{"id":124285,"date":"2024-05-07T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-05-07T13:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/?p=124285"},"modified":"2024-05-07T04:34:56","modified_gmt":"2024-05-07T08:34:56","slug":"wish-fulfilment-how-right-now-wwe-delivers-what-fans-wanted","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/2024\/05\/07\/wish-fulfilment-how-right-now-wwe-delivers-what-fans-wanted\/","title":{"rendered":"Wish Fulfilment: How Right Now WWE Delivers What Fans Wanted"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><em><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">In this second of three articles, James unpacks how since\u00a0<\/span><\/em><strong><em><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Wrestlemania XL<\/span><\/em><\/strong><em><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0changes in the relationship between\u00a0<\/span><\/em><strong><em><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">WWE\u00a0<\/span><\/em><\/strong><em><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">and its founder\u00a0<\/span><\/em><strong><em><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Vince McMahon<\/span><\/em><\/strong><em><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0have impacted perceptions of the new era of wrestling. Since Vince put his remaining\u00a0<\/span><\/em><strong><em><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">TKO Group Holdings<\/span><\/em><\/strong><em><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0stocks up for sale, the company is almost disconnected professionally from the man who made WWE a global cultural brand. This has impacted\u00a0<\/span><\/em><strong><em><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">AEW<\/span><\/em><\/strong><em><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0and WWE both in terms of\u00a0<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">creative<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">, business and its fanbase\u2019s perceptions.\u00a0<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<p><em><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">In the first article, James unpacked how\u00a0<\/span><\/em><strong><em><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The Paul Levesque Era\u00a0<\/span><\/em><\/strong><em><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">tried to <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/2024\/05\/06\/sports-and-entertainment-has-the-paul-levesque-era-buried-vince-mcmahons-legacy\/\" target=\"_self\">move on from McMahonism<\/a> while retaining key elements of Vince\u2019s infrastructure<\/span><\/em><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">. In\u00a0<\/span><em><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">the last, James will discuss how current fans\u2019 wishes fulfilment and desires of AEW differ from WWE\u2019s fanbase.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/lYOpTlITZE4?si=jCmpy7rDBgi9zE00\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h3><strong><u><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Wrestling Fans Don\u2019t Want a Lot<\/span><\/u><\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Said no one ever. I\u2019m hoping you read that with a sense of humour. If you didn\u2019t, it does highlight an issue that some wrestling fans have. At times, some of us take ourselves and wrestling too seriously. At other times, we are inherently self-loathing.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">And to be fair, we have constantly been told we are bad for wrestling for the past decade. By the market leader, wrestlers themselves (recently\u00a0<\/span><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Rhea Ripley<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">) and other fans. Eventually, that message gets internalised. Despite making up a core of wrestling\u2019s audience, even during years of barren\u00a0<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">creative<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0and monopoly.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">It wasn\u2019t that long ago historically that\u00a0<\/span><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Triple H<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0berated the \u201cIWC\u201d fans for wanting more from WWE in his infamous \u201cme and my friend, Mark\u201d promo. In that monologue, Triple H said one of his options was to fire the crowd. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">It wasn\u2019t that long ago that we became the authority in WWE and fans were going to be listened to. Nothing changed. Fans made their displeasure known. They hijacked shows and told\u00a0<\/span><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">WWE\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">what and who they wanted.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">As fans, we have been made to feel guilty for wanting more from wrestling. And yet fans have been described also by wrestlers and other fans as spoilt. The phrase \u201cenjoy wrestling\u201d is accurate in the sense yes, we should enjoy our hobby. We should appreciate our luck. Yet like telling someone to \u201cbe kind\u201d, it can become a phrase that shuts down discussion. That asserts a right and wrong.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">There is a complex relationship between wrestling promotions and fans. WWE\u2019s relationship with the fans has been antagonist. Former WWE creative writers like\u00a0<\/span><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">David Schilling<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0said that Vince McMahon had two words for disappointed fans. The last them. The first starts with F and has four letters. But Vince is gone.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong><u><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">WWE The Ten-Year Curse Broken?\u00a0<\/span><\/u><\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Being a wrestling fan, specifically a WWE the mid-2000s until Vince left was filled with many false dawns. There seemed many times where hope for some kind of change was there. Then like the\u00a0<\/span><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">South Park<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0meme: \u201cand it was gone\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">My first Wrestlemania was\u00a0<\/span><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Wrestlemania XX<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">. Two of my heroes stood victorious at the end of the night the confetti rained down. I was at this time learning about the internet and IWC and began reading dirt sheets. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">I didn\u2019t need the internet to tell me that the men\u00a0<\/span><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Kevin Nash<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0had dismissed as \u201cvanilla midgets\u201d were given the belts like a worker of so many years gets a gold watch.\u00a0<\/span><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Eddie Guerrero<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0lost the belt two PPVs later.\u00a0<\/span><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Chris Benoit<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0still felt secondary to\u00a0<\/span><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Triple H<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0and\u00a0<\/span><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Evolution<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Batista<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0and\u00a0<\/span><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">John Cena\u2019s<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0rise was well-deserved, but quickly creative, more in the case of Cena, reduced him to a superhero caricature.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Scraps were given or clawed at by the wrestlers.\u00a0<\/span><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">CM Punk<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0brought hope but again, was presented as secondary. Then\u00a0<\/span><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Daniel Bryan\/Bryan Danielson\u2019s<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0\u201cYes Movement\u201d forced a change to the card. History repeated. Triple H took the loss and then Danielson beat Batista and\u00a0<\/span><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Randy Orton<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0to become world champion.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Regardless of injury and vacating the championship, it did not seem that Bryan was going to be \u201cthe guy\u201d fans wanted. The main event spotlight went to those who fell upward in defeat.\u00a0<\/span><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Evolution<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u2019s feuded with\u00a0<\/span><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The Shield<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">. It felt like an echo of ten years prior.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">History seemed to be about to repeat itself for\u00a0<\/span><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Wrestlemania XL<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0when it looked like the main event would not include\u00a0<\/span><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Cody Rhodes<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0finishing the story. Backlash caused a change of plans again. The result: again one of the greatest Wrestlemania\u2019s of all time.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong><u><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Vince is Gone<\/span><\/u><\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The difference between all these Wrestlemanias is now Vince is gone. Last year\u2019s Wrestlemania 39 was once again a false dawn. Cody lost and worse, the conclusion of the Raw After Mania saw Rhode viciously dismantled by a man he picked as his partner,\u00a0<\/span><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Brock Lesnar<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">. Whether or not this was Vince\u2019s or Triple H\u2019s creative, Lesnar is perceived as a Vince guy.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The feud itself turned into another neat chapter in the story. However, in the moment, it seemed an apt metaphor for Vince being back. A Vince favourite embarrasses the fans\u2019 favourites. The promise to stay out of \u201cweeds on the creative end\u201d seemed another blatant lie.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The fear this year was that Cody couldn\u2019t finish the story. Then what? But as\u00a0<\/span><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Ryan Page<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0put it in his\u00a0<\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/2024\/02\/27\/what-if-cody-rhodes-loses-at-wrestlemania-40\/#:~:text=He%20will%20almost%20certainly%20still,the%20title%20he%20has%20craved.\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">article on what if Cody lost<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">, the show would go on. Cody would not likely drop down the card. Whether or not anyone cared as much about him wouldn\u2019t matter. The machine would keep turning. The money would still be made as it always has been.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">But in giving Cody his moment, it\u2019s just confirmed a reality fan had already realised. Vince is gone. The era of\u00a0<\/span><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Paul Levesque<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0gives fans whole, completed stories. Yet beyond logical storylines with clear resolved endings and a fresh newly minted figurehead to carry the company. Plus, other changes have addressed fan displeasure from previous years.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Whether this has been deliberate or not is beyond the point. As I broke down in Part 1, the general framework of WWE\u00a0<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">creative<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0is the same. Yet Triple H\u2019s differences in wrestling taste align with the desires of fans.\u00a0<\/span><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u201cBlack and Gold Era\u201d NXT<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0led to one of the most despised wrestlers behind the scenes becoming affectionally redubbed Papa H.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong><u><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">A Literal New Presentation<\/span><\/u><\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">At the end of last year, a man referred to as Vince\u2019s right-hand man by some, a \u201cstooge\u201d by others, left the company.\u00a0<\/span><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Kevin Dunn<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">, the former WWE Executive Producer within the IWC was a figure many disliked for more than his quick-cut camera work. Dunn\u2019s perceived dislike of being even associated with the wrestling business alienated some. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Former WWE creative writer\u00a0<\/span><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Alex Greenfield<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0went as far as to call Dunn detrimental and stuck in his ways.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The drastic change in how WWE shows are produced, and<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">how the camera lingers more on the moment and aids the story is worth praise. At points, some of the camera shots, including long tracking shots have been cinematic. This reflects many fans&#8217; feelings about WWE being a company now of cinematic storytelling.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Fans have been excited over Easter eggs like\u00a0<\/span><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Liv Morgan<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0and\u00a0<\/span><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Dominik Mysterio<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0leaving the same dressing room. Such Easter eggs and layers have been prominent during\u00a0<\/span><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The Bloodline<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0storyline. The difference with WWE is that in comparison to AEW, wrestlers succumb more frequently to the invisible camera. Wrestlers don\u2019t acknowledge watching the show or appear to carry out their business outside of TV broadcasts.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Elsewhere AEW in its storylines at the best of times has also utilized such methods. But as I will discuss in the next article, this is standard of AEW rather than shiny and new. Additionally, there are other issues in implementation where AEW\u2019s balance of show and not tell. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Whereas WWE is more tell, their ability to show at the right time, like the previously mentioned Morgan\/Mysterio\/<\/span><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Judgement Day<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0storyline effectively generates buzz.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong><u><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Creative Satisfaction \u00a0<\/span><\/u><\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Creatively, The Bloodline is heralded as WWE\u2019s starting point of its creative resurgence. However, its beginnings and its impact on the growth of business in terms of merchandise and attendance happened under the stewardship of Vince. Being able to grow the groundswell of support for Cody Rhodes was a gamble that paid off in all respects.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Yet\u00a0<\/span><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Triple H\u2019s<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0biggest success has been arguably beyond the top prize. In restoring the prestige of championships, Triple H has begun rebuilding trust in the process with clear long-term storytelling.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">It\u2019s both in terms of the championships\u2019 importance as well as their superficial presentation. The recent splitting of the WWE Unified Tag Team Championship into two belts with distinct and eye-pleasing designs has been crowd-pleasing.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> Gone are the Roman pennies and the generally garishly bright brand-specific colours. Attempts to build number-one contenders with tournaments or gauntlets and making title matches less frequent add to the value of the prizes. Often, championships feel earned and their holders investible.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">There are exceptions.\u00a0<\/span><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Austin Theory<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u2019s US championship run is the most notable and leads to nothing that sticks in the long-term memory. There is also the argument to be made that the emphasis on long title reigns becomes monotonous.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The defences of\u00a0<\/span><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Roman Reign\u2019s<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0Undisputed World Championship from\u00a0<\/span><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Summerslam<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0onwards felt like a holding pattern. The payoff hit it out of the park, but the road between August and January was forgettable. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">On the one hand,\u00a0<\/span><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Rhea Ripley\u2019s<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0reign had few memorable title matches (<\/span><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Zelina Vega\u2019s<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0being the one I\u2019ll most remember) and she only defended the belt ten times. On the other, unlike Roman, Rhea was a constant on\u00a0<\/span><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Raw<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">. Mami was actively involved in\u00a0<\/span><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Judgement Day<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0storylines. If anything, Rhea\u2019s popularity only climbed.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong><u><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The Intercontinental Championship\u00a0<\/span><\/u><\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">One championship reign above all others will be used as exhibit A to explain why Triple H is currently the best booker in wrestling.\u00a0<\/span><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Gunther<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u2019s intercontinental championship reign.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Besides building Gunther into potentially the next king of the ring and future world champion, Triple H for some saved the former WALTER from a nightmare. Honestly, I was waiting for Vince to turn \u201cThe Ring General\u201d into another smiling dancing giant. Or just another guy on the roster. The possibility seemed there.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Two birds with one stone, Triple H harnessed Gunther\u2019s aura to restore not only the IC championship but its mythology. So deep in cultural memory is the idea that the IC belt is the workhorse championship that a generation of fans turned wrestlers believe this myth.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">On an episode of WWE\u2019s\u00a0<\/span><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Table for Three<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">, Bryan Danielson,\u00a0<\/span><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Dolph Ziggler<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0and\u00a0<\/span><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Ryback<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0spoke about the fan\u2019s belief about the \u201ccurse\u201d of the IC belt. The idea fans don\u2019t believe it no longer means in-ring excellent or the holder may be a future world champion. They jokingly held hands to give positive thoughts towards the belt in the hope of restoring its glory.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">I keep saying the word myth because the evidence to prove that Vince didn\u2019t see it that way is there. The IC was not WWE\u2019s first midcard championship. Nor did it start life with that prestige as the workhorse belt. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Not until perhaps\u00a0<\/span><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Tito Santana<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0held the championship.\u00a0<\/span><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Savage vs. Steamboat<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0also added to the narrative, as well as to the concept that the belt was a stepping stone to the top.\u00a0<\/span><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Dave Lee<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0of\u00a0<\/span><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Dave Knows Wrestling<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0points out in his video on the IC championship that our perceived idea is that the belt is based on selective pattern-spotting.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong><u><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Fan-Made Myth\u00a0<\/span><\/u><\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Only 9 of the 36 champions from its first 20 years went on to win the world championship. Similarly, the concept that it is the workhorse championship falters historically when considering that before Gunther\u00a0<\/span><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The Honky Tonk Man<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0was the longest-reigning champion.\u00a0<\/span><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The Ultimate Warrior<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">, another prominent IC champion was not a technical wizard.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> Consider\u00a0<\/span><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The\u00a0<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Mountie<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0beat\u00a0<\/span><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Bret Hart<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0for the championship. Later\u00a0<\/span><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Marc Merco, Ahmed Johnson, Val Vennis, and<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Billy Gunn<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0would hold the belt. These were not workhorse champions.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">However, regardless that the prestige of the IC championship has largely been a culturally created myth by the fanbase, it doesn\u2019t invalidate the joy this narrative of the IC championship gives us as fans. Its prestige and nostalgia we feel are our kayfabe. Yet it is kayfabe that some wrestlers buy into. That Triple H\u2019s booking rewards. The fact the championship feels as special as it always should have is valid.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Fan frustration that\u00a0<\/span><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Sami Zayn<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0got the Wrestlemania match for the IC title over\u00a0<\/span><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Chad Gable\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">could be contrasted with the joy they felt when Gable post-Mania turned on Zayn. It showed more than there are plans in place. It showed the IC belt is a significant concern creatively.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">However, the long-term issue with this is the predictability of long reigns. Although the value of championships has increased, the same strategy has been used with the other championships also. It\u2019s already becoming a clich\u00e9 of Triple H\u2019s booking that long reigns are standard. Mixing things up will eventually be needed. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">As with AEW booking successful strategies, they will also\u00a0<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">stagnant<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">. But because the product is hotter, it will be overlooked or forgiven more easily.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong><u><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">WWE Fans Don\u2019t Ask for Much<\/span><\/u><\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">In tribalistic discord, something that is worth pointing out is that criticism towards WWE lingers still on the presentation of wrestling. I wrote in part 1 about how sports and entertainment are not equal partners. Wrestling under Triple H is more prominent, but the entertainment is dominant.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Wrestlers still fall upward into championship matches. Like\u00a0<\/span><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">AJ Styles<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0challenging Cody Rhodes at<\/span><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0Backlash<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">, despite losing at Wrestlemania. The same thing happened with AJ in 2016 against Roman Reigns. Some fan favourites are still not utilized like fans would like them to be. Fans are calling for a change in WWE music with the removal of\u00a0<\/span><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Def Rebel<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0but yet nothing has happened. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Regardless the product is hot. Fans are engaged in person and online. Arenas are being packed and business is booming. Although to a degree this is separate from fan engagement.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">I do not mean it disparagingly to say WWE fans didn\u2019t want much. They, as any wrestling fan or general enjoyer of an episodic TV show wanted logic. A better, clearer presentation of their wrestlers. Clear characters and storylines delivering on promises or subverting expectations positively. Trust that their investment will be rewarded with good escapism is building.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">For the time being. It\u2019s enough progress, as long as it appears to be made and things remain hot. This does not excuse the toxic tribalism that tries to insidiously compare everything AEW or other promotions because WWE is hot, but it\u2019s been a long time since WWE fans could brag that they were satisfied and being serviced. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The figurehead of WWE repeatedly thanked fans rather than ignoring them and undermining them as marks.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>More From LWOS Pro Wrestling<\/h3>\n<p><em>Header photo \u2013 WWE \u2013 Stay tuned to the <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/\" target=\"_self\">Last Word on Pro Wrestling<\/a>\u00a0for more on this and other stories from around the world of wrestling, as they develop. You can always count on LWOPW to be on top of the major news in the wrestling world, as well as to provide you with analysis, previews, videos, interviews, and editorials on the wrestling world.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In this second of three articles, James unpacks how since\u00a0Wrestlemania XL\u00a0changes in the relationship between\u00a0WWE\u00a0and its founder\u00a0Vince McMahon\u00a0have impacted perceptions of the new era of wrestling. Since Vince put his remaining\u00a0TKO Group Holdings\u00a0stocks up for sale, the company is almost disconnected professionally from the man who made WWE a global cultural brand. This has impacted\u00a0AEW\u00a0and [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4960,"featured_media":124305,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2192,4,3],"tags":[57,98,8238,7994,75,241,8790,2110],"class_list":["post-124285","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-wrestling","category-wwe","category-wwe-universe","tag-brock-lesnar","tag-cody-rhodes","tag-gunther","tag-the-bloodline","tag-triple-h","tag-vince-mcmahon","tag-wrestlemania-xl","tag-wrestlemania-xx"],"modified_by":"Michael Joseph Sugue, Manager","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/124285","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4960"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=124285"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/124285\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/124305"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=124285"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=124285"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=124285"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}