Rants

Ramble Regarding Developmental

By Scott Keith on December 15, 2013

Scott,

Long time, long time, etc. Most longtime fans (I have been a fan since the early 80s) bemoan the loss of the territory system as a crucial ingredient for seasoning, learning different styles, etc. However, isn't it reasonable to consider the indies the territories of today? The two issues are: (i) indie workers typically bounce from indie to indie and don't get experienced building a long program; and (ii) the seasoning is shorter, obviously, but WWE has ameliorated both of those, in large part if not entirely, by creating NXT as its minor leagues/developmental league. In fact, I'd argue that the overall skill of the talent that has come from the indies by way of NXT, particularly during the last 18 to 36 months (Bryan, Cesaro, Rollins, Ambrose, Kidd, Harper) is the best "crop" WWE has had in years and years.

The biggest issue with developmental historically how they've been taught. Look at the current crew:

Rhodes – top 10 talker/creative guy ever;
Regal – international all time great worker and walking encyclopedia of wrestling;
Steamboat – top five us style worker of all time;
Smiley – international catch-as-catch-can expert who has wrestled everywhere in the world;
Brookside – UK legend, Regal partner and amazing instructor;
Keirn – prime territory hand and member of an all time great territory tag team; and
Taylor – worked successfully for every major 80s company, experienced creative head.

The amazing burst of *ready* talent they've kicked up in recent memory is nuts and a direct result of the supremely talented staff that's running NXT. The booking when they get upstairs has been…spotty…but the talent, I'd say, is undeniable and any argument that guys aren't "ready" for prime time because the territories are gone is finally specious.

I throw the statement open for comment.
I'm still processing Lita and Punk's breakup here, give me some time.
Overall I'd say yes you have a point, but my bigger issue is that they're throwing away guys who would be ready for prime-time out of the gate because they don't fit their certain narrow view of what a wrestler should be. Plus they're taking someone like Cesaro, who was absolutely 100% ready to go right from ROH, and grinding any rough edges off him months before he ever makes it to the roster. Can you imagine how Mick Foley would have fared in this system? We're getting some decent guys making it up to RAW DESPITE the developmental system, not because of it, I think.

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