10 Wrestling Moments That Had No Right Being THIS Good

9. WWE Delivers A Killer Contract Signing Segment

Roman Reigns Shocked
WWE.com

You know the deal with the WWE Contract Signing Segment.

A table is set up between the upcoming rivals. The beats of the story are recounted with punishing exposition. Sometimes, worked shoot insults are zinged across the table that is inevitably shattered when one wrestler is driven through it via powerbomb. They are completely skippable if you are aware of the beats of the story, and WWE don't tell stories. They establish a premise, and then talk about it.

They didn't with Brock Lesnar and Roman Reigns, about whom they actually give a sh*t.

Their recent contract signing was outstanding. The unflappable Roman Reigns flapped, knowing that his dominance will soon meet its biggest challenge, and cut a killer, grandstanding promo in which the delivery brilliantly overcompensated for his lack of confidence. He showed ass and retained his badass aura, all at the same time. He also paid off the security detail to take Lesnar out, in a sublime twist on how this boring bullsh*t usually ends, but they were unsuccessful. Because Lesnar picked up a chair and launched it full-force in some geek's face. It was amazing.

It worked so well because WWE actually told a good, subtle, episodic story: Roman had for weeks attempted to suppress his panic with excellent line readings ahead of this classic WWE set-piece.

 
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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!