Why WWE Is Playing A Dangerous Game With WrestleMania 38
Every potential outcome is bad, nonsensical, or both. Seth Rollins could take a pin, rendering the f*ck finish at the Rumble even more pointless. Or he wins, weakening Brock Lesnar and handing him his third loss since returning at SummerSlam. Bobby Lashley could retain, which compounds the idea that WWE has booked itself into a corner, or Brock wins another multi-man match at the expense of the entire main event crew, the optics of which are as damning as they are unnecessary.
Whichever way Roman Reigns Vs. Brock Lesnar goes - Universal Title, Title For Title, Paul Heyman In A Shark Cage - it's still something that has already happened in October. Steve Austin and the Rock never headlined No Mercy. Their three-match 'Mania series was special. Also the WWF didn't willingly propagandise brutal dictatorships back then.
Even before Shane's shocking departure and Ronda's dud of a return, the WrestleMania 38 card, any projected configuration of it, felt cold, bereft of star power and buzz.
What's left? Edge Vs. AJ Styles in a "we respect each other match"? Styles can hardly call himself Edge's equal with much credibility at present, since Madcap Moss dumped him from the Rumble match, and both men are a combined 92 years of age. It's an excellent prospect, but hardly a forward-thinking one. The issue is that Edge Vs. Anybody A Bit Younger And Less Overexposed is unlikely, since WWE has failed resoundingly to push anybody a bit younger and less overexposed. AJ Styles Vs. Anybody A Bit Younger And Less Overexposed meanwhile is just every RAW match he works in 2022. Styles should be in the Edge role at this point, but has been badly normalised. Edge isn't remotely a TV draw, either.
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