horrorfan_1986

With the final 'Mania in the books of the 2000's (Obviously the first decade), there's one thing that has become tradition for these Wrestlemanias. That being, the main event title match being overshadowed by another match on the card. It gets overshadowed so much that the main event is either forgotten about or worse yet, gets a negative (Or rather lack there of) reaction. In the past decade, we've seen Hogan and The Rock drain the crowd so much that the World title match was dead. The next year, you could take your pick of three matches being a bigger deal than the WWE title match (Vince vs Hogan, Jericho vs Michaels or Rock vs Austin). Two years later, both title matches would bomb in favor of Michaels vs Angle, MITB or Taker vs Orton. A year later, it was Edge vs Mick Foley garnering the most feedback even over a hot crowd for Cena vs Hunter. Just last year, Michaels vs Ric Flair stole the show and will undoubtedly be what people remember from 'Mania in Orlando. Finally, it appears as if Michaels vs Taker will be remembered for years while many hopes to forget about Orton vs Triple H.

Perhaps it's just because I've been watching wrestling for most of the 'Mania "Era", but I'm used to the World title match being what people remember most from any Wrestlemania. When someone mentions Wrestlemania 6, who honestly thinks of Ted DiBiaase vs Jake Roberts? While good, Taker vs Kane isn't what Wrestlemania 14 is remembered for. Even I have a difficult time in remembering what else was on Wrestlemania 12, outside of the Iron Man Match. For better (Hogan vs Warrior) or for worse (Hogan vs Yokozuna), the World title matches used to be what a 'Mania was remembered for rather than the midcard matches. (WM X and 13 are rare exceptions to this).

Is the problem that the title is around the wrong people's waists? If The Undertaker and Michaels are going to steal the show, it might as well be for a title. Or is it rather that the wrong people are in the main event when they just can't delivered quality wise or star wise?

Perhaps I'm the only one who sees this as a problem?

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Rated RKO Yuri

Orton/HHH was a shocker. Principally because Orton was actually carrying HHH and HHH buried him. So this year Taker/HBK stole the show so much because nothing else lived up to anything near it.

If we look back, yes everyone remembers HBK/Flair, but Edge/Taker is still remembered. The year before, it was Cena/HBK main event, but I can't remember that PPV having a stand out match. None did to me.

Wrestlemania 22, Cena/HHH main event, doesn't go over. The other was a joke of a Triple Threat between Rey/Orton/Angle, and Edge/Foley was good, but it was a bad PPV.

Wrestlemania 21-Orton/Taker and HBK/Angle stole the show. Batista/HHH gets remembered, but again its HHH, and JBL/Cena was almost a filler, unremarkable.

Wrestlemania 20-The World Title main event stole the show for me, my favourite WM main event, so its probably the first 1 id say the title match stole the show.

The problem is nearly all Mania title main events involve HHH. Therefore people can care less, especially when he buries a credible opponent.

Tommy Platinum

Yes, it is somewhat troubling, because as much as the other matches should seem huge at Wrestlemania, the World Title is the World Title, and the Wrestlemania main event is the Wrestlemania main event. It should always be put over as the biggest match and they should always aim to make it the best match. I blame the brand extension partly, as World Title matches in general just don't mean as much anymore. I would have made HBK vs Taker the main event last night simply because it was guaranteed to get a good crowd reaction and was pretty much guaranteed to be Match of the Night, two things Triple H is incapable of achieving.

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Mark Bradford

In a way it helps and damages the event.

it's damaging as it tires the crowd out and places less emphasis on the main event. however it does help the event as it gives the rest of the card that reason to try and put on the best match possible to try and steal the show, a bit of healthy competition never hurt anyone surely?

King Steventon

Maybe I read this wrong or I missed the point, but you are basically saying you think it's bad people remember the great semi-main events rather than the title matches?

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horrorfan_1986

Well...yes. There's a reason why the title match is booked in the main event. That's the match that was supposed to draw the fans in and be the top match of the night. In essence, there's no reason in having the title match in the main event if the crowd is going to be so deflated after a great match in the middle of the crowd. A proper card will have everything building up to the main event. However, in recent years, the buildup has been midway through. It's kind of pointless to have anything afterward seeing how the fans got that pop moment.

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Bigpapa42

I think a big part of it is the booking. Even with the heavy focus on the family storyline, Orton and Triple H is still match that's been done many times before. The Cena-Edge-Big Show match seemed rather random, even with the storyline set up. Both had very predictable results.

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RaiZ-R

I can see what you mean Jim, and it is a little troubling. I don't want to simple Triple H bash here, but the point has already been made that over the course of this decade most of the main events at Mania have featured him, and he very rarely delivers. Last night being a prime example of his inability to allow anyone else look good at his own expence. You'll note that all the matches that you mentioned as the stand outs on the shows were filled with back and fourth action. Give and take from both (or all) performers involved. It's a simple fact that watching someone get buried in the main event is not enjoyable, or good business for that matter.

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