I'll confess to having less knowledge of Ric Flair than others, so I would like your informed opinion: what kind of job will Ric Flair do as the boss of the Raw brand? I realize that in reality Vince is still in charge, but Flair will undoubtedly have a lot of pull, and I'm wondering how he'd use a Lance Storm, for example, diffirently than Vince would. In other words, will Vince's words be coming out of Ric's mouth, or will he have some autonomy?
I'm crossing my fingers for Flair's show, as it's his crew that I'll be seeing live when the fed pops over to England in May. Looking forward to finally seeing Brock Lesnar in person-fourth row tickets, baby!
If Flair has any input at all, you can bet that product will be more in-ring based. Hopefully that is the case, even if there is a lot of dead weight sitting around on that side of the fence.
well, the writing staff is the same, so keep that in mind.
it looks like the focus of raw will be the nWo. they only take orders from vince and flair hopes to curb their enthusiasm. flair will make efforts to limit them and they'll rebel.
looking at flair's roster, he's got kane, rvd and booker to go against them. i'm guessing big show will stay in his "surprise tag team partner" or "punishment match" role.
when flair drafted booker, he said something to the effect of "speaking of projects..." this gives me some hope that they're planning on turning booker face and letting him actually wrestle instead of being a cowardly heel. it seems like the crowd has gotten behind him more as he's been "performing" more in recent weeks.
so in that sense, i'd say yeah, flair will handle some wrestlers better than vince.
It's just you against the group mind. I like weiners.
Guys, I think we may be getting a little optimistic about Flair, from a booker-standpoint. According to guys such as Steve Austin and Mick Foley, Ric Flair was actually a horrendous booker in WCW.
“If my answers frighten you, Vince, then perhaps you should cease asking scary questions.”
--Jules Winnfield (Samuel L. Jackson), Pulp Fiction
Originally posted by ekedolphinGuys, I think we may be getting a little optimistic about Flair, from a booker-standpoint. According to guys such as Steve Austin and Mick Foley, Ric Flair was actually a horrendous booker in WCW.
But will Flair be the actual "booker" for this show, or merely the on-screen figurehead?
As FAB mentioned, the creative team remains the same, so not much should change there.
Q: If you could have interviewed Marvin Gaye, where would you have proposed to meet and what would you have asked him?
A: I would have met anywhere as long as it was before his father shot him. I would have asked him, "Hey, don't you think there's some chance that your father might shoot you? To death, I mean?"
Are the writing staffs really the same? I had hopes they would be two different writing staffs for each show. I know they had posted jobs for writers not too long ago, and kind of assumed it was for the purpose of creating two writing staffs.
I think if they are using the same writing staff for both shows, that takes away an advantage (and hope for) the split (oops, I mean 'brand extension'). I thought that with a complete split crew (wrestlers, staff, and all) that it would lighten the work-load, and maybe lead to more imagination from the writers (who would have a full week to come up with material for only half of the old roster for their one show). I'm not sure, if the writers are still having to write everything, that there is much advantage to the split (I mean 'brand extension').
According to guys such as Steve Austin and Mick Foley, Ric Flair was actually a horrendous booker in WCW.
Are you SURE Steve Austin agrees with Mick Foley? I've never heard him bash Ric Flair as a booker, though I wasn't an online geek at the time so I could have missed it.
Flair is actually an awesome booker. If you need proof, just check out the first half of 1994 at your video store. WCW put out awesome show after awesome show. Their peak in my opinion was Slamboree 1994, which is one of my favorite shows ever.
Flair knows who to push and how. Though I don't actually think he'll be booking anything on "his show" it sure would be nice to see him get a chance.
I think you've missed cfgb's point. I'll try to summarize, help me, cfgb, if I get it all wrong:
There was a time in WCW when Flair was both a wrestler and the head booker (much like Stephanie is annoying and a sorry writer). He did well (unlike Steph). He was leaps and bounds better than Dusty Rhodes, Kevin Sullivan and the rest of those losers.
The writing staffs should not be the same group of people for both shows. I am in agreement with the folk at the Torch that two separate staffs headed/watched by Vince is probably best as it would create a 'real' sense of competition.
If they DID have two staffs, why not have Flair have some input into how RAW is laid out? He's as good if not better than Stephanie, just compare their products. Knowing who and when to push is critical to success. And I think a little quasi-worked shoot would add to the drama of the split. But that's just me...
My comments were directed at the author of the original post. I wouldn't really be too into this board if the aforementioned facts weren't common knowledge.
Originally posted by ekedolphinGuys, I think we may be getting a little optimistic about Flair, from a booker-standpoint. According to guys such as Steve Austin and Mick Foley, Ric Flair was actually a horrendous booker in WCW.
I think some other people said this, but I'm just agreeing with them. I don't think Austin had any problems with Flair as booker. If I remember right, didn't Flair think Austin was the person who could carry the mantel after Flair hung up the boots? Austin fell out of the good graces of WCW entirely when Bischoff took over and started bringing in the old WWF rejects.
Mr. Flugelman: Do you know what "nada" means? Dusty: Isn't that a light chicken gravy? - Three Amigos (1986)
The writing crew will be the same for both shows - Stephanie McMahon, Brian Gewertz, Bruce Pritchard, Paul Heyman, and Vince McMahon. The idea that someone might actually give Ric Flair any input into booking is handicapped at best.
The only thing that ever came out of Ric Flair booking is Ric Flair being pushed to the top of the card - the only reason this beats Dusty's booking, of course, is because Dusty was a big flabby piece of shit, while Ric Flair was a great wrestler. I love ya, Big Duth, but it's true.
Actually I realize that Flair doesn't own any part of the WWF. I apoligize if I gave you that impression. What I was trying to ask was wheither you and your esteemed collegues on this board thought that Flair would have any degree of control over the booking for Raw, and if so what kind of job he'd do. At least he's a wrestler, unlike Vince.
Actually I realize that Flair doesn't own any part of the WWF. I apoligize if I gave you that impression. What I was trying to ask was wheither you and your esteemed collegues on this board thought that Flair would have any degree of control over the booking for Raw, and if so what kind of job he'd do. At least he's a wrestler, unlike Vince.
Flair will not be given any control over RAW booking, period. Even if (by some freakish act of hypothesis) Flair was given the book, he would do whatever any other onscreen performer did when they were booking - put himself on TV way too much.
Actually I realize that Flair doesn't own any part of the WWF. I apoligize if I gave you that impression. What I was trying to ask was wheither you and your esteemed collegues on this board thought that Flair would have any degree of control over the booking for Raw, and if so what kind of job he'd do. At least he's a wrestler, unlike Vince.
Flair will not be given any control over RAW booking, period. Even if (by some freakish act of hypothesis) Flair was given the book, he would do whatever any other onscreen performer did when they were booking - put himself on TV way too much.
Like someone else said, at least him being on tv too much would have to be better than having "Head Writer" Stephanie McMahon, like we've had to put up with recently.
Flair is a legend. Seeing him on screen would be a lot better than seeing Steph or Shane. I remember how good WcW was when he was booking and i think if he can bring that to the wwf brand then i wish vince would give him a chance to do it. I believe Flair knows his time in the full spotlight is done... but i agree he would know who to push and when to do it.
I am the JOBBER TO THE STARS. You better remember that.
Originally posted by SeanThe writing crew will be the same for both shows - Stephanie McMahon, Brian Gewertz, Bruce Pritchard, Paul Heyman, and Vince McMahon. The idea that someone might actually give Ric Flair any input into booking is handicapped at best.
The only thing that ever came out of Ric Flair booking is Ric Flair being pushed to the top of the card - the only reason this beats Dusty's booking, of course, is because Dusty was a big flabby piece of shit, while Ric Flair was a great wrestler. I love ya, Big Duth, but it's true.
It's hard to say with Flair, the only time's he had the book in WCW he was easily the best worker and personality in the promotion, so it's kinda like, any smart person with the book would've pushed Flair. Regardless, Vince and company are booking both shows, and they're doing it in order to keep a sense of competition for rising between the two shows. Think about it, if they were run like seperate companies, neither side would want to job to the other, or if one of their guys was champ, they wouldn't want their guy dropping the belt to a guy from the other show, ect...