10 Precise Moments Kayfabe Ended
1. WWE Changes What It Means To Be The Face Of Pro Wrestling
"It's called a promo, kid..."
WWE had for years acknowledged in some form that its product was predetermined, and not just to the Jersey Senate: the fallout of the Montreal Screwjob forced Vince to address the scripted nature of the business and the fraught politics that come with it. The Screwjob itself is only missing here because it is a cannibalised subject most have little desire to revisit.
In August of 2017, WWE didn't merely acknowledge the predetermined nature of the industry; the company told its audience that its face must know how to present itself accordingly. John Cena Vs. Roman Reigns wasn't premised on the age-old 'Who is the better man?' concept. Instead, the question asked of the public was:
'Is Roman Reigns capable of performing as the top star?'
Cena acknowledged his own struggles to change the "content of his character", and called out Reigns for his inability to cut a promo off the cuff. Or "inability". Reigns fired back by claiming Cena couldn't "bury" him, presumably because he was booked to win their upcoming match at No Mercy.
This was true through-the-looking-glass stuff, in that it wasn't a feud: it was a screen test.