Squared-Circle Science: Why WWE’s Next Generation Needs To Be Generation Now

Columns, Top Story

Some of you reading this article will be familiar with World Wrestling Federation’s famous introduction “What the World is Watching” as belted out by the legendary “Mene” Gene Okerland.

I can still vividly recall seeing the camera pan over a body of water with rock formations and then the classic WWF logo gliding in as lighting strikes in the background.

World Wrestling Entertainment’s current slogan of “Then. Now. Forever.” is good, but “What the World is Watching” will remain my favorite. While its look is very plain considering the improvements to editing and graphics it perfectly encapsulated WWF’s rise in popularity in the ‘80s.

“Then. Now. Forever.” feels more nostalgic than anything else. Not that nostalgia is a bad thing, but for a company that is in desperate need of building stars for the future, it should be thinking of its generational switch of the ‘90s when the likes of Hulk Hogan and Randy Savage went to Ted Turner land and we saw the “Next Generation,” the emergence of Shawn Michaels and Bret Hart as singles stars and the start of The Undertaker’s impressive WrestleMania win-loss record.

Basically, what I’m getting at is pushing for “Generation Next” and not “Generation Then.”

The returns of Batista and Brock Lesnar, even if for a short period, don’t dispel the notion that part-timers help World Wrestling Entertainment in terms of earnings, but if the talent currently on the roster hasn’t been utilized to its maximum potential what good can come from having veterans igniting feuds with other veterans and not allowing new talent to get over? The exception to this would be Chris Jericho, a performer who has no qualms about putting new talent over, even if it subsequently leads to a push that goes nowhere (see Fandango’s victory over Y2J at WrestleMania XXIX as an example).

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I’m reminded of when John Cena made his debut on WWE television on the June 27, 2002 edition of SmackDown! where he challenged Kurt Angle. Cena would be unsuccessful in defeating the Olympic Gold Medalist, but in a year and a half he would capture his first world championship on the biggest stage, WrestleMania 21.

For those who tuned in to the last SmackDown! telecast of 2013 you were treated to one of the best television matches of the year. With no build up, the heel faction The Shield all competed in singles matches against Big E Langston, Mark Henry, and John Cena.

Anyone who’s been paying attention is well aware that WWE management is looking to push Shield member Roman Reigns hard as a singles competitor. The evidence is there from the 2013 Survivor Series where Reigns eliminated four of the five members of a five-man team that included a returning Rey Mysterio, plus the Usos and tag champs Cody Rhodes and Goldust. It’s one of those Herculean-type performances that is the thing of legends. Others that come to mind is the dominating performances of Kevin Nash (performing as Diesel) and Kane at the Royal Rumble in 1994 and 2001, respectively, and of course The Undertaker’s impressive streak at WrestleMania.

Of the three members of The Shield, Roman Reigns was the only victor. Yet the moral victory goes to Seth Rollins who would main event the program against John Cena.

In my estimation Rollins is the true star of The Shield faction. Dean Ambrose may be the mouthpiece and Reigns the muscle, but Rollins, while he may have claimed to be “God’s Last Gift” when it comes to wrestling, his maturation as Tyler Black in Ring of Honor (where he competed from 2007-2010) didn’t go unnoticed. Even before he debuted with The Shield at the 2012 Survivor Series he got a ringing endorsement by CM Punk on his Best in the World home video release.

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Watching the match I was impressed by Rollins’ performance and the time given to the main event. Approximately 17:40 in length, when including commercial breaks, fans at home got to see a great back and forth contest where Rollins did his best to beat the ambassador of World Wrestling Entertainment. In the end, Rollins tugged on Cena’s cape once too often and “Super Cena” came to life and beat him.
But it’s a victory that Cena didn’t need.

Now the question is when it’s okay to allow young talent to pick up credible victories, or at the very least shine, over established pros. Should it happen specifically at pay-per-view telecasts or can it occur on television?

I’m going out on a limb and say something momentous needs to occur at WrestleMania XXX or at the very least SummerSlam 2014.

The importance of picking up a win or having a great performance in the Showcase of the Immortals has proven to be a key igniter in boosting a superstar’s career. Think about it. Even in losing efforts, WrestleMania X and XIII were huge for both Shawn Michaels and Steve Austin. The ladder match at Madison Square Garden helped to cement Michaels as a singles star (two years later he would win his first WWF title at WrestleMania). The submission match saw the famous double turn where Austin would become everyone’s favorite pre-Walter White antihero (one year later at WrestleMania he would win his first WWF title).

WrestleMania XX will always have the albatross of Chris Benoit winning the WWE title looming high above, but it is also the event where John Cena would win his first singles championship (the U.S. title). Historically speaking, WrestleMania 21 is more important. It is the event where you had standout performances by Randy Orton (in a losing effort against The Undertaker), John Cena (winning his first WWE Championship over John Bradshaw Layfield), and Batista (winning his first World Championship over Triple H). Three matches involving three new superstars against established pros.

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SummerSlam’s expansive history also has had next-level moments for upcoming superstars. This would include the performances of Triple H and The Rock in their ladder match at SummerSlam 1998; Brock Lesnar’s championship victory over The Rock in 2002; Randy Orton winning his first championship in 2004 and gaining back his WrestleMania loss to The Undertaker at SummerSlam 2005; and most recently Daniel Bryan’s championship victory, albeit short-lived, over John Cena in 2013.

As of this article, World Wrestling Entertainment’s domestic television contracts are set to expire in 2014. It would be in the company’s best interest that the booking department maximizes the talent it has at its disposal. The rights fees are going to increase regardless (and should surpass the contracts that NASCAR has currently), but to continue the upward trend the product needs stars in the limelight. Though still in their 30s, John Cena and Randy Orton won’t be with the company forever. A returning Rey Mysterio isn’t the answer, and The Undertaker probably has one more WrestleMania match left in the tank. Give us more Punk, Bryan, Antonio Cesaro, Dolph Ziggler, Cody Rhodes and with any luck a debuting Sami Zayn (otherwise known as “El Generico”) in this coming year.

Here’s hoping that WWE’s New Year’s resolution is about allowing its stars of tomorrow shine today.

Travis Leamons is one of the Inside Pulse Originals and currently holds the position of Managing Editor at Inside Pulse Movies. He's told that the position is his until he's dead or if "The Boss" can find somebody better. I expect the best and I give the best. Here's the beer. Here's the entertainment. Now have fun. That's an order!