Let me start with a question: What if the greatest wrestling feud of the 2010s never happened? Not because of backstage politics or timing, but because of a single corporate decision. That’s the story of New Day versus The Elite—a rivalry that almost happened, but only in the form of a Street Fighter V exhibition match at E3 2018. It’s a tale that makes me wonder how much of wrestling’s history is shaped by the invisible hand of corporate oversight, and how much of it is simply the result of missed opportunities.
When I think about the New Day’s clash with The Elite, I’m struck by how much of wrestling’s storytelling now happens outside the ring. Back in 2018, Xavier Woods and Big E were doing something radical: leveraging gaming culture to create a narrative. They weren’t just playing a game—they were building a bridge between two worlds. And yet, the fact that this rivalry never escalated into a real match says volumes about the power dynamics in professional wrestling. WWE, ever the gatekeeper, allowed the promo battles but blocked the actual feud. Why? Because they feared what AEW might do if it existed at the time. That’s not just corporate caution—it’s a chilling reminder of how much wrestling is still a closed ecosystem, even in an age of streaming and digital content.
What makes this particularly fascinating is the contrast between the creative freedom wrestlers have in non-traditional spaces and the constraints of mainstream wrestling. Big E’s admission that a six-man tag team match with The Elite was ‘highly unlikely’ today feels like a punch to the gut. Why? Because it highlights how much of wrestling’s potential is stifled by the need to maintain a carefully curated hierarchy. Imagine the energy of six of the most charismatic performers in the business—Kenny Omega, The Young Bucks, Big E, Xavier Woods, Kofi Kingston, and a sixth member—going toe-to-toe in a ring. It would have been a generational moment. But instead, we got a gaming tournament with promo battles. That’s not just a missed opportunity; it’s a missed revolution.
Let’s talk about the psychology here. Wrestling fans crave authenticity, but they also crave spectacle. The New Day’s gaming rivalry with The Elite was both. It was a clever way to engage a new audience while keeping the existing one entertained. Yet, the fact that WWE greenlit the gaming event but blocked the actual match suggests a deeper fear: that a crossover with AEW would undermine WWE’s dominance. This isn’t just about competition—it’s about control. And that control comes at a cost. When I watch footage of those promo battles, I can’t help but wonder what could have been if WWE had taken a risk instead of playing it safe.
Another angle: the role of gaming in wrestling’s future. Big E’s comments reveal a generational shift. Wrestlers are no longer just performers—they’re influencers, content creators, and brand ambassadors. The gaming event was a masterclass in how to use digital platforms to expand a wrestler’s reach. But it also raises a question: Why can’t this kind of creativity be applied to live events? Why is the line between entertainment and corporate approval so rigid? From my perspective, this is where wrestling’s evolution is stuck. It’s not that the industry is incapable of innovation—it’s that it’s too afraid of losing control.
What this really suggests is that the next big wrestling revolution won’t come from inside the ring. It’ll come from the margins, from wrestlers who refuse to be constrained by corporate boundaries. The New Day’s gaming rivalry with The Elite was a glimpse of that future. It was messy, unpolished, and utterly brilliant. And it’s a reminder that sometimes, the most powerful stories are the ones that almost happened.
