For as long as it has existed, World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) programming often showcases many of the same themes and concepts. For an organization that has created new content; on a weekly basis; for the better part of the last 30 years, it can be difficult to be original. And when you have the success that they have had, it doesn’t always make sense to deviate from ideas that work.
However, with the storyline of AJ Styles versus Roman Reigns, WWE has started to depart from their tried and true methods; leading to some of the most original content they’ve created in some time.
For the majority of WWE’s history whenever a big free agent signing joins the promotion, their storied careers are merely alluded to, rather than used as a way to build a performers reputation with unfamiliar fans. There are exceptions, such as when WWE purchases a company. That is why ECW and WCW are still familiar brands to audiences a decade after they were shuttered, which gives the veterans of those companies something to build off of when they make their debuts.
For a highly acclaimed talent like AJ Styles, his memorable run as the face of Total Nonstop Action (TNA) has been largely overlooked as he builds his name in the WWE Universe. This is the status quo when the WWE brings in performers from rival promotions. Yet AJ could be considered a case study in the company’s old strategies blending with the new. While the organization is not on good terms with TNA, there clearly isn’t the same frosty attitude towards New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW).
So when the WWE pulled off a major coup and signed AJ Styles, Shinsuke Nakamura, Doc Gallows and Karl Anderson away from NJPW, most figured there wouldn’t be much mention of their time there.
But almost from the moment that the additions were formally acknowledged, these performer’s successful runs with NJPW became a part of how the WWE tried to sell them to audiences. A completely different approach from how AJ Styles and Samoa Joe’s—another TNA veteran—noteworthy pasts were handled.
Can you remember a time where a company not owned or subsidized by the WWE had their championships mentioned this much on their programs?
The NJPW World and Tag Team Titles have been given prestige by the promotion to make fans appreciate the skill and talent of their newest signings. Of course the company will propagandize that the WWE is still the big-time, and it is. However, this tactic is a major departure from the company’s normal strategies.
Now, as AJ Styles takes part in a major feud with “The Guy,” WWE World Heavyweight Champion Roman Reigns, the promotion continues to deeply mine the non-WWE history of these men. In a totally different take on the friendship dynamic, you have the rare instance of a clear “good guy” in AJ Styles, continuing the “friendship” he has with obvious “bad guys” Gallows and Anderson. This is a nod to the trio’s time as members of the NJPW stable known as Bullet Club.
Usually in the world of WWE when nefarious individuals can’t get a friend to join their cause, they either attack them or break away from them outright. But here we are, almost a month into this new storyline of rekindling bromance from another company. Since the characters have different ideologies, their reunion goes against the storytelling norms of the industry. It is a unique tale that shows characters who are friends even though one man is aiming for cheers and the other two are looking for jeers.
In the last few years the company has made it a point to use social media to its advantage in storytelling instead of ignoring it. Without a doubt they are careful with what they want their talent to post on certain sites, but the allowance they have given Gallows/Anderson and, former NXT champion, Finn Balor to also mention their shared Bullet Club past is breaking new ground as well, giving fans a deeper look into the locker room and possibly laying the bread crumbs for more things to come.
As for Roman Reigns, the idea of getting some sort of reaction out of the crowd is still full steam ahead.
If you root for him, he can be looked at as a sympathetic character who has to watch his back. The challenger to his title has friends that want to see his downfall.
If you dislike Reigns, you get to watch some well-respected veterans beat up on the champ and mix it up in the main event program.
WWE has close to two million subscribers for their network, their stock is a valuable commodity and this year’s WrestleMania broke records.
If they were to stay with tried and true strategies on their shows, who could argue with them (despite the lower TV ratings)? Still, they are always open to looking towards new avenues of storytelling to keep things interesting.
And the on-going tale involving Styles/Gallows/Anderson and Reigns is keeping viewers engaged and die-hards (mostly) satisfied.
Great article!