10 Radical Ideas That Could Save WWE's Tag Division
2. Run Interpromotional Tag Team Matches As Exhibition Bouts
Considering that rumour has it that WWE recently contacted New Japan about adding their video library to the Network (apparently they were turned down), and that Jushin Thunder freakin Liger worked a one-off match on NXT, its apparent that WWE have significantly relaxed their previous position that theyre the only real game in town for pro wrestling. Previously, an indie wrestling sensation will have had their pre-WWE career belittled and sneered at on WWE television, if its mentioned at all. CM Punk and Daniel Bryan both had the internet darling stigma to overcome. Cesaros stellar career under his real name of Claudio Castagnoli might as well never have taken place. Now, Kevin Owens is getting to sneer at John Cena for evincing precisely that condescending attitude towards him, giving a voice to millions of wrestling fans who were quietly outraged that Bryan Danielson (of all people) was called a rookie in his version of NXT. The wrestling backgrounds of many of WWEs up-and-coming stars is a part of what announcers are using to try to get them over. Thats never happened before. Today, WWE is more inclusive and representative of other promotions than it ever has been before, in part because it finally recognises that it has no competition. The company can only benefit from association with lesser promotions with a lower production value: it shores up their credibility as the top name in the world by some comfortable margin, while providing smaller promotions with much needed national and international exposure and ensuring a quality pool of talent exists to draw from. And its simply a fact that visiting tag teams are more exciting than visiting singles stars. A Jushin Liger showing up is a guest star, the match a gentlemanly friendly bout, an exhibition fight. A tag team from outside showing up the American Wolves, or the Young Bucks has the appearance of something else, something illegal. A tag team (even the two-man version) is a gang, their guest appearance more akin to a home invasion. Remember the Outsiders on WCW, how that played out in the early weeks? Hall and Nash, never seriously huge stars in the WWF, were hot in moments, main event talent in a fortnight. Naturally, the WWE talent should go over its their show. But an epic confrontation in the guise of an interpromotional tag team match could go over like gangbusters, giving the WWEs tag champions a rocket, adding credibility where its been sorely lacking.
Professional writer, punk werewolf and nesting place for starfish. Obsessed with squid, spirals and story. I publish short weird fiction online at desincarne.com, and tweet nonsense under the name Jack The Bodiless. You can follow me all you like, just don't touch my stuff.
