10 Expectations Vs. Reality For WWE WrestleMania 38

4. Sami Zayn Vs. Johnny Knoxville

Steve Austin Expectation Reality
WWE.com

Expectation:

A disgrace to the great sport of professional wrestling, which WWE somehow still is in the minds of some people because Bret Hart and Shawn Michaels had cracking runs with the Intercontinental Title in the early 1990s. That title is somehow still revered by WWE fans, even though the promotion has spent longer saying it might be prestigious again than actually building its prestige.

Johnny Knoxville was buried in some circles for having the temerity not to be Ricky Steamboat in 1987. Respectfully: what promotion have you been watching for the last 23 years, since the Godfather won the belt in 1999?

And yet, expectations for Zayn Vs. Knoxville are very low because some fans think that WWE is or should be Jim Crockett Promotions.

Reality:

This should be fabulous for what it is: a violent comedy freak show match pitting a genuine household star against an absurdly skilled and versatile performer who has finally worked out how to get over in the WWE system. Anything goes, so the stip should allow for some daft stunts, which is probably better than WWE pretending to care about wrestling. Knoxville lulling Zayn backstage and into a comedically oversized swinging hand prop? Zayn being struck by a tidal wave of water? Or maybe WWE will just be f*cking useless again and do fake electrocution effects.

Still, better than a ***1/4 match that nobody gives a sh*t about.

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!