Why doesn't the WWE elevate new Main Event stars?

October 14, 6:31 PMNY Pro Wrestling ExaminerAaron Glazer

Previous Next

3 comments Print Email RSS Subscribe

Subscribe

Get alerts when there is a new article from the NY Pro Wrestling Examiner. Read Examiner.com's terms of use.

Email Address   Include other special offers from Examiner.com Terms of Use

WWE Question 9: I’ve posted 20 questions on WWE, TNA and the Indies, inviting readers to answer. Now, I’ll be posting some reader response and commenting on what I think the answer is to each question. Feel free to continue to post responses on any question after the one I’ve already answered (I’ll be going in order). The awesome Andy Wheeler replied to all 20 questions over on Pulse Wrestling. No one knows more about the WWE mindset than Wheeler, so be sure to give him a read.  Here’s question 9:

9. Why does WWE constantly elevate people just to the point of them being considered serious main eventers, then push them down the card?  

“I would love to know the answer to that. You can see that they are almost afraid of putting someone over the older stars. I really don't know why, especially since the great majority of those old stars are not drawing that much money and a change of the guard has to happen eventually.” – Antonio

This is the question we’re going to try to answer today! Wheeler’s up first:

“Because when they push them to the moon without any restrictions, they become Brock Lesnar. And Bobby Lashley.” – Andy Wheeler

That’s Vince and his love of bodybuilders, not wrestlers.  What smaller guy has that happened with?  You can argue Jeff Hardy, but he wasn’t pushed to the moon for years, and his drug issues are something that will hardly be replicated by CM Punk, for example.  That one just doesn’t work.

“Unless guys retire or leave, you just flat-out don't have enough space for that many people on top of the card. Mid-carders and upper-midcarders play a valuable role, and they're waiting in the wings for when guys like HBK, Taker, and Batista are gone. Consider Punk as taking over JBL's role at the moment.” - Peter

That’s an unfortunate mindset that the WWE may just share.  When the WWE had one brand at the start of this decade, the following could be considered legitimate main eventers- Brock Lesnar, Kurt Angle, The Rock, Steve Austin, Triple H, Shawn Michaels, Chris Jericho, Chris Benoit, the Undertaker, Booker T, Kane, and Big Show, with Eddie Guerrero, Rob Van Dam, and Rey Mysterio right there, and Goldberg there for a time.  That was (at first) with one brand and then, all of those guys became spread over two- the beginning of problems with talent.  16 guys on top is a huge amount.  Now, the WWE still has Triple H, Shawn Michaels, John Cena, Randy Orton, CM Punk, Undertaker, Rey Mysterio, Eddie Guerrero, Big Show, Edge and Chris Jericho, but that’s still 6 less top guys and it’s spread over two brands rather than one.  There’s room for more if they elevate new people, obviously, if they could handle that many main event guys then.

“The reason is that the company needs to make sure that the wrestlers are capable of maintaining heat. Punk was made World Champion last year, a springboard for future main event status, and then pushed him back down to the tag division and Intercontinental Title. Punk was able to maintain his heat and then, at the right time, they pushed him back to the top on SmackDown.” – A. Dust

I’ve heard this a lot as well, and agree with it to an extent.  CM Punk already was pulled up and pushed down numerous times.  The same can be said of John Morrison and even, though I’m not a fan, MVP.  The constant pushes up and down after they’ve proven themselves to maintain heat just makes the audience care for them less and less with time.  Legacy go from threat to lackeys almost on a weekly basis.  I’m dreading what more they’ll do to Ziggler.  If the heat remains, then stop killing it!

“Everyone can't be in the main event at all times. Jericho is my favorite superstar yet he flows between the main-event and the mid card and even the lower mid card fluidly, like water going from a stream to a river to a big lake and back into a stream. ALL main eventers should be able to do that. Imagine if Cena & HHH could flow into the midcard easily? This would keep feuds FRESH.

Isn't that what you want? It gives everyone, who deserves it an opportunity. People are less likely to be stale and would also have more potential feuds. The midcard and subsequently the lower titles would become more prestigious.

Furthermore it would allow more superstars to get rest. Why wait until superstars get injured or suspended or retire to elevate another superstar?” - Nocturn

I’m not arguing that guys like CM Punk need to be in the main event constantly.  No one, unless they draw like Rock or Hogan, should be.  Punk does, however, need to be cemented as a main event level wrestler.  His short reigns just make him look a clear step down.  Jericho, on the other hand, has had his main event status cemented and, as such, can come and go from the main event as he pleases without losing heat.  A lot of potential top guys aren’t even getting a sniff at the main event, like Morrison, Ziggler, and Swagger, while we get the same matches and same feuds over and over again.  Without these guys being elevated, they mean less in the mid-card and, thus, the mid-card has less prestige and ability to build yet more stars.  There is no reason to wait! Some new wrestlers must be fully elevated!