WWE has been building anticipation for Blake Monroe’s arrival on SmackDown through a series of “coming soon” vignettes, but the prolonged rollout has prompted some fans to draw an uncomfortable parallel — one involving the notoriously drawn-out debut of Veer Mahaan.
For several weeks now, Monroe’s pre-debut packages have aired on the blue brand, teasing her imminent arrival. While there is genuine excitement among a portion of the fanbase around what Monroe will bring to SmackDown, others have been quick to invoke the ghost of one of WWE’s most memed debut builds in recent memory.
Veer Mahaan’s name became something of a running joke in wrestling circles after WWE aired weeks upon weeks of vignettes on Raw hyping his arrival, only for the actual debut to be repeatedly delayed. By the time he finally showed up, the anticipation had curdled into punchline territory, and his run never quite recovered the momentum that a crisper rollout might have generated.
The comparison isn’t necessarily a knock on Monroe herself — the frustration is directed squarely at the format. Prolonged tease campaigns can work when the payoff arrives quickly and decisively, but WWE’s track record with extended vignette cycles has made fans understandably skittish.
Whether Monroe’s debut lands differently will depend largely on how quickly WWE pulls the trigger and, more importantly, what they do with her once she gets there. The clock, as fans are loudly noting, is ticking.
Source: WrestleZone
