WWE Survivor Series 2016: 10 Reasons To Be Concerned

6. Suplex City Is A Boring Destination...

Cena Lesnar Suplex
WWE

Brock Lesnar's matches are so dull that even the sight of him carving open Randy Orton's head at SummerSlam 2016 drew as many yawns as it did gasps. The problem is the reliance on suplexes, a short-term solution that created a long-term problem. It's a dull approach - but it's so successful, why would he change it?

The last great matches Lesnar had involved athletic and selfless super-bumpers Seth Rollins and CM Punk - and Goldberg decidedly is not Seth Rollins or CM Punk. The match can only follow two viable narrative paths. Either Lesnar unleashes his Night Mayor of Suplex City onslaught (even the nickname is unwieldy) or Goldberg, despite not wrestling for twelve years, will be immune to it. In any event, suplexes will be the focal point; they factor heavily into the promotion of WWE 2K17, and the match exists as an advert for it.

The heat should guarantee something approaching a spectacle - but that one of the worst dream matches ever held has become an anticipated rematch is an indictment of WWE's inability to create stars in its recent history.

Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick (Creative Writing BA Hons) is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over a decade of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential UK 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 AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and 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!