The Complete A-Z Of WrestleMania
12. O - Once In A Lifetime
A pre-planned three-year programme is unheard of in the modern era, but WWE were able to show patience as a 2011 return to the company from The Rock kickstarted a trifecta of WrestleManias built around 'The Great One' and John Cena.
Involving himself to Cena's detriment in his WrestleMania 27 WWE Title Match against The Miz, the two booked their own main event the following night on Raw, agreeing to fight one year later.
The idea was incredibly sharp, in that Rock's sporadic appearances could always be targeted towards the eventual showdown, and Cena could spend a year on the roster eagerly awaiting his WrestleMania blockbuster. Financially the 'Once in a Lifetime' match was a smash hit, with WrestleMania 28 drawing the biggest butyrate in event and company history.
12 months of anticipation had served its purpose, with the clash of eras feeling a worthy enough battle to justify such grandiose treatment.
Victory for The Rock also set the company away with another long-term story, as Cena would have (by his own admission, anyway) a poor year following he defeat.
Rather cynically, the company subsequently presented the supposed one-off match again the next year, with Cena avenging his loss and unseating new WWE Champion The Rock to close WrestleMania 29.