Why WWE Is In For A Rude Awakening

by Michael Sidgwick
Roman Reigns Paul Heyman
WWE.com

Whatever you think of it - it's either the greatest thing anybody has ever seen, or improbably good modern WWE output - it's very low energy. The power of the Tribal Chief character lies in its quiet, unsettling menace. Much of the talk-heavy, standstill Bloodline storyline is going to prove incompatible with the live context. A rethink will be required, which is suboptimal, since it's the first good thing WWE has thought up once in years. Without being harassed by fans into it, anyway.

The TV shows might be good for a few weeks. With WWE, one can expect a lick of paint, at least. But if you point towards the joyous, life-affirming night one of WrestleMania 37, that point is being missed. WWE TV shows are content churn atrocities on which nothing, not even the match graphics, are advanced meaningfully.

WWE failing a live crowd when a live crowd has never been more up for going apesh*t will effectively formalise that WWE is a terminally uninteresting product. Something like this probable scenario might even accelerate the predicted trend of AEW Dynamite catching up to RAW in the Nielsen ratings.

You might roll your eyes at an AEW Vs. WWE comparison, but the two entities are inextricably linked now. One promotion is on fire. The other...is not. These two developments are surely set to collide at some point. It feels inevitable.

WWE failing to please the most easily-pleased fans ever might just make it so.

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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 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!