Why WWE Was Just Taught A Very Serious Lesson

Daniel Bryan CM Punk MITB 2012
WWE.com

This wasn't just one misjudged folly; the microcosm reaction brought into focus how WWE's criminally low-effort product doesn't connect in 2021.

Significantly more effort must be applied. AEW is trending upwards, and this isn't a comment made by a content producer who believes one promotion is superior to the other. The competition is real now; AEW has jobbed out NXT, is firing up against key RAW demos, and as much as WWE's global reach and profile feels insurmountable right now, domestic TV rights fees are the company's primary revenue driver. If everything continues to proceed as is, 2023 will be very interesting indeed.

The conditions WWE imposes to create new stars are barren. Few are allowed to connect with the audience organically, and the process of earning Vince McMahon's trust is so delicate and arduous that nobody ever gets over by design when people are truly enthused. It took WWE eight years to get Roman Reigns right. The New Day had to petition constantly to perform in line with their version. CM Punk, Daniel Bryan, Becky Lynch: all three stars got over, ultimately, via fan protest. Bray Wyatt is ritually murdered and returns for diminished sequels in what is the only way in which he can be compared to a horror movie monster. This is a company that almost can't fail, given the sheer amount of talent it has recruited, and yet tries extremely hard to do precisely that. In a decade, nobody who is over in WWE got over as part of a calculated plan in enough time for it actually make a difference.

CONT'D...(3 of 6)

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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!