Explaining the site changes and an open thread for feedback

When you woke up this morning, or took your lunch break, or decided to get online, whatever it is you do before signing on, you came to CagesideSeats.com and were greeted with a sweeping change to the layout and design of the site. The big long wall of text was gone, replaced by a sleek new look with a pretty picture and a little blurb for each new article or video.

A new day is here, my Cageside friends.

Up there in the "Cover" -- that's what we call that big space up top with featured stories -- there's a post welcoming you to SB Nation United. It's an introduction to what we've got in store for you now that so many sweeping changes have been made. I know, it's scary, as most changes are, but I wanted to make sure to create a second, far more informal thread to talk with you about how things are and will be here at CSS.

For starters, I love the design. It looks awesome and it allows me to do so many cool things with the technology that we've been given that I'll be able to do all the great things I was doing before, but even better.

You may be feeling lukewarm to the switch. I can certainly understand that. Maybe you hate it. I can understand that, too.

But I ask that you stay and try this out with me. We've been on this journey for over a year now since I took over the site on Aug. 5, 2011. You stayed with me through a few bumps in the road, and you helped me grow along the way. Now, I'm hoping you'll stick with me here and you'll believe me when I tell you this is absolutely for the best.

There will be bumps in the road. If you're having some issues with a few things, please, by all means, tell me about it in the comments section. Any and all feedback here is appreciated.

As for how the site will operate going forward, expect all the cool usual stuff you get. The "Cover" will change every now and again but it will feature anywhere from one to five posts each day, depending on what we want to feature. I want you to know that you can count on a couple things being there every day.

During live blog days, for WWE, TNA, pay-per-views, etc., the major story will be just that. All the results and live blog, easy to find, all the time. There will also be the new Tournament match, which will stay put all day, nice and easy to locate and vote on, as well as the This Date in History post.

It's going to become very familiar to you, very soon.

Underneath the "Cover" is what's known as the "River," which is basically what we had before. It's a reverse chronological blog roll with all the latest stories from the world of professional wrestling. That's where you'll see the news of the day that we'll be sure to keep you up to date on.

It's as simple as that.

FanPosts and FanShots are right along the side of the "River," also easy to find. We're already getting some good content there, too, like Kanenite's incredible review of Chyna's "Queen of the Ring" escapades. It's must read stuff, my friends.

And, of course, the Precaps from C.J., the Wrestler Wrankings from Hollywood Wallace, the Mid-Week Meltdown and Saturday Slapstick from Hollywood Holland, it's all going to be here too, all edited and made pretty by June M. Williams. Right here for you to enjoy just like before.

I couldn't be happier that you've been on this ride with me for as long as you have. Yeah, I'm talking to you, joliemadchen, and you, Bitchholdmyhoops, and you, Eugene Saxe, and even you, IRodC.

Don't think I'm forgetting about you lurkers. I know you're reading and not commenting and that's fine but stop in and drop a line sometime. I'd love to chat with you about this here artform we all love (most of the time).

So stick around, settle in, and let's have some fun.

(CSS! CSS! CSS!)