My problem is the part time wrestlers that come and go when they please. I realise that when they do then it adds to the PPV buys and raises the viewership for that particular Raw/Smackdown etc, but then what? It benefits them and no one else as far as the following six months to a year go. The 'casual' fan that tuned into see them return will soon go back to what they were watching before; very few will stay after, say, The Rock leaves again.
I'll start with this gentleman: The Rock will, once again, return to the WWE at the Royal Rumble and have a undeserved WWE Championship match against whoever that may be - despite the injury it will be CM Punk. Although I love to see The Rock back, it's never going to be a long term thing. He'll be there for the build up to the Rumble, then the PPV, and then again at Wrestlemania.
A friend and I were talking a few months ago and we predicted that Punk would keep the belt until the Rumble, lose it to Rock, who in turn would lose it to Cena at 'mania. The closer we get to RR, the bigger the nightmare this prospect is beginning to be. I don't want The Rock to win - and I'm a massive fan of his from over ten years ago. I just don't see what good (apart from financially) comes from this? And why should wrestling be that predictable that we can have such a good idea of what's to come so far in advance?
If Rock wins the title then he's hardly going to appear on Raw/WWE TV until Wrestlemania where he will probably drop the belt to Cena or back to Punk. How are we any further forward by doing so? There is so much wrong with him winning that belt:
- No belt/champion on TV through the majority of February and March 2013
- It's a slap in the face to Punk after holding the belt for so long
- It's a slap in the face to all the contenders that have been defeated by Punk along the way in the last 383+ days of his reign. They are full timers and couldn't get the job done, but a guy who's been away for the best part of ten years comes in and wins
- It's a slap in the face to the current crop of up-and-comers who work their arses off all year round to gain a top spot, and then a movie star is just going to come in and be handed the belt
I've read several things that said if he were to win the title, he could parade it around movie premiers and other Hollywood gatherings to gain exposure for the WWE - really? Wrestling would then continue to be the laughing stock when the media asks him about why he's parading around with it when he hasn't been in the WWE properly since 2003. It'll be their excuse to belittle this sparkly, blingy trophy over his shoulder.
As I've said before, this will gain more viewers for the Wrestlemania season but then they will stop viewing as soon as Rock leaves - and he will leave. All that will be left is the 'second rate' superstars, who aren't trusted enough to carry the show and that had to play second fiddle to him through the first quarter of the year. Who wants to see them losers? Casual fans won't.
Others of note that have come back (briefly) are Triple H and Brock Lesnar.
Triple H has got it made; a job for life; he doesn't need to come back at all. He had the 'end of era' match with Taker earlier this year at Wrestlemania 28 and stole the show. Again. Although a match of this magnitude was needed to continue Taker's streak and better the previous year, it overshadowed the new breed of guys trying to be the next megastars. Hunter then came back again to engage in a feud with Brock Lesnar - another match that was great, made dollars, but didn't elevate anyone new and ultimately took the spotlight at Summerslam. It again saw the disappearance of Brock from WWE TV - and we're now in December and he still hasn't come back.
Speaking of Brock; the last eight months seem to have been for nothing. He came back just after Wrestlemania to an ovation I haven't heard in a very long time. This still confuses me as the audience in attendance would've been made up of adults that would know who Lesnar is/was, but mainly kids who have no clue who he is, and what he's done before, no? Still an epic pop, though.
Overall, Brock hasn't been used very well. If he's there to generate money then fair enough - he's done this twice this year with his matches with Cena and Hunter. He hasn't really benefited anything else though. He hasn't elevated anyone or been associated with anyone (apart from Paul Heyman, who doesn't need any elevation/promoting). Obviously he has a limited amount of appearances and they are clearly saving him for the Wrestlemania season. I suppose the obvious choice is a rematch with Hunter. Again, with all the good they're doing at the moment with Punk's reign, The Shield, Ziggler on the up, Cesaro, Barrett, Miz etc, how is a HHH vs Brock match benefiting these developments/the future? Please do not renew Brock's appearance-based contract...
Other people who could be classed as 'part time' are Chris Jericho and Undertaker:
Jericho has come and gone in the last few years and this is to be expected with his music career - fair play to him for doing everything that he has in his wrestling career and managing to find something that isn't going to wreck his body. He also deserves credit as his return this year attempted to benefit others around him - he started the year by feuding and losing to Punk at Wrestlemania - what a great notch for Punk to knock off a guy that's been all over the world and done everything in wrestling. Punk solidified the 'best in the world' tag after that one. Jericho also helped with Sheamus over on Smackdown for a time, but his biggest contribution could be to Dolph Ziggler.
After an awesome match at Summerslam that helped Ziggler even though he lost, Jericho then put him over on Raw the following night and also gave Ziggler the chance to brag that he 'exiled' Jericho from the WWE. This is what should be done on the way out - pass the torch.
Undertaker is a special case. From day one he has been a top star and has had something different to every other main event guy since. He has stood the test of time, changed with the times and has always been 'must see'. The Streak has reached 20-0 and I really don't see anyone breaking that - if someone ever did then it would be a huge deal; I just don't see anyone worthy of that gift. It's become something that should be unblemished. Although, Taker is a part timer, he is a Wrestlemania attraction and deserves the schedule he has had. He is the longest serving (current) superstar and respect has been earned. If he were to finally retire, I'm sure he wouldn't risk hurting his legacy with a return years later.
To sum up, I feel that part timers need to contribute something other than money in the future - preferably not coming back at all. The Rock winning the WWE Championship does nothing for the future - if anything, it halts things as a guy who won't be about by the end of April is going to win the title that has regained some of its prestige in recent months. It's also made things more predictable in the last few months as it's been known that The Rock was going to compete for the title as long ago as Raw 1000 in July. This was the same case when it was known a year in advance that he would headline Wrestlemania earlier this year with Cena.
Triple H needs to stick to the corporate role and look forward to running things from top to bottom. He's part of the furniture now, has a new haircut and has done everything in wrestling - end of an era should have been the end.
Brock Lesnar should not come back for another years worth of 'appearances' unless he's going to become a mainstay - something that will never happen as he's too much of a big deal without wrestling. Also, his style/attitude/strengths would not work in the WWE's PG world.
Thank you to Chris Jericho for investing in the future and giving the rub where needed. Good luck in your future endeavours sir...
Finally... Rock, please come back if you really, really have to - you are still electrifying when you come back, but you're now a movie star - come back in matches that don't hurt great work (Punk's reign) and future chances (all the up-and-comers trying to get in the main event picture). Even though you think you're doing good, you're just delaying others making the top. Also, by potentially parading around Hollywood with the WWE title and gaining attention for the WWE; you will highlight to a wider audience that the current crop of stars aren't up to standard yet and that's why your presence has been needed the last few Wrestlemanias.
Rock, simply pass the torch and go...
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