Why WWE Is Playing A Dangerous Game With WrestleMania 38

by Michael Sidgwick
Seth Rollins Cesaro
WWE.com

Even when WWE was hardly critically acclaimed by the wrestling media a few years back, they still managed to do 'Mania right. The shows were long, but they felt elusive, which is the goal of any pro wrestling promoter, even ones that resent the designation. This year is different. WWE is out of main events, even ones that require no thought beyond the match graphic.

Say WWE books Orton Vs. Riddle, something earned and interesting, and the payoff rewards the investment. What happens then? What happened after Cesaro finally got his "WrestleMania Moment"?

The parallels with 2015 are striking: terrible, poorly-received Rumble sparks creative reshuffle and creates widespread resentment amongst the fandom. This feels different, even more damning: fans were furious then, and they're apathetic now. The big hand, Rousey's return, tanked ratings: 500,000 viewers dropped out before she revealed her WrestleMania opponent, likely because they knew she wouldn't (she didn't). The trust is gone.

The 2015 Royal Rumble also sparked an accelerated decline in TV ratings beyond wider industry trends. When that happened, there was no alternative waiting to scoop them up.

There is now.

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Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick (Creative Writing BA Hons) is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over a decade of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential UK 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 AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and 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!