Buffy instead of Giles. Well that’s just plain silly.
Wrestling, and the WWE that desires to be an ‘action
adventure’ series is no different. They have a top
star, they focus on that top star until people quit
caring, and then they cancel that show and bring in a
new top star. This is a company that spent a decade
centered around Hulk Hogan, then a year on Diesel,
then a couple years on Steve Austin, etc, etc.
John Cena electrifies audiences. They might boo him,
they might cheer him, but they don’t sit on their
hands. And when internet superstars get those big
pushes, the fans often do go numb to them. Such as
the case with Rey Mysterio or Chris Benoit. Fans
snored their way through Rey Mysterio vs. JBL.
Smarks blamed JBL of course, despite the fact that he
had at least proven he could draw heat in top matches
with guys like John Cena or Eddie Guerrero. Chris
Benoit couldn’t get heat in his Summer of 2004 feud
with Triple H. Fans blamed Triple H, the same Triple H
who’s had the fans on their feet countless times in his
career. So you’ll excuse me if I say that I would rather
have heat in a match then no heat. There’s nothing
more painful then reviewing a match where you can
hear a mouse fart from the cheap seats (see Chris
Jericho vs. Triple H from Wrestlemania 18).
So what do you want from your current crop of
midcarders? The guys on top are stuck on endless loops
solid matches with a wide variety of wrestlers. with the same opponents and tired, cliched angles. John
Technical wizards like Kurt Angle, hybrid brawlers like Cena, enemy of the internet wrestling community,
Triple H, or talentless lumps like the Great Khali. spent four months in a boring feud with the Big Show.
So why the hate? I think it’s simply a matter of how
Meanwhile, the guys who people cry to be on top and in
hard the WWE pushes him. Smart fans hate winning
those boring, endless angles are carrying the company
streaks, and they hate guys who win 90% of their
and giving people a reason to tune in. Smaller guys like
matches. Nearly every ‘internet darling’ star loses
Chris Jericho and Rey Mysterio have both been on top of
more than they win. Of course, people who lose
the company, but while they were there they were
matches make less impact when their shoulders are
stuck with guys who couldn’t lace their boots. So let’s
down for the three. Would Triple H nearly losing to
vote again. Would you rather watch Rey Mysterio
TAKA Michinoku had been as exciting if he dropped
defend his world title against Bradshaw and Chris
matches on a regular basis?
Jericho defend his world title against Batista, or would
you rather Rey Mysterio defend his Intercontinental
And of course, even smart fans are made into marks Championshp against Chris Jericho?
because they still define wrestling by who’s on top of
And this is why you should be thrilled John Cena is on
the promotion. It’s the paradox of smart fans. They
top. He’s had matches against Bradshaw that didn’t
want to believe they’re hip to everything and know
suck. He’s had matches against Batista that didn’t
about the ins and outs of wrestling, but they expect
suck. Those workhorses in the midcard can’t say
their favorite characters to be the center of the
that. They’re at their best when they’re matched up
storyline even if it goes against all logic. Imagine if
against the best. John Cena is at his best when he’s
this applied to other forms of entertainment. It
matched up with anyone.
would be like someone getting angry with Buffy the
Vampire Slayer because the series keeps focusing on
The defense rests.
8 The online magazine for pro wrestling fans worldwide thewrestlingpress.com
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