How many rocket scientists on the creative writing team does it take for them to realize there is only one man with the mastermind to raise Smackdown to the heights it once was? Have you all forgotten what this man did for the wrestling industry in general? He reinvented wrestling with his very own promotion, ECW! He put new standards and raised the bar on professional wrestling as we know it. Before ECW, there was no such thing as hardcore, and if there was, it certainly wasn't the same sort of chaos and violence that made ECW so famous. This man took advantage of what he had in his company. Yes, ECW was not the most profitable promotion in the world, but looking back on the coverage and huge following it got; IÂ’d say it was certainly one of the most successful. This man introduced us to some of the greats of our time, the Homicidal and Genocidal Sabu, The Franchise Shane Douglas, and even Mr. Pay Per View and the Whole F'n Show Rob Van Dam. This was the training ground to see if you would ever make it in the business, let alone, handle the punishment that you would receive in the middle of the ring. ECW was home to the toughest crowd to please. They would chew you up, rape you, and then throw you to the curb if you didn't bust your ass in that ring. They either made you into a star, or a failure. With the creative mind that he possessed, he made nobodies into superstars. He gave wrestlers chances of a lifetime that would make them live in history forever in the wrestling world. Also, most importantly, he gave the fans what they wanted to see. Paul Heyman my friends, is the key to ALL the success that the WWE could ever hope for in Smackdown.
September 26th, 2002 was a day that has forever lived in my mind as one of the best Smackdowns to ever air since it was first broadcasted. Let me run down the two most important matches that night for you to help jog your memory a little bit. Edge versus Eddie Guerrero in a no DQ match, and not only that, but we also saw, that same night, Kurt Angle take on Christ Benoit AND Rey Mysterio in a triple threat match. The mention of those names together should ring a bell, but if not, let me just say it was a spectacular night of action like WWE has never seen before. Edge and Guerrero stepped up and put on a match of the year candidate, using not only one, but two ladders during their match. When it was all said in done, Eddie Guerrero (a heel at the time) got a standing ovation from the crowd. If that didn't give you goose bumps when watching, I don't know what did. That moment in Eddie Guerrero's career put him over with the fans big time and since then, his stock has only rose as he is now the WWE champion. Do you know why the card for that show was booked so incredibly? Because the person behind it knew that not only did the fans want to see it, but that he was booking two of the finest and brightest stars he had and knew they would perform at their best. Do you know who booked that match? Paul Heyman!
Take the Benoit/Angle/Mysterio match for example. For months, Mysterio and Angle alone were putting on great match after match. Take a look at Summerslam 2002, first match of the night and they blew the roof off the arena that night. Why mess up whatÂ’s already great? Why not add to it? And that is exactly what Heyman did. With the previous knowledge of already knowing that Angle and Benoit one on one was a PPV match in itself, why not ADD Benoit to the already hot feud that Angle had with Mysterio. That is exactly what he did and the entire main event, those in the crowd were on their feet, and the WWE was hand feeding that crowd everything that was going on in the ring. I mean, you talk about having the crowd in the palm of your hand, but this was insane. It was greatness, at its finest. Besides the fact that he booked Benoit against Angle nearly every week, people still tuned in each and every time. Why the heck wouldnÂ’t you unless you have no idea what true wrestling was! It was a product that never got old because Heyman knew what he was doing. People still tuned in each and every week to see what new developments or matches he had in store for us.
Only a genius could produce a five star show like that. Only a genius when it comes to wrestling could take all the elements of what makes wrestling great and put them all together to make an incredible show. Smackdown took over the title as the flagship of the company no matter how much Vince tried to push RAW down our throats. Who got the highest ratings week after week? You guessed it, Smackdown! Heyman took something that wasn't working and made it his own. He had the talent, he had the knowledge, and you see what it produced; one of the best years ever in the wrestling industry. Which brings me to my question again, how many rocket scientists does it take?? I mean come on, do the numbers not add up or something? What is taking the WWE so long to realize that Heyman is the man they need. Is Vince McMahon's ego that large to where he is determined not to take notice? Granted he and Heyman do not have the best relationship, but Vince, put your ego aside!
This is your company we are talking about here, why allow it go down the toilet like that? Apparently whatever direction you are trying to go in with WWE these days, isn't working for Smackdown at all. The talent is there (minus Bradshaw), you just need someone to tap into that talent and use it correctly. Hhhmmmm, who would we suggest? HEYMAN! If Heyman can make a gold mine out of ECW (look what he had to work with) what is there to say that he cannot do a repeat for Smackdown! With NWA currently with a TV Deal starting June 4th, I personally would pull all the stops while I can Vince. You want to keep the majority of the fan base, do something fast before you not only lose the fans, but Smackdown as well. With ratings dropping quickly for the show, I do not know how much longer UPN will stand for it. A stand and a decision needs to be made and quickly. RAW has been doing a kick ass job lately, no need to allow your other show to run itself into the ground. Heyman is the key to the success. Heyman is the key to creating new and impressive talent. Heyman is the key to producing unique and solid storylines. Last but not least, Heyman is the key to the Cruiserweight Division. With NWA's X-Division as popular as it is, you will finally need something to compete with that.
With such a beautiful mind like Paul Heyman at the front of the creative writing pack for Smackdown, there is no doubt in my mind that it will once again reign as the flagship for the WWE. He will help lead the way for wrestling again and introduce a new era to th to the sport. You want to know what will make Smackdown work again? One word...Heyman! Nuff' Said!
~Adam Perez
AIM: Obi HaCoR
Email: ButterPecan16@hotmail.com
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