By Bruce Mitchell, PWTorch columnist

It's a bad time to be a wrestling fan. Both major television wrestling companies are in major creative ruts and face real challenges if they want to continue to grow or prosper. This Memo, though, is not about the major structural changes both need, but the little things they can do right now that will make their creative effort more efficient, things that will cost them little or nothing.

1. Act like cheaters are cheating: When Miz sneaks in the ring behind John Cena and punches him in the back of the head, the announcers should treat him like he pulled that stunt in a bar, i.e. The Miz is a punk who has no guts. He's scared of Cena because if he wasn't he would challenge him face to face, like a champion should. Sure, Miz "is making a statement"—he's saying for all his skill and supposed toughness, he's a coward. Tell everyone. Tell everyone first.

2. Heroes get the last word: The coolest, coldest thing on any given wrestling show—that thing that fans quote to each other the next day—should consistently come from the number–one ticket–selling babyface, not the crazy announcer or the crooked executive. Literally, the last message fans should get in any promo showdown should be from the hero.

3. Heroes should be more resourceful than villains: Heroes take charge. Villains take shortcuts. Heroes are fired up. Villains throw temper tantrums when they don't get their way. Villains may cheat to get a temporary advantage, but fans should have faith that their heroes will persevere. Fans should never ask themselves why their hero would get into the ring with all those guys when he clearly is just going to get beat up. Common sense, right?

4. Legends are babyfaces: The people who care about Hulk Hogan in 2011 fondly remember Hulkamania. Wrestling fans remember, respect, and love Ric Flair because they know he's the greatest wrestler ever, and they love how cool his jet–flying, limousine–riding character was. When data–driven advertisers hire these legends to hype their crap they tap into that affection. Why should wrestling companies, and the wrestlers themselves, be any different?

5. You know that video package WWE did a week after Triple H and Undertaker's WrestleMania match, the one where all the WWE Superstars talked up the match? Do that—and not only after important matches, but before them, too. Ever watch the NFL? They spend more time anticipating big games than playing them. The NFL makes a lot of money, and they're both sports and entertainment, too.

6. When a storyline ends, make sur

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Bruce Mitchell is the senior columnist for PWTorch, on staff since 1990. He is pro wrestling's Most Must–Read Columnist! Listen to the Bruce Mitchell Audio Show hosted by Wade Keller every weekend at the PWTorch VIP website as they spend two hours discussing current events in pro wrestling, covering major history topics in depth. He also cohosts the PWTorch Livecast on Mondays in the hour right before Tough Enough, taking your calls live. Go to www.blogtalkradio.com/pro–wrestling–torch on Monday night to listen listen live or just call 1–646–721–9828 to listen on the phone or also participate with a question or comment.

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