Post by angryfan on Dec 3, 2013 15:37:54 GMT -5
Dec 3, 2013 0:24:43 GMT -5 @robvancam said:
Matches were done a thousand times over on PPV back in the Attitude Era. How many times did we see HHH/Rock or Austin/Taker? A whole lot. At least there's been a 4 year gap with Cena/Orton.Yes, we saw the same matches many times during the Attitude Era. Some mix of Austin/Rock/Mankind/Taker/Triple H/Angle, with Foley working three gimmicks, we had part timers showing up like Terry Funk, we had celebrities, we had mdcarders getting shots at the big title or main event level tag teams headlining shows like E&C/The Brood, The Hardys, the Dudleys, APA, or some mix of top level guys like the 2 man power trip. You had stables that were all shows as main event level players like DX or The corporation/Corporate Ministry, or The Nation. You had midcard feuds that mattered and could headline a PPV, whether it was Angle trying to become the first ever Eurocontinental Champion (since D'Lo doesn't count), Owen Hart, Jeff Jarrett (yeah, he was credible), Val Venis, Al Snow, Bossman, Big Show, Kane in whatever they had him do, freakin Ken Shamrock, and Vince as the most hated man in the industry, getting beaten up or made to look like a fool, but just turning up the ego or the cockiness every time.
ANY of that could headline a PPV and draw money. It wasn't just that wrestling was more popular, it was that each of those guys were given something meaningful to do, and the freedom to be able to do it. They were shown as important.
When Angle was out there wrestling, we heard about the three I's, we heard about his accomplishments, and any titles he held were treated as a sign of how great he was. We didn't have JR and King screaming, "Angle's in the ring, but bah gawd he ain't no Stone Cold!" That would be a disservice.
Now? Now we have Cena/Orton as the "real" mean eventers, we have Punk who can fluctuate, D-Bry who is getting a Hardcore Holly (the real one that got a title shot against Brock Lesnar, not you know who) push, and Triple H playing Vince without all that annoying getting his ass kicked.
No one else has credibility, and athe show has seemingly been designed that way. The Attitude Era, for all its faults, got something write when it borrowed from Rock 'n Wrestling.
Everyone was treated as important and "larger than life", everyone could get a reaction and did. The midcard wasn't a bathroom break, because you'd see Angle or Rock, or E&C doing something funny, you'd see the Hardys taking crazy bumps, and so you stayed. It wasn't because "lawl, they're talkin about boobs" nor was it because guys were getting busted open.
IT WAS BECAUSE EVERYBODY MATTERED.
I don't care about Cena/Orton because whatever outcome, I've seen it before. Cena wins and big deal, it's Cena. Orton wins and whoopee, that's new and exciting. What's the other option? Triple H?
I want the Attitude Era back, not because I demand cussing or blood or vulgarity. I want it back because that was the last time that they realized that the whole damn card mattered. It needs to again.