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In the build-up to WWE's biggest annual event of the year, WrestleMania, the company's creative team is bound to come up with interesting, exciting, and fresh storylines for almost every major superstar present in their roster. For years now, WWE has successfully delivered some outstanding storylines in the build-up to WrestleMania, usually promoting their big World Championship matches, which generally included the company's biggest stars.
This year hasn't been any different, as WWE has already given us fans some outstanding storytelling. For instance, let's take Becky Lynch. WWE so far has done an outstanding job with Lynch's career resurrection by successfully converting her from the happy-go-around Irish Lass Kicker to The Man.
Lynch turned on her best friend Charlotte Flair, won the SmackDown Women's Championship, then set her sights on Ronda Rousey, and is now set to main event WrestleMania 35. Quite the story right? Same goes for New Day member Kofi Kingston, who unlike Lynch, once again broke out as a singles star but within the span of a few short weeks and is now likely to challenge for the WWE Championship at WrestleMania, thus turning KofiMania into a reality.
Over the past five years, there has been some splendid writing and long-term booking by WWE on the Road To WrestleMania and in this article, I'll let all my readers take an in-depth look into the five best Road To WrestleMania storylines from the past five years.
Honorable Mention: AJ Styles vs Shane McMahon
Since turning heel in 2016, AJ Styles was by far the hottest WWE superstar in the company, further adding to his momentum which he had previously gained from making his iconic WWE debut that same year at the Royal Rumble.
Styles won the WWE Championship in his first year with the company, however, in early 2017, 'The Phenomenal One' lost his World Title to John Cena. This ignited a beef between Styles and SmackDown Commissioner, Shane McMahon, who according to Styles, didn't let the former champion challenge then WWE Champion, Bray Wyatt (more on him later) at WrestleMania 33.
This led to a rather questionable match between Styles and McMahon but the build-up itself showcased Styles' ruthless attitude, which saw him ambush McMahon at the parking lot and brutally beat him up. Then WWE GM Daniel Bryan also played an important role in the feud, as he fired Styles from SD Live only for 'The Phenomenal One' to make his way back into the company (in kayfabe of course). Much to McMahon's heart and credit, the SD Commissioner also did a fantastic job as a face in the feud and their match was definitely a lot better than expected.
#5 Bray Wyatt's desire to end the Era of Lies- WrestleMania XXX
At the 2014 Royal Rumble match, 16-time WWE World Champion John Cena challenged his arch-rival and another multi-time World Champion, Randy Orton to a historic World Championship match. Just when it seemed like Cena was on the verge of winning the World Title once again, his hopes and dreams were crushed by the one and only Wyatt Family, led by Bray Wyatt.
At the very next WWE event Elimination Chamber, The Wyatt Family's interference led to Cena's direct elimination from the chamber match, as it was finally revealed that 'The Eater of Worlds' main motive was to end the era of lies, which began with John Cena.
Wyatt was determined to expose the real colours of John Cena, by claiming that The Leader of The Cenation was rather a hollow illusion and wanted to turn Cena into a monster instead. This eventually led to Cena challenging Wyatt to a match at WrestleMania XXX and with The Wyatt Family in his corner, 'The Eater of Worlds' definitely should've won this one.
#4 Seth Rollins vs. The Authority - WrestleMania 33
Seth Rollins first broke out as a major superstar when he shockingly turned his back on The Shield in 2014 and joined Triple H and The Authority. Aligning himself with the corporates, Rollins became WWE's golden boy and was initially awarded the Money in the Bank briefcase, which he cashed in to win the WWE Championship as well.
With the likes of The Big Show, Kane, J&J Security, and even Randy Orton by his side, Rollins was starting to hit new heights in the WWE as the company's main man. However, in late 2015, 'The Architect' suffered a gruesome injury, tearing his ACL, MCL, and medial meniscus as well.
After being sidelined for a few months, Rollins made his return to the WWE in 2016, reclaiming the WWE Championship, only to lose it to Dean Ambrose the same night. This led to Rollins turning his attention towards the Universal Championship and despite losing to inaugural champion Finn Balor at SummerSlam, 'The Architect' got himself another shot at the title after Balor had relinquished it.
Rollins faced Big Cass, Roman Reigns, and Kevin Owens in a Fatal 4-Way Match for the Universal Title but thanks to outside interference from Triple H, who much to everyone's shock turned his back on Rollins and helped KO win the title. This ignited a rivalry between the mentor Triple H and his student Seth Rollins, as 'The Game' claimed that Rollins was unable to contain with the pressure when it mattered the most (referring to his knee injury which forced him to vacate the WWE Title).
In the build-up to their match at WrestleMania 33, WWE took the feud to new heights by having Seth Rollins return to NXT and invade TakeOver: San Antonio in order to call out Triple H in the process. Triple H, in return, responded by having Samoa Joe debut on the main roster as his new henchman and take out Rollins in the process.
Rollins and Triple H eventually agreed to a Non-Sanctioned Match which definitely did deliver on the big stage.
#3 Sting's highly awaited WWE debut - WrestleMania 31
Much to the entire Pro Wrestling World's shock, Sting made his WWE debut in 2014 when he crashed The Authority's party at Survivor Series, helping Team Cena pick up a win over Triple H and co.
Sting's debut was surely considered as one of the greatest WWE debut's of all time, given that he was the very last WCW Original who was yet to jump ship to the WWE, however, after all these years, 'The Icon' had finally made up his mind and made a huge impact on his very first appearance in the WWE.
Not only did Sting helped Team Cena win but his interference also led to the disempowerment of Triple H and Stephanie McMahon. Within the next few months though, things took a turn and on January 19, 2015, the WWE careers of Dolph Ziggler, Eric Rowan, and Ryback were on the line. However, thanks to yet another outside interference from Sting, all three men were once again rehired by WWE, as Sting and Triple H had a face-to-face confrontation with each other.
In the build-up to 'Mania 31, Sting met Triple H in the ring in yet another heated confrontation and challenged 'The Game' to a dream match come true at WrestleMania 31. Despite Triple H winning the bout and the outside interferences from both nWo and DX, Sting's first-ever Road To WrestleMania remains a very memorable journey.
#2 Randy Orton's slithers his way out of The Wyatt Family - WrestleMania 33
Randy Orton first joined The Wyatt Family in 2016 when he initially had helped the duo of Bray Wyatt and the returning Luke Harper before the two men helped 'The Viper' win a match against Kane on SmackDown Live in order to confirm his place in the group.
Shortly after joining The Wyatts, Orton along with Wyatt and Harper took The Wyatt Family to new heights, as the three men first helped SmackDown Live win the traditional Survivor Series 5-on-5 match before Orton and Wyatt won the SmackDown Live Tag Team Titles at TLC. This also marked Wyatt's first tag team championship win in WWE in a decade and was also Bray Wyatt's first title win in WWE as well.
However, after losing the Tag Team Titles, Orton and Wyatt focused on their singles career once again, as 'The Apex Predator' won the Royal Rumble Match, whereas, Wyatt won the WWE Championship at the very next pay-per-view, Elimination Chamber. But, as a devoted member of The Wyatt Family, Orton relinquished his title opportunity, leading to a #1 Contenders Battle Royal at WrestleMania. The Battle Royal ended in a draw between AJ Styles and another Wyatt Family member Luke Harper.
The following week on SmackDown Live, Styles defeated Harper to rightfully earn his place as the new #1 Contender, however, as the show slowly concluded, Orton revealed his actual intentions of joining The Wyatt Family as he appeared at The Wyatt Compound and burned it down, where Sister Abigail was seemingly buried as well.
Not only did Orton insert himself back into WWE Title contention but this remained as one of the best long-term stories' in WWE history and the below segment itself truly remains iconic.
#1 Daniel Bryan defies The Authority's odds - WrestleMania XXX
Daniel Bryan's eight-month-long Road To WrestleMania XXX began at SummerSlam 2013 when the so-called 'B Plus Player' defied the odds by defeating multi-time WWE World Champion, John Cena to win the WWE Championship in spectacular fashion.
However, just when the celebrations began, WWE COO Triple H shocked the entire world by turning his back on Bryan allowing Randy Orton to cash in his Money in the Bank contract and win the WWE Title immediately.
Triple H later explained his actions by claiming that Bryan wasn't the type of superstar whom the company could endorse as the face of WWE and over the next few months, The Authority constantly sabotaged and assault Daniel Bryan on WWE TV. So much so, that The Authority made sure that Bryan wouldn't be able to win the WWE Title at any cost, even if it resulted in Shawn Michaels costing Bryan the title against Orton.
Frustrated by being constantly screwed out of the WWE World Title picture by The Authority, Bryan would go on to challenge Triple H to a one-on-one match at WrestleMania XXX and the followers of the Yes Movement would "occupy" an episode of Monday Night Raw as well.
The stipulation for Bryan and Triple H's match at 'Mania XXX was if the former had won he would eventually be added to the World Title match between Batista and Randy Orton. And at the show, that is exactly what had happened, Bryan defied the odds to defeat Triple H in an outstanding match then went on to defeat Batista and Orton to finally win back the WWE Championship on the biggest stage possible.
Talk about long-term booking. This was pure creative genius from WWE, as they decided to push someone who is no less than a hero the WWE Universe, as Daniel Bryan defied all the odds and defeated 3/4th of Evolution in one night and made history at The Grandest Stage of Them All.
