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Wrestlemania doesn't exist, right?
I mean, as a television event, sure. But as a ticketed event?
Wrestlemania is (was) the Super Bowl of wrestling; it is a marketing miracle, and for those watching at home, it remains the biggest annual show in the sport.
As a ticketed event? If you buy a ticket to Wrestlemania, it's to one of two nights. Night 1? The one without Lesnar, without Punk v. Roman? Night 2? With just 6 matches? There are not two Wrestlemanias, there's one, cut in half. As a ticketed event, most fans do not attend both nights (that's a mortgage payment) they attend one or the other. You dont go to Wrestlemania anymore, you go to half a Wrestlemania.
Here's the card, 13 announced matches, spread over two nights.
Undisputed Title: Cody Rhodes (c) vs. Randy Orton (with Pat McAfee)
World Title: CM Punk (c) vs. Roman Reigns
You know the aphorism, if you have two starting quarterbacks, you dont have any?
Why are ticket sales down 20% this year? The reason disconnected with global events is the WWE does not have a World Champ, it has two. Which means it has none.
Yes - that's not a new circumstance; however, consider post Covid WWE - who was the Champ?
Roman, right? For four years (no, I'm not looking up the number) And then Cody. That's Wrestlemania. Someone challenging Roman, then Cody challenging Roman and then Cody challenged by Cena. It didn't matter that also Rollins had a belt, or whatever - the thrust of the promotion was very clear. One of the truly great booking choices was to build real equity into the WWE Title during Covid, it's Roman, it's the Bloodline, he didn't hand it off to Darby Allin, he kept that belt for yearzzzzzz - so when then (in the key booking choice of the ultramodern wrestling era) Cody jumped to WWE and was immediately inserted into the top of the card, his chase of that belt drove two years of story.
They rebuilt the WWE title. Bruno's title. Hogan's title. Roman was the Champ and Wrestlemania was built around that title.
Who is the Champ now?
Cody? Well, that's the belt. Roman's belt. Cody beat Roman two years ago. A year go he lost to Cena, took it then back, then lost to Drew, then took it back and here we are.
Except...
Cody's match is on Night 1; at the end of the middle of Wrestlemania. Against Randy Orton, who hasnt been in a match at this level since...the Danielson 3 way? And the heat has become Pat McAfee, doing a Vince Russo "why are there wrestling matches on my wrestling show" gimmick. He said tickets werent moving. He said the other champion is out of shape. We head to Mania with Punk/McAfee maybe being the hottest story and that is not in any way an angle designed to play out at the event.
So, maybe it's Punk. Is Punk the Champ?
Punk's belt was launched in 2023. 20MotherTrucking23. Punk's is the 9th title reign, won in November after an injury vacancy. Smell the prestige!
I can't make the US as appealing a travel destination as it was before dissidents were getting executed in the streets, but I would suggest a way to...SAVE THE BUSINESS (take that IWC! Marks!)...is having one clearly defined World Heavyweight Champion.
(who wins these matches? Orton...Roman..they'll be overbooked and maybe good and maybe not)
IC Title: Ladder Match: Penta (c) vs. Je'Von Evans vs. Dragon Lee vs. JD McDonagh vs. Rusev vs. Rey Mysterio
US Title: Sami Zayn (c) vs. Trick Williams
Two secondary mens titles on the line; Penta (made a good decision in jumping from AEW) defends his IC title against the young high flyer Evans (he wins, right?) bottom of the card workrate guys (Booooo! Who wants to see that shit?? Marks) Lee and McDonagh, Rusev (largely in the same spot he was in with AEW) and a legitimate all time legend, Mysterio. This will be good.
Zayn and Williams have double turned over the course of the program; Zayn's tremendous and this has been a slow, methodical, logical turn. A credit to both creative and Zayn's performance. He drops the belt here, it's unclear if Trick's bell to bell is good enough to match this push, but this should be a good match and its a result that makes sense.
Better off....Cody, Punk, Penta, Cargill, Ethan Page
Worse off......Fenix, May/Monroe
Everyone else is either essentially in the same spot (Black, Starks/Saints, etc..) or it's too soon to tell (Hobbs/Keys)
WWE Womens Title: Jade Cargill (c) vs. Rhea Ripley
Womens World Title: Stephanie Vaquer (c) vs. Liv Morgan
Womens IC Title: AJ Lee (c) vs. Becky Lynch
WWE Womens Tag Title: The Irresistible Forces (Nia Jax and Lash Legend) (c) vs. Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss vs. Bayley and Lyra Valkyria vs. The Bella Twins (Brie Bella and Nikki Bella)
4 womens belts contested this year.
Cargill (who cannot wrestle, not even a little) has the belt launched a decade ago in the Becky/Sasha/Charlotte 3 way at WM32, she took from Stratton in November. Ripley's been the top women's act in the promotion for a couple of years, although no longer quite at her peak, I'd assume she takes here.
Stephanie's got the women's belt that was commissioned in response to Charlotte having a title on the other show (one was on RAW, one was Smackdown, it does not in any way matter which was which) Lynch was the inaugural champion; Vaquer's had the title since September after a pregnant Naomi vacated her belt (Storm is pregnant, right? That's just a thing everyone knows, 'cause what else could it be?). Morgan's gonna win here, this will be better than the other match, but that's damning with the very faintist of praise.
AJ Lee seems like a bright, capable woman and she should not be within a hundred miles of a wrestling ring again after she drops this belt this weekend (it's less than a year and a half old, Lee took from Becky a couple months ago).
We're now 7 years into the womens tag belts (Bayley and Banks the initial champs) Who has the belts now? Okay, it's Jax and Legend. Oof. (there really are good womens wrestlers in this promotion...Iyo...Asuka...Kendal Grey...but they on this card....how the hell is Iyo Sky not on this card? How is Ilja Dragunov not on this card?) Okay, Jax/Legend took from Ripley/Sky a couple months ago, if not for an injury issue, I'd have guessed the Bellas take this belt; now, none of the results would surprise (probably not Charlotte/Alexa). Unlikely this match is good - and if you're thinking, "4 womens title matches and none of them look super promising?" - yeah, that's about right (but that's good..'cause only marks like good wrestling matches. Marks.)
Seth Rollins vs. Gunther
Oba Femi vs. Brock Lesnar
Unsanctioned: Jacob Fatu vs. Drew McIntyre
"The Demon" Finn Bálor vs. Dominik Mysterio
The best match of the show is likely Rollins/Gunther. Gunther's the best worker in the promotion; this year he retired both Cena and Styles, and despite that, creative threw him into a last minute program with the returning Rollins. Rollins turned heel a year ago and formed a top of the card stable - a shoot injury took him off the canvas (see what I did there?) and he was written out of the storyline in a hot, brutal attack from his own crew. Now he's back - seeking revenge - but...despite that..he's matched in a last minute program against a guy almost wholly unconnected from that stable.
Which is fine with me. I want good matches; this is a good match. Although maybe with a screwy finish (it's Breakker, right? Attacking Rollins?)
Brock's...okay...Brock's role in whatever level of degradation Vince subjected Janel Grant to isn't wholly clear, but it ain't zero, and once he puts Femi over in what is likely to be definitive fashion, he maybe says goodbye.
McIntyre is in the Highlander reboot; so his leaving for a more defined period of time is likely, he goes under here. The stip likely makes this worth watching. Dom Mysterio is competent in the ring and over in multiple countries, given that Balor is putting the paint on for this one, I assume he takes it.
The Vision (Logan Paul and Austin Theory) and IShowSpeed (with Paul Heyman) vs. The Usos (Jey Uso and Jimmy Uso) and LA Knight
Nope.
That's the show - it aint great. Unless you're Pat McAfee, as there's not a long workrate match to be found in two nights. Take that IWC!
Through WM41. Times are approx. Ratings are mine. Supercedes all prior ratings.
1. (13-97) WWF Title: Bret Hart d. Steve Austin 22 min 5
2. (10-'94) IC Title: Ladder Match: Razor Ramon d. Shawn Michaels 18:45 5
3. (10-'94) Owen Hart d. Bret Hart 20:30 5
4. (39-'23) Unified Tag Titles: Kevin Owens/Sami Zayn d. Usos 24:15 4 3/4
5. (21-'05) Kurt Angle d. Shawn Michaels 27:30 4 3/4
6. (25-'09) Undertaker d. Shawn Michaels 30:45 4 3/4
7. (3-'87) IC Title: Ricky Steamboat d. Randy Savage 14:30 4 3/4 8. (20-04) World Title: Chris Benoit d. HBK, HHH 24:45 4 1/2
9. (17-'01) Tag Titles: TLC: Edge/Christian d. Hardys, Dudleys 15:45 4 1/2
10. (39-'23) IC Title: Gunther d. Sheamus, Drew McIntyre 16:30 4 1/2
11. (41-'25) Womens Title: Iyo Sky d. Bianca Belair/Rhea Ripley 14:30 4 1/2
12. (12-'96) WWF Title: Iron Man Match: Shawn Michaels d. Bret Hart 61:30 4 1/2
13. (30-'14) World Title: Daniel Bryan d. Randy Orton, Batista 23:15 4 1/4
14. (40-'24) IC Title: Sami Zayn d. Gunther 15:30 4 1/4
15. (26-'10) Retirement Match: Undertaker d. Shawn Michaels 24 min 4 1/4
16. (39-'22) Smackdown Womens Title: Rhea Ripley d. Charlotte Flair 23:30 4 1/4
17. (28-'12) Hell in a Cell: Undertaker d. HHH 31 min 4 1/4
18. (8-'92) WWF Title: Randy Savage d. Ric Flair 18 min 4 1/4
19. (35-'19) World Title: Kofi Kingston d. Daniel Bryan 23:45 4 1/4
20. (16-'00) Tag Titles: Ladder Match: Edge/Christian d. Hardys, Dudleys 22:30 4 1/4
21. (21-'05) MITB (Edge) 15:15 4
22. (30-'14) Daniel Bryan d. HHH 26 min 4
23. (19-'03) WWE Title: Brock Lesnar d. Kurt Angle 21 min 4
24. (37-'21) Universal Title: Roman Reigns d. Bryan, Edge 21:45 4
25. (31-'15) World Title: Seth Rollins d. Brock Lesnar/Roman Reigns 16:45 4
26. (39-'23) Undisputed Title: Roman Reigns d. Cody Rhodes 34:30 4
27. (17-'01) WWF Title: Steve Austin d. The Rock 28 min 4
28. (19-'03) Shawn Michaels d. Chris Jericho 22:30 4
29. (39-'23) Seth Rollins d. Logan Paul 16:15 4
30. (38-'22) Cody Rhodes d. Seth Rollins 21:30 4
31. (29-'13) Undertaker d. CM Punk 22:15 4
32. (27-'12) No Holds Barred: Undertaker d. HHH 29:15 4
33. (20-'04) WWE Title: Eddie Guerrero d. Kurt Angle 21:30 4
34. (17-'01) Kurt Angle d. Chris Benoit 14 min 4
35. (7-'91) Retirement Match: Ultimate Warrior d. Randy Savage 20:45 4
36. (41-'25) Seth Rollins d. CM Punk, Roman Reigns 32:30 4
37. (28-'12) WWE Title: CM Punk d. Chris Jericho 22:15 4
38. (8-'91) IC Title: Bret Hart d. Roddy Piper 13:45 4
39. (38-'22) RAW Womens Title: Bianca Belair d. Becky Lynch 19 min 4
40. (31-'15) IC Title: Ladder (Bryan) 13:45 3 3/4
41. (15-'99) WWF Title: Steve Austin d. The Rock 17 min 3 3/4
42. (11-'95) WWF Title: Diesel d. Shawn Michaels 20:30 3 3/4
43. (22-'06) Hardcore: Edge d. Mick Foley 14:30 3 3/4
44. (23-'07) WWE Title: John Cena d. Shawn Michaels 28:15 3 3/4
45. (24-'08) World Title: Undertaker d. Edge 23:45 3 3/4
46. (23-'07) World Title: Undertaker d. Batista 15:45 3 3/4
47. (40-'24) Womens Title: Bayley d. Iyo Sky 14:15 3 3/4
48. (37-'21) Smackdown Womens Title: Bianca Belair d. Sasha Banks 17:15 3 3/4
49. (23-'07) MITB (Kennedy) 19:15 3 3/4
50. (37-'21) Kevin Owens d. Sami Zayn 9:15 3 3/4
51. (34-'18) Smackdown Womens Title: Charlotte Flair d. Asuka 13 min 3 3/4
52. (32-'16) Womens Title: Charlotte Flair d. Becky Lynch/Sasha Banks 16 min 3 3/4
53. (40-'24) Undisputed Title: Bloodline Rules: Cody Rhodes d. Roman Reigns 33:30 3 3/4
54. (32-'16) IC: Ladder (Ryder) 15:30 3 3/4
55. (33-'17) Raw Tag Team Titles: Ladder (Hardys) 11 min 3 3/4
56. (33-'17) AJ Styles d. Shane McMahon 20:30 3 3/4
57. (34-'18) World Title: AJ Styles d. Shinsuke Nakamura 20:15 3 3/4
58. (34-'18) IC Title: Seth Rollins d. Finn Balor, Miz 15:30 3 3/4
59. (40-'24) Womens Title Rhea Ripley d. Becky Lynch 17 min 3 1/2
60. (39-'23) RAW Womens Title: Bianca Belair d. Asuka 16 min 3 1/2
61. (41-'25) Street Fight: Drew McIntyre d. Damien Priest 14 min 3 1/2
62. (40-'24) US Title: Logan Paul d. Kevin Owens, Randy Orton 17:30 3 1/2
63. (40-'24) Unified Tags: Ladder (Theory/Waller/Truth/Miz) 17:15 3 1/2
64. (26-'10) World Title: Chris Jericho d. Edge 15:45 3 1/2
65. (20-'04) Christian d. Chris Jericho 15 min 3 1/2
66. (39-'23) Hell in a Cell: Edge d. Finn Balor 18 min 3 1/2
67. (41-'25) IC Title: Dom Mysterio d. Balor, Breakker, Penta 10:30 3 1/2
68. (38-'22) RAW Tag Titles: Orton/Riddle d. St Profits, Otis/Gable 11:30 3 1/2
69. (31-'15) Randy Orton d. Seth Rollins 13:15 3 1/2
70. (19-'03) The Rock d. Steve Austin 18 min 3 1/2
71. (14-'98) WWF Title: Steve Austin d. Shawn Michaels 20 min 3 1/2
72. (6-'90) WWF Title: Ultimate Warrior d. Hulk Hogan 23 min 3 1/2
73. (5-'89) WWF Title: Hulk Hogan d. Randy Savage 18 min 3 1/2
74. (37-'21) Cesaro d. Seth Rollins 11:30 3 1/2
75. (22-'06) MITB (RVD) 12:30 3 1/2
76. (22-'06) World Title: Rey Mysterio d. Kurt Angle, Randy Orton 9:15 3 1/2
77. (24-'08) Retirement Match: Shawn Michaels d. Ric Flair 20:30 3 1/2
78. (34-'18) Kurt Angle/Ronda Rousey d. HHH/Stephanie McMahon 20:30 3 1/2
79. (28-'12) The Rock d. John Cena 30:30 3 1/2
80. (17-'01) Undertaker d. HHH 18:15 3 1/2
81. (36-'20) Smackdown Tag Titles: John Morrison d. Jimmy Uso, Kofi Kingston 18:45 3 1/2
82. (24-'08) MITB (Punk) 14 min 3 1/2
83. (25-'09) MITB (Punk) 14:30 3 1/2
84. (26-10) MITB (Swagger) 22:45 3 1/2
85. (37-'21) US Title: Sheamus d. Matt Riddle 10:45 3 1/2
86. (29-'13) WWE Title: John Cena d. The Rock 24 min 3 1/2
87. (2-'86) Tag Titles: British Bulldogs d. Beefcake/Valentine 13 min 3 1/2
88. (36-'19) No DQ: Kevin Owens d. Seth Rollins 17:30 min 3 1/2
89. (33-'17) US Title: Kevin Owens d. Chris Jericho 17 min 3 1/2
90. (39-'23) St Profits d. Viking Raiders, Gable/Otis, Ricochet/Strowman 8:30 3 1/2
91. (37-'21) WWE Title: Bobby Lashley d. Drew McIntyre 18:15 3 1/2
92. (32-'16) Chris Jericho d. AJ Styles 17 min 3 1/4
93. (38-'22) Edge d. AJ Styles 24:30 3 1/4
94. (36-'20) NXT Womens Title: Charlotte Flair d. Rhea Ripley 20:30 3 1/4
95. (7-'91) Rockers d. Haku/Barbarian 10:45 3 1/4
96. (7-'91) Tag Titles: Nasty Boys d. Hart Foundation 12:15 3 1/4
97. (14-'98)Tag Titles:Dumpster Match:Cactus Jack/Chainsaw Charlie d. New Age Outlaws10 min 3 1/4
98. (40-'24) Roman/Rock d. Cody Rhodes/Seth Rollins 44:30 3 1/4
99. (35-'19) Smackdown Tag Titles: (Usos) 10 min 3 1/4
100. (20-'04) Flair/Orton/Batista d. The Rock/Mick Foley 17min 3 1/4
