10 Biggest WWE Creative Mistakes Of The Decade

7. Braun Strowman

Batista Roman Reigns Jinder Mahal
WWE

Look at Braun Strowman.

Just look at him.

He is a colossus of a man. He looks like Vince McMahon created him in a laboratory, as Randy Orton, built from the ground-up, looked like an abomination in contrast. Strowman was custom-built to trigger a raging case of the Gary Strydoms within the mad king. He could go, in physical WWE-style main events, he could talk, he could get a catchphrase over, he could do comedy. Strowman floated into Vince's window, Smithers-style, and he slept on a monster for the first time in his life.

For years, WWE fans raged against the mould. They were conditioned to loathe the typical WWE Superstar because the typical WWE Superstar always won out. Then, WWE created the most typical WWE Superstar, and fans received him in the intended spirit. Then WWE refused to pull the trigger on the most typical WWE Superstar.

Strowman was the Miz to Brock Lesnar's John Cena. The Beast couldn't be arsed with him. Over time, Strowman entered the Dean Ambrose realm: he was incidentally funny, and so the comedy defined and overwhelmed his act. The thing is, he's massive, and he looks even bigger stood next to diminutive women and small children! WWE mishandled Strowman, but that botch asked a bigger, unanswerable question of a process people grew too jaded to even scrutinise: if not Strowman, then who?

Who was worth the investment?

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!