Predicting The Quality Of All 15 WWE WrestleMania 35 Matches

4. Triple H Vs. Batista - No Holds Barred Match

WrestleMania 35 Daniel Bryan Kofi Kingston
WWE.com

Don't let yourself think this isn't going 25 minutes, even if it absolutely under no circumstances should not go 25 minutes.

It's Triple H. Triple H goes 25 minutes on average in median average matches.

Triple H went 24:35 at WrestleMania 25, 29:23 at WrestleMania XXVII, 30:50 at XXVIII, 23:58 at 29, 25:58 at XXX, 18:36 against Sting at 31, 27:11 at 32, and 25:30 at 33. Those matches ranged in quality from the classic to the punishingly dull, and all followed a similar pattern. The ever-present theatrical stalling tends to work (and work incredibly well) only if we give a toss about what is to come next: the Undertaker's Last Ride in defence of his legendary Streak, or the 32nd knee to the gut served up by a thoroughly unmotivated Brock Lesnar.

Give a toss: epic, don't give a toss: pompous, is the shorthand. Worryingly, this match may very well need theatrical stalling so as to allow ring-rusted Batista time to recuperate.

Many critics, in an attempt at impartiality, write things like "Triple H's legacy is complicated..."

If he goes 25 minutes with a gassed-up 50 year-old, as he did against the 54 year-old Undertaker at Super Show-Down, never again will your writer care.

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!