The One Thing Everybody Gets Wrong About Wrestling

Cody Lance Archer
AEW/Lee South

Daniel Bryan and Zack Ryder are definitive examples of the former, Cedric Alexander and Humberto Carrillo the most prominent recent examples of the latter.

Sometimes the burial isn't even a spiteful, conscious decision. This can happen through neglect and incompetence. Take, for example, Rhea Ripley, who was an early standout of the Wednesday Night War. Her rise was booked with total conviction and received in much the same way, until her character was reframed as a humanised dream-chaser - after the dream was realised (!) - and she lost to Charlotte Flair at WrestleMania 36. The way the character was booked subsequently didn't reverse the discourse. She didn't win, was screwed, and at TakeOver: In Your House, the leading light of NXT's Women's division was positioned a distant third to the victorious Io Shirai and the protected Flair. If she wasn't overtly buried, the soil still conspired to fall over her head. The level of star we were told she was is crucial here: she was meant to be the Ace of that division. This is key.

WWE's monopoly has heavily informed the way pro wrestling is discussed, and this has inevitably - but unfairly - migrated over to AEW.

When Lance Archer was defeated by AEW Executive Vice President Cody at Double Or Nothing 2020, fans feared this was a burial; after all, Archer arrived as a big, big deal, pushes 7', and you don't beat a guy that major that quickly. But consider the story: Archer in league with Jake Roberts invaded his turf, left his bloodied brother for dead, and terrorised his wife. The story demanded the babyface win. The fans wouldn't believe in Cody after that, because if he couldn't overcome the size difference with that babyface motivation, when would he?

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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!