5 unforgivable mistakes made by the WWE this week (30th August, 2018)

Kevin Owens quits because of the number of mistakes WWE made
Kevin Owens quits because of the number of mistakes WWE made

This week on WWE programming we saw Braun Strowman and Roman Reigns come to blows, Kevin Owens quit, Bryan and Almas hint at what could come and Becky Lynch continue to act like a heel but get cheered. In fact, it was quite a good week for the WWE on all of their shows.

But what were the top five terrible, terrible mistakes that the company made across all of their brands? What howlers were made on Raw? What clangers did SmackDown Live drop? What on NXT left us reeling? Without further ado, we present the 5 terrible mistakes made by WWE this week (30th August 2018)


#5 Becky Lynch continues as a heel

Becky Lynch has righteousness on her side
Becky Lynch has righteousness on her side

Becky Lynch did the classic 'heel' move of attacking the face champion after a successful match and claiming she's going to take the title off of her, but the same problem happened here that has plagued Becky since her 'heel' turn. The fans are still on her side.

This is a woman who worked incredibly hard, going on an unbeaten run to earn a shot at the champion, only for her 'friend' to come back, win one match and get thrown into the title match despite having already lost to the champion twice. That 'friend' then won the title taking away everything Becky had worked hard for.

It's a severe misjudgement from the WWE, not because Lynch can't be a heel, she's done it before and was great, but because the situation they've created doesn't work. Luckily it looks like they are now committing to changing course a little bit and painting both Charlotte and Becky has different shades of grey in this feud.

#4 Braun Strowman's heel turn

'The Monster Among Men' is one of the best faces the WWE had, so they turned him heel
'The Monster Among Men' is one of the best faces the WWE had, so they turned him heel

Kevin Owens has just spent the better part of this year enduring ridiculous bump after ridiculous bump all just to get Braun Strowman and his immense strength over as a babyface, only for the WWE to turn the 'Monster Among Men' heel to go against Roman Reigns.

This makes almost no sense given that the WWE have been crying out for a top star to get organically over as a huge babyface and Strowman had done that, he has the look, the size, the ability, the catchphrase, the 'oh my god' moments and the popularity and now he's a bad guy. Why?

#3 SmackDown Live Hell in a Cell Match

Jeff Hardy and Randy Orton shouldn't be a HIAC match
Jeff Hardy and Randy Orton shouldn't be in a HIAC match

Okay, admittedly Randy Orton did put his finger in Jeff Hardy's ear but is this really the best match on the SmackDown Live brand to take place in the 'Satanic Structure'? (It being Jeff Hardy's first HIAC Match aside.) The pacing of this feud has been off, and there've been several flat moments like Orton's random appearance at SummerSlam.

Compare this to AJ Styles vs Samoa Joe that has gone from 0 to 60 very quickly and is quickly becoming of the most personal and interesting feuds the WWE has had in a while, or Becky Lynch and Charlotte's breakdown in friendship over the title. Either of these storylines are a better fit for a Hell in a Cell match.

#2 Trish Stratus' return wasted

Why was Stratus' return used on Elias?
Why was Stratus' return used on Elias?

As amazing as it was to see WWE legend Trish Stratus return on this week's Monday Night Raw and as funny as it was to see her in the ring interacting with Elias and slapping him, I can't help but feel it was a bit of a waste.

Stratus is supposed to be facing Alexa Bliss at Evolution. Evolution is only around a month away. Surely if you're going to put Stratus on WWE television you're going to have her do everything she can to sell either the match itself or the PPV? Sadly I think this did more for Elias then it did for Stratus, Evolution or the women's division as a whole.

Basically, when any thought is applied to what happened here the only conclusion is that it was a bad segment and WWE should feel bad. In short, I am not Straus-fied.

#1 The Ascension losing in a handicap match

Does Raw even care about its tag-teams?
Does Raw even care about its tag-teams?

Seeing Bobby Lashley destroy The Ascension in a handicap match reminded me of one of the most unforgivable mistakes the WWE have made. I am, of course, referring to the sheer downfall of Viktor and Konnor, who were once a great tag-team and are now, well, not!

Raw's tag-team division is such a mess at the moment with B-Team as its champions (don't get me wrong, I love them, they're just not really legit are they) and teams like the Fashion Police and Ascension having literally no oomph behind them at all. You'd think they'd want to improve this, but it sure as nuts isn't going to happen when you keep booking tag teams to get beaten by individual wrestlers in handicap matches or children at WrestleMania.

Come on WWE. Your SmackDown Live Tag-Team Division is incredible right now. It's not even like there aren't enough tag-teams on RAW..

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