I suspect it will take more than just changing the show’s content to an edgier style.
Remember that the original attitude era had some brilliant talent that was able to pull it off.
You had guys from other major brands, old territories, independents, etc.
All were encouraged to develop and portray extensions of their own individual characters and personas.
I don’t know that the cookie cutter clones of today’s generation are capable of doing that.
I don’t think many wrestlers are very creative anymore because
a.) they don’t have to be
b.) they don’t know how
c.) in some cases, they’re not allowed
Unfortunate.
I know for a fact from "my source" that all interviews / promos are done by creative. Wrestlers are told what to say and how to deliver it with the exception of only a very small handfull.
Mont, you also brought up a valid point with the talent pool. How can one campare:
1999/2005 - Austin, Rock, Foley, Michaels, Undertaker, Kane, Hogan (final run), Benoit (prior to his crap), Eddie Guererro, Edge, Kurt Angle, Brock Lesner, HHH, etc.
TO
Recent 2010 - Kofi Kingston, Chavo Guererro, Dolph Ziggler, Jack Swagger, Horn Swoggle, John Morrison, The Miz, Miz's stupid side kick (don't even know his name..what does that tell you?), Tyson Kidd (BORING), etc.
There is NO comparison by far. The recent talent pool stinks. I feel bad for guys like Randy Orton, Edge (who is calling it quits once his contract is up) and Brian Danielson who is the best wrestler technical wise that they currently have.
Batista got fed up with the direction of the product and left. As did Jericho. Neither is interested in returning. The Undertaker is almost 50yrs old and one hairline fracture away from retirement, Ray Mesterio's doctors confirmed that he is one knee injury away from reirement (he's had FIVE knee surguries already), Edge confirmed that he is not planning to renue his contract next year, The Hardys (as f*****d up as they are) left, the entire original ECW roster left because Vince buried its originality and pissed off everyone involved with that. I could keep going on providing more example. The list is endless. I'm telling you, The few that know the business that post on here could probably put together a much better product then what is being force fed to us weekly.