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WWE Draft! Where It All Begins… Again!
In 2004, WWE returned to Madison Square Garden for Wrestlemania 20 – the 3rd held at “The World’s Most Famous Arena. “ The show’s marketing campaign was around the slogan, “Where It All Begins… Again.” Wrestlemania is considered the conclusion of the WWE’s season and that year. But the plans for the “new season” were thrown out the window with one meeting weeks before the show.
Our normal weekly meeting started with the news – “Brock Lesnar will be finishing up at Wrestlemania.” At the time, I was entering my second year in charge of Smackdown. While never really “ready” for the job, I felt like we were gaining some good momentum. Eddie Guerrero had really flourished as the “Latino Stone Cold“, John Cena was waiting in the wings as the “second coming”, The Undertaker was set to return to the Deadman persona, Edge was close to returning and the roster was full of guys like Kurt Angle, The Big Show, World’s Greatest Tag Team, and we thought Brock Lesnar.
Wrestlemania 20 was to feature Brock defeating the exiting Goldberg. This was to set Brock up for rematches with The Undertaker from their program earlier in the Fall. The creative wasn’t the reason for Brock Lesnar’s departure; he just had enough of the road. I’m sure this and so much more is covered in his upcoming book (available here) penned by Paul Heyman. The news of Brock’s departure in 2004 lead to the call to “fix the rosters” and a draft was scheduled. It wasn’t planned, it just happened out of the unexpected news.
It seems that based on the news of Edge’s sudden retirement, that slogan from Wrestlemania XX fits here – “Where it all begins…again.” The WWE draft was a big deal back in 2002 when the brands officially split into two – Raw and Smackdown. It felt historic and the original intention was to leave the brands separate and let a rivalry grow; only colliding in the Royal Rumble match and then again in mega matches at Wrestlemania. The reset button was first hit in Atlanta, GA on 6/10/02 when Stone Cold walked out of WWE; again, unexpected news.
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x9b0ca_wwe-confidential-stone-cold-walkout_sport
That day, Vince McMahon and Ric Flair had a match over ownership of the company, which Vince won. Two new general managers (Stephanie and Bischoff) were put in place and the rosters were “opened up” for talent movements including Jericho, Benoit, Guerrero, Lance Storm, Test, Undertaker and more switching sides. The rosters were locked again… until Big Show was moved to Smackdown in October of 2002 to work with Brock Lesnar; due to again, unexpected turn of events. But this news of Lesnar in 2004, really shook the Brand Extension snow globe hard. Why do you think they use that soundbite of Vince saying “It’s time to shake things up again.”
The brand extension just turned nine years old. Over the last few years, the waters of the WWE Brand extension have gotten muddier and muddier. If you’ve watched Raw and Smackdown over the last few months, all talents have been all over both shows. Having been in that position of looking at an ever evolving roster, it’s very difficult to keep it fresh. Injuries happen, unexpected news always happens.
Over the next few days, I’ll be posting different articles covering the different drafts during my time there. Each has their own story and it’s own consequences. The WWE Draft… Where It All Begins Again.
David Lagana (@Lagana)
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Reaction to Edge’s Retirement – VIDEO
Courtesy of WWE.com
The outpouring of support for Edge today is amazing. If you haven’t read the article I wrote, get it here. Wrestlers and fans have shared their thoughts on Edge all over twitter today. Just click here to see the tweets with #ThankYouEdge.
John Cena shared his feelings after RAW.
UPDATED – 4pm Pacific
I was able to speak with ESPN Anchor Robert Flores about his thoughts on Edge. Hear that interview now below. Follow Robert on Twitter and Facebook.
As a supplement to my podcast (which you can subscribe to on ITunes – Click here), here is some instant reaction I got from a handful of fans. Please make sure you follow us on Twitter and Facebook to get involved with these in the future.
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Thank You Edge!
On Monday Night, almost out of nowhere, Edge (Adam Copeland) announced his retirement from pro wrestling. The first instinct of everyone was to think it was a not real. WWE, in the past two years, has done seemingly twenty five firings and fake retirements; only Shawn Michaels being real. What transpired on Monday Night Raw was as real a moment could be.
Courtesy of WWE.com
From my very first day (Feb 2002) in WWE in Milwaukee, Wi to the last day I worked with him (Jan 2008) when he came to do a guest shot on ECW to work with CM Punk, Edge was a nice, warm and passionate guy. He is a fan of wrestling, it’s all he ever wanted to do and you always saw that passion. He’s the kind of talent you dream to work with, create with and be a fan of. His speech tonight affirmed all of the reason I was a fan of the wrestler Edge and the person Adam.
The injury that sidelined Edge in 2003 is the same one now ending his career in 2011. Edge’s last show in 2003 was also my first show of taking over Smackdown as lead writer. Edge had really come into his own in 2002 as one of the “Smackdown 6” as booked by Paul Heyman. He was having great single matches with Jericho, Angle, Benoit, Guerrero and teaming with Rey Mysterio. The injury stopped that momentum but didn’t stop his hunger.
Not many people know that Edge went to the boss and asked “what he could do” in the time off. And for a short period, Edge was part of the WWE creative process. I remember the first time I sent him the script he called me and asked, “Okay, now what do we do.” Edge would offer input, give ideas and really wanted to keep himself fresh. But his passion was focused on returning to the ring. As he got closer, we’d talk from time to time and he was chomping at the bit. He knew that when he came back, he would make it his time.
Edge returned and was moved to Raw. It was the right move for him and he had this new passion in his eyes. Nobody was going to deny him and nobody knew how big he was going to get. It was a night in his home town of Toronto where the crowd turned on him that started him on the road to being the “bad guy”. An off screen love triangle launched him into the hottest storyline of 2005 with Lita and Matt Hardy. While Matt Hardy was the hot story at first, it was Edge’s eye catching promo ability that showed he was really ready to break through to that main event level. And then he cashed in the Money in the Bank briefcase.
And in one night, Edge became the biggest thing in WWE. He cashed in the briefcase, beat John Cena and was “the Rated R Superstar”. This was before Twitter and things trending. This shocked EVERYONE. Ratings shot up immediately with WWE crossing over that 4.0 level. For the next few weeks, he was the star of Monday Night Raw and the numbers proved it. His TLC match with Ric Flair became an instant classic and cemented that he could really hang as not only a main event talent but draw ratings. But the plan was always for Edge to drop the title back to Cena a few weeks later. I remember the disappointment that Edge felt; feeling he had genuine momentum. He had shocked the world and his segments were now fueling the brand. But he didn’t give up.
He worked Wrestlemania with Mick Foley and proved he deserved to be at that level. He might not have had the title but he was right back in the mix after that. And like the nickname he adopted of the “Ultimate Opportunist”, he was always ready to step in and show he was the guy for the company. When WWE needed to get the title off RVD in the summer of 2006, Edge was the guy. Edge was the perfect antagonist for John Cena. Most of Cena’s opponents would bring in the cheers. Edge was smart enough to turn the crowd against him.
When Mr. Kennedy was hurt in the early summer of 2007, Edge took the opportunity and became the top guy on Smackdown defeating the Undertaker for the World Heavyweight Title. The kid who watched Hulk Hogan main event Wrestlemania 6 got to live out his dream at Wrestlemania 24. Edge wrestled in THE main event against The Undertaker to close the show. Edge was the reason to tune into Smackdown most weeks. His chemistry with Vickie Guerrero proved how versatile a performer he was and signaled a possible future in acting.
I saw Edge again for the first time since my departure from WWE as he was finishing up a few scenes for a WWE movie in Los Angeles. He had unknowingly booked himself in the same hotel as the WrestleReunion convention. He didn’t hide, he interacted with fans and came to watch our ROH show that night featuring Charlie Haas and Shelton Benjamin vs. Chris Hero and Claudio Castagnoli. Edge, along with Sinn Bohdi, started watched the match from behind the curtain. I remember telling Edge there was a better spot to watch from but he was so concerned from taking away from the match. We found him a spot he felt comfortable and he watched the match intently. He still was that same little kid, he was still a fan.
Edge’s future in the ring seems to be over but I don’t think his contributing is. I can see him being an agent/producer, an on air talent, or maybe he takes the dive full time into acting. The outpouring of emotion on Monday shows that no matter what Edge does, the fans will be with him.
UPDATE – 3pm Pacific – Read more and hear more Wrestler and fan reaction to Edge’s retirement here.
Courtesy of WWE.com
David Lagana (@Lagana)
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Triple H/Undertaker/HBK – All is Lost & Dark Night of the Soul
If you’ve followed me long enough, I swear by the screenwriting book Save The Cat!
The story of Triple H vs. The Undertaker is connected through Shawn Michaels. The Undertaker retired HBK at last year’s Wrestlemania. HBK’s best friend is Triple H. The competitive spirit of Triple H and Undertaker fuels both to not lose at Wrestlemania.
You ever watch a movie and your hero is standing right at the edge of success and everything just falls apart? This is the story term known as ALL IS LOST! That moment stretches on and the character is all alone to look at the world that crumbled in front of them. Welcome to the DARK NIGHT OF THE SOUL. The hero is at rock bottom and should probably give up. But he doesn’t; he finds a way to muster up strength for one last fight.
The drama of this moment on Raw shows these characters realizing All is Lost and heading into the Dark Night of the Soul. Has The Undertaker finally reached a situation that he “can’t win” at Wrestlemania? Is Triple H’s promise/plan to end the streak going to be enough or will he die trying? How will Shawn Michaels react when the moment comes?
Triple H, in the heat of the moment, asked Shawn to tell Undertaker why Hunter would win. Shawn, very conflicted, refused and walked out of the ring. In a very subtle moment, Shawn mouthed to Triple H, “I’m sorry, you can’t win.” Triple H now was alone in the fight with the Deadman. Two best friends separated, right before one goes into the biggest fight of his life. That’s strong story telling and an easy story to understand.
As a WWE writer, you’re part of a team charged to come up with story lines for over fifty different characters at one time. The elements of story telling are the same in wrestling as they are in every form of entertainment. You must have a hero you relate to. An antagonist who feels justified in attempting to get what he wants no matter how much the hero tries to stop him. There must be peaks and valleys in this struggle. There must be a moment when the hero “can not win” that builds to the hero deciding to head into one final confrontation.
I’ve read a lot of discussion over “what’s the finish” of the Triple H vs. Undertaker match this Sunday. Those decisions are left for political battles that I no longer have to be a part of. I’ve tried to be as fair and balanced about the WWE creative process. Some of you might think I’m trying to get my job back. Some might think I’m highly negative. I believe there are structure issues inside the process. But I also know those running the company aren’t mindless bad guys twirling their mustaches on how to ruin wrestling.
Watching this moment tonight, I believe they got the Undertaker/Triple H/HBK story correct at this point going into Wrestlemania. Three characters all at cross roads and one final confrontation to “end” the story. Everyone has their opinion on how this story should end on Sunday. But what will really happen? We find out on Sunday!!!
David Lagana (@Lagana)
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If Rock (@TheRock) Says He Wants to Wrestle… #WhatWouldYouDo
Picture yourself sitting with Vince McMahon on a show day. But it’s not just any show day. It’s the Monday of the final show before Wrestlemania. The Rock has made his triumphant return to WWE TV nearly a month ago and sent shock waves through the business. Attendance is back up, the ratings went up and this coming Sunday could be a major turning point in the wrestling (sorry, sports entertainment… bad writer…bad bad).
As you sit there going over the Monday Night Raw show, in strolls into the meeting… Dwayne The Rock Johnson. And imagine if he he dropped this bombshell.
“I want to wrestle… Sunday!”
What would you do? #WhatWouldYouDo?
1. Would you push all the chips in, hoping to hit it big at this Wrestlemania with less then a week?
2. Would you wait to run the match a later – perhaps Summerslam?
3. Would you be patient and wait till Wrestlemania 28?
Share your vote and twitter #WhatWouldYouDo with @theRock.
David Lagana / IWantWrestling.com
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