Wrestlemania 41 Discussion Thread

[Kamran]

It was okay, nothing special, I'm hoping tonight will be better. Someone earlier said it felt like a glorified Raw/Smackdown, which wasn't far off. There wasn't anything that I'd want to re-watch again, other than the Triple H/Bret Hart moment which was great ?

[d-d-d-dAz]

11 minutes ago, RedTwoster said:

Personally, I don’t think it’s illustrative of a lack of connection, it’s just how modern fans behave, for better or worse. 

But that is a lack of connection. If you're happy to cheer a babyface you like being put through a table or whatever because your instinct is to cheer the cool spot over the individual, that is a lack of connection. Equally if your big babyface is crying about his nearly-dead brother and you're basically 'what'ing him, it's a lack of connection.

I think your overall diagnosis is probably correct, that it's just a feature of modern fans for better or worst. But it still is a lack of connection.

Maybe it's not the talents fault, maybe it's just the nature of the industry now with how many big stars there are who don't really play face or heel, the prioritising of big moments and the constant reminders that it's not real even on the programming itself. Maybe a deeper connection just isn't possible.

Edited April 20, 2025 by d-d-d-dAz

[JNLister]

I think my favourite match was GET YOUR WIFI FROM XFINITY against SNICKERS YOU ARENT YOU WHEN YOU'RE HUNGRY where they kicked out of TUNE IN TOMORROW FOR THE PREGAME SHOW after reversing the PAT IS GOING TO BE ON STEPHANIE'S PODCAST into the SUMMERSLAM IS GOING TO BE TWO NIGHTS which the crowd really got into with the big spot where THEY ARE DRESSED AS CHARACTERS FROM CLASH OF CLANS before really clever finish where PRIME HYDRATION STATION because you could really concentrate on the moment and breathe it in with out distraction.

[d-d-d-dAz]

5 minutes ago, JNLister said:

I think my favourite match was GET YOUR WIFI FROM XFINITY against SNICKERS YOU ARENT YOU WHEN YOU'RE HUNGRY where they kicked out of TUNE IN TOMORROW FOR THE PREGAME SHOW after reversing the PAT IS GOING TO BE ON STEPHANIE'S PODCAST into the SUMMERSLAM IS GOING TO BE TWO NIGHTS which the crowd really got into with the big spot where THEY ARE DRESSED AS CHARACTERS FROM CLASH OF CLANS before really clever finish where PRIME HYDRATION STATION because you could really concentrate on the moment and breathe it in with out distraction.

Christ, you just reminded me of the old lady who'd won the 'ultimate fan experience courtesy of Slim Jim' who was dressed up in cheap branded tut and waggling a handful of sausages at Jey Uso as he walked past.

And here's me wondering why modern audiences struggle to make meaningful connections when even World Title matches are reduced to flogging cheap meat.

Edited April 20, 2025 by d-d-d-dAz

[2Xtreme_lives]

5 minutes ago, JNLister said:

I think my favourite match was GET YOUR WIFI FROM XFINITY against SNICKERS YOU ARENT YOU WHEN YOU'RE HUNGRY where they kicked out of TUNE IN TOMORROW FOR THE PREGAME SHOW after reversing the PAT IS GOING TO BE ON STEPHANIE'S PODCAST into the SUMMERSLAM IS GOING TO BE TWO NIGHTS which the crowd really got into with the big spot where THEY ARE DRESSED AS CHARACTERS FROM CLASH OF CLANS before really clever finish where PRIME HYDRATION STATION because you could really concentrate on the moment and breathe it in with out distraction.

Don't forget the Goodyear blimp which is fine each Sunday when we watch NASCAR but so weird for Michael Cole to talk up

[Pinc]

Enjoyed Misawa Air Base. That Charlotte/Tiffany match was a bit strange, no? Not just mistimed spots, but mistimed in unusual ways. I could believe there was some sandbagging going on.

Edited April 20, 2025 by Pinc

[RedTwoster]

1 hour ago, d-d-d-dAz said:

But that is a lack of connection. If you're happy to cheer a babyface you like being put through a table or whatever because your instinct is to cheer the cool spot over the individual, that is a lack of connection. Equally if your big babyface is crying about his nearly-dead brother and you're basically 'what'ing him, it's a lack of connection.

I think your overall diagnosis is probably correct, that it's just a feature of modern fans for better or worst. But it still is a lack of connection.

Maybe it's not the talents fault, maybe it's just the nature of the industry now with how many big stars there are who don't really play face or heel, the prioritising of big moments and the constant reminders that it's not real even on the programming itself. Maybe a deeper connection just isn't possible.

It’s much the same to me as people absolutely buzzing after - for example - a shocking conclusion to Breaking Bad, or the red wedding in Game of Thrones. It’s still reacting with emotion in the moment, it’s just that the emotion in question isn’t always going to be anger, it might be shock or even excitement. I don’t think that’s a huge problem though, as long as the overall story/show is good. 

[d-d-d-dAz]

1 minute ago, RedTwoster said:

It’s much the same to me as people absolutely buzzing after - for example - a shocking conclusion to Breaking Bad, or the red wedding in Game of Thrones. It’s still reacting with emotion in the moment, it’s just that the emotion in question isn’t always going to be anger, it might be shock or even excitement. I don’t think that’s a huge problem though, as long as the overall story/show is good. 

Not for me. I want babyfaces that people will run through walls for.

 

[thatvinylgeek]

WrestleMEHnia

[DavidB6937]

12 minutes ago, thatvinylgeek said:

WrestleMEHnia

You'll go far with insightful and original posts like that.

[garynysmon]

As a 40 year old man who’s come home pissed from the pub half way through Mania, can someone answer me the question if Dominic Mysterio is meant to look like a total berk in a heelish way or is his look one of those ironic things young people aim for these days?

Edited April 21, 2025 by garynysmon

[I Bent My Wookie]

17 minutes ago, garynysmon said:

As a 40 year old man who’s come home pissed from the pub half way through Mania, can someone answer me the question if Dominic Mysterio is meant to look like a total berk in a heelish way or is his look one of those ironic things young people aim for these days?

I want to suggest bit of both.

I know people who look like it in a non ironic way, but he really has gone for the Eddie 90s mullet mustache combo which with his babyface looks ridiculously funny and easy to rip on.

It's his bicep curl that gets me, it's every teenager with their mates in a mirror in a shop trying to look hard.

[mim731]

Might be the tiredness, or the fatigue of watching both nights back to back, but was that main event... a bit shit? Felt super flat. 

[SpiritOfTheForest]

I very, very rarely post in On Topic but I always try and watch the Rumble and Mania and tonight I stayed up to watch Wrestlemania live because I'm not working tomorrow.

What made me want to post about it was that part where the commentators were openly marketing a programme allowing viewers to get inside the "WWE writers' room". Like....what's the point? Here you are, your biggest show of the year and you have just directly, on camera, told the audience that the whole thing's a bust. 

I know I'm a grizzled old warhorse and that modern WWE is no longer for me but I Iost all interest when they stopped even pretending to care about Kayfabe. None of these clowns heard of the concept of suspension of disbelief? I'm definitely with Stone Cold on this one - the smoke-filled arena, one lightbulb over the ring....more my vibes. But I had never seen it so on-the-nose, not even trying to disguise it,  as that "writer's room" pish. 

Speaking of Stone Cold though.....oh my word, best moment of the show. Funnily enough, I was just thinking how I had never seen him or the Undertaker crash their vehicles when driving around ringside when it actually happened. Hugely funny but that lady will probably get a big payday if she's so inclined. 

I was enjoying the main event but I  have absolutely no idea who Trevor Scott is.....I had no idea what was going on or the significance of the conclusion.

Special mention to the women's match that opened the show - that was very well done. Really exciting and they nailed the big spots seamlessly. 

Anyway, same time next year I guess.

[NeverYield]

Yeah, especially after night 2 being so much better than night 1 in every way, the main event definitely fell short.