10 Ways WWE Can Improve Its Product In 2017
8. Book Real Heat
On the flip side, good heels are as useful a tool as any in getting over babyfaces. While Steve Austin would have still been a star on his own, how much did he benefit from the genius of Bret Hart? How big would Dusty have been without Ric Flair? Hell, even Virgil had a moment in the sun at SummerSlam '91 thanks to Ted DiBiase.
But with great heels came great heat that promoters of yesteryear weren't afraid to book. Sure, it's a different world today and the veil that covered pro-wrestling previously has been pulled back, if not completely torn down. Still, fans want to buy into the characters portrayed on-screen; it's no different than a movie or a play.
In WWE, heels aren't meant to be despised by the audience anymore. And don't ask WWE how they want their heels to be treated. One minute, heels are on Twitter belittling fans, the next they're shown doing charity work for underprivileged kids. Why must the heels' character integrity be constantly compromised because of wishy-washy, conflicting direction from leadership?
Unfortunately, between today's age of political correctness, pressure from corporate sponsors, and, most importantly, the seemingly neutered 72 year-old Vince McMahon, WWE just doesn't book the bite it used to.