10 Things WWE Regrets About Survivor Series
2. Sheamus Cashes In
Vince McMahon isn't ignorant towards the toxic fan reaction to Roman Reigns - he just likes him a great deal, and his company enjoys such a luxurious market share that he doesn't have to care.
Still, in an ideal world, they'd very much like fans to cheer for him. That would explain why The Shield recently reformed, why The Rock was wheeled out at the Royal Rumble 2015 to prop up his murdered body, why imminent victim Brock Lesnar enjoys God status, why John Cena endorsed him as his successor a month ago, why...
The decision to cast Sheamus as transitional antagonist heading into his grand WrestleMania 32 coronation was the worst, most tone-deaf form of the strategy yet. While a great worker in patches, fans did not perceive Sheamus as a main event-level threat - and his own perception as office golden boy doubled down on the idea that this company operates for an audience of one. Their feud - despite a brutally dramatic TLC match - bombed.
The sympathy ploy backfired - and the predictable contrivance that was 'One Vs. All' eroded any sense of drama heading into Dallas.