The Cons of Restoring the Cruiserweight Division

Okay, this is my first article since Money in the Bank. While I was on my hiatus, I browsed upon some posts stating that the WWE should bring back Cruiserweight Championship. While I think it's a phenomenal idea, far be it from me to avoid the truth. Restoring a retired championship is bound to have it's precautions. Please also be aware that I'm not saying it shouldn't be back because I'm not. I'm just pointing out the cons of restoring this championship.

The Roster

While the roster does have plenty of people under 220 pounds (about half), contrary to popular belief, it would be awkward to restart the Cruiserweight division. Raw and Smackdown both have seven cruiserweights each (e.g. Evan Bourne, Daniel Bryan, Justin Gabriel, etc.). Back in 2003-2008, there were between seven and ten main cruiserweights on Smackdown. Having fourteen cruiserweights on one brand is bound to divert from the World Championships, especially if three cruiserweights are/were main players on RAW. 

Sure, you can put cruiserweight bouts on Superstars, but let's be honest. How many of you actually watch WWE Superstars on WGN America? I know I don't (mostly due to the fact I don't have it on cable). My point is if you want to bring back the division itself, you're going to have to put its bouts on Smackdown. I reallly think the it would be too much for booking and the creative team to handle...

WWE Booking and the Creative Team

Mostly because they can't even come up with solid storyline nowadays. While Nexus is still somewhat good, it's only a matter of time until they drop the ball. The creative team doesn't have the creativity to create storylines for the cruiserweight division and I say because they don't have to creativity to create a solid storyline currently. I mean while Kofi Kingston and Dolph Ziggler are both good wrestlers, how long do we have to sit through their battles week after week after week.

Booking is just as guilty also since they can't even book the right wrestlers to win championships or events like Money in the Bank. I can see it now: cruisersweights like Daniel Bryan getting screwed over by booking for the pushing wrestlers like Zack Ryder.

It's a tough job to book and create storylines. That's why I'm a little empathetic of the bookers and creative team. They already have their hands full with Nexus, Kane and Undertaker, and little else, and who knows what they have in store for the future. By restoring the division, they'll both have a lot on their plate.

Backstage Politics

The head honchos backstage have a knack of screwing talent over. It happened in WCW when Hulk Hogan, Kevin Nash, etc. "talked" to Eric Bischoff about the cruiserweights stealing the spotlight. What happened after that? Less focus on Dean Malenko, Rey Mysterio, Chris Jericho, etc. and more focus on nWo.

While guys like John Cena doesn't really mind sharing the spotlight, what about people like Randy Orton, Triple H, and Edge? Especially Triple H, one whisper in Vinny Mac's ear and everything can change. Sure, Rey Mysterio could and would be there to defend the cruiserweights, but it's his opinion over opinions of people who are bigger than him.

Unless there's a perfect balance of attention in each division, it's going to be a war backstage: Cruiserweights vs. Heavyweights and the Heavyweights are going to win. Happened in the late 90's, happened in 2008, and would be bound to happen if there's a revival.

Hornswoggle

You see this travesty? This is Honswoggle with the Cruiserweight Championship. Giving Hornswoggle the Cruiserweight Championship was pretty much WWE saying that they didn't care about the division anymore. It was a sad day when he "won" the championship. Need I say more? Didn't think so.

Closing Remarks

I would love to see a renaissance of the cruiserweight division in the WWE. I loved seeing the high flyers such as Paul London, Kid Kash, Jamie Noble, etc. back in 2004-2008. It could kick start some careers like it did with Chris Benoit, Eddie Guerrero, Chris Jericho, and even Rey Mysterio, but is it really worth it? Is it worth having to see the Cruiserweights job to Heavyweights again and  the Cruiserweights being underutilized in that division? I don't know if the WWE brought back the division to appeal to the fans of in the WCW days or introduce it to a new generation like myself. Unfortunately, it feels like they did a subpar job of the former.