5 Recent WWE Storylines That Captivated Fans (& 5 That Fell Flat)

WWE has seen a vast improvement in storylines over the last year or so, with Triple H becoming head of creative allowing for a wave of new ideas and a breath of fresh air. Certain storylines and feuds have been brilliant and they have captivated fans in a major way.

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However, with this being WWE, they have often fallen into the same traps as they always have done, and some storylines just haven’t done the job. Whether it be a weak storyline, booking errors, it going on for too long, or other factors, some feuds have fallen flat on their face.

10 Captivated Fans: Seth Rollins Vs. Matt Riddle

Seth Rollins and Matt Riddle formerly had real-life heat with one another, and this boiled over to WWE programming in a feud which felt more authentic than most, given that fans were all too aware of their past.

Intense brawls, great matches, and in particular a backstage promo segment helped to grab the fans’ attention and make this special. Rollins’ work as a heel was stellar here, and he got under the skin of Riddle to make this a personal and heated rivalry.

9 Fell Flat: Edge Vs. Finn Balor

On paper, Edge getting redemption and revenge on being kicked out of the faction he created was a decent one, but in execution the whole thing eventually fell flat. This storyline nearly went on for a full year, and it was just too long with too little development.

Edge’s whole “brood” persona felt forced and silly, and seeing the Judgment Day constantly get thwarted by him lessened their appeal as a faction. Their final blow off match inside Hell in a Cell was goofy too, with a match sponsorship and colorful weapons not helping to live up to the structure.

8 Captivated Fans: Sami Zayn & Kevin Owens Vs. The Usos

There were many chapters of The Bloodline saga which captivated fans (one which we’ll get to later) but the storyline between The Usos and Sami Zayn & Kevin Owens was a great part of it.

Zayn’s conflict due to his newfound family relationship with The Usos and his troubled up and down past with Owens led to a thrilling story. It may have had a predictable structure overall, but it made sense, so it still had an enthused following among WWE’s fanbase, and it resulted in a hugely satisfying WrestleMania night one main event.

7 Fell Flat: Austin Theory Vs. John Cena

On paper, the young up and comer Austin Theory going up against the legendary John Cena for a little which has meant so much to Cena in the United States Championship should’ve been a special matchup.

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However, Cena verbally humiliated Theory on the mic and proceeded to get a visible win at WrestleMania. Theory suffered a great deal after this, not benefiting from the win as it came in a flat match following a flat feud.

6 Captivated Fans: Gunther Vs. Sheamus

The storyline between Gunther and Sheamus was a simple enough one, but it was a case of simple being better. Sheamus wanted the Intercontinental Title - the only belt that he’s never won, and the pair would beat the holy hell out of each other to get the gold.

Their match at Clash at the Castle was an instant classic, and their subsequent battles in the months following were hard-hitting and memorable too. This elevated Gunther to a major level, and it also brought a new wave of support for Sheamus too.

5 Fell Flat: Trish Stratus Vs. Becky Lynch

At first, seeing the legendary Trish Stratus go up against Becky Lynch was great. Their feud was going well, and the fact that it was a non-title women’s feud made it feel fresh. Unfortunately, it has gone on for too long with non-finishes and getting dropped from the SummerSlam card, and it has now fallen flat.

WWE stretched this too far, and now fans have even started to turn against it, which is a shame given how strong it started off.

4 Captivated Fans: Bad Bunny Vs. Damian Priest

The history between Bad Bunny and Damian Priest, the added extras with the LWO and Judgment Day, and the fact that Bunny looked natural and comfortable both on the mic and in brawls in the build up led to this being a hotly anticipated match.

Their match at Backlash was a masterpiece, with Attitude Era-style brawling, overbooked chaos in the best way, and a satisfying end which celebrated Puerto Rico.

3 Fell Flat: Shayna Baslzer Vs. Ronda Rousey

If a feud between Shayna Baszler and Ronda Rousey happened back in 2018, it would have been fantastic. However, in 2023 both women have lost so much star power and momentum that it fell flat.

Nobody cared for this rivalry, the promos were forced and weak, and their match was one of the coldest matches of the entire year in terms of fan reaction. What was seemingly Rousey’s last feud was a disaster.

2 Captivated Fans: Roman Reigns Vs. Sami Zayn

As noted before, The Bloodline saga has had severely different storylines weaved in, and one of the most captivating was Roman Reigns vs. Sami Zayn.

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Zayn’s betrayal, the manipulation from Reigns, and the personal animosity between the pair was so high due to a brilliant long-term build and slow burn. Their match at Elimination Chamber was a brilliant culmination to one of the feuds of the year.

1 Fell Flat: Bray Wyatt Vs. LA Knight

Both Bray Wyatt and LA Knight did the best they could with the roles they were given, but ultimately their rivalry ended up falling flat.

It was over-the-top, goofy, magical, and it resulted in one of the worst PPV matches of the year as they fought in the now infamous Mountain Dew Pitch Black match at the 2023 Royal Rumble, and it was a glow in the dark fever dream.