10 Really Strange Modern Wrestling Phenomenons

8. Unjustified Jobbers

I Don T Feel So Good
WWE.com

Wrestling jobbers, being jobbers, were never around for long. There purely to stare at the lights, in flattering big-bumping performances, their brief stints in addition to putting over the stars made a sort of fictional sense also. Defeated so comprehensively, why wouldn't a promotion give Chris Hamrick, wonderful bump notwithstanding, the heave-ho? He was, in kayfabe, a no-hoper at best, a liability at worst.

WWE's financial muscle in the years since has flexed and fostered the rise of the permanent enhancement talent, which manifests as monumentally tedious and pointless television. Some of these acts try to or are given something marginally entertaining to do with a nailed-on outcome. Curt Hawkins' losing streak yields the odd tragically optimistic and thus blackly comic promo. The Ascension were alright in the Fashion Files skits. But mostly, there is a fleet of undercard performers who contribute nothing to the product aside from defeats that are as inevitable as they are unoriginal as they are repetitive, impressive only to the broadcasters who generate money from segments that fundamentally exist to exist.

When you allow Vince Russo to complain with justification - he'd do something with Epico Colon, even if it is absolute trash - then something is wrong.

Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!