This is the big one, the one that might prove the game changer for Smackdown in creating a new, exciting fresh identity for itself completely separate from RAW. Lets see wrestlers from other promotions brought in to guest star in an angle with a WWE superstar or two. With the publicity given to NXT, WWE has finally relaxed its rules about mentioning outside wrestling promotions: Finn Balors past as Prince Devitt is a matter of WWE canon, as is Hideo Itamis past as the incredible KENTA, and Samoa Joe's legacy as the MVP of US indie wrestling and more and more, its becoming acceptable for WWE to namecheck promotions and achievements that performers have accrued prior to signing with WWE. And lets face it none of these organisations are competition for WWE. Not Ring Of Honor, not Chikara: Combat Zone Wrestling, Dragon Gate USA, NJPW, Progress, Shimmer or Inspire, or any of the others. They might all be great in their own individual way, but theyre not taking money out of WWEs pockets by existing, and theyre the pool that WWE developmental draws from. Why not acknowledge them further by having some of their best get the chance on a large stage to impress a national audience and even have the occasional WWE superstar guest on a local card to return the favour? It does WWE no harm, makes the guys behind the biggest promotion in the business out to be inclusive and generous, rather than the sharks theyre notorious for being. The thinking goes that the bigger the local audience for a promotion like Inspire, the bigger the potential national audience for WWE. And if cross-promotional matches become a semi-regular thing, it should be on one show: on Smackdown. Give the most boring, lifeless, irrelevant programming WWE has a whole new outlook, not just a fresh coat of paint. We dont care what colour the ropes are: we want to see radical action taking place between them. Whats your pick for the best way to revitalise Smackdown? Do you have an idea weve not thought of? Spill it in the comments!
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.
