One of the best parts of being part of the Team Hellions Universe is being tuned into the finer and often overlooked parts of the WWE wrestling industry. For the most part my viewership isn’t one of a super serious fan, but more of one who enjoys the entertainment value of what the WWE provides. I don’t need to quote stats, but when my fellows Hellions who are super-fans do, and write great articles I can’t help but take notice of certain things.

SolaceWinter wrote this great piece on Drew McIntyre and she points out, quite effectively how UNDERused McEntyre is. http://teamhellions.com/2012/05/23/top-4-of-drew-mcintyre/

I think the problem lies with the writers for Drew, and many of the other under-utilized talent in the WWE. They traffic in stereotypes. Now, mind you, I didn’t watch the earlier wrestling dynasties, but is it me or was there a bunch more flavor in the characters back then? Just watching the occasional flash back clips you have dynamic characters like Jimmy Superfly Snuka, Bret “The Hitman” Hart, Andre the Giant, Ric Flair, and so many more! Even their names have drama! Wrestlers now, most of them, are just a regular name and their characters are mostly “Silent but Deadly” (I love you, Mark Henry, and you make it work, but it doesn’t work for everyone) or “Slightly kooky” like Santino. You have the “Unbeatables” like Cena and Orton, or the “Immortals” like HBK and Undertaker. With dozens of wrestlers on the roster why is there not more…flavor? Yes, the Funkasaurus might be absolutely outrageous but he is MEMORABLE. The Universe loves his song, his funktastic dancers! If this is Sports ENTERTAINMENT, give us more entertainment!

And there are a few steps in the right direction, but only tentative ones (such as with David Otunga). The problem is that the WWE lets talent come in, flash bright, and burn out quickly. With the exception of Shameus, R Truth, and Daniel Bryan, most of these men show up strong and are soon relegated to dark-match status since the WWE doesn’t know what to do with them. I am a huge fan of Alex Riley, and thought his rivalry against the Miz was full of energy, entertainment value, and solid wrestling. Riley was surprisingly decent on the mic and good in the ring, and I felt he held his own against the enigmatic Miz. And the Miz, a wrestler I loved to hate…what happened? Why is he so low on the totem pole right now? I thought he would be a great foe for Jericho. And there are so many other examples one could list here that it’s frustrating.

However, lets not leave out the women here. Oh the Divas. My perpetual potty break time during RAW. And I am not the only viewer who sees the women’s division is in a pathetic state. They’re trying to rest the integrity of women wrestlers on Beth Phoenix’s shoulders, and while she does an admirable job, she can’t do it alone. Kelly Kelly, Eve, Layla, they’re all capable but essentially are pretty candy. I recently read an article (during my obsessive searches on when she’s coming back) that the WWE creative team doesn’t know what to do with power house Kharma. Seriously? YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH HER? Do the words “KHARMASMASH” mean anything? Bring her in, shake up the Divas! And then, before she becomes unbeatable, bring in other strong women wrestlers and make this division EXCITING again! The Divas don’t just need to be barbie dolls, give them more credit. See my other blog on the Divas issue here: http://stateofthelinds.wordpress.com/2012/01/31/kharma-returns/

I am going to say this frankly, the creative team for the WWE needs to pull their heads out of their butts before the talent wises up and moves on. They need to look/write outside of the box, and really notice who and what the Universe pays for—and it’s not just John Cena. And the Talent should keep using whatever means they can to promote themselves, like Zach Ryder did.  Having “character” should by no means indicate that a wrestler is not serious or extremely skilled, an idea that should also be embraced by the writers.  As a viewer I don’t want to lose great up and coming talent (Tyler Reks and Curt Hawkins come to mind—Thanks SolaceWinter!) or wrestlers who are/were long over due for the push they deserve, like John Morrison.

People Power? Lets hope you’re listening, Vince (Johnny or whomever ) cause the people want MORE as we deserve better.