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Post by Bob Schlapowitz on Aug 1, 2007 14:01:01 GMT -5
I think there should be a sticky thread for the Attitude Era. Yes.
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JMA
Hank Scorpio
Down With Capitalism!
Posts: 6,880
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Post by JMA on Aug 1, 2007 14:19:15 GMT -5
Bonnie Hammer: "It's good, but will it get them off their tractors?"
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Post by shiranui on Aug 1, 2007 14:30:20 GMT -5
The name "Bonnie Hammer" really sounds like a bad Sledge Hammer! spinoff series where the main character is Sledge's sister or some other female relative.
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Lancers
El Dandy
Oh you
Posts: 7,951
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Post by Lancers on Aug 1, 2007 15:29:11 GMT -5
Like I stated, the USA Network wants ratings. Plain and simple. But, to think that bringing back the Attitude Era would improve ratings might work out for the short term, but it could potentially absolutely destroy the long term plans for the company. It's like a cortisone shot for a broken arm.
Fact is, in order for the WWE to improve the ratings, they have to take the approach they did BEFORE the Attitude Era. It's not about trotting out former world champions and have them appear as a surprise guest each week, it's about creating new superstars and developing them into main event draws like they did before the Attitude Era.
Look back at 1997, the ratings were bad. RAW was getting obliterated by Nitro each and every week. The WWE knew that they had to go down a new direction because the formula they had been using simply wasn't working any longer, probably because WCW was doing it and at the time doing it better.
So, the WWE allowed Steve Austin to go from the Ringmaster to Stone Cold. They allowed Dwayne Johnson to go from Rocky Maivia to the Rock. They allowed Paul Levesque to go from Hunter Hearst Helmsley to Triple H. No longer were these guys playing a generic heel, a generic babyface or an American blueblood anymore. They were given personality. They were given the opportunity to let the fans relate to them. And in return, the fans returned back to the WWE.
Most importantly, this transition didn't just happen overnight. For example, Stone Cold's push to the title took roughly a year and a half before he became WWE Champion. His first significant feud with Bret which started in '96 to his win over HBK in '98 was booked almost to perfection. It wasn't an immediate knee-jerk reaction by the creative team to put a belt on him. They allowed it to take time and by the time he won in '98, ratings were actually on the same level as Nitro and eventually they outdrew Nitro by the end of the year which was permanent.
Now, all that being said, I'm not suggesting to book a guy like Kennedy just like Austin or Carlito the way they did with the Rock. But, certainly make them look credible. Make them look competent. Make them look good so when they are main eventing on RAW, you think they have a realistic shot at beating Cena or Triple H.
I really hope the USA Network isn't really going to get their way, presuming this is really what they want. Bringing back the Attitude Era, in my opinion, is like doing another NWO reunion. You might get a nostalgic draw, but eventually the novelty wears off and all you got left is a roster that lacks credibility because they've likely been used as sacrificial lambs for the former superstars to get re-pushed like DX for example.
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Post by Butchie on Aug 1, 2007 15:52:17 GMT -5
I'm not saying they necessarily have to bring back wrestlers from the Attitude Era. It would be interesting to see today's talent booked in Attitude Era-type shows.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Aug 1, 2007 16:57:08 GMT -5
Eh, I think everyone will miss the Attitude Era no matter what happens.
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Zutroy
Don Corleone
That's preposterous. Zutroy here is as American as apple pie.
Posts: 1,933
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Post by Zutroy on Aug 1, 2007 17:04:08 GMT -5
All they need is Vince Russo.
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Bub (BLM)
Patti Mayonnaise
advocates duck on rodent violence
Fed. Up.
Posts: 37,742
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Post by Bub (BLM) on Aug 1, 2007 17:06:20 GMT -5
They have the on-screen talent for a successful era, but none of the backstage talent required. The writing team sucks, aside from Dusty.
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Post by Ultimo Chocula on Aug 1, 2007 17:18:53 GMT -5
I thought they were trying to recreate the Attitude era already. On the rare occasion I tune in to the E it looks like a 2000 episode of WCW Monday Nitro. Trying really hard to be cool and hip and failing miserably.
If the E wants to turn things around they have to practically start all over cuz the current crop of main eventers ain't happening.
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Post by wolfmoon103100 on Aug 1, 2007 17:27:21 GMT -5
I hat to say it but I think WWE is heading for some dark times because we are now in the After Benoit era.
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Post by Can you afford to pay me, Gah on Aug 1, 2007 18:40:05 GMT -5
[Sarcasm] Yea bring back Chyna would make a world of differents in ratings. [/Sarcasm]
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Post by EoE: Well There's Your Problem on Aug 1, 2007 18:49:35 GMT -5
"Self-improvement can be achieved, but not with a quick fix: it's a long, arduous journey of personal and spiritual discovery."
--Lisa Simpson
I'm sure it applies here in some way.
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Parrish
El Dandy
Banana Man Wouldn't Book That!!!
Posts: 8,729
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Post by Parrish on Aug 1, 2007 19:04:38 GMT -5
Vince must love getting these weekly suggestions from Bonnie. Next she will suggest to bring back the 80's ear. They could bring back Hogan, Piper, Iron Shiek, Bob Orton, Paul Orndorf, Hillbilly Jim, Jimmy Snuka and all the old school classics.
I'd watch that
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Post by Lenny: Smooth like Keith Stone on Aug 1, 2007 19:23:34 GMT -5
I think it's a great idea!!!
Bring back Furnas and Lafon!
BRING BACK DAVE JERICHO!!!!!!!!!!!
(Imagine my surprise 10 years later when I found that he was Kid Kash)
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Hiroshi Hase
Patti Mayonnaise
The Good Ol' Days
Posts: 30,755
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Post by Hiroshi Hase on Aug 1, 2007 19:26:07 GMT -5
While they're at it, let's bring back the Brawl For All, Truth Commission, X-Pac (who probably thinks it's still 1998 anyways), D-Lo Brown (not that I'd mind too much), Beaver Cleavage, and Steve Blackman.
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Post by nerdinitupagain on Aug 1, 2007 21:37:38 GMT -5
The problem that in this world where a good majority of your audience knows how things works and that it's all pre-determined, they know the art of the Carny business that once was...
A well-scripted, perfectly produced show doesn't give them what they want. You need that feeling of improv that guys like Jericho and the Rock and Austin gave to interviews... instead of the George Bush promos that guys like Lashley cut where they say a sentence or two and that's when the crowd feels they should cheer. If you don't feel like there is even the smallest amount of something going off the script, where's the excitement? Hey, we all knew it was fake during the Monday Night Wars.. most of us knew Kevin Nash and Scott Hall where under WCW contract... but it didn't feel scripted. It felt real... because there was a play off those real life feelings and emotion... instead of reading a script. These guys are wrestlers.. they know how to cut promos and they know how to deliver. They don't need a script, just give them the guidelines.
Did WWE not realize that when they gave fans the near hour long Cena/Michaels match that people responded positively on both ends of the spectrum.. the marks and the smarks? That good old wrestling matches are why people watch. Guys like TAKA got over on great matches especially ones where you thought the unthinkable like when TAKA was a Michonuku Driver away from winning the World Title from HHH.
I can't tell you the last time I felt anything like that in wrestling that I'm watching. Hell, the most enjoyable thing for me in wrestling in the past year was "CHANGE THE CHANNEL" or the Nash/Shelley skits.. and Black Macho'ism. Sure there were some decent matches, but nothing stands out.
I still watch because I'm just waiting for someone to realize something is wrong and start the next great angle that brings me back. And I think that's how a lot of us feel, and the more and more we watch and get let down when we see something that could be great.. get torn to pieces and screwed up.. it turns away another point. And in the past I think Vince was always gaining new fans at a rate that outnumbered the number that was turned away from the produt... but since Benoit... no one new wants to watch WWE... and those of us who do.. are asking ourselves the question "Why?" much more.
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Post by kawalimus on Aug 1, 2007 21:52:46 GMT -5
Excellent post well said I would had said that.
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Post by Thomas Powers of Paine on Aug 2, 2007 0:48:48 GMT -5
Why is Vince just listening? Why doesn't he just explain to her why it can't happen? Maybe his set has shriveled up from all the steroids...
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Post by ultimatekennedy on Aug 2, 2007 1:13:43 GMT -5
I think Vince McMahon would like to bring back the Attitude Era, what with the ratings it had that and the money it had too.
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