10 Things WWE Did When It Was Huge (And Need To Do Now)
Watcha gonna do, when tedious television runs wild on you?
WWE is taking steps towards giving its fanbase a reason to maintain their interest in the product.
The word of the year is "mystery". Given how easily Cass squashed Enzo at Great Balls Of Fire, it made his sneak attacks a bit pointless, but still, there was a reason to watch RAW beyond ceaseless Titus O'Neil promo botches. A similar storyline remains in transit over on SmackDown. Who is attacking the Fashion Police? The events of Monday's RAW discounted one of the more logical possibilities in American Alpha, who have now become the 41st tag team to break up this year. It's worth tuning into Battleground for the reveal alone, even if the twist is Shyamalanian bad.
The revelation that Jason Jordan is Kurt Angle's son this week was teased quite well. The announcement itself was underwhelming, but it presents WWE with a host of tantalising storytelling opportunities. Will Jordan, warped by nepotism, slowly turn heel to instigate a father vs. son showdown at WrestleMania 34? Will Stephanie McMahon, upon her inevitable return to TV, use Jordan as an excuse to berate Angle's management style, leading to a match between him and her husband?
WWE is asking the right questions, and the return to this Attitude Era trope is a welcome one - but much fertile ground remains untrodden.
10. Let Factions Rule
When was the last time WWE television was consistently good?
To your writer's mind, the age of The Shield provided quality television on the regular. Their MO allowed them to contest bouts against all manner of opponents, uniting a previously aimless midcard against them. Randy Orton, Sheamus and The Big Show were going nowhere prior to WrestleMania 29, having vacated the World Heavyweight Title scene. Uniting against a common enemy booked them a place in a feature, quality 'Mania bout, which itself acted as a platform for further storyline avenues. The subsequent Orton/Show series was bereft of heat, but there's always inherent friction and dramatic tension abound when a faction struts through a wrestling organisation. It has been a staple of the business for years for that reason.
Utilised correctly, it storyboards at least two years worth of action. The Evolution stable masked the Triple H Reign of Terror superbly at its best, and created a bonafide megastar in Batista. Great stables do that.
Great stables, like the Corporation, also create a framework in which to plot a certain character's arc - like a side scrolling beat 'em up, wrestling needs diversions to preserve the lustre of the end boss fight. Without them, as in 2017, those boss fights are repeated over and over again.