10 Ways WWE Are Still Stuck In The Past
3. USA Vs. The World
Professional wrestling loves a bit of over-the-top patriotism, and few stories are easier to tell than the all-American hero vs. the devious foreign menace. The format has birthed some of the biggest heels of all-time in the Iron Sheik and Nikolai Volkoff, and given many an American babyface a major popularity spike. We see it and time again, and WWE will keep repeating it for as long as the company exists.
Rusev serves as the most recent example, and while the company have gradually toned down the anti-USA side of his personality recently, they still trot-out the USA vs. the world trope from time to time. The likes of Jack Swagger, Mark Henry, and Zack Ryder have all tried to defend their country’s honour against the Bulgarian Brute, with most failing miserably in their efforts.
The trouble with these stories is that WWE just aren’t able to tell them without descending to jingoism and lazy stereotypes. Rusev and Lana are partly saved by their skill as performers, but their early-career Putin-worship reeked of desperation, and only drew the cheapest of heat.
There’s nothing wrong with a bit of chest-beating patriotism every now and then, but WWE’s attempts are so hamfisted and these stories always come off as crass. It’s time to move on.