25 Worst Wrestling Moments Of 2023

18. WWE's New World Heavyweight Title Roll Out

Paul Levesque elicits all kinds of reactions from fans.

Just watch him on post-show events with a live crowd behind him or dare him to use the word "era" and watch the fireworks, but you'd have to be made of stone not to feel for him when it comes to receiving orders from above. Recently, that has been TKO spoiling WrestleMania every year. In 2023, he was forced to unconvincingly introduce a new championship that felt flawed on many levels.

Visibly struggling to believe his own promo, Levesque couldn't make up his mind as to whether he was praising or condemning Roman Reigns for the absence that meant WWE's men's division didn't have a major prize to compete for. In pointing out that the belt was essentially being introduced because WWE's biggest draw was barely around, this comparison essentially relegated the Raw-based title to being a lesser championship than its SmackDown equivalent.

It was a misfire that instantly made the World Heavyweight Championship feel like a B-grade title. Rather than attempt to create prestige and excitement around the belt, it became nothing more than a token trinket due to Lavesque talking about Roman's absence. That created an unwanted reputation that the WHC is still doing its best to shed.