50 Things You Learn Binge-Watching Every WWE WrestleMania

Switch on any WWF broadcast in 1995 and you'd be smacked around the ears with claims that this was the "New Generation". That was true during WrestleMania XI season too. The promotion's announcers told fans that they'd see some of the most dynamic, fresh wrestling action on television. The WWF's entire branding strategy centred itself around being a hip and happening youth movement no-one could afford to miss.

Eh, not so fast. Upon closer inspection, this was marketing speak without anything tangible to reflect it. 'Mania XI featured such young up and comers as King Kong Bundy, Bob Backlund and even a non-wrestler like NFL player Lawrence Taylor in the main event. He was great, but was he part of the emerging generation who'd light up fed TV for years to come? Hardly.

This fan will argue all day long about the genius of "dumb" decisions like putting the WWF Title on Backlund in late-'94, but it was always going to be shortlived. It had to be if the "New Generation" brag was going to have any longer term value. The group couldn't lambast WCW for being a seniors tour whilst promoting pretty much the same thing (with lesser stars) on their channel, could they?

Also, for what it’s worth, The Allied Powers vs. The Blu Brothers was a weird choice to open with. 'Mania XI comes across as just any old WWF show, and even drops to 'B' pay-per-view levels a few times, throughout. There's something quaintly charming about this admittedly crummy and low rent era, but the 'New Generation' lie sticks out like a sore thumb the most.