8 Problems WWE Solved With The 2018 Superstar Shake-Up

5. Sami, Kevin, And Repetition

Kevin Owens Sami Zayn The Miz
WWE.com

The Sami Zayn/Kevin Owens heel act has been both a success and a failure.

Drawing legitimate heat is extremely difficult in 2018, particularly when you're two of WWE's biggest internet darlings. That Zayn and Owens have been able to do so so consistently is borderline miraculous. Even when they're cheered, Sami and Kev are able to turn the positivity into negativity with a few sentences. On top of this, both are still among WWE's most consistently entertaining and engaging performers, and they still get jeers.

Unfortunately, their creative direction has totally undermined this, creating some borderline underwatchable television. The anti-authority storyline was going nowhere until Daniel Bryan's unforeseen clearance saved it, resulting in a cathartic 'Mania moment. Without this, it would've likely ended on a bum note, with Super Shane single-handedly booting both men off SmackDown, plunging the double-act's interest levels to an all-time low.

Moving to Raw became essential the moment Zayn and Owens lost at WrestleMania, and it gives them the opportunity of a fresh start. No more Shane, no more Bryan, no more bulls***. Let's just hope they're kept well aware from Kurt Angle...

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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.