[CM Hunk Golden]

I watched the WWE pretty much like you did, I did it for 26 years straight, pretty much the last straw for me was Khali becoming champ, to me it just said we don't care anymore.

There were alot of other things I hated too, like so little in ring wrestling and so much none wrestling stuff.

Also I started watching Indy's alot (ROH, PWG, Chikara, etc) and since those companies focus more on in ring work (and do it MUCH better than the WWE or TNA), I stick with them and enjoy wrestling more than I ever have.

[waffleofpower]

Sadly, I think two things have happened. Either the programming has gotten really bad or I've just completely lost my passion for wrestling. All of the guys I really like either don't get pushed or aren't used the way I would like. I try to give TNA a chance and I do like ROH but I don't get to see enough of it.

[TheDieselTrain]

I think that i'm in the same boat as the OP. I've been watching since the late 80's. Like right now ECW is on and I put in a blank tape to tape the shows and get up only to stop it during commercials so I can watch it later if I get bored. Granted I might like what I see I'm not glued to my seat watching like I used to back in the day. Most of my favorites got moved to Smackdown which I dont have presently and i'm stuck with RAW is Blah, Superstars, & ECW which I do like but you can only do so much with an hour show.

Just last year Wrestlemania was in Orlando my home city for the last three years and I didnt even bother to get a ticket or go just to say that I went. I was like meh i'll just watch it at hooters.

I mean I still watch with the hopes of something sparking my mark interest again but i'm getting impatient. But at least I still have many years of when I was a mark on tape to enjoy.

[kingoftheiwc]

I think it has , but we havent reached Vince Russo stupidity yet with reverse battle royals , gimmick matches that have no purpose and a celeberity as champ.