Lesnar 2002 screwed up WWE?

[RIHT]

I love Brock Lesnar. He's awesome. His push in 2002 was great and Smackdown was gold with him on. He was a star. WWE didn't hesitate and gave him the title after building him up for a few months. It was a huge pay-off for WWE with a great future ahead of them.

Then he left.

We still had Eddie and Angle, but in 2005....came Cena. Raw and SD were awful(and have barely gotten better in the past 2 years). Most people don't seem to like Cena. Most people don't seem to get pushed to his level in WWE, hell nobody does. Why does WWE try to protect Cena so much with wins, merchandise, and shoving him to the top so he can be shoved down our throats?

My theory: Brock Lesnar and the year 2002. One of the greatest years in WWE history. Great roster, great matches, great characters, a new era. But what happened? WWE took a risk and it paid off with Lesnar...for only 2 years. He dropped their ball and left in a heap of cheap smoke. Austin and Rock also left in 2002. Basically, WWE lost 3 of its biggest names within 2 years. 3 names they took risks with and 3 names they gave the world to.

My belief is that after setting such a high standard and working so hard, only to see it all go away so quickly, WWE and Vince could never bring themselves to the confidence they had then and protect Cena to avoid this. They don't take risks in programming, they don't take risks in matches, they don't take risks with new stars. WWE is just "meh" these days. Christian didn't get the push in 2005(I still believe they should've tried), Cena held the title for over a year and was the focus of Raw(Punk did too, but Cena still main evented ppvs), Cena beat EVERYBODY and dominated them with ease, there were few new main eventers from 2005-2011, etc.

I feel WWE will never take another risk like Lesnar or whatever they did in 2002. They can make all the money with half the effort. What do you guys think? That's just my opinion.

[Deleted]

Lesnar was always going to want to do bigger things, IMO. And why shouldn't he? The guy is an absolute freak of nature. It's likely that there will never be another like him ever again.

[RIHT]

Aug 11, 2013 13:03:51 GMT -5 @subtlemocking said:

Lesnar was always going to want to do bigger things, IMO. And why shouldn't he? The guy is an absolute freak of nature. It's likely that there will never be another like him ever again.

I just feel it was a double-edge sword. He was awesome and a huge pay-off, but left before WWE was ready for him to leave. No one will ever get that kind of push again, even if they have Lesnar's strength or desire.

[Deleted]

Cena would have ended up as the face of the WWE even if Brock didn't leave IMO. Brock is a simple guy that hates doing all of the promotional appearances and signings and everything that goes with being the man. Cena loves that part of it.

[Deleted]

Aug 11, 2013 13:05:25 GMT -5 RIHT said:

Aug 11, 2013 13:03:51 GMT -5 @subtlemocking said:

Lesnar was always going to want to do bigger things, IMO. And why shouldn't he? The guy is an absolute freak of nature. It's likely that there will never be another like him ever again.

I just feel it was a double-edge sword. He was awesome and a huge pay-off, but left before WWE was ready for him to leave. No one will ever get that kind of push again, even if they have Lesnar's strength or desire.

They were damned if they did and damned if they didn't. If they didn't give him that monster push, he probably would have left much sooner and gone on to become just as successful elsewhere.

[Shark]

Brock didn't screw up much. Actually if he didn't get that push, then those transition years would have been much harder, especially for Smackdown. Lesnar gave them a big fresh star for 02-03. Once Cena caught fire, WWE wasn't too worried about Lesnar leaving. Even when he did, they didn't panic and hotshot Cena to the main event slot.

If anything Lesnar made WWE more cautious, but that's only going to make things better in the long run. It weeds out guys who can do this for the long run and the guys just doing this because they don't have another option.

[MichaelMartini]

Serves WWE right for releasing so many guys before they were ready. They're independent contractors. When they contracts up they can do whatever they want.

[RIHT]

Aug 11, 2013 14:00:30 GMT -5 Shark said:

Brock didn't screw up much. Actually if he didn't get that push, then those transition years would have been much harder, especially for Smackdown. Lesnar gave them a big fresh star for 02-03. Once Cena caught fire, WWE wasn't too worried about Lesnar leaving. Even when he did, they didn't panic and hotshot Cena to the main event slot.

If anything Lesnar made WWE more cautious, but that's only going to make things better in the long run. It weeds out guys who can do this for the long run and the guys just doing this because they don't have another option.

Cena became big after Lesnar left. I just feel WWE is very protective of Cena because Lesnar left in a snap.

[Shark]

Aug 11, 2013 14:07:15 GMT -5 RIHT said:

Aug 11, 2013 14:00:30 GMT -5 Shark said:

Brock didn't screw up much. Actually if he didn't get that push, then those transition years would have been much harder, especially for Smackdown. Lesnar gave them a big fresh star for 02-03. Once Cena caught fire, WWE wasn't too worried about Lesnar leaving. Even when he did, they didn't panic and hotshot Cena to the main event slot.

If anything Lesnar made WWE more cautious, but that's only going to make things better in the long run. It weeds out guys who can do this for the long run and the guys just doing this because they don't have another option.

Cena became big after Lesnar left. I just feel WWE is very protective of Cena because Lesnar left in a snap.

He was becoming big. Late 03 he was getting a lot more air time and in 04 he was exploding. Still WWE didn't rush Cena and waited a year before making him the man.

[RIHT]

Aug 11, 2013 14:25:17 GMT -5 Shark said:

Aug 11, 2013 14:07:15 GMT -5 RIHT said:

Cena became big after Lesnar left. I just feel WWE is very protective of Cena because Lesnar left in a snap.

He was becoming big. Late 03 he was getting a lot more air time and in 04 he was exploding. Still WWE didn't rush Cena and waited a year before making him the man.

That's kinda what I mean. It's good that WWE took their time, but now they wait for everyone, and sometimes they overdo it. It's different for everyone, but sometimes WWE needs to take risks. Cesaro was "pusehd" to the US title b/c he wasn't ready for the WHC. Look how that went. But at the same time, Del Rio was super-hyped, and then it took him over a year to win the damn title.

[Sephiroth]

Yes and no. WWE we're building themselves up around Lesnar, and his departure left a definite void. Bradshaw was reimagined as JBL to help fill that void-and while his initial mega push was definitely awkward, I would say he adapted to it quite well and became one of the most entertaining heels of recent memory. I would also argue that Leanar's departure had an effect on Cena's mega push as well; WWE obviously had grand plans for Cena even then, and I suspect they had planned a long term rivalry between Cena and Lesnar-but when Lesnsr left so abruptly they pushed Cena to be the new standard bearer they had meant Lesnar to be.
But as far as Lesnar wanting "bigger things," I actually have to dispute it. As I recall he cited the travel schedule as just being too hectic for him-he had even purchased his own plane to try to make it easier for himself. I remember him making Forbes "Tol Idiots" of that year list because he walked out on a multi-million dollar wrestling contract for a football tryout that would not have paid even half what he was making-and that he didn't get accepted for regardless. It's no wonder then that his current deal requires only sporadic appearances on TV.

[Can you afford to pay me, Gah]

The only thing I felt it effected would have been JBL. JBL happened to fill that top heel for Smackdown and how fast they did it because of Angle neck and Show went out too. They did get all panic mood on his leaving. JBL was pushed in what was they need it someone fast. JBL lasted because time went on he played to role to perfection. If Lensar was still there I'm not sure JBL would been what he was.

[cabbageboy]

JBL might have been the same but certainly not main eventing. Truth be told his act and skills translate better to a US title run instead of main eventing. As far as Brock goes, by now everyone here should know that I never liked his push from the get go. I felt Rob Van Dam was obviously the guy to push circa 2002 and that Lesnar was a green rookie completely undeserving and not ready for such a push.

This also needs to be said about Brock: He really wasn't over. He got some cheers from an anti Rock crowd at SS, so WWE felt the need to turn him face. Problem is, he doesn't have any sort of babyface charisma. So they turn him heel again. Think about this, within a 2 year period WWE tried him as a top heel and top face and he really never drew especially well either way.

Ironically I think he did find himself as a heel in the UFC where he could be himself.

[xCompackx]

I think Lesnar leaving was a factor, but I think Vince's erratic views and missed opportunities is why guys don't get pushes like Lesnar had. Look at Jeff Hardy in 2008. He was on fire and the build up to his match against Randy Orton at Royal Rumble was fantastic. Then... he loses. He wins the Championship eventually, but the reaction to him winning at the Royal Rumble would've been amazing. Look at Kofi Kingston. Gets a HUGE push against Randy Orton and looks like a star who has a bright future. Then he loses, gets "Stupid stupid!" and RKO'd out of relevancy.
Or look at Christian. Wins the World Heavyweight Championship in a great ladder match and everyone is happy that they gave him a chance. Then he loses two nights later and turns heel. I'm sure you can find a lot of other examples, but it's this "stop-start" booking that Vince seems to love that kills any chance for progression. Luckily since HHH is getting more and more involved it's getting a lot better and WWE has been fantastic post-WM.

[Deleted]

I think Lashley was the final straw that broke the camels back. He got a mega push just not as big Lesnars then got injured and asked for his release. Hence WWE adapted the yo yo push to see which guys want to stay

[________ has left the building]

Brock's departure did a number of things. It forced WWE to accelerate the pushes for Cena and Batista. Brock was very important as a draw and him leaving put them in a major bind. Cena, Orton, and Batista got leaned on as the future of the promotion. It gave JBL the opening to take the top heel spot on Smackdown. Before hand, JBL was lucky to get regular tv time on Smackdown. With Brock out of the picture, someone had to fill the void for that brand. Bradshaw was chosen and put Smackdown on his back. It also made WWE gun shy about giving people mega rocket ship pushes. Brock was treated as an unstoppable force of nature. For long while, they stopped half way on pushes for younger wrestlers. Finally they gave Lashley a major push due his similarities to Brock and he turns around and do the same thing. Which of course made they even more paranoid about serious pushes.

[grimbiniho]

Aug 11, 2013 18:12:04 GMT -5 @supersweetbotch said:

I think Lashley was the final straw that broke the camels back. He got a mega push just not as big Lesnars then got injured and asked for his release. Hence WWE adapted the yo yo push to see which guys want to stay

Do you know what. It never actually occurred to me that this was the reason behind the yo yo push.

I've always begrudged WWE doing it. However when you think of it like this and consider how they've been burned in the past it makes sense. Good business sense as well. Why would they invest all that time and money (at the expense of others) building someone up if he's just looking at WWE as a platform to get noticed and then leave? My mind is officially changed.

[RIHT]

Aug 11, 2013 17:10:30 GMT -5 cabbageboy said:

JBL might have been the same but certainly not main eventing. Truth be told his act and skills translate better to a US title run instead of main eventing. As far as Brock goes, by now everyone here should know that I never liked his push from the get go. I felt Rob Van Dam was obviously the guy to push circa 2002 and that Lesnar was a green rookie completely undeserving and not ready for such a push.

This also needs to be said about Brock: He really wasn't over. He got some cheers from an anti Rock crowd at SS, so WWE felt the need to turn him face. Problem is, he doesn't have any sort of babyface charisma. So they turn him heel again. Think about this, within a 2 year period WWE tried him as a top heel and top face and he really never drew especially well either way.

Ironically I think he did find himself as a heel in the UFC where he could be himself.

RVD did deserve a push. Maybe he should've faced and beaten HHH for the title at WM 19.

[CM Dazz]

I wasn't watching Smackdown much at the time. Did Batista & Brock ever cross paths? Was he still Deacon Batista, or was he off on his own yet? That whole period is kind of foggy for me. I'd be interested to see the two of them in a ring together, maybe even now.

[EoE: Well There's Your Problem]

Aug 11, 2013 20:52:18 GMT -5 CM Dazz said:

I wasn't watching Smackdown much at the time. Did Batista & Brock ever cross paths? Was he still Deacon Batista, or was he off on his own yet? That whole period is kind of foggy for me. I'd be interested to see the two of them in a ring together, maybe even now.

I think it was only in the 2003 Royal Rumble that they were ever in the same match.