Pro wrestling is often at its best when fans can suspend disbelief and engage in its hottest stories.

The internet has changed how we consume entertainment for the better and sometimes for the worse. Fans are smarter than they used to be, which can hinder their enjoyment or enhance the best aspect of the viewing experience.

To that end, it's harder to keep some viewers guessing because many of us know way too much about behind-the-scenes happenings.

There's so much information readily available to us at all times. Conversely, more fans analyze what they watch thoroughly, listen to podcasts, or scour YouTube for breakdown videos or easter eggs.

As such, this era incentivizes long-term storytelling and nuanced characters that reward the audience for paying attention. Some of the best stories have encouraged us to deep dive or talk to our circle of friends about what's happening and speculate about what's coming next.

These five current examples of long-term storytelling showcase why WWE and AEW's top angles are better than ever.

LA Knight vs. Logan Paul

The feud between LA Knight and Logan Paul has been brewing since last summer.

During the June 19, 2023 episode of Raw, the YouTuber turned WWE superstar inserted himself into the men's Money in the Bank ladder match. Knight immediately took offense to this because all the other participants had to win a qualifying match to earn their spot.

Paul came into the company as a celebrity and his name recognition afforded him opportunities and matches that Knight had to scratch and claw for. Their paths were already drastically different, but his entry into the ladder matches magnified the discrepancies in their positions with WWE.

This continues to play out on SmackDown as The Mega Star seemingly mocked him in the lead-up to his match with Cody Rhodes at King And Queen Of The Ring. Later, he called him out as an absentee champion, who won't show up to offer him a shot at his U.S. title.

The two exchanged words for weeks, leading to this year's qualifying matches for Money in the Bank. However, Knight beat Paul at Madison Square Garden on June 28 with the help of Jalen Brunson to join the field for the men's ladder match.

Nevertheless, things are far from over between these two and they will likely face off at SummerSlam for the United States Championship. WWE has done a great job of presenting them as polar opposites over the past year.

Liv Morgan's Revenge Tour

Liv Morgan has had a one-track mind since she returned to compete in the women's Royal Rumble match in January.

Her drive to exact revenge on Rhea Ripley has guided every move the New Jersey native has made in 2024. Morgan and her former partner competed in a fatal four-way at the WWE Women's Tag Team Championship at WrestleMania 38 and unsuccessfully challenged Sasha Banks and Naomi a few weeks later on Raw.

Their last loss was the final straw as Ripley turned on her friend and joined The Judgement Day. The Eradicator didn't stop there as she cost her and Raquel Rodriguez the women's tag titles, and attacked her again on the July 24, 2023 episode of Raw, putting her out of commission for six months.

Although Morgan failed to secure a match against her at The Showcase of the Immortals, she returned the favor and injured Ripley on the Raw after Mania. The following week, the Aussie star was forced to vacate the Women's World Championship and take some time off to recuperate.

Ever since, Morgan has tried to take everything from her. While she has been away, her longtime rival has claimed her title, tried to seduce Dominik Mysterio and exasperated tension among her stablemates.

The Liv Morgan Revenge Tour has been a well-executed attempt to ruin Ripley's life. It's worked so well because it wasn't enough to beat her or become champion in her absence. No, she also sowed the seeds of distrust between Ripley and Mysterio and tried to dismantle the stable she left her to join in 2022.

This rivalry is tailor-made for a major stage like The Biggest Party of the Summer.

Bryan Danielson's Last Shot

Bryan Danielson's post-WWE career has been a turbulent but exciting run dogged by humbling losses to a crop of fresh opponents.

When The American Dragon joined AEW in 2021, he welcomed the challenge and vowed to kick younger stars heads in. Straight away, he called out The Best Bout Machine and delivered an instant classic at Grand Slam.

However, Danielson didn't walk away with a definitive win, which became a recurring theme. The 43-year-old has competed in a slew of dream matches, but he often comes up short in the biggest moments.

He and Adam Page produced one of the best AEW World Championship matches ever, but the legendary technician could wrest the title away from Hangman. Similarly, his 60-minute Iron Man match with MJF at the Revolution was an all-timer, but the loss briefly sent him home in shame.

Danielson finally achieved his dream of wrestling in a New Japan ring against the likes of Kazuchika Okada and Zack Sabre Jr., but they both narrowly defeated him. His loss to Eddie Kingston even forced him to humble himself and the two made amends.

Finally, his startling aftermath of defeat to Will Ospreay brought him back down to reality. It reminded him that his time is limited. He has competed at such a high level and tested himself against the best in the world, but his last year as a full-time wrestler has been harrowing.

Danielson entered the men's Owen Hart Cup tournament as an underdog in search of one last shot at championship gold. He went the distance and earned a spot in the main event of All In London, but now he has to face a man who will do anything to remain on top, Swerve Strickland.

This has been an excellent chapter in his illustrious career, and we can't wait to see if he can win the big one at Wembley Stadium.

The New Bloodline

Ever since Solo Sikoa joined The Bloodline as an enforcer, WWE has laid hints that he could be the next in line.

In fact, Roman Reigns named him his heir and cautiously trusted him before his loss to Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania 40. So, it makes sense for Sikoa to step up and claim his throne in his absence.

Many fans questioned if the popular stable could go on without Reigns as champion or how much mileage this storyline had left. It turns out that The Bloodline still has plenty of stories left to tell, and the new iteration of the stable is still compelling.

Sikoa has been outstanding in his new role as a usurper to the throne and Tama Tonga, Tanga Loa, and Jacob Fatu have been a great addition to the group. They look intimidating together, and Paul Heyman did some serious heavy lifting to put over how dangerous they are in comparison to the old version.

Their inevitable split with Heyman was incredibly well done, and their actions continue to build anticipation for Reigns' return. The Head of the Table will receive a thunderous ovation in part due to the great work WWE has done to establish Sikoa's ambition while The Bloodline was on top and follow up while their top star was away.

Mariah May Betrays Toni Storm

Mariah May's rookie year with AEW has been a masterclass on how to use an established character to propel a newcomer into the title picture.

In the final stretch of her stint with Stardom, May vowed to win the 5Star Grand Prix just like Toni Storm. Five months later, she joined All Elite Wrestling and convinced RJ City to introduce her to her "idol."

The 25-year-old has ingratiated herself with the AEW women's world champion for the past eight months. If you paid close attention, you could see her holding onto her title tight, or sneering as her mentor initially dismissed her attempts to become her understudy.

Then, May started appealing to her ego by dressing like her and helping her defeat her opponents. Meanwhile, Luther visibly showed disdain in the background as he could see she couldn't be trusted.

There are so many small details that led up to May's heel turn following the women's Owen's Hart Cup finals. AEW even used Storm's catchphrase as a self-fulfilling prophecy as the 2024 winner bludgeoned her with her own shoe.

It was a shocking cliffhanger and an even better premise for the upcoming women's title match at All In London. Honestly, this 8-month story, inspired by the 1950s film "All About Eve," may be the best storyline AEW's women's division ever produced.

It successfully turned its champion into one of the best characters in pro wrestling and created a star-making moment for May. The end of the latest episode of Dynamite rewarded fans for investing in their partnership and gave them the most satisfying twist in recent memory.