10 Lessons WWE Could Learn From Their Own History

Mr Perfect playing horseshoes, Kharma dismantling dolls, and Scott Hall talking in a dodgy accent - there have been a lot of memorable vignettes over the years, and a sense of excitement almost always joins their appearance on TV. They are the bat signal of professional wrestling but rather than hooded justice they proclaim that someone new is coming.

Except, that doesn't happen anymore. If we ignore the months of build-up for Emmalina, WWE seems to have forgotten how to use vignettes, and that's a damn shame. Having a crowd care about a competitor before they even debut can make all the difference.

Take someone like Tye Dillinger. Dillinger is a great wrestler, and down in NXT he was over despite rarely getting a chance. However, on the main roster in front of a casual crowd, he’s a guy who shouts ten a lot.

Now imagine if the month leading up to Dillinger’s debut had featured vignettes. You could use footage from his first run in developmental and talk about him leaving the company. Then, move on to narrate his return and follow him on his journey through NXT as he becomes the Perfect Ten. It's so simple, but it introduces the crowd to a character they can love.

Not everyone needs a month worth of vignettes before they debut. AJ Styles had enough of a name that a surprise appearance was enough. But for wrestlers like Dillinger, an early introduction to the crowd can be the difference between taking off and falling flat.