Dave Meltzer noted during the latest edition of Wrestling Observer Radio that initially when WWE gave Lana a recent push it started out as a punishment.
This conversation started when Bryan Alvarez noted the timing of Miro signing with AEW and Lana being put through tables for weeks after.
Meltzer stated the angle was “obviously” started as a punishment and “somebody got the idea it was funny” so they kept it going.
WWE believed that Lana would get over big as a babyface because it was funny. He noted that they have been “piping in so many fake cheers” for Lana during this time in an attempt to make the push work. It all goes back to the way Daniel Bryan was pushed as a babyface years ago.