Former WWE Writer On Why The Hurt Business Has Clicked (And Why Retribution Has Not)
Photo Credit: WWE
This week’s ep of MLW Radio Network’s Outside Interference With Kenny Herzog featured a new interview with former WWE writer Andrew Goldstein and the pair spoke about the success rate of WWE’s newest stables, The Hurt Business and Retribution.
Goldstein first addressed Retribution’s lack of success, pointing out that they talk without having a true purpose. He noted that many of their complaints hold no value and that it’s one reason why fans might not care either.
“If you’re going to name an infiltrating group Retribution, you need to have a thesis in your promos. There needs to be some sort of grievance that you’re fighting against, and they’ve yet to name a grievance. That’s really where it’s failed. You could point to the masks and outfits and the kind of campiness of it, but to me there’s no mission statement. If Retribution came out and it was headed by one of the wrestlers who had just been released six months ago, Retribution makes sense and I’m into it. There’s just no reason for me to care because I don’t know what they’re fighting against. They just say these nebulous, nonspecific terrorizing things.”
On the contrary, Goldstein says The Hurt Business has clicked, noting that the stable consists of veteran wrestlers who likely take the lead creatively and don’t let someone else tell them how they would act, making it more genuine.
“Hurt Business probably was produced by somebody who was overseeing the middle of the car and it’s become the main event. Look at the guys in it. They’re all veterans. Those are not guys who are going to be walked all over creatively. Those are guys who have the confidence at this point in their career to be able to walk into Vince’s office, sit down with them and be like, ‘That’s not really something I would say.’ And that’s why MVP’s promos have been so good.”
Related: Retribution Founding Member Reportedly Returning To NXT