10 WWE Storylines We'd Like To See In 2018

9. Sports Entertainment Does Pro Wrestling

Bayley Asuka
WWE.com

The shocking marriage of WWE and Shinsuke Nakamura is essentially loveless as we exit 2017. This is a major indictment of the former's insipid storytelling formulas, rather than the latter's blinding in-ring talent and character work.

Unable to ramble on incessantly nor trade rehearsed zingers in an unfamiliar tongue, Nakamura was made to look an absolute geek in his feud with Jinder Mahal, which distilled the essence of the problem: Mahal had to generate heat, in order to inspire fans to get behind Nakamura. But Nakamura, unable to deliver those trademark zingers, looked worse than impotent by simply not charging to ringside and kicking f*ck out of Mahal the second he dared racially abuse him. When he finally acknowledged the bullying, he waved it off - because it was all he could do.

If WWE does push on with the rumoured (well, hoped-for) AJ Styles Vs. Shinsuke Nakamura WWE Heavyweight Title Match at WrestleMania 34 - and if The Artist wins the Royal Rumble to mitigate the resentment surrounding Roman Reigns - there is much TV time to fill to build towards a match that both sells itself and is difficult to sell within the sports entertainment context.

Recycling is part of the wrestling fabric - and a beat for beat retread of the training montages shown of The Rock and Brock Lesnar ahead of SummerSlam 2002 would both conceal Shinsuke's promo shortcomings, break the paradox, and frame the match as the genuine sporting event it is.

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Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and surefire Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!