10 WWE Storylines We'd Like To See In 2018

WWE storylines, generally, are not very good - neither in build nor resolution.

The best - well, worst - example concerned the recent programme between Dolph Ziggler and Bobby Roode which, ultimately, was completely pointless. Dolph, in tonally bizarre segments neither dramatic nor funny, cosplayed as various WWE stars and legends. There was no infuriating bait and switch, nor disrespectful portrayal designed to antagonise the audience into anything resembling a reaction. He simply played it entirely straight and moaned, as he is wont to do, about his own portrayal in the company. The debuting Roode narrowly won their underwhelming in-ring series, the strange mechanics of which hardly assisted Roode's sudden, incongruous and unflattering babyface role. Without any clear direction, it's little wonder Roode flubbed his lines in what devolved into an embarrassing promo battle on the post-Hell In A Cell SmackDown.

A cracking Two Out Of Three Falls match rescued the wider rivalry from those depths, but it might as well have not happened. Full 50/50 territory was invaded when Ziggler recently captured the United States Title from Baron Corbin in a Triple Threat match also involving Roode.

Who is the better man?

What was the point of the preceding two months?

Isn't WWE "Shakespeare", not a loose collection of wrasslin' exhinition matches?

Vince McMahon is probably better than an armchair critic at doing his own job - but complaining about a problem without providing a solution is called whining*...

*The onscreen firing of Shane and Stephanie McMahon, unfortunately, is much too unrealistic.

The Shield reunion is cursed, it would seem: after Roman Reigns fell victim to the mumps, Dean Ambrose now faces months on the shelf resulting from a triceps injury.

Say the Lunatic Fringe does miss WrestleMania season (a d*mn shame, given his lunatic schedule). There is no immediate need to proceed with the rumoured, belated heel turn in the spring months. Roman Reigns is not turning heel: to quote the great Chris Morris, you've more chance of getting a bl*wjob from the Pope. Seth Rollins is at last doing well in the babyface role - one crucial to his long-term story arc - which is a roundabout way of suggesting that the Shield reunion doesn't necessarily have to exist as a short-term smokescreen to obscure Roman's lack of legitimate popularity.

Enter the Undisputed Era.

The Undisputed Era Vs. Shield is an awesome prospect in and of itself for a SummerSlam headliner, their perfect main roster introduction, and a platform on which to draft the second chapter of the Shield's dissolution - the sequel driven by Ambrose's defection to the dark side.

"ADAM COLE, BAYBAY!" - cut to Roman Reigns, lurking in plain sight, about to deliver a Superman punch - before Kyle O'Reilly ensnares him with his leaping submission prowess. There are so many potential moments of brilliance in what would act as a neat and progressive contrast to the Era's 2017 SummerSlam weekend debut.