10 Biggest Wrestling Stories Of 2019 (So Far)

6. WWE's Shocking Dip In Popularity

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WWE

WWE is declining in popularity at an accelerated rate, as its fandom appears to finally accept, in growing number, that the company is systemically unable to create new star attractions nor produce engaging content worthy of time and emotional investment.

Every week spews out some sort of conundrum, which would be fine, were main roster television a game show. It is not. WWE TV is a weird hybrid of whims and tropes, but is ostensibly - or is expected to be - a wrestling show. This week's conundrum(s):

What did Samoa Joe do to earn a 'Championship Opportunity'?

He lost the United States Title to Ricochet. Clean. Then he attacked WWE Champion Kofi Kingston. Kofi didn't angrily demand the match, itself a contrivance; WWE just announced the f*cking thing on Twitter. The writing was so gaping in its plot holes, and it stunk so badly in its apathy and narrative inelegance, that it was essentially WWGoatsE.

This is such basic insight that I genuinely feel guilty for receiving payment, and yet a WWE Creative Writer earns significantly more for not understanding the most basic of dramatic principles. This particular angle was symptomatic of the wider disease: nothing makes sense. Everything is meaningless. The fluid bullsh*t of WWE's rules is tainting everybody with the stink.

RAW ratings are in free-fall. Nobody goes to house shows (those that aren't cancelled as a result of the risible, symptomatic Wild Card Rule). The tarp in arenas is bigger than any titantron. Stomping Grounds was the least-watched WWE pay-per-view of the Network Era.

WWE is in a terrible, terrible period.

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!