10 Times WWE Sacrificed WrestleMania For The Greater Good
5. Ending The Undertaker's Streak (WrestleMania XXX)
Many would point to Daniel Bryan’s grand triumph as WrestleMania XXX’s shining moment, with the fan favourite vanquishing Triple H in a stellar opener before meeting Batista and Randy Orton in the night’s main event, scoring his “moment on Bourbon Street” as he finally broke through the glass ceiling to become WWE Champion on the biggest show of the year.
On the other end of the reaction scale is Brock Lesnar defeating The Undertaker, ending his legendary streak in the process. It was, at times, a tough match to watch, but the moment was even tougher. Once the shock subsided, the reaction was one of disgust. Had WWE really given the rub of becoming the first person to ever upset ‘The Deadman’ at ‘The Showcase of the Immortals’ to a money-hungry part-timer?
Yes, they had, and their justification was simple. This was a genuine star-making moment in an era short of them. In besting The Undertaker, Lesnar ascended to special attraction status, transcending traditional roster tiers as his own prestige and credibility were taken to a new level and while the ensuing run has been typically divisive, WWE will see it as a success: Brock remains one of the few wrestlers on their roster still capable of moving the needle and driving ticket sales on his own.