13 Ups & 9 Downs For WWE In 2022
Downs…
9. The Royal Rumble Matches
Recent reports confirmed that morale within the WWE locker room had been at an all-time low following this year's devastatingly bleak Royal Rumble.
Think about that; regardless of WWE being a television company more than a pay-per-view one now, the entire year is still shaped around the undeniable magic of WrestleMania and, for the wrestlers, the promise of making it on the biggest stage in the industry. In kayfabe and reality, the Rumble represents a passport to that paradise, and even if you're not the one pointing at the sign, you're on the road and exposed to all possibilities.
That both matches could suck so much and play to that much indifference speaks to how much faith had clearly been lost in former head honcho Vince McMahon. The vibe was destroyed by actual ticket-buying punters revealing themselves to not watch Raw on the reg when theme songs dropping didn't lead to popping. The booking was stubborn and/or beige with little wiggle room for fun runs, nostalgic thrill rides or overly optimistic hope spots. When the opportunity for nice things - Melina, Molly Holly and The Riott Squad's one night returns being potent examples - they were senselessly crushed just to remind us all who was still - but not for long - boss.
Father fired son after Shane McMahon tried to bogart all the coolest spots in the closing stretch of the main event, but beyond that, McMahon was never been further apart from what his audience - or roster - wanted. And think of the vast, vast acres of ground that covers.