How WWE Should Debut The Elite

The Elite
AEW

It doesn't have to turn out like any of this of course, but at what point will people accept it not just as a possibility but a promising one?

When was the last time The Elite felt less like their name suggests?

In the shadow of all the controversy surrounding everything CM Punk (and if his brokered return has been pushed through amidst strained compromises), the reunited group came back together for a feud with The Blackpool Combat Club that offered increased violence and (whisper it) diminished returns. Kenny Omega singles matches do well for Dynamite numbers but the same can't always be said for The Hung Bucks, or trios action in general. The matches themselves haven't diminished in quality but the frequency of them over the years has made audiences in arenas colder towards them.

The proverbial new coat of paint, even if that paint is beige and/or the red and blue of Raw and SmackDown could work wonders even if it's for the short-term. Does anybody believe Cody Rhodes will be there forever as long as AEW exists?WWE hardcores having their minds blown and heads scooped open by the type of action they offer makes the business better for everybody longterm - a widened scope is better for everybody. And if you're an AEW fan losing the love along with others in those quiet/empty buildings, isn't the best way to miss somebody to actually have them go away?

Nobody's suggesting four of the best wrestlers of all time spend a year looking at the hard camera in NXT. But starring in major money dream matches with Roman Reigns, GUNTHER, The Judgment Day and Cody Rhodes himself? That's the future they promised and have delivered upon. What's the problem with having some unexpected fun in this reframed present?

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Contributor
Contributor

Michael is a writer, editor, podcaster and presenter for WhatCulture Wrestling, and has been with the organisation nearly 8 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 35 years. As one third of "The Dadley Boyz" Michael has contributed to the huge rise in popularity of the WhatCulture Wrestling Podcast and its accompanying YouTube channel, earning it top spot in the UK's wrestling podcast charts with well over 62,000,000 total downloads. He has been featured as a wrestling analyst for the Tampa Bay Times, GRAPPL, GCP, Poisonrana and Sports Guys Talking Wrestling, and has covered milestone events in New York, Dallas, Las Vegas, Philadelphia, 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