Change is inevitable in all walks of life, none more so than the WWE. In the world of professional wrestling, the more things change, the better things get. This is not an unfounded statement; after all historically, change has always improved and bettered the wrestling business. You only have to revisit the ground-breaking changes pioneered by the WWE during the 1990s to understand just how vital the role of change has played in the WWEs longevity. Though as the WWE embark on the road from WrestleMania 30 many fans suggest that change has been the one thing severely lacking in the current WWE product. They refer to the WWE as 'predictable', 'boring' and 'repetitive', citing WrestleMania 30 as symptomatic of product stagnation. It is perhaps worrying that such a large cross section of the WWE Universe are unhappy with investing their time and money into a company that, in their opinion, seems paralyzed to change. However all is not lost! The WWE has the resources to enact change and strive for product improvement; all that is required is simple will power. From purely a company standpoint, recent audience reactions to live shows and a genuine decline of PPV purchases must scream of a need to review the current WWE product. So, for the benefit of the WWE and many of its disgruntled fans, here are 20 changes that must happen on the road from WrestleMania 30...
20. Bring Back Good Old JR
The WWE commentary team are the storytellers of wrestling, they guide, educate, emphasise and remind WWE fans of the art of professional wrestling. For years the golden commentary of Jerry 'The King' Lawler and Jim Ross captivated the WWE audience as they witnessed some of the most pioneering and historical events in the history of professional wrestling. Who could forget JR shouting, "As God is my witness he is broken in half!" as The Undertaker threw Mankind off the top of Hell in a Cell or screaming, "Stone Cold! Stone Cold! Stone Cold!" when Steve Austin defeated Shawn Michaels for the WWE Championship. Watch any match with JR commentating and it is clear that he adds to the match, heightens suspense and most importantly creates excitement. Yet in 2014 JRs recognisable southern twang no longer reverberates as part of the WWE commentary. Instead WWE fans are left with JBL and, as Paul Heyman recently quoted 'The two other things that call themselves announcers', Michael Cole and Jerry Lawler. Of course this statement is an exaggeration, but Heyman is right in highlighting that apart from JBL who is a solid commentator, Cole has never been a particularly skilled announcer and Jerry Lawler as a colour commentator trumps his recent attempt, and outright failure, to be a serious commentator in the mould of JR. Thus the current commentary team are underwhelming at the best of times, and add very little to the many excellent matches and events of the modern WWE. If the WWE wish to keep the attention of a television audience bombarded by advertisement breaks, it needs to ensure that its commentary team entertain, educate and leave fans wanting to find out what happens next. JR was a master at conveying emotion, suspense and excitement. He built main event matches and added to their intrigue just through his commentary, and that is why if the WWE is serious about improving itself it must change things up and rehire Jim Ross as lead announcer. In doing so the WWE will ensure that its stagnating product will regain much needed 'seasoning' to what is a very bland commentary team.
