One of my favorite things about the late 90s were the extreme matches on television. I use “extreme matches” because hardcore is a different thing entirely. I’ll get into it in another article but I’ve thought about hardcore wrestling for a while as a big fan of it. Those matches gave way to Hardcore Divisions in WWE and WCW.
Flaws of the Hardcore Divisions
First, they were more of the “Falls Count Anywhere Division”. They were the big leagues’ interpretation of ECW’s hardcore style but applied to a weekly format. In a way, it was the ultimate WWE match because most of the rules were scrapped and unpredictability was the greatest attribute to have.
Is that guy a great flyer? Are their graps immaculate? It doesn’t matter if their graps are immaculate! The Hardcore Division was a brawler’s game and if that technician or that speedy high flyer could throw fists, chairs, signs, and trashcans—they had a place in the division.
So, technically everyone on the roster could’ve been in the WCW or WWE Hardcore Division. This brings us to WWE’s 24/7 rule which made it so that everyone was in the division and many held the title an insane number of times. While it made for some humorous situations backstage, it should’ve never been a thing.
Then again, the Hardcore Division was never taken seriously in either promotion. I’ve watched indies that treated the title more seriously.
Salvaging the WCW and WWE Hardcore Division
This is an easy one—just do the opposite of the flaws. One big issue I’ve had and didn’t mention in the flaws is that in WWE’s case, the division needed more guys in it early on. You had Road Dogg (for a period), Al Snow, Big Boss Man (for a time), and Hardcore Holly at the top of the division.
If you watched the 1999 pay-per-views, you’d swear they were the only people in the division before it got down to just Snow and Holly. WWE’s division was like WCW’s in that it was open but you couldn’t say there was a “title picture”.
I would say “add more people” but the 24/7 rule solved that issue. Both divisions could’ve done more diversity in matches as well. Yeah, OK, the belt is defended in hardcore matches only. Hardcore matches can embody chain matches, strap matches—anything violent that isn’t the standard match.
Up the danger, up the stakes, and make whatever ongoing story involving the Hardcore title more interesting. Add an element of anticipation or it’s just reoccurring attraction—which the divisions were: the special attraction division.
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