This is the time of the year when by now you’re fully on board with Wrestlemania. Last year it was the Yes Movement and the two years prior was Rock-Cena. 

WWE’s downward turn began last year at Consol Energy Center during the Royal Rumble. Management let part timer Batista win and it was met with one of the most infamous crowd boo’s ever. It was so intense that on the WWE network they have since dubbed out the boo’s. Oddly enough this would also be the final night we saw CM Punk. 

WWE fixed their screw up in subsequent weeks thanks in large part to the vocal crowd who made it known they wanted Daniel Bryan in the main event. Wrestlemania was fixed and they put on a great show including the kick off with Hogan, Austin, Rock, The Streak coming to an end, and capped off with Daniel Bryan defeating all three members of Evolution for the titles. 

Fast forward a year. The fans hated another Royal Rumble but this time management was not backing down. Triple H went on Stone Colds podcast and told the fans they don’t know what they want and the Road to a Wrestlemania was set. 

Problem is the main event never got the big match pump it needed. Sure Paul Heyman worked wonders on the mic but then they let Roman Reigns retort and all momentum was lost. Management had their eyes on this guy since his debut. But the fans only saw a third of the Shield and then a guy get injured before being thrust into the spotlight. 

  

There was no organic build like Bray Wyatt and Dean Abrose. They shot for an orchestrated build but it didn’t have the longevity as Seth Rollins current run and therefore waters down today’s product.  At Royal Rumble WWE called in his “cousin” The Rock to elevate Reigns and that blew up in their face when the “People’s Champ” was also getting booed. 

  

Since the launch of the WWE Network, Raw has lost momentum. Instead of dedicating three hours convincing you to shell out 70 bones for a PPV, they split time between previews, recaps, and WWE Network promotion.  That was completely evident tonight when they took a shit ton of momentum from Sting in the opener and let it whittle away to nothing when it was time for Lesnar and Reigns final showdown before the main event. Instead of a testosterone fueled exchange reving up and building toward Mania we got 2 grown men playing tug of war with the strap and posing for that quintessential face to face Wrestlemania shot. 

   

  

  

  

  

 

I like when it becomes less predictable. No chance Lesnar ends the streak last year and the poof it’s gone and we have a hell of a moment. This year we at least have the question of will Brock resign? I personally would love him returning and keeping the belt since he’s bigger than anyone or anything WWE has. 

Mania has a lot to look forward to this Sunday. It’s just a shame the Heavyweight Title is taking the backseat to (at least) the Intercontinental Title Ladder Match, the United States title match, and the WWE vs WCW Grudge match. We’ll see how it plays out. 

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