There was a time in wrestling when Vince McMahon envisioned a world in which hulking giants traveled the country, waging war over the most prestigious championships in the industry. They were all 6'4'', 270-pound "larger than life" Superstars who wowed audiences and sold tons of merchandise. And for that period, it was highly successful. Fans loved the idea of seeing these monstrous competitors with their long hair entertaining fans with hokey gimmicks and stupid storylines. That idea no longer works in today's wrestling landscape. Fans want faster, more exciting and interesting performers than McMahon employed throughout the 1980s. They want realistic characters and thought-provoking storylines. As long as the company delivers those elements, they could care less about what size the workers are. Don't believe me? Take a look at the stars garnering the most buzz in NXT right now. None are super tall or super jacked. Instead, they are great professional wrestlers who can tell stories, develop characters and keep the fans invested. Triple H realizes that wrestling's future lies in those performers who have built credibility with the fan base through years of independent work, not three years spent on a college football field. NXT is fresh, exciting, new and interesting and much of that is a tribute to the vision that Triple H has for the future and the fresh perspective he brings to the industry.
Erik Beaston is a freelance pro wrestling writer who likes long walks in the park, dandelions and has not quite figured out that this introduction is not for Match.com. He resides in Parts Unknown, where he hosts weekly cookouts with Kane, The Ultimate Warrior, Papa Shango and The Boogeyman. Be jealous.
