Kofi Kingston, Xavier Woods and Big E, otherwise known as The New Day have seemingly hit a wall. The WWE Universe seem to give the trio heat every time they enter the arena, no matter what arena they are entering. While the first inclination would be to blame the performers, anybody with a brain can see it is the gimmick that is killing these three men. It's a hodgepodge of racial stereotypes trying desperately not to offend or be racial, while relying wholly upon recognition of such stereotypes. Black people don't cheer them because cheering them would be to support a gimmick dripping in offensively simplistic racial overtones, while the rest of the WWE Universe simply doesn't connect with whatever it is The New Day is supposed to be. They are the ultimate embodiment of the old adage "you can't have your cake and eat it too". In attempting to do so, the WWE have created a mess. The question is can The New Day be saved? The answer to that question is unquestionably yes. All is certainly not lost for this trio of young, athletic and charismatic superstars. The answer to the follow up question is more complicated. How can the WWE save The New Day? This week we'll delve into what the problems with the presentation of The New Day are and outline what changes must be made in order for the group to strike a chord with the members of the WWE Universe. It will require a change of philosophy when it comes to broaching the topic of race within the WWE, making their characters evolve into more active participants in the weekly WWE Narrative, clearly defining who they are and what they are aiming to accomplish by combining their efforts, and most importantly being unafraid to reflect some of the racial tensions that are currently taking place in the United States (and around the globe). Let's dive right in!
Matthew J. Douglas is an emerging screenwriter born in Toronto. A lifelong fascination with what makes a compelling story and the Toni Morrison quote "If there's a book that you want to read, but it hasn't been written yet, then you must write it." led the often opinionated Matthew to the life of writer. Matthew is also a lifelong WWE fan, and a self diagnosed Reality TV Junkie.
