10 Most Overrated WWE WrestleMania Moments
2. The Rock Wins "Clean" - WrestleMania XXVIII
WWE lore has it that The Rock returned to singles action at WrestleMania XXVIII and defeated John Cena after a thirty minute epic, clean in the middle of the ring.
Many fans revelled in the booking. It didn't matter that a part-time star was the one to dent Cena's invincible armour - it was cathartic enough that his armour had been dented at all. John Cena Wins LOL was the meme. The Rock's win was therapeutic, even more so because it didn't rely on some groan-inducing chicanery. The Cena character was protected to such an extent that it once wheeled out Ted Dibiase Jr's brother to spare him from losing cleanly at SummerSlam 2009.
WrestleMania XXVIII apparently broke the streak - only that wasn't really the case. The Rock didn't so much win as John Cena lost as a result of his own hubris. Cena looked thoroughly unlikeable as he imitated Rock's People's Elbow theatrics. When Rock kipped up to floor Cena with the match-winning Rock Bottom, he hardly resembled a true victor. He rolled over onto his front when the referee struck three, sucking air, soaked in sweat.
His poor cardiovascular conditioning only added to the sense that it was all a fluke - a manipulative method to promote an wanted sequel to what was promoted as a one-off dream scenario.