Wednesday, April 06, 2005

Raw is snore

Ahh yes, pro wrestling. I've been watching it most of my life. In fact most of my family has been watching with me. I know I don't fit the stereotype-wrestling fan. I'm not a hick and I don't drink beer but I've stayed with it for so long, hell I feel I've been more then faithful. I've endured countless; "you know its fake, right?" from everyone and it never faded me a bit.

I was there before Stone Cold, before the Rock and before Shawn Michaels was the heartbreak kid. And I'll admit it was pretty good before it got popular and then it took off. From 98-2001 or so it was everywhere, and the shows were great. I've even gone to see the shows live and there isn't anything like that feeling. Sat second row ringside at a smackdown taping years ago, which was awesome. I could sit here all day and recall some of the greatest moments in wrestling history. From the entire Austin/McMahon feud to the Rock and Mankind battle. And I could argue all day long about who I think is the best wrestler today but that is another story.

Sure life was good and Raw was sensational every week, even beating out Monday night football for a little while. I kept up with WCW, but only for laughs usually. But it all had to end sometime, or did it?

Let's be honest here people, wrestling today SUCKS. At least I think so. Yeah it's got its moments but for the most part the product stinks. I think the whole thing started when the buyout happened. On March 26th, 2001 Vince McMahon announced that they had bought WCW. Which being a long time WWE fan I thought was stupendous at the time. That’s were they went wrong though. See, they lost competition. They lost the need to compete. At first it was dope though, a wrestling fan's dream come true. We got to see all the dream matches. The Rock Vs. Booker T was a big one for me. And it was cool. But then it got old. They kept the titles from both factions so there were like 10 or so different titles rolling around, which got ridiculous pretty quick. It was nice to see the rock as WCW champion though. At any rate then they decided to split the brands and cut the rosters. Real bad move. They were going o make Monday night Raw and Smackdown two different shows with different rosters. At first they really f'd up with that one. Splitting up long time tag teams like the dudly boys and the APA. We all knew the Bubuh Ray Dudly couldn't survive on his own for long. And at some point Devon joined his bro back on Raw anyway.

They’re too many Pay-Pay-views these days as well. They try to charge like 35 bucks each month and some months there are two. Yikes! I don't know why the WWE thinks we're made of money. I shell out too much good loot and cable as it is. (See previous post) Two PPV's with a lukewarm product at best doesn't cut it for me. Wrestlemania was 50 bucks. Yeah I caved and got it and it was actually a good show. Worth 50 dollars? Not really, I'd pay 40 easy.

Those god damn horrible Divas! Okay, yes I'm male and I enjoy the female figure just like anybody else, but if I want to see a half naked woman, I'll go get a porno mag. Wait, and they'll be totally naked! Seriously, I have no need for them with my wrestling and they spend way too time on TV. The worst was the "Raw diva search" contest that the WWE held a few months ago. The grand prize was a wwe contract worth $250,000 for one year. So for like three months they had these bimboes dancing around in the ring for about 20 minutes each segment each week on Raw participating in stupid events to make you vote for them. Boy, what a waist of 20 minutes. I honestly think they didn't think they could fill two hours with action so they thought that we would be cool if they came out...sure.

All this about Raw and I didn't mention Smackdown once. That show is alright. It's got allot of the younger talent that for the most part I have no real intrest in. I like John Cena and a few others but thats it really. I think the real problem I have with that show is it gets slow paced in the middle. I find myself watching the first 20 minutes, turning the channel and then turning it back the last 20 to watch the feature match up.

All right so I'm rambling a little, but they point is the same. Wrestling is bad and yet I keep watching. The glory days with the Rock and Stone cold are over. Well, Austin claims to back back but I'm sure he'll leave again soon enough. Yet I keep watching. I can't help it. It's like and old friend that comes to visit every Monday and Thursday nights. Will the product ever improve? I can't say. I think without someone to compete against we just might me screwed worse then Bret Hart in Montreal and have to deal with the 30-time champion HHH. I'm thrilled.