This retrospective look at WrestleMania has otherwise avoided pre-shows, but 2015's WrestleMania Kickoff offered something entirely different. And it had to start somewhere. It had to start sometime. What better place than there. What better place than then?
"We about to get so filthy, we need to take a shower. And you got to feel the power!" was Big E's only opening salvo as the trio entered third to minimal response as the commentators literally talked about the weather instead. The New Day gimmick was barely six months old at this point, bu the only reaction they were experiencing was one of irritated negativity.
It wasn't by accident.
Kofi Kingston, Big E and Xavier Woods had gone so full on with the "Power Of Positivity" patter that the audience grew to loath it. "New Day Sucks!" chants grew more pronounced as the match fell apart, but the trio had already achieved their stated aim - it was better to finally be over, than good.
Michael is a writer, editor, podcaster and presenter for WhatCulture Wrestling, and has been with the organisation nearly 8 years. He primarily produces written, audio and video content on WWE and AEW, but also provides knowledge and insights on all aspects of the wrestling industry thanks to a passion for it dating back over 35 years. As one third of "The Dadley Boyz" Michael has contributed to the huge rise in popularity of the WhatCulture Wrestling Podcast and its accompanying YouTube channel, earning it top spot in the UK's wrestling podcast charts with well over 62,000,000 total downloads. He has been featured as a wrestling analyst for the Tampa Bay Times, GRAPPL, GCP, Poisonrana and Sports Guys Talking Wrestling, and has covered milestone events in New York, Dallas, Las Vegas, Philadelphia, London and Cardiff. Michael's background in media stretches beyond wrestling coverage, with a degree in Journalism from the University Of Sunderland (2:1) and a series of published articles in sports, music and culture magazines The Crack, A Love Supreme and Pilot. When not offering his voice up for daily wrestling podcasts, he can be found losing it singing far too loud watching his favourite bands play live. Follow him on X/Twitter - @MichaelHamflett
