11 Times WWE Was Better Than Literally EVERYTHING

For longstanding WWE fans, 2025 has revealed itself to be the year that signalled the beginning of the end of a recent improbable (and improbably brilliant) creative boom.

Business is exceptional and in some cases getting even better, but much like the latter days of Vince McMahon, soaring financials haven't obscured the lowering of storyline standards. Unlike the latter days of Vince McMahon though, this milk-and-honey spell doesn't come after years and years of searching for the bottom of the barrel. Quite the opposite in fact - from the moment the former chairman resigned in disgrace for the first time in 2022, changes were noticeable, and by the time he went for good in 2024. the company's television output was wildly different from the senseless drivel that had defined it for nearly two decades. 

Unlike the last commercial boom at the turn of the century, the fall-off hasn't been - and won't be - anywhere near as steep. The foundations laid were stronger, even more characters got over and haven't yet found their ceiling, and 2025 alone has been able to proffer at least one era-defining moment to stack up with the many that will be remembered when history books on this era are re-opened.

WWE used to call itself the "recognised leader in Sports Entertainment". Of late, there have been more than a few times when even harshest critics have been forced to accept that this can still be true...

It took 12 full months for WrestleMania 39 to be validated for its boldness against a tidal wave of criticism rooted in how WWE had consistently hobbled babyfaces in the prior 20 years or so, but when Cody Rhodes got it done in 2024 (more on that elsewhere), the 'Show Of Shows' eclipsed consensus favourite WrestleMania X-Seven in almost every respect.

The two-night format might seem advantageous on paper versus WrestleManias of old, but 2023's bucked the trend of each evening being compared against one another, let alone old editions of the event. Both nights flexed the range of action, styles and stars that had become the calling card of a creatively revitalised WWE, just 24 hours before the full extent of Vince McMahon's hostile takeover and return were revealed as part of the TKO merger that became the latest major checkpoint in the company's history. 

"Cinema" was thrown around as a compliment towards lots of the Bloodline drama, and the Hollywood theme for the LA show was subsequently the perfect setting for the two incredible main events featuring Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn defeating The Usos as the perfect set up for Cody's heartbreaking loss to Roman Reigns. Elsewhere, Gunther, Sheamus and Drew McIntyre continued the restoration of the Intercontinental Championship by having one of the best matches in the history of the event, Charlotte Flair and Rhea Ripley earned identical plaudits for their furiously fought Women's Championship war, "tag team showcase" matches over-delivered for the usual throw-em-all-on-the-card contests, and bouts between Seth Rollins and Logan Paul and especially the Rey Vs Dominik Father Vs Son encounter were the hybrid dream of Sports Entertainment made real and made magic on the company's biggest stage. 

Perhaps most crucially of all was the tone it sought to set. The 2001 edition of the show as, unknowingly or otherwise, the beginning of the end of the commercial and artistic boom. WrestleMania 39 was a celebration that one had just gotten started.