10 Easy Ways Of Injecting Realism Into WWE

2. Rethink The Rumble

Roode GIF
WWE Network

The Royal Rumble is an absolute institution, so popular and enduring that it refuses to go the way of its contemporary, the 5 on 5 Survivor Series elimination match.

The 2018 incarnation was a refreshing change from the woefully unrealistic trend that had become endemic in recent years: the surprise entrant. Watching Michael Cole in there in 2012 was a particularly irksome example of it. This isn't the Gimmick Battle Royal at WrestleMania X-Seven. This is a match held to determine the contender for the company's biggest prize on its biggest night. 2018 saw the return of the Hurricane, in what was one of few weak spots of an awesome match. Once an affectionate trope, this has devolved into a sort of empty Family Guy-style reference. The mere sight of a performer from yesteryear is supposed to generate a pop. Increasingly, this relic of a spot is as tired and irrelevant as the antiquated animated show itself.

The likes of Michael Cole, El Torito, The Godfather et al. should be nowhere near it. Not that WWE cares, but it's incredibly difficult to parse just how these comedy entrants end up there in kayfabe. Does everybody connected with WWE, past and present, wrestler and non-wrestler alike, receive an invitation to stick their hands in the golden tumbler, on a first come first served basis? If so, isn't it a coincidence that, year after year, there is an equal mix of 28 full-time roster members and two wacky characters from WWE's colourful history?

Hurricane's Brian Christoper Special of a reaction hopefully killed this goofy b*llocks for good.

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!