Writing Wrestling: From Script to Screen
I've often wondered, "what type of television program does WWE consider themselves to be?"
Are they a sport? If so, you could argue that they're failing miserably. Wins and losses, as stated by people within the company, aren't all that important.
"Wins and losses don't count … it's not real competition so how can they count?" – Road Dogg (Feb 4, 2016, via Twitter)
"When somebody goes, 'Well, you just can't get people over with 50/50 booking,' [I'll always say] 'Oh, I'm sorry, how's your territory coming? Because this one seems to be doing pretty good over here'," – Triple H (Aug 17, 2016)
The latter quote seems to indicate that WWE doesn't feel pressure to apply logic to their programming. I don't want to say that they are coasting because of their stronghold on the marketplace, but it sure feels that way.
Okay, so they're not a straight-up sporting competition. Is WWE a drama? Once again, I'd argue no. We're in the golden age of television and the storylines presented on RAW and SmackDown, if we can even call them that, are unsubstantial. I don't profess to know how WWE's creative team works, but I know enough to realize that they have an issue weaving compelling narratives.
I, like many others, see room for improvement and wanted to spotlight where things 'may' be going wrong. Remember, all entertainment is subjective. If you like WWE's programming, that's awesome! I'm glad you have a show to watch every week that gives you what you want. I'm not trying to talk anyone out of liking what they like. I just happen to feel differently and would like to see some changes made.
WWE runs 52 weeks a year and puts out at minimum 5 hours of TV per week. I realize it's a hard job, but they need to start planning out season-long story arcs and assigning various sub-plots to different writers. It might also help to have a smaller, tighter-knit staff so that their is a sense of cohesion in the product. Once you have a clear picture of where you are going the weekly shows will be a lot simpler to construct. Even injuries will be less devastating. You'll be able to work backwards to find a solution rather than scrambling at the last minute to think of a new angle. Right now everything seems random. Stories are introduced and then abandoned with the drop of a hat. Remember Vince's highly secretive "lockbox" that Shane used to blackmail his father? I do, but apparently WWE doesn't because we still have no clue what that was all about. Structuring their creative department as such will benefit both immediate and future stories.
Just a reminder, good stories have a beginning, middle and end. In other words, the audience should be able to watch RAW or SmackDown without being sidetracked by thoughts of what happened before the story started, what more happened after it ended, or how the characters got from the beginning to the end. Take Bray Wyatt. Former cult leader who was presumably drowned and reborn at the hands of Matt Hardy. On any other show there would need to be some context provided as to how that works. Here, nothing. Also, there would assuredly be a marked change in the character. As far as we can see, Bray is the same person. Let's also look at the NXT's main roster call-ups. Who are these people? Why are they on RAW? If I'm a casual fan I'm wondering why this random stranger is on my screen. Continuity and attention to detail must be paramount moving forward.
Without a clear intention (who wants what) and a formidable obstacle (what is stopping them from getting it), you do not have drama. WWE seems to have forgotten this rule. It's the reason I have a hard time engaging with their product. There is no reason to care. As Jeff Hawkins put it to me, "I want to have good matches" isn't a character motivation, it's a company motivation. The "why" is important." Sean Ross Sapp always talks about the "money" factor, but that is rarely mentioned. Title wins have zero meaning because we never see how they impact that person's life. Instead, we get catchphrases and exposition that tell us nothing at all.
Personally, I've always wanted a run of WWE programming where it's written as an office-procedural. The arena is the workplace and the show follows the wrestlers and "General Managers" around during their "shift". Think Sports Night, but in the world of sports entertainment. I'd love to peak behind the curtain and see what goes on beyond the ring. Friendships, family politics, feuds, contracts, etc. It'd be an easy way to build stories that show the importance of wins and loses.
Onto the performers themselves. What do we know about the current batch of WWE superstars aside from their nicknames? A select few like Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn allow their personality to shine through, but for the most part, we have nothing to go on. For me, a character is born from their purpose and defined by the tactics they use to overcome whatever stands in their way. We learn by watching, but none of that is possible without the drama. Everything is interconnected.
When developing a character, stick to the facts that matter to the conflict. Focus on their intention and obstacle, rather than details that are irrelevant to the story. Knowing that Natalya loves Cats or that Dolph Ziggler does stand-up comedy does not make them a character. There is no use for any of that. Writing more human character traits will not make the character more human. Write characters, not people.
Dialogue is another point of concern. There should be a snappy rhythm to the way the performers talk. Right now, promos are wooden and stilted. If you do not want to write entire scripts, use bullet points and let the men and women improvise and add some personal flair. Most times, the actor will complete the character. Also, WWE, if you start exposition with “as you know” or “you see” you’re probably doing something wrong.
One last issue I'd like to address is the way WWE treats their audience. RAW and SmackDown are unique because they are set in front of thousands of people each week. You have to be careful not to lose them by pandering or talking down to them. In regards talking down, characters should show the audience what they want and who they are rather than telling them. Audiences are very perceptive when they’re imaginatively engaged in a story. WWE needs to make sure they don’t leave any glaring errors for the audience to pick up on, because they will!
Chaos, confusion and contradiction. These are not the things I want to see on my TV shows. Being a fan also means being a diagnostician. I'm sure there is plenty more I could delve into, but I thought the best place to start would be with the basics. I hope this article allows you to see the product through my eyes and I look forward to hearing your thoughts as well.
