10 Ways DDT Did WWE Better Than WWE At WrestleMania 35 Weekend

1. The Unexpected

DDT Coming To America
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Sometimes, the most predictable outcome is the right outcome. WrestleMania 35 is a prime example. Victories for Becky Lynch, Kofi Kingston, and Seth Rollins were telegraphed well in advance, but each outcome felt natural and earned, and their triumphs saved WrestleMania 35 from long-winded tedium.

While WWE told the right stories with these outcomes, their ability to deliver the unexpected isn't as sharp. More often than not, the company's "shocking" developments leave the crowd disappointed, let-down, and calling for refunds, and while there are exceptions (see: Daniel Bryan's 2018 turn on AJ Styles), most WWE twists feel cheap and unwarranted.

Coming To America shows that DDT is different. Tetsuya Endo's cash-in was as out of the blue as the Daisuke Sasaki KO-D Openweight Title win that preceded it, yet they both felt right. The five-minute period in which they both went down had La Boom enraptured. Similarly, the surprise Ironman Heavymetalweight Scramble that closed the night had everyone howling.

Sports Entertainment's ability to deliver gratifying surprised was greatly hampered by Vince Russo's awful WCW swerves in the '90s. Elsewhere in the sport, it is alive and well.

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.