Asked by @smittygunn: @WhatCultureWWE what goes into making a new talent? And what makes you choose who will get a push? Why not push the loved and established?
A lot has been made about WWE's ability to make new stars in recent times after comments Daniel Bryan made about the company's lack of new big time players since the Attitude era. Making a star is far from an easy process, as you'll probably be able to tell from the lack of bonafide main eventers that have come along over the last 15 years. Once a wrestler has been signed to a developmental deal, countless creative meetings take place where a character is quite literally assigned to them. This character either works or doesn't. That's what NXT is for as it allows WWE to test the waters and gives the powers that be a chance to see if they have something or not on a smaller scale. Ultimately however, it is the likes of Triple H and Vince McMahon who have the final say on a new persona. After a Superstar's main roster debut and the teething process that comes with introducing a new face to the WWE Universe, it all comes down to the culmination of the booking and the leg work that superstar is prepared to put in. Sometimes WWE will have to go back to the drawing board - just look at Husky Harris and Bray Wyatt for a fantastic example of that - and other times a superstar is pushed to the moon and back from the get go. The way a character is received by the WWE plays a heightened role in today's product compared to years gone by but it's ultimately McMahon - and his much heralded brass rings - who makes or breaks a star. The logical step from a fans' perspective would be for the company to push all the popular guys and have all the heels suffer from week-to-week. But creating an underdog - the likes of Rey Mysterio and Daniel Bryan immediately spring to mind - and having the bad guys reign over them for weeks on end is a popular tact used by WWE. Then again, you have the likes of John Cena who are portrayed as Superman and showcased in the brightest of lights. Everyone who deserves their shot at the main events will get there in time, but WWE is a machine that will keep on turning for the rest of time. The necessity to create new stars on a consistent basis is what the success of the company will be judged on. Having a nostalgic run or two once in a while is great for business, just look at how the likes of Sting and the Dudley Boyz are flourishing at the minute. But having those experienced guys at the top of the card permanently is not a sustainable way to run a wrestling company. If that's the tact WWE were to use, there will be a time when the older guys' respective cogs are used up and there will be no one ready to replace them. This means the machine will ground to a halt.
