The New and Improved WWE

This is my first BTB thread, so it may be a little disappointing.


The WWE is coming off a string of momentum as No Way Out and Wrestlemania have been completed and were very good PPVs for the majority of the fans, both internet and casual. Everything was normal in the WWE until an episode of Monday Night Raw on April 3rd, 2005, when a shocking announcement was made.

Vince McMahon comes out to his No Chance In Hell theme with a gray suit on and doing his usual power walk down the ramp, ready to make his long-awaited announcement to close out Raw.

"You see, I came out here tonight to make an announcement that will decide the future of the WWE. Ever since the Brand Extension that occured 3 years ago, the ratings, attendance, merchandise sales, and PPV buyrates have all fallen. And when stuff like that happens, you tend to lose money. You see, what I came out here to say to all of you fans in the audience and watching at home, is that as of next week, both Raw and Smackdown will reunite once again. Yes, my friends, the brands will be separated, just like the good ol' days! The bad news is that the WWE roster as a whole has 95 active members. 95 members is a bit too much for a united roster, and now that I have some new acquisitions ready to debut next Monday, I have no choice but to trim the roster. There will be 30 roster cuts over the next week, and anybody that I feel doesn't help get the crowd energized or doesn't help bring in the bucks unfortunately will receive two words: YOU'RE FIRED! As of next week, the WWE will be new and improved, and I have spoken!" Show ends.

After the Smackdown tapings on Tuesday night, the trimmings begin and by Monday morning, it's all done and the 30 releases turn out to be:

Val Venis
Shannon Moore
Steven Richards
Nunzio
Scotty 2 Hotty
Akio
Spike Dudley
Funaki
Paul London
Hardcore Holly
Rhyno
Tajiri
Garrison Cade
Maven
Viscera
Tyson Tomko
Rosey
Luther Reigns
Mark Jindrak
Orlando Jordan
Basham Brothers
Kenzo Suzuki
Chris Nowinski
Jesus
Maria
Dawn Marie
Hiroko
Candice
Michelle

The new roster of the WWE:

HHH
Batista
Flair
Orton
Cena
Carlito
Benoit
Jericho
Angle
HBK
JBL
Big Show
Booker
Eddie
Rey
RVD
Eugene
Regal
Benjamin
Haas
Dudley Boyz
Christian
Heidenreich
Snitsky
Undertaker
Kane
Matt Hardy
Edge
Dupree
La Resistance
Simon Dean
Hassan
Diavari
Masters
Henry
Kidman
Chavo
Hurricane
Lita
Trish
Molly
Victoria
Ivory
Torrie
Stacy
Miss Jackie
Christy
Amy
Joy
Bischoff
Long
Coach
JR
King
Cole
Tazz
Grisham
Matthews
Romero
Heyman
Snow
DeMott
Storm
Dreamer

The new talent:

Shane Twins
Psychosis
Super Crazy
Juventud Guerrera
New Jack
Ultimo Dragon
Brock Lesnar
Alexis Laree
Angel Williams

54 wrestlers, 8 on-air talents, 2 managers, 8 commentators, 4 OVW trainers, which equals 76 people. Perfect.

This roster isn't of my opinion, it's what I think will bring back the casual fans. If it was in my opinion, I would have thrown out people like Heidenreich, Snitsky, and Mark Henry, but since casual fans seem to like these guys since their power always gets put over by the commentators, they stay. It's kind of like my post in the Who do you think will be released if the brand extension is over thread in the General WWE forum, except for a few changes.