Wrestling and the "shared universe" concept

[JRH]

What does everyone here think about wrestling embracing a "shared universe" concept where events from one angle affect other angles in the same company? When i started watching (1990), this concept seemed to be embraced (for example, during the roberts/martel angle, after roberts got sprayed in the face with arrogance, big bossman came to jake's rescue, despite not being a part of that angle). Heck, even ECW would have multiple angles in the same match. But now, it seems like most angles are in a vacuum. If you had someone do an injury angle on RAW, it seems absurd for the new day to come out so jovial in the next segment.

[Laz]

There needs to be interaction. NEEDS to be.

[Scarlet-Left]

I don't know exactly what you mean by "shared universe", since the WWE doesn't treat various segments of the shows as strictly seperate continuities (since the commentators will talk about things that happened in previous matches, or will speculate on matches that are yet to take place).

 

However, one thing that does really irritate me is long segments where a face gets beaten up after the match, or jumped by a heel faction, and the only time any other faces come out for the save is if they're going to be a part of the feud/programme going forward (otherwise, no one comes out, and you're left to wonder why no one in the back cares). It's like in the SummerSlam main event when the crowd were chanting for Goldberg to come to the rescue, my mother was asking me why various "good guys" weren't coming to help.

[Mad Dog]

There needs to be interaction. NEEDS to be.

 

This. It isn't realistic if things exist in a vacuum. Everything should effect everything.

[JerryvonKramer]

Dusty was pretty good at this in his booking.

[flyonthewall2983]

That's the thing I miss most about the old-school format for the Survivor Series, how all these personalities and angles would intersect leading up to the show.

[Sidebottom]

That's the thing I miss most about the old-school format for the Survivor Series, how all these personalities and angles would intersect leading up to the show.

 

Was never too big a fan of SS, because so many of the falls would result in DQ's and countout finishes in order to protect many.

[sek69]

Dusty was pretty good at this in his booking.

 

 

I was just watching the show on the network where Nikita beat Tully for the TV title, and not only were other babyfaces who were aligned with him in storyline out to celebrate with him, so were assorted jobbers just happy the good guys won.

 

 

It hit me how that would never happen on a WWE show today where they keep the mid card guys separated from the "real stars", but maybe with the brand split they'll get to the point where they have to go back to a shared universe.

[El-P]

That's why the first months of the nWo angle was the apex of US pro-wrestling TV.

[JRH]

That's why the first months of the nWo angle was the apex of US pro-wrestling TV.

I remember the night after Bash at the Beach 96, the heels and faces all had something to say about the Hogan heel turn. It showed how it affected all the wrestlers in the company.

[Johnny Sorrow]

The Crockett shared universe real quickly became "mention Dusty". 😀

[BrianB]

I like it. Interaction usually makes things better and more interesting. The risk is if things becoming too tired or meandering.

 

Dusty was pretty good at this in his booking.

 

And also showing the downsides, like the nWo did later too, where if there aren't enough changes, developments, and payoffs over time, you start getting a sour taste.

[JRH]

That's the thing I miss most about the old-school format for the Survivor Series, how all these personalities and angles would intersect leading up to the show.

I always liked to think of wrestling as a live-action comic book (maybe not as relevant now due to the numerous live-action superhero movies, but anyway,,) and the Survivor Series concept fit that perfectly, it was the equivalent of all those company-wide crossover events ,with a group of heroes (faces) uniting to take on a group of enemies (heels). It was even better when there were multiple managers, which added to the threat that the faces were taking on.