5 Ups & 8 Downs From WWE Raw (May 17)

3. This Ricochet Character

Ricochet dork
WWE.com

Speaking of great wrestlers being dealt an awful hand.

If you can even call it a "character, this Ricochet character stinks. It's horrendous. He is supposed to be the babyface in his feud with Sheamus but has become every bit as obnoxious as the Irishman was at his worst, when the current United States Champion was an overbearing, smug bully.

Ricochet can't convincingly bully a man like Sheamus, but he can compel you to actually want to see him getting his head kicked in when he's supposed to be the hero. On Raw, as at WrestleMania Backlash, he got off on stealing Sheamus' hat and coat because... reasons?

This is one of those braindead "he looooooves to have fun!" deals that Vince McMahon is intent on pushing every now and then. He's likely trying to portray Ricochet as a wacky, light-hearted prankster, but what part of this is the audience supposed to latch onto?

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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.