A Shortsighted Poison

With the deal that brought Smackdown to Fox two years ago, it was clear that the blue brand had become either a level above the red brand or at least on the same level of the once A-show. Being on Fox, it moved Smackdown right into the limelight and easier for fans to find the program then it had been in the past. Smackdown had always seemed to be the hidden program of WWE on channels that most fans would need to be aware existed otherwise they wouldn't know where to find the channel. 

​The most recent edition of Smackdown saw Rey Mysterio and Roman Reigns collide in a Hell in a Cell match, the first on free television in nearly thirty years. Perception is massively important in the world of wrestling, and it seems like WWE has forgotten how important this concept has always been in wrestling. They moved this match between Roman and Rey Mysterio up from the PPV on Father's Day, shows that the company is desperate to keep the ratings moving. However, one week of using an un-hyped special match to boost the ratings for a program is extremely shortsighted. Then again, being extremely shortsighted seems to be what WWE has become known for in recent years, look no further than the release of both Tommy End and Samoa Joe. 

Aleister Black returned after months on hiatus and started feuding with Big E, then two weeks later he's gone from the promotion. The former New Day member broke apart from his long time teammates to help start a much deserved push, but again a shortsighted decision derailed his push. Shortsighted decision-making can be a poisonous way of thinking in the wrestling business, as eventually you will run out of ways to give the gate a shot in the arm and keep things fresh. Basically, the issue that arose from the "Attitude Era" a lot of good came from the era, but at the same time so did a lot of bad. 

Nearly twenty years ago, Vince McMahon appeared on a February edition of Smackdown to announce that he will inject a lethal dose of poison into his creation. Vince would go onto to say that if anyone will kill what he created it'll be him, and he will inject his creation with a lethal dose of poison, this was the introduction of the New World Order in WWE. Nowadays, the poison is plaguing the company again, but the poison this time is in the booking and decision-making. I don't know everything, but what I do know is that long term booking is important, perception and exposition can never disappear, and most important shortsighted decision-making is a poison that always ends in disaster. 

I'm not saying a disaster will behold WWE, all I'm saying is that until they change how they make decisions things will not change. In wrestling, you don't forget ultimately this business is cyclical or ever-changing, and sometimes you go to change something that didn't need to be changed. If it ain't broke, don't fix it!! Shortsighted decision-making was part of what slowly poisoned World Championship Wrestling, not the only thing that killed WCW though. The main idea is the poison is slowly spreading in WWE, they need to find the antidote. Part of that antidote is ridding themselves of shortsighted decision-making.