10 Big Problems WWE Faces After WrestleMania 32
Where-oh-where do WWE go after April 3?
Fan response to Roman Reign's recent Raw return should have been huge. This was WWE's (supposed) top babyface coming back to extract revenge on WWE's (supposed) top heel, but the segment didn't feel that way. Those in attendance were tepid towards Reigns, and that has been a problem since the company decided it was going to strap a rocket to his back and push him to the moon.
Contrast that with Shane McMahon's comeback, and it shows just how little the core fan base cares about WWE's pet project right now. For Shane, a WrestleMania bout against The Undertaker looms in the distance, and whilst it's an enticing prospect, the question must be asked where the story goes after that particular Hell In A Cell bout. People did react to Shane's WWE comeback, but that will feel like old news following April 3.
Adding to the laundry list of items WWE's creative team have to deal with immediately following 'Mania, big names like The Undertaker, Brock Lesnar, Dean Ambrose and even a returning Seth Rollins all require attention.
How the WWE deasl with these issues will shape things going forward. They must do so correctly, the remainder of the year depends on it.
10. The Traditional Post-'Mania Lull
One distinct aspect following WrestleMania that could be considered a negative is that the promotion traditionally experiences a lull after the event. 'Mania is such a huge deal that it almost feels like a deflation when the pay-per-view is all over with. Many of the more casual fans who only tune in for this time of year retreat, and the more hardcore fanatics are left picking up the pieces.
More often than not, WWE don't combat this experience very well. The post-WrestleMania episode of Monday Night Raw is usually a good one, but it's where the company go from there that represents the real issue. The next major show after 'Mania is Payback on May 1, and Extreme Rules quickly follows that less than a full month later on May 22.
It's crucial that WWE address the age-old problem of cramming everything they can into WrestleMania and then being caught cold afterwards. There are ways they can do that, but it cannot be denied that things always feel a little empty once the biggest show of the year is all over with.