WWE WrestleMania 34: Predicting The Quality Of All 14 Matches

6. Randy Orton Vs. Bobby Roode Vs. Jinder Mahal Vs. Rusev - United States Title Match

Aj Styles Shinsuke Nakamura Wwe
WWE.com

Focusing on the participants doesn't generate much in the way of enthusiasm.

The talented Rusev, per the "rumour and innuendo", is only in there because he requested his release. Bobby Roode is faltering badly as a babyface. His match with Randy Orton at Fastlane was defiantly boring, but not not good - but also not the sort of dynamic that works in a stadium setting. Jinder Mahal is a future trivia question.

Focusing on the stipulation is cause for quiet optimism. A Fatal 4-Way match presents WWE with a murderer's row of dramatic shortcuts designed to elicit excitement, even if the players do not: last-second pinfall break-ups, multiple finisher sequences, stereo finisher sequences, RKOs outta nowhere. None of his challengers tend to take the sky, potentially ruling out the catch variation - though Jinder does perform a second-rope overhead chop, so it's probably for the best.

The epic duration of the show itself practically demands a match both fleeting and frantic. It won't linger long in the memory, but should, if its potential is reached, benefit the card on the whole.

Predicted Star Rating: ***1/2

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!