10 Ways WWE Are Still Stuck In The Past
2. Anti-Hero Vs. Evil Boss
WWE love rehashing old storylines, and this is one of their favourites. The Steve Austin vs. Mr. McMahon feud remains one of the best stories in wrestling history, and a vital part of WWE’s triumph in the Monday Night Wars. It was the foundation of the Attitude Era’s unprecedented success, and it’s hard to imagine where WWE (or any of the participants) would be today if it had never happened.
Unfortunately, WWE have made countless attempts at reviving the storyline throughout the years, and they’ve never bettered the original. CM Punk played a compelling anti-authority folk hero against his malicious employers during the Summer of Punk’s early days, but these stories typically reek of an excuse to get the McMahons on television and rarely work to the wrestlers’ benefit.
It’s still going strong today with the ongoing Triple H vs. Seth Rollins saga, and the mind-numbing Roman Reigns vs. Triple H feud that destroyed WrestleMania 32. WWE just can’t let go of Austin vs. McMahon, and every wrestler they’ve tried to place in the Stone Cold role has ultimately failed. This story type only works when it draws on real-life frustrations (see: Punk, Daniel Bryan), and can’t be used as a foolproof star-making machine. You can't catch lightning in a bottle twice, and Austin will never be replicated.