Why WWE Has FAILED To Replace This Legend
WWE has tried for years to find an heir apparent, to no avail. How can they cope?
Catching lightning in a bottle in wrestling is exactly as rare and difficult as it sounds. You can’t just engineer a megastar to revolutionize the industry and carry the company on their back for years. If that was the case, Roman Reigns would have been in his current position eight years ago.
Whether it’s Hulk Hogan, “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, The Rock, Lita, John Cena, Daniel Bryan or Becky Lynch, organic superstardom is neigh impossible to come by in today’s WWE – but that doesn’t mean that WWE won’t desperately try to recreate it.
The company has been feverishly trying to find “the next Rey Mysterio” or “the next Eddie Guerrero” for nearly two decades, looking to tap into the vibrant Latin American/Mexican market and bring in new fans, or just find a high-flying human highlight reel who captures fans’ imagination. Honestly, it’s smart business, but the road has been paved with numerous superstars who have come up short in these efforts.
There’s a reason Rey is still head-and-shoulders above all other luchadors on the roster and that Eddie is still talked about regularly in revered tones – no one has been able to fill their boots, despite WWE’s best efforts.
But with Rey now inducted into the Hall of Fame and indicating that his in-ring career could be winding down in the next couple of years, it’s clear the company is more inclined to cash in on the Mysterio legacy now than really establishing the next Rey – mainly because they never will.
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