10 Things You Only Learn Attending WWE WrestleMania Live

6. Triple H Probably Needs To Retire

KOFI WRESTLEMANIA
WWE.com

The whole WWE should bring back pyro thing isn't just a meme, or a pithy fan complaint.

Fireworks, and this seems so childish, really do add to the presentation. Or perhaps that should read as childlike, because what else is WrestleMania for, other than an opportunity to harken back to your inner child and marvel at simplistic conflicts played out in front of big, vivid colours?

The complexion of WrestleMania has changed in recent years, perhaps inextricably linked to its marathon duration. What gets over huge at WrestleMania now is literal and figurative explosions: the stiff, rapid-fire barrage Ronda Rousey aimed at Triple H; the surging, blink-and-you'll-miss-it sprint drama of Goldberg Vs. Brock Lesnar; the urgent, in media res brilliance of Lesnar Vs. Seth Rollins; the relentless submission applications and spirited escapes in Daniel Bryan Vs. Kofi Kingston...

It is a stage that has outgrown the old ways; that famed Hulk Hogan Vs. Ultimate Warrior test of strength would only compel fans to check the time on their phones. It is a stage that has outgrown also Triple H's epic, theatrical stalling. This stuff used to mirror how much we savoured every last second of 'Mania, and how much meaning we applied to everything.

Now, as the funereal silence attests, Triple H's mandated big match is far too slow for too long a card.

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!