21 Reasons Today's WWE Is an Epic Failure Compared to Old-School WWF

You can never relive the past and expect it to be as good as it ever was.

Maybe that is what is happening to the WWE and its attempt to change the future with past ideas that, in all honesty, are failing to reach their mark.

Maybe it's bad scripts. Maybe it's the way the wrestlers perform today. Maybe it's the growth and development of social media.

What ever the reasons, the WWE is nothing like the mothership, WWF, and never will be.

But if creative and management took a long, hard look at what works and what fails, these are some of the reasons why wrestling today is not what it used to be.

21. It's Not 1984

I know it sounds strange, but the climate was right for the birth of Hulkamania. Wrestling had just made its jump to cable as a formidable outlet to show its talents.

There is not the need to make the "change" like there was back then.

20. There Isn't as Much to Compete Against

Old-school WWF still challenged the likes of Jim Crockett, Fritz Von Erich, Verne Gagne and others.

That is not the case anymore.

When Vince McMahon bought WCW, it basically took away competition.

Competition pushes companies to do better.

Right now, in all honesty, Vince is competing against himself.

19. There Is No True Hero and No True Villain

Ric Flair painted this portrait when he wrestled in the NWA of he and Dusty Rhodes as the lead villain and the lead hero who clashed.

That is not what goes on today.

While there are heroes and villains, they are interchangeable.

18. The Wrestlers Are Not as Cartoonish

What I mean by this is when they were in the WWF, Vince McMahon made them larger-than-life circus acts.

Try doing that to a Randy Orton or Kane.

The Junkyard Dog, Mr. Fuji, Jimmy Snuka and The Iron Sheik. There was more to watch and like.

17. Ric Flair, Roddy Piper and Randy Savage No Longer Wrestle

As odd as this one may sound, Ric Flair was a great addition to the WWF. Roddy Piper was the best on the mic in the business, and Randy Savage was the best in-ring performer.

None are prominent today because of various reasons.

The supporting cast was so much better back then.

16. John Laurinaitis Is the General Manager

Back in the day, Jack Tunney ruled the WWF. He was a figurehead but was firm. He was a constant reminder that the WWF was under a tight ship.

John Laurinaitis is a figurehead and one of the worst characters in wrestling.

Get him off the television screen.

15. We Miss the Old Gimmicks

The images of Kane and Undertaker are still very much alive and well. But we miss the other gimmicks that kept us coming back for more.

Koko B. Ware, IRS and Jim Duggan.

They all resonated with the fans.

Gimmicks today do not have that much appeal.

14. Tables, Ladders and Chairs

The way they are supposed to be fought.

We miss the Dudleys, the Hardys and Edge and Christian battling it out championship style.

No team or individuals can hold a candle to them.

13. Family Drama

I know that Linda McMahon is seeking a political seat, but we miss the antics of wrestling's first family.

They were as popular the Bundys.

And seeing family members square off in the ring was the ultimate reality show.

12. Where Are the Managers?

Is Vickie Guerrero really the only manager in the WWE?

What a disgrace.

This should be a must-have in the eyes of wrestling lore.

Managers act as speakers, promoters and cheaters for their teams and stables.

Guerrero does this very well, but we sure would like to see more.

11. John Cena Is Not Hulk Hogan

For so long, the WWF tried to find the next Hulk Hogan.

They found him in John Cena. And for everything Cena is, he is not the Hulkster.

He is vanilla and popular and the hero we all want defending us, but he is also hated amongst some of the masses.

Hogan may not have won as many titles as Cena, but he will forever be loved more in the eyes of the WWF faithful.

10. Sex Sells

We first got a glimpse of the Miss Elizabeth and then we saw Sable.

And the WWF Universe changed forever.

Sex sold and sold big in the WWF as part of the Attitude Era. Sable and others (Lita, Trish, Stacy Carter) helped usher in a racier and more exciting era in wrestling.

9. Better Vignettes

The Rock wrote his own material.

Hulk Hogan was great on the mic.

Piper was the best.

Savage had no peers.

The smack talk of the wrestlers with Mean Gene conducting the interview was a classic part of the show.

Now, it is too much talk and not enough action.

8. Too Many PPV Events

There is a PPV event almost every other week.

They do not make as much money as they used to even with the advent of cable.

Less PPV events and more buildup would have a bigger impact on what happens each month in the WWE.

7. Too Much Branding

Raw and Smackdown butt heads and then they try to compete as "supershows."

Back in the day, the WWF did just fine with one program that promoted all its stars and then had side shows that featured less popular talent.

It worked and should be able to work again, seeing as how popular the sport is now.

6. Too Much Internet

The Internet has been a blessing and a curse at one time.

We know spoilers, we know "face" changes. We even know when someone is jailed for DUI.

We technically don't have to watch the programs anymore.

We already know the outcome.

5. The Tag Team Division Is Missing

The Hart Foundation, Demolition, The Samoans. They all had a huge role in the promotion.

Now the tag teams are a thing of the past.

We keep waiting for them to reappear.

We are still waiting.

4. The Misuse of Talent

For every John Cena and Mark Henry, there is Drew McIntyre and the Usos.

Talent is abundant all over the WWE, but creative management is not taking full advantage of it.

At least everyone in the WWF knew their roles and gave everything in the ring.

3. Better Announcing

Lord Alfred Hayes, Jesse Ventura, Gorilla Monsoon, Gene Okerlund and yes, even Vince McMahon.

They all played a role in defining the WWF. And what they had to say was just as important as what the wrestlers did.

2. The Intercontinental Title Meant Something

Back in the day, wrestlers like Tito Santana, Greg Valentine and Pedro Morales all held the title. And the title was thought to be the second-best title in the company.

Today, that is not the truth.

Too many titles or not enough with lesser significance.

And the Intercontinental Title should be the stepping stone to a WWE Title shot.

1. There Is No "Attitude" in Wrestling

When Steve Austin beat the hell out of Vince McMahon for the first time, it was the best thing that could have happened to the WWF.

Attitude was everything. And at the time, it was the only thing.

Attitude meant more ratings, more merchandise and more filled arenas.

The Attitude needs to return to the WWE.