Posted By James Walsh on 11/29/17


With the news that the Broken Universe, as it has been dubbed, is coming in some fashion to WWE TV via Matt Hardy, a lot of fans are expressing excitement. But, I don't think there is cause for it. In fact, I would be more nervous if you loved what Hardy did in Impact than excited.

Giving WWE credit for what it does well, WWE does create some amazing things. But, when it tries to recapture the magic of something that was created elsewhere, it falls flat. In fact, it is like trying to reheat a week old meal in the microwave. It just ain't right. And, will make you feel sick to your stomach.

Want some examples? Sure. I've got them. So, I'll share.

- nWo - The nWo angle is what made WCW the number 1 company in the world from 1996 to late summer 1998. It was a band of rebels that could come from anywhere and attack and you never knew who might show up next. In WWE, the screen went black, they had stupid sound effects over the speakers, and you knew exactly when they were coming out. The element of surprise was obliterated by WWE's over-production. And, it flopped. Don' tell me it didn't, either. I will shoot your argument down.

- Goldberg - In WCW, Goldberg was "Da Man". He was a Cyborg! He was the thing that kept WCW afloat after the luster of the nWo had faded. In WWE, they changed his tights, theme music, and persona to a degree and it went over like a fart in church. This is especially true his first time around.

- ECW - ECW was popular because it was a rebel company that bucked the format and did things its own way. WWE's impression of ECW, and that is what I am calling it, was a sub-par C show held strictly within the confines of WWE status quo expectations. It was rarely called "Extreme Championship Wrestling" during those days... Why? What the hell was extreme about it?

- Sting - Sting was WCW's Franchise player. Sure, he was older and slower when he was wrestling for WWE. But, he was older and slower when he was wrestling for TNA Impact. And, it worked there. So, why couldn't WWE make it work? INstead, he loses his WWE debut match against a COO who later got his ass destroyed by a woman. Then, he wrestles an unsafe, not-ready-for-prime-time player who ends his career. 30 years of wrestling, no career ending injuries. 3 or so matches in WWE, done. If he wasn't intentionally taken out, it speaks volumes to the lack of talent in that locker room. Yes, I said it. No, I am not backing down from it.

There are other examples of talent that was great in one place but WWE failed miserably with. Francine was ECW's "Queen of Extreme" but WWE barely used her and ultimately cut her without ever exploring her skills, Chris Harris was the "Wildcat" in TNA Impact but WWE changed his name and had a big old laugh at his lack of success for no viable reason I could imagine. Monty Brown had created a buzz with his "Pounce" character in TNA Impact but in WWE, he was Marcus Cor Von and bombed miserably. I could keep going. I won't. My point has been made.

WWE does well with what WWE created. WWE tries to "WWE-ify" things that worked because they were completely unlike WWE and that, my friends, is why they die a miserable, painful to watch death before our eyes. I think the Broken Universe coming to WWE is like Reby Sky Hardy's hopes for a Christmas with the family - f***ed up by WWE's overbearing arrogance.