Stable Soapbox

I want to preface this, and everything I post on here by saying that I know I am just a fan and this is just my opinion.

When I say Evolution, Dx, nation of domination, main event mafia, wolf pack, N.W.O., the four horsemen, the heart foundation, or Legacy, what comes to mind?

They are all stables right? One of the ongoing traditions in pro wrestling is the stable. Usually, not always, but usually a more experienced star in the lead building up and mentoring younger athletes. This has helped advance the careers of many young superstars: triple H, Randy Orton, Batista, X-Pac, Mark Henry, and on and on…

Where have the stables gone in the WWE? There are stables now I suppose in WWE to some extent. Nexus and Corre, but I think that stables comprised of all newer stars are pointless. I would like to say that I respect that CM Punk has been put in the position to head up nexus. I think that is the element that was missing from that group of guys. They needed an elder statesman to give them some guidance. Even if that guidance is how to be a top notch heel.

I think that TNA has it dialed in pretty well with immortal, and fortune. WWE should take note. I feel that in the WWE there is a good base of young talent, but that they are all pushing and floundering trying to make a name for themselves. I don’t know if it is that the established stars don’t want to be bothered to invest the time in their younger counterparts, or if the WWE creative team feels that it is unimportant. I assume the later. (And of all the stars out there I think it is interesting that CM punk, the most unlikely guy personality wise is the one leading a stable at present). I figure that the “elder statesmen” as I termed them before, do in fact help the new guys and take guys under their wings. The problem is that it is not televised! Association with their favorite superstars will put the next generation “over” in the eyes of the fans. It HAS worked multiple times in the past!

In my opinion it is past time to start rising up the next gen of superstars in the WWE, but not too late. When WWE is losing guys like Hunter, Taker, and HBK recently or in the near future to retirement they are losing the opportunity to put over younger guys to take their place. I know for a fact that there is plenty of young talent in the company already. Anyone who is familiar with Indy promotions knows what these guys are capable of, but not all the fans spend the time to seek out Indy shows. All they need is the help of the company and the existing stars to put them over.

I sometimes feel like (from things I have heard, seen, and read) that the WWE has an aversion to putting guys “over”. Like they are scared that if they put a guy over that they will have to shell out more cash to that guy, so they keep them down to some extent. The company needs to realize that soon the older guys will start disappearing and then the bottom will fall out on the fan base of the WWE. We have seen it happen multiple times now, (NXT, ECW, Superstars). When there is no established talent on a show, then the fans get bored and stop tuning in. the WWE was built thus far with one to two weekly shows with all of the talent dispersed between them. They need to stop dumping all the new talent on a show by themselves because the fans eventually tune out.

I was thinking of writing examples here of what possible stables there could be, but I am quickly realizing that the options are literally endless. The times that the business has been the best is during times of competition, and not just company to company competition, but stable to stable also. The creative team seems intent to make the “over” guys (like Cena, Orton, Hunter, etc) out to be super heroes that can take on any stable single handedly. Can you imagine the possibilities of Giving Cena a Stable? A week to week association with that guy would be priceless for the young guys. This would also set up future story lines about teacher verses student etc.

I also want to say here I have no idea what happened to Legacy. After that stable fragmented Ted and Cody should be much bigger names than they are. I feel like the company has messed up what they began there, especially with Ted Jr. I think that a new feud between Ted or Cody and Orton would rekindle those fires in the fans. It also bugs the crap out of me when they give a guy one televised match and if the crowd doesn’t FREAK OUT then they don’t see air time again for weeks or months. The only way a guy will get over is weekly exposure.

If the WWE reinstitutes the concept of Mentoring Stables then I will get REALLY excited about the future as a fan. If not, I am really dreading the awkward transition period that will happen when the guard changes. I know I have been speaking a lot in absolutes, and that there is also a good amount of mid card talent that will step into those rolls if necessity, but why not help them out a little with the stable system also?