10 Biggest WWE Creative Mistakes Of The Decade

2. Seth Rollins Vs. The Fiend Ends Via Referee Stoppage (Hell In A Cell 2019)

Batista Roman Reigns Jinder Mahal
WWE.com

"Will somebody stop the damn match! Enough's enough!"

"OK."

Hell In A Cell 2019 was an omnicide: the Hell In A Cell gimmick, Seth Rollins as a babyface, his finish, the rules, the aura of the Fiend character - in his second in-ring appearance! - died on October 6, 2019.

Watching this unfold live was the damnedest thing: you could actually feel the Fiend gimmick slip away in real time. It was a stark, micro illustration of everything wrong with WWE's rotten creative process. The red light that bathed Champion and challenger was a hokey, on-the-nose production effect that symbolised Vince McMahon's pervasive interference. The insistence on protecting Seth Rollins, an objective bust in the top babyface role, somehow contrived to damage two performers. The use of props - props, pal! - accelerated the ancient prophesy. Of course, we were never going to be allowed to take Bray Wyatt seriously. Bray Wyatt was wearing a clown mask, man.

How could we be so f*cking stupid?

WWE made mugs of us, and ruined the aura of a performer who had spent over a year restoring the most dishonourable mention of a run. And then, the supernaturally powered character just couldn't take a sledgehammer to the bracket.

*Triple H does Conan O'Brien voice*

"Only I may use the sledgehammer."

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!