11 Times WWE Was Better Than Literally EVERYTHING
1. Cody Rhodes Finishes The Story
Cody Rhodes becoming WWE Champion was so much more than the babyface triumphing on the company's 'Grandest Stage'.
For the duration of the weekend in Philadelphia, Triple H had heavily pushed a "new era" narrative, without particularly explaining why the 'Show Of Shows' was the dividing line between the past and future. He couldn't of course - the specific reason was that this WrestleMania was the first one that had absolutely nothing to do with a Vince McMahon that, as of that January, had resigned in disgrace for good. But in the 'American Nightmare', he also had his champion ready to bring Roman Reigns' historic near-four year run to a conclusion, and a storyline that resonated just as much with those that had locked back in to WWE.
Rhodes losing the year before felt like the market leader yet again failing to shift the troll mentality that had permeated for much of the prior two decades, but the fan service was thankfully delayed rather than outright denied. Rhodes's reputation had survived 12 months thanks to his own durability and genius, and even the return of The Rock wasn't enough of a plate-shift to interrupt the rightful outcome.
The "Avengers" finish - heroes of growing historic stature returned to take out Roman's dominant Bloodline colleagues one by one - found its apex, and Rhodes being held aloft by the locker room was a nice but important throwback to the babyface crownings of old.