WWE: Diagnosing the Dying Aspects of the Artform of Professional Wrestling

Professional wrestling is a mode of spectacle combining athletics and theatrical performance, originating in the 19th century.

Over time, we have learned more about wrestling, and many aspects of the business have changed.

At it's peak (which many consider the late 1990's) we thought wrestling had it all. Today (in the Enigmatic Generation), we complain about many aspects of the pro wrestling business.

Now, I will take a deeper look at the problems and as you may discover, perhaps we are apart of the problem.

Kayfabe 

For quite awhile, wrestlers lived in kayfabe. Kayfabe is the portrayal of scripted events as real. Meaning, pro wrestlers lived what their gimmick was, even if acting as demented as Kane. 

Nowadays, not only wrestlers and other insiders, but many fans have a tendency to break kayfabe. Take us in the IWC for example, everything on this site is breaking kayfabe. We take a look at the creative and booking side of the business, which most didn't know to exist until the late part of the 1900's.

Overall, this has scarred the wrestling product forever. Sure, many hardcore fans will be... well, fans, for life. But mainstream America, Hollywood, and 'real' sports fans will never accept wrestling for what it is.

Ad-Libbing 

Promos have become somewhat painful to listen to in the WWE. Great talkers are fewer and farther between in the company. We still have our CM Punk's and Miz's, but then you have your Evan Bourne's (and quite frankly all of the Divas) of the world. 

These guys are terrific in-ring, but are bad on the mic. Why?

Well, I for one, would not blame it on them. It's the WWE.

The days of "old-school" promos are over, where the wrestler would be given an idea of what to say, and then ad-lib the rest of it.

Guys like Evan Bourne, when on the mic, are given an exact script of what to say. They memorize it word-for-word, like they are taught to, and execute the plan, albeit horribly.

The same goes for the Divas division, and the majority of WWE Superstars.

Only main eventers like CM Punk, John Cena, The Undertaker and Triple H are given the chance to ad-lib. That is why they are the best.

Just watch this promo, the Genesis of Migilicutty, for proof of what I am saying.

A chance to stand out from the pack

Off-the-wall gimmicks can often backfire, but at the same time, today's WWE Superstar is not given a chance to stand out.

Vince McMahon looks for either the giant, or the 6'4 man in his twenties with abs. This can basically describe every Superstar in the WWE, or in the Divas case, a bunch of models.

To follow, a wrestler no longer has depth in his character. Look at Kofi Kingston.

Kofi is tremendous in-ring, and underrated on the microphone. The problem with Kofi Kingston has always been character depth. All we have been told is he is from Africa, and.... is a nice guy?

We have never learned much more about Kofi. Thus we get an exciting wrestler, a guy that I'm a big fan of, but we don't get a guy that we feel like we know. Fortunately, Kofi does a good job connecting with the crowd and getting over, despite creative's shortcomings.

Storytelling

Storytelling is something that only few know how to accomplish in a match. Not-so-ironically, this is from the same guys that can (or are allowed) to ad-lib.

Storytelling is simply telling a story during a match.

We have most recently seen this from Christian and Randy Orton. These two told a story of respect during their first two terrific matches. And although I dislike the heel turn of Christian, it will change to physiology of the match drastically. Therefore, we are promise a much different match between the two.

In an earlier article, I proposed a double turn in the Kofi Kingston/Dolph Ziggler feud. It would help both, and freshen up their matches, with the same two men in-ring.

Storytelling doesn't need face/heel turns though. The Undertaker/Shawn Michaels matches are the best examples of this. They told a story during their match, and that's what made it special.

It isn't a trait that I can put my finger on. Rather, an ability some have, and some don't.

Conclusion

The IWC often complains about wrestling, and rightfully so. However, after reviewing issues that I believe to be real, we can (in-part) be blamed. 

In my opinion, the WWE has become too safe with their product. No, I am not talking about the PG rating. What I am talking about is trying something that hasn't happened. Allowing Superstars to be different, be themselves, and not something directly off of a piece of paper.

Credit: Things italicized in this article are definitions from Wikipedia.