10 Most Disappointing Wrestling Entrance Stages Ever
AKA Shane McMahon's Most Underwhelming Jungle Gyms.
The SmackDown fist, Backlash's swinging blades, and the Royal Rumble taxi cab are all examples of entrance stages that complimented the tone of an entire show and added another layer of intrigue to a night of wrestling.
Sometimes, things don't work out so well. Having an underwhelming stage has little impact on a show's quality from an in-ring stand point, but much like with production design in movies, it can subtly alter your perception of a product.
In recent years, wrestling fans have become accustomed to a lack of specialized stages. WrestleMania is often the only truly unique set that they see all year. Yet older fans will remember the days when every major company tried to outdo one another with more and more lavish sets every month.
The industry's boom in the late '90s increased the demand for new and creative arenas, setting a precedent for years to come. Like the frame around a picture, a show's entrance stage can accentuate the positives and make the whole event take on a life of its own. If you think of WCW's Halloween Havoc for example, it's highly likely that the first image that pops in to your head is the famous giant pumpkin set.
When the show and stage don't match, the results can be glaring. This list features a variety of different sets ranging from the pinnacle of sports entertainment to the often forgotten pieces languishing in the vaults of Titan Towers.
10. SummerSlam 2007
For over a decade, SummerSlam has been marketed as "The Biggest Party of the Summer". As a result, it should come as no surprise that WWE would double down on the aesthetics of the season and add their own unique spin every year.
2008 saw the impressive, theatre marquee stage and even with the inherited limitations of the old Madison Square Garden, 1998 provided a set that was perfect for that show's tone. In recent years, SummerSlam stages have followed the standard PPV template, failing to reflect the implied status as one of the big four.
The last time WWE tried something truly unique for SummerSlam, it backfired. 2007 was a year lacking in creativity due in no small part to the fallout from the horrific events of the Chris Benoit case and numerous, high profile injuries. The whole show seemed cobbled together and that fact was reflected in the stage set up.
Resembling something from the garden section of a hardware store, the SummerSlam stage was littered with rows of over-sized surf boards, a handful of tiki torches, and palm tree's that looked like they were lifted straight out of a Lego video game.
The whole thing came across as sparse and unimaginative. Despite making the show feel unique, the set ultimately took away from the big event feel needed for arguably the second biggest show on WWE's PPV calendar.