Backlash Towards Death Angle
Vince McMahon has done a lot of disgusting things in his life. He's received plenty of backlash towards his decisions and ideas. Some are warranted (Katie Vick angle, Eddie Guerrero's death, WBF). Some are not (XFL, continuing the show after Owen Hart's death).
Well, the backlash that he's receiving for the latest death storyline is completely warranted.
When the skit first happened, the internet wrestling community was quite receptive to the idea. Some felt that the idea, along with the movement caused by the WWE Draft Lottery, had rejuvenated interest in the product. Others felt that the storyline would allow for the elevation of a superstar or two.
There's a fine in pro wrestling in regards to reality. From a marketing and business standpoint, it makes plenty of sense to keep the realism to a maximum.
However, the WWE has gone too far. In their attempt to make the storyline as real as possible, the WWE has crossed the line. The tradition of the ten bell salute has been tarnished. The next time a wrestler dies and the ten bell salute is used, there's always going to be that reminder that the WWE used such a valued tradition to further a storyline.
The WWE right now is quite pleased with the media coverage that this storyline has received. The amount of people who believe that the death is true has been amazing.
They say that bad publicity is better than no publicity. We're about to find out if that's true. |
