WWE officials apparently hit the brakes on Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed last week, pulling the duo from Monday Night RAW at the last minute over concerns that fans might cheer for themdespite their recent heel turn alongside Paul Heyman.
According to WrestleVotes, the company grew concerned that both men would receive positive reactions if they appeared too soon after ambushing Seth Rollins in a brutal post-match beatdown. That segment, which aired two weeks ago, was meant to cement the pair as villains. But sources believe that Breakkers star power and Reeds in-ring dominance might have the opposite effect.
Creative reportedly had plans for both men to participate in the major battle royal that determined the next challenger for the vacant World Heavyweight Championship. But those plans were dropped out of fear the crowd would cheer instead of boo.
Instead, WWE shifted the spotlight to other talent. The battle royal went on without Breakker and Reed, and Jey Uso came out on top after surviving a chaotic matchup. Hes now scheduled to face CM Punk for the vacant title at WWE Saturday Nights Main Event on November 1.
Despite the abrupt change, WWE is reportedly still committed to pushing Breakker and Reed as upper midcard stars. Their alliance with Heyman is expected to continue, but the company wants to pace their return carefully so that the heel dynamic sticks.
This kind of behind-the-scenes decision shows how closely WWE monitors crowd psychology when planning character arcs. And with Breakker in particular being seen as a potential top name for the next generation, its clear the company doesnt want the audience dictating the direction too early.
Do you think WWE made the right call by holding Breakker and Reed off RAW? Or should they have embraced the crowd reaction and adjusted the storyline accordingly? Drop your thoughts in the comments.
