10 Ways WWE Hasn't Learned From Its Mistakes

8. Weariness Of 'Outside' Talent

The Miz x2
WWE

All talent is 'outside' talent. There is no laboratory in which Vince McMahon "makes" his sports entertainers. They are procured from the collegiate athletic circuit or the independent scene and stationed in the Performance Center to learn the WWE "way" of doing things, the schedule for which follows:

9:00AM - Wardrobe fitting session for grey 'Property of WWE Performance Center' t-shirts.

10:00AM - Hand staring class with Shawn Michaels.

12:00PM - Lunch.

2:00PM - Identikit mechanical movement class with multiple hundreds of talent sharing the same trainers.

4:00PM - Shocked-face kick-out class with Michael Hayes.

WWE long ago embraced - at a distance - the independent circuit. The recruitment process has changed since WWE appeared to be disgusted over the Daniel Bryan-shaped bargain they picked up from the bin on the recommendation of William Regal. And yet, even though the scene has produced the vast majority of WWE's main roster in 2021, WWE still can't seem to abide by it. What they did to get signed isn't immaterial, but it's damn sure controlled and mollified for Vince McMahon.

By the time WWE is satisfied that they have located the difference between a flower girl and a lady, the all-important immediacy is gone. You're not supposed to watch people rot in a glorified gym for years on end.

You're supposed to enjoy them! On television!

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Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!