10 New Directions For WWE After WrestleMania 39 (Night 1)

3. A Workable Babyface Charlotte Flair?!

WWE WrestleMania 39 Rhea Ripley Charlotte Flair
WWE.com

Somewhat incredibly, they've now also got the chance to dance out of 'Mania with a genuinely-likeable babyface version of Charlotte. That seemed impossible before the show's opening night, but her gutsy performance after taking a nasty face-first bump right on the nose will earn respect.

That admiration will double if Flair doesn't bitch about going through pain, but instead takes her sore face with dignity and says she'd willingly suffer through more to hold the belt Rhea now does. Boom! Old champ is put over as someone with courage, and Ripley's title is elevated yet again.

WWE can make something of Charlotte's bravery. That's the kind of human element and relatability she's been missing since turning baby. There was nothing to cling onto or identify with for fans, so having her show off wounds and take her lumps whilst admitting that Rhea was the better woman will go a long way.

That's proper character development - not just showing up smiling and saying, 'I'm a good guy now!'.

Contributor

Lifelong wrestling, video game, music and sports obsessive who has been writing about his passions since childhood. Jamie started writing for WhatCulture in 2013, and has contributed thousands of articles and YouTube videos since then. He cut his teeth penning published pieces for top UK and European wrestling read Fighting Spirit Magazine (FSM), and also has extensive experience working within the wrestling biz as a manager and commentator for promotions like ICW on WWE Network and WCPW/Defiant since 2010. Further, Jamie also hosted the old Ministry Of Slam podcast, and has interviewed everyone from Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels to Bret Hart and Trish Stratus.