The following editorial was written by Dominic DeAngelo and does not reflect the opinions of WrestleZone as a whole. We encourage you all to discuss Dominic’s thoughts in the comments section at the bottom of this post and follow him on Twitter @DominicDeAngelo.
“What we have here is a failure to communicate.” – The Captain (Strother Martin) in Cool Hand Luke (1967)
WWE is all about communication, except where it counts. YouTube or Facebook, their bases are covered on social media as far as getting content up on a timely and immediate basis, but when it comes to conveying their message on their primary medium of live television, that message is as trustworthy as an abusive partner in a relationship.
“We’re sorry. We’ll listen to you. We won’t do it again.”
“A fresh start.” That’s the snake oil the McMahons sold to you in those first 32 minutes on RAW on Monday. That phrase – “a fresh start” will become a phrase that’s as stinging to the senses as “shaking things up” because it’ll be repeated constantly as viewers are spoon fed the same cadence and rhythm we’ve been going through for weeks, months, years on end.
Absolutely nothing was different on Monday besides a rare McMahon family appearance. And guess what? Spoiler – nothing is different on those RAW Christmas tapings either.
Same cadence. Same rhythm.
“He ain’t in the box because of the joke played on him. He back-sassed a free man. They got their rules. We ain’t got nothin’ to do with that. Would probably have happened to him sooner or later anyway, a complainer like him. He gotta learn the rules the same as anybody else. – Dragline (George Kennedy)
“Yeah, them poor old bosses need all the help they can get.” – “Cool Hand” Luke Jackson (Paul Newman)
Us, (their “universe”) is like Paul Newman in Cool Hand Luke while WWE’s the line boss. We just keep digging and filling that hole with no end in sight. Those “fresh” NXT call-ups will all join that prison chain gang along with the Balors, the McIntyres, the Dash & Dawsons.
But we’re all so used to it. For many, there’s a sense of comfort, a sense of familiarity, that comes from those WWE letters. It’s,been almost 20 years uncontested as the top brand for professional wrestling and the darn shame of it all is that it’s a bastardized version of what gives the genre it’s appeal. These outlaws that have been detained to work under the watchful eye of the one true boss that knows the “correct way” of doing things, of running that product of sports entertainment. The talent and potential is all there, but the substance is stifled by the chains of heavy scripting and the sweltering heat of inconsistency. Way too often are we, those fans of said outlaws, are privy witness to the roster literally being lined up on stage or led by that authority figure (who will never be us) in an effort to further the promotion of those in charge in favor of individuality. Too often, whether your a fan or talent, we’re all left with a handful of nothing.
But sometimes nothing can be a real cool hand.
As long as there’s people in power, there will always be a force against that power. Luke Jackson showed that force by fighting back against the warden with his charisma, his outlaw attitude and a willingness to go outside “the box” of familiar. Oddly enough, pro wrestling has a couple of Jacksons doing the same.
Once and awhile, “Leaving The Territory” is the way to go.
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