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2018 was a great year for WWE and it laid a strong foundation for 2019 to be even more spectacular. Royal Rumble was a hit, and the Elimination Chamber exceeded a lot of the fans' expectations. The change in WWE programming, spearheaded by Vince McMahon himself, has actually been delightful. We have been presented with a variety of different storylines, booking decisions and character developments, some of which have pleased the audience like never before.
With the McMahon family back on TV, along with some of the hottest storylines in recent years involving the best superstars in the business, things look impressively bright for the time to come. With that in mind, here are some of the best booking decisions by WWE leading up to WrestleMania 35.
#6 Samoa Joe's Role in WWE
Samoa Joe has been protected well by the WWE. In fact, a veteran of his caliber deserved the booking he has received thus far. His in-ring booking has been on-point really, and while he has failed to win any top title on both brands, WWE has been able to keep his aura alive through good booking decisions throughout this year.
Samoa Joe has reached the twilight years of his career, and winning the top championships isn't something that he may be hungry for. Samoa Joe has not been secretive about his desire to be a backstage figure in WWE, with him wanting to be part of a backstage role in NXT. He is instead, the perfect wrestler that can take up the role of a feared performer that can put over rising talent, similar to Kassius Ohno in NXT. By no means is Samoa Joe a jobber, and certainly, WWE understands that. They have used his skills well.
That being said, WWE has made the right decision by having him win the United States Championship and allowing him to defend it at WrestleMania - that to a mouth-watering clash with Rey Mysterio. Many fans might have complained of the way he was booked in the entirety of 2018, but it's hard to argue that Joe has a very good spot on the card, as the entire main-event scene is crowded at the moment. Samoa Joe has the capacity to put some prestige back to the United States title, and a match between the two of the best veterans of professional wrestling is actually very decent booking from WWE.
#5 A polarizing Ronda Rousey
No one, not in the past or present, has ever had a rookie year better than Ronda Rousey. 2018 was arguably Ronda's time. In less than 6 months with the company, Ronda already had a WrestleMania match and a Raw Women's Title to her name.
And by WrestleMania 35, she may be part of the history books. How many wrestlers can actually say that they would main-event WrestleMania in just a year with WWE? Not even John Cena was booked in such a manner.
Ronda Rousey's on-screen presentation by WWE has by far been excellent. Although there are some glaring issues with her promo segments, it hasn't affected Ronda's in-ring game. In fact, she is getting better and better between the ropes, while her popularity might have taken a bit of a sting because of her clash with white-hot Becky Lynch.
WWE seemingly turned her heel, which might have been a stroke of genius on their part. She has a natural heel persona and it shouldn't be tough for Ronda to be herself - a destroyer with a legit fighting background. Add to that, her kayfabe breaking comments about WWE, might have caused an uproar among fans.
Despite whatever is happening between Rousey and WWE, it is clear that her star power is one of the reasons why WWE have provided her so much leverage even after all the comments she has made against them and the WWE Universe.
Her star power is the reason why they had considered an all-women main event of WrestleMania in the first place. WWE has done a great job to portray her as a villain, and her actions on the internet justify her character.
All these factors might polarize the WWE audiences, given that now their biggest mainstream draw is no longer a babyface. It could also, however, propel the feud between Becky, Ronda, and Charlotte to a level that wouldn't be just the main event of WrestleMania, but a career-defining feud that would have a lasting impression on the fans for a long time to come.
#4 The Accidental Rise of Kofi Kingston
WWE never intended for this to happen. In fact, they had booked someone else to receive this push. But this was one accident they'll be glad that happened. It sucks for Mustafa Ali, to know that it would have benefitted him greatly had he not been injured. However, he's still got at least another 11 years of wrestling ahead of him. For Kofi, he had 11 years of loyalty and hard work behind him. That made this storyline much more inspiring and riveting for fans.
WWE audiences were invested in his surge with all their will. The cheers, the amazement, the hysteria, the shock. All of this might have been the same for Ali as well, but had it been any other superstar other than Kofi, it is indeed doubtful that we could have witnessed identical reactions.
The booking has been perfect. Mr. McMahon is toying with the emotions of the fans at the moment. Stripping him of his opportunity to go to WrestleMania was just a part of the greater story that's in store for fans. Right from his heroic showing in the gauntlet match at SmackDown before Fastlane, to his awe-inspiring performance at the Elimination Chamber, and again on this week's episode of SmackDown, WWE has done it's outright best to present a story that brought fans to their feet. One of the best organic character developments in recent history, it will be a test for WWE to live up to the expectations of the crowd with WrestleMania looming on the horizon.
They shouldn't mess this one up.
#3 The Becky Lynch story
That WWE has been able to maintain Becky Lynch's momentum for so long is exceptional, given how WWE handles it's long term bookings.
Becky Lynch is this era's anti-hero. Her 'The Man' gimmick started almost 6 months ago, and yet she is quite arguably the hottest thing in wrestling today. This is certainly indicative of not only to her own work ethic and skill as a performer but her efforts outside the ring to keep her character alive. Credits to WWE, who have been able to keep her story compelling week-in-week-out, which is extremely difficult when planning a long-term storyline.
What goes on from here maybe disappointing for many fans, as there are chances that the Rousey-Lynch-Flair triple threat match may not end up as the main event of WrestleMania 35. Also, Lynch might end up not winning the Raw Women's Championship. That would be such a wasted opportunity.
But that's not the point. Credit should be given where it's due and for once, WWE has been able to craft a storyline so hot that it has been able to garner more than the required attention it needed. They have handled the Becky Lynch situation remarkably, despite what fans might have thought of initially when her stock started rising.
#2 FICKLE! FICKLE! FICKLE!
Daniel Bryan is in the peak of his WWE career. Yes, his WrestleMania 30 main event win over Randy Orton and Batista was the apex, but character-wise, Bryan is burning it up at the moment. Is there anything this man can't do?
All his previous title reigns were quite short, and, there wasn't great storytelling after he had won the title. But this time, not only is he part of one of the most engaging storylines in WWE, but he is also, probably, the most hated man in WWE after Brock Lesnar.
It is quite unimaginable, that one of the most over babyfaces in the business, is now one of the most despised heels in WWE. Kudos to WWE, kudos to Bryan. They have pulled it off really well and this was something fans could have never predicted a year back. While we blame WWE for being a lot predictable, this sure wasn't.
Kofi defeating Bryan to win the WWE Championship is something that the fans may want with all their hearts. But remember these were the same fans that beamed with joy at the sight of Bryan's title win at WrestleMania, and today everyone wants to see Kofi overcome Bryan and the atrocity of Vince McMahon.
Well done WWE.
#1 Charlotte Flair
Becky and Ronda are heaped with all kinds of praise. But why not Charlotte? There are still a lot of fans who believe she has been hand-picked to be the face of the women's division when in reality, she should be respected just from her in-ring performances alone.
Charlotte deserves to be in that main event of WrestleMania. Do we need to doubt that? She is literally the torchbearer of Women's wrestling in WWE, one of the best athletes in the entire division and on any given day, she is worthy of being in the spotlight on the Grandest Stage Of Them All. Any wrestler of Charlotte's caliber deserves that spot.
In spite of what fans may think, WWE has handled the Charlotte situation quite beautifully. They have used the fan's ideologies to their strength and made it the catalyst in the feud between Rousey and Lynch. A perfect antagonist in a triple threat match where none of the opponents have a soft corner for the other.
There are no better heel personas in WWE's women's division at the moment than Charlotte. Her character work as a heel is near perfect and she can manipulate the crowd with a single promo. Her insertion into the Lynch-Rousey sage has been deliberate, but quite subtle.
The prospect of making history by being in the first women's title match to main-event WrestleMania is something WWE always wanted out of her, and they've booked her to suit their needs, but they haven't let the fans down either. That's what's impressive.
