WWE's Latest Disaster Is About To Get EVEN WORSE

Cody Rhodes Brock Lesnar
WWE.com

The answer to that last question is WWE wants to keep Roman strong above all else and will concoct one million bad narrative contrivances to make that happen.

You know, WWE is feeling less and less like "cinema" every single week. It's almost as if it is dreadful soap opera instead.

Say Cody Rhodes finishes the story by defeating somebody who isn't the invincible Roman Reigns for a title that his father never held. That is a bad, illogical, deflating story with minimal emotional heft to it. It is hollow narrative cowardice that doesn't at all link back to what Cody said upon his return to Monday Night Raw. This "finish the story" sh*te could get worse, if WWE goes this route. And if Seth Rollins wins it, it's pure appeasement. It's a set of dangling keys to the slightly disillusioned B+ player. In terms of its importance, it is a midcard title with the word 'World' prefixed in front of it. It might one day evolve into something else, but realistically, is it the first thing WWE will consider when firming up plans for WrestleMania XL?

If - if - Cody still beats Roman at some point, WWE missed the peak of the story. Even if that is the case, and it feels like yet more bargaining, the World Heavyweight title has still been presented as the best of the rest title. That is the clichéd "big if", and where the crux of the article lies. This latest WWE disaster, which follows WWE jobbing out two top-drawing babyfaces across two pay-per-views, creates a grim outlook for the future of the promotion's creative.

It's impossible to escape the idea that the new World Heavyweight title was created to indulge WWE its mega-push of Roman Reigns and reward (or appease) Cody Rhodes at the same time. Why create a new World title - WWE's third, technically (!) - if Cody is going to beat Roman?

If Cody Rhodes, house show sell-out sensation, isn't finishing the real story, who is going to defeat Roman Reigns? The existence of a new World Heavyweight title means there is even less impetus to take the belt off Roman, and while he's never going to actually break the Bruno Sammartino record, it's not inconceivable that WWE rides this "greatest reign ever" stuff until at least WrestleMania XL.

CONT'D...(3 of 5)

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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!