I mean...I see your point but this is not new with WWE and if anything people feel like you should do this with people cause well it worked for Mick Foley in 97 I guess...
I know it's not new. But with WWE being incredibly overproduced, they don't let talent get over like they used to.
I watched WWE in 97 and I didn't care what video package was put together... Foley got over because he risked his life for the pop. Thumbtacks, thrown off of the cell, chair shots, etc... he took it all and kept going. Fans didn't learn to love the character because of his parents doing a 10 minute promo vignette.
I don't want to sound TOO cynical. I like Finn and I still enjoy WWE. I just think that they try way too hard in pushing "certain" guys and it hurts the overall product. I liked APA back in those days (I am jaded so I couldn't tell you how "over" they really were) but as a fan I liked Farooq and Bradshaw because they went out there, had defined characters, hit the ring and beat the crap out of people (the "hitmen for hire" gimmick worked). I didn't like them because of video packages about Ron Simmons being a black champion in WCW or because JBL had a family. I liked their characters on the show.