Goldberg's Return Highlights WWE's Biggest Problems

From the moment he started promoting WWE 2K17, there was little doubt in the mind of any wrestling fan that we'd eventually see Goldberg make his way back to WWE TV.  Last night, that self-fulfilling prophecy came true.

I was never a big fan of WCW.  I can appreciate the historical significance much more twenty years later than I ever did at the time.  WWF always had a more polished product, and I've always been a sucker for flash over substance.  Subsequently, while I was well aware of the phenomenon that was Bill Goldberg, I was too busy riding the wave of Steve Austin and The Rock to pay any real attention until he came to WWE in 2003.  At that point, WWE did such a poor job of presenting Goldberg to a non-WCW audience that whatever remaining spark was left from the late 90's was almost gone.

Instead, Vince & Co. seemed intent on using every WCW name they could sign to build up Triple H.  While Goldberg became one of the few to defeat The Game for the World Heavyweight Championship, he lost it just as quickly.  After kicking around WWE for another year, he bid us all adieu in that ill-fated Wrestlemania XX match against fellow departee, Brock Lesnar.

Twelve years later, Goldberg is looking to make one last comeback against the man he beat on his way out.  And while the promo that ended Raw did much to heighten my interest, there are a few glaring issues with this scenario that I'm sure WWE and its fanbase would love to ignore.

As noted in a video package on Raw, Goldberg debuted in 1997, and though I would love to believe the 90's were just a decade ago, the truth is that it's been 19 years since.  It's great that someone like Goldberg--whose time in wrestling was relatively fleeting--can come back almost two decades after his first appearance and receive this type of fanfare, the fact of that matter is that Bill Goldberg is positioned better than 95% of WWE's current roster.

How many of today's WWE Superstars would receive the same adulation if they were to come back twenty years from now?  John Cena, perhaps?  We see glimpses of it with Lita, who debuted a whopping 15 years ago and is still considered more capable than many present-day female Superstars (I'm looking at you, Dana Brooke).  It's become painfully obvious that WWE has done a terrible job of building new stars.

I've been preaching this since the "Ruthless Aggression" era: the lack of competition--true competition--in the wrestling industry has allowed WWE to rest on their laurels and simply churn out new talent.  Talent, mind you, that has been continually fed to established veterans like meat on a conveyor belt.  John Cena's career is filled with examples of men who ascended to the top of the ladder only to be gobbled up by the WWE's Superman.  Sheamus, Ryback, Bray Wyatt, and Rusev are all men whose futures looked bright until they ran into the John Cena buzzsaw.  Go back and watch Cena/Wyatt at Wrestlemania XXX and try not to cry as you reconcile it with the man stuck on Smackdown mumbling nonsense and losing to another established name, Randy Orton.

Another sad reality is the state of Superstars--specifically men--who have come up from NXT only to have their characters changed or to be steamrolled by others already on the Raw and Smackdown rosters.  I'm not even going to get into the Nexus debacle.  Just look at men like Neville, Tyler Breeze, and Bo Dallas.  These were NXT mainstays with cult-status followings and they all came up to the main roster to become the lower mid-card filler.

The baffling part of it all is that WWE seems to bury these stars even when they know they have something good on their hands.  I understand that you can't allow fans to dictate your programming, but you also can't openly ignore the feedback you're getting.  I'm not talking about comments on Facebook or some smarky tweet.  I'm talking about the live feedback you get from an arena full of fans.  Roman Reigns is the whipping boy for the WWE Universe right now because of how poorly he is booked, yet WWE's booking of Roman doesn't change.  Meanwhile, the team of Gallows and Anderson came in with all the fan support you could dream of and they spent months pretending to be doctors and making testicle jokes with The New Day.

So while we should have spent the last fourteen years building the next generation of stars, the truth is the main event picture in WWE hasn't changed all that much.  The proof?  Triple H was the WWE Champion going into Wrestlemania 32.  Why?  Because WWE hadn't built up a proper heel to get Roman Reigns over as a face.  Even now, with Kevin Owens as WWE Universal Champion on Raw, Triple H is still heavily embroiled in the main event storyline as the man that "handed" him the title.

WWE wasn't shy about touting the 2016 Draft as the dawn of a "new era."  Much like the "Divas Revolution," it sounded great on paper, but when Raw is being headlined by Brock Lesnar and Goldberg, it's hard to take that moniker seriously.  John Cena is still at the center of the world title picture.  That's probably due to Smackdown's lack of star power, which in turn goes back to the original argument of WWE's failure to establish big-name stars over the last decade.

Finally, for all their talk of making Raw and Smackdown equal shows, WWE has made it painfully obvious that Monday night is still where the flagship resides.  I'm going to set aside the fact that Raw is 3 hours long to Smackdown's 2, and that Raw got to draft 50% more wrestlers than Smackdown during the draft.  Raw may not be getting the astronomical ratings of the Monday Night Wars (and those ratings continue to slip), but Smackdown still lags behind in exposure and viewership.  WWE has tried to combat this in recent months by having top stars like Brock Lesnar appear on Smackdown and even drafting John Cena exclusively to the blue brand.  But is that really enough?

With Survivor Series coming up, WWE is taking the quick and dirty route for their main event and doing the tried and true "Raw vs. Smackdown" tag team elimination match for...I don't know....bragging rights or something.  That being said, you could easily have made this a cross-promotional feud between Goldberg and Lesnar.  With Brock already drafted to Raw and the announcemnt that Goldberg would be answering Brock's challenge live, why not have Shane and Daniel Bryan swoop in and declare that they've signed Goldberg as an exclusive member of the Smackdown roster?

Then tell Steph and Mick that Goldberg will be making his return to WWE on Smackdown.  This does two things: 1.)  It gives Smackdown some much-needed star power.  That should help even out the ratings for the short term (you'd have to back it up with some fantastic ring work to keep viewers hooked).  2.)  It keeps Brock and Goldberg away from each other.  I know that doesn't sound like exciting television, but it will make the inevitable payoff of their encounter that much more rewarding.  WWE will probably throw this match away at Survivor Series, but with Royal Rumble returning to the Alamodome this year, I'd love to see a nice, slow burn as these two boil to a head in January.

And I'm excited for that encounter.  Really.  More excited than I thought I would be going into Raw last night.  But there's no denying WWE's continued reliance on part-time and past talent in an age where they've failed to grow new stars of a meaningful and long-lasting caliber.  Fans are more pumped now to see a rematch of something they booed out of Madison Square Garden twelve years ago than any other match on the card.  If that doesn't speak to WWE's lack of creative depth over the last twelve years, I don't know what does.

WWE's New Era: How New is it, Really?

I'm going to forego analyzing how WWE likes to pretend that this "brand extension" is the first of its kind.  I'm also going to forget the fact that we've all fallen for this before and it bore out less than stellar results.

I'm going to pretend that the concept of WWE breaking up its rosters into two unique "brands" is completely new, and we'll go from there.

Cashing In and Splitting Up

WWE World Heavyweight Champion Roman Reigns vs. Seth Rollins

WWE's Money in the Bank special may have been touted as a card worthy of Wrestlemania, but not everything was as grand a spectacle as what you'd hope to see on the "Grandest Stage of Them All."  To make up for it, we got at least three matches that we'll not soon forget...just in time for a looming draft to put a monkey wrench into the entire roster's prospective future.

Kickoff Matches

I won't waste a lot of time here.  In fact, I didn't even watch the Kickoff Show.  Apparently the Golden Truth defeated Breezango and somehow the guy making up tag team names still has a job.  The Lucha Dragons defeated the Dudley Boyz and somehow Bubba Ray still wants a job.  Aside from reminding us that there are more than four tag teams in the entire division (which is important going into the brand split), these matches do absolutely nothing for anyone, so while we can appreciate the effort, we likely won't remember they happened when we see the obligatory rematches tonight on Raw.

WWE TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP - Fatal Four-Way Tag Team Match

WWE Tag Team Champions The New Day defeated Enzo & Cass, The Vaudevillains, and The Club (Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson)

This was a solid show-opener, with lots of rapid-fire action.  Sure, there were at least two major clunks in between: the late interference by Gallows to break up what was clearly a clean three-count for Enzo & Cass, and a confusing Trouble in Paradise that saw Enzo fall forward instead of back, but overall this was a solid showing for a strong division that might see its best days behind it heading into the brand split.  If we count the four tag teams (I use that term loosely in two of those cases) from the Kickoff Show, that gives eight tag teams to split between Raw and Smackdown (nine if you're counting the Shining Stars).  Assuming American Alpha makes the rumored ascent from NXT, we could get five teams per brand, but how they maintain the momentum for each of those teams is just as important--if not moreso--than simply filling out your roster.

Baron Corbin defeated Dolph Ziggler

The outcome of this match shouldn't be a surprise to anyone, but the match itself might be.

As a young up-and-comer who supposedly made a statement by winning the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal, Corbin should be showing me something new every time a WWE Network special comes around.  Instead, I see more of the same, and in this case, something a little worse.

I get that there is a particular pace to a "David vs. Goliath" match: typically the giant stalks his prey as the tinier combatant stumbles around the ring, selling everything thrown at him.  Ziggler is perfectly tailored to this.  Nobody sells better.  But Corbin's slow and plodding pace failed to look dominant, instead lulling the crowd into a round of the infamous "boring" chant.

With little in the way of structure or flow, it's a surprise this match even made the main card.  I'd expect something of this caliber on the Kickoff Show, but it's extra insulting to see it used as "filler" during the event itself.  It's a shame that two guys with so much to give have given me so little reason to be invested.

Also, can someone please tell Ziggler it's not okay to use Sweet Chin Music?  Because it's not.

Ever.

TAG TEAM MATCH

WWE Women's Champion Charlotte & Dana Brooke defeated Becky Lynch & Natalya

Even as I write this, I'm racking my brain for one memorable thing about the contest itself.  For the life of me, I can't come up with anything.  The Champ and her cohort are on the ropes when suddenly Dana Brooke causes Becky and Nattie to collide in what looked like a truly painful bump, and thus costing them the match.

Pretty standard fare, but nothing noteworthy.  Everyone's tired of seeing Charlotte drag someone around to help her win.  She's clearly capable of handling herself, so let her do that, even as a heel.

The most interesting thing about this match is Natalya turning on Becky afterward.  Nattie has a chance to really shine here and elevate Becky to the next level.  Let her come out and complain about how she was left behind in this whole "Divas Revolution," and she's tired of having to share the spotlight with women who (presumably) aren't good enough to lace her boots.  Let her and Becky go back and forth, and let Becky get her shot at Charlotte when it's all done.

Of course, that leaves the question of who will be facing Charlotte for the Women's Championship in the meantime.  That depends on how this draft shakes out and where the title ends up (and if a second title is created).  Paige recently pinned Charlotte on Raw, and we haven't seen Sasha Banks in a while.  Both would be excellent contenders, and since there's no guarantee where everyone will end up after July 19th, you might as well pull those triggers now.

Apollo Crews def. Sheamus

Once again, I can't think of anything notable about this match.  It was a solid effort, but so was every match on this card.  Similar to Corbin vs. Ziggler, it's a shame that a talent like Crews has failed to stand out on the main roster.  Say what you want about Sheamus, he's a very good performer and a perfect guy to help get the next generation of stars over.  Unfortunately, it's hard to do that when you're given limited time and virtually no story to work with.

A.J. Styles defeated John Cena

For me, this was the match of the night.  It was clearly Styles' best showing since coming to the main roster, and it was helped by John Cena's willingness to sell everything Styles hit him with.  Honestly, I haven't seen Cena sell a beating like that since Brock Lesnar.

Obviously, letting Styles win was the right move as it elevates him to main-event status.  People will complain that the win wasn't "clean," but--newsflash, everyone--AJ is a heel.  It's what heels do.  Don't believe me?  Go lookup the Four Horsemen.  I'll wait.

The match was all about Styles, but major props should be given to John Cena, here.  For all the flak that he takes for burying talent (something Styles himself mentioned a few weeks ago), he's one of the few guys on the roster whose credibility is such that when he loses, it makes the victor look a million times better than he did before.

The two told a great story.  Cena simply couldn't get any momentum going as Styles seemed to counter everything he did.  At one point, Styles even took time to literally run circles around WWE's golden boy.  After taking Cena down to the mat for what felt like the hundredth time, Styles looked to the crowd and yelled, "Is that all he's got?  Sh*t!"  Both men played their parts perfectly.  The Club's interference guarantees that Cena's integrity is protected and cements Styles as the biggest heel in professional wrestling.

Hopefully we get a couple more bouts from these two.  I'm sure John Cena will be looking for revenge come Monday night.

MONEY IN THE BANK LADDER MATCH

Cesaro vs. Kevin Owens vs. Chris Jericho vs. Dean Ambrose vs. Alberto Del Rio vs. Sami Zayn

If you couldn't decide who you wanted to win this match, you probably weren't alone.  Kevin Owens, Chris Jericho, and Dean Ambrose all made strong contenders for the top spot, here, and all put their bodies through hell to get there.  One particularly nasty spot saw Kevin Owens go spine-to-spine with a ladder, and I honestly thought for several moments he was seriously hurt.

The backstage promo between Owens, Jericho, and Del Rio was magic.  In particular, I think Owens and Jericho have a tremendous chemistry that could carry them forward in a feud that is as much about words as it is about wrestling.  Their confrontations in the ring last night seemed to indicate we are headed there, and that could only mean one thing:

Dean Ambrose emerged as Mr. Money in the Bank.

The rest (as you will see) was academic.

WWE UNITED STATES CHAMPIONSHIP

WWE United States Champion Rusev (with Lana) vs. Titus O'Niel

There is an art to match placement that goes largely overlooked in the business of pro wrestling.  When done properly, it allows an event to slowly build as the stakes are steadily raised until the tension explodes in the main event.

When done poorly, two solid performers get thrown to the wolves when they are smashed between two truly epic matches.

Rusev vs. Titus O'Niel had all the makings of a solid bout, particularly with Titus' family at ringside.  That fact alone lent itself to a good story, but it was a story that was scarcely told in the less than ten minutes the match lasted.  Though his feats of strength were impressive, Titus never got a chance to look strong in front his children (in particular, he never got to do his trademark barking from the corner).  Never at any point was I convinced Titus had a chance of winning, and that's a shame because rather than looking like "enhancement talent," O'Niel could have looked every bit Rusev's equal.  Even if he was going to come up short, there's a difference between getting completely dominated versus having the victory slip from your grasp.

Now of course we have to wonder who Rusev's next opponent will be, and we likely won't find out for another month.

WWE WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP

The wrestling in this match was very, very good, but it's also probably the best story Roman Reigns has ever told in or out of the ring.

The most surprising aspect of this match was the hints of a "double-turn" right from the start as the alleged babyface Reigns beat down underdog heel Seth Rollins, even going so far as to palm his face away and call him names.

Suddenly Rollins was fighting from underneath instead of looking like the dominant champion he used to be.  Reigns' facial expressions were key, because you could see the disgust in his face as he glared at his former Shield brother and listened to the cascading boos that fell on him whenever he hit any kind of offense.

These two worked magic together, and if it weren't for Cena vs. A.J. an hour before they may have had the match of the night.  Their efforts may be overshadowed by what followed, but if nothing else these two men both proved they deserve to be main-event stars; and yes, that includes Roman Reigns.  It may be the "in" thing to boo Roman every chance you get, but anyone who goes back to Survivor Series 2015 when Roman won his first title will see a clear difference in the quality of his wrestling and his storytelling ability in the ring.  I'm still not going out to buy his t-shirt, but I simply find it hard to dislike the guy when he's worked so hard to prove himself a fickle generation of merciless fans.

Giving Rollins the win was key, as it was Seth's first match back from what seemed a career-ending injury.  More importantly, it set up what followed that night, and what is inevitably waiting around the next bend.

WWE WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP

WWE World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins vs. Dean Ambrose

People were chanting for Dean Ambrose before the final bell had rung for Reigns and Rollins.  From the moment "The Lunatic Fringe" captured the precious briefcase, we all knew what would happen next, even if we weren't sure how the night would end.

From the looks of things, the fans weren't the only ones expecting Ambrose to cash in.  The second Dean's music hit, Rollins was waiting in the ring with the look of a hungry wolf waiting for his next prey.

Unfortunately for "The Architect," Ambrose's attack came from behind as he smashed the briefcase over Rollins' head, knocking him virtually unconscious.  Ambrose then cashed in the weapon as Seth got back to his feet just in time to be met with Dirty Deeds.

In an unprecedented turn of events, each member of the Shield held the WWE World Heavyweight Championship in a single night, and with Reigns and Rollins both owed a rematch, one can only assume a Shield Triple-Threat is in the works for Battleground.

The Draft and Battleground

Of course, this is all assuming that all three ex-Shield members wind up on the same brand after the draft.

Perhaps more interesting than any outcome from the night itself is the prospect of the draft and how the landscape of WWE will change after everyone is assigned to their respective roster.

As much as we'd love to see these feuds move forward and continue, chances are some of them will be disrupted by the flow of talent from one side to the other.

Obviously, the creation (or rebirth) of a second World Championship is eminent, but how that champion will be determined is a big question.  Will we see a second Women's Championship, a second tag team title?  Where will the Cruiserweight Championship fit in to all of this?

Tonight's Raw may hold some clues as to the future of WWE's roster, but there will be a lot of question marks until the draft shakes out and we see who gets a chance to be a bigger fish in a much smaller pond.

What's Next for Nakamura?

Despite their reputation for notoriously short memories, I'd be surprised if most fans didn't hold the Austin Aries vs. Shinsuke Nakamura from last night's NXT Takeover: The End as a Match of the Year candidate by year's end.  The epic encounter is a classic example of perfect pacing, hold-your-breath moves, and superb athleticism from two men who have virtually done it all in the business.

That being said, the shakeout from the event is arguably the most intriguing aspect of the entire affair.  I don't think anybody acquainted with these two wrestlers doubted their match last night would steal the show.  By most accounts, it was the most anticipated bout of the evening.  Nakamura's victory, coupled with his already overwhelming popularity with fans, assures him the sky is the limit; but is now the time to make that future a reality?

Shinsuke Nakamura is not new to hardcore fans who have followed his career through New Japan, but his arrival in NXT has now made him a household name among the casual fan as well.  He's managed to back that up with two stellar performances at consecutive takeovers against Sami Zayn and Austin Aries, assuring us that the hype is to be believed.  But there's precious few other "big" stars to wrestle in NXT (particularly with rumors swirling that the roster will be largely dispersed to feed the Raw and Smackdown brand extension).  There's only one person left on the roster with the sort of name recognition deserving of a main-event-style billing, and he just so happens to be the same person holding championship gold.

A feud between NXT Champion Samoa Joe and Shinsuke Nakamura is inevitable, especially now that Finn Balor has officially failed to recapture the belt and seems destined to reappear on one of the main rosters (perhaps to reclaim the Club he founded).  Nakamura as NXT Champion is all but a certainty to happen sooner rather than later, but how soon is too soon?

When answering that question, it's important to consider three people.  The first, of course, is Nakamura himself.

"The King of Strong Style" is by far the greatest showman NXT has ever seen, and his oozing charisma has weaved its way into the fans' hearts at rapid-fire pace.  Despite being a product of the "indie scene" (if you can call New Japan an indie promotion), Nakamura is the epitome of Vince McMahon's sports-entertainment: a larger-than-life presence with world-class athleticism and a die-hard passion for pro wrestling.  As the most popular star on his roster (with the possible exception of Bayley), it seems only logical to gift him with the most coveted prize that roster has to offer and make him your Champion.

So why shouldn't you?

It all comes down to the age-old wrestling paradox of whether or not a particular star needs the title.  As pointed out by many greats of the past like Steve Austin, Bret Hart, and Shawn Michaels, there's a huge difference between "the title making the man" and "the man making the title."  In the case of Nakamura, it's probably more of the latter as he brings with him his body of work overseas and infuses it into what he's established her in the States.  Nakamura would elevate the Championship, no doubt, but his meteoric rise to prominence suggests that he doesn't need the title to be your main event.  His work speaks for itself.  His charisma speaks for itself.  He speaks for himself.

Better yet, by keeping the title away from Nakamura, you have the chance not just to build him as an underdog scraping from the bottom, but the chance to elevate other stars on your roster, especially with the obligatory injection of new blood coming as much of the upper card moves to the main roster(s).  What could a match against Nakamura do for men like Tommaso Ciampa or Johnny Gargano?  Even in defeat, these fledgling stars could be given a chance to truly showcase their skills and prove that they can "go".  It helps their careers and proves to the fans that the future of the brand is in very capable hands.

The second person to consider is Austin Aries, who will go largely uncredited for the masterpiece of last night's match, but deserves almost as much, if not more applause for the effort.  Aries has a tremendous story to tell: a devil-may-care heel with a chip on his shoulder because he came in just in time to be eclipsed by someone who was deemed a bigger draw.  His match against Nakamura was by far his best showing since coming to NXT, and hopefully fans who haven't gotten a chance to know him will now take notice and see the merit in his words.

Whereas letting Nakamura flounder in the mid-card for a while could elevate the unknowns of your roster, the same cannot be said for Austin Aries.  It's not because he lacks the ability; but the loss to Nakamura means "The Greatest Man That Ever Lived" ends up looking less than great.  A victory over Aries at this point would be the equivalent of kicking a man when he's down.

Instead, Aries needs to be the one to ensure Nakamura never attains that NXT Championship.  Despite not qualifying for a title match himself, he can be the thorn in Shinsuke's side.  Every time "The King of Strong Style" seems to have a title victory in his grasp, Aries is there to spoil it.  Eventually, Samoa Joe gets fed up with Aries and decides to put his title on the line against A-Double in an effort to shut him up for good.  And that's when Aries wins.  Suddenly Aries sits atop the mountain, triumphantly clad in the Championship that was always meant to be his: everything he's ever said is true.  All the doubters see their folly.  All the naysayers are forced to acknowledge him as truly "The Greatest Man That Ever Lived."

Now enter an enraged Nakamura who's tired of being screwed out of every opportunity and sees the man who has thwarted his every attempt to be Champion holding a title he doesn't deserve.  Nakamura returns and beats Aries for the Championship, cementing himself as the brand's biggest star.  Samoa Joe can then return to insist on a rematch for the title that was stolen from him, and that's when we get the inevitable Joe vs. Nakamura match.

The most important thing here is that everybody wins, everybody looks good.  Aries doesn't look like a loser.  Nakamura still looks like a hero.  Joe still looks like a badass.  Nobody has to "job out" or fade away.  With a thin top-card, NXT needs all three of these men to carry their brand forward until the next crop of superstars is ready to take the mantle.

Finally, there's Samoa Joe.  Similar to Aries, the biggest issue for Joe is that there are few stars on his level that qualify as legitimate threats to his title.  For this reason, it's probably obvious to stick he and Nakamura in a feud immediately.  But since we have a couple of months til NXT Takeover: Brooklyn 2016 at Summerslam, I'd suggest that Joe spend at least a few weeks just running through the lower card enhancement talent and asserting that there's nobody left on the roster to threaten him.  That's when the above scenario kicks in and a Joe/Nakamura feud can ensue, eventually bringing Austin Aries to the fore as your NXT Champion.

WWE is famous for their short-term memory, but even more infamous for their short-term booking.  In a time where the NXT brand is jeopardized by the expansions of Raw and Smackdown, a slow build of the next big star is what's needed while the new blood gets their sea legs under them so they can one day carry their fellow stars to the next generation.  Last night may have been The End, but it's really just the beginning.

Everybody's Got a Price...

If there's one thing wrestling fans love to do, it's argue.  But it gets even better when wrestling fans start arguing about a wrestling argument (see "Montreal Screwjob", "Flair vs. Hogan," and "Roman Reigns' entire career").

You can add CM Punk to that list of guys who love to argue against WWE.  Along with Bret Hart, he may be the most vocal man to ever leave the WWE with nothing but disdain on his lips.

And now it seems we can add Ryback to that list, thanks to his fire-starting tumblr essay.  Much like Punk, Ryback has taken to the internet to rip WWE's corporate practices.  And--also like Punk--the pay structure seems to be his biggest gripe, even when he claims the "contrary to reports it isn't over money".

You can read the blog for yourself (I've included the link above for exactly that reason), but I want to touch on a few key points, and why I believe that not only is Ryback talking out of both sides of his mouth, but he's also committing career suicide.  He may believe that this "last stand" against the evil corporate structure is a noble endeavor, but in the end it serves no one: not the WWE, their talent, ex-talent, or pro wrestling in general.

It's All About the Money

In the openings of his "essay" (if you can call six paragraphs of profanity and poor punctuation an "essay"), Ryback says that his beef with WWE has nothing to do with money.  He then goes on to complain about the pay structure in WWE: specifically the fact that losers are paid less than winners.

On the one hand, we can say that Ryback has a point: whether winning or losing a match, you're putting your body on the line and taking on the responsibility of protecting someone else's body.  Why is the guy getting the win in a predetermined performance getting paid more than the guy who is predetermined and contractually obligated to "job out" to the winner?

That's a fair point.  Honestly.

Unfortunately, when you say things like, "it's not about the money" and then proceed to criticize the pay structure, you hurt the credibility of your entire argument.

Another thing to consider here is that--unless I'm very misinformed--winners make more than losers in every promotion, not just WWE.  So you're not just criticizing WWE (your current employer), you're actually criticizing the entire industry your livelihood depends on, which may not be the smartest move if you're looking to elsewhere.

To his credit, Ryback acknowledges that this issue is prevalent with the entire pro wrestling community, not just WWE:

 It comes down to a major problem I have with not only WWE but wrestling in general.

But again, saying that you have an issue with all of pro wrestling and then complaining specifically about WWE sounds hypocritical.  And again, it's probably not the best career move as he will most likely be released from WWE and have nowhere else to work if promoters know money is going to be an issue for him.  It's not like the independent scene or even TNA has boat loads of cash to dole out to WWE refugees.

Losers and Winners

The battle of good vs. evil is one that has been waged in pro wrestling from its infancy.  It's what keeps us invested.  There are good guys and bad guys.  And bad guys will, eventually, all lose to the good guys.  Even top heels have to drop the title to the conquering hero.  When done correctly (i.e. Dusty Rhodes vs. Ric Flair), it can give fans an exhilarating moment that they'll remember forever.  When done incorrectly (i.e. "Roman Reigns winning the 2014 Royal Rumble"), it can ruin what might have been a great story.

But the bad guys lose.  They always lose.  Watch a Disney movie.  Read Treasure Island.  Unless this is Game of Thrones, the bad guys always lose.

And here's the thing: the bad guy is called the bad guy because the character is designed for people to dislike.  And if people dislike you, they're probably not going to cheer for you, or buy your merchandise.  They're probably not paying to see you so much as see the guy that's beating you.

So let's compare someone like Ryback to someone like Daniel Bryan.  Is that really fair?

Nope.

Remember when Daniel Bryan was a heel?  Probably not, but he was.  And people still cheered for him because we all knew what a great wrestler he was and wanted to see him succeed.  Fast forward three years, and Daniel Bryan is the biggest face in pro wrestling.  His merchandise is flying off the shelves.  People are making signs, and stadiums full of fans are chanting "YES!  YES!  YES!"

Do you know how many Batista t-shirts were sold the day of Wrestlemania XXX?  Neither do I.  Nobody does.  Because nobody's buying the bad guy's t-shirt.

When Chris Jericho embarked on a heel run in WWE, Vince McMahon immediately planned to design another t-shirt to sell.  Jericho, knowing he was going to turn heel, put the kibosh on that with the logic that nobody's going to wear Hitler's t-shirt; he's a bad guy.

Jericho is an exception to the rule simply because of his level of brand recognition, but there's a simple, albeit harsh truth to all of this: the good guys make more money.

They make more money because they're the ones fans are paying to see.  They're selling merchandise because people want to represent their hero, not the villain.  So when the good guy loses, he gets paid less because it's the good guy who's going to make more money from the t-shirts after his victory.  Nobody's buying the loser's t-shirt.

Now, you could argue that WWE should compensate their talent equally and let merchandise sales fall outside of base pay, and I'd probably agree with you.  But if we put Daniel Bryan, or Steve Austin, or The Rock in the ring with Ryback, are we really expecting that Ryback is going to be paid the same as the others?

No, I don't think so.

This was the same argument made by CM Punk upon his exit from WWE.  But even Punk, at the height of his popularity in the midst of his 434-day reign as WWE Champion, was never as popular as mainstream icons like Rock, Austin, Hogan, or Flair.

And that brings me to my next point...

The CM Punk Initiative

Anyone who was watching WWE Payback saw the blatant homage to CM Punk by Ryback during his entrance.  As Ryback the day after that display and he'll probably tell you it wasn't his greatest decision he's ever made.

Maybe Ryback was just trying to paint himself as another "voice of the voiceless."  Maybe he considers himself a hero for the overworked and underpaid.  Or maybe he really does believe in what CM Punk stood (or wants us to believe he stood) for.

Whatever the case, it was the equivalent of pulling out a Joker in Wayne Manor.  It just looks bad.

And again, there's something to be said for having the courage to stand up for something you believe in, especially in an environment that can be as politically hostile as WWE.  But it all goes back to what you're standing up for.

For comparison's sake, let's look at Hulk Hogan and the steroid scandal of the 80's.  Hulk basically let the cat out of the bag by telling everyone that the WWF locker room was rampant with steroid and drug abuse.  Now, that's probably a good thing to come out and say, because it has (generally) made wrestling a much safer working environment from a backstage perspective.  But are we to believe that Hogan himself wasn't  one of the many guilty of steroid use?

Fast forward and we have CM Punk.  Maybe Ryback wasn't looking to follow in Punk's exact footsteps, but let's assume he takes some inspiration from the former "Best in the World."

They both come out against the pay structure.  Punk wasn't happy that he wasn't getting paid the same as The Rock and The Undertaker.  Ryback's upset he's not getting paid the same as the guys he's jobbing to.  We can see the similarities.

But who are they helping by making such a public show of dissatisfaction?  The talent in the WWE locker room?  Probably not.  They have a job and they don't want to lose it.  Cameron came out in obvious support of Ryback's testimony, and was released from WWE days later.  The rest of the existing WWE locker room--even if they're not employed--probably don't want to risk their careers after that flexing of power by the front office.  Is it right that WWE uses Cameron as an example to intimidate the rest of its talent pool?  Probably not, but we'll get to that.

Is this argument helping the guys on the indy scene?  Probably not.  The indy market (which, for this example excludes Ring of Honor, TNA, and Lucha Underground) is full of local promoters are barely scraping enough cash together to lure in one or two "big names" per show, while the rest of their talent makes $50 a match if they're lucky.  Unless you're lucky enough to land in one of the smaller, national promotions listed above (or New Japan overseas), you're not making more money jobbing there than you are in WWE.

The only people affected by CM Punk and Ryback's arguments are themselves.  They want better money.  They want equal pay for winners and losers, regardless of tenure or brand recognition.  They may think this is a noble endeavor.  They may think they're standing up for the "little guy", but they're actually  making things much worse than if they'd simply expressed their discontent and asked for their release.

This all goes back to the argument for unions in wrestling, and as many in the industry have said before, that's an unlikely scenario.  Wrestlers are in a tough spot: they're independent contractors under contract to a corporation.  They have very little protection against the dark sides of the business.  But unless everyone could somehow band together to form a single body to challenge the powers that be, it's not going to change.  That kind of thing is very difficult to do, particularly when you have men like John Cena at the top who I'm convinced would work for peanuts and still go out every night and try to kill himself.

As John Dickinson once said in the film 1776, "Most men would rather protect the possibility of becoming rich than face the reality of being poor."

The Commitment and the Compromise

There's a final element to this that should be self-evident to anyone in the wrestling business, and I'm shocked at how many people are "appalled" by it.

That is the very idea that the company you wrestle for gives up on you.

I don't have to document this philosophy too deeply.  Guys like Damien Sandow, Dolph Ziggler, and Jack Swagger are infamous for being one of the fastest-rising stars on TV one week, and disappearing the next.  We assume this happens because WWE no longer wants them on TV.  Hell, go back to Stone Cold's podcast in which Vince McMahon said that the mega-popular Cesaro "wasn't connecting with the audience."  I'm not going to say that there isn't a clear bias when it comes to booking.

But I will say that as a performer, it's your job to overcome that adversity.  Need examples?  Steve Austin, The Rock, The Undertaker, and even Triple H were all saddled with ridiculous gimmicks upon arriving in WWE, and all rose to become top stars of their generation.  They evolved.  They went to Vince and said, "no more."

There's a reason some talent make more money than others.  They get over.  Daniel Bryan wasn't meant to get over, but he did in a huge way.  And he is just one of a handful of stars that were given small opportunities to succeed and made the absolute most of them.

The irony is that a man like CM Punk was able to overcome all of that adversity, and still wound up discontented with his status in the company.

Ryback had his moments.  He fought John Cena for the WWE Championship.  He is a former Intercontinental Champion.  And when he came back from a career-threatening injury, he cut heartfelt promos that made the crowd want to see him succeed at the highest level.

You have to help yourself.  Imagine what would happen if top stars made excuses for why they're not succeeding.  You can't blame the company, as much as we all want to.  It's your job to connect with the audience.  Do that, and you're a made superstar.  If you fail, you will fade away into oblivion.

And if there's one thing Ryback and Punk's departures will bear out, it's that the WWE "machine" keeps going long after the fires of your noble crusade have died out.

Raw is Great - Here's How to Make it Better

Fans may be split on whether or not Wrestlemania 32 was truly one of the greatest Wrestlemanias of all time, but most of them seem to agree that the episodes of Monday Night Raw following the big event have been consistently solid.

It may not make a whole lot of sense to have Shane McMahon at the helm of Raw, considering his death-defying loss to The Undertaker at the Showcase of the Immortals, but seeing someone new in charge of Monday nights has been refreshing.  Additionally, seeing faces like Apollo Crews, Baron Corbin, Enzo and Cass, and the Vaudevillains come up from NXT has injected some fresh blood into a tired roster.

No longer are we looking at the clock and struggling to stay awake during the weekly three-hour marathon.  Instead, we find ourselves doing something we haven't done in over a decade: wanting more.

The ratings may tell another story, but for hardcore wrestling fans, this is the most exciting time to be a fan since the Attitude Era.  Wanna keep those fans?  Here's a few things WWE can do to make sure fans continue to tune in every week, bring old fans back, and--most importantly--get a whole new generation of fans interested.


I DON'T NEED YOUR AUTHORITY

This one should be fairly obvious, considering the insane reaction Shane McMahon received upon his return, but there are several layers to this I want to explore.

First and foremost is the fact that Triple H has gone from being "The Cerebral Assassin" to the "Father of NXT".  This has made him popular with even the most jaded wresting fan: Triple H is saving professional wrestling from the swamp that has been Vince McMahon's era of PG-rated sports-entertainment.  And yet, every Monday night, fans are expected to boo Triple H because he's "The Authority."

With few exceptions, fans have been able to predict every episode of Raw helmed by The Authority.  Traditionally, we start with a 15-20 minute promo by Triple H or Stephanie talking about how Roman Reigns is somehow good but not good enough, or how Seth Rollins is the greatest WWE World Heavyweight Champion of all time.  Unfortunately, starting the show with these two characters makes them the focal point of the show: even more important than the WWE Champion himself, and that should never be the case.

Second is the very idea of a heel authority figure.  WWE has been playing this card for the better part of the last 20 years or so, and it's simply played out.  From Vince McMahon, to Eric Bischoff, to Vicki Guerrero, to John Laurintaitis, to Triple H and Stephanie, this angle has been beaten to death more times than Mick Foley.  It's time to put this to rest.  It doesn't draw money, it's not intriguing, it does nothing but annoy the fans.

Another problem with the traditional "authority" figure (specifically a heel), is that it tends to devalue what happens in the ring.  Rather than have wrestlers go out and succeed or fail on their own, we've entered into an era of a mutually understood code that if a wrestler isn't getting over, it's because whoever's in power doesn't want him to get over, and any wrestler that succeeds is succeeding because he's "overcome" the adversity of "the powers that be".  This is completely backwards: the focus should be on the talent themselves, not the backstage politicking.  WWE may like to use that as a scapegoat, but it's a little less funny when you realize that the only reason they make fun of it so much is because they know it's always happening.

If WWE insists on having an "authority" figure (i.e., Commissioner, General Manager, etc.), they should do exactly what Shane McMahon has done these past few weeks: appear in quick segments backstage to make matches.  In-ring promos should be few and far between, and only in dire circumstances where resolution is needed immediately.  Overexposure is a dire problem for WWE right now, and they can keep their talent feeling "special" by limiting how much time they spend in front of the camera.  No more Triple H opening and closing the show.  Give us a General Manager that is rarely seen, but flexes enough power to remind everyone who's in charge.

Ring of Honor is one organization doing a great job with Nigel McGuinness as their "authority" figure.  The man is always present, but rarely has cause to step out and demonstrate his power, so when it happens, it's a big deal.  Do the same with the McMahons, but do it sparingly so we can get back to what we're all tuning in to see: the wrestling.


TAKE A LITTLE OFF THE TOP

I remember being about 14 years old and watching Raw go off the air, only to turn to my brothers and say, "God, I wish this show was longer!"  Those two magical hours between 9:00 and 11:15 are some of the most exciting memories I have.  At some point, every fan has dreamed of a Raw that was three hours long.  WWE even teased this with their ever more frequent "three hours special editions" of Raw.

I'm sure it was the dollar signs that finally convinced Vince McMahon to take the inevitable plunge and tac on another hour to his flagship broadcast, but sometimes wishing for something is a lot better than actually getting it, and that is certainly the case with Raw.

There are some tremendous upsides to a three-hour Raw, and not all of it has to do with the increased cash flow.  Does anybody really think we'd be getting 20 minute matches between the likes of Sami Zayn, Kevin Owens, and AJ Styles if Raw were only two hours long?  Does anybody really think The New Day would have gotten themselves over if their segments were cut short because they only have so much TV time?

Hardcore wrestling fans may not having a problem staying tuned for three hours, but casual fans will find one episode of Raw is enough to satiate their wrestling appetite for a week or more.  Why tune in to another two hours of Smackdown, an hour of NXT, or a pay-per-view, not to mention anything on the WWE Network?

WWE prides itself on being at the forefront when it comes to social media and original content.  I'm not going to say they don't do an amazing job, but they seem to forget that fans have options.  This is not 1995.  The TV is no longer the go-to "idiot box" of choice.  When I'm watching Raw, I usually have my iPhone and iPad close by so I can follow shows like Busted Open and talk with other fans about what's happening.

But that's me, and we're talking about three hours in a generation with the shortest attention span in history.  If you don't give fans a reason to stay glued to your product, there are hundreds, if not thousands of alternatives at their fingertips.  Not enjoying Raw?  How about queueing up The Walking Dead on Netflix, or do a little shopping on Amazon?  Whip out your phone and play a quick game of your choice.

Or worse: change the channel.

NXT is consistently my favorite weekly wrestling program.  It's short, easy to digest, and features different superstars every week.  Fans are flocking to NXT for their wrestling fix, and some will end up forsaking Raw and Smackdown altogether if what they're getting every Monday and Thursday doesn't satisfy.

Despite the quality of Raw increasing, ratings have continued to slip.  As they do, it will most likely force advertisers to stop investing in the show, which will, in turn, force Raw back to two hours.  The next time Vince McMahon renews his contract with USA Network, he'll have to try and convince them that ratings don't matter if he wants to keep raking the same cash for his cow.  He could always threaten to move Raw to make it a WWE Network exclusive, but he'd essentially be cutting 2/3 of his audience, since WWE has been struggling to break even the 2 million mark for their over-the-top streaming service.


NXT!  NXT!  NXT!

This is a no-brainer, and I'm surprised WWE hasn't done it yet.

Every Thursday on Smackdown, WWE recaps Raw, proving once again that Smackdown is the #2 show in WWE (when was the last time you saw a "Smackdown Rebound" on Raw?)

They should be doing the same thing every week with NXT.

WWE knows they have a hit in NXT, but the only glimpse we get of NXT is when someone from their roster moves up to Raw or Smackdown, and while that may spark a temporary interest in NXT, it does little to sustain it, since feuds superstars have had in NXT rarely carry over to the main roster (with the exception of the current Owens/Zayn angle).

Raw should feature a weekly 3-5 minute video package recapping that week's episode of NXT.  This gets new faces on the roster, increases brand awareness, and--most importantly--drives people to the WWE Network.

WWE already does this to some extent: they have a good 2-minute or so commercial for the WWE Network that's basically a montage of various original programming there.  That's great, but fans want action.  Don't know who Asuka is?  Show fans how she destroyed Cameron on NXT.  Never heard of The Revival?  Show them crushing their opponents for the NXT Tag Team Championship.

To say the Vaudevillains received a lukewarm welcome on the main roster is an understatement, and a disappointment.  These two men continue to be one of the most over acts in NXT.  Fans can recite their introduction from memory, much like Enzo and Cass.  But the lack of awareness on the part of Raw and Smackdown's fanbases not only hurts the credibility of Aiden English and Simon Gotch, but speaks volumes as to how much of WWE's weekly fanbase has managed to elude subscribing to the WWE Network.

If anyone knows how to cross-promote, it's Vince McMahon.  We could get in to all the reasons he's buried the NXT talent on his main roster, or why he seems to refuse to acknowledge that brand in general, but the bottom line is that Vince McMahon needs the WWE Network to succeed if Raw and Smackdown and his company in general are to survive.  It's not enough to promise us the opportunity to relive our favorite memories (I think I've watched one old-school Raw on the Network in its entirety), you have to promise us something new.  NXT is the fulfillment of that promise and is the perfect catalyst for new subscribers.


DIVERSITY = LONGEVITY

Perhaps the biggest issue with WWE right now is overexposure, and it's finally starting to show in a huge way.

The injury bug that has plagued WWE for much of the last year has been well documented, and while we could obviously look at these on a case-by-case basis, it would be naive to think there isn't an underlying theme to all of them.

Could we really doubt the idea that Seth Rollins would still have been your WWE Champion going in to Wrestlemania 32 had he not blown out his knee in Ireland?  Could we really doubt that John Cena would've been somewhere near the top of the card that night had he not needed emergency surgery just two weeks after his return from hiatus?  Might it have been Neville or Cesaro holding the Intercontinental Championship that night instead of Zack Ryder?

We'll never really know the answers to these questions, but it's probably safe to say "yes" to most of them.

And all these people have one thing in common: in the weeks and months leading up to their injuries, they were featured on WWE programming at least once in a wrestling capacity every single week.

Use whatever reasoning you want, be it the five hours of weekly original programming to fill, or the ridiculously thin roster.  In either case, these wrestlers were worked every single week, often times performing in similar or identical matches on both Raw and Smackdown.  That's twice the toll taken on the human body, and eventually it failed them.

Overexposure is a problem in WWE.  Seeing the same faces on every show leaves them feeling tired and washed out.  Hearing the same promos on each show gets annoying and monotonous.  It's hard to keep your WWE Champion feeling special when he's getting on TV six times a week.  Why even bother with the WWE Network?  I've seen enough already.

It also creates the problem of running out the tread on the tires before they even get going, and that can make a thin talent roster even thinner.

WWE has started to rectify this problem with the influx of NXT talent to the main roster, and if they're smart, they'll keep changing things up week by week so the talent isn't worn out before the next pay-per-view.


GOOD GUY GOODBYE

Okay, this is the big one.

We've heard it every week since Wrestlemania.

"I'm not a good guy.  I'm not a bad guy.  I'm just the guy."

This is a step in the right direction for Roman Reigns, but it comes too little too late and WWE does too much to contradict it for it to be true.  Also, the fact that it seems to be the only thing he's capable of saying doesn't help, either.

There's something to be said for those who believe the days of the true babyface and heel are dead.  That's a product of the age we live in, and while it may be difficult to translate that into the world of wrestling, it's not impossible.  Brock Lesnar versus The Undertaker was a fantastic feud that had fans questioning if a beast was worth cheering for or if they should boo a Deadman who resorted to dirty tactics.  Characters like CM Punk and AJ Styles continue to succeed in the "grey area" between good and evil.

Each generation has had their heroes.  In the 80's the hero was a virtuous powerhouse that used his ungodly strength to uphold truth and justice.  In the 90's the hero was the everyman who went against the established order.

Who is the hero now, and how should WWE be establishing their heroes of this generation?

To this question, I ask another question: what are the most popular franchises in the world, right now?

Rather than do some research, I'm gonna throw out some names off the top of my head.

Marvel.  The Walking Dead.  Game of Thrones.  Breaking Bad.

Okay.  That's enough for now.  I'm sure I've missed some, and keep in mind this is colored by my own choices for entertainment.  Yours may vary.  But let's examine these, shall we?  We'll start by taking some of the most popular characters from each franchise.

Tony Stark - A billionaire playboy whose company once dealt in weapons.  After being kidnapped and forced to build a missile, he returns to America to become the world-saving Iron Man.

Rick Grimes - A former police officer who awakes from a coma in post-apocalyptic America to find it overrun by living corpses.  Trying to keep those close to him alive, he continues to sacrifice his own morals and humanity in the name of survival.

Tyrion Lannister - The silver-tongued dwarf son of the wealthiest man in the realm, he murders, lies, and steals his way through the twisted politics of his world.  Along the way he also displays a surprising affection for his family and eventually pledges allegiance to a fledgling queen in hopes she will overthrow his tyrannical sister.

Walter White - Stricken with a fatal cancer, he quits his job as a mild-mannered school teacher and enlists the help of a former student to begin brewing crystal meth as a means to provide for his family after his death, eventually becoming the most feared and revered manufacturer in the world.

See the theme, here?  It would be very easy to hate any of these characters at some point or other, but we cheer for them because they are not simply two-dimensional.

What WWE characters stand out in your mind?

"Stone Cold" Steve Austin - A guy who didn't fit in to the corporate structure, so he spent years beating up his boss.  But does anybody remember when he saved the boss' daughter from The Undertaker?

Triple H - A guy who came into his own by snubbing authority.  Now he is the authority.

CM Punk - An underdog who had to be a jerk to prove he was the best.

Daniel Bryan - The most likable guy in the last 10 years, but does anyone remember when he was parading around being a jerk to AJ Lee?

I realize that you don't have the same time on Monday nights that you do in a dedicated hour of television to develop a character, but it's not enough for those characters to be black and white, anymore.

Roman Reigns can come out and tell people he's not a good guy, but when I see him crying over the WWE Championship or granting a Make-A-Wish, I have to assume I'm meant to sympathize, and I can't.

That's because each of these characters mentioned above has struggled: Tony Stark's imprisonment, the deaths of Rick's friends and family, Tyrion's deformity, Walter White's cancer.

Each of these struggles transformed the character into something new, but Reigns' struggle came late in the game when he had already been touted as someone important.  It's a very backwards way of doing things, and WWE needs to fix that with the rest of their roster before moving forward.

This is again where NXT shines through: it provides the proving ground for our wrestlers to be come heroes and villains before they get to Raw or Smackdown.

The irony is that Vince McMahon claims WWE is competing with all forms of entertainment, but is it beating any of it?  Is Vince even aware of the trend in entertainment right now?  WWE has all the tools to compete, but it needs to tap in to its fanbase and the fanbases of other popular mediums before it can start to change in a way that will push the company forward instead of holding it back.