Over the years, the WWE has given wrestling fans countless memories and moments. However, one thing that is never mentioned is all the things that the WWE has ruined over the years. From wrestlers to pay-per-views to entire organizations, the WWE has ruined a lot of great things over the years. On WWE's "Are You Serious" Youtube Show, they always say "WCW ruins everything". Well, I'm here to go back and give a run down of all the great things WWE has ruined over the years.
WWE ruined the once prestigious Crusierweight Title.
In 2001, the WWE bought out WCW. In the process, they decided to carry over the WCW Cruiserweight Championship and continue its lineage in the WWE. The WCW Cruiserweight Championship was held by legendary performers such as Rey Mysterio, Billy Kidman, Eddie Guerrero, Chavo Guerrero, Chris Jericho, Jushin "Thunder" Liger, the Ultimo Dragon, and Dean Malenko. The WWE was never able to really recapture the magic of the WCW Cruiserweight Division, but that's not what ruined the Cruiserweight title. It was ruined in 2007 when Hornswoggle captured the Cruiserweight title. Hornswoggle who isn't even an actual wrestler won the Cruiserweight title and actually held it longer than legends like the Ultimo Dragon, Chris Candido, and Lance Storm. As a result of this, the Cruiserweight title lost all its credibility. Sadly, Hornswoggle was also the last Cruiserweight champion as the belt was vacated and decommissioned after Hornswoggle's reign. A title once known for amazing battles between Rey Mysterio and Eddie Guerrero went out with a "leprechaun" as the final champion. Thanks a lot WWE.
WWE Ruined The Great American Bash Pay-Per-View
Once upon a time, The Great American Bash was one of the hottest pro wrestling pay-per-views on the market. It was once headlined by classic encounters such as Sting vs Ric Flair in 1990, Ric Flair vs Lex Luger in 1991, and was even home to the infamous "Human Torch Match" where Sting was lit on fire by Vampiro and fell off the the top of the Turner Tron in 2000. Once the WWE bought out WCW in 2001, it appeared that The Great American Bash had come to an end. However, WWE decided to revive the WCW pay-per-view in 2004 with an updated logo. The new logo was a reflection of what the new WWE version of The Great American Bash would come to be... generic. The new logo took all the American attitude out of the classic logos and replaced it with a totally generic looking logo that looked more like something you'd see on a campaign sign in someone's front yard. Unfortunately, the WWE was never able to put together a memorable Great American Bash of their own. The revamped WWE version came across as "just another pay-per-view" rather than a true homage to the original. The only classic match that took place at the WWE's Great American Bash was the Bobby Lashley vs John Cena WWE Championship match in 2007. Aside from that match, it was just a really watered down version of the original. This was yet another attempt by WWE to "WWE-ize" something great that WCW created. It was another failed attempt by the WWE to try to out do something that WCW did better. To make matters worse, in 2009 the WWE changed the name from "The Great American Bash" to just "The Bash"... which made no sense and made it seem EVEN MORE generic than before. WWE has trashed The Great American Bash's reputation so badly that it's not even a pay-per-view spectacular anymore as last month (July 2012) The Great American Bash was nothing more than a glorified special edition of Friday Night Smackdown on the SyFy network (The only positive aspect of this edition was that WWE changed the name back from "The Bash" to "The Great American Bash"). The last Great American Bash that aired on Friday Night Smackdown was headlined by mid-carder Zack Ryder winning a battle royal to decide who would be the Smackdown General Manager for one week. It's amazing how far The Great American Bash fell once WWE got a hold of it.
WWE Ruined ECW
In 2006, Vince McMahon decided to relaunch the ECW promotion as a new brand. The cult organization was popular for its extreme matches, racy sexual themes, and liberal use of profanity which at the time pushed the envelope farther than any wrestling organization ever had and truly established itself as an alternative to the traditional wrestling programs that WCW and WWE (then known as WWF) offered. When Vince decided to relaunch ECW he did a pretty decent job of trying to stay true to the original product and as a result it was a financial and critical success with events such as ECW One Night Stand in 2005 and the beginning of ECW in 2006. When the show relaunched, it featured mostly original ECW superstars like Paul Heyman, Sabu, Taz, and RVD and even brought back ECW commentator Joey Styles. The show was even produced differently from the WWE shows. However, as time passed ECW became more and more like the other WWE programs and began to strip away the very things that made the brand a success. Slowly, Vince McMahon managed to turn a true homage to the original ECW into nothing more than another Velocity (Velocity was a WWE show that featured only lower mid-carders and jobbers). As time went by, the ECW Originals were released and replaced with a bunch of no names. WWE managed to take away everything that made ECW what it was and then wondered why the ratings fell. People that tuned in to watch Rob Van Dam, The Sandman, and Sabu instead were forced to watch a bunch of no names such as Kevin Thorn and Marcus Cor Von. To add insult to injury, after they pretty much got rid of all the ECW Originals they even changed the classic title belt to a silver belt that looked really awkward. Why would a Heavyweight Title be silver? Silver is universally recognized as 2nd best. No one wants to win a Silver Medal so why would you want to win a Silver Belt? They even watered down the logo by taking the barbwire off of the letters and watered down the theme music.
WWE Ruined Hell in a Cell
Back in the day, the match to end all matches was the Hell in a Cell match. Hell in a Cell was a match only used to end the most bitter of feuds. It was also only used to settle the Undertaker's feuds. Undertaker used Hell in a Cell to help end feuds with Shawn Michaels and Mankind, and because it was only used to end feuds it would go on to breed some of the most legendary wrestling matches of all-time. Fast forward to the present, and the Hell in a Cell is an entire gimmick pay-per-view. Part of the allure of the Hell in a Cell match was that you never knew when one would take place. Now, you see it every year at the same pay-per-view, and it's not just one Hell in a Cell match at the pay-per-view... it's as many as three. As a result, the match has lost a lot of its aura and value because it's over used and now anybody could wind up in a Hell in a Cell match. Before, there was only a handful of guys that you MIGHT see in a Hell in a Cell match. Now, even Alberto Del Rio has been in a Hell in a Cell match. The match isn't used only to end the biggest feuds anymore. Now, it's just another match... much like the Steel Cage match. I don't even get excited for Hell in a Cell matches anymore because they're not near as brutal as they used to be, the match is over used, and it's often times not used in the proper circumstances. It was only supposed to be used when all other options have been exhausted and the feuding wrestlers had nothing else left.
WWE Ruined Diamond Dallas Page
In WCW, Diamond Dallas Page established himself as the original people's champion, a hard working talent who got himself over the old fashioned way. It was because of this every man gimmick that DDP was able to become a 3-time WCW World Champion and arguably the greatest U.S. Champion of all-time. However, after Vince bought out WCW... Diamond Dallas Page just had to be "WWE-ized". So, instead of being the hard working people's champion that he had become known for... WWE thought it would be a good idea to make DDP a deranged pervert by stalking the Undertaker's then wife Sara. This storyline was lame because it didn't make any sense with DDP's already long established personality as an honest every man. Why the WWE thought they would take one of WCW's biggest names and make him a mid-card stalker is beyond me. It was a complete waste of DDP's talent and abilities. WWE's Diamond Dallas Page was just way too cartoony and over the top. It only took the WWE a couple of months to completely ruin DDP.
WWE Ruined the U.S. Title
Throughout the illustrious history of the United States Championship, it has been held time and time again by some of the greatest wrestlers to ever lace up a pair of boots. In the titles prime, it was held by such greats as Harley Race, Ric Flair, Jimmy Snuka, Roddy Piper, Lex Luger, Sting, Scott Hall, Steve Austin, Diamond Dallas Page, and Bill Goldberg. Much like the Cruiserweight title, when WWE bought out WCW they decided to continue the lineage of the US Championship. The title lost a lot of importance in WWE due to the fact that there was another 2nd tier belt (the Intercontinental Title), and the overall quality of wrestlers holding the belt took a dip early on but the title remained relevant. However, after 2006 the US title began to lose its credibility, prestige, and importance because it was being defended less and less often. For instance, during the Miz's first US title reign he held the title for seven months, but he only defended the title a couple of times during that whole seven month period. He seemed to spend all his time defending his tag team title with the Big Show, and the US Championship was ignored completely as The Miz would go months without defending it. This now seems to be the pattern among the 2nd tier champions in WWE. They win the US Championship, hold it for 3-4 months, but only defend it like twice during their entire reign as champ. Gone are the days of fighting champions like Diamond Dallas Page and Bill Goldberg, who took on all comers each and every week. It's sad that the US Championship doesn't mean anything anymore. It's just a belt now. In WCW, you had champions like Sting, Ric Flair, DDP, and Goldberg. In WWE, you got Santino Marella as the champion. In WCW, Santino would've never been the US Champ. Comedy gimmicks were for the TV Title like Disco Inferno back then. I remember when people bought WCW PPVs to see Goldberg and DDP defend the US Championship. It's amazing how far the US Championship has fallen off since WWE took it over.
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Last week on TNA iMPACT, Sting returned after a 4 month hiatus to win the TNA World Title from Jeff Hardy. It was a nice surprise, but I have to ask the burning question. What does Sting as champion really do for TNA at this point? What does it say about guys like RVD, Mr. Anderson, and Matt Morgan... 3 younger stars that have been trying to wrestle the title away from Hardy for 6 months when Sting waltzes in and wins the title on his first attempt... especially after not even being on TV in 4 months? This is what frustrates me about TNA. They spend almost a year building RVD slow road to revenge... and then turn around and put the title on Sting with NO BUILD at all. They spend months building Anderson and the concussion angle with Hardy, and instead of a rematch or anything... they put the belt on Sting with zero build. It also made no sense as far as Stings return because he said he wasn't going to deal with Immortal... and now all of a sudden he's ready to take them out? It was another swerve by Vince Russo, who can't just have a natural storyline build. He has to swerve us all the time, but the problem is that he just leaves tons of storylines unresolved. This is why TNA seems low brow sometimes in comparison. It's elementary things that TNA gets so wrong all the time.
In this flashback of the day, we see the Stinger cut another classic promo for TNA in preparation for the Slammiversary PPV. I keep going back to Sting promos for these flashbacks of the day, because I think people tend to forget how great and under rated Sting is at cutting promos. Stings charisma is unmatched in pro wrestling by anyone but the Rock when it comes to promos. This is also for the newer generation wrestling fans, who have never really seen Sting cut any promos and think that The Miz or John Cena cuts great promos. Gimme a break. Stinger is one of the all-time great mic workers, along with The Rock and Ric Flair.
This is to this day, one of the greatest PPV promos I have ever seen. This felt closer to a movie trailer, than a PPV promo. In less than a minute, this promo told a story without ever saying a word. This is yet another example of what wrestling has the potential to be. It's promos like this that made the now legendary Sting vs Hogan encounter that much more amazing. Enjoy!
There once was a time when the WWE was the land of vibrant and colorful personalities. You had the rich millionaire Ted Dibiase, the heart breaker Shawn Michaels, the most electrifying man in sports entertainment The Rock, to the 5-time, 5-time, 5-time, 5-time, 5-time WCW Champion Booker T. Whether they were sucka beating, pie eating, or trying to bribe you the WWE always had a steady influx of charismatic personalities. However, it seems that in the modern era this is one area that is deperately lacking. I mean, you have a few... but generally none of the top guys have amazing personalities with the exception of John Cena (which probably explains why he is the face of the company). The majority of the upper crust WWE superstars today, are just short haired, speedo wearing, smaller more cut guys that all LOOK (I'm not saying they act the same) the same like Chris Jericho, Randy Orton, Ted Dibiase, Cody Rhodes, etc. They all have that similar ring wear. Well, I was finally tuning into Smackdown recently and I saw a glimmer of hope. A throwback to the days of great gimmicks and personalities. A wrestler that truly set himself apart, and it was Cody Rhodes and his new "Dashing" gimmick. It takes you back to the days of guys like Mr. Perfect and the "Model" Rick Martel or the "Narcissist" Lex Luger. It was Cody Rhodes, portraying this new character, who is supposed to be an exaggerated metro-sexual (a guy that focuses too much on body hygiene to the point of obsession, and thus has a huge ego thinking they are the perfect male specimen). Cody played this character to perfection, and really had me believing that he was this "Dashing" character that he said he was. It was a breath of fresh air, in an era where there aren't too many vibrant personalities that shine through like there used to be. I feel bad for this generation, who doesn't have The Rocks, The Stone Colds, The Booker Ts, The Million Dollar Mans etc. At least they have a few here and there, and "Dashing" Cody Rhodes is one of them.
P.S. Cody Rhodes actually has a great new theme song as well that matches perfectly with his new gimmick, that is simply... "Dashing".
This was an epic promo for Slamboree 1999, Sting vs Goldberg. It's a shame because this should've been saved for Starrcade, and could've been one of the greatest matches of all-time and could've been one of the biggest PPV draws ever. This should have been up there with Sting vs Hogan, The Rock vs Hogan, Hogan vs Andre, and Warrior vs Hogan as one of the biggest matches ever. Sadly, WCW dropped the ball on this feud BIG TIME and the match was a dud.
One thing that has been killing me for the last few years, is why oh why does Vince McMahon and the WWE continue to hold "Captain Charisma" Christian back from the main event status that he so richly deserves? Christian after being relegated to mid-carder status his entire WWE career, departed for TNA in 2005 and immediately TNA saw something in him that the WWE did not. TNA had the confidence in Christian to crown him top baby face and heel status and 2-time World Heavyweight Champion. He spent 2005-2008 in TNA trading blows with legends like Sting, Kurt Angle, and Booker T, and the best young wrestler in the world AJ Styles (who just became the 1st TNA wrestler to be rated the #1 wrestler in the PWI 500 Best Wrestlers). TNA was single-handedly responsible for making Christian a credible main eventer, and raising his stock. Then at the end of 2008, Christian decided to give WWE another shot.
So, after all of this success you expect a big WWE return right? WRONG. Christian debuted in February of 2009 on the lowest rated WWE Show, and the weakest brand... the now defunct WWECW, confronting then virtual unknown Jack Swagger (who despite being WWECW Champion, and World Heavyweight Champion... is still fairly and laughably unknown). Christian was put on a show no one watched, wrestling a bunch of nobodies. Christian went from wrestling royalty like Kurt Angle and Sting to wrestling some nobody named Yoshi Tatsu and competing for a World Title that was worth LESS than the mid-carder titles. What a slap in the face. Now, Christian has been back in the WWE for a year and a half and what is he doing now? He's wrestling lower mid-carders on Smackdown. Wow, way to go Christian. You are probably making more money now, but at what cost? You are wrestling over 300 days a year, destroying your body... and for what? A 2nd rate show, no appreciation, and taking a huge step BACKWARD in your career... all for a few more bucks? Had he stuck around in TNA now, he is nearly guaranteed to have gotten a big pay increase with all the new big names, he'd still be a main eventer, probably world champion again, wrestling only about 100 days a year, and salvaging your body for a longer career. Who knows though... maybe WWE will make him World Champion one day... but I'm not holding my breath. Good luck to you Christian, I hope you learned a lesson.
It looks like the WWE has finally gotten something right as of late. At the Money in the Bank PPV last night, Kane won the Smackdown MITB match, and cashed it in on Rey Mysterio the same night to win his 2nd WWE Championship (excluding the lowly WWECW Title). Since Kane was unmasked about 7 years ago, he's gone from World Title contender all the way down to mid-carder borderline jobber the last several years. So, Kane winning the World Title was not only unpredictable, it finally gave Kane his stroke back. Maybe now, he will be one to be feared once again. Congratulations Kane. Who knows, maybe Christian will finally get a main event push... but I'm not holding my breath.
