- 7 months ago
The WhatCulture Wrestling team give their thoughts on WWE moments that seemed DUMB at the time, but turned out to be genius...
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00:00Murray, what was a dumb WWE moment that you didn't want to admit was genius?
00:04Stephanie McMahon's wrestling character is a piece of f**k, one of the worst of all time, one of the least effective and most damaging wrestling characters of all time.
00:15During her reign of tyranny, when she was a regular TV character, she would regularly demean people, she would regularly get over people on the microphone or when she occasionally stepped in the ring,
00:25she would make people look lesser than when they started working with her, she was the ultimate Nepo baby in so many ways.
00:32She was a very expressive TV performer and she had the abilities and she could talk and she could emote and stuff like this, but she used these for forces of evil.
00:42The list of people that she demeaned, undermined and emasculated without ever receiving any comeback, by slapping them in the face or just burying them on the microphone, is almost endless.
00:54So naturally, that's the last person in the world I wanted when WWE had signed this hot new free agent, this exciting MMA prospect who had changed the game over there and was now coming over here to do the same.
01:06The last person I wanted Ronda Rousey to be involved with in her very first match was that person with the history of burials and emasculations and making people look like crap.
01:17Because it was like, oh no, here comes Stephanie McMahon and she's not going to sell for Ronda Rousey, she's not going to be giving at all, she's not going to do anything to put her over, she might even pin her, who the heck knows.
01:29So when this match was put together, Kurt Angle and Ronda Rousey versus Stephanie McMahon, and to make matters worse, Triple H, not exactly known for being the most giving guy of all time either, I thought it was an absolute disaster waiting to happen.
01:44It turned out to be the greatest debut match in wrestling history, partly because Stephanie McMahon entered the best performance of her entire career.
01:52Now, a lot of this match's success, I think, was to do with the layout and the way it was structured to build to Ronda Rousey's actions and her tags and Stephanie getting out of the ring as soon as Ronda was coming in until you finally pay it off and Stephanie gets her comeuppance, right?
02:04It's like the classic pro wrestling layout for the babyface side.
02:08But Stephanie was absolutely incredible in this. The work she put in to make herself look like a complete piece of trash throughout the whole thing, the work she put in from running away, scarpering away, stooging off, begging off, facial expressions, cowering in the corner,
02:21all of this stuff, getting out of the ring and gloating when she was in control, and things like that.
02:26It was this picture-perfect, a chicken heel, I don't know why I censored myself there, I didn't do it earlier, chicken shit heel performance as you will ever see.
02:35And it came from the most selfish person in the world who delivered the most selfless performance of all time.
02:40It's an absolute miracle and actually probably one of my favorite WWE things ever.
02:45I'm not entirely sure that I wasn't ready to admit it or didn't want to admit it.
02:50I'm sure if you watched my videos at the time I went crazy about it.
02:52But broke Corbin, sad Corbin, down on his luck Corbin.
02:56It's one of the moments that make me realize I, well, there's issues with new WWE in terms of storytelling that I prefer new WWE.
03:03Because old WWE, here we had this character that organically got over.
03:06People were literally giving Baron Corbin money as he walked to the ring.
03:09He was funny about it, he was dedicated to it.
03:11He'd grow out his hair, he'd grow out his beard, he would wear shirts with stains on it, which makes no sense.
03:15You're broke, you shouldn't be able to eat, I should say.
03:18But it made it funnier.
03:19And then, because Vince McMahon realized he was getting baby-faced reactions, we just killed it and made him rich again.
03:24Because we didn't want to have him cheered.
03:26Why on earth would you do that?
03:27If that's the way the fans are going, just go with it.
03:29It's going to be controversial now.
03:31That's why I like the whole Jey Uso stuff.
03:32Because he was never meant to be in this position a couple of years ago.
03:35But then for whatever reason, don't care what it was.
03:37He did have that connection and we pulled the trigger and we went all the way.
03:40And now I think he's totally great.
03:42But I just, I just loved it.
03:45I remember thinking it was funny.
03:46I also remember thinking that Baron Corbin had been through so many iterations of Baron Corbin.
03:50Normal Baron Corbin, Constable Corbin, obviously sort of biker Corbin.
03:54And finally, from nowhere, we come across this one that nobody ever had on their bingo card.
03:59And rather than try and be creative with it, we flushed it down the toilet.
04:02Maybe that's why now I don't want to give it, I don't talk about it so openly.
04:06Because it makes me sad.
04:07It's like Bad News Barrett.
04:08Bad News Barrett, a terrible gimmick on paper.
04:10You're going to come out and say, I've got some bad news.
04:13And you're just going to say something that's pretty sucky, I guess.
04:15But it worked.
04:16Because Wade Barrett understood what to do.
04:18And we just got rid of that one as well.
04:20We could do this all day.
04:21Rusev Day, for example.
04:22I'm not even talking about the topic now.
04:23I'm just going off.
04:24Rusev Day should still be a thing today, ironically.
04:27Because we went all in with it.
04:28With Rusev Day calendars, a Rusev Day t-shirt.
04:30Aiden English and Lana should still be there.
04:32But we stopped because Vince McMahon thought they were cheering.
04:35Out of some disrespect.
04:37Or they thought it was a joke.
04:38Like when AJ Styles joined.
04:40Why am I on this tangent?
04:41Like when AJ Styles joined.
04:43It was a one-off.
04:44They cheered you.
04:45Everyone cheered him forever.
04:46Because he's not the best wrestler ever.
04:48But my answer on some level is sad Corbin.
04:51So don't bring it back.
04:53But if it happens again, make it work.
04:55Also, this is one of the reasons why Baron Corbin got released right.
04:57He had to go back to NXT to re-find himself.
04:59Wasn't even his fault.
05:00Stupid.
05:01What was a dumb WWE moment you didn't want to admit was genius?
05:06I sense a lot of people are going to be talking about sort of long-term ideas on this video.
05:10I am going to talk about something that was sort of a microcosm of this thing.
05:13I'm talking about I show speed in the Royal Rumble.
05:17Because in a matter of five minutes, it went from one of the dumbest things WWE could have done.
05:21To one of the best things.
05:22Because we all remember the moment.
05:24I think it was Akira Tazar gets taken out.
05:26And we saw it on Unreal.
05:27They're like, oh my god, who can step in?
05:29We've got a locker room full of wrestlers that deserve a spot on this card.
05:32Let's pick the social media influencer who just so happens to be backstage.
05:35And everyone kind of collectively, I think.
05:38Even if you're a speed fan, we're a bit like, oh god, what are we doing here?
05:42And he does the whole thing.
05:43And he comes out.
05:44And it's like, okay, you're getting yourselves a viral moment.
05:46Very nice.
05:47And he gets in there.
05:48And he's a bit crap.
05:49And I think he gets an elimination.
05:51And then magic happens.
05:54He turns around.
05:55We've all seen it.
05:56It's playing in your mind as I say this.
05:58And he's barely got to the end of saying that.
06:01When he is speared out of his goddamn shoes by Brombreaker.
06:05I don't really care about speed, to be perfectly honest.
06:08But for me, that is now, I think, one of my favourite ever Royal Rumble moments.
06:14Like, it replays in my mind whenever people talk about the Royal Rumble.
06:17Because it was just so amazing how they played with sort of our expectations.
06:22We all went, oh god, here we go again.
06:24They love getting celebrities in and giving them moments at the expense of other wrestlers that we just think deserve the spot.
06:29And instead, it's Brombreaker destroying iShowSpeed.
06:34Chucking him out of the ring.
06:35We all saw what happened to his leg as well.
06:36It was amazing.
06:37Genuinely, at next year's Royal Rumble, as that thing counts down for number 30, I want it to be iShowSpeed again.
06:44Well, I tend not to like to admit too many WWE things of genius right out the gate.
06:49But I was particularly cynical about the Fed in the summer and autumn of 2013.
06:55When WWE kept putting their thumb on Daniel Bryan's head in the form of the authority.
06:59Squashed him and squashed him and squashed him.
07:01To the extent where I'd not actually been that fussed about tuning in next week's Raw.
07:06That never happens.
07:07Exactly.
07:08When I discovered that the plan was for him to join the Wyatt family.
07:11I was appalled with his development.
07:13Not least because he didn't really fit with those characters.
07:15But also because it was confirmation that he was leaving the WWE title picture.
07:19And it was time to get to Big Show.
07:21Like we wanted all along, you know.
07:22The originator of the Yes chant, of course.
07:24So I was furious.
07:25I think a lot of people were with the treatment of the character.
07:27But that was beyond the pale for me.
07:29Because it was like, not only have you done this burial project.
07:32It's worked.
07:33And you've just been able to other him in this, at this point, mid-table stable.
07:36And send him out there dressed like a school janitor.
07:39And his white overalls and stuff like that.
07:41I was wrong.
07:42Because I should have remembered in 2013 WWE.
07:44Nothing matters mate.
07:45Yeah.
07:46So by like two weeks later.
07:47It was all in service of just this massive moment.
07:49Where they realised, we've made a terrible mistake here.
07:51And you had the steel cage pay off.
07:53Like he was barely in the group, I think a month.
07:55And then you had that iconic moment on Raw.
07:57Where he sat atop the steel cage.
07:59And he's doing the yes.
08:00And he's timing it all out.
08:01So he beats Bray Wyatt up in the cage.
08:03And he rips the overalls off.
08:04He's back in his gear.
08:05And then everybody in the building is going, yes.
08:07Yes.
08:08And we all know at that moment, for definite.
08:10Daniel Bryan is going to win the 2014 Royal Rumble.
08:14Yeah.
08:15Yeah.
08:16And this is it.
08:17It was a good and bad moment in that respect.
08:19Because we did get to WrestleMania.
08:21And we did get Yeslemania.
08:22And everything worked out for the best.
08:24And we would find out that Bryan was being told on that show.
08:26Yeah, you're winning.
08:27But Roman Reigns is the guy, mate.
08:28Don't get excited.
08:29We'll get you back in the overalls if we want.
08:30So what it taught me, if nothing else was.
08:33For the longest period going forth after that was.
08:36Even if you feel angry because something's dumb.
08:39Don't care about it.
08:41Because they don't either.
08:42Then 2022 came along.
08:43But before that, it was a good seven year period.
08:45Where it was a good learning experience to realise that.
08:47Even the genius won't matter two weeks after it's happened.
08:50So don't worry too much about the dumb.
08:52So a key thing that WWE have had a bit of a bad habit of not knowing when to do.
08:58Is pulling the trigger of late.
09:00And that's things like the Cody, Randy Orton stuff.
09:03The CM Punk being world champion.
09:06And even like a couple of years ago.
09:08You could say like Ronda Rousey against Becky Lynch.
09:10They just didn't know when to pull the trigger.
09:12They backed off.
09:13They didn't do it.
09:14And then by the time they did do it.
09:16It was too late.
09:17Or they just never did it.
09:18And it was frustrating.
09:19Something that falls into that category for me.
09:21The judgement day.
09:22Or to be more specific.
09:23The breaking up of the judgement day.
09:25It's something that.
09:27I think around maybe WrestleMania 40 season.
09:29A lot of people were like.
09:30Yeah, okay.
09:31We've had a good run.
09:32We've had a couple of years out of this.
09:33Now is the time.
09:34Let's break them up.
09:35Let's get them to do their own different thing going forward.
09:37We've made some stars out of the group.
09:38That's what a faction is for.
09:40And now let them spread their wings.
09:41I think Damien Priest was a world champion.
09:43Rhea was a world champion.
09:44And yeah.
09:45I think like.
09:46At that point.
09:47It would have felt fine to do.
09:48I think you had that lovely moment at Mania 40.
09:50When they were all together with the belts.
09:51And then.
09:52Let's just break it up.
09:54But they didn't.
09:55They kept on it for a little bit longer.
09:56And then when they did eventually.
09:57Have like something of a split.
09:59Like when Damien Priest and Rhea went off.
10:01And did their thing.
10:02And then Finn carried on with JD McDonough.
10:04And Dom.
10:05And all that.
10:06They didn't completely break up the Judgment Day.
10:09Again.
10:10At that point.
10:11People were like.
10:12Yep.
10:13We're done.
10:14Let's go for something new.
10:15Nope.
10:16They didn't.
10:17They just did like a spin-off version.
10:18Of the Judgment Day.
10:19And a lot of people were sat there.
10:20At that point.
10:21Thinking.
10:22This is a bit dumb now.
10:23The faction feels like.
10:24It's run its course.
10:25What more juice can you squeeze.
10:26From the Judgment Day.
10:27Just as a property.
10:28Well.
10:29The answer to that.
10:30Is actually quite a lot.
10:31This spin-off.
10:32You suddenly had.
10:33Liv Morgan.
10:34Like having her.
10:35Like dynamic with Dom Dom.
10:36Like that.
10:37That became this.
10:38This power couple.
10:39That.
10:40Worked a lot better.
10:41Than what a lot of people thought.
10:42It was gonna.
10:43It really did.
10:44It's clicked.
10:45And obviously.
10:46She's been on the shelf.
10:47Or on the sidelines.
10:48For a little bit.
10:49Like with injury and everything else.
10:50But when they were together.
10:51They were cooking.
10:52There was something really there.
10:53And then.
10:54Just looking a little bit deeper.
10:55Into the faction.
10:56In this.
10:57This.
10:58Latest version of it.
10:59JD McDonough.
11:00Another match.
11:01Finn Balor.
11:02Seems to be having the time.
11:03Of his life.
11:04Playing this cartoonish.
11:05Villain type figure.
11:06That always doubts.
11:07Dominic.
11:08And Dom.
11:09Has become just.
11:10Super over personality.
11:11In his own right.
11:12Raquel Rodriguez.
11:13Seems like she's rediscovering.
11:14The form of old.
11:15In the ring.
11:16And even Roxanne Perez.
11:17Seems to have used this faction.
11:19As a way of just.
11:20Finding a feat a little bit.
11:21On the main roster.
11:22So against all the odds.
11:23When it seemed like.
11:24It was really dumb.
11:25To carry on with the judgement day.
11:27It's actually turned into.
11:28A pretty genius move.
11:29Because yeah.
11:30It's not as compelling.
11:31As it was.
11:32Like a couple of years ago.
11:33But it's still serving a purpose.
11:34And it's still.
11:35Anchoring.
11:36Raw.
11:37Week to week.
11:38Somehow.
11:39It's baffling to me.
11:40But yeah.
11:41It seemed.
11:42It seemed dumb.
11:43To not split up that team.
11:44But I've been proven wrong.
11:45Long live the judgement day.
11:46At this point.
11:47Never break it up.
11:48I think it should be the first ever.
11:49Like 50 year.
11:50Run.
11:51Faction.
11:52Thing.
11:53Just keep it going.
11:54Let the good times roll.
11:55I was one of the many fans.
11:56At the time.
11:57We're talking.
11:582011.
11:592012.
12:00Where.
12:01I was.
12:02Like.
12:03Furious.
12:04With WWE.
12:05Punk.
12:06And Daniel Bryan.
12:07Were my two favorite wrestlers.
12:08And the.
12:09Amount of work.
12:10They had to do.
12:11To force.
12:12WWE.
12:13Into pushing them.
12:14As major stars.
12:15I just found to be.
12:16Absolutely.
12:17Stupid.
12:18Ridiculous.
12:19And ultimately.
12:20Like.
12:21Really dispiriting.
12:22In the medium term.
12:23This actually was.
12:24A dumb idea.
12:25Because you could argue.
12:26That this treatment.
12:27Of those two wrestlers.
12:28In particular.
12:29Like.
12:30Created the foundation.
12:31For the movement.
12:32That eventually.
12:33Led to.
12:34WWE.
12:35Like.
12:36Undermined.
12:37It's monopoly.
12:38And I'm not saying.
12:39AEW.
12:40Ever had a chance.
12:41Of really sort of.
12:42Challenging it.
12:43But.
12:44You know.
12:45It did.
12:46Shake.
12:47Shake things up.
12:48Out.
12:49Off.
12:50As a movement.
12:51I mean.
12:52But.
12:53WWE.
12:54Is the.
12:55WWE.
12:57Was adamant.
12:58I mean.
12:59They kind of.
13:00To save face.
13:01From like.
13:02The hijacking.
13:03That might have.
13:04Happened at.
13:05WrestleMania 30.
13:06For example.
13:07They did.
13:08Like.
13:09Have to relent.
13:10And do it.
13:11will like who we tell you to like and again the aw thing for wwe's perspective is less than ideal
13:18they are still trying to thwart them and undermine them at every opportunity with the counter
13:24programming but ultimately wwe has now arrived at a point with a thriving massive core audience
13:32that has received this messaging which has happened like well before brian and punk were
13:37on the scene but it intensified after that they have broadly interpreted the message which i thought
13:42was so stupid at the time just give the people what they want put smiles on people's faces this
13:47is your company motto but we've now arrived at a point where this tribalistic wwe audience is so
13:56passionate about the initials that a wrestler that they've loved in the past will jump ship
14:03to aew and are automatically bad not good anymore don't fancy you anyway we've now arrived where
14:11the absolute inverse of that is true where a wrestler that they would have deemed awful spot monkey
14:19gymnast no psychology everything else right it's now a win for them because that wrestler who they
14:26previously would have written off terrible they're one of these dobers they work for aew
14:30is now someone who had great talent great potential great skills all along that idiot tony khan just
14:38happened to fumble them this like relentless years decades long campaign of the brand is the star
14:46wwe matters above all else stupid at the time medium term even dumber long term like they could call
14:53up anyone from nxt at this point they well they're a future superstar because they happen to work for a
14:59company with the initials wwe i cannot believe this worked and i cannot believe the shift in the
15:06audience i never saw it coming it worked dumb as hell and it works on people like you willborn and
15:13you're kind of responsible there but it worked dumb as hell and it's the most successful ploy ever
15:19dumb as hell and it worked dumb as hell and it looked down ridiculous but it worked dumb as hell and it worked
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