WrestleMania 33 Set Revealed!
The ultimate entrance ramp.
Given its name, wrestling is obviously a pretty important component of WrestleMania, but for many fans anticipation of the in-ring action pales in significance to the truly exciting part of the 'show of shows': the reveal of the always-spectacular set.
And here it is! Predictably - and given the apparently gargantuan production cost, necessarily - WWE's architects have produced something ludicrously extravagant, the words 'subtle' and 'understated' apparently being totally alien to their creative endeavour.
And that's exactly as it should be. Whilst some WrestleMania sets have opted for a more generically-branded 'WWE Superbowl' look, others have leaned heavily on the cultural artefacts of the event's geographic locale, and 33 has went somewhat doolally on the latter option. The Camping World Stadium's set couldn't scream 'Florida' any louder had it been fashioned into a giant orange, the ring emerging from its peel.
There's a massive not-at-all-copyright-infringing globe echoing Universal Studios as the centre-piece, whilst life and limb has been risked to construct two stupendously large palm trees which dually masquerade as amusement rides. To complete the 'Ultimate Thrill Ride' theme WWE may have alluded to once or twice, there's a full-scale rollercoaster looming in the background. It's ominous; is there any chance it doesn't presage Shane McMahon performing a suicidal leap from a moving car?
The outlandish excess doesn't end there. Inexplicably, a second, enormous ring is floating above the actual one, giving welcome rise to fond memories of some of WCW's most preposterous gimmick bouts, and there's a ten-mile long ramp which wouldn't look out of place at Heathrow. Anyone worried about the length of Goldberg vs. Brock Lesnar should have their fears allayed by this over-sized aisle - it guarantees at least another 20 minutes added to every bout.
In short then, it's utterly ridiculous, and as a consequence, utterly brilliant. Almost a shame to spoil it with all that wrestling business...