10 Major Problems Facing WWE In 2017
4. Unconvincing Babyfaces
Wrestling is supposed to tell the straightforward tale of heroes vs. villains in an athletic setting, but WWE completely forgot about the good guys somewhere down the line. The company’s heels are mostly fine (even if guys like Kevin Owens are cheered as much as they’re booed), but they have next to no idea how to build a top-level babyface anymore. This has been the case for years, and barring a major creative reshuffle, it’s unlikely to change anytime soon.
Roman Reigns remains the company’s focus, but he’s often portrayed as an unlikeable bully with next to no redeeming features. Seth Rollins, meanwhile, is too much of a smart-ass, and he’s about as altruistic as Hannibal Lecter. SmackDown’s top faces fare slightly better, but WWE do a terrible job in building believable heroes, which not only makes it hard to get invested in the company’s characters, but their stories and everything surrounding them.
Sami Zayn is the company’s most naturally affable wrestler, but he’s stuck playing cannon fodder for Braun Strowman at the moment. Even Raw Women’s Champion Sasha Banks has her obnoxious tendencies, and when Rusev, once one of the company’s biggest heels, shows more valiance and honour than 90% of your babyface roster, you’ve got a huge problem on your hands. Until WWE remedy this solution, their feuds will be illogical, unengaging, blurred by grey morality.