2006, the worst year ever...?
As a fan of wrestling for over 17 years now, this is the first time I have ever found myself depressed about the state of wrestling. Although there were great strides made in some respects, such as the brief glorious rebirth of ECW and the growth of TNA, most of the year was mired in pathetic storylines and even more pathetic champions. Even in the early nineties with a plethora of wince inducing gimmicks, there were plenty bright spots (Bret Hart, HBK, and the Undertaker) and signs of great things to come. But now there is little to be happy about in wrestling.
First things first, the farce that has become the WWE. Ever since JBL and HHH dropped the titles two years ago at Wrestlemania 21, both SD and RAW have struggled to produce any strong feuds or raise any new talent. But it was not until this year that it became apparent how far the WWE had fallen. Young and talented superstars such as Shelton Benjamin, Johnny Nitro, Carlito, and now CM Punk have either been misused, overused (as good as they are, Nitro v Hardy 92 would put me in a rubber room), or have been utterly ignored. Just two years ago Benjamin was on the verge of an HBK rise into main even glory, now he is even lucky to be a curtain jerker on RAW. Nitro needs some new blood to wrestle. Carlito is thrust into main event feuds and dragged into low card mires that he may not have a clue what the hell he is supposed to do anymore. And CM Punk is blatantly ignored in favour of yet another big man champion in Lashley. All of this reminds me of the final days of WCW.
And one more "Kiss my ass club" skit on RAW and I will gouge my eyes out. Whatever happened to entertaining and intense segments such as the old Austin/McMahon feud?
ECW... for one month there was some hope, then McMahon decided to make ECW the home for either SD/RAW rejects or a training ground for new talent which he then routinely ignores. ECW is indeed dead.
SD - they have great wrestling on Smackdown!, but it is often drowned out by silly gimmicks (Boogeyman or King Booker) or constant recycling of matches. Booker T v Batista and Booker T/Finlay v Lashley. There is some hope, but they have got to get away from the B show feel that pervades SD.
Champions - The issue that has not only fueled debates, but as utterly destroyed the prestige of the belts. I love Booker T, but as King Booker the title was nothing more than a joke and with Mysterio it seemed more a consalation not only for a long career but as seemingly cheap ploy pulling from Eddie's death. Batista is not a bad champion, but he is no great one either. JBL was the last great champion on SD and that was two, almost three, years ago. Now to the WWE championship... HHH may have been over used as a champion, but at least his runs were legitemate. Cena's long and frequent runs as champion are jokes and has made the belt utterly meaningless. With his talent he CANNOT beat HHH, Angle, HBK, Edge, and even Umaga as much as he has done. What is worse though, is that every time he lost it, both times to Edge, he regained quickly. The only champion worse than this man is Arquette (former WCW champion, yes he actually won the belt),
The only bright spot at all last year was TNA's move to primetime, Christian's leap to TNA, and the consistent quality of talent present on that roster.
It seems that the only sure thing for wrestling in the near future is more of the pathetic paper champ that is Cena, the death of the dead ECW, and the continued juvenile presentation of Smackdown!...
That is why 2006 was the worst year ever.
What do the rest of you think?
