10 Times Outside Factors Totally Changed WWE WrestleMania

5. Film Awards Bodies (WrestleMania XXIV)

SADAM Wrestlemania VII Speech
Fox Searchlight

In which everyone lost.

Pro wrestling is largely considered an abomination of the arts by those who who operate within more "respectable" circles. It is absurd and fake and pitched exclusively to idiots...

...which is precisely why Darren Aronofsky's The Wrestler (2008) struck such a chord with critics. A moving portrait of modern Americana framed through a lens the arts crowd did not have to lower themselves to view, they praised its depiction of harrowing industry and the grim fates of those who broke themselves in pursuit of it. Impeccably stunt cast - his reconstructed face reflected the multiple lifetimes wrestlers of that era had endured - Mikey Rourke was nominated and tipped for the Best Actor Academy Award.

His flirtation with WWE, that was to be consummated with a match against Chris Jericho, allegedly turned off the Academy - and certainly Rourke's people, who warned him against the gig. Ultimately, everybody lost; the match didn't happen, Rourke didn't win, and we were subjected instead to the decrepit work of Roddy Piper and Jimmy Snuka in a bizarre three-on-one handicap undercard offering.

Happily, a survivor of that era, and an all-time great, Ricky Steamboat rolled back the years with an unexpectedly phenomenal performance in which he timed everything to babyface comeback perfection.

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!