The Problem With Legends Of The Past

The wrestling business has always had a problem in terms of passing the torch in certain aspects to future generations of the business. WWE in a big example to this, by relaying to much in legends from the past in a way to boost ratings or gain buzz for shows, by doing that WWE it’s hurting its own future.

WWE is making the same mistake WCW did back in the day, relying in older wrestlers can bring money for a time but sooner or later that decision of not giving the ball to younger wrestlers can backfire just like what happened with WCW. The promotion of WCW is infamous for doing this back in the day, WCW had in it’s roster wrestlers like Chris Jericho, Rey Mysterio, Eddie Guerrero and others, but were relegated to a secondary positions because management didn’t think they were as important a Hulk Hogan, Ric Flair, Randy Savage and other legendary wrestlers.

A lot of Monday night RAWs have segments with legends and in a lot of cases this legends get to bury talent, like when The Rock used to come back and bury a popular act with a promo like we saw with the New Day or give a rock bottom to a rising star like Rusev. Recently we saw Foley coming back to become referee in the Reigns Vs Strowman Hell In a Cell Match and looking back his roll was more of a cameo than nothing else and WWE just added him to the match just for the sake of it.

Currently WWE has the best roster it has ever had in terms of in ring work, but WWE doesn’t have faith in them in a lot of aspects. WrestleMania since 2011 has always had a part timer or legend in its main event. WWE relying this much on legends is not healthy for the product. Wrestlers like Kevin Owens, Seth Rollins, Finn Balor and others are not given the opportunity to showcase why they should be given a spotlight.

The current philosophy of WWE would seem to be once you get to your 40s or past your prime then you can main event WrestleMania unless you are Roman Reigns. WWE is not creating new stars and that is one of many reasons people are losing interest in WWE. The only wrestler being pushed to be a star is Roman Reigns and most cases people can argue he has been a failure.

The current rumor for the next main event of WrestleMania is The Rock vs Roman Reigns, which follows the pattern of Roman vs. ‘’Insert legend or part timer here’’ that we have seen in the last 4 years. WWE needs to break this formula otherwise more fans will be tired of WWE but most important wrestlers outside of WWE will have second thoughts of joining their ranks like we are seeing with wrestlers like Kenny Omega, The Young Bucks and Cody, who know they are better appreciated currently with ROH and NJPW.

It’s sad to think wrestlers like Dean Ambrose, Finn Balor and others won’t be able to main event show like WrestleMania now when they are in their prime but only when they are past their time and don’t move as sharp as they once would. WWE is copying the WCW formula that was a big factor on why the promotion died but the most shocking thing is how back in those times WWE in the attitude era didn’t rely at all on previous legends of the past but instead pushed wrestlers like Foley, Rock, HHH and Austin to defeat WCW, so in a way WWE has become the very thing they  hated.