Post by TheShowJordanRichards on Dec 9, 2015 9:41:24 GMT -5
It' is clear that professional wrestling, by and large, has seen the biggest lull since the "New Generation" era in the early 1990's. All of those "in the know" insist that another "boom" period, similar to the 1980's "Rock-n-Wrestling" and "Attitude" eras, is around the corner. If this is the case, the de facto leader in it will have to be the WWE. After all, it is the largest promotional machine in the sport.
While New Japan puts out better wrestling and draws consistently large crowds, it is not the promotional juggernaut that "McMahonland" is in North America or Europe. ROH and TNA are not even close. The NWA is even farther behind. NXT is the best product the 'E has (booking and workrate), but it runs at a net loss, so it cannot be promoted more than it already is.
So, my question is this:
If there is to be another "Boom" in pro wrestling, who will lead it? By who, I mean what specific superstars?
It's clear that, since the Ohio Valley "Class of 2002" (John Cena, Brock Lesnar, Randy Orton, & Batista), WWE Creative has not made one single successful top draw, period. One could argue the merits of CM Punk and Daniel Bryan, but neither have unseated John Cena as the company's top draw. Consequently, both are out of the sport. It appears that they will not organically create another "Golden Boy" for the foreseeable future. The problem with that is that the OVW "Class of 2002" is either out of the sport (Batista, Orton), part-time (Lesnar), or getting older (Cena).
Anyone that had any potential at all has been ruined by questionable booking (i.e. Bray Wyatt, Dolph Ziggler, Dean Ambrose, Seth Rollins, etc.).
The guys whom Triple H and company felt were "the chosen ones" have been shoved down the collective throats of the WWE Universe (Sheamus, Alberto Del Rio, Roman Reigns, The Miz, etc.) to the point that they were not allowed to get over of their own merits.
The WWE is hanging onto aging stars to draw fans who no longer care about the sport. Youngsters are not enamored by The Undertaker, Kane, The Rock, and other aging veterans the way their parents were.
So, let's compare apples to apples. Looking at the two biggest "booms" ever, who--if anyone--from today's crop of talent, can compare? For the sake of argument, I'll take four from each era.
1980's
"Nature Boy" Ric Flair
Hulk Hogan
"The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes
"Rowdy" Roddy Piper
"Attitude/nWo" Era (late 1990's)
"Stone Cold" Steve Austin
The Rock
"The Outsiders" (Scott Hall & Kevin Nash)
Bill Goldberg
So, again I ask, is there anyone in the world who can become the next "it" guy to take the place of these eight men? I don't see it. Please, someone, give me hope!!!!
