Bring Back Custom Sets

 

After 5 months hosting shows at the WWE Performance Center, WWE reached an agreement with Orlando’s Amway Center for a residency. They dubbed it the “Thunderdome” complete with virtual fans, pyro, and lasters and after airing Smackdown, Summerslam, and Raw from the “Thunderdome” damnit they made the best choice. In these unprecedent times we’re living in, WWE found a way to bring some normalcy to their programming and presentation. Watching the Thunderdome made me think about unique sets for pay-per-view events of the past.

Back around 2008 WWE resorted to universal sets for all of their programming, with massive unique sets reserved for Wrestlemania. Some events may have props built around the entrance but the setup is the always the same. It’s a cost cutting measure that I understand why they do it, and every event doesnt call for a outlandish custom set. But the popularity of specific sets for events cannot be undermined, hell look on YouTube at all the fan made arenas and sets on video games. Think about the excitement fans had when the In Your House set was bought back for an NXT event in June.

AEW has done a good job of giving their ppv’s distinct sets to help set the tone. Double or Nothing, All Out, Full Gear, and Revolution all have had distinct entrances.  Impact and ROH seem to rely on the same entrance for all their events, but they could benefit from a different set even if it’s the same set strictly used for ppv’s to help break up the monotonous look of  televised events. Wrestling fans are often criticized for not really knowing what they want. However, often times we just want the simple things that made us fall in love with wrestling bought back. Custom sets don’t have to be for every ppv, but it definitely helps add a additional buzz around the “bigger named” events. 

In the 90’s and early 2000’s the sets of pay-per-views from WCW and WWE, were often just as anticipated as the events themselves. Some may say the sets don’t matter, but honestly, they do. Sets create a tone for events, helping flesh out the theme of the event, and provide a uniqueness to the event. Sets can be a breath of fresh air as well, especially when match wise especially on WWE events the lineups are damn near always the same. Think about the sets of Bash At The Beach, Spring Stampede or Great American Bash in WCW. Over in WWF land think about the Backlash set, Armageddon, and King of the Ring set.

Let's hope these promotions take heed and start seeing the value in custom sets once more. 

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