10 Biggest WWE Creative Mistakes Of The Decade

9. WWE's Disastrous Handling Of The NXT Call-Up Process

Batista Roman Reigns Jinder Mahal
WWE.com

The mid-point of the decade inspired hope lol.

NXT painted a picture of the main roster's grand, crucial future. And then they f*cked literally everything. This is a broad point, but then, this is deep institutional rot we're dealing with.

The process is thus: WWE debuts a popular call-up on the RAW after WrestleMania to all but guarantee a huge pop on the night. That's it.

That's the process.

Beyond that, the call-up is instantly mired in the swamp, directionless, unable to move forward despite Triple H's insistence that there is a long-term plan in place. Perhaps there is, and that plan is "a series of mundane programmes, if they're lucky, that don't impact anything."

Vince McMahon seemed to enjoy the muscles on Apollo Crews, and then promptly became bored. The crowd had the temerity to chant along with Tye Dillinger. Nope. Andrade, a former NXT Champion, became another 50/50 guy. They all become 50/50 guys. Bayley was an exuberant presence on NXT, a shield against cynicism. On the main roster, her run destroyed the innocence that was once thought impossible to recapture. The plight of Mojo Rawley became so grim that his gimmick literally became that of a man experiencing a weekly existential crisis.

This was all profound in its failure: WWE giveth and taketh away in a series of biblical f*ck-ups that eroded any faith fans had in the process.

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!