15 Greatest Match Finishes In Modern Wrestling History
8. Roman Reigns Vs. Cody Rhodes - WWE WrestleMania 40
The following mild critique ultimately does not matter, is pedantic, but it's worth pointing out. The finish to the WrestleMania 40 Sunday main event was not perfect. There was a strange quality that was a bit distracting.
The general idea was outstanding for multiple reasons. By orchestrating such a frenzied spectacle of huge name run-ins, WWE guaranteed several deafening pops so euphoric that the fans in the stadium no-sold the freezing cold. This 'Avengers Moment' enhanced the drama of what was already a great, big time-feeling match (even if the body of it wasn't quite as superb as the WrestleMania 39 original). This wave upon wave of drama, in addition to being hugely effective in and of itself, also functioned as a flex. This was WWE showing off and backing it up: the white-hot promotion had told several compelling interconnected stories throughout what was christened on the night as 'The Paul Levesque Era', and Levesque wanted to make damn sure you'd remember and cherish them.
The nostalgic returns - John Cena and the Undertaker interacted with the Final Boss - also allowed fans to remember WWE history fondly. It was important, post-Vince, to reframe everything in a way that didn't serve as a bleak reminder of those times.
It was weird, though. Seth Rollins looked like a geek by not getting any offence in whatsoever; he could have played Cody's "Shield" after a defiant showing. The fact that he got his hair dyed special was a bit contrived, lame, and on-the-nose. Also, when the old faction music hit, many fans in the arena half-hoped for the impossible return of Dean Ambrose. And what was the Undertaker doing there, confronting the Rock?
The only answer to that question was: "Steve Austin wasn't up to doing it".
Still: this was a special and yes "epic" moment, elevated by the fact that, by part-creating AEW and rejuvenating an artistically dead WWE, nobody deserved it more than Cody Rhodes.