7 Most Insane Things Happening In Wrestling Right Now (June 30)

3. Kevin Owens Is FAT, YOU GUYS!

LaVar Ball
WWE

On this week's SmackDown, AJ Styles referred to Kevin Owens as "Ron Burgundy's definition of San Diego". To those who haven't seen the 2004 Will Ferrell vehicle Anchorman, this was a PG workaround allowing the Phenomenal One to avoid using a medical term for a body part. Owens is a whale's vagina, apparently.

The "zinger", out of date and totally plagiarised, was yet another constant reminder that Owens, WWE titleholder, eats too much. This came just a week or so after Baron Corbin referred to him as "Cartman" in another scripted segment.

Why does WWE do this?

Those aware of WWE's tendency to belittle performers onscreen know now not to expect Owens to enter WWE Title contendership any time soon. Those not are still being conditioned to receive Owens as a punchline - hardly productive when he's meant to be one of the brand's top heels. Creative has a tendency to humiliate babyfaces to put heat on the heels. The episodic TV format almost demands that WWE does this. It is a protracted exercise of delaying catharsis when there is no end in sight. It's understandable, to an extent. Theoretically, we're meant to tune in on the basis that, someday, this heel is going to get theirs.

When it humiliates the heels, it just reinforces the sad notion that WWE is just a toxic organisation almost allergic to presenting all but a handful of players in a positive light.

Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!