10 Times WWE Sacrificed WrestleMania For The Greater Good

8. Brock Lesnar Defeating Roman Reigns (WrestleMania 34)

Triple H WrestleMania 36
WWE

Everything about the Road to WrestleMania 34 gave the impression that this was to be Roman Reigns’ true coronation. It surely wouldn’t have gone down well, but his entire storyline with Brock Lesnar felt like it a setup to ‘The Big Dog’ slaying ‘The Beast Incarnate,’ taking the WWE Universal Championship, and celebrating as the show went off the air, no matter the crowd reaction.

It felt like the natural conclusion, though there’s no way it would’ve gone down well. As controversial as Lesnar was (and still is), Reigns still hadn’t taken as WWE’s top babyface and yes, much of the vitriol had subsided, but it had been replaced by something worse: apathy. In 2018, fans were so resigned to this fate that they’d given up fighting it. Vince McMahon was going to crown his favourite no matter what.

But he didn’t.

Lesnar bludgeoning his way past Reigns in a maligned main event, then again in Saudi Arabia, with Roman not taking the belt until SummerSlam ‘18. In Vince’s mind, the “greater good” here was likely ensuring that ‘The Show of Shows’ didn’t go off the air to choruses of boos for the second year running, though the sense of “wtf” that greeted Lesnar’s win likely didn’t taste any sweeter.

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.