10 Times Outside Factors Totally Changed WWE WrestleMania
6. Advances In Human Evolution (WrestleMania XXIV)
John Cena is, or was, a cyborg.
Defying modern medicine - in the era of the Wellness Policy, can you believe it?! - John Cena rehabilitated his torn-apart pectoral muscle within four months. Doctors had advised him that the process would take between seven months to a year. Cena, however, was an absolute freak in both his physical make-up and his mental determination to work tirelessly for the WWE cause.
He took the idea of being WWE's Ace with the utmost seriousness - if only he'd reflected this more often in his promos, instead of dissing those he probably should have built up as credible challengers - and this manifested as an unprecedented drive. Back to work! Those guys aren't gonna bury themselves!
His return, at the 2008 Royal Rumble pay-per-view, altered plans for the upcoming WrestleMania XXIV pay-per-view. Now, the title of this article specifically states 'Totally Changed'. We are aware of this. Things didn't "totally change" - Cena was merely tacked on to the mooted Triple H Vs. Randy Orton singles match - but any remotely fresh tweak on that Unholy Trinity of 2007-2008 felt like the dawn of a new f*cking era.
This also renders the events of WrestleMania 25 even more morbidly hilarious. WWE in effect "saved" the singles match for a further year, as if it had to be done.
As if another year of anticipation was the way to really put it over the top.