10 Things You Just Have To Accept To Enjoy The Modern WWE Product
9. The Face/Heel Dynamic Has Changed Unequivocally
Wrestling is based on a simple dichotomy of good versus evil. In previous eras, this meant presenting the babyface as the ultimate clean-cut nice guy guy, and the heel as a loathsome character with no redeeming features. Fans would cheer the faces and boo the heels, with the company expecting everybody to fall in line without question.
This is no longer the case. In 2017, WWE's heels often draw their brand's loudest face pops, while supposed faces like Roman Reigns are routinely jeered. These reversed reactions always spark claims that 'Wrestler X needs to turn this way, and Wrestle Y that way,' and while some superstars could unquestionably benefit from doing so, WWE's interpretation of this dynamic has shifted immensely.
Any reaction is a good reaction in the company's eyes. It doesn't matter whether or not they're cheering or booing: so long as the fans are making a noise, they've done their job.
Whether or not this is the right mindset is a different debate, but Raw's main event scene shows that WWE don't care about traditional alignments anymore. Reigns, Strowman, Lesnar, and Samoa Joe aren't playing faces or heels: they're sitting firmly in the middle ground. This is very much the company's preferred blueprint, and something that must be accepted to make sense of the current product.