10 Big Mistakes WWE Will Probably Make Before 2017

Strap yourselves in: 2016 might not end well...

roman reigns title
wwe.com

WWE have had a topsy-turvy year. The company have made several big steps to freshen-up their stagnating product, and while Raw and SmackDown have improved significantly since the start of the year, there are still a number of cracks in WWE’s armour. PPV quality has shot-up since WrestleMania’s rank disappointment, but the likes of Sami Zayn still aren’t being pushed, and while Raw isn’t the torturous slog it once was, it’s still an hour too long.

The New Era has seen its share of ups and downs, but the Brand Split has brought a series of subtle improvements that have made SmackDown in particular infinitely more watchable. The fat has been trimmed, the stories are sharper, and WWE continue blurring the lines between “fake” and real with Brock Lesnar’s assault on Randy Orton and The Miz’s Talking Smack rant.

That said, there are certain mistakes that WWE seemed destined to make forever. 50/50 booking is here to stay, the midcard titles are still in the doldrums, and “Top Babyface Roman Reigns” is still a thing. It’d be impossible for the company to satisfy every single one of their demanding fanbase’s requests, but these tropes were supposed to be washed away in the Brand Split rather than persist.

For those who’ve kept-up with WWE’s post-Draft programming, it’s easy to spot a number of potentially worrying trends as we race towards the year’s end. Here are 10 big mistakes WWE will probably make before 2017.

10. Not Giving The Cruiserweights Time To Shine

roman reigns title
WWE.com

If utilized correctly, Raw’s forthcoming Cruiserweight division will be a huge boon for the Monday night show, and should alleviate some of the problems brought-on by the three-hour format. WCW used to dedicate the first hour of Nitro to Cruiserweight and Television Title action, and while there’s little chance of that happening in 2016, a strong focus on the division will break-up the mundanity of 25-minute talking segments and repetitive storylines.

Noam Dar, TJ Perkins, Brian Kendrick, and Rich Swann have shone brightly in the Cruiserweight Classic, and they can absolutely do the same on Raw. With the likes of Cedric Alexander and Gran Metalik allegedly set to follow them, WWE will have the ideal foundations to build the division on, but they must be given time. The CWC has allowed these wrestlers to get over through revealing vignettes and exciting 8-10 minute matches - two luxuries they may not be afforded on Raw.

History suggests that WWE won’t make the most of his opportunity. The company has a bad track record when it comes to booking the lighter weight classes: the old Cruiserweight Title hit shocking new lows (what’s up, Hornswoggle?) under WWE’s custodianship, and the less said about the Light Heavyweight Title the better. The focus has shifted somewhat since then and the CWC has been a roaring success, but will WWE’s mainstream TV writers trust these relative unknowns with significant screen-time every week? It’s highly doubtful.

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Andy has been with WhatCulture for six years and is currently WhatCulture's Senior Wrestling Reporter. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.