One MIND-BLOWING Secret From EVERY WWE WrestleMania

12. WrestleMania 30 | The Least Inspiring Match Ever Was Thankfully Trashed (No, Not That One)

The Big Show Stephanie McMahon
WWE

About six years ago, long before he returned to WWE, CM Punk shared the original WrestleMania 30 line-up. Considering that Punk has occupied much more in the way of our collective mental real estate upon returning to wrestling, it’s a barely-remembered Instagram post now. Here’s a reminder.

On WWE letterhead, the planned main event was indeed Randy Orton Vs. Batista. Underneath, Triple H Vs. CM Punk was scheduled to be one of two semi-main attractions, and true to form, it likely would have been the longest match on the show. Neither match ended up happening. Punk’s acrimonious and abrupt departure, and the backlash directed at the returning, part-time Batista, prompted a shockingly hardcore fan-friendly reshuffle. It’s grimly ironic, though, that Triple H’s need for a great match might have informed the decision-making process as much as anything else. 

Before WWE felt there was no other choice but to avoid a vocal en masse rejection, and positioned Daniel Bryan in the main event mini-tournament, the “B+ player” was scheduled to wrestle a B+ level midcard attraction against Sheamus. If you thought Batista Vs. Orton was uninspiring, one, mercifully scrapped midcard match was scarcely believable: Kane Vs. the Big Show. What?!

This makes a bit of sense - Corporate Kane had joined the Authority; the Authority had targeted Big Show - but wasn’t the point of the Authority storyline some sort of meta attempt to get hardcore fan favourites over? Weren’t the over-pushed ancient office go-to wrestlers meant to be the heels? Wasn’t the Authority meant to act as a gateway to meaningful, overdue change? Isn’t Kane Vs. the Big Show the complete inverse of all of that?

Also, the Shield break-up was meant to unfold earlier, which tracks with the televised teases: Roman Reigns was meant to battle Dean Ambrose for the United States title in New Orleans. 

Only two firm January plans remained unchanged: John Cena Vs. Bray Wyatt, and the Undertaker Vs. Brock Lesnar.

Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!