Everyone knows WWE loves the fact the wedding/love triangle story involving Lana, Bobby Lashley, Rusev and Liv Morgan is a viral hit. What else are they using the measure whether or not this storyline is a success? You might be shocked to hear the same rumblings we did.
Apparently, as Brian Thornsburg of Sportskeeda Wrestling points out, this angle isn't all about YouTube hits and video shares. Yes, that's a big part of it but WWE is looking at a number of metrics by which this storyline is measured, and for that matter, whether more like it follow.
First, if you ever wondered why the people who are central to the storyline were chosen, you might be shocked to learn WWE simply wanted to do something with these four and not necessarily together. Lashley has publicly said he's intrigued by the idea of getting to stretch the boundaries of what he can do in wrestling beyond being the "legit tough guy with no personality." That he was thrust into the angle on an episode of Raw with no backstory was simply about giving him something else to do. The same goes for Liv Morgan who Paul Heyman wanted to push and WWE was keen on giving a bit more attention to. Allegedly, this isn't where she was originally slated to be used. WWE sees the exposure these Superstars are getting and extremely glad they used talents that were otherwise not doing much.
Second, that fans are hating all over this angle, WWE actually sees as a positive. They're well aware the WWE Universe will find something to hate about every aspect of WWE programming but Vince wanted to dip his toes back into more Attitude-Era like storylines. The worst response would have been no response.
Third, fans are clearly behind Rusev. While the writing is often confusing and feels rushed, the support for Rusev throughout is apparent and WWE wanted something that would eventually make him a centerpiece of the show. No doubt, this angle has succeeded in doing that.
Finally, viewership is up. When Lana claims her segment was the most-watched on the show by a large margin, she's not lying. This was important with a new TV deal in place.
What Does It All Mean?
The numbers are one thing, but the additional benefits that are coming for Bobby Lashley, Lana, Liv Morgan and Rusev are all part of the criteria WWE is using to call these segments of the show a success.
And, the more fans jump all over WWE for it, the more they're buzzing behind the scenes. Like a car crash, fans are tuning in to see what happens with the characters, the story and the chaos that comes of it all. And, like it or not, WWE may choose to rinse and repeat.
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