10 WWE WrestleMania Moments That Meant NOTHING In Hindsight
5. Loss Leader
John Cena was years ahead of his Hollywood 'best' when he sat, disconsolate at the bottom of the ramp as The Rock basked in the glory of his WrestleMania XXVIII victory. It was a loaded and low-lit visual on WWE's 'Grandest Stage', intended to set the tone for 'The Champ's worst career year as he fought and lost to regain his pride en route to an intended rematch with 'The Great One' 12 months later.
WWE had shown remarkable patience in holding off on Rock and Cena's first (and crudely-billed 'Once In A Lifetime') clash having promised it one night removed from WrestleMania XXVII, with a record-setting buyrate bearing out the decision as sound. They'd been reminded of the true value of patience - approximately $67million on pay-per-view alone. It couldn't compete with Vince McMahon's relentless obsession with keeping 'Big Match John'...big.
Only a month removed from his childlike reduction, he was conquering the most ferocious monster in WWE history in his return clash.
Cena's victory over Brock Lesnar didn't harm 'The Beast' as much as his lethargic multi-pay-per-view programme with Triple H, but it put a dagger through a redemptive arc the company desperately tried to craft for their franchise player over the following year. He'd slain a beast and won a Royal Rumble when he escaped a 'slump' to dethrone by then-WWE Champion The Rock at WrestleMania 29. Nearly 200,000 less punters gave a sh*t by then.