Thumbs Up, Thumbs Down: Best and Worst WWE Decisions

PJ James brings us the good moves and the bad. Relive a few moments that brought WWE fans to their television sets.

by PJ James (Scribe)

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Sports

August 07, 2008

Pro Wrestling, WWE

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Over the years there have been many gimmicks and changes in personas. Some have proved to be awesome, some not so much. Below is a list of the good and bad moves the WWE has made (indicated with a thumbs up or thumbs down):
 

Vince McMahon's Constant Meeting with Danger

THUMBS DOWN—Honestly, you would think they would let go of such stupidity. First it was the limo bombing two years ago (and they learned their lesson after Benoit's death), now it's the stuff falling from the ceiling.

If Vince needs a vacation, why can't he do it like everybody else. Frankly, we're not buying the getting hurt or killed thing very much.

 

JBL from APA to Limos

THUMBS UP— I don't like what they have done with the gimmick over time, however it was good for his career and he got over with the fans. John Cena did a good job selling JBL during the WrestleMania script a few years ago.

 

Undertaker Changing up His Gimmick

THUMBS UP—Undertaker is obviously a smart man, and it shows with the changes in his persona. The crowd has either really hated him or loved him. Though the "Dead Man" is currently back to where he started with the gimmick, he is still bringing in fans, and that makes money.

 

Shelton Benjamin's Storylines

THUMBS DOWN—Sorry, I didn't buy the storyline in which he had his "Momma" on there and I didn't buy the blonde hair. He may be getting the small push, but he needs to go back to beating up Triple H.

 

King Booker

THUMBS DOWN—This is probably the biggest thumbs down I give. Yes, they gave him the World Title, but um...going from "I'm going to kick your..." to making decrees about people, we're not buying it. He's a good heel, but we didn't need all that.

 

CM Punk Getting the World Title

HALF AND HALF—Sure, it was awesome for ratings. Maybe he paid the dues to become the World Champion, and oh...you knew they weren't going to let the flagship brand go without a title. Jokes aside, he might have deserved it, however a storyline behind the win would have made the push sweeter.

 

Rey Mysterio to RAW

THUMBS DOWN—He's been fine for a while, but it'll bring down his career. He does not work with the other personas on RAW.

 

Steve Austin Becoming Stone Cold

THUMBS UP—Look at when that glass shatters and how people automatically hit their feet. Enough said.

 

Bringing Back DX in 2006

TWO THUMBS UP—In many ways it was DX's best run. Hunter and Shawn did an amazing job and it made RAW worth watching again. (Also, good job to Spirit Squad, Rated RKO, and the McMahons for putting DX over like they did).

 

Hornswoggle Being Vince's Son

THUMBS DOWN—I didn't buy it for one second, and you could tell they were struggling to finish the storyline by bringing so many other superstars into it. So they can stick the storyline right back under the ring where it came from.

 

Chris Jericho's Return

THUMBS DOWN—Sorry, I was excited to see him come back, but they aren't using him like they should. His presence now in the show is just annoying (meaning if I was at a show and he made his entrance, it would be time for a pee break).

 

WCW/ECW Invasion

HALF AND HALF—This made the show interesting. But it also ruined a few gimmicks that were hot in WCW/ECW.

If we'd had Sting, Luger, Bagwell, Steiner, and even Nash come over during the "invasion" (yes, I realize this wasn't WWE's fault) then the storyline would have been very hot. Instead, they needed Stone Cold and Angle to fill the top spots for the WCW/ECW team.

 

Evolution

THUMBS UP—Realize it or not, this was amazing. It jump-started Orton and Batista's careers and allowed Flair to still be hot. All this combined made Triple H's heel title run look awesome, with the exception of the half thigh tights and purple boots he was wearing at this time.
 

I realize there were many more good and bad gimmicks, but these were ones that stood out.

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comments (3) write a comment »

  1. I agree with you on most everything:

    Evolution was a great angle

    The Invasion story arch laid the way from some interesting wrestling match ups that might never been seen again, it was convoluted at times but it did create some imaginative scenarios

    I do not agree with WWE's usage of Chris Jericho but I believe hiss new persona will get over big with the fans as a heel

    King Booker was and is the most annoying gimmick ever

    Rey Mysterio on Raw should get more face time with the big boys like Cena, Batista, CM Punk, JBL and not Santino Marella

    Anything with Hornswoggle makes me sleepy

    Benjamin should go back to the days where he was constantly besting HHH.

    JBL and Undertaker's persona changes were essential and established both men in the business as men who can evolve with time.

  2. I agree except:

    Vince's Limo was a great angle. It's a shame that Benoit ruined it. I tried, but I can't see why anyone hates that angle at all!!

    DX's return was boring for me, it had it's moments, but I could have lived without it. I miss the original DX three, well four, but Rude didn't last long.

    Invasion was a huge thumbs up for me. That was when WWE was at it's best. I'll let you say it could have been better, but it was still great.

  3. I agree excepet:

    Cm's win was a thumb's up ...was there a story line when Edge cashed in on Cena or Taker?..true they devloped one after but in CM's case Edge is on SD so they estibash a different story

    the Invasion gets 2 thumbs up.. this like said before could have been better if a few superstars would have came over but evan without them . i think it was one of the best times ever to watch WWE

    and
    Rey on Raw.. yes he probally is the smallest guy there but as proved in the past he can hold his own for the most part..I like Rey on Raw he has been on SD every since day one and i think it was time for him to change

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About the Author PJ James (scribe)

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