Wrestling- The art of storytelling?

It was said that all roads led to Rome, and that these roads where straight and true. At this time of year within the WWE all roads lead to Wrestlemania. However the road to Wrestlemania is not straight nor is it true.  It is a road of twists, turns and bumps. Well it is supposed to be anyway.

Now this is my first article and is based purely on my own opinions on WWE at the present time. I refrain from commenting on TNA because I am not well versed on their product, and as all who post articles on this site should be, I welcome you comments and opinions.

The art of wrestling has always been about more than the match, the match is purely part of the big picture, a huge part yes but what wrestling has always been about is the selling of story. Whether it is about the big dog guarding his yard against the young upstart who considers himself the game or if it is about a family tearing itself apart with son against father, the story is what we tune in for.

Now Wrestlemania is the highlight of the year, when the end comes to multiple storylines and new fresh ones are born. Yet has the WWE lost its way in this art. Look at the build up to this year’s Wrestlemania, with exception of perhaps HBK v Taker, has the WWE provide a matchup in which the viewing audience can emotionally invest in? Have they successfully build up the Legacy v Orton feud, the Jericho v Edge feud or perhaps the lowest of the low the Tag Team Championship match?

Look back to Wrestlemania 2000... the fatal four way for the WWF championship. HHH v Rock v Big Show v Mick Foley. A McMahon in every corner. Now there was a match you could emotionally invest in. Now that has been built up over months and months. HHH and Mick Foley had been at each other’s throats for months. The introduction of the Radicals was a focal point and at the end of it all inside hell in a cell HHH ended the career of the hardcore legend. Whilst this was happening Rock and Big Show where disputing the finish to the Royal Rumble match.  This would lead to a Triple Threat match at WM before Linda McMahon would place Mick Foley in the match up for one last shot at the glory. Whilst this was going on the whole sub story of the breakdown of the McMahon family was there in the background. It would lead to the WM screw job when Vince would turn his back on the Rock. However this would lead to the HHH v Rock feud. This storyline would include the return of the Rattlesnake, the debut of the Undertaker in his Bad Ass gimmick. Now when was the last time the WWE created a storyline that elaborate, one which could cause you to shout and scream and at the same time lay the foundations for future storylines.

Now the debate over PG and the pushing of young stars will continue to roll, but in this humble viewers opinion the storylines are to blame for the staleness of the product currently being produced by the WWE. Ask yourself if the WWE has done all it can with the massive potential with the matchups at this year’s WM, and if you think so then I have one word ‘SPEAR’.