With WrestleMania right around the corner, I thought it might be the right time for a Rant-A-Mania column. This is it. The last week before what is promised to be the biggest WWE event of the year.
I am underwhelmed. I know I’m not the only one. Honestly, I think there was more hype for Fast Lane.
The announcers do their job of shouting more, hyping more, taking more, because we should be hyped. We should have Mojo Rawley in our heads tromping and stomping, riling us up for the big one. We had some abrupt title changes in the past few weeks which should keep us guessing.
Again, if I have to be honest, I’m looking forward more to NXT Takeover the night before.
RAW featuring more talking than ever. SmackDown, continues to be consistent by giving us some damn good matches. I did not see The Usos winning the SmackDown Tag Team Championships just a week-and-a-half before Mania. I feel SmackDown is better than RAW in this division, and WrestleMania will make it apparent.
Both Women’s divisions are consistently entertaining, I am starting to slide my allegiance towards the Smackdown division as I find the matches a bit more intriguing. Not to say RAW is slouching, but it is getting a bit stale, and that worries me. Perhaps with the re-re-re-introduction of Emma and the hopeful recuiting of some NXT women will give it a shot of new life. Never any doubts Sasha Banks, Bayley, Charlotte, and Nia Jax will put on great matches, but now we have one match with all four. That’s it. This is the culmination of everything. WWE has put all it’s big guns in the ring for one potential show-stealer. Anything after might, and I stress might have lost its novelty.
I am disappointed there have yet to be any new developments for the Cruiserweights at WrestleMania, although this week we may see some additions. Austin Aries vs. Neville will likely be another possible show-stealing contender, but man, this was a blown opportunity to have a multi-man ladder match.
That’s just it. There are no real novelty matches. The Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal will have Big Show, Mark Henry, and a bunch of midcarders. Last year, Bacon Rorbin was a big surprise and a “good for him” moment. This is a dream, but if Tye Dillenger won it this year… Just wow.
Getting back to my original point. I have felt this Mania is underwhelming in terms of the big matches. AJ Styles vs. Shane McMahon, Randy Orton vs. Bray Wyatt, Roman Reigns vs. The Undertaker, Brock Lesnar vs. Bill Goldberg. Championship bout or not, these matches sound great, but I have doubts. I was at WrestleMania XX, when Brock and Goldberg faced off, and the crowd took a giant collective crap on the whole thing. This will be my opening statement when I write my in-depth column later this week. Reigns vs. Undertaker should be a big deal, but I think Reigns is so hated, and there was hope of Braun Strowman getting a shot in there. He is probably winning the Andre Memorial.
This is a time where I hope I am wrong. Because my money on show-stealing goes to Kevin Owens vs. Chris Jericho.
