Given choice between recycling and something new, WWE will usually recycle.
You can’t complain about the return of The Undertaker, although eventually he’s going to suck. But maybe not. It’s a foolproof gimmick, and ‘Taker has always been careful about being prepared, knowing his limitations and protecting his rep. So ‘Taker will probably be fine. Unless Brock Lesnar kills him.
Did Lesnar sell fear or surprise when ‘Taker returned? Lesnar should never sell fear, especially not to something “supernatural.” That’s too hokey for Brock.
So far, so good with the WWE women’s revolution. Maybe they come for ‘Taker, but stay for the women. If recycling gets more sets of eyes on something new and exciting, it serves a bigger purpose. Money now is important. So is money later.
If Hunter and Steph steer the women in the proper direction, perhaps it will convince Vince McMahon to loosen his death grip creatively on the rest of the product. Vince considers himself wrestling’s greatest mind ever. But when was the last time Mick Jagger wrote a great song? Creativity isn’t dead at 69. But everybody runs out of ideas, especially given WWE’s non-stop assembly line.
Wait a minute: You can win with the figure-four leglock? Ashley, don’t tell your dad. He’ll want to come back, then try to add the bridge.
I was a proponent of the NXT women running off the WWE Divas and totally re-establishing the division. Apparently that was considered. I still question whether the Divas (besides Natalya) can hang with the NXT women. But working house-show matches, establishing repetition and pushing the Divas to do more will help. The Divas can’t settle for just shaking their ass anymore. It’s a mind-set, too.
