The art of the bad guy and creation of the underdog and eventual hero.
Everyone says Austin vs McMahon was the the greatest feud of all time, however it wasn't simply man versus man like it is today or wrestler vs wrestler. It was Austin versus The World (within wrestling and storylines). McMahon had all the power of corporate, he had all the power over every wrestler and could fine and fire Austin at the drop of hat which was written around and teased and eventually executed many times. Austin was the underdog and our eventual hero because of the odds and obstacles he faced and had to overcome. It wasn't simply Austin vs McMahon.
Storyline 2 of underdog and eventual hero was HHH vs The Rock. This feud carried the company for almost 3 years however it was never simply HHH versus The Rock. Once again the bad guy had the world at his or their disposal. HHH had Stephanie McMahon, Road Dogg, Gunn, Xpac, and every wrestler on the roster who didn't want to be screwed or fired. Our underdog in the Rock would face 2 on 1 matches, 3 on 1 matches, stacked lumberjack matches and we'd watch the obstacles build and build hoping our hero could overcome them.
My point is their is no clear cut underdog or eventual hero storyline on Raw or Smackdown or in the WWE right now or has their been in quite a few years. If Roman Reigns is the next guy then where is his counterpart bad guy to stack the odds against our hero and make us care?
So free of charge to the WWE I will tell you how to do this with Roman Reigns. The guy you use with Reigns is..... Shane McMahon. You do Austin vs McMahon 2.0 with Reigns vs McMahon.
How the hell can you do Reigns vs Shane McMahon when Reigns is being booed and Shane is currently being cheered?!!!! It's called writing and if done right we flip the script on the two characters and Shane will be a hated piece of crap.
Slowly over on Smackdown Shane McMahon drops the sneakers, jeans, jacket and dancing and starts appearing in suits. When asked about the change by talent or interviewers he vaguely speaks about that it's time to grow up. That's all the info we get at that time. Shane slowly starts to talk and treat others like dirt. His main phrase we as an audience hear over and over is " Do you know who I am?" He will eventually add to that phrase " I am the son of the greatest man in wrestling and sports entertainment, Vincent Kennedy McMahon!"
Over on Raw Roman Reigns is being screwed out of Universal title chances one by one month after month. First Samoa Joe interferes to cost Reigns a win. The Miz next and eventually Strowman. Reigns frustrated calls out the three men on a Raw to find out just what is going on. The three men come out and stand on the stage and then Shane McMahon's music hits. No one knows what the hell is going on. Shane in his suit with his suit wearing entourage and goofs along with the three Raw superstars make their way to the ring. Joe, Miz and Strowman remain outside the ring as Shane (now in the storyline as the new Mr. McMahon) stands nose to nose with Reigns in the ring. Shane explains everything. His eventual "growing up", grabbing the bull by the horns and taking over. How boss, owner, head honcho is his rightful place in this business and always was and will be. Shane has made an agreement with Kurt Angle to combine rosters and Kurt now works for Shane. Reigns will not be "The Face of The WWE" under his watch. "Reigns won't decide when he gets title shots. Reigns works for me and Reigns does what I say". And on and on, blah blah blah, with Shane's goons and the Superstars jumping Reigns and starting the Reigns vs McMahon storyline. Shane places roadblock after obstacle after obstacle scenario in front of Reigns making him the underdog. Reigns losses most but when he does get his wins the crowd wins with him as over time he becomes the Austin/ Rock hero. When Reigns finally spits in the face and punches Shane to lead to their epic encounter the WWE Universe will be behind Reigns.
Everyone says Austin vs McMahon was the the greatest feud of all time, however it wasn't simply man versus man like it is today or wrestler vs wrestler. It was Austin versus The World (within wrestling and storylines). McMahon had all the power of corporate, he had all the power over every wrestler and could fine and fire Austin at the drop of hat which was written around and teased and eventually executed many times. Austin was the underdog and our eventual hero because of the odds and obstacles he faced and had to overcome. It wasn't simply Austin vs McMahon.
Storyline 2 of underdog and eventual hero was HHH vs The Rock. This feud carried the company for almost 3 years however it was never simply HHH versus The Rock. Once again the bad guy had the world at his or their disposal. HHH had Stephanie McMahon, Road Dogg, Gunn, Xpac, and every wrestler on the roster who didn't want to be screwed or fired. Our underdog in the Rock would face 2 on 1 matches, 3 on 1 matches, stacked lumberjack matches and we'd watch the obstacles build and build hoping our hero could overcome them.
My point is their is no clear cut underdog or eventual hero storyline on Raw or Smackdown or in the WWE right now or has their been in quite a few years. If Roman Reigns is the next guy then where is his counterpart bad guy to stack the odds against our hero and make us care?
So free of charge to the WWE I will tell you how to do this with Roman Reigns. The guy you use with Reigns is..... Shane McMahon. You do Austin vs McMahon 2.0 with Reigns vs McMahon.
How the hell can you do Reigns vs Shane McMahon when Reigns is being booed and Shane is currently being cheered?!!!! It's called writing and if done right we flip the script on the two characters and Shane will be a hated piece of crap.
Slowly over on Smackdown Shane McMahon drops the sneakers, jeans, jacket and dancing and starts appearing in suits. When asked about the change by talent or interviewers he vaguely speaks about that it's time to grow up. That's all the info we get at that time. Shane slowly starts to talk and treat others like dirt. His main phrase we as an audience hear over and over is " Do you know who I am?" He will eventually add to that phrase " I am the son of the greatest man in wrestling and sports entertainment, Vincent Kennedy McMahon!"
Over on Raw Roman Reigns is being screwed out of Universal title chances one by one month after month. First Samoa Joe interferes to cost Reigns a win. The Miz next and eventually Strowman. Reigns frustrated calls out the three men on a Raw to find out just what is going on. The three men come out and stand on the stage and then Shane McMahon's music hits. No one knows what the hell is going on. Shane in his suit with his suit wearing entourage and goofs along with the three Raw superstars make their way to the ring. Joe, Miz and Strowman remain outside the ring as Shane (now in the storyline as the new Mr. McMahon) stands nose to nose with Reigns in the ring. Shane explains everything. His eventual "growing up", grabbing the bull by the horns and taking over. How boss, owner, head honcho is his rightful place in this business and always was and will be. Shane has made an agreement with Kurt Angle to combine rosters and Kurt now works for Shane. Reigns will not be "The Face of The WWE" under his watch. "Reigns won't decide when he gets title shots. Reigns works for me and Reigns does what I say". And on and on, blah blah blah, with Shane's goons and the Superstars jumping Reigns and starting the Reigns vs McMahon storyline. Shane places roadblock after obstacle after obstacle scenario in front of Reigns making him the underdog. Reigns losses most but when he does get his wins the crowd wins with him as over time he becomes the Austin/ Rock hero. When Reigns finally spits in the face and punches Shane to lead to their epic encounter the WWE Universe will be behind Reigns.