3- Lack of Narrative
Wrestling has been known for decades as a business that captures the audience through storytelling and strong narrative. A feud is built based on a combination of wrestling and drama, causing spectators to be glued to the path of the culminating match. The modern era of wrestling lacks appropriate storyline building tremendously.
Simply placing opponents in a match without a proper build forces the story to be created in the ring, which gives the competitors the mindset to execute unnecessary bumps and maneuvers. In turn, this increases the risk of injury and decreases the lifespan of one’s in-ring career. In most cases, when it comes to stories, less is more.
One of the most memorable feuds of all time was Hulk Hogan versus Andre the Giant. This feud was not known for the in-ring performance. In fact, Andre was suffering from an injury leading to the match, and Hogan has never been known for his ability to put on a stellar match. Instead, the jealousy of Hogan receiving a bigger prize for an extensive reign as champion, and the manipulation by Bobby “The Brian” Heenan, caused Andre to turn his back on Hogan, rip his chain off, and proverbially his heart out due to the unimaginable betrayal.
From Larry Zbyszko turning on his mentor Bruno Sammartino, to Sting joining the Four Horsemen only to get ousted for being at the top of the contender’s list, stories leading to matches are just as vital, and arguably even more, than the match itself.
A WWE Hall of Famer called out AEW fans HERE
