10 Things We Learned From WWE In 2016
6. They've Finally Realized That Quality Beats Originality
When Cactus Jack came to WWE, he was already a well-known name. He'd competed in WCW and ECW, and hardcore fans knew he was one of the most unpredictable workers in the sport. To Vince McMahon, though, that wasn't a plus. He wanted to put his own mark on wrestling with Mick Foley, and thus, Mankind was born. Now, Foley was amazing and was able to make Mankind a memorable character in its own right, but it wasn't until the real man underneath started to show that he became a superstar.
The point of the story is that Vince McMahon has always preferred to eschew other people's ideas, even if it's in his best interest to hold onto them. Thankfully, 2016 saw a departure from that mindset, and that's illustrated best in the case of Shinsuke Nakamura.
Nakamura had spent his entire 14-year career with New Japan, and in that time, he had developed a unique persona that made him one of the most popular stars in the nation and had garnered worldwide acclaim. When he signed with WWE in January, fans wondered and feared how McMahon would change him.
The answer was not at all. He arrived in NXT with the same name, same outfit, same affectations, and same moveset, and he immediately became a star to fans. Cooler heads prevailed, and hopefully they continue to do so.