10 WWE superstars who benefitted from controversy
When there is something that two or more sides disagree on and debate and challenge one another passionately, that’s controversy. In pro wrestling, controversy can take on multiple forms, from allegations of backstage politicking for the benefit of one’s career to the endless debate of one wrestler or another over said person’s abilities or lack thereof.
Wrestling has been full of controversial moments, storylines and persons, all of whom have caused great debate among pro wrestling fans. Even today, wrestling fans everywhere have strong debates over certain wrestlers’ personas, booking directions and overall presentation. These debates have also spilled into actual wrestling shows, where some segments of the audience will try and out-chant another because of controversy surrounding the wrestlers performing before them.
Below we’ll look at ten superstars that have fallen victim to this wave of controversy, but have managed to benefit from it instead of being consumed by it.
#10 The Rock
The Rock was a highly controversial character during his initial run, and that ended up benefitting him in a major way. His initial run, during which he was named ‘Rocky Maivia’, he was booed vociferously, much like how Roman Reigns is booed now.
That controversy led to Rocky realizing that his ‘blue chipper’ gimmick wasn’t working and that he needed to take advantage of those controversial reactions. So he dropped that babyface gimmick, became ‘The Rock’ and the rest, as they say, is history.
He ended up becoming one of the biggest babyfaces in history and without a doubt the best speaker in WWE history; yet this wouldn’t have ever happened if the Rock hadn’t taken advantage of the controversial reaction he got when he first debuted.