1. It's A Soap Opera Storyline That Attracts The Mainstream
Since the days of the Mega Powers exploding, dramatic, soap opera-type storylines have been a WWE creative staple. Whether executed as romantic issues or family strife, this over-dramatized concept is a popular company trope. Though constantly attempting to catch fire in this storytelling genre, once a generation since that storyline between Hulk Hogan, Randy Savage and Miss Elizabeth was executed, the company knocks one out of the park. Is the feud between Nikki and Brie as captivating as say, the many McMahon family issues of the Attitude Era, or the love triangle between Stephanie, Triple H and Kurt Angle? No. But, the idea that WWE is willing to invest the time in two of its characters to head down this well-worn path is in many ways exciting, as if WWE wants to re-engage with Attitude Era fanatics or those outside of traditional wrestling fanbase, this is a fine place to begin. Between the marital issues between Natalya and Tyson Kidd in NXT and the Bella sisters splitting, if a fan of drama with a side of rasslin', business is picking up, and is absolutely looking at its best.
Besides having been an independent professional wrestling manager for a decade, Marcus Dowling is a Washington, DC-based writer who has contributed to a plethora of online and print magazines and newspapers writing about music and popular culture over the past 15 years.
