10 BOLD Predictions For WWE In 2020

4. The Revival WON'T Leave

Bust-Up Triple H Vince McMahon
WWE.com

The Revival have expressed a desire to leave WWE, variously, by:

Bantering off promises to legitimise tag team wrestling on Twitter with cry-laugh emojis; earnestly making a pact on Instagram to "Screw the money, let's be happy,"; outright telling us that they will on one "glorious" day wrestle the Young Bucks; not waiting to change out of their gear to request their release; not signing a new deal months and months after it was offered...

It would seem Scott Dawson and Dash Wilder are taking the Jon Moxley route by patiently running down their deals, but WWE has a new negotiating hand to play: the Two Sweet Finn Bálor NXT USA Deal, which promises both the vast riches and creative fulfilment that, just a few months ago, were mutually exclusive. NXT-on-main-roster-money is a draw in itself, but NXT's approach to tag wrestling psychology is more aligned with their own vision: Wilder and Dawson are stickers for the rules and seem to bemoan those who break them every other week. This of course could inform some rich, styles-clash storytelling, but the philosophical difference seems rather profound. AEW has tightened up those loose, exhilarating sprints, but it does say 'No flips' on those t-shirts, and WWE will offer an obscene amount of money, even if they won't make them top guys.

Moreover, this isn't purely a spite thing: there's further motivation to offer this deal, on the basis that NXT's existing tag team division barely does exist.

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!