How bad was 2003 WWE

[AnthonyM4]

A lot of people think wwe is bad these days and a lot of people say wwe was at its worst in the mid 90s, but IMO this was the worst year in wwe history! I should have stopped watching in 2003 and these are the reasons...

-McMahon were hogging tv like crazy! Vince, and Stephanie in the I quit match, Shane getting the better of Kane in their feud, Linda McMahon putting Kane on "house arrest", Stephanie McMahon main eventing Smackdowns vs the likes of the Big Show and Albert, Vince and Sable the couple, and Stephanie McMahon's awful acting in her last promo before the I quit match

-Triple H hogged the world title and made others look bad in the process.

-The misuse of Goldberg

-Roddy Piper coming back to rekindle a feud with Hulk Hogan from 20 years earlier!

-Torrie Wilson/Dawn Marie/Al Wilson drama which ended with him "dead".

-Stone Cold vs Eric Bischoff in a redneck triathlon.

-Kevin Nash headlining ppvs who at this point was practically immobile.

-Undertaker vs Brock Lesnar in a "biker chain match" main events No Mercy which is a huge stepdown from their awesome hell in a cell match from a year earlier.

That's about all i can think of for now. Feel free to add to that awful list of what was wwe in 2003. Thankfully things improved in 2004!

Did anyone actually think 2003 was good?

 

[Y 2 Jake]

Yeah, 2003 was alright. Look at all your points and you'll notice most come from the Raw side of things. Specifically most relate to Triple H. He's a talented guy yet he couldn't get anything out of Scott Steiner, Goldberg, Booker T or Kevin Nash? I know two of them were broken down, but Triple H, even hogging the headline scene on Raw, should've got better matches out of them.

Smackdown was awesome, even with the McMahons involved in everything.

 

[ProWrestlingFan]

2003 was one of my favorite years in WWE. Good year for WWE. Smackdown had great PPVs wrestling wise and Entertainment wise RAW was great.

The WWE had the best roster in 2003. The roster hasn't been that stacked ever since.

Mcmahons were always involved Attitude Era, yet most people loved Attitude era.

Also you guys complain about Triple-H beating WCW talent. Do you guys really think Vince would let the rival company (WCW) guys beat their company's top guy at that time (Triple H)?

An example of bad year is 2009. I nearly stopped watching because of boring CM Punk SES promos, guest hosts etc.

 

[Little Jerry Lawler]

You're in my wheelhouse now. I love talking about how bad 2003 was, especially on Raw. HHH was terrible, Steiner was terrible, Nash was terrible, etc. They screwed up Goldberg majorly from the word "go." Booker T quickly became a dead issue after being put over by the Rock. Jericho was just floating around because when you're the second top heel behind HHH, you basically have nothing. The tag team division was awful. Austin's act grew weary. Kane finally had that fire back after being unmasked and they instantly put him in a crap feud with Shane McMahon. I could wrote a novel about Raw and it's awfulness.

Eddie, Benoit, Brock, and Angle were kicking ass on Smackdown. Matt finally got into his groove as a heel. Benjamin and Haas were solid as well. Only problem was the whole Stephanie/Vince saga.

To PWF: Yes, the McMahons were involved in the Attitude Era. They were actually entertaining back then. 2003, not so much.

 

[FullBloodedNorthumbrian]

You are crazy. 2003 was by far one of the best years for WWE. The ruthless aggression era was awesome and 10x better than the current PG era. I would probably put it above the attitude era as well.

 

[Little Jerry Lawler]

You are crazy. 2003 was by far one of the best years for WWE. The ruthless aggression era was awesome and 10x better than the current PG era. I would probably put it above the attitude era as well.

If you can't tell by the emoticions, I am having a jolly good laugh right now.

This era and the Attitude Era blow 2003 out of the water by FAAAAAAR, especially when it comes to quality matches. I have a request. Name the five best matches from 2003. I bet I already know what you're going to say. Here are some hints.

1. One of them surprisingly involved HHH.

2. Three were at a Big Four PPV.

3. Three of them involved Kurt Angle.

Go.

 

[ProWrestlingFan]

To PWF: Yes, the McMahons were involved in the Attitude Era. They were actually entertaining back then. 2003, not so much.

They were not even involved that much. Stephanie and Vince mostly appeared on Smackdown. And Shane McMahon and Kane had a great rivalry.

This era and the Attitude Era blow 2003 out of the water by FAAAAAAR, especially when it comes to quality matches. I have a request. Name the five best matches from 2003. I bet I already know what you're going to say. Here are some hints.

1. One of them surprisingly involved HHH.

2. Three were at a Big Four PPV.

3. Three of them involved Kurt Angle.

Go.

Attitude era had way less "quality matches". Most of the matches in the Attitude Era were brawls.

And Pro-Wrestling just isn't about quality matches. Its entertainment and 2003 was entertaining.

 

[Little Jerry Lawler]

They were not even involved that much. Stephanie and Vince mostly appeared on Smackdown. And Shane McMahon and Kane had a great rivalry.

Did you even watch Smackdown in 2003? Every episode from like May was at least 60% McMahons from Mr. America to Sable to Zach Gowen to the Real Brock Lesnar to Undertaker, etc.

For shame.

 

[Little Jerry Lawler]

They were not even involved that much. Stephanie and Vince mostly appeared on Smackdown. And Shane McMahon and Kane had a great rivalry.



Attitude era had was less "quality matches". Most of the matches in the Attitude Era were brawls.

And Pro-Wrestling just isn't about quality matches. Its entertainment and 2003 was entertaining.

Less "quality matches", he said with a straight face.

Rock/Austin, Rock/HHH, HHH/Foley, HHH/Angle, HHH/Benoit, Benoit/Jericho, Benoit/Angle, Hardys/EC/Dudley. Lots of quality matches in those pairings. More so than in 2003, one might say.

I guess people who are into S&M and other things would be entertained by Raw in 2003. There's something out there for everybody.

 

[a member of wwe universe]

if you say 2003 was awful, then how could you justify the quality of the product in 2004? not to mention 2005, 2006, 2007 etc.

2004 - suffered lost in star power with lesnar, goldberg, rock and austin leaving
- the beginning of the john bradshaw layfield one year horrendous title reign
- angle, big show, and taker were sidelined for some time

2004 is still great with the rivary of hbk and hhh. Eddie guerrero becoming bonafide maineventer, Benoit winning the world title and the rise of orton and cena.

-However 2003 you had the incredible over stack midcard division in guerrero, benoit, edge, mysterio, cena, orton, rvd, christian.
-angle vs lesnar, lesnar vs taker, jericho hbk were great feuds
Hollywood Rock. Enough said


No product in their respective era/year will be perfect. There always postives and negatives.

 

[ProWrestlingFan]

Did you even watch Smackdown in 2003? Every episode from like May was at least 60% McMahons from Mr. America to Sable to Zach Gowen to the Real Brock Lesnar to Undertaker, etc.

For shame.

Because Stephanie McMahon was Smackdown's GM.

McMahons were involved in the 80% of fueds in the Attitude Era.

Rock/Austin, Rock/HHH, HHH/Foley, HHH/Angle, HHH/Benoit, Benoit/Jericho, Benoit/Angle, Hardys/EC/Dudley. Lots of quality matches in those pairings. More so than in 2003, one might say.

Most of those matches were No-DQ matches. 2003 had great pure wrestling matches. Angle/Benoit Royal Rumble, Angle/Lesnar -Ironman match , HHH/Michaels etc.

And Attitude Era had many horrible storylines aswell. Mae Young/Mark Henry, Kaientai/Val Venis, Beaver Claeavge, Big Show/Bossman etc.

Every year/era had some bad storylines.

 

[AnthonyM4]

Something I left out, Torrie Wilson and Sable in a bikini contest was one of the "main events" of Judgement day 2003(one of the worst ppvs ever). Oh and what about Mr America? Another bad thing about wwe 2003.

PWF, you think Shane and Kane feud was entertaining? Kane was supposed to be a monster heel and the best feud they can have him with is a McMahon? He kind of feuded with Linda too. Remember he gave her a piledriver and like one week later she was ok

I will admit Smackdown had great wrestling, but it was overshadowed by Vince, Stephanie, Mr America, Big Show, and Albert. Oh and there was also a lame Rikishi vs Roddy Piper feud in which Rikishi wanted revenge against Piper for knocking out Snuka with the coconut

 

[ProWrestlingFan]

PWF, you think Shane and Kane feud was entertaining? Kane was supposed to be a monster heel and the best feud they can have him with is a McMahon?

So what if it was a McMahon?

Shane McMahon/Kane-Last Man standing match at Unforgiven, Ambulance match at Survivor Series - both great matches. Kane probably got the biggest push of his career in 2003 after he was unmasked.

 

[Nate DaMac]

Shane McMahon/Kane-Last Man standing match at Unforgiven, Ambulance match st Survivor Series - both great matches.

No they weren't. They were okay, not even good. Definitely not great.

Kane probably got the biggest push of his career in 2003 after he was unmasked.

Are you fucking joking? He went from being the hottest face on Raw to being a footnote heel who squashed non-wrestlers. He should've had his redemption match against Triple H and won the title.

 

[#heel420]

-McMahon were hogging tv like crazy! Vince, and Stephanie in the I quit match, Shane getting the better of Kane in their feud, Linda McMahon putting Kane on "house arrest", Stephanie McMahon main eventing Smackdowns vs the likes of the Big Show and Albert, Vince and Sable the couple, and Stephanie McMahon's awful acting in her last promo before the I quit match

With that logic you must have hated 1999-2002 then as well.

As for the original question, there have been way worse years than 2003. 95 is damn near unwatchable imo.

 

[wooooo]

Off the top of my head the first things that come to my mind from 2003

January:

+Angle vs Benoit at RR
-The whole HHH/Steiner feud

February:

-Steiner/HHH feud
+Steiner/HHH feud ends

March:

+WrestleMania 19

April:

-Cena thrown into his first main event too early
+Goldberg arrives
-Nash returns

May:

-Judgment Day

June:

-Badd Blood
-/+ Kane unmasks
+Lesnar/Show ringbreak

July:

+Angle returns

August:

+SummerSlam
-Coach becomes a heel

September:

+HHH's 9 month title reign ends
+Shane vs Kane feud
++ Lesnar vs Angle Ironman match

October:

-Vince vs Stephanie

November:

+Survivor Series

December:

+Orton wins the IC title


I prefer to focus on the positives and don't think 2003 was that bad, a lot of it is also pretty vague to me now lol

 

[Desyar]

A lot of people think wwe is bad these days and a lot of people say wwe was at its worst in the mid 90s, but IMO this was the worst year in wwe history! I should have stopped watching in 2003 and these are the reasons...

-McMahon were hogging tv like crazy! Vince, and Stephanie in the I quit match, Shane getting the better of Kane in their feud, Linda McMahon putting Kane on "house arrest", Stephanie McMahon main eventing Smackdowns vs the likes of the Big Show and Albert, Vince and Sable the couple, and Stephanie McMahon's awful acting in her last promo before the I quit match

-Triple H hogged the world title and made others look bad in the process.

-The misuse of Goldberg

-Roddy Piper coming back to rekindle a feud with Hulk Hogan from 20 years earlier!

-Torrie Wilson/Dawn Marie/Al Wilson drama which ended with him "dead".

-Stone Cold vs Eric Bischoff in a redneck triathlon.

-Kevin Nash headlining ppvs who at this point was practically immobile.

-Undertaker vs Brock Lesnar in a "biker chain match" main events No Mercy which is a huge stepdown from their awesome hell in a cell match from a year earlier.

That's about all i can think of for now. Feel free to add to that awful list of what was wwe in 2003. Thankfully things improved in 2004!

Did anyone actually think 2003 was good?

Misuse of Goldberg? If I recall correctly he beaten The Rock at a PPV and even Brock Lesnar before leaving and he even had a championship run.

Were people actually expecting him to go 173-0 like his WCW days? Lmao. The guy is overrated.

I might be in the minority here but I liked 2003 WWE.

 

[HBKistheHOF]

Well this is all based off of perception & our own personal opinions.

Like AnthonyM4 said many people say the early to mid 90's were the worst years for WWE & besides maybe the Attitude Era, that was easily my favorite years for wrestling ever!

Also AnthonyM4 claims that 2003 was "awful" & things started to pick up in 2004. Once again I completely disagree. I really enjoyed 2003 & thought there was a lot of good stuff & even the silly stuff I thought was enoyable, funny or at least somewhat original. It was actually 2004 that I think things started to really go down hill for WWE. With the exception of the Big 4, I'd consider almost every PPV from 2004 bad. & after Mania XX it seemed to me that Mr. McMahons Mania quote "Where It All Begins Again" really did start to take effect but in a negative way for me & it lead to what I believe to be the worst years in WWE history 2005-2008.

Many people even complain about the current WWE product & while I can't say it is anywhere near perfect, of course there will always be things we like & dislike in any given year, I'm loving the current product & I think overall it is the best it has been in a long while.

So it is really based off of out individual tastes & people choose to remember certain things from different years. For example, while someone thinking about 2003 may think of Stephanie vs. Vince in an "I Quit" match or Vince's affair with Sable first, I think of Lesnar vs. Angle in an Iron Man Match on Smackdown. So I think it has a lot more to do with how we choose to remember said year & how we remember that year for us as a person & fan & a lot less about making a list of good & bad things that happened & comparing it to every other year.

 

[Nada]

One has to consider the roster at the time, if you take that into account then WWE 2003 is the worst the company has ever been at, and ive been watching since 1991.

WWE has not been great in the mid 90s, or the last couple of years, but the rosters today and the one in the mid 90s really left a lot to be desired. WWE was stacked in 2001-2004, they had pretty much everyone they wanted not named Sting or Bret Hart, they could have done a dozen of great feuds.

Id say 2003 WWE is comparable to WCW late 1998, with a great roster, yet boneheaded decisions that nullified every advantage they had.

2003 was incredibly bad, and it was the year where so many fans were done with the company, the ratings reflected that as they cratered to the 3.0-3.8 range and never recovered, even til this day.

 

[chibet]

sounds like the OP is heavily into the storylines and not the match quality as much. IMO any year with lesnar/angle matches in their prime is absolute gold. Iron man match, and countless other encounters proved that. There were some horrible characters and such but I'm surprised that the OP likes the current product at all being how storylines are very very shallow and barely even stories. More like , oh aj called someone fat.....the animosity!!! Or how about the amazing feud y2j had with fandango in which y2j refused to pronounce fandango's name right!!! thats some heavy wrestlemania feud right there!!!! 2013 needs to step it up, bringing in more and more roh stars will get us there it would seem with the showings of bryan, cesaro and punk ( at times)

 

[SomeAreSet]

Never really thought about it,but yeah it was pretty poor,wasn't it? Vince was all over TV sticking his tongue up Sable's bunghole,Stephanie was getting beaten up by everyone AND her own father,Hulk Hogan became Mr. America,and I don't even want to mention Zach Gowen. Fucking hell,Vince McMahon beat up a cripple on TV. Even Brock Lesnar got lame by becoming "pals" with Kurt Angle,and that's just on SmackDown.

Triple H got one of the longest runs with the title against some of the over-the-hill opponents who couldn't wrestle 10 minutes at regular pace. Fucking Scott Steiner and Kevin Nash got 6 months' worth of main events,then a WrestleMania feud with Booker T that went nowhere(imagine that,a filler feud that main-evented WrestleMania),with Goldberg fighting Triple H in some form for the rest of the year.

On the bright side,2003 gave us Evolution,rapper John Cena,Shane and Kane in an Ambulance match,and the Kurt Angle-Brock Lesnar main event at WrestleMania,so it wasn't all bad,just cringe-worthy on many occasions. Side note: Survivor Series 2003 was one of the best PPVs of all-time.

 

[jason497]

Man some of this stuff you guys are negative about I thought was kickass.

The Dawn Marie/Torrie Wilson/Al Wilson stuff was awesome. I guess him dying was pretty dumb, but it was an entertaining angle for awhile.

Kaientai/Val Venis was awesome too, I still remember them closing the show with yamaguchi san almost slicing off Val's pecker.

Come to think of it I guess this was around the time I also stopped religiously watching, going back to what Nada said about the ratings tanking.

 

[FlairFan2003]

Well the ratings were a lot better in 2003... A lot more people were watching HHH and company than are watching the show now.

As for the complaints, yes WWE didnt do well with Goldberg. Booker T however was a career mid carder and tag team guy in WCW who only got a sniff at the top of the card when the company was almost out of business. And he beat THE ROCK and got a World Title Match vs HHH at WRESTLEMANIA!!! I think considering what he was when he came in he did quite well for himself, and in fact had tag title runs on RAW and headlined on Smackdown for the next few years after.

Kevin Nash was still a big name and big draw. He did have some good matches with HHH before he got hurt left. Criticizing WWE for using him is ridiculous. They got a lot of $$ out of him and he put over the company's top star.

HHH hogged the title....At the time with Rock & Austin gone, HBK an injury prone part timer with chronic back problems and Flair in his mid 50s who exactly had the star power to carry the company ? This is like when people complain about how long WWE stuck with/kept going back to Brett Hart in the mid 90s...bottom line he was the best moneymaker they had during that time.

Steiner... WWE took a chance signing him, he was the last WCW guy they brought in and was definately not on their Priority List due to his backstage reputation, not too mention the troubles he had in his first WWE run. WWE took a chance signing Curt Henning & Scott Hall too with their drug issues. They also took a chance signing Hogan with his backstage rep and Steve Austin with his injury prone issues. Sometimes the gambles pay off (Hogan, Austin), sometimes they dont (Steiner, Hall). Like Hall, Steiner has only himself to blame, he was pushed hard when he came in but wrestled poorly and had a bad attitude when he wasnt main eventing. Considering how much trouble he caused in WCW he's lucky he even got that chance.

2003 had some very good matches, Edge was moving into the main event realm (Slowly but he was moving) and Evolution got steam which did wonders for Batista & Randy Orton. They got as much as possible out of part timers like HBK & Flair (and Nash before he was injured) and we had some phenomenal talents like Lesnar in his prime, Taker still very good, Jericho, RVD, Christian, Eddie, Angle, more stars with more talent than anything the company has today.

Maybe 2003 wasnt great, but it was far from bad. Im guessing the large number of fans who watched and continued watching over the next few years, most of whom are gone now, would agree.

 

[CuddleBuns84]

2003 was a huge year for nostalgia! Pretty fun year in Wrestling.

The Rock went heel, got Goldberg over. Had two great matches with Hogan and Austin. HBK and Jericho had a great feud.

Smackdown had a great mid-card, Lesnar took off. Heel or Face.

To say 2003 was a bad year, shows you have a bad taste in wrestling. A few bad parts that year, but take a look at the Attitude Era. You had guys getting kidnapped and having their privates getting cut off. Then Viscera introduced the bad hoes. The Hard-Core title being defended 24/7 (Not saying the attitude era was bad. Just pointing out a couple flaws)

Take a look at the 2003 promos and crowd reaction. 2003 wasn't a bad, in fact pretty good time in wrestling. Heyman was booking for crying out loud.

 

[Aquaman6686]

As others have said, 2003 was an amazing year on the SmackDown side of things. And on the RAW side, I loved Triple H's title reign. It brought prestige to the World Heavyweight Championship and made it a true equal to the WWE Championship. My only serious complaint about 2003 (one for each brand) is Goldberg on RAW and Brock Lesnar on SmackDown. I was never a fan of either of those guys and the shows were pretty much built around them.