How WWE Killed The Superstar Babyface
WWE's mega mega mega money deals with USA Network and Fox haven't just ensured the near future of their red and blue brands respectively. They've put down payments on WWE being just fine, thanks very much, long after even Vince McMahon gets dragged kicking and screaming off this mortal coil. Esteemed wrestling reporter Chris Harrington chillingly noted that the company will soon be less reliant on audience financial investment than monies from other areas of the business. There'll no longer be discussion of buyrates, gates or merch sales, and even television ratings will only be factored in when renewal season approaches.
With that in mind, it's understandable why the old creative model has become unsustainable in the minds of anybody named McMahon. Triple H, to his credit, has used NXT to produce an updated version of the old stuff he still loves, but the chasm between where his prospects start and end must break his heart almost as much as the audiences that try and support their ascension.
Becky Lynch is the latest fist-clenching example of this. Her "Straight Fire" was turned on the fanbase this week, despite the Brooklyn crowd proving entirely flame retardant when she snapped on her former best friend. She's the latest in a long line of collapsed babyfaces runs that were considered "can't miss".
It's now closer to insanity to expect the pushes to work than fail, but why, when a company understands how to pepper its public perception with such positivity, can similar thought not be applied to the real good guys too?
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