10 Totally Stupid Things WWE Has ALREADY DONE Since WrestleMania 35

2. Jobbing Out Ricochet

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This isn't a problem exclusive to Ricochet. Ricochet is just the latest, eye-watering example of how arbitrary and disposable everything is.

This isn't one loss on one episode of RAW. It never is; everything forms an incoherent, rotten whole of pestilence. Ricochet joined the ruined crop last Monday, sacrificed by He Who Walks Behind The Rows, to harvest Robert Roode's push, the thought process behind which is so stunted:

We should do something with Bobby Roode.

Give him a moustache, a bit like that man with the phonetically similar surname.

Use alliteration, for that also worked for Rick Rude.

He'll need to win.

Who can we beat?

Ricochet is good at making everything look lethal, so just have Robert go over him.

Ricochet is also good at presenting himself as a special attraction, because he is a special attraction. His match with Adam Cole, at TakeOver: Brooklyn IV, accomplished this without relying on his less-than-special promo game. The entire story of that awesome match pivoted around the idea that Ricochet was even more spectacular than we could have imagined. And now, he's just a guy on RAW. It's almost impressive.

This version of WWE is oddly special, or at least fascinating. Between the oft-superb pay-per-view action and nonsensical, stilted TV, it feels like it is co-directed by Tommy Wiseau and James Cameron.

Longtime fans can enjoy the macabre schadenfreude of it all, but this sort of inattentive horsesh*t isn't going to draw in new viewers, nor recapture those driven away.

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!