2) “What is the most underwhelming thing about WrestleMania for you this year?”
MANGO: This is the event with the spectacle. This is the one that matters more than any other. It’s where careers can be made and people have worked all year long to get to that point. We’re not getting ANY of that. No battle royals. No pyro or fun set. No passionate fans. I would have had issues with this even if it were happening at Raymond James Stadium, as some of the matches are underwhelming, but even then, it wouldn’t have been depressing like it’s going to be with this situation going on. The most underwhelming thing is that nothing will feel right no matter how great the booking is.
MITCHELL: The underwhelming thing isn’t so much what’s on the Mania card as the unfortunate circumstances forcing it to be two nights, because I’m just not sure how that’s going to feel.
ABSLER: The most underwhelming thing about Wrestlemania this year for me is that there will be no fans. The live crowd is arguably the most important part of a wrestling show and I believe a show can only be so good without one. In addition, the show has been spread out to two days, both of which have been pre-taped! Not having Wrestlemania live is a huge blow to the show in my opinion.
JAY: Where to begin. The overstuffed 2-night card when the E can’t even book one good night of matches? Goldberg & Undertaker still garnering prominent spots when it’s clear neither should be wrestling? Not one but TWO dookie gimmick matches? The fact that they continue to jeopardize the health of their staff and superstars by even having this event?
STAPLE: The card itself looks pretty good, but the underwhelming part for me is the extenuating circumstances that WWE has no control over. Seeing potential moments like Drew McIntyre winning the WWE Championship or Edge’s first singles match back happening in front of no one is just deflating.
COOK: No crowd. Simple. Obvious. If there’s one thing we’ve found out over the last few weeks, it’s that wrestling just isn’t the same without an audience. As much as we like to complain about dead crowds, or crowds doing stupid stuff, it’d be better to have that than nothing at all, which is what we’ll get until further notice. The shows leading into WM this year have been lacking of any sort of vibe whatsoever. It all feels soulless. That’s not going to change with WrestleMania graphics.
SCAFIDE: Honestly, you might think the no crowd and having the event in a small studio. But nope, more than anything, it’s the lack of depth in storylines for each of the matches. I understand this is the new norm for PPV cards, but why should WrestleMania be the same? Why only have a put together match with 2-3 weeks build? Where are the 6 months of feuding of the past? By the start of the Royal Rumble there were maybe 1 or 2 matches being talked about and stuck. After the Royal Rumble, another 1 or 2. But it really wasn’t until last month when we got to learn of most of these feuds. I remember WrestleMania 5 when you knew the build for Hogan v Savage was around an entire year’s worth of antics. Anyway, I’m off the rails. To me, the card is just lackluster.
