Quote:
Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins
Here's the problem: You don't have territories to build guys any more. There isn't any place for people to ply their craft. Furthermore, the territory system would teach guys to wrestle different styles, whether or not it was Strong Style (like the Harts) or the Southern style.
Imagine a pitcher who was able to learn 4 good pitches before being called up, and got to build up from 120 to 150 to 180 to then 200 innings. He'd be much better prepared than a guy who went straight from high school to high A, and then got called up in September and was thrust into a make-it-or-break-it role in the big leagues.
Of course, Vince destroyed the territories, so it's largely he who benefits and suffers from their decline (although not nearly as much suffering as we do).
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I'd say now, if you were to see what the best comparison to the territories is, it would be the various Independent feds. ROH is obviously at the top, with a mix of different styles and sizes (pure wrestling, brawling, comedy stuff, etc.). PWG out in Cali is like a mini-ROH but focuses a little more on comedy and blood feuds. CZW out in Philly is like a wannabe hardcore ECW with a little pure wrestling thrown in. And there's Chikara, mainly focused on really goofy characters and high-flyers. There are many others (IWA-MS, NWA, etc.).
The problem is, the indies could be a great farm system for WWE and TNA, but the talent doesn't get used properly. Stars of the indies that go to TNA end up being being booked in a completely reeruned fashion (mainly look at Samoa Joe's recent run). As for WWE, Vince does not like performers that he did not create, so he re-names these guys (CM Punk being an exception to the rule) and gives them characters they weren't used to portraying. And while many of the wrestlers in the indies are great overall performers (Danielson, Aries, Quackenbush, etc.), they aren't big lumbering jerkoffs, so Vince doesn't think they will draw.