Former WWE writer Vince Russo recently expressed concerns about the absence of authentic villains, or heels, in today’s WWE product, specifically highlighting Brock Lesnar and Drew McIntyre. Reviewing the recent SmackDown episode, Russo argued that neither Lesnar nor McIntyre has managed to generate significant Brock Lesnar heel heat with fans.
Lesnar’s Aggressive SmackDown Opening Leaves Corey Graves Incapacitated
Brock Lesnar kicked off this week’s SmackDown in a violent display, targeting announcer Michael Cole by forcefully carrying him to the ring. As Lesnar was about to attack Cole, fellow announcer Corey Graves intervened, pleading with Lesnar to stop. This intervention backfired when Lesnar delivered a powerful F5 to Graves. Despite attempts by several officials to assist, Lesnar struck Graves with a second F5, leaving him unable to continue with the broadcast.
Criticism of Lesnar’s Impact and Fan Response
On the podcast BroDown, hosted by Mac Davis, Russo elaborated on his view that current WWE heels lack the compelling heat necessary to engage the audience. He emphasized that Lesnar’s attack on Corey Graves failed to provoke a strong fan reaction, primarily because Graves is not a character the fans are invested in. Likewise, Russo pointed out that Drew McIntyre was not gaining notable traction as a heel, even with Wrestlepalooza approaching.
“Bro, how many heels really, really have heat today? How many, Mac?” He continued, “You look at this show tonight from top to bottom. What heel? Lesnar’s got heat because he’s F5-ing Corey Graves and nobody gives a crap about? Drew McIntyre doesn’t have heat at the end of the show.”
— Vince Russo, Former WWE Writer
Lesnar Issues Warning to John Cena Ahead of Wrestlepalooza
During the same SmackDown episode, Brock Lesnar spoke directly to the cameras, sending a message to John Cena. Lesnar declared his readiness for their upcoming confrontation at Wrestlepalooza this Saturday, promising an intense encounter. He warned that Cena, the leader of the Cenation, would face a challenging and bloody battle at the pay-per-view event.
Implications for WWE’s Storytelling and Audience Engagement
The lack of convincing villainy from major stars like Lesnar and McIntyre suggests WWE faces difficulties in creating high-stakes, emotionally charged storylines. The inability of Lesnar’s attack on Graves to produce meaningful heel heat indicates a disconnect between the performers and the audience’s investment. With Wrestlepalooza on the horizon, how these characters evolve and whether they can generate authentic heat remains critical to sustaining fan interest.
