The problem was that they had NO personality…they did not have the other side of the Biz…and frankly I thought Shamrock was just fine…Severns personality and gimmick was weak.
Also…it did not go over that well because that was when there was still a lingering illusion at that time that this was real fighting.
Now it is so clear it is NOT real and that it is nothing more than a testosterone based soap opera…that the illusion of realism would be the "new" element that has been missing for 3 decades.
I am not saying that it should stay that way…but you want someone to believe that a guy is the world champ because he is toughest…now its clear a world champ has to do with gimmick, mic skills and backstage buttkissing and nothing to do with ability to fight.
Remember when you thought Hogan was the toughest guy out there and he can beat anyone up….does anyone think that about Punk, Cena or Orton for 3 seconds.
I always felt back in the day if the WWF locker room got into a real free for all…guys like hogan, Andre the Giant would win.
If that happened now…Punk, Cena and Orton would be killed….ironically…I think Alberto Del Rio might end up near the top of the pile….but anyway…they need to find out a way to give the illusion of legitimacy….otherwise its just constant rehashing….
Wresting has broken the 4th wall and the need to repair it now. So that breaking that wall is special in some way