10 Improvements WWE Have Already Made In The New Era

One of the most notable changes to WWE programming this week came with the reintroduction of squash matches. Braun Strowman and Nia Jax both wrestled short, dominant, sub two-minute affairs against unheralded local opposition on Raw, while Heath Slater appeared on SmackDown after jumping a similar competitor, only to get wiped-out by Rhyno himself.

It’s the first time that WWE have used this technique in some time, and you only need to look at the four-minute snoozefest between the returning Neville and “Mr. Irrelevant” Curtis Axel on Raw to understand their worth. The match was supposed to build excitement for Neville’s return, but it died horribly when Axel left The Man That Gravity Forgot grounded on the mat for at least half the match. Nobody enjoyed it, nobody looked good, and neither wrestler benefitted.

A well-placed squash match or two can work wonders when a monster heel needs to look like an unstoppable juggernaut, or a babyface needs to shine, dazzle, and pop the crowd. They’re a great tool in helping get a wrestler over, and while too many can prove detrimental in the long-run, nobody wants to see Strowman or Jax wrestle someone like Axel at this point. Build them up, let the crowd get to know them, then unleash them on the rest of the roster.