WWE haven't just lost sight of what makes an actual good guy - they've also developed a butterfingered touch when one falls straight into their hands. Daniel Bryan - he of the biggest organic babyface rise of the last decade and improbable life-altering comeback - had "Daniel Bella" chanted at him by a pocket of the Brooklyn audience clearly more enamoured with The Miz than him. Bryan has brought this on himself in a way. He campaigned to be part of the weekly product, fully aware that said product feeds babyfaces into a chipper, smiles-first.
Bryan asked to get back inside of the bubble rather than continue harnessing his own popularity outside of it. Bayley, Sami Zayn and Becky Lynch didn't - they're not so much failures as they are victims of WWE's sprawling success. A success that sadly ensures more of the same in the years to come - regardless of who you cheer or boo.
Michael is a writer, editor, podcaster and presenter for WhatCulture Wrestling, and has been with the organisation over 7 years. He primarily produces written, audio and video content on WWE and AEW, but also provides knowledge and insights on all aspects of the wrestling industry thanks to a passion for it dating back over 30 years. As one third of "The Dadley Boyz", Michael has contributed to the huge rise in popularity of the WhatCulture Wrestling Podcast, earning it top spot in the UK's wrestling podcast charts with well over 50,000,000 total downloads. He has been featured as a wrestling analyst for the Tampa Bay Times and Sports Guys Talking Wrestling, and has covered milestone events in New York, Dallas, Las Vegas, London and Cardiff. Michael's background in media stretches beyond wrestling coverage, with a degree in Journalism from the University Of Sunderland (2:1) and a series of published articles in sports, music and culture magazines The Crack, A Love Supreme and Pilot. When not offering his voice up for daily wrestling podcasts, he can be found losing it singing far too loud watching his favourite bands play live. Follow him on X/Twitter - @MichaelHamflett
