WWF Draft

[dennisismyhero]

Well, here we are. Its been brewing for a few weeks now, and Its finally arrived.

Now, it begs the question - what the hell are they doing?

Flair in charge of Raw with his half, and McMahon in charge of Smackdown with his half. Does this mean that at Backlash, the two shows will combine, with the two show's feud intersecting each other?

Now, I don't rant as much as Sly, but its got to hinder the WWF even more than ever, because there will be no chance of decent feuds appearing within each show.

Take for example: (based on Wrestlemania matches)

Flair on Raw (obviously) - Undertaker on Smackdown
Rock / Hogan on Raw - Hall / Nash on Smackdown
RVD on Raw - Regal on Smackdown.

Will the titles stay on respective shows (I know Linda said that the Mens champ and the Womens champ will cross-promote)

How the hell can this continue? You will have the same feuds over and over again, probably no inter-promotion PPV's or matches, and no chance to really put over heels (like the Undertaker) because they will be the head of the new groups.

Will someone please explain how this will happen?

 

[Fall Out Boy]

They will assure that wrestlers that have a history together will feature on the same side of the roster, ie. Stone Cold and Booker T will be on the same show, Flair and Taker will be on the same show.

ONLY the WWF champ and the women's champ will appear on both shows.

And, the idea for the PPV's was to have each show hold a seperate PPV, with both shows coming together for the big 4 PPV's.

As for the reason behind it, quite simply, McMahon wants to get something from the purchase of WCW, he has so much talent sitting around doing nothing that it makes sense to split the roster and run them as seperate entities.

 

[Sly]

Re: Roster Split.

Saw an article headline in a Wrestling Mag that McMahon wanted to rebuild WCW from scratch, which is why he tore it down. I didn't read the article, though - just saw the headline.

I'm a week behind in WWF, but I think it's a good idea if properly handled, as long as the alternate roster provides something different.

The problem with WCW under Vince Russo was that he was producing a WWF-clone. If people wanted to see the WWF-style, they watched WWF, (evidenced by the lack of substantial increase in ratings at WCW under Russo). They watched WCW for its less-glitz, less-glamor, down-to-earth-wrestling style, which they were getting around to in their last 6 months when Teddy Turner pulled the plug. (The Booker and Steiner Title reigns were great, as was the return and super-push of the Cruiserweights).

When both were at their peak, there was collectively 10 Ratings Points between them. After WCW died, WWF was at about 6's, but has dropped. So where's the other 4 points gone? Obviously they simply prefer just not to turn on the WWF.

So to get them back, the alternate roster has to provide something different - it has to have something to get those people who don't like the WWF, but like wrestling, to tune in.

As for the split itself, WWF's reached saturation, particularly with the Main Eventers in a holding circle and recycling their feuds, (Tripe with Angle, Tripe with Jericho, Rock with Austin, etc.). So hopefully this'll dilute the talent pool and create something different.

But what'll happen with the PPVs? Will they be shared? Or will they be alternated? I hope it's the latter - 4 weeks isn't long enough to properly develop a feud, and one of the problems is they don't culminate, resulting in repeat matches on RAW/Smackdown and the next PPV.

So if they alternated PPVs, they'd have 8 weeks to build up a feud and be able to culminate it in one PPV show, unless it's totally worthwhile to go on for two.

I know they'll only have half the time to do so (develop feuds) now, but I've tended to feel that WWF offers far too much fodder and repeat-matches to fill the time they've had, so that stuff can be cut to heighten the quality of the show.

Lastly, I imagine the "Undisputed Title(s)" will be split, with each roster taking a World Title. Once that happens, I also imagine some of the other WCW Titles will return - particularly the Tag-Team titles.

 

[dennisismyhero]

Will one promotion then bring back the "Thrill" of the Crusierweight division, with such wrestlers like the Hardy Boyz?Some of the best feuds in the WWF in recent years were the Hardyz, Dudleys and Edge & Christian. With this new roster split, and with the so called "Crusierweight Division" no longer will we see such big guys (as in weight) like the Dudleys ever having a TLC match or something like that against the Hardyz again.

 

[Sly]

Re: Cruisers.

I have read that one Roster will give the Cruiserweights a huge push.

I know they hate one another, but McMahon should put Eric Bischoff on a retainer to take care of the Cruiserweight Division. Bischoff actually had respect for the way the Competition was received. In fact, in those years WCW was dwindling, the Cruiserweights and Luchadores carried the company.

 

[Fall Out Boy]

Originally posted by dennisismyhero
Will one promotion then bring back the "Thrill" of the Crusierweight division, with such wrestlers like the Hardy Boyz?Some of the best feuds in the WWF in recent years were the Hardyz, Dudleys and Edge & Christian. With this new roster split, and with the so called "Crusierweight Division" no longer will we see such big guys (as in weight) like the Dudleys ever having a TLC match or something like that against the Hardyz again.

The cruiserweight division will be back, but won't include guys like the Hardyz.

With the apparent aim of signing Rey Jnr. and make him the face of the cruiserweights i'd expect a similar division to the old school WCW cruiserweights.

They need to sign Juventud Guererra, would also be excellent if they could sign Super Crazy.

Oh, also i think they will use Kid Kash.

Definitely a genuine little man's division, not a Hardy Boyz/Christian types

 

[dennisismyhero]

Originally posted by phatandphreaky


The cruiserweight division will be back, but won't include guys like the Hardyz.

With the apparent aim of signing Rey Jnr. and make him the face of the cruiserweights i'd expect a similar division to the old school WCW cruiserweights.

They need to sign Juventud Guererra, would also be excellent if they could sign Super Crazy.

Oh, also i think they will use Kid Kash.

Definitely a genuine little man's division, not a Hardy Boyz/Christian types

Have they signed Rey? I've started steering clear of the rumour sites, as I wasn't enjoying the WWF as much.

One other thing, (I think I asked this already, but I forget) After Backlash, will there be two PPV's a month, or still only one? I only ask because I've gotten every WWF Pay-Per-View since they started (Royal Rumble 99) but missed only 1 - which was Rebellion last December, and I'd like to continue to get them, but I'm not paying for 2 a month (I can barely afford 1 a month)

 

[BomberBoy]

If anything i think there should be less PPV's per month. Of course this wont happen as all Vince see's is $$$, but personally i think its killing off wrestling. Should go back to the old days where we actually look forward to a good card. A super card even. One every 3 months is the way i'd do it. Will never happen though.

 

[Sly]

Re: PPVs.

I'm pretty certain there'll still only be one PPV per month, at least initially. If they ever have two, it won't be until both Rosters have firmly established themselves.

When McMahon originally bought WCW, he was having trouble with the Company which hosts the PPVs, so I can't imagine he'll be looking to expand just yet.

The question is whether both Rosters will share the same PPVs, or whether they'll alternate.

 

[Fall Out Boy]

Originally posted by dennisismyhero


Have they signed Rey? I've started steering clear of the rumour sites, as I wasn't enjoying the WWF as much.

Nope, but they intend to, apparently WWFE will wait until the roster split is established before bringing him in to lead the cruiserweights.

Originally posted by dennisismyhero


One other thing, (I think I asked this already, but I forget) After Backlash, will there be two PPV's a month, or still only one

The plan is for one a month, alternating between rosters. Therefore each roster will get one PPV bi-monthly.

Which will be good because it will give them 8 weeks to build feuds between PPV's.

Although as i said earlier, both rosters will appear on the four main PPV's.