Brock vs HHH!
Cena vs Rock!
Zack Ryder vs Catering!
Been there, done that. Bemoaning the fact that the highest profile matches at Wrestlemania are, essentially, repeats has been a favorite pastime of the IWC over the last few weeks and I, certainly, have echoed this sentiment on our very own podcast. During Monday night’s show, however, I had a bit of an epiphany that led me to question where this anger comes from. The arguments come in slightly different forms, but I think that they can be broken down into 3 main categories.
We’ve seen these feuds before
Some of the best feuds are those that fester and build over time so I don’t think that it is simply a matter of these being repeats. The crux of the problem is that we just aren’t invested in the characters anymore. HHH wrestles too sparingly and is seen more as a corporate figure (besides…when is the last time he won a match?). Brock is on and off tv so often that the wrecking ball persona that they have tried to develop keeps losing steam and it seems clear that he is just in it for the paycheck. We all know that the Rock is just doing this whole WWE thing on the side and that acting is his main gig. This leaves John Cena. He is the one WWE constant and most of us grew tired of his shtick long ago. We have nobody to invest in, so we are angry that this is what we are forced to choose between. Which brings me to my next argument…
There are many talented guys on the roster being misused
I am not arguing that Zack Ryder belongs in the main event, but his example does illustrate a basic point. We have all seen multiple examples where we feel that creative has completely dropped the ball, misusing talented wrestlers or killing their momentum completely. An obvious example here is Dolph Ziggler who seemingly hasn’t won a match since sometime in the 80s (I believe his last pinfall victory was against the Dynamite Kid). We all play amateur booker and we are often disappointed when what plays out on TV is far more obvious and less interesting than our imaginations.
I get that this is part of the fun of being a wrestling fan, but at some point it is counter-productive. We can bitch and moan all we like but, at the end of the day, our opinions rarely matter. While I don’t think that we should stop voicing these opinions, once the matches are set I don’t think that harping on the shortcomings does much good either. This brings me to the last argument:
The matches are going to suck
This is where I disagree and think that it all comes back to this matter of perspective. The matches WILL suck if we sit and sulk about not giving a shit about who wins between Rock and Cena or Brock and HHH. Taken objectively, however, I think that you will find that the matches themselves will be quite fun. Say what we will about HHH’s weight or Cena’s 5 Moves of Doom (and believe me, I will mock both plenty), but I would wager good money that if you look at each objectively they will both be a lot of fun. Essentially, it is all a matter of attitude. Would the matches be better if “our guys” were in them? Subjectively, yes but objectively… maybe not. Disliking the matches on some sort of fan “principle” isn’t only ridiculous, but the only people that we are hurting are ourselves.
So… What’s the solution? My advice is to throw away the talk about what could have been, pick a side, cheer on your guy, and enjoy the ride! That’s what makes wrestling fun, right?
