If you haven't been following the story, mid carder, and number two behind John Cena in community outreach for the WWE, Titus O'Neil' went to grab Vince McMahon at the close of Raw Monday night. This led to an almost immediate response with, what was then a 90 day suspension, and a tightly worded response from the WWE detailing how the WWE is a professional company.
And rightfully so. The WWE is a professional, and publicly traded company so anything that isn't filtered through standards and practices can potentially hurt the product and/or the company as a whole. Also, the WWE does have a 'no bump' policy for those not designated for any type of physicality -- ringside workers, referees, etc. So the WWE has a leg to stand on in this situation, but in the court of public opinion ... not so much.
However you spin this, its a PR disaster where O'Neil's suspension has come during Black History Month in a company that is notorious for only allowing minority 'talent' to extend so far with their success in recent years outside of the anomaly that is Dwayne the 'Rock' Johnson. So where there is controversy, you know the IWC is all over it like New Jersey Governor Chris Christie on a Cheesecake Factory. And to that, I say good. The fans need every opportunity it gets to shake off their growing frustrations, and the WWE needs voices that resonant outside of their echo chamber to shake things up. And shaking things up is what is needed after the WWE's fourth quarter earnings came out revealing a 8.70% drop, trading at $14.40 per share. McMahon suggested that overall the company is happy with their 2015 earnings despite the fact that WWE investors apparently are not.
Rarely does wrestling have an organic moment like the King of the Ring launch of the Stone Cold era. One that thrusts them back into the limelight all the while making them culturally relevant which WWE hasn't been in at least 15 years. So let's flip the script or toss it out entirely. Embrace the culture and the talking points of the day, and allow the fans to connect to it through your characters and decide for themselves which side they want to champion.
Specifically, with the backlash being spearheaded by right wing extremist toward the Beyonce Superbowl halftime show, why not bring back a modern version of the Nation of Domination? Why not force the issue of systemic racism into the ring? It exists everywhere else, right? So why not tone it down, or even amp it up, and let your faces be faces, and your heels be heels?
Hogan's people are suggesting to him that the timing is right for him to return, and God knows the WWE could use the bump after Danielson's retirement. And more to the point, the League of Nations is barely registering as a poorly thrown together faction on the same level as the Social Outcasts, so why not bring Hogan back, float the idea on Smackdown and/or in dark matches, and see how it resonances? After all, what was old is new again.
But say you weren't to go this route, clearly Titus O'neil is getting more attention than he has had in years. And the WWE broke up the Prime Time players specifically to give Titus a singles run where he is behind Cena in community outreach with his 'Dad of the Year' award. Its not enough of a push, nor is Titus strong enough on the mic, or charismatic enough to be the next Rock, so the IC title, though practically a Russo like prop at this point, is too big for him. What then ... the U.S. Title? Its worth a shot but does little to elevate either Titus or the belt.
Regardless, the WWE is having one of those rare organic moments, and one that it needs to jump on before this PR mess snowballs out of control. Let me know how you would book this. I am very curious to read your responses.
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