10 Totally Stupid Things WWE Has ALREADY DONE Since WrestleMania 33

8. The Presentation Of (And Logic Behind) The Superstar Shake-Up

Bray Wyatt Randy Orton HOH
WWE.com

The Superstar Shake-Up, WWE's rebranded draft, existed because both fans and officials alike knew that both shows had become stale - and bafflingly, that's more or less how it was portrayed on television.

Faint allusions were made to "intense negotiations" and there being "strong interest" from SmackDown in Sami Zayn, but that was about the sum of it. Elsewhere, talents switched brands for no rhyme nor reason. It was almost as if they were completely interchangeable and that nobody is a real, difference-making star.

Consider that SmackDown was happy enough to let Bray Wyatt leave. It didn't matter that he was contractually stipulated a WWE Championship rematch; it was as if - in the storyline - they had no faith that he was capable of recapturing it that they didn't even let him try. Wasn't he the face of the brand a fortnight ago? Shouldn't that mean something? At least, with Kevin Owens and Chris Jericho, there was a pretence that the title might switch brands. Why was that logic not followed through elsewhere?

Why doesn't anything make sense? You almost have to credit WWE. They have created a massive money-spinner of an environment in which it doesn't matter that nothing matters.

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 surefire Undisputed WWE Universal 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!