10 Expectations Vs. Reality For WWE WrestleMania 35

6. Roman Reigns Vs. Drew McIntyre

Expectations Reality
WWE.com

Expectation:

Both Roman Reigns and Drew McIntyre are excellent in the elemental destroyer role. Ideally, this match should manifest as a pro wrestling version of a three-round heavyweight boxing prize-fight: just two massively powerful warlords braying ten tonnes of sh*t out of one another for about 10 minutes in a brutal, prolonged sprint. This would serve each character's strengths and benefit the epic show as a whole. WWE needs to break some awful habits on April 7. There are so many matches yet to be announced at time of writing, and the entire event is in huge danger of becoming a wildly uneven and punishingly long mess of TV quality nothing matches and matches that strive to be everything - but sag under the weight of the occasion. Even if the show is sequenced perfectly, a 7.5 hour wrestling show can never be perfect.

Reality:

WWE really likes leukaemia, though, is the thing. And Drew McIntyre, on RAW at least, really enjoys grabbing his rivals by the cheek and screaming in their face. Worryingly, the storyline suggests we're in for more of this - "this" being Drew shouting "LEUKAEMIA!" in Roman's face - because Roman is "weak" and "not the same man".

He will win, obviously, but only after this broad "But is he the old Roman?" Michael Cole caterwauling stretches for about 12 minutes before his big comeback.

Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!