10 Ways WWE Was Made Worse By Being Lazy

3. "He Stole One!"

Ali Andrade
WWE.com

"He stole one!"

A criminal storytelling device that frames a legitimate pin as an act of theft, this trope never gets anybody over. It's possibly the worst application of WWE's ironic insistence on "protecting" everybody. The idea that a legitimate hold is a fluke is bizarre betrayal of pro wrestling, and indeed WWE's past - Bret Hart won several matches with what was presented as real ingenuity - and generally makes so sense. Can you imagine a commentator writing off a lightning counterattack in a football game?

"The defence wasn't ready for this, so it's not as impressive as a real goal. In fact, it doesn't count. Set a rematch for next week."

It's the job of the defence to defend. It's incumbent on a performer like Andrade, who loses like this far too often, to defend himself. Under this finish, the winner doesn't really win, the loser doesn't really lose, RAW rolls on.

It's both lazy and uncommitted. It's so clear watching that WWE has no belief in really pushing the winner, or using the win to progress their arc. It's just copout bullsh*t that exists only to half-a*se a segment.

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!