WWE: 10 Ways to Liven Up a Stale Post-WrestleMania Period

Hello Bleachers.

WrestleMania XXVII is behind us. Now comes the time to look ahead to the future and to next year's Show of Shows in Miami, Florida to which the main-event has already been announced.

So what are we to witness in the mean time? 

There is common notion that a stale period follows the great extravaganza but I disagree, especially this year.

There is change on the way. We are already witnesses of the dawning of a new era. Not only does the company go by simply "WWE" now—allowing it to have a more global feel—but Triple H's presence as Senior Adviser of Talent development is also seen as a fresh and promising shift of the guard.

Though the changes announce a bright future, we still have to think of the present.

The Rock, Stone Cold and Trish Stratus came, conquered WrestleMania XXVII and departed soon after leaving us with a rather insatiated thirst for more in the weeks to come.

Recent events like WrestleMania, Edge's untimely retirement and lower quarterly number now force the company to review its formula and deliver onto us once again an excellent product that makes the fans tune in religiously all year long just like in the infamous "Attitude" era.

There are ways to achieve this. Seems simple to me. How would I do it? This is what I'd propose... 

WWE Should Go on World Tours More Often

Announcing a world tour is never a bad thing. Ask Madonna.

If company officials decides to embark on more tours around the world they actually have a chance to revive the interest in the international community. It is no longer just about America now.

We are in 2011 and we as peoples of the world have never been so close, in some ways, than now.

We need to connect with the WWE and feel they represent us as well. I am from the province of Quebec and they don't come here enough!

Imagine being a WWE superstar or diva and performing in front of thousands in Japan or Australia. What a rush!

There is always an outstanding response, that alone should make executives consider having tours more often. 

It allows the discovery of new markets and perhaps even revives ones that have been doing not so well.

It also makes every televised shows such as RAW in London, UK for example feel even more special because it is overseas. 

One WWE, One united universe. Past, present and future.

WWE Televised Programming: Choose Quality over Quantity

Let me see now...

There once was RAW, SMACKDOWN, ECW, NXT, TOUGH ENOUGH, SUPERSTARS and 13 pay-per-views a year!?

Is there even a wonder why profits keep going down? 

This is way too much. I am over-exposed to all this television. Like not enough butter spread over too much bread.

There is no longer any depth in the programming either. I have my favorites yes, but the rest of the time I am stuck watching my WWE Champion The Miz take on Great Khali or Mark Henry..really? Really!?

Every moment should count. Every match and segment should matter and be used to further develop storylines between the superstars and divas.

What are we watching the show for after all? There should always be a reason to want to watch next week's show. 

Monday Night RAW: Keep It Unpredictable, Edgy and Relentless

This is the flagship of all WWE programs. No doubt about it.

With such an impressive, talented roster how can you fail? Yet ratings show a continuous decline over the last years that must be dealt with immediately.

I say keep it live and two hours. That is never bad but I shouldn't see any more meaningless matches. They should all count. 

Keep it fun and interesting. I want to see the superstars and divas that ARE actually good. the likes of Melina, Natalya, Zack Ryder to name a few.

Stop defending titles on live TV so often. I'm happy to see champions appear but defending the title every week is getting annoying.

No more filling time with crap!

What happened to the edgy show I was dying to watch every Mondays just 10 years ago?

Friday Night SMACKDOWN: Should Be Moved to Thursday Nights and Go Live!

First of all, I will never call this a B-show. That is like insulting the great people on that show who work their butts off every week.

This should be LIVE!

I hate the fact that on Tuesdays I can get the results on the internet because it is pre-taped thus spoiling the fun. You can't help it either.

As a devoted fan, it is hard not to go on a website like Bleacher Report for example and pretend I don't see a headline like "Friday Night SMACKDOWN SPOILERS***"

The show should move back to Thursdays. It is distanced enough from Monday's RAW and not on a day people like to go out or shop or whatever.

I hear one reason SmackDown isn't live is because of the problem finding the crew to stay at work late on a Friday night. It is understandable yet it is their job.

Surely there are many who would jump at the opportunity to cover a live WWE broadcast no matter which day it is on.

Like RAW, every moment should count as well. No fillers. They are creative writers. they can do anything.

Another problem would be the production costs for putting on a live show. Personally, I'd put in a little more money to create a better product than keep losing some to something that just doesn't work. 

So there you have it. A change of day and a live show!

A Universal Roster of Superstars = Infinite Possibilities

We are in 2011. The time for divided rosters is over.

It has become stale over the years because we keep seeing the same people shoved in a match together with almost the same predictable outcome.

Having a universal roster allows for the creation of new storylines, a chance to try out bold ideas and prevents the predictability that we have been accustomed over the last few years.

I say forget about the annual draft. Merge the rosters. WWE would keep us interested because we wouldn't know who shows up and when.

They still possess that ace up the sleeve and could, at any moment, pull a rabbit out of the hat much to our surprise.

It is unfortunate when every year the draft takes place and the top superstars move from brand to brand and automatically insert themselves in the main-event picture.

For example, should they have one again this year, I see Randy Orton moving to Smackdown. What are the chances we see him battling for the World Heavyweight championship at SummerSlam? I

t is almost a guarantee and that is not good news to the other members of the roster who deserve just as much of a chance.

A universal roster allows the possibility of matches such as this:

John Cena vs. Dolph Ziggler

The Miz vs. Christian

Michelle McCool vs. Gail Kim

Drew McIntyre and Sheamus vs. The Brothers of Destruction

These are just examples and if done properly they can be excellent. 

Saturday Night's Main Event: Bring Back Old Favorites

We already established that quality is better than quantity. If there is less televised programming on a weekly basis then it doesn't rule out the possibility of having a special show now and then.

It is the company's motto that "anything can happen in the WWE" right? so why not have us stay up late on Saturday night every once in a while to watch a great show.

There were great feuds sparked on such events in the past and sometimes even the WWE Champion made his first-ever title defense which made it feel all that more special than just on RAW. 

They could be placed at the right time during the year to fill the gap between events in order to further build up current stories. These specials are a more appropriate place to have someone lose a title and not just on random free television.

I'd rather have something like this with great matches than pay a fortune for some gimmick pay per view that just doesn't work like "Fatal Four-Way" or "Hell In A Cell."

SummerSlam: Prepare for the Blockbuster Event of the Summer

After WrestleMania comes the beautiful months of Summer which means only one things: SummerSlam!

Last year's event was a disaster. It didn't have anything special to it except perhaps Melina winning the Divas championship.

I hope that never happens again.

You can't miss the boat when it comes to this particular show because with the recent re-branding of the company and the event set in glamorous Los Angeles, it makes it one of the most important shows of the year.

It is the halfway mark and should be used to set in motion at least a portion of things to come for the next Mania.

The summer is a happy time for everyone so why not put all that positive energy to good use and deliver an amazing card, no excuses!

This is called one of the "Big Four" pay per view events for a reason. They are the core. The basis of all WWE storylines.

The Rock vs. John Cena should've happened here!

We are in L.A. It doesn't get any bigger than that except perhaps the home of WrestleMania a.k.a New York City.

A few suggestions:

Stone Cold vs. CM Punk?

The Rock vs. The Miz?

Triple H vs. The Miz?

Let's go people! I want a great show this year and start building up the feuds right now!  

The Big Four: Keep These Important Pay Per Views Up to Par

Speaking of SummerSlam, I reiterate that it is part of what has come to be known as the classic "Big Four" Pay per views that have been a part of WWE history for decades now. 

There should only be about six pay-per-view events during the year anyway. No more gimmicks. Instead incorporate these gimmicks into these giant events to make them all the more monumental.

I say six but really it should be five because the only other one besides Royal Rumble, WrestleMania, SummerSlam and Survivor Series that mean anything really is Night of Champions.

I feel that is a great concept where all the champions defend their titles.

Making us wait a little in between each is a great way to ensure we truly desire to watch. It applies here again, quality over quantity. You can easily fit all the gimmicks possible into the classic events.

They are trying to repackage Survivor Series yet again this year. I think they should keep it alive but insert something grand like the elimination chamber in there or hell in a cell, whatever.

Have the classic five on five action we have come to love as well, one for the superstars and one for the divas. That's good enough.

Making us wait a few months before we watch our champions defend their titles is not a bad thing. It makes their championship more meaningful and their reigns more credible because it lasts longer. Simple as that.

These are your most important events of the year WWE, put your money and time into those rather than "Over The Limit." What is that one about anyway?

Like all great stories they have a beginning and and ending...

The WWE Calendar Should Have an OFFseason

The year begins in January after the holidays and ends after the final match at Survivor Series in preparation of the holidays. Even God takes a break!

Everyone at WWE works very hard and some outshine themselves year after year but at what cost? There are serious injuries that can happen if the body is not rested properly.

Having an offseason would allow superstars and divas the time to recuperate and prepare for the new year as the road to WrestleMania begins again in January.

In all major sports there is an offseason, why not pro-wrestling?

You could spend that free time promoting other areas of the company such as publishing or filming. Send your superstars and divas on talk shows, game shows and various charities all through the holiday season.

They are on the road over 300 days a year. An offseason gives them a break and provides everyone the time to spend with family and friends.

I wonder what Mr. McMahon says when he hears Triple H and Stephanie can't make it because he has a match in Vancouver?

It also gives us a break too. Time to look back at the year and assess what we liked and didn't like all the while anticipating the new year with a fresh, positive outlook on the future.

Every year it begins and comes full circle once more...that is how it works everywhere else. 

Have the Road to WrestleMania All Year Long

When you come to think of it, an off season isn't bad at all. Imagine watching your first RAW in January and having all the superstars and divas at 100 percent.

Right away that is more positive and we'd see it as they would be rested and happy to be back.

It should start immediately. Plan the Royal Rumble. Place the foundations for an amazing WrestleMania just a few months away.

No time to waste. The creative writers would have benefited from the time off to plan a great show without pressure. 

The Road to WrestleMania XXVIII has already begun but it will not be as we think.

I already predict the match between John Cena and The Rock will not happen at that moment.

Something even better will be created instead. The Undertaker is at the end of his run. We've seen it on April 3rd of this year. Next year will make it perhaps 20-0. What an honor to have your most celebrated icon ride off into the sunset after defeating the top superstar of his day?

I say:

WrestleMania XXVIII

The Undertaker vs. John Cena

and

The Rock vs. The Miz

The two great pillars of WWE battling it out in an epic confrontation and the Great One passing the torch to the Awesome One in front of his home town like Hogan had done onto him years prior.

There is only so much you can do with The Rock vs. John Cena. It would be great but it could always be placed anywhere else too. There is only one man left for The Undertaker to face really and it is the chain gang leader himself. No one else.

Like it or not, The Miz is the future and he represents way more the new face of the company than any other superstar on the roster.

Watch his "Superstar Quarterly" on WWE.com to realize it is all about exposure. It is as much outside the ring as it is in and The Miz looks great in a suit.

There is a year's worth of precious time at their disposal. It's all about build-up and hype. 

Celebrate Your Talented Performers and Make Credible Champions

This is my opinion. There should be only one UNDiSPUTED WWE Champion. Every championship is valuable and a superstar or diva is not above any title.

Not anyone can make a good champion. It is about booking the story but also who would look better carrying the title belt. What would that person or those two bring better than others?

Here's what I think:

The WWE championship firmly held The Miz for another little while until someone big like Triple H or Chris Jericho arrive to take it from thus further establishing his foothold into the main-event scene. I

t has finally found stability with the Awesome One's long reign so lets keep it that way. John Cena is not winning this back soon. he is a nine time champion, Triple H will not have someone pass him that we can be clear on.

The World Heavyweight championship's days are numbered. That's all I have to say about that. Edge's sudden and untimely retirement made sure of that.

Cody Rhodes would be a better Intercontinental Champion than Wade Barrett any day. He has a better character and is more interesting to watch. That title needs to get back its former luster and shine again. I'm never above seeing two great superstars destroy each other for it. A Randy Orton should not be worth more than the Intercontinental Champion. He is a champion after all where Orton is not!

The United States championship? Alright, keep a third-tier title but re-baptize something else to cater to the other markets. The European championship perhaps? I always liked the idea of that one.

Pair up Drew McIntyre and Sheamus already and give them the Tag Team championship so they can rule for over one year and help revive the tag team division. I love both superstars and do not want them going in no direction.

Their characters are good and they are ferocious. They already know each other well so taking advantage of that is a good thing.

Brie Bella? A transitional champion that's it. I think they will have her drop the title to someone more suited to engage a great feud with a soon to be AWESOME Kong. Michelle McCool alone was a great Women's Champion.

Melina is in the doghouse, to my sorrow but Beth Phoenix or Gail Kim are great and talented performers and long overdue to carry the Divas championship.

Simple Steps to Ensure We Go from Stale to Breathtaking

When you come to think about it as much as I have, you see that it is a very complicated business to entertain millions of fans around the world.

People will always have limitless desires while resources are limited but a company as successful as WWE shouldn't worry about limits because it is beyond the stars. 

Making some changes isn't a bad thing. Less shows all over the places, credible champions and putting money where it should be are all fine ways to patch up the cracks the WWE has been dealing with.

The future looks promising with Triple H at the helm. The year has just begun for WWE and there is no telling what direction it will take in this new era.

It must be an amazing feeling to be part of all that glam. I want to experience it every time I turn on the television or go to the live show. There is magic in the air.

What do you think about all this B/R community? How would you do things to avoid being in a stale and uneventful period?