A decent time to return to WWE 

Sometimes, I forget that people in Uganda watch professional wrestling. I was eating at a local establishment two weeks ago when I noticed a WWE match playing on a TV in the corner.

I think Becky Lynch was talking to Trish and Zoey Stark. The promo ended with Becky singlehandedly demolishing her rivals. One woman at the restaurant could not get enough of the show. I could hear her explaining Becky’s origins in NXT and the crux of her feud with Trish and Zoey.

Then WWE switched to that Alpha Academy match where Valhala spears Maxine through the table, and this woman lost her mind. Her enthusiasm was heartwarming. I enjoy listening to people as they geek out over their favourite fandoms. She reminded me that we had not checked in on WWE in ages.

The company is doing surprisingly well. This upward trajectory began a year ago when allegations of sexual misconduct sent Vince McMahon into retirement, and HHH took over as creative head. He turned the company around, eliminating repetitive matches by adding new faces to the roster, crafting compelling storylines, and giving his superstars more control over their promos.

This year threatened to derail HHH’s success when Vince forced his way back into the company. WWE’s merger with the UFC under the = Endeavor umbrella cemented the old man’s control over the company, and some speculated that Vince would reclaim his position as creative director, undoing HHH’s hard work.

But WWE is currently thriving. Summerslam 2023 is one of the most successful events in WWE history, raking in an impressive $8.5m at the gate and recording a 23 percent increase in sponsorship money. Money in the Bank 2023 in July was WWE’s highest-grossing Money in the Bank ever. This comes after a year of impeccable Premium Live Events.

On the creative side of things, Vince keeps meddling in HHH’s business, which is why the likes of Candace LaRae and Johnny Gargano seemingly disappeared. However, HHH still holds the creative reins. He does what he can to deliver entertaining shows every week. The Bloodline Saga is the biggest story in wrestling.

Many viewers quickly wrote it off as a failure when Jimmy turned on Jey at Summerslam. But that same crowd is singing the Bloodline’s praises today because Smackdown (July 12) gave a compelling treason for Jimmy’s supposed betrayal. Elsewhere, the company is finally giving L.A. Knight the push he deserves.

They can’t ignore the atomic applause he attracts weekly. I know people that scoffed at the idea of putting him in a feud with The Miz until
they saw that scorching promo on RAW between the two. The Judgement Day civil war is brewing. Damian’s quarrel with Finn is gradually morphing into the most exciting dispute in the company, boasting more intrigue than any of us expected.

Dominic Mysterio is pissing everyone off in NXT, proving his worth as the most dominant heel in the company. Alpha Academy’s segments with Maxine are gold. Audiences can’t get enough of Maxine’s antics as Chad Gabel’s best student slowly transforms into the so-called Alpha Queen. On the solo front, WWE is using the Gunther/Gable fight to rehabilitate Chad, stripping away his comedic persona to highlight the wrestling genius hiding beneath.

Iyo Sky is about to dominate as the Women’s Champion. Everyone loves Shotzi’s new look. Her feud with Bayley will elevate them both. The Belair/Flair/Asuka saga has potential, at least in terms of revitalizing Belair (by turning her heel) and pitting Asuka against Iyo. Bobby Lashley is doing big things with the Street Profits. It would not surprise me if WWE throws them into a feud against MVP’s Hurt Business.

This company is firing on all cylinders. If you abandoned the brand during the Vince era, this is a decent time to return.

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