Is this because CM Punk has been a failure as a top star and Daniel Bryan hasn’t been able to get over with the fans? Clearly we need less indy darlings to make room for more Mason Ryans.

If McMahon is looking for the next “boom” period, he’s not going to be able to do it with someone who doesn’t feel the business through and through. In the 1980′s, there was Hulk Hogan, who was already an established figure by the time he made it to the WWF. In the 1990′s, it was Austin and Rock, both of whom had long ties to the business, Austin through hard work, and Rock through his family. With rare exceptions, wrestlers who are not devoted to the business don’t work out. Goldberg is one of the few flukes, and even he didn’t last once the luster was tainted after the end of the streak.

Perhaps McMahon might be lucky enough to have another Sting, who had worked the Indies a few years before reaching the NWA, or a Cena who was pretty much trained by the WWE system and thus is incredibly loyal to the WWE. But more likely than not, he’ll end up with another Lashly or Lesnar who got bored with their endeavors and moved on within a few years.

Plus, it is important to get and retain people who actually know how to wrestle. Even if they’re not going to be major stars, they can form the backbone of the midcard. It’s when the WWE goes with untrained muscleheads and expects them to deliver week in and week out that injuries happen. Look at Ahmed Johnson, who debuted in the WWF in 1995 with a year of experience behind him. He was pushed to the moon in 1996 and was poised to become part of the main event scene, but a series of injuries (to himself and to others) derailed his career and he was gone by mid 1998.

If this is true it’s a shame. You know why people like Punk and Bryan and AJ? Because they were huge wrestling fans growing up and that passion shows in what they are doing.