When it's done right, WrestleMania works a lot like a Super Bowl and a season finale simultaneously: Storylines and feuds peak and get resolved that night. The next day, the characters and several elements of the previous "season" carry over, but it's clearly a new day. New storylines and new feuds emerge. But it's rare that a new era emerges. Fans saw this after WrestleMania XIV with Steve Austin winning the title, and although it's largely been erased from history, it can be argued that Eddie and Benoit embracing in the ring at the end of 'Mania XX was intended to mark a new era of sorts. However, in the span of 29 hours starting Sunday at 6 p.m. EDT, WWE didn't just end old storylines and feuds and start new ones. It didn't simply close out an era and begin a new one. WWE seemingly wiped the slate clean, hit the refresh button and jumpstarted the new season. That might seem a bit dramatic of a claim, but given what happened at WrestleMania and on Raw the next night, it seems that WWE is moving boldly into a new era, an era built on a youth movement. Of course, this being WWE, that could all be abandoned the second ratings tank. For now, however, just enjoy the ride.
Scott is a former journalist and longtime wrestling fan who was smart enough to abandon WCW during the Monday Night Wars the same time as the Radicalz. He fortunately became a fan in time for WrestleMania III and came back as a fan after a long high school hiatus before WM XIV. Monday nights in the Carlson household are reserved for viewing Raw -- for better or worse.
