At the conclusion of UFC 205, we witnessed MMA history. Conor McGregor knocked out the world Lightweight Champion Eddie Alvarez and became the first ever UFC champion in two weight categories simultaneously.
The Notorious one, etched a milestone for himself in the annals of UFC, in the world’s most famous arena- Madison Square Garden. The same arena that used to once go wild for WWE superstars of old. But while professional wrestling events these days have dead crowds, the pop for McGregor was borderline deafening!
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So, what has gone wrong along the way? Why is Conor McGregor so over, whereas the WWE stars of today get almost no reactions, week after week?
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What can WWE do to reclaim the audience it once proudly owned?
We have outlined five reasons why Conor McGregor is a bigger star than anyone in WWE in this piece. Something WWE will never admit!
#5 Organic rise to the top
Roman Reigns is a legitimately good wrestler, who’s given us good main events across many pay-per-views. That point is not up for contention or debate. The problem arises when WWE shoves someone down the audience’s gullet while trying their best to avoid the same. Vince McMahon holds on to the old fashioned notion that big guys equal big money.
If anything, Conor McGregor should be proof of the fact that times are changing, and so is the audience. Smaller guys who are agile with more personality, are the ones who are ‘over’. A.J. Styles gets a better reaction than Roman Reigns, even though he is currently working as a heel.
The MMA audience has chosen to support McGregor because of his skills inside the Octagon, which is organic ‘booking’.
#4 McGregor plays himself on screen
Remember how Anderson and Gallows, two legitimate bad-asses from Japan, were relegated to the role of cracking bad jokes in the horrifyingly unforgettable ‘Old Day’ segment?
Or how Roman Reigns, a powerhouse Samoan force, is asked to play a character that does not even reflect the kind of person he is, week after week? UFC lets McGregor be himself; a cocky, brash, arrogant, annoying brat who gets on people’s nerves.
He is not packaged into a role that does not represent him and put into programs that mean absolutely nothing at all. Imagine how cool Reigns would be, if he was allowed to be himself, someone who is a destructive force of nature and not the lame babyface he plays.
#3 Unscripted promos
Why do hardcore wrestling fans consider Talking Smack to be the best show that WWE produces nowadays? Well, the answer is simple. It is because the show is highly unscripted, and a lot of times we are shocked by what the wrestlers have to say, despite today’s sterile product.
The era wherein wrestlers would cut promos that would make us wince, are now replaced by a politically correct era, where every promo is scripted to the absolute finest detail! McGregor’s promos have an element of danger in them.
When he said ‘I would like to take this opportunity to apologise to absolutely nobody’, at the conclusion of UFC 205, there was a reaction that hasn’t been seen in WWE for years now. The era of improvisation is gone, replaced by a new age where sponsors dictate what works and what doesn’t.
#2 He fights in real combat
To someone who's not grown up with the amazing art of professional wrestling, it is a no contest! When asked if they’d rather watch a real fight or a bunch of people emulating a fight, few would choose to watch the latter anymore.
And the fact is that Conor McGregor is really good at what he does!
He is probably the greatest fighter of our time. Professional wrestling is an age old art, that takes a lifetime to master and perfect, but not everyone gets it really. We’re sure all professional wrestling fans reading this, have been told to stop watching this ‘fake stuff’ by their friends at some point in their lifetime. A crying shame really!
#1 McGregor is more ‘Attitude Era’ than anyone, anymore
We grew up watching a product, in which our trash talking anti-hero took it to his boss, the embodiment of corporate America. Does anyone in the current roster command that same sense of ‘outlaw’ anymore?
McGregor is as anti-establishment as it gets, with no regard for niceties or sportsmanship. He’s his own man, out to make his mark and forge his path forward with a string of expletives and ‘attitude’. He’s closer to Steve Austin than say, Roman Reigns ever will be.
And this is not us hating on Roman Reigns, but pointing out the fact that to be booked as an outlaw against the McMahons; you need to behave like an outlaw. Without fear of what the sponsors will think, or how the PG Era audience will react. And that’s the bottom line, cuz we in Sportskeeda said so.
For latest WWE News, live coverage and rumours visit our Sportskeeda WWE section. Also if you are attending a WWE Live event or have a news tip for us drop us an email at fightclub (at) sportskeeda (dot) com.
