10 WWE Matches That Changed Your Mind About Wrestlers You Hated
Samoan mic drop.
Confirmation bias is inherent to the wrestling fandom - a natural consequence of its uniquely collaborative crowd dynamic. We are encouraged to use our voice, and often use it to communicate sentiment to the company promoting the matches. And, since WWE is often deaf to this communication, we are faced with little option but to increase the volume.
This, consequently, shapes and encourages a sort of contrarian conviction immune to detached critical thinking. The desire to be "right" is a human imperative; if we aren't, we question our very validity - and so we often suspend this critical thinking in search of it. In parallel, many of us gravitate to trends in some form or another - especially in our formative years - compounding this unshakeable belief system. This is why you will rarely, if ever, read the words "I stand corrected" in this toxic, divisive online arena. Writing subjectively, this confirmation bias manifested as an irrational hatred of super-heavyweight wrestling long after persuasive data rendered it a close-minded mentality. The Big Show couldn't improve, because the man wasn't a smooth and slender technical wizard.
Opening your eyes to a resistant reading, and showing a willingness to learn, is a sign of evolution - but it helps when those you are reluctant to accept inject dopamine directly into the brain via undeniably awesome wrestling matches...
10. ROMAN REIGNS Vs. AJ Styles - Extreme Rules 2016
That confirmation bias exists to some extent in the case of Roman Reigns. It must. If it didn't, he would not draw accusations of corny promos despite having not uttered something as lame as "tater tots" or "sufferin' succotash" for a full two years. He wouldn't draw accusations of "John Cena clone" despite comprehensively wrestling better matches opposite Braun Strowman in 2017 than Cena managed in their formulaic-in-the-extreme September 11 RAW clash.
On a subjective level, Reigns could not be denied on May 22, 2016 - irrespective of his Phenomenal opponent. This was no carry-job; Reigns carried himself like a proper WWE Heavyweight Champion on the night, brushing Styles off with a back elbow dripping in swagger. Everything he did, he timed brilliantly, manipulating the crowd into a frenzy the likes of which should - but still don't - audibly confirm his ability to work a crowd. In a similar vein, Reigns also deftly countered accusations of a repetitive repertoire by vaulting the ring steps to flatten Styles with the Spear. Every wrestler gets the same old sh*t in. The trick is timing that sh*t to perfection, modifying it, and creating new contexts in which to get fans, who have seen it all before, to react to it.
An electric battle of strength and endurance versus skill and cunning, Reigns Vs. Styles changed the mind of one fan, at least.