WrestleMania 40-welcome to the Levesque era

[Fr. Jerk]

Paula Veck, ya dig?

[TheyCallMeAndy]

Loved it, I will say since Trips officially took over it’s been great to watch.

[Gregg]

On 4/14/2024 at 9:12 AM, TheyCallMeAndy said:

Loved it, I will say since Trips officially took over it’s been great to watch.

 

Is he really in charge of the WWE. I would think Stephanie or Shane is the real power behind the scenes.

[Logic]

I'm asking because I haven't watched the WWE in quite some time (I'm an AEW guy), and I'm legitimately curious...

Have the shows since 'Mania cut down on all the talking? Is there more of a focus on the actual, um...wrestling?

Because I had read that the first Raw after 'Mania opened with a 47 minute talk/promo segment between The Rock and Cody Rhodes. And if that's the case, I'm curious to know what feels different to people about the Levesque era than the era that proceeded it.

I'm not crapping on the WWE. I'm forever part of team "let people like things", and if people are enjoying the Fed right now, I'm happy for them. I'm just curious what people feel is separating Levesque's direction from what came before.

Edited April 15 by Logic

[TheyCallMeAndy]

4 minutes ago, Gregg said:

 

Is he really in charge of the WWE. I would think Stephanie or Shane is the real power behind the scenes.

He’s the Chief Creative Officer, Shane and Steph are no longer with the company (although Steph is expected back).

 

The TKO board and the CEO really run WWE, but they give Trips freedom who gives the writers and performers freedom.
 

Funny enough, The Rock is a board member. 

3 minutes ago, Logic said:

I'm asking because I haven't watched the WWE in quite some time (I'm an AEW guy), and I'm legitimately curious...

Have the shows since 'Mania cut down on all the talking? Is there more of a focus on the actual, um...wrestling?

Because I had read that the first Raw after 'Mania opened with a 47 minute talk/promo segment between The Rock and Cody Rhodes. And if that's the case, I'm curious to know what feels different to people about the Levesque era than the era that proceeded it.

I'm not pooping on the WWE. I'm forever part of team "let people like things", and if people are enjoying the Fed right now, I'm happy for them. I'm just curious what people feel is separating Levesque's direction from what came before.

There is still lots of talking, but it’s way more entertaining and it seems they are opening the show lately with really strong promo’s rather than matches. 
 

The whole presentation of the shows are just different now, hard to explain but I’m finding less boring periods to skip through. 
 

Storylines have been revamped and have much more depth and are intertwining with each other. 
 

I think this Era will go down as better than the Attitude Era. 

[Logic]

14 minutes ago, TheyCallMeAndy said:

 

Storylines have been revamped and have much more depth and are intertwining with each other. 
 

I think this Era will go down as better than the Attitude Era. 

Thanks for the response.

I read a fairly long article the other day on The Ringer that went into detail about the years-long Bloodline storyline, Paul Heyman's influence on long term storytelling, and the general pivot towards an approach that almost mimics serial drama TV series. I believe they sort of tongue-in-cheek referred to it as the "Succession Era" (after the TV show).

I do think layered, intertwining, long term storytelling makes pro wrestling better and more interesting. They have AEW beat by a country mile when it comes to that aspect of things. If you could combine the WWE's current storytelling and video packages with AEW's in-ring wrestling, you'd have the GOAT wrestling product.

Edited April 15 by Logic

[TheyCallMeAndy]

14 minutes ago, Logic said:

Thanks for the response.

I read a fairly long article the other day on The Ringer that went into detail about the years-long Bloodline storyline, Paul Heyman's influence on long term storytelling, and the general pivot towards an approach that almost mimics serial drama TV series. I believe they sort of tongue-in-cheek referred to it as the "Succession Era" (after the TV show).

I do think layered, intertwining, long term storytelling makes pro wrestling better and more interesting. They have AEW beat by a country mile when it comes to that aspect of things. If you could combine the WWE's current storytelling and video packages with AEW's in-ring wrestling, you'd have the GOAT wrestling product.

Absolutely, I will say the quality of performers has gone through the roof as well. I think they are being given more in-ring creative freedom and it shows. 
 

I grew up a wrestling fan, but stoped watching around 2003 for a while. In 2011 or 2012 I got back into it, but man the product was just plain bad. I was more into the behind the scenes and production aspect. 
 

Selling to TKO, AEW competition,  McMahon getting forced out (twice), and honestly the Roman Reigns Bloodline Saga saved WWE and probably main stream pro wrestling. 

[Logic]

Just now, TheyCallMeAndy said:

Absolutely, I will say the quality of performers has gone through the roof as well. I think they are being given more in-ring creative freedom and it shows. 
 

I grew up a wrestling fan, but stoped watching around 2003 for a while. In 2011 or 2012 I got back into it, but man the product was just plain bad. I was more into the behind the scenes and production aspect. 
 

Selling to TKO, AEW competition,  McMahon getting forced out (twice), and honestly the Roman Reigns Bloodline Saga saved WWE and probably main stream pro wrestling. 

I was in the same boat, as far as growing up a (diehard) wrestling fan, but stopping around 2003. 

My re-entry into wrestling was more recent. Probably 2019 or so. I started out by subscribing to WWE Network and doing a chronological "re-watch" of 90s WWF and WCW. It reminded me how much I used to love it, but I just could NOT get into the modern WWE product at all. I was always into the WRESTLING aspect of pro wrestling, and modern WWE did absolutely nothing for me in that regard.

Then I started hearing about a guy named Kenny Omega and what he was doing over in Japan against Jericho. Watched a few matches and loved it. When I heard he was starting a promotion in the States, I had to check it out. I immediately loved the in-ring product, many of the new wrestlers I learned about, and things like win-loss record for each wrestler being displayed, rankings that determined title contenders, etc.. It made the product feel more like a legitimate sport, even though of course we all know it's not. Then they got a big TV deal, good production values, and brought in Tony Schiavone and Jim Ross, and I was hooked. It has brought me fully back into the fold of pro wrestling, and I'm so thankful for it.

The current AEW roster is one of the most stacked I've ever seen, particularly with the recent NJPW signings.

Kenny Omega, Bryan Danielson, Hangman Page, Adam Cole, MJF, Kazuchika Okada, Will Ospreay, Switchblade Jay White, Jon Moxley, FTR, Young Bucks, Takeshita, Samoa Joe, Swerve Strickland, Eddie Kingston, Darby Allin, Sammy Guevara, Orange Cassidy, Claudio Castagnoli, Miro, etc, etc...

Just so, so much elite wrestling talent right now. I'd love for them to hire some old WWE creative hands to improve the storytelling aspects, but...nothing matches their in-ring product, IMO. I love it.

[Fr. Jerk]

I don't dig the Young Bucks. I get it, you guys do a lot of flips...

Edited April 15 by Fr. Jerk

[Metal Man]

4 hours ago, Logic said:

I was in the same boat, as far as growing up a (diehard) wrestling fan, but stopping around 2003. 

My re-entry into wrestling was more recent. Probably 2019 or so. I started out by subscribing to WWE Network and doing a chronological "re-watch" of 90s WWF and WCW. It reminded me how much I used to love it, but I just could NOT get into the modern WWE product at all. I was always into the WRESTLING aspect of pro wrestling, and modern WWE did absolutely nothing for me in that regard.

Then I started hearing about a guy named Kenny Omega and what he was doing over in Japan against Jericho. Watched a few matches and loved it. When I heard he was starting a promotion in the States, I had to check it out. I immediately loved the in-ring product, many of the new wrestlers I learned about, and things like win-loss record for each wrestler being displayed, rankings that determined title contenders, etc.. It made the product feel more like a legitimate sport, even though of course we all know it's not. Then they got a big TV deal, good production values, and brought in Tony Schiavone and Jim Ross, and I was hooked. It has brought me fully back into the fold of pro wrestling, and I'm so thankful for it.

The current AEW roster is one of the most stacked I've ever seen, particularly with the recent NJPW signings.

Kenny Omega, Bryan Danielson, Hangman Page, Adam Cole, MJF, Kazuchika Okada, Will Ospreay, Switchblade Jay White, Jon Moxley, FTR, Young Bucks, Takeshita, Samoa Joe, Swerve Strickland, Eddie Kingston, Darby Allin, Sammy Guevara, Orange Cassidy, Claudio Castagnoli, Miro, etc, etc...

Just so, so much elite wrestling talent right now. I'd love for them to hire some old WWE creative hands to improve the storytelling aspects, but...nothing matches their in-ring product, IMO. I love it.

 

Have pretty much the same story bringing me into AEW as you. A few of the big names on your list are currently our and injured, (Omega, MJF, Cole), which is really hurting them at the moment but even so the roster is still pretty remarkable.

 

They just have really been struggling in the story department lately. Hopefully they can turn it around soon. WWE is really hot right now and it would be great for everyone to have some competition like the old "Monday Night Wars" days.

 

I am interested in checking out this past mania even though I haven't watched WWE in a while. From the sounds of it the show was pretty good.

[The Poojer]

I didn't watch any of it unfortunately, but my 2 oldest went both days/nights and RAW.  They had the best time as I fully expected.  It's pure entertainment and they know how to do it