Torch Feedback QUESTION OF THE DAY Reax #4: Torch reader Christmas Wish Lists - A real WWE brand split, Growth of WWE's tag division, Scott Hall gets it right in TNA
Dec 27, 2009 - 1:35:13 AM
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Friday's "Torch Reader Question of the Day" was a Christmas Wish List for 2010 in pro wrestling. The following is our third batch of Wish Lists. You can submit your Wish List to pwtorch@gmail.com.
-- Brad Meyer, Torch reader
(1) TNA "makes it." I know that no one really believes TNA can compete with WWE, but I've been a TNA-first guy since the FOX Sports days. They may miss the mark a lot, but they take risks. Lets see Bischoff work his magic and compelling storylines that push the #2 item to happen.
(2) WWE Corporate turned upside down. Perhaps declining ratings or PPV buys cause a massive shift in creative and company direction.
(3) A wrestlers union. A guy can dream, right?
(4) Tag team wrestling continues to grow. Unifying the tag titles seems to have helped, but there's still more room. TNA can make tag team wrestling as critical as the Knockouts if they use what is there for them. WWE can push someone to the moon really quickly just by putting wrestlers on all three shows, especially heels.
(5) The perfect Bret Hart storyline. This thing could be huge if they really involve the Hart Dynasty, Michaels, Vince, and honesty. Show me some EMOTION.
(6) The Cena heel turn. And a real one. Finish elevating someone to take him on.
(7) Chair shots to the head end. Keller & Caldwell have written about this enough. And I agree.
(8) Hogan does it right in TNA. This guy could deliver what he is promising if his divorce has humbled him and he puts the company first.
(9) Pay-per-views that matter. If its takes decreasing the number of PPVs, that's cool with me. But seeing the same match on three shows in a row (or 15 if you refer to Orton-Cena) is a tragedy. It was one thing in the '70s and '80s when it was part of the traveling circuit. It's another to charge fans $45 a month to see it.
(10) A true WWE Brand Split. It's awful to see WWE dedicating air time and storyline time to drafts and trades, only to have wrestlers inexplicably allowed to show up on another show. If this is the way you structure the company, then follow through.
-- Dave Jones of Loganville, Ga.
(1) Shawn Michaels to have a heel run. He needs to reinvent himself after the DX parody of their former selves.
(2) ECW to find a distinct identity from the other two brands. This will not happen, but one can dream.
(3) Paul Heyman to return to wrestling...that is all.
(4) TNA to make a major run towards competing with WWE
(5) A WrestleMania with more than one or two good matches.
(6) Vince McMahon to either return to the announce table or to disappear from TV.
(7) Desmond Wolfe vs. Matt Morgan in a series of excellent matches...hopefully.
(8) Scott Hall to straighten his life up and work with TNA for a good run.
(9) Samoa Joe runs through the Heavyweight division and wins the title.
(10) A reduction in the number of WWE PPVs, which looks like it's already going to happen, so I'm done.
-- Justin James, Torch reader
(1) No more DX. If I get this one thing, I won't care about anything else.
(2) Undertaker moved out of the main event scene, and quickly. He had time off after WrestleMania and within a few weeks he was looking beat up again. Currently, he doesn't appear to be physically capable of performing the duties that a champion requires.
(3) I want to see HBK start a retirement run. Every time I see him do a top rope elbow drop or take a bump, I cringe and wonder, “am I about to see a man I like and respect, a father, and a husband be crippled for the rest of his life?” He’s still a great performer. Let’s wish him farewell while he’s still at the top of his game.
(4) Rey Mysterio needs to take time off and get the knee surgery. For the same reason why Shawn Michaels needs to consider retirement.
(5) WWE needs to let their top level talent take time off, retire, or rotate out of the main event scene and let some of the younger guys "sink or swim."
(6) Revitalize the tag team scene with some new pairings. I’d love to see Swagger/Miz, Benjamin/R-Truth, Christian/Morrison, Swagger/Jericho, Benjamin/Tatsu, Knox/Ziggler, Knox/Swagger, or… well... just about any combination of folks I named earlier team up. Meanwhile, Cryme Tyme has done some very good work in the ring and the Hart Dynasty rocks.
(7) More ring time for the Divas, particularly Beth Phoenix, Natalya, and Katie Lea Burchill. Better yet, get all of the serious performers onto Smackdown and let Raw be a beauty pageant. Maryse is a special exception. She is not a particularly great in-ring performer, but her charisma is through the roof.
(8) No more tag matches with more than four competitors except in very rare occasions. That’s just sloppy booking.
(9) No more “heavy duty stips” (Ironman matches, ladder matches, HIAC, etc.) except to blow off or escalate a feud.
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