10 Wrestlers Who Suffered The Most From WrestleMania 34
Sliding down the Show Of Shows' slippery slope.
WrestleMania is always a game-changing night for much of the show's cast, and 34 was no different.
Several wrestlers notched the biggest wins of their career on April 8th. Charlotte Flair's streak-breaking victory over Asuka firmly established her as SmackDown's alpha female, Nia Jax is finally a made woman, and Ronda Rousey's explosive debut relegated complaints towards her inconsistent promo work to the background. Elsewhere, The Undertaker bounced back from last year's dismal loss to Roman Reigns by squashing John Cena, and Braun Strowman effectively won the Raw Tag Team Titles on his own.
But while each of these wrestlers enjoyed undeniably successful evenings, what about those on the other side of the equation? When one performer moves into the spotlight, another must step away to make room, and several slid down the ladder in New Orleans.
Some fell as a direct result of the company's booking, while others suffered through their own lacklustre performances. Whatever the case, each of the names within left the Superdome in a weaker position than when they'd walked in, and while many will have the new dents in their armour repaired, others may not be so lucky...
10. Mustafa Ali
The Cruiserweight Title bout should've been a potential 'Match Of The Night' contender. Coming at the end of a tournament that had drawn near-universal acclaim from fans and critics alike, it was framed by a stellar friend vs. friend narrative starring 205 Live's top two wrestlers. Sadly, it was held back by gratuitously on-the-nose "heart and soul" nonsense, with the performers taking regular breaks to bark hammy insults at each other, detracting from the action as a whole.
Cedric Alexander will make a good champion, but in losing such a bout, Mustafa Ali took an almighty hit. It's a shame, as not only is he tremendously athletic, but he's a lot more compelling than Cedric on the microphone, and a stronger choice to lead the division going forward. For now, however, he's number two at best.
Ali poured everything into the pre-match build. His dark, dingy alleyway promos set him apart, and while losing wasn't a complete burial, he unquestionably left New Orleans in a weaker position than he'd arrived. Let's hope the renewed care and attention put into 205 Live this year helps him turn back around.