Coherent Storytelling & Social Media Buzz: Looking At The Vision’s Turn on Seth Rollins

The recent turn of Bron Breakker and The Vision against Seth Rollins was certainly a shocker. Many fans had theorized about a turn since the formation of the group in which Breakker would eventually, in one way or another, turn on Seth Rollins. But the big unknown question was when and how. Given that WWE had done a marvelous job with the Bloodline, there was certainly intrigue in how the whole scenario would play out.

And then, on Monday, it struck like an RKO – out of nowhere. The shocking turn of events created buzz on social media and got the rumor mill going.

Word is that Seth Rollins was injured during his match with Cody Rhodes at Crown Jewel and requires surgery and a lengthy recovery time. WWE, according to that theory, decided to pull the plug on the planned turn way earlier than initially intended.

If that theory proves true it raises the question of whether this was really necessary. And if not, what could an alternative have looked like?

Turning the Vision against its leader on Monday was certainly a choice. The turn had shock value and created social media buzz, two of WWE’s seemingly most empirical decision drivers. Once Seth returns, it will also create another moment and more impressive social media numbers.

But let’s be honest, the story sounds very familiar: a group turns on a member, usually for either a shortcoming – like a loss – or a transgression, such as challenging the leader. That member then comes back to seek revenge against his former allies. The Horsemen and Lex Luger (or Sting), Evolution and Randy Orton – not to mention the countless turns during the Attitude Era: the playbook sounds familiar. Usually, it works and given the participants in the current scenario, it will no doubt work again here.

The current turn adds somewhat of a new dimension, namely the turn against a leader. The Horsemen never turned on Flair. The NWO never turned on Hogan. Evolution never turned on Triple H. Even the closest example like it in recent memory – Solo Sikoa claiming the Bloodline from Roman Reigns – doesn’t work the same way since Solo completely changed the group’s composition.

With that new dimension, the dynamic changes and, as a result, the story should have probably changed to: the group outgrowing its leader.

Bron Breakker is unquestionably a breakout star and not just a future world champion, but WrestleMania main eventer. With Paul Heyman by his side and Bronson Reed in the role of the monster enforcer, the three could have carried the banner during Rollins’ absence and gotten to the point where Breakker – pushed believably in a main event role during Rollins’ recovery, had essentially grown into the main event role himself.

The Vision’s turn on a returning Rollins could have been built for weeks. A big celebration could have been held for the leader’s return, much like the Festival of Friendship. And it could have ended in Breakker making the argument that the group doesn’t need the returning leader anymore. The turn then would have had a different vibe: more deliberate, more cerebral, more gut-wrenching – yet still shocking.

Instead, WWE went with the common path of instant gratification. In the short term, the turn created buzz, social media numbers, and a talking point for fans. It sets the foundation for Rollins’ return and redemption story in the long run. However, all those things could have been achieved with a different story; a story that makes sense; a story that runs closer to the Vision’s mission statement: out with the old and in with the new.

But that is the modus operandi in WWE right now: shock and buzz over coherent storytelling.