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| Photo Credit: WWE.com |
Only in WWE is a display of platonic affection considered heelish. Okay, okay, I'm being a bit dishonest here, as one of the most popular things in the company last year was Daniel Bryan and Kane hugging it out. The fans weren't so much booing two best friends hugging; they booed CM Punk deigning to trust a complete and utter snake in the grass like Paul Heyman, even one who professed to be Punk's best friend. It's funny that the company is presenting strong relationship stories under the guise of male friendship rather than between a man and a woman. Kane and Bryan are in a rocky breakup phase, while Punk is the jilted lover who keeps trusting a partner who will do nothing but hurt him no matter how many times he goes back.
On one hand, I applaud them for being willing to skirt the edge of being criticized for "homoeroticism," but on the other, it almost feels like more institutional misogyny on their part that the men participate in all the good relationship stories, while the women just get to be Divas. Although to be fair? AJ Lee and Kaitlyn are embroiled in what may be WWE's best feud right now, and it's all because they're being granted agency and character development. We're in some pretty exciting times right now.
On one hand, I applaud them for being willing to skirt the edge of being criticized for "homoeroticism," but on the other, it almost feels like more institutional misogyny on their part that the men participate in all the good relationship stories, while the women just get to be Divas. Although to be fair? AJ Lee and Kaitlyn are embroiled in what may be WWE's best feud right now, and it's all because they're being granted agency and character development. We're in some pretty exciting times right now.
