Why is the WrestleMania feeling not all there yet?
We are one week away and the usual WrestleMania feeling is not all there yet.
It is the biggest event of the business all year. Not only WWE, but all promotions are coming to the New York Area to celebrate the greatest thing out there: Professional Wrestling.
How can it be, that fans are not awaiting the show of shows like they are used to? The 'The Bigger the Better' motto by WWE does not seem to pay off, atleast not when it comes to the excitement levels of their fans? More Championships, More Stars, More Wrestling. Each year. Sounds like an absolute dream. But is it really?
Let have a look at three reasons why the 'WrestleMania Feeling' is not all there these days:
Exhaustion:
Hall of Fame is 3-4 hours
NXT Takeover is 2hours + 1hour PreShow
WrestleMania is 6hours + 2hour Kick-Off
plus various more wrestling like WrestleMania Axxess with the World Collide Tournament featuring stars of RAW, SmackDown, NXT, NXTUK and 205live and the Indy-Shows all across the town + WrestleCon.
Just imagine there is one person that does all of that. It is impossible. It is an overkill of wrestling. WrestleMania used to be a 4 hours show and that was it. Sure there is a lot more talent these days and all of them earned their spotlight, but maybe less is more. There are other events these days after RAW and SmackDown, that can also feature high profile events, maybe putting all on Mania is not the way to go anymore.
Burns of the Past:
The most recent Manias were not great. The long duration and flat main events or awful results have hurt WrestleMania's reputation. On the other hand NXT Takeovers are anticipated like crazy.
To win fans back, WWE should satisfy the fans craving for the big moments and dreams coming alive. WrestleMania should turn the page on being just another big show, to a total expierence again. A huge part of this is the final and most important reason:
No Build:
The anticipation-level is on an all-time low. Matches have been barley build, feel like we have already seen them or are so badly booked, they lost their steam halfway through the Road to WrestleMania.
Lesnar vs. Rollins, the Universal Title Match, seems like an afterthought.
Miz vs. McMahon feels burned by Shane McMahon not being able to deliver the heel like he used to.
The RAW Women's Title Match basically used all booking-crutches in the book from injury, to suspension, to title change, to turns - all with barely explanation.
The only interestlingly booked matches are the rise of Kofi Kingston to the WWE Championship Match, the Cruiserweight Title Match and the Triple H and Batista feud.
Back at WrestleMania 26 or 21, when every match had a solid big match feel or atleast a small build, those were the times you look back to. WWE just can not rely only on moments and shockers alone, we need proper emotional storylines or exciting climbs to the top.
Oh and also: Asuka deserves better - had to through that in here.
How do you feel about Mania this year? Let me know @Walu2go on Twitter
