If I Became a Wrestling Booker

As wrestling fans, it is easy to ponder what we would do if given authority as a wrestling booker. Here is a list of issues I would address regardless of which company I was associated with:

Titles: Each company is guilty of televising far too many title matches, turning the titles into props rather than prized possessions as they should be treated. If given control of the books, I would plan more non-title matches on television. Save the title matches for pay-per-views and house shows as an encouragement for fans to purchase the shows.

I would also have titles change hands at non-televised house shows. Fans have been trained to believe that title switches only occur on televised shows and pay-per-views. It is true that occasionally a title change will occur at a house show, but the switches are rarely acknowledged on television. House show title changes must be acknowledged, as an added incentive for fans attending future non-televised cards.

House Shows: I would tend to phase down promoting house shows with the abundance of free wrestling matches on television each and every week. Non-televised wrestling events must reflect current storylines, and consists of wrestlers presently being pushed. House shows should feature promos from the wrestlers.

TV/PPV: Televised wrestling should set up the pay-per-views, not the other way around. WWF and WCW too often run angles on pay-per-views to bait the fans into watching “Raw” or “Nitro” the next day. If the pay-per-view is good, fans will watch the cable shows. I often feel that pay-per-views come off as just another “Raw” or “Nitro,” rather than something worth paying $29.95 to watch.

Cruiserweight Division: When “Nitro” was at its best, the program regularly featured the cruiserweight division. The weight class, called Light Heavyweight in the WWF, consists of wrestlers under 220 pounds. These are the high flyers and risk takers. Cruiserweight matches are fast paced and action packed. Booking more cruiserweight matches would improve the overall-wrestling product, and make televised shows more entertaining. After all, the televised shows are nothing more than infomercials to promote pay-per-views.

Gimmick Matches: As a creative director, I would not book many special gimmick matches for television. Matches such as steel cage, lumberjack, and no disqualification should be saved for pay-per-views. The WWF should never televise or even tease showing Hell In the Cell matches. Keep the gimmick matches strong, as they will be perceived as sacred. I would drop the three way and four way matches altogether.

Hardcore Matches: I don’t have a beef with hardcore matches, but I do have a problem when the action moves backstage, or even out doors. The paying customers in the arenas often are unable to see what is transpiring, as the action is out of their view. When this happens, the fans sit on their hands, killing the effect the crowd has on a televised show.

The Ladies: I have no problem with women serving as valets and managers, but if they are not fully trained, they should not be put in the ring! If a company is serious about featuring women wrestle, create a division for them, and hire trained wrestlers. Perhaps the WWF and WCW could take a lesson from David McLane’s Women of Wrestling promotion.

Tidbits: Former ECW champion Justin Credible signed a three year contract with the WWF last week … Paul Heyman is expected to announce a venue for ECW’s second PPV of the year, “Living Dangerously” this week … Independent superstars Christopher Daniels and Mike Modest have accepted offers to join WCW … The WWF has the MCI Center in Washington, D.C. booked for March 5th and 6th. In successive nights, the company will produce a live “Raw” and tape Smackdown!

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