WWE Super Show-Down: 8 Things WWE Got Right

6. Elias Soaking Up The Heat

IIconics Super Show-Down
WWE

WWE are in a very strange position with Elias. Last week, he and Kevin Owens received an absolutely thunderous, sustained reaction after they poured salt into yet-to-heal wounds over the Seattle SuperSonics rehousing in Oklahoma. It was somewhat baffling; after all, it was no different to the usual snidery the songster has in store for each week's host city - so why did it hit such a nerve?

Simple: Elias is a hated heel because he's a popular babyface. Confused? As with most of NXT's roster, fans are willing to play along with the grappling minstrel because they're entertained by him - it's unlikely that if, say, Konnor, made the same barbs he'd have received anything like the reaction.

As a result, the promotion find themselves in a paradox; they need Elias to become more popular, so he can receive heel heat down the line. He can't earn it in the ring - he's not at that level. So they let him play to the crowd now and again. In Melbourne, the guitarist unironically strummed the opening bars of Australian rockers' AC/DC's Thunderstruck. The crowd loved it - and loved him. It's an ass-backwards method, but hey, it's working.

Editorial Team
Editorial Team

Benjamin was born in 1987, and is still not dead. He variously enjoys classical music, old-school adventure games (they're not dead), and walks on the beach (albeit short - asthma, you know). He's currently trying to compile a comprehensive history of video game music, yet denies accusations that he purposefully targets niche audiences. He's often wrong about these things.