WWE has a roster problem. The roster is getting old, and it is getting old quickly. Not only is it getting old, but the booking direction is drastically failing in creating any new, younger stars on a consistent basis. WWE Clash in Paris shines a big light on that problem, and the issue is that there doesn’t seem to be any steps in place to correct it.
As of this writing, five matches are announced for WWE Clash in Paris. Here are the participants. John Cena (48), Logan Paul (30), Seth Rollins (39), CM Punk (46), Jey Uso (40), LA Knight (42), Sheamus (47), Rusev (39), Roman Reigns (40), Bronson Reed (37), Becky Lynch (38), Nikki Bella (41).
The average age of the performers set to be on the card is 40 years old. That may not seem like a big deal, but it is certainly one when looking at the depth of young talent available in the WWE. There are several men and women in their 20s and early 30s who would thrive if given the opportunity to stand out.
Now, there are some exceptions to the perceived rules. Take Bron Breakker, for example. Breakker is 27 years old, and it is clear that he’s going to be a world champion at some point. It would be a huge booking mistake if Triple H found a way to keep him away from a championship.
The women’s division is also packed with young talent bursting through to the top. Tiffany Stratton is 26. Rhea Ripley is 28. Stephanie Vaquer is 32. Then there’s even more young talent in the NXT women’s division. That group is set to be taken care of for years to come.
The real concern should be around the men’s division. There doesn’t seem to be a lot of young names getting the chance to break out. Yes, there’s Bron Breakker, but the same can’t be said for Carmelo Hayes (31), who can’t seem to get an opportunity on the main roster after a strong run in NXT. Star-making opportunities like Money in the Bank or the Royal Rumble are consistently going to older, established names, cutting into the opportunities that could be used to build a new name in the division.
This is yet another concern that fans are starting to rant about when it comes to Triple H’s booking. The roster is getting older, with more names taking up space that could be used to help get younger performers over. As rumors bubble about a potential Chris Jericho return, that would only exacerbate what is an avoidable problem.