10 Totally Dumb Booking Tropes Wrestling Is OBSESSED With

3. The Invisible Camera

Finn Balor
WWE

Whenever AEW films a skit that doesn't take place in the arena, almost invariably, the camera is acknowledged.

In the recent MJF Vs. Adam Cole programme, the two frenemies have participated in "bro sessions" as a means of building chemistry. On each occasion, even if it's simply a drunk Cole asking the camera operator how they're doing, or MJF looking down the lens in disgust at the prospect of dining out at an establishment frequented by "poors", it is made abundantly clear that the camera is not invisible.

This is done because the existence of an invisible camera in the live arena of professional wrestling - which WWE has folded into its storytelling for well over a quarter of a century - is inexcusably stupid.

The characters in wrestling occupy the same world as the audience. You can't concoct some sort of evil scheme away from the prying eyes of those in the dressing room because the babyfaces in the dressing room have the ability to watch the same product as the people whose sympathy they beg for in the ring.

The invisible camera cannot logically co-exist with pro wrestling as a live, interactive, televised performance because it renders every character, automatically, a complete moron.

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!