How WWE Has FINALLY Solved Its Babyface Problem

by Michael Sidgwick
Vince McMahon
WWE

WWE has struggled for years to connect with its base because its half-hearted obligation to push a bastardised version of indie wrestling was just so loveless. The hilarious, multifarious incompetence also did not help, of course, but WWE presented bad wrestling that it did not give a sh*t about for years. The outwardly silly pushes of Riddle and Morrison at least feel lovingly crafted. That goes exponentially further than reluctantly pushing a lad in kick pads for three weeks because they had a bit of buzz that a sighing Vince McMahon acknowledged before saying "Actually, f*ck this, I don't have to acknowledge a f*cking thing!"

This is the beginning of a shift away from the 2010s, throughout which Vince was confronted with various trends that he was not predisposed to understanding. AEW has subsumed virtually all of them, and Vince McMahon is happy about it. He's doubling down now on his own, full-throated bullsh*t.

Bright colours. Colossal new recruits. Spooky bullsh*t. Silly, silly wrestlers.

And because it feels like he isn't hating his f*cking life, the mad awld despot might actually be onto something. Really, this new vision for WWE can't be any worse; it's better Vince do something he wants to do than something he doesn't.

A well-made ketchup burrito probably tastes better than an organic fish taco thrown against the wall after a conniption fit.

Advertisement
In this post: 
Matt Riddle
 
Posted On: 
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!