Is it time for a change in the booking team?

[fm20000]

Steve Corino, Jeff Katz, Adam Pearce, Colt Cabana, Seth Mates... I think any of those guys might be good. Corino I think would be my first choice, though. Maybe Dustin Rhodes?

Corino.... hmmmm.... I feel like that would be great.

[syxxpakk]

I think Jim Cornette should get full control of the booking.

I wouldn't mind if Cornette was sole booker. Maybe he and Hunter Johnson just don't mesh well together. I don't dislike JC as booker and before he came to ROH, I was one of the many who used to say that Cornette should book a wrestling promotion because he knows wrestling.

So was I, TBH. I think Corny's been the bad seed in the ROH apple, though.

[Jeremy]

I think Jim Cornette should get full control of the booking.

I wouldn't mind if Cornette was sole booker. Maybe he and Hunter Johnson just don't mesh well together. I don't dislike JC as booker and before he came to ROH, I was one of the many who used to say that Cornette should book a wrestling promotion because he knows wrestling.

See, I just think Cornette has lost touch of what works in wrestling today. He's so fixated on what *might* have worked decades ago that he has no grasp on how wrestling has changed or what company ROH really is. Because of him making it more and more southern, they've alienated a significant amount of fans that used to enjoy the product but no longer like the current style.

Cornette having full say would officially end the ROH people used to love.

[Beebo]

Really? More Southern? If I think of Memphis as Southern, then there's no kookey angles. Hell, there's barely ANY angles. Well, none that are supported by vignettes, interviews, etc.

Its not believable (nor unbelievable) angles, or stipulations. Using Steen as the primary focus detracts away from the highly athletic perfomances. I'd say the same for Haas and Benjamin.

Right now, I'd prefer to see a "skilled monster" with the belt. A la Joe, and let Edwards, Cole, etc., mount long-term challenges.

[LygerFan]

Really? More Southern? If I think of Memphis as Southern, then there's no kookey angles.

No more kookey angles? Did you know they used ether in 2012? And Cornette used it twice over a two month period. Ether in wrestling went out of style in the 80's. Then check out "Radio Wars" from the Nightmare Begins DVD where they used two radio DJ's in an angle straight out of the 90's that was a complete embarrassment to the company. Watch that and you'll really never want to give ROH anymore of your money.

Cornette needs to go and it should have been done months ago. He might have a good mind for wrestling but he left it in the 90's. I actually thought Jim was serviceable when Delirious was running things and Cornette was in the background. I would give Delirious a chance do carry the booking on his own. I will give Cornette credit for one thing. When he came along in mid-2009 he improved Pearce's booking tremendously.

I think some people forget how boring the company was during the time Pearce had the book by himself. If you want a quick reminder just think of the following DVD's: Escalation...The French Connection...Wrestling At The Gateway...Full Circle...Injustice II (45 min. draw which they tried to work the fanbase that it went 60 min.)...Motor City Madness 2009 (this show had a countout, DQ, and time limit draw on the same night)...Caged Collision...Proving Ground 2009...Eliminating The Competition...Stylin N' Profylin (DQ main event)...Insanity Unleashed...Steel City Clash...etc. Sure you can point out better DVD's but I think you'll clearly see those were the shows featuring NOAH talent. Since ROH had those deals from Gabe I can't give Pearce credit for something that was handed to him.

Back to current booking. The fact that things have only become 10 times worse over the past year makes me believe those running things now at Sinclair are completely out of their league and just don't see how bad the ROH ship is sinking. Besides Delirious I don't have any other suggestions for a new booker but at this point I'd give anybody different a fair chance. I'm at the point where they will no longer get any of my money until they provide a better in ring product.

[supersonic]

I think Vince Russo is available.

Why would you even bring that up?

It's his transparent (and pathetically weak) attempt to antagonize others.

[krispywrestling]

The answer to the question is yes, but it's not going to happen. Cornette and Gary Juster were the key middle men between Silkin and Sinclair. He's a Sinclair guy, basically. They're not going to replace him.

[BalzOfHonor]

I think Vince Russo is available.

Why would you even bring that up?

Because you're all acting like ROH is being booked by Vince Russo.

[Captain44]

Does Cary still have any say with ROH at all. I remember at the time of the sale to SBG, it was stated he would remain in his same role, as President of ROH. What's his role today?

[krispywrestling]

"Good will ambassador." With the hope that if fans see him around the shows they will still think it's the same ROH they supported in 2005.

[ROHFanAnthony]

I think Vince Russo is available.

Why would you even bring that up?

Because you're all acting like ROH is being booked by Vince Russo.

You know how we would act if Russo was booking? We'd stop watching ROH completely and not be here anymore on this board. I can just imagine if Russo booked ROH. Jay Briscoe vs Mark Briscoe in a chicken on a pole match, Kevin Steen would be a 3 time ROH champion by now(he'd have won and lost it 3 times since May), and RD Evans and Prince Nana would be feuding because the former impregnated Mia Yim. Those are just the few insane things we'd see if Russo booked.

[Colt45]

The problem with Cornette is that he's too hesitant to pull the trigger on big angles. I admire the 'wrestling over entertainment' focus of the program, but he needs to realize that 'good wrestling' isn't the only thing that gets a guy over.

Cornette needs to realize that longterm booking is not going to draw in the no1 thing ROH needs; a casual audience. He needs to book something notable on every show so people will want to tune in. I'm not saying ROH needs to do something ridiculous, just something to make you say 'shit, I'm glad I didn't miss that'.

Truthfully, I enjoyed last weeks show, but then again I'm not a casual fan; I'm a wrestling purist. While I was enthralled to see a good women's match, a legit no1 contenter bout, and a title fight, a first time watcher may not. Cornette is adamant about keeping wrestling about wrestling, which I respect, but he needs to book angles that not only attract newcomers, but keep fans coming back.

edit:

Honestly I'd put Corino on the booking team. He has a great mind for the business, and is young enough to reach a demographic I think Cornette is just too old school for.

And I do realize Cornette is not the sole booker.

[Captain44]

Cornette has said in interviews that Delirious should be called the "Mad Scientist" for what he's doing in ROH. Wouldn't that mean that the lead booker is Delirious, and Cornette just is an advisor role.

[jackalope3]

Steve Corino, Jeff Katz, Adam Pearce, Colt Cabana, Seth Mates... I think any of those guys might be good. Corino I think would be my first choice, though. Maybe Dustin Rhodes?

Corino.... hmmmm.... I feel like that would be great.

On one of Corino's recent podcasts, he was discussing his booking philosophy and the current WWE product. The discussion eventually turned to how he would book ROH.

Some on his opinions and ideas are probably old news on this forum, but I still thought they were interesting:

When asked if would Steen be his champion, he replied something like "only as long as Cornette is in the picture." He elaborated by saying that Steen was the closest thing we have to Steve Austin right now and he needs Cornette to play off his anti-authority character.

Without Cornette, Corino said that Steen would not be champ but would definitely be his top heel. He also said that he would make Cornette choose to be either strictly an on-screen character (with tennis racket) or a backstage employee with no in-between.

When asked who his champ would be, he replied Eddie Edwards. His reasoning was that he would want to push ROH as a true alternative to WWE and TNA with title matches that feature good workers.

[ROHFanAnthony]

What did Corino say about the wwe product?

[DieHard]

Steve Corino, Jeff Katz, Adam Pearce, Colt Cabana, Seth Mates... I think any of those guys might be good. Corino I think would be my first choice, though. Maybe Dustin Rhodes?

Corino.... hmmmm.... I feel like that would be great.

Without Cornette, Corino said that Steen would not be champ but would definitely be his top heel. He also said that he would make Cornette choose to be either strictly an on-screen character (with tennis racket) or a backstage employee with no in-between.

WWWWWhhhhhhhattt? Cornette did something right? no way!

[jackalope3]

What did Corino say about the wwe product?

The whole discussion started when Rob Dimension asked Steve what he thought of Kevin Nash's recent comments (the business died when Benoit and Guerrero main evented). He also asked Steve if the WWE / world champion needed to be larger than life.

Steve said that he had no problem with Punk as champ because he considered him the best wrestler in the world. Steve then mentioned how, in the 1980s, the WWF used the I-C title as the "worker's title" for guys who could put on great matches. He said the WWF reserved the WWF title for the larger than life guys. He never definitively said if this was the approach he would take or not (if you've never listened to this podcast, Steve and Rob get sidetracked very easily).

Rob also asked where are the next 'big man' superstar was. Steve said that there was a big man currently in WWE developmental (sorry but I don't remember the name) who he thought had a Roddy Piper-like personality and would be a big star by next year.

He added that he would drop the dual brands and have one champion. If had to keep two brands, he said that there would be absolutely no crossing over of stars between shows.

[Jeremy]

Seriously, just give booking to Corino, he'd have this company solid again by April.

[fm20000]

Jackalope23 which number podcast was this discussion on? I'd like to hear more of it.

Seriously, just give booking to Corino, he'd have this company solid again by April.

And this so much.

[jackalope3]

Jackalope23 which number podcast was this discussion on? I'd like to hear more of it.

Seriously, just give booking to Corino, he'd have this company solid again by April.

And this so much.

It was the 8/13/12 edition, number #39. It's about an hour into the podcast.