WWE Legacy: The Brand – A Proposal

Many WWE fans complain that part-time and “old-time” talent are taking valuable spots away from modern-day talent, and shouldn’t be featured. But what if this talent was embraced in a different way?

So, how about that Crown Jewel, eh?  That thing was a doozy, wasn’t it?

Yeah, no amount of small talk can help me segue from that show, but…hey!  I’m back!

Yes, I’m one of the many (edit: few) who watched WWE Crown Jewel live, and I’ve lived to tell the tale.  There are a TON of issues I could discuss involving that show, but I’m not going to do that.  Instead, I’m going to propose something different because of that show.  One of the biggest complaints I’ve seen in the past few years among wrestling fans, and that directly affected Crown Jewel, was the presence of and reliance upon part-time, older wrestlers.  So, ladies and gentlemen, I’d like to propose to you, the newest WWE brand:

WWE Legacy!!!

Now, very clearly this is just fantasy booking by yours truly.  However, I got together with a good friend of mine (what’s good Rob?) and we thought about how we could genuinely address the criticism.  Now, when doing something like this, you always have to have a goal in mind.  The goal for WWE Legacy is to give older wrestlers a legitimate place to work a few dates and make some money, give an alternative to the current product, and allow the Legends a place to put the exclamation on their careers in their own way.

So first off, we have to talk structure.  So, I propose having an Indy style build: tape one night a month, being broken up into weekly shows.  I would have 2 yearly live shows to start off, both the Friday before WrestleMania and SummerSlam.  I would also sign the talent to contracts where WWE has the first rights to dates, but they are able to wrestle at other non-televised Indy companies.  Once again, the point of this is to give the Legends and older wrestlers a place to work and make money.

Finally, and most importantly, I’d also run classes for the older talent through the Performance Center.  I’d teach them how to be producers, agents, writers, and trainers.  I’d also give them financial literacy classes, and help them prepare for the twilight of their lives.  I’d want to make sure as much as possible that this isn’t simple a cash grab or an exploitation.  The goal, once again, is to genuinely help.

Now, let’s get to the personnel.  Every brand needs a head booker/writer.  Many of you reading this will hate this, but I’d have Jeff Jarrett as my head writer.  Jarrett has shown the ability to create and run successful wrestling companies, and he’d surely be friends with the majority of the talent involved.  To round out his team, I’d add Jeremy Borash and Bruce Pritchard.  If we’re going to go with the Legacy ideology, then those 3 names have the history, gravitas, and track record to head this up successfully.

I think it’d be impossible to have this show without Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler, so I’d make them my commentary team, and through Conrad Thompson as a true play by play guy so JR doesn’t have to carry a broadcast at this time in his life and career.  Let’s also bring back the Fink, Howard Finkel, as the ring announcer, have “Mean” Gene Okerlund as the backstage interviewer, and for your top referees, you could use the current crop like Charles Robinson and Mike Chioda, but I’d bring in Earl Hebner and Rick Knox.  So far, we have a genuine blast from the past, and when you start the show and see these men visually, you’ll definitely feel an air of nostalgia.

Let’s talk about the roster now.  I’d start off with 20 regular roster members – 14 men and 6 women – with other wrestlers coming in and out for various angles and matches.  I’d bring back jobbers and managers for this venture, and I’d even have storylines from time to time where lesser utilized WWE stars like Curt Hawkins and Heath Slater come down and have a match or two.  Most importantly, much like Indy shows, I’d have a “marquee draw” every month who will be advertised for the show and either wrestle a match, build an angle, or play a part in the broadcast.

First, however, I’ll show you my regular roster:

• Bully Ray
• Goldust
• Chavo Guerrero
• Lance Storm
• X Pac
• Billy Gunn
• Gangrel
• The Hurricane
• Marty Jannetty
• Rikishi
• Tatanka
• Scotty 2 Hotty
• The Sandman
• Sabu
• Molly Holly
• Alundra Blayze
• Victoria
• Ivory
• Jacqueline
• Jazz

Bully Ray would be my top heel and preferably my World Champion.  And yes, I’d move Goldust to WWE Legacy and let him build this as his brand.  Those two would anchor the show, if for no other reason than they can still consistently go on a regular basis.

Let me also say here that it’s imperative that this brand be either TV-14 or TV-MA.  This has to be a genuine alternative, and it has to cater to the wrestlers.  Bully Ray, Sandman, Sabu, and various others don’t work in a PG environment.  This is a niche, so I don’t think it’ll be a problem.  Also, chair shots to the head are STILL banned, as is blading, but blood is not frowned upon.

With this being the actual roster, let me name some of the marquee draws that I would bring in for a show or two:

• JBL and Ron Simmons
• Sting
• Kane
• Adam Pearce
• Mark Henry
• D-Von Dudley
• Fit Finlay
• Matt Hardy
• Tommy Dreamer
• DDP
• Booker T
• Rob Van Dam
• The Rock and Roll Express
• Trish Stratus
• Lita
• Beth Phoenix

With this mix of main roster and marquee draws, I think there can be some interesting stories told.  I genuinely think that, while a niche product, this will be a fun blast from the past and a nice alternative for the fans.  WWE can never have enough content, and if the classes and post-career training is possible, this can truly be beneficial for the talent.

I know some of you may be wondering where wrestlers like The Undertaker, Triple H, Shawn Michaels, or even guys like Randy Orton and John Cena are.  Well, I tried to come up with all of this in a realistic world.  Realistically, none of the men I mentioned will either accept or be asked to step down to this level.  I wouldn’t ask them, nor would I want them to.  You can’t fully get rid of all part time or older talent on the main roster.  It’s an inevitability.  And with as much as those 5 men have contributed to the business, they deserve their spots where they are.

So, tell me what you think.  Would you watch?  Do you think this is possible?  Would you even be interested?  I’d be curious to see what you guys think.

FIN

@itsreycash