10 LIVE Observations From WWE WrestleMania 35

2. A Fairly Disappointing Main Event

Daniel Bryan
WWE.com

In the end, Becky Lynch, through no fault of her own incredible work, did not draw one last further parallel to Stone Cold Steve Austin.

She did receive a big pop, and the crowd supported her at various points throughout the bruising, thoroughly committed main event - but she didn't quite raise the dead like Austin did during that infamous January 4, 1999 RAW taping. It was as if the crowd made a concerted effort to raise the temperature. This was a love derived from respect, not unabashed passion. It was sadly inevitable.

The Daniel Bryan/Kofi Kingston match was a white hot classic held during what was, traditionally, the closing minutes of a pay-per-view. WWE pay-per-views were designed to peak at this hour. They still are, really; the company hasn't reconciled length with reception in the Network Era, and the three women - who entered such full-on performances in a glowing red-cheeked slapper of a match - simply did the job to invited fate.

This sh*t is unsustainable. How will we remember Winner Takes All? For its purportedly botched finish? Its relative lack of heat?

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!