10 Modern Wrestling Tropes We're Totally Sick Of

4. Diving Into Moves

Michael Cole oh my
WWE

Observe the above gif.

Fabian Aichner is a tremendous professional wrestler of skill, speed, power, and agility, a credit to Imperium and NXT UK, and one of the more underrated performers under WWE contract, but, like... what the hell is he trying to do here? What is he attempting to achieve within the context of the match?

If attacking Adam Cole was his intention when he climbed the turnbuckles, he must've changed halfway up. Aichner tries nothing here. He leaps forward with his legs and arms down, making no attempt to strike or land on the NXT Champion, jumping right into the Superkick. A pop-worthy moment? Sure, but it makes no sense in what is supposed to be a simulated combat environment.

This isn't an attempt at picking on Aicher specifically because stuff like this happens every single week, across every promotion you can think of. It's the kind of objective phoniness that makes the sport look like a cooperative dance routine, not a contest, and a surefire immersion-breaking every time it happens - which is often.

Wrestling is fake. The toothpaste can never be put back in the tube, but spots like this will never not be objectionable.

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Andy has been with WhatCulture for eight years and is currently WhatCulture's Wrestling Channel Manager. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.