Exposing The Modern Myth About WWE WrestleMania

WrestleMania - for all its majesty and pageantry - was surplus to requirements full stop when it came to one of the best and most carefully crafted WWE storylines in forever. Weeks later, the final battle between the two drew SmackDown's best rating of the year too.

For more than how it benefitted Hell In A Cell and WWE's billion dollar relationship with Fox, holding back on the big one between Bayley and Sasha Banks might have sealed the feud in WrestleMania lore, but now it existed with a lore unto itself. The proper kind too, not the sort people use to try and tie together six mindless Fiend promos.

Waiting would have been wasteful, because no matter what we think of WrestleMania, WWE themselves will always be leaning on the likes of Shane McMahon Vs Braun Strowman instead. There was no giant (or two-night) card for the match to get lost in the shuffle, or fall victim to audience exhaustion, or lose time because Triple H's motorbike entrance needs prepping.

WWE relies on mythology to sell the magnitude of WrestleMania, whilst obscuring the myth that it's the be-all end-all in the modern age. Sasha Banks and Bayley's story will be studied in years to come by those looking to replicate its refinery. Meanwhile, McMahon and Strowman's rivalry will be confined to the bin regardless of the height of Shane's fall on the night.

The only time McMahon approaches "down to earth" is midway through one of those insane stunts, and it always ends with a thud. It's not new, it's not fresh and crucially, it's not creative, but it is what WrestleMania stands for in the Network/Peacock era. By all means root for your favourites to get their big night on the big stage, but stop to enjoy the stuff along the way if they're doing it well - those are the real Moments™ that'll live forever, with or without the corporate branding.