10 Times The Past Screwed WWE's Present
8. The Attitude Era Dominates (WrestleMania 32)
A few years from now, we’ll likely come to remember WrestleMania 32 as one of the weakest 'Manias of all-time. Headlined by a horrendous Roman Reigns vs. Triple H match, the show struggled to get out of second gear, and produced only a handful of enjoyable matches. Some of the night’s worst offences didn’t come from full-time performers, however, but from veterans brought back for cheap nostalgia pops.
The League of Nations defeated Tag Team Champions The New Day at the event, but their celebrations were short-lived. Mick Foley, Shawn Michaels, and Steve Austin appeared in the immediate aftermath, hit the League with their finishers, then left to a big pop.
The worst was yet to come, however. Later on, The Rock came out with a flamethrower, set a pathetically small “Rock” sign on fire, then took what felt like an hour to announce the night’s attendance. He was interrupted by the Wyatt Family, and after a spot of verbal jousting, he defeated Erick Rowan in six seconds - the shortest match in WrestleMania history.
An epic set of burials on the biggest show of the year, with nostalgia serving as a convenient excuse. There should always be a place for legends like Austin and The Rock on these cards, but there’s no need for them to be draining heat from currently active stars, particularly those who were already struggling for momentum in the first place.