Opinion
Reciprocity: The Value Of Trust In Wrestling
What has happened to the trust between fans and wrestling? Why is there no reciprocity?
Reciprocity – the practice of exchanging things with others for mutual benefit, especially privileges granted by one country or organization to another
Wrestling has a symbiotic relationship with it’s fans. Both the company (and it’s performers) have to work in concert with the audience to effectively tell a story. It’s the simplest part of the process – wrestlers wrestle and fans are entertained. So why does that relationship feel so strained between fans in 2018 and wrestling?
It’s no secret now that we’re in the age of information. Never has there been a time in human history where it’s easier to find out something you really want to find out, and that could be good or bad for the record. When it comes to wrestling, not only is information readily available for us through wrestling news sites like the Observer, the Figure Four Weekly, or even this one (cheap plug!), but WWE themselves has opened up the door to introspection. And the business is in the best place it’s ever been. Independent companies are doing business they’ve never been able to do, wrestlers are making more money than ever, and interest in the business is the best it’s been in over a decade. But there’s still an issue with that reciprocity. Why?
I’m a pretty aware person, and I try my best to really be objective. So, I try to really observe the fan interaction between companies, wrestlers, and fans. There’s a clear disconnect at times. And if I’m honest, it’s at times when trust is given and then lost. Let me give you an example.
Chris Jericho is one of the most successful professional wrestlers in the world. Not only is he great in the ring, but he’s also been known to be great with fans. He’s got the rare ability to consistently work fans from a wrestling perspective, yet when someone asks him his genuine opinion on something, he’s shown himself to be brutally honest. However, when he claimed that he believes that some fans boo Roman Reigns at shows because it’s the “in” thing to do (in a non WWE interview, by the way), fans lost their minds. People claimed that Jericho was regurgitating Vince McMahon’s rhetoric even though he wasn’t working for WWE at the time, and many claimed that Jericho had lost all their respect. All of this because he said something he believed, and the fans in turn don’t. Fast forward to now, and Jericho has reignited his feud with Tetsuya Naito, attacking him in a brutal and bloody manner at a New Japan show. Once again, the trust is back and we all love Jericho again.
Another example is the feud between AJ Styles and Shinsuke Nakamura. Ever since Nakamura signed with WWE, the hopes were that we’d see him and Styles have their rematch from the instant classic at Wrestle Kingdom 10 in the Tokyo Dome. They built to the match slowly, with Nakamura winning the Royal Rumble, and finally had the “dream match” at WrestleMania 34 for the WWE Championship. The match was good, although slow and devoid of genuine crowd reaction, and led to a much needed Shinsuke heel turn. So, even though the match didn’t reach our expectations, Nakamura was now a heel and the feud could grow to the heights we all expected. Unfortunately, that hasn’t happened. While the build on TV has been tremendous, the two major Pay-Per-View encounters they’ve had since WrestleMania (The Greatest Royal Rumble and last night’s Backlash) have been fun but ended in deflating false finishes. The goal is clear: build to a final, major encounter at Money In The Bank in Chicago, the major wrestling hotbed of the US. The problem, however, is that with each false finish, interest in the next match and trust that the feud and the matches will deliver is dwindling. The match in Chicago, which isn’t booked but is inevitable, will probably be tremendous but we have no reason to believe that based on what’s happened so far.
So, the question is why is that trust lost? Better yet, why is it even questioned? In Jericho’s situation, the fans HATE Roman Reigns so much, they don’t want anyone to tell them something they don’t want to believe, much less someone they believe in. And the second he did something they believed in again, attacking Naito in this case, he earned it back again. While Nakamura and Styles aren’t the victims of our ire; WWE is. Which I feel is more indicative of the real problem.
WWE has seemed to have lost their trust with the diehard, internet fanbase. While it’s the biggest and most successful wrestling company in the world, the type of wrestling that the fans are into currently isn’t being given by WWE. It’s being given by other companies like New Japan, Ring of Honor, and numerous Indy promotions. So, this is a two fold problem. WWE has never lied about the product they put out; the goal is, has, and always been entertainment. And the fans, desperate for something new and different, are clamoring for a more in ring based product. And both are right. But, fans feel that WWE isn’t listening to them, and WWE most likely has a negative connotation of internet fans. Where’s the reciprocity?
What can we do to fix it? How is the trust rebuilt? Or, can it ever be like it was, or how it should be? These are questions none of us know, because if we did, it would be happening. I do thing, however, that the true answer is in following your heart. I love WWE and I’ll never stop watching. I still enjoy the product. Many of you reading have moved to New Japan Pro Wrestling, and they have a tremendous product. As I stated earlier, there’s never been a better time for wrestling like it is now. So, find something to enjoy, as there’s enough out there to like. Just remember, the trust that you might not have for the other side? They might not have it for you either.
FIN
Chairshot Radio Network
Launched in 2017, the Chairshot Radio Network presents you with the best in sports, entertainment, and sports entertainment. Wrestling and wrestling crossover podcasts + the most interesting content + the most engaging hosts = the most entertaining podcasts you’ll find!
MONDAY - Bandwagon Nerds (entertainment & popular culture)
TUESDAY - 4 Corners Podcast (sports)
WEDNESDAY - The Greg DeMarco Show (wrestling)
THURSDAY - Nefarious Means
FRIDAY - DWI Podcast (Drunk Wrestling Intellect)
SATURDAY - The Mindless Wrestling Podcast
SUNDAY - 30 Mindless Minutes
CHAIRSHOT RADIO NETWORK PODCAST SPECIALS
Attitude Of Aggression Podcast: The Big Five Project (chronologically exploring WWE's PPV/PLE history) Unidentified History (Ufology) & Game Gone Wrong (Game of Thrones Universe)
Chairshot Radio Network Your home for the hardest hitting podcasts... Sports, Entertainment and Sports Entertainment!
Powered by RedCircle
Let us know what you think on social media @ChairshotMedia and always remember to use the hashtag #UseYourHead!
Opinion
Chris King: The Wyatt Sicks’ Wasted Potential By WWE
Chris King takes a look at the WWE and their wasted potential of Uncle Howdy and the Wyatt Sicks faction.
Chris King takes a look at the WWE and their wasted potential of Uncle Howdy and the Wyatt Sicks faction.
It’s that time of the year again, folks; it’s unfortunate and downright awful that so many WWE superstars got released today. I’m not going to list all of them, but I am going to talk about one of my favorite factions,
The Wyatt Sicks. Nikki Cross, Joe Gacy, Erik Rowan, and Bo Dallas (Uncle Howdy) were something special. After Bo’s brother Bray Wyatt’s tragic passing, WWE felt like there was a hole that needed to be filled. Wyatt was one of the most creative and brilliant characters, and Bo would be taking over his brother’s concept and bringing it to life. In 2024, at the end of an incredible documentary highlighting Wyatt’s career and struggles, Bo appeared on the screen portrayed as Uncle Howdy. The last time Uncle Howdy was seen on-screen was at the 2023 Royal Rumble, where Wyatt defeated LA Knight in a Pitch Black Match. Howdy jumped off a structure onto Knight.
This post-credit scene sparked so much speculation and excitement that Wyatt’s brother would carry on his legacy and possibly debut the faction that was Wyatt’s concept. On the June 17th episode of Monday Night Raw, The Wyatt Sicks made their dramatic debut ,destroying the backstage area as well as “murdering” Chad Gable. It was such an iconic arrival for Howdy as he made his menacing walk from the back into the audience who were chanting “Holy Shit.” The Sicks and American Made (Chad Gable and The Creed Brothers) battled for months, with The Sicks being victorious. On the September 9th episode of Raw, The Sicks defeated them, with Howdy getting the win with Sister Abigail.
The following year, The Sicks would move over to Friday Night SmackDown, and it seemed like WWE had a plan in place. They would win the tag team championships from The Street Profits and start to look dominant. Now, what should have happened next is Howdy should have won the United States title. The Sicks could have held all the gold over on the blue brand, but it never happened. The Sicks entered into a never-ending feud with The MFT’s (Solo Sikoa, Tama Tonga, Tonga Loa, JC Mateo, and Talla Tonga.) It started off exciting, and the WWE Universe was red-hot for their interactions.
After months of repetitive matches and The MFT’s stealing their lantern, the feud grew tiresome and boring. Even Tama asked Solo why they are still holding onto the lantern, as it was destroying them as a whole. Finally on the SmackDown before Mania, Tama
gave the lantern back to Howdy against Solo’s wishes. Please explain to me why both factions fought almost every single week instead of just having one final blowoff match at WrestleMania.
It should have been either a massive street fight or a falls count anywhere match on the grandest stage of them all. Instead, it turned into a meaningless week-after-week extravaganza that benefited no one. The MFTs won the rivalry, and The Sicks don’t even work for WWE anymore. This was the same criminalized creative process that Wyatt dealt with during his first run in the company.
We’ll never know how much of a dangerous force The Wyatt Sicks could have been in the WWE. For all their careers’ sake, I hope they stay far away from the company for as long as possible. Every superstar that was cut deserves better!
Chairshot Radio Network
Launched in 2017, the Chairshot Radio Network presents you with the best in sports, entertainment, and sports entertainment. Wrestling and wrestling crossover podcasts + the most interesting content + the most engaging hosts = the most entertaining podcasts you’ll find!
MONDAY - Bandwagon Nerds (entertainment & popular culture)
TUESDAY - 4 Corners Podcast (sports)
WEDNESDAY - The Greg DeMarco Show (wrestling)
THURSDAY - Nefarious Means
FRIDAY - DWI Podcast (Drunk Wrestling Intellect)
SATURDAY - The Mindless Wrestling Podcast
SUNDAY - 30 Mindless Minutes
CHAIRSHOT RADIO NETWORK PODCAST SPECIALS
Attitude Of Aggression Podcast: The Big Five Project (chronologically exploring WWE's PPV/PLE history) Unidentified History (Ufology) & Game Gone Wrong (Game of Thrones Universe)
Chairshot Radio Network Your home for the hardest hitting podcasts... Sports, Entertainment and Sports Entertainment!
Powered by RedCircle
Let us know what you think on social media @ChairshotMedia and always remember to use the hashtag #UseYourHead!
Opinion
Chris King: Bloodline Saga: Is This the Right Call For WWE?
Chris King questions the WWE’s logic in setting up Jacob Fatu as the next challenger for World Heavyweight Champion Roman Reigns
Chris King questions the WWE’s logic in setting up Jacob Fatu as the next challenger for World Heavyweight Champion Roman Reigns
Roman Reigns is once again World Heavyweight Champion after his dominant win over CM Punk at WrestleMania 42. On the following night on Monday Night Raw, The OG Bloodline came back together as a well-oiled machine as The Usos stood side by side with Roman. With the WWE Universe asking who would be the first to challenge “The Tribal Chief,” Jacob Fatu shocked the world by answering the call.
Fatu is running hot after his impressive win over Drew McIntyre and feels like he is ready to become the new world champion. This bloodline segment ended Raw, and it picked right back up on SmackDown with even Solo Sikoa and the MFTs involved. This is now two shows that have been centered around The Bloodline saga, and it’s made me question whether or not WWE should be retelling this story.
The Bloodline (Roman Reigns, The Usos, and Solo Sikoa) ran WWE for over four years as Reigns’ henchmen, doing his dirty work to retain his title. Even though Roman has declared he doesn’t want Jey and Jimmy to serve him, it sure seems like WWE are spinning their wheels. Fatu could add a whole new chapter into the story, even if he’s not able to beat Roman at Backlash. “The Samoan Werewolf” could be forced to do the same thing as Jey did all those years ago and fall in line.
In my opinion, I feel like Fatu should be challenging for the Undisputed WWE Championship because that’s a title I feel like he should win. I understand standing up to your blood and trying to prove you’re the best, but I don’t think this is the right move. It feels like 2022 all over again, as The Bloodline is the central focus on both shows. If Fatu doesn’t win, what happens to all his momentum he’s been building over the last two years?
Why did WWE make this the best choice for storyline purposes? Why couldn’t creative have come up with a different challenger for Roman? There are so many other superstars that could challenge The Tribal Chief, such as Rusev, Bron Breakker, Gunther, or even a returning Sheamus.
I just can’t help but question WWE’s logic here, and it kind of reminds me of all the times The Shield reunited. Could WWE be pushing the same storyline too many times here? Could the WWE Universe get tired of this rinse and repeat cycle of The Bloodline Saga?
Are we about to see all the weekly episodes solely focused on The Bloodline again? Will it be cinema… Yes. Is there still money in The Bloodline… Yes. Was it the right call? That’s to be determined!
Chairshot Radio Network
Launched in 2017, the Chairshot Radio Network presents you with the best in sports, entertainment, and sports entertainment. Wrestling and wrestling crossover podcasts + the most interesting content + the most engaging hosts = the most entertaining podcasts you’ll find!
MONDAY - Bandwagon Nerds (entertainment & popular culture)
TUESDAY - 4 Corners Podcast (sports)
WEDNESDAY - The Greg DeMarco Show (wrestling)
THURSDAY - Nefarious Means
FRIDAY - DWI Podcast (Drunk Wrestling Intellect)
SATURDAY - The Mindless Wrestling Podcast
SUNDAY - 30 Mindless Minutes
CHAIRSHOT RADIO NETWORK PODCAST SPECIALS
Attitude Of Aggression Podcast: The Big Five Project (chronologically exploring WWE's PPV/PLE history) Unidentified History (Ufology) & Game Gone Wrong (Game of Thrones Universe)
Chairshot Radio Network Your home for the hardest hitting podcasts... Sports, Entertainment and Sports Entertainment!
Powered by RedCircle
Let us know what you think on social media @ChairshotMedia and always remember to use the hashtag #UseYourHead!


