2. WRESTLEMANIA XXX
WrestleMania XXX was such an important even for the time in which it took place, that I’m very interested to see where the show ranks in 10-15 years.
The rise of Daniel Bryan to World Champion, defying both the fictional and realistic desires of WWE authority figures was the story of 2014. It was wrestling fan’s personal Boston Tea Party. The story of Bryan winning hinges on its context. If the WWE product weren’t so terrible at the time, if the “powers that be” favored different stars, if CM Punk hadn’t walked out, if the world’s most simple chant never caught on, if Bryan hadn’t lost in 18 seconds – any one of these things being different could have drastically altered history.
When we look back on WrestleMania XXX in a decade, or in two decades, will it be remembered as one of the best shows in WWE history? I think that question lives and dies by the fate of Daniel Bryan. It also hinges on how fondly people remember the Andre the Giant memorial battle royal, if its remembered at all. It will also greatly depend on how much of The Undertaker’s legacy remains intact – will the most shocking moment in WrestleMania history still be shocking in 15 years, or will it be one of those things we have to explain to our kids?
For now it holds the penultimate position on this list.
Detractors will point out that the chaotic Divas match was poor, and The Shield worked a disappointing squash over The Authority (and friends). One of the best matches on the card was relegated to the pre-show, but in a world where the WWE Network exists that hardly matters.
WrestleMania XXX was a PPV that perfectly toyed with the emotions of the audience, like puppets on a string.
