10 WWE WrestleMania Myths EXPOSED

5. It Is Every Wrestler's Dream To Headline The Show

CM Punk
AEW

The myth:

WrestleMania is the pinnacle of pro wrestling, and as such, it is the dream of every pro wrestler to headline the show. You shouldn't even be in thisbusiness if it isn't.

The myth exposed:

This take is freezing over. What was always a myth that didn't make concessions to pro wrestlers beyond the U.S. has now, as a result of the changing complexion of the North American scene, been exposed as such.

WrestleMania is clearly the most well-known wrestling show in North America. It is part of the world's lexicon. It is an enduring, global cultural institution. But it is not cemented as the be-all and end-all, though it felt like that for a time. No longer; what used to represent the biggest payday for the independent contractor did mutate into the ultimate destination for the millennial fan-turned-wrestler, raised on WWE in the near-total absence of viable competition.

That competition has since surfaced, in the form of AEW, and several of their popular drawing acts no longer hold that dream, if they ever did. Kenny Omega dreamed of the Tokyo Dome in the remote Canadian wilderness. The Young Bucks decided WWE wasn't for them twice; once after a late 2000s tryout, once after a fateful phone conversation with Tony Khan. They were offered an outrageous sum of money and unprecedented creative control to sign. They did not.

Jon Moxley was also offered a sum of money so vast that he didn't allow himself to open the offer. He might have been able to seek written assurances of the 'Mania headline slot, WWE was so set on retaining him.

He wasn't interested.

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Contributor
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Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!