10 Ways WWE Has Been An Absolute Mess In 2021
4. Gimmicking Too Many Gimmicks
No promotion is safe from an over-the-top gimmick or two, but WWE surely takes the cake above all others. From the often cartoonish characters to asinine stipulations, a purist would be foolish to tune into Raw or SmackDown expecting to see traditional matchups.
On some level, WWE's obsession for everything hokey has been accepted as part of the company's image. Still, 2021 has pushed the envelope to the point that even the most loyal fans have cocked their heads in either dismay or confusion.
At WrestleMania 37, Apollo Crews couldn't simply have a match against Big E. Instead, he morphed into the descendant of Nigerian royalty with all of the customary regalia. Oh, and he acquired the accent, too. If that wasn't enough, his match against E was turned into a Nigerian Drum Match, which in reality, was just your regular no-DQ bout, but this time with timbales and cymbals.
The 'Mania 37 match was far from the only absurd standout. Fast-forward to Backlash, and The Miz encountered zombies in a lumberjack match against Damien Priest. Zombies.
Add all of this to the infinite number of ways WWE has jumped the shark with 'The Fiend,' and in 2021, it appears the company has grown far too comfortable with the studio environment afforded by the ThunderDome and continues to abuse its production facilities to the point some shows no longer resemble wrestling at all, which of course, is a perplexing move if "wrestling" is part of your company's namesake.