10 Most INFURIATING Wrestling Narratives
The 1-2-3 Kid was the best. The best.
A narrative, in this context, is a collective opinion formed through consensus.
Since wrestling fans are not as dumb as WWE believes them to be—in case you missed what just happened, here it is again, and Michael Cole is here to guide you across the road because those big lorry things aren’t to play with, they will hurt you—the broader narrative paints a true enough picture of this worked industry. The British Bulldog is possibly the best pro wrestler ever who wasn’t capable of carrying an opponent. Fair. Bret Hart was a wrestling genius, even if he took himself that bit too seriously. Fair. Shawn Michaels was a wrestling genius, even if he was a bit of a c*nt.
Fair.
We are are a reasonable lot, aren’t we, when we’re not ceaselessly imposing our fantasy booking scenarios onto WWE and crying in rage when the company instead opts to take on the suggestions of a promoter who has drawn in mega stadium-sized crowds at WrestleMania for the last 13 years. Sometimes, however, the same wrestling fans who chant DUH CM PUNK at storyline developments they don’t like, yet cheer IRL panto villain Vince McMahon whenever he returns to screens don’t have the best collective takes, oddly enough.
Sh*t prevails that should not prevail.
This list collects those meconium narratives, and aims to scrape them from the bowl.
10. X-Pac Heat
The phenomenon of 'X-Pac Heat' isn't just ancient or inaccurate.
It's an insult.
X-Pac's star faded throughout the Attitude Era because the trendy in-ring norm had little use for his genius. In the broader, brawling-heavy environment to which he returned, X-Pac, slight in frame, didn't feel much like a threat in opposition to the massive punchers. And, when the working midcard roster improved considerably around him, those he paved the way for dated his style with their cultural and athletic update on it. All of this, combined with a puerile jock comedy shtick the irreverence of a Kurt Angle rendered old hat, too, made Pac something of a relic—and thus the prevailing ‘X-Pac Heat’ narrative was born.
And it is bullsh*t, for the 1-2-3 Kid was an outstanding, influential and important performer. Watch his match with Owen Hart—not even the famous one—on the August 15, 1994 RAW. He bumped like a bullet for Owen throughout a full-on ripper, complementing Owen’s nascent singles act as something truly formidable in itself, and not just jumped-up little sh*t foil for his brotherly rival.
The Kid enhanced all of your brilliant childhood favourites, and yet, too many wrestling fans have forgotten just how superb he was, tossing about the phrase far too casually, not aware, perhaps, that it shapes his legacy.
It’s Baron Corbin Heat. Baron Corbin was never the 1-2-3 Kid.