Could wrestling be a little less predictable?

[Slim]

And I'm talking about wrestling match wise. More for entertainment purposes. Like I know there are signature spots that the big names hit in every match and blah blah blah... but wouldn't it be good just for at least once or twice for that to be broken up?

Like lets take Cena for instance. Not bashing him, but for years... it's been shoulder block, shoulder block, opponent gets up throws wild punch, misses and gets hit with some weird back slam. And you know how sometimes they would say that "Wrestler A has been studying tapes" and the such... like why couldn't a wrestler after being hit by the two shoulder blocks instead of throwing a punch that everyone before him for the past how many years have tried and failed... how about throwing a kick?

It'd add a little realism as in what is going to happen next cause that sequence doesn't get interrupted ever. It'd make things slightly interesting.

Or like whenever back in the day when Hulk Hogan would start to hulk up... what does everyone do? They throw punches. The punches never phased him, never worked. I think one or two times someone actually threw a kick and it changed things.

I'm just asking... would it make things a little more interesting and a little more fun to watch if the completely predictable was thrown off. Not every match though cause then it'd just get crazy. But once in a while just to see it stopped... would be nice.

 

[Aniking]

I would love to watch Cena attempt a 5 Knuckle Shuffle after the mentioned combo, only for his opponent to roll out of the way or whatever. I'd rather the combo broken before it gets to the shuffle, but as long as it gets broken then I'd be happy. I've also been keen to see somebody roll out of the way of Kofi Kingston attempting that double leg drop he does. I don't know why.

Things do need to become less predictable in the WWE, especially on television. I find myself correctly predicting every match correctly on RAW and Smackdown as well as a certain superstar running out from the back to attack or help somebody. I'd say I get about 90% of it correct every week, and I'm not making that figure up. It's all legit so obvious.

 

[Slim]

Yeah. Its like lets make it more entertaining. Just add an element of surprise here and there. Yeah they are no longer wrestlers but are "entertainers" but can they not entertain by changing things up. By adding reversals, by rolling out of things before they happen?

 

[Dod Draper]

It's up to the wrestlers to change this sort of thing, really. They're the ones who work the matches and go through the match with their opponent and road agent (I think) prior to the match itself.

Really, it's just more of a formula that works. I agree that it could be less predictable, but on the other hand, it's what people pay to see. They pay to see Cena get the shit beat out of him, and then overcome all the odds to come back and win with his signature moves. In a similar vein to the way they would with Hogan.

I guess I'd like to perhaps see more failed attempts at signature moves- but at the end of the day, they've got to hit some time.

 

[Deezy]

Those same moves done day in and day out are what conditions the audience to react during their matches. Also makes matches seem more epic when an opponent actually does kick out of moves or performs a combo breaker. Like when Triple H gave Cena a spinebuster during the 5 knuckle shuffle.

This is the style of pro-wrestling.

 

[John McHenry]

Predictability also makes things safer it's easier for everyone involved to spot when somethings amiss.

 

[Keith]

It's up to the wrestlers to change this sort of thing, really. They're the ones who work the matches and go through the match with their opponent and road agent (I think) prior to the match itself.

Really, it's just more of a formula that works. I agree that it could be less predictable, but on the other hand, it's what people pay to see. They pay to see Cena get the shit beat out of him, and then overcome all the odds to come back and win with his signature moves. In a similar vein to the way they would with Hogan.

I guess I'd like to perhaps see more failed attempts at signature moves- but at the end of the day, they've got to hit some time.

But do they though, WWE Attendance figures and ratings would beg to differ. Sure what Cena does works for a select group, but you could argue that it would work for a much greater number if he mixed it up.

Anyway there is no defintive way to asnwer this, sometimes less is more is the key, and it is about the little details, like human emotion that draw the fans in, but then sometimes you do need to be a little more creative. Wrestling is not always about being unpredictable, but being logical.

 

[Dod Draper]

But do they though, WWE Attendance figures and ratings would beg to differ. Sure what Cena does works for a select group, but you could argue that it would work for a much greater number if he mixed it up.

I'd point to the opinion that WWE as a whole is suffering from a lack of true superstars (read Hogan, Rock, Stone Cold, etc) as a cause for their drop in ratings over the years. I'd also argue that PG is suffocating the product to a certain extent.

Also, whilst WWE claim Male 18-34 is still their key demographic, it could be argued that kids are their main focus point these days and make up a large percentage of their attendances. And the kids are the ones who like to see the SuperCena comebacks.

I do agree, the 5 moves of doom, and other predictable sequences, are boring. But I don't think that's what's to blame for poor ratings.

I don't know about anybody else, but when I was a kid, I loved it when a babyface got beat down, only to make a miraculous (and in hindsight, predictable) comeback.

 

[Keith]

I agree that WWE have many more problems, than just how boring Cena is in the ring, but the fact remains that is still a problem, and if you are cutting off a certain portion of your audience because of it, that has to be addressed. Also you touch on an intertesting point, because if management, didn't place so much focus on Cena, and constantly give him the Hogan/Austin treatment, then I wouldn't have such a problem. My view in short, is that when you have placed so much money and time into one guy, than the ratings should be much better than they are.

 

[Troy]

I think that when each wrestler wrestles something like 150 matches a year and when we see dozens of matches each week on WWE tv that you are bound to see similar matches. On television things are going to be very predictable so that they can save the special moments and reversals for the big matches on PPV.

 

[Deezy]

People would say GSP fights are all the same, or Baseball games are all the same.

Or any other sport for that matter. Just a matter of personal taste I guess. I find Cena matches to be better than watching two acrobats playing wrestler and having their oppponents waiting for a minute so the guy can set up a flip.

 

[Aniking]

I find Cena matches to be better than watching two acrobats playing wrestler and having their oppponents waiting for a minute so the guy can set up a flip.

I actually couldn't agree with this more.

Although I'd love it all to be less predictable, I'd still much rather watch Cena do his thing than have to cringe when watching somebody stand there for an unrealistic amount of time. What comes to mind are Sin Cara matches. His opponents normally stand there for silly amounts of time and watch as the guy jumps around. We all know wrestling's scripted, but it doesn't mean they can make it actually look that way.

 

[Keith]

Depending on who Cena is facing is what I would add to that.

What we are forgetting is that the basics of pro wrestling don't really change, and Cena struggles with the basics of Wrestling and needs to be carried most matches, that is the issue.

 

[Deezy]

Cena is a ring general, he isn't being carried by anybody.

Jericho says he is a great wrestler, HBK says he is a great wrestler. This is all I need to hear. Also, like to point out the fact that it is him barking out the spots during his matches.

If you don't realize that, than there is no point discussing this with you.

 

[Slim]

Depending on who Cena is facing is what I would add to that.

What we are forgetting is that the basics of pro wrestling don't really change, and Cena struggles with the basics of Wrestling and needs to be carried most matches, that is the issue.

I will state... Cena is not a slouch in the ring. He isn't. If he was given the chance to showcase like he could back when he was starting... it would be a completely different Cena. More than 10 moves per match.

But I would like to say my original post was not a shot at Cena... but its the most predictable move sequence in WWE today. It really is. And it hasn't been broken up once.

I mean wouldn't it make it just slightly more interesting if that sequence was broken up here and there? Instead of never? I mean breaking up the 5 knuckle shuffle... okay. But what about that back suplex before that. If that were to be broken up it'd be like WHOA! Then I'd be like what in the world is going on? What is going to happen next? Who will be the next person to do it?

Formulas work well and keep things safe... but sometimes there has to be a sense of creativity thrown in there. Something a little different.

And albeit the acrobatic matches can be flashy and stuff... seeing them stand around awkwardly while the guy gets his footing is rather... irritating ehhh... I would say that I'd prefer an Orton match over those. And over a Cena match. Cause yeah Orton has that backbreaker desperation move. He has the powerslam then he turns himself over and "coils" up for the RKO... but the sequence is so much smaller that it makes it better looking overall.

Like look at Bret/Austin. Their two BIG matches... Survivor Series 96 and Mania 13. It was changed well enough to make them look different. Cena matches are too formulaic.

Change can be good... but it has to be done right. And so far... nothing has been changed and that is where the problem is.