Spare Thoughts: WWE's Broken Moral Compass

There's been a lot of talk lately among professional wrestling fans about what makes a face a face, and what makes a heel a heel. The days of clean-cut good guys went away a long time ago, but it seems more often that wrestlers we're supposed to cheer are winning via the cheapest means possible.

Sheamus has been one of the worst offenders. His World Heavyweight Championship victory over Daniel Bryan at WrestleMania XXVIII couldn't have been much cheaper - a quick strike seconds after the opening bell, while Bryan nearly had his back turned.

More recently, Sheamus stole (borrowed, if you want to use his word) and trashed Alberto Del Rio's car. Weeks later, he retained his title under suspicious circumstances. The referee never saw Del Rio's foot on the bottom rope.

I could cite other examples, but the conclusion is more important. Professional wrestling's good guys have really turned into a bunch of jerks. Some have behaved even worse. Triple H acted selfishly, and bullied Paul Heyman in order to get a match with Brock Lesnar. In the end, Triple H got what was coming to him. So why were fans being told to cheer one over the other?

Recapping the end of The Invasion was very interesting given the current state of morality in WWE. Team WWF was victorious over The Alliance at Survivor Series 2001, but did it deserve to be?

In the end, it's "Stone Cold" Steve Austin fighting valiantly for The Alliance against both Chris Jericho and The Rock. He is able to surprise Jericho with a quick pin, who responds in the most selfish way imaginable - attacking The Rock and nearly costing the World Wrestling Federation its very existence.

Austin battles on, and appears to have victory for The Alliance in his grasp when he hits The Rock with the Stone Cold Stunner. That's when he is betrayed by Kurt Angle, who was an 11th hour defection in the week leading up to Survivor Series. The Rock quickly takes advantage, and The Alliance is history.

As far as the story line is concerned, World Wrestling Entertainment owes its existence to betrayal, cheating and some dumb luck. Perhaps that's why it seems these days like it can longer tell the difference between right and wrong.

#FiftyMatches: The End Of The Invasion

Team WWF (The Rock, Chris Jericho, Undertaker, Kane, Big Show) v. The Alliance ("Stone Cold" Steve Austin, Kurt Angle, Booker T, Rob Van Dam, Shane McMahon)

"Winner Takes All"

Survivor Series 2001
November 18, 2001

"The stakes have never been higher in the history of this business." -Jim Ross

On Friday, March 23, 2001, the unthinkable occurred. The World Wrestling Federation purchased World Championship Wrestling. It was the end of a decades-long, and deeply personal, rivalry.

Three days later, on Monday, March 26, 2001, the purchase was revealed to the world. It was perhaps the most mind-blowing moment in the history of professional wrestling.

Spare Thoughts: Are Fans Over The Game?

We've seen this scene play out before.

The victorious villain disappears backstage. His music stops. The arena is quiet for a moment. Finally, the hero, gallant in defeat, stands in the middle of the ring. The fans applaud. He soaks in this ultimate show of respect before walking down the aisle, casting a final glance to the crowd before heading back behind the curtain.

This is what was supposed to happen just before SummerSlam went off the air, but while the familiar actions were there, the emotion was not.

WWE wanted fans in attendance to feel sorry for Triple H after he tapped out to Brock Lesnar. They didn't. They rejected this play for their sympathy with boos and chants of "You tapped out!"

Triple H was supposed to appear valiant in defeat. Instead, he was humiliated.

What went wrong?

It was a little over four months ago when a sold-out Sun Life Stadium roared with approval and respect for Triple H, The Undertaker and Shawn Michaels after their epic Hell In A Cell match at WrestleMania 28. Fans seized the opportunity to show their appreciation for all three men. If you didn't get chills while watching, you probably aren't a fan. It's been a long time since Triple H was beloved among hardcore fans, but he was embraced by them on that night.

Make no mistake about it, WWE got the reaction it wanted at WrestleMania. So, what changed at SummerSlam?

My best guess is Paul Heyman. While the main event match at SummerSlam was Triple H vs. Brock Lesnar, the feud was Triple H vs. Heyman.

Heyman holds a high level of respect among fans, and for weeks he was badgered and bullied by Triple H. All that seemed to be fine until Raw 1,000, when Stephanie McMahon got involved. Her words were so mean-spirited and seemingly personal, you couldn't help but feel sorry for Heyman. Does anyone really think his children are ashamed of him?

Brock Lesnar was now in the position of avenging his friend in their fight against the authority figures he felt slighted by. It sounds noble, as long as you can look past Lesnar breaking an arm or two.

WWE overplayed its hand with Triple H, and made a mistake that's become all too common lately - forgetting what makes the good guys good and the bad guys bad.

#FiftyMatches: The Summer Of Austin And Angle

“Stone Cold” Steve Austin v. Kurt Angle

WWF Championship

SummerSlam 2001
August 19, 2001

"Austin must be thinking, 'What in the hell must I do to beat this man?'" -Jim Ross

For all its faults, The Invasion story line did do some good. Perhaps no one benefited more from it than Kurt Angle. After injury put Triple H out of action, it was Angle who was chosen to fill the opening as "Stone Cold" Steve Austin's partner in crime. In the summer of 2001, Kurt Angle's star was on the rise like never before in the World Wrestling Federation. Before it was over, his position as a career main event performer would be secure.

#FiftyMatches: "WCW Is Back In Business!"

Booker T v. Buff Bagwell

WCW Championship

Monday Night Raw
July 2, 2001

"WCW is back in business!"

- Scott Hudson

It's not often that you see World Wrestling Entertainment take a backseat to another organization. In the long history of Monday Night Raw, it's happened on only two occasions I can recall. The first, was on February 24, 1997. The World Wrestling Federation brought in Extreme Championship Wrestling to help fill out an episode of Raw. At the time, ECW was promoting the first pay per view event in its history, and the two organizations had a mutual adversary in World Championship Wrestling.

#FiftyMatches: Kurt Angle, Pro Wrestling Prodigy

Kurt Angle v. Shane McMahon

Street Fight

WWF King of the Ring 2001
June 24, 2001

"Have you ever seen an athlete quite like Kurt Angle?" 

-Paul Heyman

In 1996, Kurt Angle was already recognized as one of the best amateur wrestlers in the world. He had won a gold medal at the 1995 World Championships. However, despite an amateur career that also included a Pennsylvania State Wrestling Championship as a senior in high school, two NCAA Division I Championships and four national championships, he was just another face in the crowd to most Americans. That all changed at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia.

#FiftyMatches: One Injury Changes Everything

"Stone Cold" Steve Austin & Triple H v.
Chris Jericho & Chris Benoit

WWF Tag Team Championship

Monday Night Raw
May 21, 2001

"The entire building is shaking! This is the greatest chance in the lives of Benoit and Jericho!" -Paul Heyman

At the time, no one could have imagined that the days of dominance for the World Wrestling Federation were coming to an end. The company was still settling into the comfortable new reality of having an industry all to itself. World Championship Wrestling and Extreme Championship Wrestling went out of business within weeks of one another. It almost felt like the WWF had planned all along to celebrate its final victory by putting on one of the most successful and well-received pay per views in history. After WrestleMania X-7, the WWF gleefully chugged onward. Alone.