10 Times Wrestling Fans Got What They Wanted (But Didn’t Realise)

3. "We Want Tag Team Wrestling To Mean Something In WWE"

trish stratus mandy rose
WWE.com

Before Triple H took over the book, Vince McMahon, shockingly, made tag team wrestling mean something in 2022.

That something wasn't of major, show-defining importance, and it feels ugly to praise Vince for anything, given the disgusting, historical actions that enforced his apparent "retirement" - but strictly, he did answer a loud and sustained complaint that echoed across the online sphere for much of the 21st century.

The Usos had been established as one of the most dominant units in company history, elevated by a lengthy reign with the SmackDown Tag Team Titles, but the real, shocking success unfolded on Raw across the first quarter of 2022. Likely because Randy Orton was heavily involved, the red belts, once considered so meaningless that they were simply swapped between brands after the 2021 draft, actually developed prestige and entertainment value. RK-Bro, despite featuring Riddle, were a likeable strange bedfellows act so over that WWE actually held off the split to make fans happy and develop Orton's character. Arguably, he'd never been more over. Underneath, Chad Gable discovered his own personality as the sanctimonious Alpha Academy spokesperson, the Street Profits were super-motivated, and the dropped frenemy deal between Seth Rollins and Kevin Owens was elusive, good WWE comedy.

Match quality was tremendous, too.

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!