Usually on a Tuesday, I’d be writing a SmackDown preview or review, but not today. I haven’t missed a Raw in years and haven’t missed an episode of SmackDown since the brand extension in 2016. I’ve been a fan of WWE since I was a kid.
I’ve watched the product live, every week for years now and, as a loyal fan, I couldn’t be more frustrated. They told us that the fans are the authority, we have the power to get what we want. We should, but we don’t. Sure, Kofi won the WWE title at ‘Mania, and so did Becky, like we wanted. But what else have they really given us, though?
Every week it’s the same shtick over and over again. It’s so repetitive and half the time it doesn’t make sense. The Firefly Fun House and the 24/7 title are the only consistent segments on the entire show.
Speaking of consistency, Shane McMahon is the most consistent character in all of WWE. He’s most certainly the top heel. I wouldn’t be surprised if he was given a shot at the WWE title at this point. While Shane is the top heel, every week there’s over 50+ talent not used on Raw and SmackDown.
Talent Not Being Booked
Last night, Hawkins & Ryder lost their tag team titles to the Revival. Hawkins & Ryder were the champs for over a month, but have been used on TV twice since capturing the title at WrestleMania. The bad thing is, it makes sense. They were never used before they won the titles, so why should they after? WWE’s tag division is a joke.
Another example is Shinsuke Nakamura. A Japanese legend and the youngest IWGP Heavyweight Champion of all time. He is used so sparingly it makes me sick to my stomach. He was on TV over a month ago, lost to Kofi and hasn’t been seen since. One can only hope he’s headed back to New Japan within the next few years.
Talent get called up from NXT or 205 Live just to do absolutely nothing. Cedric Alexander used to be the heart and soul of 205 Live and now he’s stuck in an elevator with R Truth. At least he’s being used as an extra, if you will. Buddy Murphy, former Cruiserweight champion, has not been used a single time since being “called up” to SmackDown Live.
There’s so much talent on the WWE main roster, it’s scary. They have by far the most talented roster in the world but they don’t get to show it. We get the same superstars every week and the same stories with the same segments. It’s stale. From the wise words of Jon Moxley, “Your creative process sucks, change it”.
If WWE Stays the Same
People are going to realize that WWE isn’t the be-all end-all of pro wrestling anymore. Pro Wrestlers have a choice now. They can make good money in other companies like AEW, NJPW, IMPACT, ROH, etc. They can even make good money floating around the independent circuit.
There’s streaming services that you can go to, to see better wrestling — the best wrestling in the world. Fans are staring to figure it out. AEW just put on the most hyped show of the year. In one show, AEW got more fans buzzing about them than WWE has since the Attitude Era. New Japan just had two huge shows that were more entertaining than anything I’ve seen from WWE all year.
I get it, if I don’t like the product, they why watch it? Why write about it? Because I love it. I need it to change. I’ve loved watching WWE since I was a little kid. I’ve traveled all over the country just to go to certain shows.
I love professional wrestling. I want to look back on this era in pro wrestling as the golden age of match quality. Matches have never been so insane and the moves the performers do in the ring are awe-inspiring.
WWE is a bad example of what professional wrestling is today. Much of the talent has to be frustrated at how they’re being used, if at all, and the fans are just as upset. Something has to change.
