Column: 36 Strategies of WWE Strategy 3 – Borrow the Sword to Kill the Man
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Quick recap of what this series is about: military and political strategies from Ancient China show up in spades in the storylines of the WWE. The WWE is at its most interesting when its characters employ these strategies, and the most successful superstars tend to be the ones who use these strategies most often and most successfully.
STRATEGY #3
JIE DAO SHA REN – Borrow the Sword to Kill the Man
Sun Tzu advised that if you’re limited in strength, then borrow the strength of your enemy. If you can’t neutralize an enemy, then borrow an enemy’s knife to do so. Whenever possible, conserve your resources and have others spend theirs to help you accomplish your own goals and defeat your own enemies.
Currently, this strategy is being used in one of the primary storylines of the WWE. John Laurinaitis, the Executive Vice President of Talent Relations, seems to be engaged in a plan to unseat Triple H as C.O.O. of the WWE. Laurinaitis is a former wrestler but is no longer a physical match for Triple H. In title and position within the WWE, Laurinaitis is also Triple H’s subordinate. Thus, Laurinaitis is physically and politically outmatched by Triple H. There is no way for Laurinaitis to defeat Triple H…unless he uses others to help get the job done.
Laurinaitis is “borrowing the sword to kill the man.” Laurinaitis’ first two attempts at using this strategy did not succeed, but neither did they reveal him as the definite enemy of Triple H. Laurinaitis first tried to use Kevin Nash to undermine Triple H’s position by having him interfere in the WWE Championship match between CM Punk and John Cena at SummerSlam. This attempt ultimately failed when Triple H fired Kevin Nash because Nash got caught lying to him. Laurinaitis’ second attempt was to use The Miz and R-Truth, who had been vocal in their opposition of Triple H as the COO. For seemingly no reason at all, The Miz and R-Truth intervened in Triple H and CM Punk’s match at Night of Champions in order to try to get CM Punk to win the match. The Miz and R-Truth, had they been successful, would have succeeded in ousting Triple H as the COO, as that had been the stipulation of the match. Laurinaitis also got his own hands dirty for the first time on this occasion, as he tried to force the referee to make a three-count on Triple H after interference. Laurinaitis exposed himself as a potential enemy to Triple H after this took place.
After this failure by Laurinaitis to oust Triple H, Laurinaitis’ plans were once again thwarted when Triple H fired The Miz and R-Truth. Laurinaitis was then left to find another manner of acting against Triple H. Laurinaitis was soon presented with another opportunity, when Harvard Law School-trained David Otunga complained to Laurinaitis that he was being under-utilized. Laurinaitis buttered-up Otunga to use the skills that set him apart, i.e. his law school training. Later on in the show, Otunga was seen backstage with Laurinaitis and top heels Christian, Vickie Guerrero, Dolph Ziggler, Cody Rhodes, and Alberto Del Rio, who had complained to Triple H earlier in the night that the WWE was no longer a safe place to work. The four men were seeking legal advice about their legal options, and they were advised by Otunga that they do have a legal case. The four men, encouraged by Laurinaitis’ prodding, agreed that they would stand together in solidarity if a lawsuit was to be brought.
At Hell in a Cell, The Miz and R-Truth brutally attacked referees, cameramen, and all three wrestlers from the WWE Championship match. The cage had been opened so that Miz and Truth could get enter, but then the cage was lowered so that no one else could get in and no one could get out. Triple H tried frantically to find someone to get the cage opened, but this seemingly easy task proved impossible for him until it was too late. The only other person who has the access and position to lock down the cage would have been Laurinaitis, who also would have been the only person able to sneak the Miz and R-Truth into the arena and into close proximity to the cage.
On RAW after Hell in a Cell, Triple H told Laurinaitis point-blank that it seemed like the person closest to him was going out of his way to undermine everything that Triple H did. Laurinaitis then told Triple H that he was doing a bad job as COO and that the WWE was out of control since he took charge. Triple H countered that he didn’t seek the position; it was thrust upon him. Laurinaitis then advised that everyone was against him and that he should call all of the WWE superstars into the ring at once and have a Vote of Confidence, which Laurinaitis was certain that Triple H would lose. The state of affairs had deteriorated so much in the WWE that even superstars that were not part of Laurinaitis’ master plan were drawn into the criticism of Triple H. The Vote of Confidence happened. The wrestlers voted no confidence. Mike Chioda, back from his suspension, spoke for the referees and voted no confidence. The honorable Jerry Lawler, face to face with Triple H, agreed that Triple H himself was not the cause of all of the recent events but that someone out there wants Triple H to fail, and the fact that this is the case makes Triple H a danger to everyone else around him. Lawler then voted no confidence and walked out on Triple H. The locker room followed suit. Even Jim Ross, who seemed at first like he might be the only one to support Triple H, walked out on him. Once the Vote of Confidence reached its conclusion and everybody had abandoned Triple H, Laurinaitis stood at the top of the entrance ramp and glared at Triple H, as if to say that he told him so.
So that is where things stand with the Laurinaitis – Triple H situation. Laurinaitis has relentlessly plotted against Triple H and is starting to see success in his efforts. Laurinaitis hadn’t revealed himself as the enemy of Triple H until his success was reasonably assured. Of course, there is also the possibility that Mr. McMahon is the one who is ultimately using Laurinaitis to get to Triple H while he has been prevented by the Board of Directors from actively managing day to day affairs of the business. If this ends up being the case, then McMahon will have successfully employed the strategy of borrowing the sword to kill the man to an even greater extent because he will have been a level even more removed from the situation.
Triple H is no stranger to using this strategy. He used it numerous times throughout his career. For example, on the March 19, 2001 edition of RAW, HHH had wanted to get the Undertaker out of the way. Triple H took advantage of The Big Show, who had been upset at Kane, to get revenge on Kane by attacking the Undertaker. This plan might have worked in theory, but it failed for Triple H on this occasion because the Undertaker saw it coming and managed to get Triple H alone before the Big Show came out.
Kurt Angle as a heel was also effective at using this strategy. In addition to convincing Eddie Guerrero to challenge Triple H on August 28, 2000 RAW, Angle also convinced Val Venis to challenge The Rock on the October 12, 2000 Smackdown on the same day that Angle tried to put the Rock in Stone Cold’s cross-hairs by suggesting that the Rock was involved in running over Stone Cold. The Rock defeated Venis, but Angle came down to the ring and delivered two Olympic Slams to the Rock after he had won.
People often “borrowed” Kane to take out an enemy. On the November 28, 2000 RAW, Angle did not want to defend his Championship against the Undertaker. To keep the Undertaker occupied, Angle went to Kane, talked to Kane about family, and convinced Kane to attack the Undertaker. Undertaker then demanded a match against Kane, and this bought Kurt Angle time from defending the title against him. The next summer, Kurt Angle was a crowd favorite and was involved in a war with Shane-O-Mac. On June 11, 2001, Shane told Kane that Kurt Angle might be the one who was stalking The Undertaker’s wife. This information must have been reported to The Undertaker, because later that night, The Undertaker came out and delivered the Last Ride to Angle. Shane-O-Mac then came in and delivered a cheap-shot Olympic Slam.
So, in conclusion, using other individuals to do your dirty work, soften an opponent, or dispatch an enemy is a tried-and-true strategy used by WWE Superstars.
Column: 36 Strategies of WWE – Strategy 26 – zhi sang ma huai
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Triple H’s firing of Kevin Nash, the Miz, and R-Truth make this strategy a very timely one to introduce.
STRATEGY #26
ZHI SANG MA HUAI – Point at the Mulberry But Curse the Locust Tree
Interpretation #1: Make an example of somebody to instill fear or obedience in others.
Interpretation #2: Campaign against / Punish someone for doing the exact thing you have done in the past.
(Most of these strategies only have one interpretation. This one happens to have two.) In everyday life, bosses are constantly trying to make examples of the few in order to motivate or control the many. Chinese history is littered with examples of generals beheading unruly lieutenants in order to control the everyday troops. Also, we do not have to look too far or think too hard to find real-life examples of people championing a cause in order to hide their own faults or to mask their own history of misdeeds.
WWE storylines are no different. There are several examples of both interpretations of “pointing at the Mulberry but cursing the Locust tree.”
Interpretation #1:
HHH fired Kevin Nash for being dishonest with him about the text messages he received, the faked car accident, and subsequent involvement in CM Punk’s matches. This sent a message to the entire WWE locker room. HHH fired The Miz and R-Truth, but he could arguably be trying to send a message to John Laurenaitis not to interfere with his running of WWE operations.
In the past, Vince McMahon has fired people in order to make a point. When wrestlers have thought themselves too big for their britches, McMahon has let them go. Sgt. Slaughter once said that he had demanded special treatment in the early 1990s, but McMahon responded by telling him that he didn’t need to show up at the next event and that his services were no longer needed. In storylines in the past decade, McMahon has become famous for both the “Kiss-my-Ass Club” and for his firings.
After Alundra Blaze brought the WWE Womens’ Championship to WCW and dropped it into the garbage during the height of the Monday Night Wars, Vince McMahon became afraid that other champions would do the same thing if they signed contracts with WCW. Bret Hart was the next person to fall into a similar situation…a WWE Champion who signed a contract with WCW. In order to prevent the possibility of Bret Hart bringing the WWE Championship to WCW, McMahon prematurely ended Hart’s title reign at Survivor Series in November, 1997 by calling for the referee to end the match. McMahon had the referee claim that Hart tapped out to a Shawn Michaels’ Sharpshooter, even though he had not done so. The end result was that McMahon made an example of Hart; no one else ever brought a WWE Championship to another promotion; and this event planted the seed of the Attitude Era that would ultimately overtake the WCW and lead to the establishment of the WWE as the primary promotion in professional wrestling.
Interpretation #2:
Back to Triple H’s firing of the Miz and R-Truth, his reasoning was that the Miz and R-Truth had put their hands on an official. However, Triple H’s history is littered with examples of abusing referees. Miz on Twitter noted three specific examples. At No Mercy 1999 versus Stone Cold Steve Austin, Triple H pushed a referee. In April 2000 (probably at the RAW when HHH denied that his match to Y2J took place), Triple H pedigreed the referee. At Judgement Day 2003 versus Kevin Nash, Triple H used his favorite weapon of choice…the sledgehammer…against the referee. Triple H succeeded, at least for now, in firing the Miz and R-Truth for doing exactly the kind of thing that he had done while transitioning from a young main-eventer to the perennial main-eventer. The Miz, however, is calling out Triple H for his hypocrisy, and this may facilitate a return later on…or even facilitate a face turn if HHH the C.O.O. turns heel.
This is not Triple H’s first time punishing someone for doing the exact same thing that he has done. On Smackdown on April 28,2000, Triple H threatened to strip Edge and Christian of the WWE Tag Team Championships for the reason that they were interfering in other peoples’ matches. The irony of this was that Triple H and Degeneration X were constantly interfering in matches during this time period.
On RAW on August 28,2000, Kurt Angle tried to convince Eddie Guerrero to challenge Triple H. One of the arguments that he made to Guerrero was that HHH had weaseled his way into another man’s relationship, claiming that weaseling into another man’s relationship is the absolute worst thing a man can do. Kurt Angle, however, had done the same thing; so using this argument was hypocritical and a perfect case of “pointing at the Mulberry and cursing the Locust Tree.”
A bit more mundane but equally hypocritical, on a recent episode of Smackdown, Christian ranted as he descended the entrance ramp about how there is nothing that he hates more than a whiner. The hypocrisy of this statement is comical because this was during Christian’s Summer of Rematches against Randy Orton. All Christian did was whine to Teddy Long after every match he lost to Randy Orton. Christian also whined about the WWE Universe for goading Teddy Long into forcing Christian to defend his newly-won World Championship against Orton only “five days” after winning it. Christian kept losing to Orton, and every time Christian lost to Orton, he demanded one more match because he knew he could beat Orton.
The superstars who use this strategy are by-and-large successful when they are in a position of power. When not in a position of power, the results are mixed. It is often easy to see through the hypocrisy of Interpretation #2, but there is not always anything that can be done about it. Perhaps the Miz has found a way to neutralize this strategy by meeting it head-on…but that remains to be seen.
Can you guys and ladies think of any other important examples of this strategy? Let me know what you guys think.
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Vince McMahon Talks About WWE's Rebranding & Expansion Strategy
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Posted in: WWE
Vince McMahon Talks About WWE's Rebranding & Expansion Strategy
By Michael Bluth
Apr 7, 2011 - 10:34:48 AM Last week, we reported that WWE was eradicating itself of the world "wrestling." John Cena and Randy Orton are no longer wrestlers - they're "superstars" and "sports entertainers." Even the company's name is getting an overhaul - dropping the phrase "World Wrestling Entertainment" in favor of simply "WWE."
The Los Angeles Times has a feature article looking at the latest re-branding efforts of WWE, which includes many new details on the company's strategy moving forward as well as comments from the chairman himself, Vince McMahon. Head over to LATimes.com to read the full piece.
"I think every brand has to re-create itself," McMahon said. "I want everyone to look at us in a vastly different way than they have."
The article says McMahon plans to go on a spending spree to acquire media assets that could expand WWE's business beyond the ring. In particular, WWE is targeting companies involved in production, live entertainment and branding.
"It is a logical broadening of what we already do," McMahon said. "No one does television production better than we do, it's damn near the Olympics. We know more about live event touring than anyone in the United States."
With very little debt to speak of and almost $70 million cash on hand, WWE has deep pockets and the ability to make their vision of expansion a reality.
Aside from acquisitions in the production and live entertainment arenas, WWE is also moving ahead with its planned cable channel and has already met with distributors (including Verizon) in hopes of launching the WWE Network in 2012.
Analysts are mixed on whether WWE should expand outside of its core business, or whether it should be more conservative with its spending and focus on internal matters and improve areas of business that have been suffering in recent years.
Jay Kaplan, portfolio manager for Royce & Associates, which holds about 9% of WWE stock, was interviewed for the LA Times pice and said, "I think that the most important thing right now is the return of the health of the core business. One of the market's big concerns is are they losing market share to real fighting."
The article looks at the mixed results WWE has seen when branching out beyond the realm of pro wrestling - with the XFL and WWE New York ventures falling flat.
Some analysts wonder whether WWE wants to grow to position itself for an eventual sale. With Vince McMahon in his mid 60's and his wife Linda gone from the company, the article speculates whether this planned expansion is taking place in anticipation of an eventual sale. Without mentioning that his daughter Stephanie and her husband Triple H are being groomed to be the next generation of WWE leadership, Vince shot down the idea of selling the company.
"We're very independent-minded," he said. "I don't see that happening."
* THE MIZ's Next Feud, AWESOME KONG's WWE Debut & LOTS More Exclusive News
(Source: LATimes.com)
Vince McMahon Talks About WWE's Rebranding & Expansion Strategy
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Posted in: WWE
Vince McMahon Talks About WWE's Rebranding & Expansion Strategy
By Michael Bluth
Apr 7, 2011 - 10:34:48 AM Last week, we reported that WWE was eradicating itself of the world "wrestling." John Cena and Randy Orton are no longer wrestlers - they're "superstars" and "sports entertainers." Even the company's name is getting an overhaul - dropping the phrase "World Wrestling Entertainment" in favor of simply "WWE."
The Los Angeles Times has a feature article looking at the latest re-branding efforts of WWE, which includes many new details on the company's strategy moving forward as well as comments from the chairman himself, Vince McMahon. Head over to LATimes.com to read the full piece.
"I think every brand has to re-create itself," McMahon said. "I want everyone to look at us in a vastly different way than they have."
The article says McMahon plans to go on a spending spree to acquire media assets that could expand WWE's business beyond the ring. In particular, WWE is targeting companies involved in production, live entertainment and branding.
"It is a logical broadening of what we already do," McMahon said. "No one does television production better than we do, it's damn near the Olympics. We know more about live event touring than anyone in the United States."
With very little debt to speak of and almost $70 million cash on hand, WWE has deep pockets and the ability to make their vision of expansion a reality.
Aside from acquisitions in the production and live entertainment arenas, WWE is also moving ahead with its planned cable channel and has already met with distributors (including Verizon) in hopes of launching the WWE Network in 2012.
Analysts are mixed on whether WWE should expand outside of its core business, or whether it should be more conservative with its spending and focus on internal matters and improve areas of business that have been suffering in recent years.
Jay Kaplan, portfolio manager for Royce & Associates, which holds about 9% of WWE stock, was interviewed for the LA Times pice and said, "I think that the most important thing right now is the return of the health of the core business. One of the market's big concerns is are they losing market share to real fighting."
The article looks at the mixed results WWE has seen when branching out beyond the realm of pro wrestling - with the XFL and WWE New York ventures falling flat.
Some analysts wonder whether WWE wants to grow to position itself for an eventual sale. With Vince McMahon in his mid 60's and his wife Linda gone from the company, the article speculates whether this planned expansion is taking place in anticipation of an eventual sale. Without mentioning that his daughter Stephanie and her husband Triple H are being groomed to be the next generation of WWE leadership, Vince shot down the idea of selling the company.
"We're very independent-minded," he said. "I don't see that happening."
* THE MIZ's Next Feud, AWESOME KONG's WWE Debut & LOTS More Exclusive News
(Source: LATimes.com)
Vince McMahon Talks About WWE's Rebranding & Expansion Strategy
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Posted in: WWE
Vince McMahon Talks About WWE's Rebranding & Expansion Strategy
By Michael Bluth
Apr 7, 2011 - 10:34:48 AM Last week, we reported that WWE was eradicating itself of the world "wrestling." John Cena and Randy Orton are no longer wrestlers - they're "superstars" and "sports entertainers." Even the company's name is getting an overhaul - dropping the phrase "World Wrestling Entertainment" in favor of simply "WWE."
The Los Angeles Times has a feature article looking at the latest re-branding efforts of WWE, which includes many new details on the company's strategy moving forward as well as comments from the chairman himself, Vince McMahon. Head over to LATimes.com to read the full piece.
"I think every brand has to re-create itself," McMahon said. "I want everyone to look at us in a vastly different way than they have."
The article says McMahon plans to go on a spending spree to acquire media assets that could expand WWE's business beyond the ring. In particular, WWE is targeting companies involved in production, live entertainment and branding.
"It is a logical broadening of what we already do," McMahon said. "No one does television production better than we do, it's damn near the Olympics. We know more about live event touring than anyone in the United States."
With very little debt to speak of and almost $70 million cash on hand, WWE has deep pockets and the ability to make their vision of expansion a reality.
Aside from acquisitions in the production and live entertainment arenas, WWE is also moving ahead with its planned cable channel and has already met with distributors (including Verizon) in hopes of launching the WWE Network in 2012.
Analysts are mixed on whether WWE should expand outside of its core business, or whether it should be more conservative with its spending and focus on internal matters and improve areas of business that have been suffering in recent years.
Jay Kaplan, portfolio manager for Royce & Associates, which holds about 9% of WWE stock, was interviewed for the LA Times pice and said, "I think that the most important thing right now is the return of the health of the core business. One of the market's big concerns is are they losing market share to real fighting."
The article looks at the mixed results WWE has seen when branching out beyond the realm of pro wrestling - with the XFL and WWE New York ventures falling flat.
Some analysts wonder whether WWE wants to grow to position itself for an eventual sale. With Vince McMahon in his mid 60's and his wife Linda gone from the company, the article speculates whether this planned expansion is taking place in anticipation of an eventual sale. Without mentioning that his daughter Stephanie and her husband Triple H are being groomed to be the next generation of WWE leadership, Vince shot down the idea of selling the company.
"We're very independent-minded," he said. "I don't see that happening."
* THE MIZ's Next Feud, AWESOME KONG's WWE Debut & LOTS More Exclusive News
(Source: LATimes.com)
