TIMES WE GOT WHAT WE WANTED & IT BACKFIRED IN WRESTLING

Just saw a highlight of when John Cena pinned JBL to win the WWE Championship at Wrestlemania 21. I remembered how that was something majority wanted, and how we couldn't wait for Cena to be drafted to RAW. That was truly the start of the John Cena we see today, as the "Thuganomics" gimmick began to be rolled back. It wasn't the first nor the last time things wouldn't turn out how we wanted them, or at least how I felt about them. Examples would be...

Goldberg V Brock Lesner

Two beasts locking horns on the grandest stage of them all. The type of match that could've even been the main event if a different time. Problem was both Goldberg and Lesner were making their last appearances for WWE (Brock of course later returned), and weren't looking to go in in style. What we were left with was a below mediocre match, and the highlight being Stone Cold Steve Austin hitting both with Stone Cold Stunners after the match concluded. That was only cool because it was as close as we'd get to Austin V Goldberg, and Lesner flipping the crowd which now feels like a "Watch what I am going to become, biotches!".

The Invasion

I'll be honest, this is only disappointing in hindsight. During that time, sure it was obvious big WCW names weren't there, but we did get guys like Booker  T and Diamond Dallas Page in a WWE ring. A dream match for me was The Rock V Booker T (sorry, DDP), and w got that. For some of that talent, it was probably best that nWo (Hogan, Hall, Nash) and others came later. Gave them an opportunity to show Vince and WWE Universe what they had.

Ultimate Warrior V Hulk Hogan

The first time, not the second. Nobody asked, nor deserved that. I am not even knocking the quality of match. Warrior didn't last long as champ, when he could have been bigger than Hogan. No offense to the memory of the Warrior, but Hogan is a bigger name. Love or hate him. I can't really remember Warriors run as champ either, his IC run yes, as the main man, no.

Zack Ryder Got A Push

You can replace Zack with a few names really, and it isn't that they got a push, or that said push was a flop and it was their fault. No, sometimes it is a simple case of fans get behind someone, WWE finally notices and orhastrates a push, and then creative expects them to turn sh!t into gold. That can happen, but shouldn't be needed. Ryder's deal with Kane and Brie Bella was a no-win situation. Ironically, if WWE kept ignoring him, he would probably be at least a Intercontinental/United States title contender if not holder.

I know most of the reasons for why these things turned out the way they did, and I understand them. It doesn't take away the disappointment though. WWE did do a pretty good job at "saving" things like The Invasion. That has to be said. For a business that plans and plans, they are pretty good at recovering on the fly.

RUMORED BRAND SPLIT

Apparently there have been some rumors floating around regarding the WWE "splitting the brands" again. With Shane McMahon returning and there being at least a momentary power struggle story line wise, it isn't hard to see why this rumor exists. Personally, I am on the fence in regards to how I feel about splitting Raw and Smackdown!.

I still remember when the first split occurred. I was a young man, new father, and wrestling was still running strong. The initial brand split was needed in a sense. WWE had won the "Monday Night Wars" and there wasn't any competition to fill the voids left by WCW and even ECW. TNA was in it's infant stages, having PPV shows, instead of a television product including a monthly PPV. Different story for a different time. The split was needed to maintain interest as well as fit all the top quality performers into the mix. Sure, WWE hadn't picked up every WCW and ECW star, but there were enough to make the WWE roster crowded. WWE had even done everything the "right way" during the early days of "brand splitting". There was a draft, and the roster was split in two. And it was an even split in regards to star power and quality shows. They were able to create competition within themselves, and some to most fans had a preference as to which show they preferred. And it wasn't always Raw. Smackdown! was a legit competitor to Raw. To keep it "fresh" the WWE would "shake things up" via the draft now being annual. And it worked too, for a time. After a bit, it became quite apparent that Smackdown! was becoming a feeder show to Raw. A talent develops and gets over with the Smackdown! audience? They ended up on Raw. It is what happened with John Cena. What made that situation worse, is that with the show change came the end of Thuganomics, and the beginning of the Cena we see now.
The past is why I am hesitant to fully embrace this, however there are obviously reasons I would love to see this happen. Preferably, the WWE World Heavyweight Championship would be split into two titles, or a new title would be presented for the other brand. One title would almost make for an easy to predict outcome of the title matches and/or repeated matches for the title. Think of guys like Dolph Ziggler, and others who are over with the audiences, but may never be in the top tier with guys like Brock Lesner. Sure, Seth Rollins is a "smaller" guy, but not everyone can play the sneeky heel, or everyone be the triumphant underdog. Gets repetitive and takes away from guys like Brock Lesner. Look at Big Show, he shouldn't have really put anyone over until this phase of his career. He put too many guys over, and not all of them deserved it or made any sense. Rey Mysterio? Yes. One time ever though. Everyone else should've "earned it" like JBL at No Way Out 2005.

Guess I will have to wait and see, much like with everything in life. Can't wait for Wrestlemania 32 though. Card is shaping up pretty good, and with Vince looking to set another attendance record, I can't wait to see what he has up his sleeve for us. He may not be able to wrestle, but Daniel Bryan has to be involved so we can hear and feel the massive crowd chant YES!