THIS Is The Greatest Thing WWE Never Did

Hhh Undertaker Hbk Wrestlemania 28
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The monster, record-breaking buy rate 'Mania XXVIII generated is the obvious counterargument, but the rematch was both a return diminished and a promise broken. It was never going to pull in the same number, and it didn't.

This was a deft manoeuvre WWE didn't pivot towards out of craven, unimaginative greed. Peak Super Cena Vs. Peak Streak Undertaker wasn't just a monster of a match; its unbearable stakes would have made it one of the biggest of all time, irrespective of the fact that nobody involved - yet - was a big-time Hollywood actor and dearly missed Attitude Era legend.

If there was but one flaw in the Undertaker's Streak matches, it's that the result was never in real doubt. That 'Taker and Michaels and Triple H especially convinced you otherwise is a testament to the magic of the work in the thrust of it, but in the build, that layer of drama simply wasn't there with the exception, perhaps, of XXVIII, resulting from Triple H's insider perception as a politicking egotist. But the "Is he f*cking going over?" element only really arrived at that spellbinding Sweet Chin Music into the Pedigree sequence.

The storytelling was superb, the aura glowing, the spectacle hugely anticipated, all that. But ironically, the only thing missing from the supernatural icon's greatest achievement was a palpable sense of fear.

CONT'D...(4 of 5)

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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!