10 Very Bad WWE Ideas That Lasted For Years

6. The Authority

Roman Reigns
WWE.com

The Authority stable only vaguely worked when they acted as antagonists towards Daniel Bryan.

They were the overbearing, meta version of a regime that could not sanction the idea of a pale, unkempt technical wrestler starring as the face of the company. In reality, WWE is an overbearing regime that can not sanction the idea of a pale, unkempt technical wrestler starring as the face of the company, which led to the events of autumn 2013.

They did do what was best for business, under the threat of defiance, at WrestleMania XXX. Beyond that, the irony intensified to what would be a laughable degree, if the punchline wasn't soul-destroying. Seth Rollins played the chosen one - a heel whose heel bosses thought was a geek - and it was a dismal failure.

Has WWE ever spent as long building towards something with as little lasting imprint as Rollins Vs. Triple H at 'Mania 33?

The events of the prior year's 'Mania were just staggeringly daft. Roman Reigns, persecuted victim of the machine? The storyline was an assault on the intelligence of the audience. Everybody knew he was the intended face of the company. The premise was diabolical, the execution bland in the extreme.

The Authority didn't make any babyfaces, and just sort of ended. It was WWE's attempt at telling the audience that, yes, they were incompetent, and that things were going to change.

But that would involve admitting fault.

 
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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!