10 Fascinating WWE Facts About WrestleMania 34
4. A First For A Former WWE Champion
Not the sort of trivia note that necessarily paints the picture of a well-oiled creative machine, this one tells a story of a different kind for the late Bray Wyatt.
Bray Wyatt was the first star to defend the World Championship at one WrestleMania and fail to be part of the main card despite still being cleared to wrestle and on the roster the following year. The phenomenon had occurred with the likes of Ric Flair, Sycho Sid, Shawn Michaels, Stone Cold Steve Austin and Kurt Angle all being absent 12 months after putting the gold on the line, but injuries or outright exits from the company were the reason for the absences.
The same couldn't be said for the 'Eater Of Worlds', who had lost the WWE Championship to Randy Orton at WrestleMania 33 and made do with a Kickoff Show cameo, aiding former rival Matt Hardy in the Andre The Giant Battle Royal. He missed WrestleMania 35 the following year too, but an overdue return to the 'Show Of Shows' in 2020 resulted in possibly the finest moment of his iconic career. WrestleMania 36's Firefly Funhouse match against John Cena was worth the wait.