How WWE WrestleMania 35 MUST End

Roman Reigns is the unfortunately obvious common denominator here, but as was often the case with his push, the show-closing disdain was less about the man than the McMahon behind the man. Vince clung tightly to 'The Big Dog's lead for several years in the face of relentless bile from his own Universe, for reasons both rational and rash.

By all the usual accounts, the former Shield member was a powerhouse at the merch table and house show box office. WWE bin off these metrics when it doesn't suit their narrative, but it did here - Roman still extracted cash from pockets in an era where few others do, and McMahon followed the money at the expense of his television product.

He didn't change his ways though - he just got better at coping with them. Roman's SummerSlam 2018 Universal Title victory was shot from the lowest possible angle as the broadcast raced off the air. A sea of fans couldn't be seen behind Reigns - merely rows and rows spotlights McMahon had constantly forced upon him.

Ironically, the pop that would greet Roman's once-infamous theme now would be loud enough to shatter the glass in those very beams. Real life - awful, unfair real life - has made some different decisions on Roman's fate. The Chairman can't destroy the end of his biggest show anymore, but why persistently aim that low? The company got on the Road To WrestleMania with an earnest imperfection at the Royal Rumble, but it had little to do with latest babyface-by-proxy Seth Rollins.

2019 could be the first time in a decade where the destination finally outperforms the journey. It only asks that Vince McMahon, in his advancing years, show more brains than guts.

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