20 Times WWE Was An Absolute Mess In 2020

10. Raw Underground

Lana Bobby Lashley
WWE.com

The great Japanese shoot-style promotions of the '80s and '90s died for a reason. As visceral, realistic, and intricate as peak Battlarts and UWFI bouts were, there wasn't a sustainable market for such products long-term.

So why WWE tried to revive this in 2020 is anyone's guess.

The idea was impossible to start with. "Gritty" doesn't work through WWE's lens, because WWE's lens is the total opposite of the word. Underground was never going to capture the feeling it was looking for, and while the likes of Arturo Ruas and Dabba-Kato at least felt fresh, the quality of work just wasn't there, with matches playing out like Battlarts tribute pantomime performed by bad, unconvincing actors.

Shane McMahon, the man with the worst worked punches in wrestling history, hosted this "underground fight club."

That's like asking Will Ospreay to host a seminar on good social media practices.

Channel Manager
Channel Manager

Andy has been with WhatCulture for eight years and is currently WhatCulture's Wrestling Channel Manager. 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.