Fans have been critical of Ricochet’s recent burial in WWE and for good reason. He’s an exceptional talent we love to watch in the ring and he’s been buried for no reason given publicly.
He’s not the first, and he won’t be the last fans become outraged over being treated in such a way. The thing is, by many accounts, the WWE runs on the whims of one man. If Vince McMahon isn’t happy with someone for whatever reason, they disappear off of TV until he feels they’re ready.
There could always be viable reasons
Promoters have a better feel for their wrestlers than we do as fans, so we often trust them to make the decisions they feel work best and if we disagree, we disagree. It’s their promotion, so they have every right to run it as they see fit.
Sometimes, it for the wrestler’s best interest. They may have a substance abuse problem, be injured worse than they’ve let on, or endanger others. They could also have the fans so irate it’s not safe for them to go out there. There hundreds if not thousands of reasons to stop pushing wrestlers or give them the night off.
But when it’s an ongoing problem, it tends to make the news in some way, like the individual is seeking help or is hurt. In this case, it was reported that McMahon just stopped liking Ricochet. And the fans responded.
After a couple of weeks, Ricochet published a tweet about it, saying we should just appreciate seeing him and others perform for us.
Okay, I just want to say everyone should be happy that I get to perform for you all every week. Because at the end of the day, it doesn’t matter to me in what capacity. So let’s celebrate that and not dwell on anything else. #LifeIsGreat
— Ricochet (@KingRicochet) March 11, 2020
Well, if we don’t get to see him how can we appreciate him?
Also, when was the last time we’ve heard “just happy to be here” type of comment come out of a professional wrestler? They’re competitive like any other athlete and strive to be the best. In a business full of sharks, aggression is key. So, is he being honest or sharing what he’s told to say?
For many, this sounds like tooting the company line like Seth Rollins does without fail. It could easily be Ricochet trying to do everything right so he gets another chance.
It could also just as easily be his real mentality and he’s willing to let things work themselves out.
A different perspective
Of course, Ricochet could have also meant it to be what AJ Styles said on WWE Backstage:
(Special thanks to fightful.com for the transcript).
About working with new talent: “I don’t think they’re green. They’ve earned their way here into the WWE, but it is a rollercoaster ride. There’s going to be ups, there’s going to be downs. You have the internet saying this and that. A lot of it is not true. I want to sit down with them and say, ‘Keep doing what you’re doing, keep working, keep learning. And you’ll get where you need to be. How is everything at home, everything great?’ Think about that stuff. Your bills are being paid. Think about the positives in your life, don’t think about your job. As much as we love this business, at the end of the day, it’s still a job.”
He’s not wrong and added some much-needed perspective to help struggling or buried talent to keep working. When asked about those he sees a bright future for, he spoke highly of Ricochet and Cedric Alexander; two superstars currently buried because they’re reportedly not liked, as well as Shayna Baszler.
“Ricochet, definitely. This guy is unbelievable, the talent he has. Cedric Alexander, another guy, unbelievable. Shayna Baszler. There are opportunities for these athletes and they will come. These guys were high for a moment. I got beat by Cedric and may have got beat by Ricochet as well. It’s okay, we’re going to get there. I see these guys on the way up. Just because you’re on the downturn doesn’t mean you’re not going to come back up. I’ve been there, even in the WWE. I was waiting and did the best I can with what I got.”
In the end, we have to take the promoter’s word in what he feels works best for us. And the fact Vince McMahon refuses to trust the fans remains a problem.
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