Although the introduction of "The Wyatt Sicks" had a promising start, keeping up this first push is incredibly important to avoid pitfalls that plagued past Wyatt-related storylines. This week's episode left me with mixed feelings, and I'm not entirely sure that's a good thing.
First off, we have Chad Gable coming out to RAW. He was pretty shaken. This man looked like he had come from a John Woo action movie; his fear was palpable and understandable. Against the odds and his nerves, Gable survived the triple threat Money in the Bank qualifying match thanks, at least in part, to Judgment Day taking Braun Strowman out of the running. Just when Gable seemed to have the moment to celebrate, things took a turn for the bizarre.
Out came a strange, almost goofy, moment. I decided to give it a chance, wanting to see how it played out. Then came the VHS tape, an instantly nostalgic touch that drew me in. What I appreciated most about this segment was that it put Bo Dallas's motivation front and center. It is admirable and quite relatable to see the family man wanting to live up to his family member's winning streak. That mix of genuine emotion is precisely what makes professional wrestling so compelling.
Addressing the apparent concern about whether Bo Dallas and WWE are exploiting Bray Wyatt's name was a smart move because it acknowledged what many fans were likely thinking. The execution, however, left much to be desired. The storyline didn't explain anything, whether Bo Dallas is still Bo Dallas or if he's taken on another character (his late brother Bray Wyatt). What needed to happen was a proper reintroduction of Bo Dallas to the audience, rather than assuming everyone knows who he is, to set the stage for what he is doing these days.
Another problem was the loss of momentum. Consider last week when The Wyatt Sicks attacked everyone backstage, including Chad Gable. This week, we had to tone down, with only one member scaring off Gable and only delivering a videotape. That blatant pivot didn't just hurt the pace of the storyline; it also heaped much pressure on Bo Dallas. For much of his career, Bo hasn't been able to find a character that has taken hold. Now, following this turn of events, he is supposed to be carrying to some degree a significant storyline that calls for him to engage and hold the audience's interest. If Bo cannot turn in at least a solid, consistent performance, then this whole angle does stand to fall flat.
It is hard to truly judge a storyline this early on, as I am not really as high on everything now as I was last week, but my hopes are still up. There does seem to be potential here, and everything falls on the back of Bo Dallas being an effective leader, that guy with whom the audience identifies. What he does in the next few weeks is going to be critical.
Can Bo Dallas step up and lead the Wyatt Sicks correctly in the name of his brother's legacy? Time will tell, and I'll follow closely as this unfolds. Hopefully, next week will return some momentum for them, along with more for us to latch onto in this most compelling storyline.
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