10 Absolute Worst Ways WWE Dragged Out Feuds

2. The Big Dog Goes Hungry

Blue Balls
WWE.com

In the WhatCulture office last week, the wrestling lads sparked a conversation. How does a young child, WWE's target audience, "get in to" pro wrestling in 2018?

Take one look at the WrestleMania VI VHS cover and wonder what kid wouldn't. Remember your dad? You thought he was amazing because he was strong enough to pick you up and put him on your shoulders. Hulk Hogan and the Ultimate Warrior were impossibly strong and colourful men able to perform feats of incredible athleticism...

...through the eyes of a six year-old.

Roman Reigns meanwhile is a guy who taps you on the shoulder, says look over there, and then wins a title. Triumph was key to getting the kids to believe, and want to believe, but kids don't even see his celebrations because Kevin Dunn turns off the feed before it becomes apparent that everybody absolutely hates him.

Best we can tell, the four years-long Brock Lesnar Vs. Roman Reigns programme was pitched, ultimately, to build the latter as a storyline force powerful enough to put an end to the man powerful enough to put an end to the Undertaker's Streak. In execution, to obscure Roman's lack of popularity, this materialised as crushing blood-stained losses, lots of interminable tin foil hat bitching, a botched cage spot, and finally (but not finally, they're fighting again next month) an opportunistic fluke win.

WWE's actual audience is comprised mostly of 50+ year-old males, for those left wondering.

Contributor
Contributor

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 current Undisputed WWE 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!