The Answer To WWE’s Problems Is Staring Them In The Face

An ultimately positive article about a positive WWE development.

Ricochet WWE
WWE.com

There are myriad WWE problems that create an overwhelming feeling of a mundane product.

Scripted, artificial promos are the seeping wound that infects everything. Slick, naff and inauthentic, the written material kills suspension of disbelief.

WWE’s cheeky automatic rematch clause loophole—in which the loser wins a number one contender’s match 24 hours later—hardly helps the sweeping feeling that everything bleeds into itself. Storylines and tropes are recycled ad nauseam—contract signings, chat shows, opening segment interruptions—and the broad in-ring style prohibits expression. When was the last time Ricochet worked a match without selling his leg, and shouldn’t that leg be badly damaged at this point? That take is possibly too pedantic—it’s wrestling—but the over-use of it diminishes any chance of real emotion.

Some performers can excel beyond these confines, provided they are excellent at the their craft—Daniel Bryan’s stuff feels written and rehearsed, but it’s still incendiary. The same is true of Kevin Owens, who entertains audiences with the wit and rhythms of a road-tested stand-up routine. Samoa Joe is possibly too menacing to hand awful material; this might explain why his promos are laced with such venom.

They must also disappear for a period of time…

CONT'D...(1 of 5)

Advertisement
In this post: 
Bray Wyatt
 
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 surefire Undisputed WWE Universal 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!