8. Entrance Area
Who remembers the old days when the entrance area was a curtain and a big sign that read RAW? Over the years the WWE machine has added the Titantron, the ramp, legitimate safety barriers etc etc. All of which are great things no doubt, but now I believe theyve gone slightly too far. The Tron is getting bigger, great for the live audience; no problem, but it seems to have acquired some very high tech side burns. Seems the WWE is determined to have these bright, epileptic fit inducing strips all over the arena as theyve managed to make their way to the entranceway guardrails. For me it really makes the whole thing look a lot like a Hi-Def circus and takes a lot away from what we are actually supposed to be watching; the talent themselves. Does all this add anything to the talent on offer? Nope but I do think it blinds us from whats actually going on. I feel the same towards the decision to keep all the arena lights on the entire time the show is live. It used to be amazing to watch your favourite superstar emerge from the curtain with the tron playing a kick ass video and a sole spotlight showing the man in question marching his way towards the ring. Now we get to see all these mad lights, the crowd, the ring, everything! Again this takes away from what the purpose of a great entrance is... a minute long showcase of the talent! Let's not forget also that the lights dont dim over the crowd during the match like they used to. Instead they now get a set of mood lighting. It's all too much like pantomime. On this past RAW, just before the Larry King / Miz / Kofi segment, we saw a darkened arena with lighting only on the ring and some around the stage. And I thought to myself Thats the way it should be, DO THAT. Alas it was only so they could set up the segment but I still thought it was a much nicer look. Im under no illusion that these screens, strips and lights are solely there to make sure that WWE programming looks at its absolute best for people watching on there HD TVs and kudos for that because it does. But please, have a look and take away some of the overindulgent flashiness of it all.