Six of One, Half a Dozen of The Others

The dynamic between Roman Reigns and Dean Ambrose is almost entirely unique in the history of wrestling, at least in the sense that they’ve continued to seem like they like each other. When most factions split the way this one looks like it’s going to, there’s much more open disdain or jealousy between the two or three belligerents based entirely on the arbitrary decision of a booker. This seems, instead to be established characters reacting to established characters that they have genuine affection and respect, while also thinking that the other one is being a total Dick.

***

Jack Swagger will always be the Marty Jannetty to Cesaro’s Shawn Michaels, but unlike Marty, Swagger doesn’t have to worry about Cesaro stabbing him back by undermining him to his bosses and trying to get him blackballed from the company. Only Mr. WrestleManias can get away with stuff like that.

***

While I wouldn’t say that people don’t care for Big E., I think it’s clear at this point that they don’t care about him. They like him just fine, but they aren’t excited about him as much as they care about him as means to a narrative end. Big E. excites people in the same way they care about dramatic reunions at the end of romantic comedies: something presented to them as a thing to care about, with insufficient evidence to the contrary to make them not.

Join the Kayfabemetrics Institute on Patreon!