My Monday column for the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review is my reaction to WrestleMania 32. Here’s an excerpt:
ARLINGTON, Texas — I thought a low bar had been set for WrestleMania 32 which would make it easy for WWE to jump over that bar. I was wrong.
The show started hot with the Intercontinental title ladder match which was the perfect choice to open the show. It was very entertaining and, in a huge swerve, Zack Ryder was the winner. Ryder wasn’t even supposed to be in the match, but when Neville got hurt weeks ago, the Long Island veteran got his opportunity. Ryder’s a deserving guy, but I wouldn’t be shocked if that WrestleMania moment and accomplishment are the peak and he drops the title on Monday Night Raw to a new heel.
I think Baron Corbin, who was the surprise winner of the Andre The Giant battle royal, would greatly benefit from the heat he would obtain by making Ryder a 24-hour champion.
The Divas title was also eliminated and the Women’s Championship was introduced, which was a good decision given the state of the female performers in WWE. I wasn’t surprised by this, as over a week ago on Twitter I hinted that I thought this could happen. I thought it would happen the night after WrestleMania, but doing it on the big show certainly gives it more prestige.
Charlotte won the triple threat match to my surprise, as I thought Sasha Banks was the favorite, but really there isn’t a bad choice in any of the three women.
After the women, the battle royal and the ladder match, the pessimistic side of my viewing really started to kick in.
Brock Lesnar versus Dean Ambrose disappointed me. This match was what I was most looking forward to given the nature of the build and the expectation of violence. The match ended and I felt very underwhelmed.
Shane McMahon versus The Undertaker was not a bad match. We got the entrances. We got the big spot off the top of the cage. We got the emotion. All that being said, it ends with me wondering what was the point? It’s not often a babyface like Shane McMahon returns and has gaining control of the company as a stipulation and loses. It feels like Shane was there to fill a role in as big of a bells-and-whistles match as they could find for The Undertaker that was shocking given the injuries to top guys like John Cena.
CLICK HERE for reaction to Roman Reigns, John Cena’s future, the attendance and more.
