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Post by rapidfire187 on Aug 11, 2009 16:58:52 GMT -5
What I mean is after the buyout of ECW and WCW, is the current pro wrestling landscape anything like you expected it to be?
I remember thinking that Vince would still use WCW as a brand. I wasn't sure how it would work but the general idea was very similar to how the brand extension played out.
When the brand extension happened, I really thought that both brands would be a lot more exclusive. I thought for sure that by 2009, the two different brands would be entirely separated. Maybe even with entirely different logo's on the screen.
I did NOT think that ECW would ever be brought back as a brand. It was something that I wished for, but never expected it to happen. I figured WCW would replace Smackdown before ECW would ever have its own show again.
I did not think that HBK or Undertaker would still be around. But somehow I knew, even in 2001, that the Prototype would be a future main eventer. I just had no idea how overpushed he'd be.
I also thought that by now there would be another big company to take on WWE. TNA is close, but it's not on par (as far as crowd size, superstar value, etc) like WCW was.
So what did you guys think 8 years ago? Did you expect any of this?
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Post by Skywalker on Aug 11, 2009 17:46:27 GMT -5
In 2001, how would HBK even come into thinking?
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Tom
Don Corleone
Power Of Station.
Posts: 2,018
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Post by Tom on Aug 11, 2009 17:51:31 GMT -5
WWE wasn't anything like I thought it would be (watching in the midst of the Invasion angle) in 2004, nevermind now. They had such a colossal roster from '02 to '03, that I felt the possibilities could've lasted a decade at least. By 2004 pretty much most from WCW/ECW were gone and HHH and Angle - when not stuck in shitty storylines - were the only wrestlers I was truly watching for. Come 2006, and I just stopped caring once Evolution was done and they pissed away HHH/Flair. I couldn't believe how far the company had fallen from my expectations given how exciting it was to watch in 2002 and (Smackdown exclusively) in 2003.
I didn't think much about who the competition would be. To be honest I felt it would just kind of carry on with only WWE, for quite some time. I didn't really expect TNA to happen or anything like ROH to become prominent.
I gave up on WWE and decided to watch ROH in 2006, and that is not what I was expecting to happen at all back in 2001. I thought I'd still be watching WWE now, and that only just now another company (of TNA's stature) might've started to come about.
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Post by rapidfire187 on Aug 11, 2009 18:22:52 GMT -5
In 2001, how would HBK even come into thinking? He was still popping up every once in a while in a non wrestling role. I was always holding out hope for one more match though, but I didn't even think we'd still be seeing him in any capacity on wrestling. I also thought that by now, somebody else would be running WWE, or Vince would at least be getting ready to hand it over. From the looks of things though, he'll be running the show for a long time. |
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Post by Jimichiro Likes Erick Rowan on Aug 11, 2009 20:08:22 GMT -5
It wasn't in 2001, but around the '03 Rumble I predicted that Brock Lesnar was going to get an Undertaker-like run in WWE. Since then I don't bother predicting anything anymore.  |
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kidglov3s
Bill S. Preston, Esq.
Wants her Shot
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Post by kidglov3s on Aug 11, 2009 21:38:30 GMT -5
In 2001 I thought that without significant competition the WWF (at the time) would become very complacent, lazily dissolve into a much less inspired product, and steadily lose public interest over time.
I think all of those things have essentially happened.
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Post by Cretinous Humanoid on Aug 12, 2009 0:30:18 GMT -5
I thought for sure somehow Oprah would be in charge of everything.
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Post by chunkylover53 on Aug 12, 2009 1:13:44 GMT -5
In 2001 I thought that without significant competition the WWF (at the time) would become very complacent, lazily dissolve into a much less inspired product, and steadily lose public interest over time. I think all of those things have essentially happened. Winner winner chicken dinner! I'll say this, back then, I NEVER thought I would give up on WWF/E, I was dead-ass wrong. |
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Post by Slingshot Suplay on Aug 12, 2009 1:50:26 GMT -5
I knew Benoit would be a world champion, but i never thought Eddie Guerrero would.
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Dave at the Movies
Bill S. Preston, Esq.
VINTAGE D-DAY DAVE! Always cranking dat thing.
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Post by Dave at the Movies on Aug 12, 2009 14:22:42 GMT -5
In 2001 I thought that without significant competition the WWF (at the time) would become very complacent, lazily dissolve into a much less inspired product, and steadily lose public interest over time. I think all of those things have essentially happened. Winner winner chicken dinner! I'll say this, back then, I NEVER thought I would give up on WWF/E, I was dead-ass wrong. I agree. I still watch it from time to time but the product as it is now does not even compare to how good it was in late 1997 to 200. |
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Post by eDemento2099 on Aug 12, 2009 14:56:55 GMT -5
In 2001 I thought that without significant competition the WWF (at the time) would become very complacent, lazily dissolve into a much less inspired product, and steadily lose public interest over time. I think all of those things have essentially happened. I predicted the same outcome as you. After the abysmal InVasion angle, I said 'to hell with this' and almost gave up on contemporary wrestling ... until I discovered CZW and Chikara. |
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