WWE: Can They Combine Entertainment Era with Wrestling Era and Succeed?

With a thin roster and top tier veteran talent on suspension for various offenses, the return of stars from past eras, and a three hour show coming this summer, WWE will need some subplots to add to the programming; it shouldn't be saturated with hype and flash over substance to engage and retain new and faithful viewers and fans alike.

My thought is to shine a light on the next generation of Superstars that will one day be thrust into the spotlight and tasked with carrying the torch going forward.  Maybe tweak the formula a bit and see if there is success with fans and merchandise sales.

So many second, third and even fourth generation Superstars are in development right now:  Steamboat's son, Vader's son, Hennig's son, Dean Ambrose,  and so many others. Though they may be green, some matches on Raw and/or Smackdown would be a welcome change and possibly help give the current roster a reprieve from the show every week. 

It would be great for some matches to fill the third hour of Raw, the chance to play up the family connection and being able to give the young and old fans alike a chance to connect with them.

It would also be fun to watch them grow and mature as they hone their craft. I watched Shawn Michaels grow from a youngster on The Rockers and then followed him through his career and into retirement.  So many more fans did the same as I with lots of other past Superstars. 

It made me a bigger fan for it, so who is to say national TV exposure won't work for someone else currently in the minor leagues, for lack of better terminology? 

I would like to see these people on my TV. I also think having Arn Anderson or Dean Malenko in a mentor or manager role would be beneficial as well.  Anderson brings a well-known face and storied history with him, a constant connection to the Hall of Fame. He can help with promos when necessary or be at ringside giving advice, etc. 

Malenko helps give them credibility on screen as the "Man of 1000 Holds." The youngsters can bring back some obscure or little-used submission holds, etc. to add a bit of flavor. They could also be at ringside giving advice, critiquing on camera but not on mic.  Fans of all ages can connect if they can bridge that gap.

There is awesome potential here. The reaction of the crowd for Rock, Jericho, Lesnar, Nash, and other Legends has been very positive. Why not try and get a little more mileage out of it, especially if it helps bring legitimacy to the up-and-coming generation?  Why have Legends' contracts if you can't have an occasional appearance when WWE rolls into their vicinity?  It gives everybody a smile to see them for a minute or two; the nostalgia alone is worth it.

Speaking of nostalgia, another thought is for WWE Shop to re-release classic T shirts from the past.  It could be two or four a month, various Superstars, maybe WCW, ECW logos,  etc. There is a huge mountain of possibility there.  Old school fans like myself can buy a shirt of a past favorite and another for my son who is a fan of WWE. We both can make fun memories as a family should.  I've no doubt there are lots of Dads out there that would do the same with their kids if the opportunity was there. 

I hope someone from WWE reads this and passes the idea on to their colleagues.  I think it would be easier than trying to resurrect Superstar Ice Cream Bars on a logistical scale.

IWC, what do you think?  Input is always greatly appreciated, as well as other ideas to keep WWE interesting and financially viable for generations to come.  Thank you for reading,