Interesting Notes About WWE's Booking...

[Gillberg: 0-175]

Host Gary Cantrell asked about creative specifically and how approachable they are. "There's not an exact creative system that I was able to figure out. Sometimes I would go up to a writer that had only been there 2 to 3 days or weeks who's just a brand new guy, doesn't even know what talents are RAW or Smackdown and they would blow me off" said Daivari.

COMPLETELY MAKES SENSE! No wonder the booking is so ass. And not even consistant ass...it's cause the creative teams aren't around long enough execute a storyline they worked on.

It makes sense considering Davari. They had plans for him on ECW...SCRAPPED. Revive him by bringing him to SD for the "revival" of the CW division...which all got SCRAPPED. Then bring him to RAW to be a JOTS...which even THAT got SCRAPPED.

[Deleted]

This shows why the booking is so poor.

What they need is consistant writers who know the product and know what the fans want to see. I personally think they should do the same thing Eric Bischoff did in WCW, and do 'Focus Groups' about the product. It's the absolute best way to get people to tune into the shows.

[wwerules60]

I will never understand why they don't hire writers that are not even fans of wrestling. Or at least who would study the current product before getting a job there.

[Spankymac is sick of the swiss]

wwerules60 said:

I will never understand why they don't hire writers that are not even fans of wrestling. Or at least who would study the current product before getting a job there.

Because hiring wrestling fans for writers would mean that actual wrestling would take place, and then where will they find the time to shove in all the skits and crappy comedy segments that we've grown to know and love?

[Gillberg: 0-175]

wwerules60 said:

I will never understand why they don't hire writers that are not even fans of wrestling. Or at least who would study the current product before getting a job there.

Because it kills the dreams of people like me who would LOVE to give booking the WWE a shot.

[The F'N Captain]

You know, hate TNA all you want, but even tho they have some crappy storylines, at least they progress to an actual end. That's one of the biggest issues with WWE, the mainevent storylines are weak(HBK coming back ISN'T a storyline in of itself, it's how they handle his return), and the midcard one's don't even exist.

[Deleted]

wwerules60 said:

I will never understand why they don't hire writers that are not even fans of wrestling. Or at least who would study the current product before getting a job there.

Exactly.

Even if you're not a fan, you should at least do some research on it before going to write the show. This is why the storylines and characters are one-dimensional and terrible.

[Clash, Never a Meter Maid]

doinksdoodoo said:

wwerules60 said:

I will never understand why they don't hire writers that are not even fans of wrestling. Or at least who would study the current product before getting a job there.

Because it kills the dreams of people like me who would LOVE to give booking the WWE a shot.

You have more tolerance than me then, because if I was a writer for wrestling shows, I'd have a horrible home life considering the nature of wrestling fans and their demands.

[Gillberg: 0-175]

What I would like to know now, if the writers don't know the talents, how do they write the storylines? Is it like a cookie-cutter, where it's WRESTLER #1 gets into a love triangle with WRESTLER #2's DIVA is on the list of available options?

[Lick Ness Monster]

doinksdoodoo said:

What I would like to know now, if the writers don't know the talents, how do they write the storylines? Is it like a cookie-cutter, where it's WRESTLER #1 gets into a love triangle with WRESTLER #2's DIVA is on the list of available options?

Essentially, yes. Add *insert wrestler calls Vince a penis-butt* into the equation and you've got WWE writing 101.

[Kash Flagg]

If you're a writer for the WWE, you basically have to move to Stamford and be on call 24/7. I knew someone who briefly wrote for them (his contribution was the Haas/Rico tag team a few years back).

[molson5]

wwerules60 said:

I will never understand why they don't hire writers that are not even fans of wrestling. Or at least who would study the current product before getting a job there.

I understand the first part of that but not the second.

If you hire fans to write you're going to get all smarky storylines with an overdose of irony: Nick Dinsmore is angry about his old character and gets all serious, Val Venis is tired of being a porn star so he gets a push as Sean Morely, ect. The WWE doesn't do that kind of stuff anymore (self-aware angles).

It's the same reasons that creators of new star trek movies and films don't want trekkies.

That being said, once you're working for the company, you need to learn about everything and know who the talent is. No excuses there.

The other point that has to be made in this kind of thread is the difference between writers and bookers. Guys like Dusty Rhodes are primarily in charge of creating the broad storylines. The writers write dialogue, and pitch ideas that may or may not be listened to.

People sometimes assume that the WWE hires a hollywood writer with no wrestling background, and then he immediately writes an episode of RAW from beginning to end. That's not how it works.

[NiceToKnowMe]

You forgot another quote from this interview with Daivria conducted by www.blogtalkradio.com/theshoot
(at least give f***ing credit!)


" He then added that whenever he approached Stephanie or Vince and needed to talk with them one on one, they always made time for him reguardless if they had a million things going on. "So, to say that creative is or is not approachable thats debatable. Like I said some guys wouldn't have the time of day for me but the highest guy and woman on the totem pole always did""


So it's not all bad. If vince still has time for you then i guess the little fish don't matter as much.


But i agree with the points about hiring wrestling fans.

[Deleted]

For reasons stated above in this thread, hiring fans isn't the best way to go.

But who they need to hire are experienced writers who can identify themselves with the product and create intriguing characters and storylines. Currently, this isn't being done, which is why ratings are down.

[hutter]

Here's an idea...since the WWE is more cartoony than cartoons, and Hollywood has been adapting one comic book series after another over the past few years...why not hire comic book writers to handle the wrestling storylines? Of course, the WWE would probably screw it all up and hire a hack like Rob Liefeld. But if they hired COMPETENT comic scribes, do y'all think the quality would improve? Personally, I'd love to see a Garth Ennis version of ECW.

[Dean-o]

ianwatkins said:

You forgot another quote from this interview with Daivria conducted by www.blogtalkradio.com/theshoot
(at least give smurfing credit!)


" He then added that whenever he approached Stephanie or Vince and needed to talk with them one on one, they always made time for him reguardless if they had a million things going on. "So, to say that creative is or is not approachable thats debatable. Like I said some guys wouldn't have the time of day for me but the highest guy and woman on the totem pole always did""


So it's not all bad. If vince still has time for you then i guess the little fish don't matter as much.


But i agree with the points about hiring wrestling fans.

"Strange" how that was left out.

[HMARK Center]

hutter said:

Here's an idea...since the WWE is more cartoony than cartoons, and Hollywood has been adapting one comic book series after another over the past few years...why not hire comic book writers to handle the wrestling storylines? Of course, the WWE would probably screw it all up and hire a hack like Rob Liefeld. But if they hired COMPETENT comic scribes, do y'all think the quality would improve? Personally, I'd love to see a Garth Ennis version of ECW.

Only if we could hear every wrestlers' inner-monologue and introspective thoughts/flashbacks whenever there's a storyline twist.

I kid, I kid.

Really, all they need are decent, experienced writers, but it pays to get people with experience in the wrestling business, not necessarily wrestling fans.

[Brick Killed a Guy]

I'm thinking some of those who are hired as writers don't have any aspiration to stay in wrestling anyway. It's a resume filler until a job comes up for a film, sitcom or soap opera.

[angryfan]

Here's the thing, there seems to be no middle ground in distinction between "writers who no nothing of the business" and "fans who would write from a fans standpoint", but there is a HUGE middleground.

Look, when I started in law enforcement, I had zero experience, my major was in communications. So, when I applied for the job, I started studying things I would need to know for the job (local and state laws and what not). It seems like the writers being brought in are completely cold in terms of knowing not just the industry, but the people whom they will be writing for.

If you come in knowing zero, take no time to do your homework and figure out at least the absolute basics, then you're going to spend most of your time "learning as you go". Problem is, you're writing live TV, and there's not a whole lot of time for a "laerning curve".

[Dr. T is an alien]

kashflagg said:

If you're a writer for the WWE, you basically have to move to Stamford and be on call 24/7. I knew someone who briefly wrote for them (his contribution was the Haas/Rico tag team a few years back).

So you knew one of the good writers?