10 Reasons WWE Is Incapable Of Creating New Main Event Stars
7. The Internet Darling Era Has Reached Critical Mass
When WWE revised its recruitment policy and embraced internet darlings, around 2011-12, it was felt that the company had finally listened to the vocal adult male portion of its audience.
The subsequent NXT TakeOver era was rewarding on every conceivable level. Match quality and diversity, a novel emphasis on female talent, strong, consistent storylines, a shifting cast of fresh characters - it was practically a love letter to a disenchanted generation. One of the more low-key rearding aspects of it was the debut match. Kevin Owens and Apollo Crews in particular debuted in auspicious circumstances. Portrayed and received as major deals in exciting, flattering squash matches, the formula was near-perfect.
WWE has since went overboard, as the company is wont to do. The introduction of the Cruiserweight Classic and 205 Live necessitated an en masse raft of debuts, many, like Lince Dorado and Gran Metalik, indistinguishable from one another.
The internet darlings in 2017 aren't just struggling for relevance; they are struggling for identity. There are now too many wrestlers in WWE who are really good at wrestling, but don't have distinctive character. It's like we're living in a cracked mirror version of 2006.