WWE: Part-timers calling the shots in WWE
In the past couple of years, the WWE Universe witnessed the “return” of certain superstars which has been the talk of the town ever since. The return of a superstar usually brings nostalgia, as the fans get to witness something they loved over a decade ago.
Who wouldn’t love to go back in time and cheer on those who were the reason for you falling in love with the business in the first place? In recent years, WWE has brought back some superstars, whether it is only for one night or for a storyline/PPV, and the fans have always received it positively.
But for the past few years, there has been a trend in the WWE, a trend that the superstars don’t like, and the fans shouldn’t support. After all, nothing stays the same, and you either evolve with time or you don’t.
“And yet no matter how many times I prove it, I’m not on your lovely little collector cups. I’m not on the cover of the program. I’m barely promoted. I don’t get to be in movies. This isn’t sour grapes. But the fact that Dwayne is in the main event at WrestleMania next year and I’m not makes me sick!” – CM Punk
Two years ago, CM Punk delivered a worked shoot that shook the wrestling industry to its very foundation. The impact of the promo came from the reality behind it, from the opinions of people to what some people felt was not right. CM Punk said something during his promo that echoed some fans’ perspectives about a certain individual, who walked into the WWE claiming it to be ‘home’, being there till WrestleMania, and then walking away for the remainder of the year.
Many superstars have expressed their displeasure about Dwayne Johnson, aka ‘The Rock’ coming back and headlining the major PPVs, when it was the others who travel on the road 320 days a year, taking bumps and risks. As CM Punk aired his frustrations, it became evident that WWE was going down a wrong path. But did they correct their mistakes?
Rock not only main evented two WrestleManias, but after last year, he came back and said he’d get a title shot at the Royal Rumble against the WWE champion. Normally, that has never happened in the WWE. You don’t see a part timer coming back and challenging the WWE champion, much less for the WWE title.
Vince and the WWE tried to take advantage of Rock’s fame as a movie star and put the WWE title on him. What was the result? He showed up only for 2 weeks from Royal Rumble to WrestleMania on RAW and wasn’t able to take the WWE title to talk shows, or to promote WWE.
In what turned out to be a colossal mistake on WWE’s part, WWE had to go for 6 weeks without their champion on RAW. (And we pick on TNA for putting the title on Jeff Hardy?)