Post by stratusfaction23 on Jan 15, 2019 19:32:39 GMT -5
I've been on a bit of an old school wrestling kick later and was watching some PPVs from my favorite and what is arguably the best year in WWE produced television, the year 2000. The WWE was on fire this year and it was probably their mainstream peak. I looked up some interesting facts about WWE 2000 and a name that I came across that I had never heard of was that of Chris Kreski. Apparently he was the WWE's head creative writer after Vince Russo left in the fall of 1999 until about the end of 2000 when Stephanie took over.
Here is his wikipedia entry and a short article I found about him:
WIKIPEDIA:
Following the departure of his predecessor, Vince Russo, in October 1999, Kreski became the head writer of the World Wrestling Federation. He is widely credited with writing captivating and layered storylines, and was at the helm of WWF creative in some of its all-time peak years of both ratings and profitability. One example of an extended narrative during Kreski's tenure was the teased love triangle between Kurt Angle, Stephanie McMahon and Triple H. Kreski's extensive use of storyboards was mocked by many in the WWF during his tenure, but they enabled him to achieve a high degree of continuity in his storylines, which began to devolve into semi-coherence following his departure.
Kreski was replaced as head writer by Stephanie McMahon in November 2000, but remained with the company until 2002, when he left to pursue other opportunities.
ARTICLE:
WWE History: A Look at Chris Kreski, the Best WWE Writer Ever
MATTHEW HEMPHILL
DECEMBER 30, 2011
Chris Kreski isn't a name that most pro wrestling fans are going to know off the top of their head. He isn't someone who has had a DVD released about him, he never got any airtime and he isn't even a wrestler.
He was actually a lead writer for the WWE and he is considered one of the best they ever had, if not the best.
Not much has been written about Kreski through the years, so it's hard to nail down all the facts. Supposedly, he used storyboards to keep track of all the different angles, though he was ridiculed by some in the company for doing so.
Storyboards are usually visually drawn segments that are put in order to show a sequence of events. Sometimes images can be replaced by bullet points when focusing on storylines.
Kreski took over for Vince Russo, who left to work at WCW, and not only helped the Attitude Era going strong, but even helped it grow.
During his time as head writer, the McMahon-Hemsley angle started with Stephanie McMahon and Triple H getting married on RAW. This lead to one of the most complex storylines in WWE history as Triple H and Stephanie McMahon used anyone they could and feuded with different people.
It was an extremely Machiavellian moment plot-wise in the WWE and like any story based around intrigue, it needed to keep its continuity flowing. Just keeping the storyline between Triple H, Stephanie McMahon and whoever else got involved with them was confusing enough.
To be able to continue to write other parts to a show speaks volumes of Kreski's ability.
He was able to not only make the Attitude Era interesting but he also made the plots coherent. This helped the WWE continue to dominate the WCW and actually gave RAW some of its best ratings in the history of the program.
Sadly, Kreski is no longer alive today, having passed away from cancer back in 2005. He had left the WWE a few years earlier, but the fact that such a creative mind is dead is devastating.
He was in charge when Kurt Angle made his professional debut in what would turn into a Hall of Fame career.
He was in charge when Stone Cold Steve Austin was run over by a car.
That and many different memories made special to wrestling fans are thanks to Kreski and his ability to make a coherent story and use characters properly.
And he did it in an age where wrestling could routinely go over the top and get confusing.
And that is why he is one of the best.
_______________________________________________________
So Chris Kreski isn't a name I've heard much in the wrestling community (maybe you guys have?) but it seems as though he may have had an integral role in some of the WWE's most memorable television from late '99-2000. Obviously it all comes down to the talent and the stars aligning for WWE at this time, but does Chris Kreski deserve more recognition for advancing WWE in one of its most prosperous years?
Here is his wikipedia entry and a short article I found about him:
WIKIPEDIA:
Following the departure of his predecessor, Vince Russo, in October 1999, Kreski became the head writer of the World Wrestling Federation. He is widely credited with writing captivating and layered storylines, and was at the helm of WWF creative in some of its all-time peak years of both ratings and profitability. One example of an extended narrative during Kreski's tenure was the teased love triangle between Kurt Angle, Stephanie McMahon and Triple H. Kreski's extensive use of storyboards was mocked by many in the WWF during his tenure, but they enabled him to achieve a high degree of continuity in his storylines, which began to devolve into semi-coherence following his departure.
Kreski was replaced as head writer by Stephanie McMahon in November 2000, but remained with the company until 2002, when he left to pursue other opportunities.
ARTICLE:
WWE History: A Look at Chris Kreski, the Best WWE Writer Ever
MATTHEW HEMPHILL
DECEMBER 30, 2011
Chris Kreski isn't a name that most pro wrestling fans are going to know off the top of their head. He isn't someone who has had a DVD released about him, he never got any airtime and he isn't even a wrestler.
He was actually a lead writer for the WWE and he is considered one of the best they ever had, if not the best.
Not much has been written about Kreski through the years, so it's hard to nail down all the facts. Supposedly, he used storyboards to keep track of all the different angles, though he was ridiculed by some in the company for doing so.
Storyboards are usually visually drawn segments that are put in order to show a sequence of events. Sometimes images can be replaced by bullet points when focusing on storylines.
Kreski took over for Vince Russo, who left to work at WCW, and not only helped the Attitude Era going strong, but even helped it grow.
During his time as head writer, the McMahon-Hemsley angle started with Stephanie McMahon and Triple H getting married on RAW. This lead to one of the most complex storylines in WWE history as Triple H and Stephanie McMahon used anyone they could and feuded with different people.
It was an extremely Machiavellian moment plot-wise in the WWE and like any story based around intrigue, it needed to keep its continuity flowing. Just keeping the storyline between Triple H, Stephanie McMahon and whoever else got involved with them was confusing enough.
To be able to continue to write other parts to a show speaks volumes of Kreski's ability.
He was able to not only make the Attitude Era interesting but he also made the plots coherent. This helped the WWE continue to dominate the WCW and actually gave RAW some of its best ratings in the history of the program.
Sadly, Kreski is no longer alive today, having passed away from cancer back in 2005. He had left the WWE a few years earlier, but the fact that such a creative mind is dead is devastating.
He was in charge when Kurt Angle made his professional debut in what would turn into a Hall of Fame career.
He was in charge when Stone Cold Steve Austin was run over by a car.
That and many different memories made special to wrestling fans are thanks to Kreski and his ability to make a coherent story and use characters properly.
And he did it in an age where wrestling could routinely go over the top and get confusing.
And that is why he is one of the best.
_______________________________________________________
So Chris Kreski isn't a name I've heard much in the wrestling community (maybe you guys have?) but it seems as though he may have had an integral role in some of the WWE's most memorable television from late '99-2000. Obviously it all comes down to the talent and the stars aligning for WWE at this time, but does Chris Kreski deserve more recognition for advancing WWE in one of its most prosperous years?
