Levin: The Club Adds The Intrigue WWE Needed

Did wrestling fans fitness the rebirth of a New World Order when The Club handled John Cena on Raw two weeks ago? In this “new era “of WWE, does this mean the new version of the old scene is making its way back to primetime television, and will the edginess continue with the rebirth of a badass heel faction?

Not since the days of The Shield have I anticipated this kind of drama and response. While I am still waiting for Finn Balor to join the mix—which should happen shortly—the notion of this company going outside the promotion to find its mojo is quite refreshing and also much needed to give everyone a bit of adrenaline to boost their thirst for mat mayhem.

The AJ Styles-John Cena confrontation is out of necessity, not out of pure enjoyment. While the two Superstars will tear down arenas and make The Club another version of Kevin Nash, Scott Hall, et al, the two main combatants had nowhere to go, no opponent in waiting, and therefore, have found each other much to the delight of screaming fans across WWE’s Universe.

Frankly, I’m not sure there is a universe anymore, but let’s just go with it for now.

The fact Styles has come off two solid programs with Chris Jericho and later Roman Reigns, and considering Cena is returning from shoulder surgery, makes this must-see television. I figured Cena would chase Rusev again and his WWE United States Championship, but the cash cow of this company has moved on. In the process, he is going to put Styles over even more so with the fans. Where Reigns couldn’t get the pop from the fan base that Triple H was hoping in booking the current WWE World Heavyweight Champion with Styles, there is no denying a heel turn and Capt.

America, in the same program, works wonders for fandom and the all mighty need for ratings.

Two of the company’s biggest stars meeting for the first time should bring out the fans from the rafters. If Reigns and Seth Rollins are a WrestleMania-type matchup, what do you call Cena versus the new faction of evil? More importantly, who stands by the 15-time world champion when it comes to War Games-type matches and potentially SummerSlam or Survivor Series?

The possibilities aren’t endless, but they could be mind boggling.

Looking from the outside, WWE is in a good situation right now—if everything is booked properly. The word “if” is a bad two-letter word, conjuring questions of whether the creative team can make this happen for the right reasons, whether this is done in such a way that Styles et al are the standard by which other heels are measured. Does it mean a babyface turn for the Wyatt Family is eminent? A move like this one could help the brand split. Does this mean Raw becomes the show featuring Rollins and Reigns, and SmackDown becomes the throne of Cena and Styles?

For the first time in some time—years actually—I am excited to see where this goes. The “new era” and the new attitude of professional wrestling took a few months to evolve, but it’s finally here.

My hope, although I know it won’t happen, is that it’s here to stay—at least for a little while.