WWE: Enough with the authority figures!
The new Corporation
As SummerSlam ended, there was a possibility of something magical happening in the WWE, something that happened only once about 15 years ago. It looked as if WWE would finally take a chance once again, and gamble with a storyline that worked wonders for the wrestling industry during the Attitude Era. As SummerSlam faded, Triple H turned on Daniel Bryan and the WWE Universe, as the new Corporation angle took shape. With Orton, Vince and the power couple joining forces, it looked as if we were set for yet another Vince – Austin esque feud. While everyone cried foul about Bryan losing the WWE championship, I for one looked at the bigger picture. That was until WWE completely dropped the ball with the entire storyline.
Three months down the line, WWE hasn’t done anything except for killing Daniel Bryan’s momentum. Bryan was the hottest superstar in the wrestling industry just a few months ago, and WWE somehow managed to kill the fans’ interest, who invested in the character of Daniel Bryan. Come Sunday, Bryan might win the WWE championship and finally hang on to the title for a while, but has the damage already been done? The answer sadly is yes. What should have been about Daniel Bryan was then side tracked, and the involvement of people like Big Show and the Rhodes family made the storyline intricate and inextricable. WWE, thanks to the McMahon’s idea that it is all about the McMahons, have ruined what could’ve been one of the most interesting periods in the WWE.
If reports are to be believed, the current storyline will lead to the return of Vince McMahon who will confront his daughter and his son – in – law, and Daniel Bryan will take a back seat like everyone else. In 2011, the ‘Summer of Punk’ angle was red hot, and what killed off the most interesting period in the WWE in ages was the involvement of Triple H, something that should’ve been avoided. Sadly, WWE is, was and always will be about the McMahon family, and the rest of the locker room has to take a back seat to the most powerful family in professional wrestling, something that shouldn’t happen.
The Austin – Vince McMahon feud set a benchmark, something that will never be outdone. But was it necessary for WWE to kill Bryan’s momentum? Was it unavoidable for Triple H and Stephanie McMahon to make the show all about themselves? Although we’ve seen authority figures in professional wrestling since the time of Jack Tunney and Gorilla Monsoon, they never over shadowed the performers, which is happening in today’s world. Whether you take the Triple Hs and Stephanie McMahons in the WWE or the Dixie Carters in TNA, the role of authority figures has been highlighted to such an extent that it is hurting the performers in the locker room. Is it ego driven or over booking of something that has been regurgitated too many times? The answer is both; and it will continue to happen for as long as the powers that be decide to become on – screen personalities.
The thing that I dislike about the whole Daniel Bryan – Triple H fiasco is how Triple H completely buried Daniel Bryan on RAW this past week, and how easily the role of Daniel Bryan has been shifted to the Big Show. The fact of the matter is, it shouldn’t be the Big Show who goes against the authority, nor should it be anyone else except for Daniel Bryan. But as it turns out, Bryan has been booked to look weak, as someone who can’t defend himself and his fiancé. If there was ever a time when the WWE management decided to turn off the fans, it has to be with Daniel Bryan. The role of authority figures is passé, and should be restricted. What hasn’t been done with the authority figures that the fans haven’t witnessed? We’ve seen the likes of Vickie Guerrero marrying Edge, we’ve seen the McMahons, the Eric Bischoffs, the entire McMahon family running amok in the WWE and now, the same thing is happening all over again!
There is a time and a place for everything, and although the idea of a Vince – Triple H feud sounds interesting (Although it was done over a decade ago), it shouldn’t be at the expense of someone like Daniel Bryan. Performers like Dolph Ziggler have been relegated to lower mid card status, while Stephanie and Triple H get to close the show every week, which shouldn’t happen. As a wrestling fan, I can only hope that Daniel Bryan will win the WWE title come Sunday, and will be featured more prominently on the show, and the whole Vince – Triple H saga will take a back seat to the WWE champion, although I hardly think that will happen. It is time that the role of authority figures is toned down, and more emphasis is given to the talents.