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35 years ago, what was then called the World Wrestling Federation decided to do the impossible. They wanted to take pro wrestling out of the small arenas, fairgrounds, and bingo halls and make it much, much bigger. No longer content with being niche entertainment, the WWF's CEO Vince McMahon set his sights on making professional wrestling mainstream.
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Thanks to an aggressive marketing campaign which included a partnership with what was then a new cable network--MTV--Vince created something called the Rock n Wrestling connection. He believed that the outlaw vibe in the music industry would mesh well with the unconventional and at times crazy world of professional wrestling.
The result was a highly rated event televised on MTV called "The War to Settle the Score." Cyndi Lauper and Mr T, both major 1980s icons, were also written into the plot which saw Rowdy Roddy Piper challenge Hulk Hogan for his WWF World Heavyweight championship.
After generating a great deal of media interest with the MTV event, Vince McMahon went one step further and created Wrestlemania, which he intended to be the 'Woodstock' of pro wrestling. The ambitious plan was not the first wrestling pay per view--that honour goes to the NWA's Starrcade--and was not even the WWF's first foray into cable special events. The Wrestling Classic featured a tournament and is WWF's first official PPV.
What made Wrestlemania unique was not that it was a wrestling event on cable, but that it would have a 'big event feel' akin to the Oscars or the Grammys. Celebrities of all types, from the music and film industry, would be brought in to further lend their prestige to the event.
As history tells it, the first Wrestlemania was a huge success. In fact, it was so successful that they did it again...and again the following year, until it became a tradition.
Fast forward to 2019, and Wrestlemania has become the gold standard for prestige, pageantry, and sports entertainment. Every wrestler dreams of one day walking through the curtain into a Wrestlemania arena.
With Wrestlemania 35 coming up shortly, fans are salivating in anticipation of the event's card, which hasn't even been officially set. Here are ten things fans are hoping to see at Wrestlemania 35.
#1.The Return of Dave Batista
Batista is a former WWE World champion and a living legend in the sport. His forays into cinema have yielded two of the best received Marvel movies to date, namely the Guardians of the Galaxy parts one and two. His fame may have made him a household name, but many pro wrestling fans feel as if he 'belongs' to them first.
Batista's return was teased during the Smackdown anniversary celebration, where Evolution reunited in the ring. Batista pointed out to Evolution leader Triple H that the cerebral assassin had never pinned the Animal's shoulders to the mat.
Their tense staredown ended in a hug, but given the lingering resentment a man with Triple H's ego no doubt feels, he could goad Batista into an in-ring return. Fans are hoping fervently to see Drax the Destroyer in the ring once more.
#2. Another title win for Nicholas
Let's take a moment and recognize how unlikely of a babyface Braun Strowman is. His huge, menacing appearance, gravel voice, and 'catch these hands' trademark phrase are all designed to intimidate, if not strike sheer terror into people.
But Braun did turn babyface, and last year at Wrestlemania 34 he was set to face the WWE Raw tag team champions with a mystery partner. While speculation ran rampant about which WWE legend or current superstar might fulfil that role, Braun threw everyone for a loop and selected a kid from the arena as his chosen partner.
Nicholas seemed overwhelmed by the opportunity, and his soft-spoken and gentle nature endeared him to the WWE Universe. Many of the fans were no doubt living out their fantasy vicariously through Nicholas. Who didn't want to be a wrestling champion when they were that age?
Many fans are hoping that Nicholas will return in some capacity, and perhaps even capture gold once more.
#3. A Demon King's rise
With all respect to Finn Balor, who is perhaps one of the most athletic, technically sound, and entertaining wrestlers in the WWE, fans were let down by his appearance at last year's Wrestlemania 34.
What fans are really hoping for is the Wrestlemania debut of the Demon King character, Balor's silent but deadly dark gothic monster who seems downright invincible at times.
Many superstars have an extra special entrance for Wrestlemania, such as Shawn Michaels sliding down a zip line at Wrestlemania 10. Fans are dying to see what Balor and the WWE come up with to add that extra bit of zest to the Demon King's entrance. Of course, once the music dies down and the bell rings, Balor is still one of the best ring generals in the sport today, so the match will not disappoint.
Fans are hoping to see the Demon King at Wrestlemania 35, and their wish might just be granted given that Balor is set to receive a massive push.
#4. Brock Lesnar vs. Bobby Lashley
King Kong vs. Godzilla. Captain Marvel vs. Thanos. Rocky Balboa vs. Drago. Fans just love to see two titans fight it out to see who is the most epic of all.
Bobby Lashley and Brock Lesnar share many similarities. Both were college wrestling standouts, bonafide All American athletes who dominated with a combination of sheer brute strength and precise technique.
Both men were also world champions in the world of pro wrestling, with Lesnar having multiple runs with WWE's various big belt iterations and Lashley being a multi-time TNA World heavyweight champion.
Then there's the fact that both men competed in MMA--though to be fair, Lashley did not compete on the same level as Brock Lesnar. Oddly, they have never faced each other in any type of contest, in pro wrestling or elsewhere. Fans would love to see these two uncaged animals slug it out to see who is the dominant alpha male.
#5. Big Match John in a big match
We'll just come out and say it; It just doesn't feel like Wrestlemania without Big Match John on the card.
While things don't always turn out well for him--like last year, when The Undertaker basically scraped Cena off his boot--having John Cena at an event just makes it feel a little more special.
After all, he's the man who tied the legendary Nature Boy Ric Flair for the most world title reigns--16 as of this writing. And he's a bonafide movie star, with starring roles in the movie Ferdinand and his turn as a concerned dad in the Transformers franchise re-launch Bumblebee.
There have been some new signings in WWE of late, people Cena has never feuded with like Drew McIntyre and Bobby Roode. Fans would love to see Cena take on a new foe, or perhaps do the unthinkable; Break Ric Flair's record for world title reigns once and for all, and secure his legendary status.
#6. An appearance (probably not in the ring) by Roman Reigns
One of the saddest stories of pro wrestling in 2018 was the sudden, shocking leave of absence by WWE Universal Champion "The Big Dog" Roman Reigns. When Roman Reigns announced his fight against a recurrence of Leukemia--which he beat ten years prior--any and all of Roman's critics suddenly closed ranks to stand firmly behind him in support.
While some may disagree with the way Roman Reigns has been booked, or decry his limited moveset, no one can deny his charisma, and now his heart. Fans would love to have Roman Reigns make an appearance at Wrestlemania 35, even if he isn't able to wrestle yet. We're betting Reigns will receive resounding cheers just by virtue of the very real life or death battle he is waging outside the ring.
Here's hoping that not only is Roman going to make a speedy recovery, but that he will be able to address his fans at the biggest show of the year and prove he's still in the fight.
#7. Something interesting to happen at the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal
As hard as it may be for some fans to believe, it wasn't Wrestlemania I that truly began the legend that the annual event has become.
Rather, it was at Wrestlemania III, where Andre the Giant challenged Hulk Hogan for the WWE world heavyweight championship in front of a record-setting crowd at the Pontiac Silverdome.
Hogan was the superstar most associated with the 1980s, whereas Andre was literally and figuratively the biggest pro wrestling star of the 1970s. Andre would pass the torch when he was bodyslammed by Hogan in the middle of the ring for a clean pinfall victory for the champion.
That being said, the Andre the Giant Battle Royal has been a huge disappointment since its inception. In fact, many fans and critics seem to think winning the battle royal is a curse, given how men like Mojo Rawley have faltered, and even Matt Hardy was injured shortly after his victory in the same event.
WWE needs to pull out all the stops to make the Andre the Giant Battle Royal not only special but memorable. Fans would like to see some real stakes for the winner, perhaps a guaranteed title shot.
#8. An Empress Avenged
Many fans and critics who follow the WWE were perplexed when the company signed a Japanese women's wrestler named Kana to a contract. Her talent and beauty were obvious, but the WWE has often avoided hiring foreign talent unless their English was very, very good.
Most believed that Asuka, as he was called in the WWE, would have an unmemorable run with the company, and end up heading back to Japan with her tail between her legs as it were. However, they could not have been more wrong.
Asuka embarked on a 2+-year-long winning streak, surpassing Bill Goldberg's famous run by double digits. She captured the NXT women's title and never lost it, instead vacating the belt when she was drafted to the main roster.
Many believed that Asuka would win championship gold on the main roster as well, and when she won the first ever Women's Royal Rumble match those dreams seemed to solidify. However, in one of the most shocking moments from Wrestlemania 34, she cleanly tapped out to Charlotte Flair in what many considered to be the best match of the night.
Now, however, Asuka is the current reigning Smackdown women's champion and has set her sights on defending it at Wrestlemania 35. Fans would love to see the Empress of Tomorrow avenge her loss, and redeem herself at the biggest show of the year.
#9. The Undertaker
For a retired guy, The Undertaker sure seems to see a lot of action. While the WWE legend is mostly used for high profile, prestige events, such as the Greatest Royal Rumble and the Super Show-Down, there's one event that has his indelible mark upon it; Wrestlemania. This is because of his unparalleled winning streak at the event, which stood for 21 years until a man named Brock Lesnar handed him his first WM loss.
Many fans don't realize just how long and illustrious of a career Undertaker has had. Prior to being the Deadman, he wrestled under a mask as the villainous Texas Red. He was also known as the Punisher, an ex-military operative who was nigh unstoppable, and of course, he was called Mean Mark Callous in WCW, where he teamed with Dan Spivey as part of the new Skyscrapers team.
But it was as the Undertaker that his career truly began to soar. While initially a villain, Undertaker's work ethic and technical prowess won over the crowd, and he has largely been a babyface ever since.
Much like John Cena, having Undertaker participate in a Wrestlemania just makes it feel more special, and fans are holding out for an appearance by the Deadman at this year's event.
#10. Kenny Omega
The wrestling world just can't seem to get enough of the Best Bout Machine, Kenny Omega. Is it his lustrous, curly hair? His well-groomed moustache? His chiselled physique? Or the fact that he is one of the only men in history to have put on a seven-star match? (the other being his rival Kazuchika Okada.)
These things all are a part of Omega's charm, as is his accessibility and otaku gamer persona. But what really has the wrestling world buzzing his imminent departure from New Japan Pro Wrestling. According to rumour, he has a big money offer on the table from the WWE but has also been courted by the brand new All Elite Wrestling--where his close friends are running the show.
Whether or not Omega signs with WWE is still up in the air, but that doesn't mean that WWE fans aren't going crazy with the idea that he could be part of Wrestlemania 35. This would fulfil the dreams of many fans, and likely Omega himself, as he once was a part of WWE's developmental territory.
There you have it: Ten things fans want to see happen at Wrestlemania 35. What are you looking forward to at the largest pro wrestling event of the year? Please comment and let us know, and thanks for reading!
