Eric Young: Vince is a failed leader, "broken system"

[Welfare Willis]

From Chris Van Vliet's interview.

"When they said they were going to release talent, I knew for sure I was going to be on that list," Young admitted. "It's nothing personal. I don't take it [personally]. I'm not bitter in anyway. One person made a massive mistake. I'm not the first person he's made a mistake on, and I will not be the last."

"With the WWE, I'm not the first guy to say this, Moxley talked about this a bunch, it's a broken system," Young stated. "It's impossible to be creative. It's impossible to get ahead. It's impossible to feel like you have even a foothold in your career at all. I'm a person that spent 20+ years grinding, trying to make my reputation and it's basically dumped on by one person for no reason whatsoever.

"He looked up from his cellphone for five seconds, saw me doing something that maybe he didn't agree with in that moment and that's the end of it. The whole time you're there you're just trying to fix other people's mistakes. That's what it feels like, and it's an exhausting process. You're not having fun. There's no creativity. He wants everyone to be the same, do the same things and sell the same way, and that's not what pro wrestling is to me."

Eric's right, but then again compared to all the talent Vince has wasted Eric Young is on the lower part of that list.

[Final Countdown Jones]

Dude had a good position as the veteran leader of a faction that let him do some character work while letting the other guys shine. It worked well in NXT. Main roster doesn't care about peoples' individual strengths or purposes, or about getting people over; everyone's in the same box, so of course a utility player was going to get looked at by Vince and laughed off. Which raises the question I guess of why you'd hire and push the guy in the first place, but.

[polarbearpete]

Jul 30, 2020 8:22:15 GMT -5 Final Countdown Jones said:

Dude had a good position as the veteran leader of a faction that let him do some character work while letting the other guys shine. It worked well in NXT. Main roster doesn't care about peoples' individual strengths or purposes, or about getting people over; everyone's in the same box, so of course a utility player was going to get looked at by Vince and laughed off. Which raises the question I guess of why you'd hire and push the guy in the first place, but.

There’s a disconnect between their hiring process and their booking and I think it has to do with the fact that Triple H handles almost all talent signings now while Vince still handles main roster creative. If Vince is going to handle the creative, then he should probably be involved in the signings as well.

[eJm]

Jul 30, 2020 8:27:55 GMT -5 polarbearpete said:

Jul 30, 2020 8:22:15 GMT -5 Final Countdown Jones said:

Dude had a good position as the veteran leader of a faction that let him do some character work while letting the other guys shine. It worked well in NXT. Main roster doesn't care about peoples' individual strengths or purposes, or about getting people over; everyone's in the same box, so of course a utility player was going to get looked at by Vince and laughed off. Which raises the question I guess of why you'd hire and push the guy in the first place, but.

There’s a disconnect between their hiring process and their booking and I think it has to do with the fact that Triple H handles almost all talent signings now while Vince still handles main roster creative. If Vince is going to handle the creative, then he should probably be involved in the signings as well.

It's something I've been saying for a while. Like, I'm guessing Vince at least rubber stamps some of these deals regardless in what must be a trivial part of the process but you'd think someone who expects people in certain roles would have a big part of the talent being brought into the company.

In sort of the same way some football/soccer teams have a Director of Football to find and sign the players the manager is looking for to give them more time in getting that team ready for the season, you'd think Vince would want HHH or whoever is head of talent relations to be that middleman.

[Xxcjb01xX [PIECE OF: SH-]]

Aside from money and exposure I simply cannot understand how people, especially people from the Indies, want to go to WWE at this current time when they hear the horror stories from everyone released from there. Not just "some", EVERYONE. It just feels like a pit where you have almost no chance, you could do one thing tomorrow Vince didn't like and it'd be the end of you and we've SEEN IT happen over and over to talent.

I get a dream for a lot of this talent when they were young was to make it to the WWE grand stage, but the WWE stage that they saw in the 80s and for the young kids 90s and 00s, isn't even what WWE is now in 2020. It's ab absolute disaster and I feel the more people that speak up, the more people are gonna eigh their options. Otherwise, you're basically stuck in WWE's system so no one else can actually use you for anything remotely interesting... it's just a really bad energy to be in right now, and I have to think the more stories that come out about how WWE has a broken system there are, the more it's gonna make a difference.

[Dave the Dave]

Yeah Eric isn’t amazing but based on his career he can be pretty versatile in his role. You could find something for him if you wanted. It’s probably good he’s out. I never got used to him being there really.

[Captain Stud Muffin (BLM)]

Main roster did bad by EY

How they didn't have him do comedy is beyond me. Other then that he was used perfectly in NXT

[Bad Moon]

Jul 30, 2020 8:58:50 GMT -5 Xxcjb01xX [PIECE OF: SH-] said:

Aside from money and exposure I simply cannot understand how people, especially people from the Indies, want to go to WWE at this current time when they hear the horror stories from everyone released from there. Not just "some", EVERYONE. It just feels like a pit where you have almost no chance, you could do one thing tomorrow Vince didn't like and it'd be the end of you and we've SEEN IT happen over and over to talent.

I get a dream for a lot of this talent when they were young was to make it to the WWE grand stage, but the WWE stage that they saw in the 80s and for the young kids 90s and 00s, isn't even what WWE is now in 2020. It's ab absolute disaster and I feel the more people that speak up, the more people are gonna eigh their options. Otherwise, you're basically stuck in WWE's system so no one else can actually use you for anything remotely interesting... it's just a really bad energy to be in right now, and I have to think the more stories that come out about how WWE has a broken system there are, the more it's gonna make a difference.

I don't think it will ever be that dire. WWE has been recruiting established indie and foreign wrestlers by the boatload in recent years but they'll always have a place for failed pro-athletes, bodybuilders and other types looking at wrestling as a plan B and those guys historically turn out to be WWE lifers.

[polarbearpete]

Jul 30, 2020 8:58:50 GMT -5 Xxcjb01xX [PIECE OF: SH-] said:

Aside from money and exposure I simply cannot understand how people, especially people from the Indies, want to go to WWE at this current time when they hear the horror stories from everyone released from there. Not just "some", EVERYONE. It just feels like a pit where you have almost no chance, you could do one thing tomorrow Vince didn't like and it'd be the end of you and we've SEEN IT happen over and over to talent.

I get a dream for a lot of this talent when they were young was to make it to the WWE grand stage, but the WWE stage that they saw in the 80s and for the young kids 90s and 00s, isn't even what WWE is now in 2020. It's ab absolute disaster and I feel the more people that speak up, the more people are gonna eigh their options. Otherwise, you're basically stuck in WWE's system so no one else can actually use you for anything remotely interesting... it's just a really bad energy to be in right now, and I have to think the more stories that come out about how WWE has a broken system there are, the more it's gonna make a difference.

Money and exposure are two huge advantages though. Even if not used properly, random Indy guy going to WWE for a few years and then getting released now has more of a following and can get more for his Indy bookings or for his next exclusive contract. More fans, more social media followers, more merch sold, etc.

[HMARK Center]

Have to say, reading what happened with Sanity over time was the big thing that made me realize that I'd have a hard time being invested in NXT. It's not that NXT doesn't put on good shows, but that sense of "Oh God, I don't want these guys to go to the main roster, they'll ruin them" would just put a cloud of dread over the proceedings, all while knowing that the NXT champ isn't going to ever main event WM or whatever. Again, not the NXT product's fault, but their call up really highlighted the deficiencies in the system.

[polarbearpete]

Jul 30, 2020 10:49:56 GMT -5 HMARK Center said:

Have to say, reading what happened with Sanity over time was the big thing that made me realize that I'd have a hard time being invested in NXT. It's not that NXT doesn't put on good shows, but that sense of "Oh God, I don't want these guys to go to the main roster, they'll ruin them" would just put a cloud of dread over the proceedings, all while knowing that the NXT champ isn't going to ever main event WM or whatever. Again, not the NXT product's fault, but their call up really highlighted the deficiencies in the system.

i.pinimg.com/originals/4d/88/fe/4d88fe36462b3a012379fd63f3f4fa17.jpg

i.pinimg.com/originals/5d/a3/f3/5da3f31cf59393f7ff213a7d55477285.jpg

www.wwe.com/f/styles/gallery_img_l/public/2016/04/002_CHAR_06122014jg_0010b--a3e6a3838df8a78ab8b847fce25d87f5.jpg

They certainly misuse a lot of talent when brought up to the main roster, but a huge chunk of Raw and Smackdown’s top talent came from NXT. Sasha, Bayley, Asuka, Rollins, Owens, McIntyre, Nakamura, Charlotte, Street Profits, Corbin, Big E, Otis. And guys like Riddle, Andrade, Black seem like they are headed for large roles.

[fw91]

Jul 30, 2020 11:02:36 GMT -5 polarbearpete said:

Jul 30, 2020 10:49:56 GMT -5 HMARK Center said:

Have to say, reading what happened with Sanity over time was the big thing that made me realize that I'd have a hard time being invested in NXT. It's not that NXT doesn't put on good shows, but that sense of "Oh God, I don't want these guys to go to the main roster, they'll ruin them" would just put a cloud of dread over the proceedings, all while knowing that the NXT champ isn't going to ever main event WM or whatever. Again, not the NXT product's fault, but their call up really highlighted the deficiencies in the system.

i.pinimg.com/originals/4d/88/fe/4d88fe36462b3a012379fd63f3f4fa17.jpg

i.pinimg.com/originals/5d/a3/f3/5da3f31cf59393f7ff213a7d55477285.jpg

www.wwe.com/f/styles/gallery_img_l/public/2016/04/002_CHAR_06122014jg_0010b--a3e6a3838df8a78ab8b847fce25d87f5.jpg

They certainly misuse a lot of talent when brought up to the main roster, but a huge chunk of Raw and Smackdown’s top talent came from NXT. Sasha, Bayley, Asuka, Rollins, Owens, McIntyre, Nakamura, Charlotte, Street Profits, Corbin, Big E, Otis. And guys like Riddle, Andrade, Black seem like they are headed for large roles.

And you know the difference between that group and the ones who flounder? This group oozes Charisma and has the tools to get over with the main roster audience.

[polarbearpete]

Jul 30, 2020 11:09:12 GMT -5 fw91 said:

Jul 30, 2020 11:02:36 GMT -5 polarbearpete said:

i.pinimg.com/originals/4d/88/fe/4d88fe36462b3a012379fd63f3f4fa17.jpg

i.pinimg.com/originals/5d/a3/f3/5da3f31cf59393f7ff213a7d55477285.jpg

www.wwe.com/f/styles/gallery_img_l/public/2016/04/002_CHAR_06122014jg_0010b--a3e6a3838df8a78ab8b847fce25d87f5.jpg

They certainly misuse a lot of talent when brought up to the main roster, but a huge chunk of Raw and Smackdown’s top talent came from NXT. Sasha, Bayley, Asuka, Rollins, Owens, McIntyre, Nakamura, Charlotte, Street Profits, Corbin, Big E, Otis. And guys like Riddle, Andrade, Black seem like they are headed for large roles.

And you know the difference between that group and the ones who flounder? This group oozes Charisma and has the tools to get over with the main roster audience.

In some cases yes, but there are some callups that have been done dirty. Ricochet springs to mind as the most obvious. Black too has been protected but is still not really used to his potential but they are hopefully going to right that.

[Deleted]

Jul 30, 2020 9:51:44 GMT -5 polarbearpete said:

Jul 30, 2020 8:58:50 GMT -5 Xxcjb01xX [PIECE OF: SH-] said:

Aside from money and exposure I simply cannot understand how people, especially people from the Indies, want to go to WWE at this current time when they hear the horror stories from everyone released from there. Not just "some", EVERYONE. It just feels like a pit where you have almost no chance, you could do one thing tomorrow Vince didn't like and it'd be the end of you and we've SEEN IT happen over and over to talent.

I get a dream for a lot of this talent when they were young was to make it to the WWE grand stage, but the WWE stage that they saw in the 80s and for the young kids 90s and 00s, isn't even what WWE is now in 2020. It's ab absolute disaster and I feel the more people that speak up, the more people are gonna eigh their options. Otherwise, you're basically stuck in WWE's system so no one else can actually use you for anything remotely interesting... it's just a really bad energy to be in right now, and I have to think the more stories that come out about how WWE has a broken system there are, the more it's gonna make a difference.

Money and exposure are two huge advantages though. Even if not used properly, random Indy guy going to WWE for a few years and then getting released now has more of a following and can get more for his Indy bookings or for his next exclusive contract. More fans, more social media followers, more merch sold, etc.

This is a big issue with NXT for me. It's like, you almost don't want people to be successful because if they are, they will most likely (not always) be misused or lost in the shuffle. Also. I don't like the main roster shows really, I only watch the ppvs. So when someone I like gets called up I'm like "aw shit, no" instead of being happy for them.

Edit: Quoted the wrong post. Meant to only quote the quote within the quote.

Quote.

[paywindah]

EY was a big fish in a small pond in TNA. In WWE he was a very small fish and was featured accordingly.

[Finish Uncle Muffin’s Story]

Jul 30, 2020 11:22:39 GMT -5 paywindah said:

EY was a big fish in a small pond in TNA. In WWE he was a very small fish and was featured accordingly.

He was positioned as a small fish, though. They didn't even give him a shot. That's the point.

[kingoftheindies]

Jul 30, 2020 8:35:02 GMT -5 eJm said:

Jul 30, 2020 8:27:55 GMT -5 polarbearpete said:

There’s a disconnect between their hiring process and their booking and I think it has to do with the fact that Triple H handles almost all talent signings now while Vince still handles main roster creative. If Vince is going to handle the creative, then he should probably be involved in the signings as well.

It's something I've been saying for a while. Like, I'm guessing Vince at least rubber stamps some of these deals regardless in what must be a trivial part of the process but you'd think someone who expects people in certain roles would have a big part of the talent being brought into the company.

In sort of the same way some football/soccer teams have a Director of Football to find and sign the players the manager is looking for to give them more time in getting that team ready for the season, you'd think Vince would want HHH or whoever is head of talent relations to be that middleman.

To go with that soccer reference its like when AC Milan was sold to a Chinese consortium and the 2 guys who were hired to run the team went out and spent the most money in Europe in 2017. Milan fans were excited but then you had a bunch of club legends come out and say that they were signing players just to sign players and based on what the manager did and what those players did they saw no chance at success. The former players were right.

I think there are some talented writers in WWE who get it to be fair. Ryan Ward consistently is a guy who has his name attached to good things and tends to get the most out of the people he works with. But the big issue is that if Vince and his closest people don't understand something they just want to bury it or forget it.

Now do I think they missed the boat on EY? Not really. But I do think Vince is too quick to lose interest in people unless he sees something buzz worthy... and then that one trait becomes all you are

[Instant Classic]

He was awesome in TNA as the comedy guy, I loved when he would lock up with the ref before a match. He was good for the little of him I saw in NXT, but main roster he was just some generic guy who didn’t stand out. Vince McMahons fault or not.

[Finish Uncle Muffin’s Story]

Jul 30, 2020 12:01:04 GMT -5 kingoftheindies said:

Jul 30, 2020 8:35:02 GMT -5 eJm said:

It's something I've been saying for a while. Like, I'm guessing Vince at least rubber stamps some of these deals regardless in what must be a trivial part of the process but you'd think someone who expects people in certain roles would have a big part of the talent being brought into the company.

In sort of the same way some football/soccer teams have a Director of Football to find and sign the players the manager is looking for to give them more time in getting that team ready for the season, you'd think Vince would want HHH or whoever is head of talent relations to be that middleman.

To go with that soccer reference its like when AC Milan was sold to a Chinese consortium and the 2 guys who were hired to run the team went out and spent the most money in Europe in 2017. Milan fans were excited but then you had a bunch of club legends come out and say that they were signing players just to sign players and based on what the manager did and what those players did they saw no chance at success. The former players were right.

I think there are some talented writers in WWE who get it to be fair. Ryan Ward consistently is a guy who has his name attached to good things and tends to get the most out of the people he works with. But the big issue is that if Vince and his closest people don't understand something they just want to bury it or forget it.

Now do I think they missed the boat on EY? Not really. But I do think Vince is too quick to lose interest in people unless he sees something buzz worthy... and then that one trait becomes all you are

Mike Kanellis got more airtime than EY in the last few years, and not to be a dick to Mike, but EY is like...so much more versatile and talented. The way in which they use people is all arbitrary, it's madness. not everybody needs to be a superstar, but to Eric's point, there are THREE f***ING HOURS OF TV. They need to do a better job with the tools they have, but everybody's all burnt out because the final say is a 74 year old that doesn't watch current TV or movies. It's wild.

[eJm]

Jul 30, 2020 11:02:36 GMT -5 polarbearpete said:

They certainly misuse a lot of talent when brought up to the main roster, but a huge chunk of Raw and Smackdown’s top talent came from NXT. Sasha, Bayley, Asuka, Rollins, Owens, McIntyre, Nakamura, Charlotte, Street Profits, Corbin, Big E, Otis. And guys like Riddle, Andrade, Black seem like they are headed for large roles.

I'm not saying you're wrong but some of them took a LONG time to get to anything resembling a solid spot. Even when they had successes, there was always dumb things surrounding them ala Most of Kevin Owens' career or Shinsuke Nakamura debuting in a competitive match against Dolph Ziggler or Sasha Banks'....entire first two years.

Like, right now they're in solid positions but it came after years and years of basically being backburner to either older names or tedious storylines. It's not a failing grade but it's most certainly a "See me after class".