10 Staples From Wrestling's Past WWE Must Bring Back

6. Selling

Undertaker Kane Unforgiven 1998
WWE

Selling is the art that the business is predicated upon - but it has been sacrificed to the sports entertainment altar, which values pace and dynamism over subtlety and logic.

The ongoing Jim Cornette Vs. The Young Bucks war has divided the wrestling fandom. Those in Cornette's corner subscribe to his belief that the realism born from effective selling is paramount to the enjoyment of pro wrestling, for which suspension of disbelief is crucial.

Bucks sympathisers reason that, with kayfabe buried further into the ground than Booker T in 2003, the balletic aspects of pro wrestling should be embraced. Kayfabe is unrecoverable, after all, and besides which, by naming their tandem finisher the Meltzer Driver, they are at least subverting their heel act with a knowing postmodern twist.

But who's the bigger drawer - Nick Jackson or Ricky Morton?

Moreover, where do you go from superkicking somebody fifty-odd times in the face? Regardless of which side of the debate you fall under, the art of selling is categorically timeless. The tack taken by the Young Bucks is limited by its nudge-nudge confines. It can't be taken any further than it has been without completely unravelling the foundation of what it is they're doing.

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!