WWE's mid-card roster has become the star of the show
WWE’s mid-card is extremely strong right now. This is no surprise, as it’s actually been strong for quite a while. But the company’s inured reserve has necessitated even more focus on the mid-card in recent months, until the point WWE’s at now. It could very well be said that this is the most impressive mid-card Vince McMahon’s empire has seen in years.
The problem however is that this can be both a blessing, and a curse. For WWE, it’s the latter that could become a major problem. It’s not that the mid-card’s value has lessened at all; rather WWE is being forced to lean on it a bit too much.
It’s a frustrating seesaw to be sure. If the mid-card is inexperienced and underwhelming, then the overall product will suffer the consequences. The top main event stars have to carry more of the load than necessary, and then those stars eventually become overexposed.
But if the mid-card is deep and capable of filling a night’s worth of action, then it might receive perhaps too much attention, until the top stars begin to look rather ordinary by comparison. Before long, fans are wondering when the mid-card stars will get their own main event shot, and their interest in the top tier will begin to wane.
This is especially true right now. Roman Reigns is the default top guy in WWE, doing his best to fill the hole left by John Cena’s absence. He’s working hard, he’s looking good, but the audience could care less. Despite how much support he receives on social media, that support is just not being felt as strongly as it should be.
So considering Roman’s inability to make his critics happy, what’s the next step? The fact is fans are looking more toward the very impressive mid-card Superstars to make them happy. But as they’re doing so, the outcry for these stars to move up is growing louder with each passing day.
Dean Ambrose is at the top of this list. Fans have watched Dean’s evolution over the past year, and he has grown into a true main event star. His character has captivated fans that love what he does, and he has brought a real sense of fun to every storyline he’s been involved with.
He arguably should have won against Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania 32, as he perhaps should have won against Triple H at Roadblock. Though he came up short in both instances, he continues to garner incredible fan support, and many believe he should be the top contender for Roman’s WWE World Heavyweight Championship.
That statement could also apply to either Kevin Owens or Sami Zayn. Both guys are killing it right now, and their rivalry could become the biggest story in WWE this summer. They’re bringing intensity and hard hitting action to every match, and more importantly, they’re bringing fans to the table. When they’re in the ring together, their chemistry cannot be denied.
But each man is a force to be reckoned with as well. KO and Sami are so strong individually that fans could surely envision either man becoming the top titleholder within the year. It’s not a far-fetched idea, and maybe it could happen at some point sooner rather than later.
Baron Corbin may not be championship caliber at the moment, but he is improving. Any criticism he received in NXT seems like a thing of the past, as he is now fitting in quite nicely on WWE’s main roster. It could only be a matter of time until he captures a secondary championship, which could ultimately lead to talk of winning the primary championship.
Bray Wyatt may be missing in action right now, but that does not mean fans have forgotten about him. It’s been a long time coming for him in terms of hitting it big, and if he were to pin Roman and win the belt, it would be poetic justice for many fans. Bray is a star and deserves the opportunity to shine like never before. The fact that he hasn’t is infuriating to a great number of the WWE faithful.
Then there’s Seth Rollins, who is on the way back. His return will surely increase the desire fans have to see Roman go down. Cesaro is finally getting some well deserved spotlight. Apollo Crews is looking better every week. Finn Balor and Samoa Joe are even in demand, and they’ve made no move toward the main roster. But when they do, WWE’s mid-card will be bursting at the seams.
Again, this is all good for the company. There’s a little something for everyone here, as the potential to come away happy from Raw or SmackDown has increased exponentially. It’s not just about the top guys, it’s about giving fans a complete presentation, and that cannot happen without a solid mid-card roster.
But it’s caused many fans to ask “what do we need Roman for?” It’s not unheard of to see the top champion hated like this, but his very presence at the top is becoming irrelevant to many. Owens versus Zayn is strong enough to main event on any WWE program, with no championship needed. WWE’s stacking of the mid-card with technically sound talents has exposed Roman’s weaknesses and brought increased attention to everyone under the top level.
The funny part is, AJ Styles is on that top level now and even he is beginning to get mixed reactions from crowds who should be thrilled that he’s in that spot. Has the mid-card become the true star of the show for WWE? How much does the belt around Roman’s waist truly matter now? Is it now more fashionable to pop for the mid-card and support those stars in main event terms?
Finding the right balance is the key here, and until that happens, all of these questions will likely continue to be asked. There can be no underestimating the mid-card’s importance in WWE, but it seems that perhaps it’s taken over in the minds of fans. They don’t want Roman, so they put their focus on the stars that make them happy. Those stars are more than capable of doing just that. At what cost to WWE, has yet to be fully realized.
Tom Clark can regularly be found on Sportskeeda. His podcast, Tom Clark’s Main Event, is available on iTunes, Google Play, Amazon Android, Windows Phone and online here