Since the Hell in a Cell debacle, social media’s been awash of fans criticizing the WWE and especially Vince McMahon for the way the main even between “The Fiend” Bray Wyatt and Seth Rollins ended.
Justifiably so
Vince McMahon is still the head of WWE’s creative, and as such, has final say over everything that happens.
Besides the end of the match, it’s been reported that the eleven curb stomps delivered by Rollins were his idea. Why he wanted that many may be complex, or it may be simple.
It could easily be his method of showing Rollins having to rely on something so simple to defeat his opponents. It makes sense, since we tend to use what we do best in difficult times. The fact it makes his golden boy look weak and a one trick pony is beside the point and may not even be in his thought process. Never mind how fans are tired of seeing the exact same repetitive process. It shows a lack of creativity that we’ve grown accustomed to from WWE in general.
On the other hand, it may be his way of turning Rollins heel again, which shows he might be listening to fans to a small extent.
The best way to turn a character heel is by doing things to piss off the fans. Add in a mentally unbalanced approach that Rollins has here and there when pushed, and it’s an easy push. That is, of course, if it’s what McMahon meant to do.
If it works, he’ll take all the credit. If not, he’ll take credit for what works. That’s how it goes, and he’s earned that right after what he’s built.
The question is, will the fans he scorned forgive him?
Maybe. Maybe not, considering the reports of his reaction to the boos at HIAC.
He reportedly laugh at the fans reaction
According to several accounts reported on various sites, Vince McMahon laughed at seeing the response his decision at HIAC caused, but later realized he really messed up.
To be honest, it’s showbusiness, and showbusiness relies on playing our emotional responses to work their product.
The realization probably came after he saw the backlash, especially an adult entertainment site trolling him. Raw made a point of mentioning HIAC only when necessary, and no mention of Rollins or the Fiend until near the end of the show.
Vince McMahon is not stupid — he’s a genius, really — and it was only a matter of time, and pride, before he understood what he did and entered damage control mode.
The thing is, he can’t do a “Bret screwed Bret” or an “Austin took his ball and went home’ bit to blame it on someone else.
He’ll either pretend it didn’t happen, or try to find an angle to make it work, like bringing back the Mr. McMahon character to take the blame. Would this be a good time to point out we don’t want another McMahon running things angle? Think he’d pay attention to us this time?
In the end, it’ll come down to what we want more: someone that actually cares what we want, or booing a dumba— move?