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Post by Turnbuckle Zealot(Phil) on May 22, 2017 21:32:15 GMT -5
How does the modern audience perceive wrestlers in the Cruiserweight/Junior Heavyweight division?
The question prompting my question is below.
"If Finn Balor, who does not weigh over 200 pounds, can be considered a
legitimate threat to the Primary/World championship, then who's to say any of the cruiserweights can't become world/universal champion?"
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REAL REVY
Main Eventer
1000 Posts
Joined on: Feb 8, 2012 16:27:26 GMT -5
Posts: 1,000
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Post by REAL REVY on May 22, 2017 23:48:16 GMT -5
It's cus WWE lost the copyright
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Post by Turnbuckle Zealot(Phil) on May 23, 2017 1:48:10 GMT -5
It's cus WWE lost the copyright Lost the copyright to what? |
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Post by Rated [R] NinJa on May 23, 2017 4:21:30 GMT -5
Well for starters, guys like TJP/Tony Nese/Rich Swann etc aren't as world renown or have the credentials that Finn Balor has.
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Falconsinclair
Superstar
Joined on: Jun 24, 2012 9:16:24 GMT -5
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Post by Falconsinclair on May 23, 2017 4:43:46 GMT -5
It's very simple. If the WWE wanted all of the Cruiserweights to be viewed as legit threat they wouldn't "Segregate" them on Raw by turning everything purple on Raw.
I don't mind the Purple Ropes on 205 Live as that is the style of that particular show. Constantly changing the ropes on Raw only lets the casual fan know that those guys shouldn't be and aren't perceived to be on the same level as everyone else on the show.
The easiest way to change the perception around the entire Cruiserweight Division is to stop segregating them on Raw and actually give a couple of the guys victories over the rest of the roster. Kind of how Kalisto beat Crews on Raw last night, sadly despite being more than qualified to be in the Cruiserweight Division Kalisto isn't even in the division.
A great example would be to have Neville (the Cruiserweight Champion) set his sights on a championship outside of the division. Hell you could give him a couple of victories over Dean Ambrose before Ambrose ultimately goes over when Neville challenges for the belt. Sadly for Neville they are writing him as if the Crusierweight Championship is the be all end for him.
Back in WCW you had guys like Eddie Guerrero, Dean Malenko, Chris Jericho and others hold the TV and US Championships while they were still perceived as Cruiserweights to the general audience. I feel that those victories helped to elevate the entire Cruiserweight Division as whole. Simply put the WWE should start taking this approach to the current incarnation of the Cruiserweight Division if they want the general public to take them seriously.
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Deleted
Joined on: Sept 28, 2024 17:17:22 GMT -5
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Post by Deleted on May 23, 2017 5:07:33 GMT -5
Cruiserweight is a dead division. It has been since the likes of Rey Mysterio, Jeff Hardy and CM Punk became Heavyweight Championship contenders/main eventers... and rightfully so. Wrestling has evolved and Hunter is a fan.
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Post by theoutlaw1999 on May 23, 2017 7:09:49 GMT -5
It's very simple. If the WWE wanted all of the Cruiserweights to be viewed as legit threat they wouldn't "Segregate" them on Raw by turning everything purple on Raw.I don't mind the Purple Ropes on 205 Live as that is the style of that particular show. Constantly changing the ropes on Raw only lets the casual fan know that those guys shouldn't be and aren't perceived to be on the same level as everyone else on the show. The easiest way to change the perception around the entire Cruiserweight Division is to stop segregating them on Raw and actually give a couple of the guys victories over the rest of the roster. Kind of how Kalisto beat Crews on Raw last night, sadly despite being more than qualified to be in the Cruiserweight Division Kalisto isn't even in the division. A great example would be to have Neville (the Cruiserweight Champion) set his sights on a championship outside of the division. Hell you could give him a couple of victories over Dean Ambrose before Ambrose ultimately goes over when Neville challenges for the belt. Sadly for Neville they are writing him as if the Crusierweight Championship is the be all end for him. Back in WCW you had guys like Eddie Guerrero, Dean Malenko, Chris Jericho and others hold the TV and US Championships while they were still perceived as Cruiserweights to the general audience. I feel that those victories helped to elevate the entire Cruiserweight Division as whole. Simply put the WWE should start taking this approach to the current incarnation of the Cruiserweight Division if they want the general public to take them seriously. What I don't get is Finn Balor is one of the lightest men in the company and he is believed to be a threat to Brock Lesnar so if that the case then why can't other Crusierweights fight outside their division? Seriously would TJP going over The Big Show really be a shocker? Rey Mysterio did it and so did Daniel Bryan. |
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Post by ~ Cymru ~ on May 23, 2017 7:11:59 GMT -5
The fact they're more of a side attraction than part of raw suggests they have less worth, There are some good talent in the roster the CWC was a testament to how great they can all be, but given the fact they're not integrated with the rest raw roster thus have such a short amount of tv time on raw, you dont get to appreciate their work.
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Post by PJ on May 23, 2017 7:14:38 GMT -5
Cruiserweight is a dead division. It has been since the likes of Rey Mysterio, Jeff Hardy and CM Punk became Heavyweight Championship contenders/main eventers... and rightfully so. Wrestling has evolved and Hunter is a fan. That and they really don't do anything special anymore, because the heavyweights are doing the dives and flips that the Cruiserweights were known for. What they should do is just do away with the 205 CW division and have everyone trying for the mid card and main event titles. Then just once a year have a cruiserweight tournament that culminates at one of the big four PPV's for a trophy. |
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Post by Next Manufactured’s Sweater on May 23, 2017 13:53:22 GMT -5
A more pertinent question is "If Finn Balor, who does not weigh over 200 pounds, can be considered a legitimate threat to the Primary/World championship, then what is the point of the cruiserweight division?"
Considering the main division has multiple cruiserweight guys, the cruiserweight division isn't really about weight classes, it's basically just "guys who aren't good enough to fight on the real roster."
Wrestling evolved past needing an actual cruiserweight division a fair few years ago, but we still complained for one because we were mimicking what we'd seen people saying for years. Now we have one, and it just doesn't really work in the modern era. Although it has given us the glorious reinvention of Neville, so that's cool.
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Post by punksnotdead on May 23, 2017 14:31:28 GMT -5
I look at them like the WCW TV Title, of sorts. A lower card title that gets guys on TV that probably would be jobbing or not with the company at all. It's a platform. Aries and Neville are kind of the modern version of Booker and Benoit. The cream rises to the top in that regard. It's also a platform to get TBK on TV without getting squashed every match, and I love me some TBK. He's a talented vet and can work with guys like TJP and Tozawa to help them get comfortable with WWE. I also think it's a great platform for a guy like Hideo Itami if he's coming up from NXT. He doesn't really fit in NXT anymore and he'd be directionless on the main roster without something like that division where it's totally acceptable to just highlight his in-ring ability.
I do think Aries is a total package star that could just as easily be in the main event as Finn Balor. Balor does have the Demon though. So he has the monster living inside of him that he can channel for big matches, which makes him a threat to anyone. Plus, he seems to sell a sh*t ton of merch, so the Jeff Hardy factor. I think Aries is the exception of the division though, and not the rule.
I do wish they would stop segregating them on Raw. It makes them look like second class citizens. Even though they are second class citizens, you don't want to advertise it like nobody should care about them. I would like to see more commingling on Raw as well with the other talent, but that's a be careful what you wish for scenario.
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That 80s Guy
Main Eventer
Gnarly!
Joined on: Nov 6, 2010 14:29:43 GMT -5
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Post by That 80s Guy on May 23, 2017 16:16:30 GMT -5
--
Not a fan of "weights" in pro wrestling, to begin with. Rather acknowledge status (ex. World, TV, US, ect) than weights (Heavy, Light-Hvywt, Cruiser, ect).
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Post by Yayo on May 23, 2017 20:56:52 GMT -5
Not a fan of the division for a couple reasons. The WWE style no longer really allows guys to wrestle what is seen as a standard cruiserweight match. It's kinda crazy to think that the WCW CW division from 20 years ago focused more on high flying action than WWE's current division.
My other problem with it is that I feel it holds Guys back. Neville, Aries, TJP and Kendrick could all easily be mixing it up with the heavyweight division with no one being any wiser. Would they be losing? Sure, they'd lose now and then, but no more than the 50/50 booking already decides for them.
It's very weird than Finn Balor can be seen as a legitimate threat to Brock Lesnar - which, don't get me wrong, makes me happy - but no one else in the division can work with the heavyweights for... reasons?
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Post by adzy on May 24, 2017 1:11:25 GMT -5
They should have definitely had cruiserweights mix in with the main roster, to give some different matches if nothing else. They haven't acknowledged it but they are pretty much saying the CW title is the only one these guys are worthy of competing for. That being said I think that when Neville loses he will move into some main roster feuds as he's too good to left in 205 live, and I can see some guys going after the tag titles with either another CW or a main roster guy.....hell you could even make a storyline out of the CW's feeling disrespected and held down, leading to a team 205 Live vs whoever at Survivor Series, there's lots of ways they can go if they get creative or put some thought into it.
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