10 Reasons Why WWE Fans Are Sick Of Nostalgia

7. Game Over

Triple H India
WWE.com

In contrast to Jericho, the Triple H of 2017 was the same old Triple H we've endured for years.

There are but two levels in the Game: contrived babyface house show badass, and domineering heel onscreen authority figure - a mode he has operated within for years, on and off. Ostensibly, Trips represents a vein into which lapsed Attitude Era fans are meant to tap, in order to discover the full body of work assembled by the modern full-time roster. That doesn't really translate; WWE, in 2018, subsists on a core demographic, in stasis, to which content is "super-served". Triple H's customary 'Mania match does not draw new eyes to the product.

That might have something to do with Triple H's inability to evolve. His WrestleMania 33 match with Seth Rollins, though structured very well, did not resonate with the Orlando fans because the pattern was overfamiliar, and the content lethargic. Framed as something of a "favour" to the present generation, his programmes actually exist to maintain his own relevance. The mooted WrestleMania 34 match with Braun Strowman represents the post-satire of the strategy; he could not have handpicked the hottest star without a long-term booking direction to tussle with.

The Game doesn't really "get" anybody over by putting them over in this day and age. In that sense, he defines the temporary rush of - and folly behind -nostalgia.

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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!