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WWE puts out a lot of content every single week, and while plenty of the company's booking decisions are liked by the fans, some things left the WWE Universe scratching their heads.
In this weekly series, we take a look at WWE's three main shows, RAW, NXT and SmackDown, to explore the confusing booking decisions that took place on these programs.
In this article, we will be looking at five such decisions WWE made this week.
#5 Lana gets beaten down and removed from WWE TLC
Lana has been a focal point of the WWE RAW women's division for some time now. Her feud with Nia Jax and the WWE announce table has been featured on the red brand for most of the fall season.
Lana had her own WWE Chronicle in November.
The storyline of Lana being constantly bullied and ridiculed by Jax and Shayna Baszler built her up as a sympathetic babyface. Shortly thereafter, Lana became the sole survivor at WWE Survivor Series.
The story then progressed to include Lana's new friendship with Asuka. The duo earned a title match with two victories over Jax and Baszler. But after Lana finally overcame adversity and beat Jax, she was destroyed by the dastardly duo. Now, Lana has been removed from WWE TLC.
The decision to implement this angle so close to WWE TLC is quite bizarre. Many fans were disappointed by this development. Lana's entire narrative has been building towards her overcoming the odds and finally winning some championship gold. But as it stands, that outcome has been delayed, if not cancelled entirely.
One could argue that WWE is doubling down on Lana as the ultimate underdog, and they'll have her triumphantly return on Sunday. But WWE also muddied the waters on Monday night. On WWE RAW, the returning Mandy Rose saved her tag team partner, Dana Brooke from Jax and Baszler. So the champions might have a new threat on their hands.
Plus, the fact that this match does not have a table stipulation attached to it is also stunningg. The story wrote itself. Lana was put through tables every week by Jax. Booking this ordinary match at a show that's sole purpose is to add certain furniture-based stipulations is absurd. But at this point, this whole Lana storyline has become fairly confusing, so the lack of logic is consistent.
#4 The Miz and Morrison defeat Keith Lee in a 2-on-1 handicap on WWE RAW
WWE's booking of Keith Lee since his debut has been bizarre to say the least. Shortly after his WWE RAW debut, when he was wedged in between Randy Orton and Drew McIntyre, many of his matches ended with screwy finishes. This stop-start booking is one of the reasons why "The Limitless One" hasn't flourished on the main roster.
There have been some highlights, though. Lee defeated Orton at WWE Payback, and he was on the winning team at WWE Survivor Series. Still, Lee has been mishandled throughout his time on WWE RAW.
Plus, last week, news broke that Vince McMahon ordered Lee to attend extra training at the Performance Center.
Keith Lee is getting lost in the shuffle on WWE RAW
Lee's situation went from bad to worse this week on WWE RAW. He was pinned by The Miz and John Morrison in a 2-on-1 handicap match.
The loss is a tough one to take, and it's a confusing decision to say the least. Yes, The Miz is a highly decorated member of the WWE roster. Likewise, Morrison is supremely talented. But the two of them been portrayed as nothing more than immature fools since they reunited. Despite their impressive accolades in WWE, they have practically no credibility.
The only saving grace in regard to Lee's defeat is that it could give him a new edge. This week, Lee needs to destroy The Miz and Morrison in emphatic fashion. But given his inconsistent booking, Lee might not get this redemption. Hopefully, he'll find his stride on WWE RAW sooner rather than later.
#3 Kyle O'Reilly becomes the number one contender (again) on WWE NXT
On this week's episode of WWE NXT, Kyle O'Reilly became the number one contender for Finn Balor's NXT Championship at News Year's Evil in January.
O'Reilly deserves any title shot he gets because he is an excellent wrestler. But fans just saw him face Balor in a high-profile title match. It's only been two months since NXT TakeOver 31, where O'Reilly faced Balor in one of the best matches of the year.
This match was so amazing because the competitors beat each other senseless. They put on an astounding and brutal affair that left the champion with a broken jaw in two places and a ruptured eardrum. These injuries required surgery and kept Balor off WWE NXT programming for several weeks.
Finn Balor and Pete Dunne haven't wrestled each other in WWE.
A rematch will surely be a great match. But it makes more sense for Pete Dunne to challenge for the title. With Pat McAfee off the show for an unknown amount of time, Dunne needs a new direction. So far, Dunne has worked well as a heel. A match between "The Bruiserweight" and Balor would be a fresh combination for WWE NXT.
A title match between Dunne and Balor could be an excellent first-time battle between the two stars in WWE NXT. Plus, it could be their only chance to clash for the title. If Scarlett's ominous interaction with Balor was any indication, Karrion Kross is coming for Balor sooner rather than later.
#2 Otis defeats Shinsuke Nakamura on WWE SmackDown
On this week's edition of WWE Friday Night SmackDown, Otis defeated "The Artist" Shinsuke Nakamura in what was essentially a squash match for the former Money in the Bank winner.
This match was an opportunity for WWE to showcase what Otis has learned under the tutelage of his new coach, Chad Gable. It was a fine exhibition, and both competitors performed well in the little time they had.
The problem with the match wasn't the time allotted or the result. Instead, it's fair to critique how WWE used Nakamura as fodder for Otis. WWE's decision to use "The Artist" like this shows just how far his stock has fallen.
Shinsuke Nakamura has been criminally underutilized in WWE.
Nakamura is one of the best and most entertaining wrestlers on the planet. But WWE fails to put him in positions where Nakamura can thrive. Sure, he has accomplished a lot in WWE. In 2018, he won the Royal Rumble, and he should have defeated AJ Styles at WrestleMania 34.
But an ill-advised heel turn during this storyline derailed Nakamura's career. He has never been able to recover, as he has been stuck in the midcard ever since.
If WWE continues to book him in to take losses in two-minute squash matches, he'll never return to the heights he enjoyed in his initial run on the main roster.
#1 Bianca Belair loses to Bayley on WWE SmackDown
On this week's SmackDown, Bianca Belair and Bayley faced off for the first time in WWE. The "EST of WWE" has been involved with the former SmackDown Women's Champion, but they hadn't gotten physical yet.
Bayley emerged victorious in an excellent match between the two. It makes sense for WWE to continue this feud, and Belair will seek to avenge her loss. If she beats Bayley, she'll look strong heading into the Royal Rumble. But having Belair take a loss on Friday doesn't make a lot of sense.
Bianca Belair lost for the first since her WWE debut.
Belair made her WWE debut at WrestleMania 36, and she had been undefeated since her arrival. This undefeated streak makes her loss on SmackDown even more baffling.
The booking decision to have Bayley defeat Belair is bizarre for several reasons. Bayley did not need to win this match. "The Role Model" is an established act in WWE, and taking a loss wouldn't hurt her. But as a rising talent with limitless potential, a loss harms Belair's momentum.
WWE has this unfortunate booking trope in which they build a babyface by having them lose matches on the way to picking up a victory. But this is a deeply flawed system, as it makes the face look weak and gives the fans little reason to cheer for them from the start.
Belair is megastar in the making, and WWE needs to start to booking her like one. If they do, she could quickly rise to the top of the card during WrestleMania season.
