10 Times Wrestling Was The Best Soap Opera Ever
When the three count is just a cue for the real drama to begin…
The sport of professional wrestling and soap operas have always occupied a certain space in the entertainment industry. Outside of their fanbases, they are often viewed as crude and juvenile low art. It makes perfect sense that wrestling’s ‘sports entertainment’ would draw on the outrageous but easy viewing of soap storylines for its ‘entertainment’. Storylines to pull viewers in without being so complex that they distract from the in-ring action.
A move to a more soap opera inspired product was controversial to the pre-'80s pro-wrestling purists. However, by the Attitude Era WWE Creative had perfected the unmissable mix of showy storylines and peak athletics.
WWE, along with others capitalising on this new genre of professional wrestling, had something no other ‘real’ sport had. It could define their athletes outside of competition. They could curate the personality, appearance, relationships, and rivalries of their roster, so it could be as entertaining and diverse as possible. However, unlike soap operas, WWE was not as bound to realism. They could feature larger than life characters who caught the attention of those channel surfing at home. In many instances, wrestling storylines transcend their daytime TV influences…
10. Mandy And Otis
A CHRISTMAS MIRACLE!
On the Christmas go home show, Mandy gave Otis a Ham and a kiss on the cheek. However, his meaty gift was destroyed during a Miracle on 34th Street Fight. After Otis apologised, Mandy gave him a hug, ruining her dress with his “meat sweats”.
Next week, Otis gave Mandy his mother’s famous homemade holiday fruitcake by way of apology. The genuinely touching moment was ruined by Dolph Ziggler’s claim that Otis had given cake to everyone. One even included a cockroach.
TWO-TIMED!
After Otis assisted Mandy in the Royal Rumble, she agreed to a Valentine’s Day date. However, on the day, Mandy texted to say she was running late. When Otis arrived at the restaurant with flowers, he found his “beautiful peach” having dinner with Ziggler. Sympathy for Otis ramped up his already growing popularity.
CATFISHED!
Prior to both men’s WrestleMania match, the mysterious hacker hijacked the screen to reveal the truth. Sonya Deville and Ziggler had conspired together to ruin Mandy and Otis’ date. Sonya sent the text from Mandy’s phone, and Ziggler was in place at the restaurant. A devastated Mandy stormed off. At WrestleMania 36, Mandy chose Otis hitting Ziggler with a low blow. In the feel-good moment of the evening, Mandy celebrated Otis’ win with a kiss.