5 ways that WWE can still salvage RETRIBUTION

A lot of fans and professional wrestling analysts believe that the faction known as RETRIBUTION is already dead in the water in WWE. After weeks of simply targeting random WWE stars and symbols, the group zeroed in on MVP and the Hurt Business. It led to several matches in successive weeks, but in the end, the Hurt Business always came out on top.

It's hard for WWE to make both groups look menacing when one is always toppling the other. In this instance, it seemed as if it would have been the perfect time for WWE to use some 50/50 booking. That strategy is often met with some skepticism, but when debuting a huge new group with some talented members, 50/50 booking could have easily helped get RETRIBUTION over.

After targeting and falling to the Hurt Business several times, many felt that the debut of the dangerous group was mishandled. Ali and the group shifted their focus away from MVP's group and towards lower-hanging fruit on the RAW roster.

Over the last two weeks, Ricochet has been the group's target. He and Ali were friends and allies before the latter was revealed as the leader of RETRIBUTION. It still seems like Ali wants his friend to join the group. That could help things out for RETRIBUTION as could the following five suggestions that WWE could take to salvage the faction.

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#5 WWE could tweak the look of RETRIBUTION's Slapjack

Shane "Slapjack" Thorne

The immediate target of fans and pundits alike upon RETRIBUTION's WWE debut was Slapjack. His name was strange and his mask looked as if it was made by a middle-schooler. The masks of the rest of the members of the group were fine and fit the look and aura that the members were trying to present. Mustafa Ali did a lot of explaining over the past few weeks, revealing the reason behind Slapjack's weird moniker and mask.

"I know people love to poke fun at 'Slapjack' and the stupid mask. There's so much art in this story that I knew that a lot of it was going to go over people's heads. Imagine - this is just a crazy concept - imagine having people make preconceived ideas about you because of your name and what you look like. Imagine a guy named Mustafa Ali renaming people so that they could understand what it feels like to be judged by your name and what you look like. Continue to make fun of us like puppets because you guys don't appreciate real art. 'What a stupid name, he looks like an idiot', yeah, that's what I've been dealing with for 17 years. Art - ladies and gentleman, but you couldn't see it if it slapped you in your face."

WWE needed the explanation for those reasons to come out much sooner than almost two months after the group's debut. Had he done that in a promo right off the bat, things would have been smoother. But as we know, shows are often written and re-written even hours before the show goes to air. Slapjack's mask was clearly the standout among the group and not for a good reason.

Even if it were slightly more menacing or believable, it would have been an upgrade that still would have fit Ali's explanation.

#4 WWE could change the names of a few RETRIBUTION members

Some of the names could be better.

This point goes along with the first point but extends to more than just Slapjack. Immediately upon the reveal of the names of the members of RETRIBUTION, they were met with some laughter from the WWE Universe. While the likes of Mace and T-Bar aren't that bad, the main example of the weirdness was Slapjack (Shane Thorne). Mustafa Ali would later explain in an interview on RAW Talk as to why he gave the members new names in WWE.

The group's leader wanted the members to know what it felt like to be judged by your name just as he has been in his life. While Ali might have been judged because of political/societal reasons, Slapjack is mainly being chastised by WWE fans because the name is silly. The point might have gotten across better if there was more meaning behind the name. Mace doesn't get as much criticism as Slapjack, but they were both given their names. His point could have gotten across just the same with the name Scythe, Sabre, or Hatchet.

Another member with a strange name is Mia Yim, aka Reckoning. It sounds more like the name of a tag team or a wrestling PPV instead of the name of a female WWE Superstar. The word reckoning means the estimation or calculation of something. Used by RETRIBUTION, it's mainly to warn their enemies that they'll have to deal with the consequences of their actions. It could also mean that the time will come when their "bills will be due" in WWE. It's strange when people are named for concepts, like someone named Destiny or Eternity. Had her name been weapon-related like the rest, then it would have been easier to understand.

Even Mercedes Martinez was named Retaliation before leaving the group. The names chosen for all these members were meant to be judged by their meaning and not for the silliness. Instead, they could have called her Athena or Artemis because both women were associated with hunting and wisdom in Greek Mythology. Even Crimson could have worked because she sees red when she attacks her foes or Malice because she had ill intent towards other WWE performers.

#3 WWE could turn RETRIBUTION face

Ali was good as a face and is good on the mic either way.

Ali's style is certainly crowd-pleasing and thus better fits that of a face wrestler. There have been several moments in his WWE matches as the leader of the group where he's simply sitting on the ground or running away. As a face, he would never give up and pull out all of the stops in order to win.

When listening to the group's messages of being forgotten, left behind or wanting a huge corporation like WWE to pay for their sins, it doesn't seem as bad as they are presented. Sure, when five to ten people attack one or two in the middle of the ring, WWE is using a clearly defined heel/face dynamic.

The point here is that it's hard to argue against people wanting to fight back from under a bigger corporation or against the system. What Ali said about each of the members was true. Mia Yim got taken out before WarGames and no one paid for that. Dominik Dijakovic was choked out by Karrion Kross and he was not reprimanded. It's like why it was hard to root against Daniel Bryan as the Planet's Champion. Everything he was saying was true because we as humans do consume and use resources provided by the planet. But that is the nature of human beings.

When heels speak the truth, it's hard to root against them. When Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn were heels fighting against Shane McMahon and Bryan, they were slightly right because McMahon was running the show however he wanted without being checked by Bryan. His last name also meant that he could get away with anything in WWE.

If WWE turned them face, it would make sense. The Shield was a trio of heels when they first debuted because they were essentially mercenaries hired by Paul Heyman and CM Punk. When they fought back against the Authority, however, they were cheered as faces.

There might not currently be an authority faction to fight back against but it would behoove WWE to turn the group face. When performers fight back against the big bad corporation, it's usually as faces. Just revisit the Yes! Movement and Bryan's ascent to the top. When they fought against the Hurt Business, another group of heels, it was hard to know who were we supposed to root for.

#2 WWE should let RETRIBUTION score some important wins

The new group needs a few important and meaningful wins to gain traction.

One of the first things WWE should have done when RETRIBUTION debuted was to let them win their first feud regardless of who it was against. It turned out to be against the Hurt Business and each time they squared off, MVP's group won. That instantly hurt the group's credibility and potential. Had they won that first feud, or had they started with Ricochet instead of The Hurt Business, then the rest of the ensuing criticism wouldn't have been as bad.

The win would have meant that we needed to take them seriously and that they would be players in WWE going forward. Instead, they lost and took even more criticism from everyone. When The Fiend debuted on RAW following this year's WWE Draft, the group was quickly dispatched by the former Universal Champion. Once again, further diminishing the very little credibility the group had.

When new stars, teams, or groups debut in WWE or any promotion, they need to pile up wins or a winning streak. It gives us fans a reason to care about a performer or performers and a reason to invest in this new talent. When that doesn't happen, it's hard to care for a Superstar.

Take the example of Shawn Spears, who was known as Tye Dillinger in WWE, who wasn't booked to win many matches. His gimmick was still infectious, so people still rooted for him. In AEW, however, he seems to lose most of his important matches. He's dropped important feuds against Cody, Dustin Rhodes and Scorpio Sky. In order to properly build a talent or new concept for a group, they need to be victorious right away. It can still happen in WWE if they build on the group's win over Ricochet. He's still only one man, but it was a win over a former US Champion.

#1 WWE could put a title (or titles) on RETRIBUTION

Lashley wouldn't have been hurt much had he dropped his belt.

This point goes hand in hand along with the previous point. When a new talent debuts in WWE, they need to pick up some wins. That's why The Miz and Dolph Ziggler are usually one of the first feuds for stars debuting from NXT. Those two are trusted veterans that can help sell the new star in the ring or on the mic.

Most of the fans and followers of WWE and NXT knew who the stars were because we have seen their potential/work in NXT. Dijakovic and Yim are former title challengers and have had great matches. As they debuted earlier this summer as the damaging faction, their potential grew. When they finally settled on the five/six core members, things were easier to project. With four men and a woman, they could easily field a tag team and have a member each go after singles gold and women's gold.

During the feud with The Hurt Business, Bobby Lashley's title was briefly on the line against T-Bar. 'The All Mighty' won easily, further diminishing the group's chances. Had T-Bar defeated Lashley, or had Ali won due to outside help, it would have at least given RETRIBUTION some traction.

Lashley has had the title since the end of August but could have traded it with a member of the group. And before the WWE Draft, Mace and T-Bar could have easily challenged the Street Profits for the RAW Tag Team Championship. Ford and Dawkins have held them since before WrestleMania 36, so it's not like they would have been robbed of a meaningful title run on the WWE main roster.

Simply put, title wins give stars more credibility and the fans a reason to care about them. Did we think Titus O'Neil would realistically beat Lashley on the latest RAW? Not really. WWE has only used him sporadically despite his great charity work. Had any of the members won a title or titles, they would have instantly been considered threats.