10 Ways WWE Are Holding Their Own Wrestlers Back

3. Booking Them In Authority Feuds

Sami Zayn
WWE.com

Austin vs. McMahon might be the most important storyline in WWE history. There's a good chance the company wouldn't have made it through the Monday Night Wars without it, but like all good things, WWE have done the wrestler vs. authority storyline to death since then.

Feuding with a member of the McMahon family doesn't get wrestlers over anymore: it holds them up. A fun WrestleMania bout aside, what did AJ Styles really gain from messing around with Shane McMahon throughout the spring? The same goes for Seth Rollins, whose lengthy rivalry with Triple H culminated in one of the year's most boring matches at 'Mania, producing little upward trajectory afterwards. A similar fate now awaits Kevin Owens, who'll face Shane at Hell In A Cell.

The magic of Austin vs. McMahon is gone, and WWE's reliance on these stories only hinders those who participate in the retreads. On a smaller scale, Stephanie might be off television at the moment, but it's only a matter of time before she returns once more to emasculate and brow-beat the Raw roster with comeuppance every week. Sure, she'll look strong and authoritative, but the wrestlers will never get their lost heat back.

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Channel Manager

Andy has been with WhatCulture for eight years and is currently WhatCulture's Wrestling Channel Manager. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.