10 WWE Gimmicks That Just Aren't Working

It’s 2020 and one your biggest babyface stars is going on maternity leave. It’s 2021 and she’s returned to huge fanfare, better cool that off with a heel turn apparently.

Bianca Belair struck a chord with audiences as SmackDown Women’s Champion. The super athlete has charisma and charm on the mic. That, coupled with a top tier moveset, made her a smash hit in the champion role.

When a highly-anticipated rematch with Sasha Banks went by the wayside, Belair was confronted by Becky Lynch. ‘The Man’ utterly humiliated ‘The EST’ in less than 30 seconds to snatch the gold. A confused audience didn’t know whether to boo or cheer as last year’s favourite female star seemingly buried this year’s one.

In the months since, Lynch’s charisma and promo chops have remained on point. She’s also in truly exceptional ring shape and is putting it together nicely bell to bell.

So what’s the problem?

It’s really very simple: people want to cheer Becky Lynch. ‘The Man’ has turned to villainy with little logic or worthwhile explanation. WWE could’ve at least ridden the wave of goodwill a returning Lynch would receive for a few months whilst prepping a better-developed angle for her Belair feud.

Instead, one babyface has lost nearly all momentum in service of another no longer being a babyface at all.