10 Things We Learned Attending WWE WrestleMania 40 Live

6. The Perfect Formula

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WWE

Becky Lynch vs. Rhea Ripley was a great wrestling match made more impressive with the knowledge that Lynch was struggling with strep throat and a high temperature in the Women's World Championship bout. It was an effective Saturday opener between two big stars - and certainly befitting of the spot.

But Sunday's opening sequence was perfect.

Post-Stephanie McMahon return, Drew McIntyre and Seth Rollins delivered a breathless, blistering World Heavyweight Championship bomb-fest. A flurry of finishes and kickouts and drama and chaos and adrenaline, it was a furious, frenzied head-rush of a match, layering pops on top of pops on top of pops - and this only continued with the post-match.

McIntyre's arrogant goading of CM Punk opened the door for Damian Priest's successful Money in the Bank cash-in. This chain of events wasn't just compelling from a narrative standpoint (Punk vs. McIntyre already feels massive, and Priest deserves his new strap), but also in terms of how it manipulated the WrestleMania 40 audience with its masterful sequencing.

This should be the new blueprint for WrestleMania opening acts. Colossal, planet-shifting developments, hot action, and bad blood.

- AM

Channel Manager
Channel Manager

Andy has been with WhatCulture for eight years and is currently WhatCulture's Wrestling Channel Manager. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.