10 Biggest Problems Facing WWE Creative At The Moment

7. Creating Likeable Babyfaces

Modern WWE babyfaces tend to fall into one of two categories:-

1. Smug, unlikeable, pseudo-tweeners who are regularly as cocky and dishonourable as the supposed heels (see: Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins).

2. Over-enthusiastic try-hards who rarely win, and are only ever booked to look like fools (see: Sami Zayn, Bayley).

WWE haven’t had a truly convincing babyface since Daniel Bryan, and his surge in popularity came as a response to his perceived mistreatment. Creative had very little to do with it, but they continue to force their faces into positions of weakness, hoping to recapture DB’s underdog magic.

It isn’t working, and until they solve the problem, it’s hard to imagine WWE programming escaping its ratings malaise. Wrestling is much easier to get into when you have a well-defined, affable hero to cheer, but today’s product is more about cheering heels in spite of the supposed heroes, with the likes of Braun Strowman continually drawing the night’s loudest face pops.

This problem has a lot do with shifting dynamics within the fanbase, but that doesn’t mean Creative aren’t complicit. They’re the ones producing the material that draws these reactions, and if their work isn’t getting the desired response, it’s on them to make the alterations.