If there’s one thing wrestling fans love more than watching wrestling, it’s complaining about wrestling. And, more often than not, the subject of their ire is WWE.
Of course, as WWE is the largest and most successful wrestling company in the world, it only makes sense that fans complain about it the most. However, when armchair GMs on Reddit/Twitter/Facebook complain about WWE’s product to the point that they hope their favorite wrestlers never sign there, I can’t help but roll my eyes. Because while it’s true that wrestlers have never had more viable options outside WWE than they do now, the fact of the matter is that it remains desirable and advantageous to work for WWE. After all, if it weren’t, WWE wouldn’t be the largest and most successful wrestling company in the world.
Here are four misconceptions fans have about wrestling in WWE – and why wrestlers should still want to work for Vince McMahon and Co.
1. “They Won’t Know How To Use Them”
The biggest fear any wrestling fan has whenever a wrestler signs with WWE is that the powers that be won’t properly use or book them. It’s a reasonable fear: what works elsewhere might not necessarily work in WWE, and no fan wants to see their favorite wrestler become a shell of their former self.
While WWE has dropped the ball with several wrestlers, I don’t believe the root issue is that they “don’t know how” to use people (and honestly I think that claim is ridiculous). Instead, I think the problem is that WWE cannot invest adequate time and energy in everyone all the time.
Think about it: WWE’s roster is massive, and even with five hours of weekly cable programming it’s challenging to devote creative time, energy, and effort to developing everyone’s characters and storylines. Even some of the company’s top Superstars get lost in the shuffle from week to week.
But the good news is that when something finally does click, WWE usually rolls with it – and a good character in WWE is still better than a proper character anywhere else. It might just take some patience and awful booking to get there – but again, that’s mostly a matter of time, not lack of creative depth or understanding.
2. “WWE Will Bury Them”
This complaint goes hand-in-hand with the first one. But the fact of the matter is that not everyone can win all the time; and when they do, fans complain about that, too.
The point is, wrestling fans are never satisfied: they’ll complain no matter who’s getting pushed or isn’t getting pushed at any given moment. But WWE is a business, and Vince McMahon and Triple H do know what’s best for business (WWE is the largest most successful wrestling company in the world, remember?). If a wrestler puts in the work and demonstrates that they’re worth investing in, then chances are they’ll get their shot eventually.
3. “They’ll Get a Silly Character”
Of all the complaints on this list, I’d say this one is the most justified.
Like it or not, WWE’s primary demographic is children, and that means everything is rated at most PG-13. It also means that WWE might push characters who, while popular with children, are downright ridiculous to adults.
Furthermore, with Triple H set to assume the helm once Vince retires, NXT is a good indicator of the sort of characters we can look forward to in WWE’s future – and all the characters there are great.
4. “They’ll Have To Wrestle Differently”
Yes – this one is true. WWE wrestlers work significantly more dates than wrestlers in other promotions. Because of that, they can’t do as many high-flying, high-impact, death-defying stunts. But is that such a bad thing?
Let’s get this straight: no matter where or how you do it, wrestling is dangerous. But there’s a real argument to be made that wrestling for WWE is comparatively safer than wrestling in other promotions. After all, what sounds better: working safer to protect your health, livelihood, and career in the long run; or working flashier to draw a louder reaction at the moment, even if it means potentially breaking your neck?
I’d rather my favorite wrestlers have long, illustrious careers than have to retire in their 30s due to catastrophic injury.
No, WWE Isn’t Perfect
Am I arguing that WWE is the end-all-be-all of professional wrestling? Of course not. As I said from the start, pro wrestlers have more viable options outside WWE than they’ve ever had before.
What I am arguing is that many of the complaints lobbed at WWE aren’t so cut-and-dry. They only persist thanks to the steaming stew of confirmation bias that is the internet. In reality, WWE isn’t so bad – and it remains at the top of the wrestling world for a reason.