WWE has likely destroyed the Austin Theory character as we know it with maybe the worst and most illogical Money in the Bank cash-in ever. And now it is on Triple H to fix the damage he’s done.
It’s clear what the head of creative and WWE were trying to accomplish by having Theory decide to cash in his contract on United States champion Seth Rollins after former champ Bobby Lashley demolished him before the bell rang for an open-challenge match that never took place on “Monday Night Raw.” This was all about flipping Rollins to babyface and Lashley more heel. Theory and his world title hopes were a casualty of the worst booking decision Triple H has made so far.
It took the contract, which was never going to lead to him beating Roman Reigns, off Theory – who Vince McMahon probably shouldn’t have given it to in the first place. Rollins kept kicking out and Lashley eventually return to cost Theory the championship by pulling him off of Rollins on a sure three-count then feeding him back to get Stomped. But other than the endgame, which was accomplished, none of this made any sense.
First off, did Theory have a few potential cash-in attempts against Reigns short-circuited, yes? Did he still have eight more months to keep trying to knock off an all-time champion who hasn’t been pinned in more than 800 days and try for immortality, yep? Does Austin Theory’s cocky and arrogant character seem like someone who would pass that up, no matter how impossible it may seem, only to try and win WWE’s third-tier singles belt — and one he’s held before? Absolutely not.
So why have Theory do it, and make him look unambitious and dumb? Answering the open challenge was never going to be a factor as Theory never wanted a fair fight. Even cashing in on Bron Breakker for the NXT championship would have been better and would at least further elevated the brand. There is also some sort of precedent for that with Charlotte Flair using her Royal Rumble win to face Rhea Ripley in 2020.
Honestly, there is absolutely nothing wrong with Theory trying to take down Reigns or the person who finally beats the Tribal Chief in the next eight months and failing to win. Theory getting a near fall on Reigns and then getting smashed is a much more dramatic moment than what transpired on Monday. The Austin Theory character can still hit rock bottom and undergo a reboot now that Vince McMahon is no longer on TV for him to play off of. But at least he’d leave with more respect and credibility with the audience, too.
With all the losing Theory’s done since Triple H took over and now this, it’s going to take time for him to recover as a character. It makes you at least wonder what this regime thinks of Theory as they didn’t even give him the chance to take his swing at immortality.
The events Monday left some concerned about potential damage to the Money in the Bank concept itself and the preciousness of the contract, which until now had always been used for a world championship matches. I don’t think it hurts Money in the Bank any more than what’s transpired over the past few years with the women’s winner continually cashing in the day they win it or shortly after. And preceding Theory, was a poorly-picked men’s winner in Otis. The right winners and stories this year can start to mend all that with Triple H in full control for the first time.
The concern now should be about rebuilding Theory, a 25-year-old with a ton of natural gifts, talent and potential who has already had a lot invested in him. Do you have him face the music for his awful decision with the audience right away and move on? Do you keep him off TV for a bit and reintroduce him with a new package? Or does he go on just not being allowed to escape the decision for a longtime? I’d probably keep him off TV until January and let him return before the Royal Rumble more humbled and feeling fresh to the audience.
It’s all on Triple H and WWE to get it right with Theory now. He has too much to offer to let him be undone by McMahon’s decision to push him maybe too hard too soon and Triple H’s decision to take his legs out from under him. The Austin Theory character as we know it has been destroyed, now it’s time to pick up the pieces and build something better.
