10 WWE Things That Must Happen Before WrestleMania 38

8. More Characters, Fewer Cartoons

Drew McIntyre Sword
WWE.com

Though WWE prides itself on being an entertainment company, not a wrestling promotion, its character base is inherently shallow and hampered by cartoon-ish presentation.

Why does Drew McIntyre carry a sword and wear a kilt to the ring? Your audience knows he's Scottish. It's evident from the moment the first syllable leaves his mouth and he was considerably cooler when he wasn't carrying these goofy props around. Similar criticisms can be applied to Riddle's overcooked (overbaked?) stoner persona, scooter and all. Karrion Kross' parter MMA cosplayer/part supernatural gimmick looks nice but lacks substance. Alexa Bliss, 29, plays an infant on television. Dexter Lumis is maybe, kinda, sorta a serial killer with nothing going on between the ropes. Akira Tozawa is a ninja. The list goes on.

The best and most compelling characters in WWE - Bayley, Sasha Banks, Roman Reigns - are those unhampered by cornball presentation. Incidentally, these are also the names doing the most to move WWE's numbers in the right direction these days. The lesson should be clear there.

Personalities over cartoons.

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Channel Manager
Channel Manager

Andy has been with WhatCulture for six years and is currently WhatCulture's Senior Wrestling Reporter. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.