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WWE's flagship event, WrestleMania, has become one of the biggest brands in live sports/entertainment and is one of the most-watched annual events of the year. Ever since its inception, "The Grandest Stage of Them All" has been billed as an show where moments are created: from Hulk Hogan slamming Andre the Giant at WrestleMania 3, to the stare off between The Rock and Hulk Hogan at WrestleMania 18, the event has always created moments which lasts a lifetime.
But, WWE sometimes has a difficult time when it comes to giving fans what they want. The business of professional wrestling/Sports Entertainment has always centered around fans and their perception about the product. WWE has had to deal with a lot of criticism especially when it comes to the main event of WrestleMania for the past years. Even though this year's WrestleMania was widely applauded by both fans and critics, the finish to the night's main event didn't go down well with a large section of fans.
Here are five matches that should've been the main event of WWE's biggest event of the year.
# 5 Brock Lesnar Vs Daniel Bryan ( WrestleMania 31)
Daniel Bryan was at the peak of his popularity as a babyface in 2014. He had reached the pinnacle of his storied career the year prior by defeating Batista and Randy Orton in the main event of WrestleMania 30 and became the WWE World Heavyweight Champion. But, a series of injuries forced the former American Dragon to relinquish the title and step away from the squared circle. After being away for the majority of the year, Bryan returned to in-ring competition in November that year.
Bryan was the heavy crowd favorite heading into Royal Rumble 2015. The Philadelphia Crowd were firmly behind the Leader of the Yes Movement as he entered the Rumble at Number 10... before being eliminated by Bray Wyatt. The crowd were turned off from the event by Bryan's elimination and hijacked the event. They showered the eventual winner, Roman Reigns, with a chorus of boos despite him being a Babyface.
Bryan got another crack at main-eventing WrestleMania 31 when he squared off against Reigns at Fastlane, a match that Bryan would go on to lose. Bryan would eventually open WrestleMania 31 by winning the IC Title while Reigns would be main-event against Brock Lesnar for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship. The match between Lesnar and Reigns was great but fans were so dejected with it that it was reported that a huge portion of fans left the Levi's Stadium before the main event.
Fans finally got to see the Bryan-Lesnar dream match at Survivor Series last year and it was everything one would've expected from it. It would've more satisfying had we got this match at WrestleMania.
# 4 Triple H Vs Dean Ambrose (WrestleMania 32)
Much like 2015, Roman Reigns once again found himself in deep water in 2016 when it became crystal clear that the company was attempting to crown the Big Dog once again at WrestleMania 32. The Big Dog was made to defend his WWE World Heavyweight Championship in the Royal Rumble Match and was the very first person to enter the match. With such innumerable odds stacked against The Big, the company believed that WWE Universe would get firmly behind Reigns.
But, to no one's surprise fans booed the hell out of Reigns as he came down to the ring at the Rumble. Reigns made it to the final three before being eliminated by the eventual winner, Triple H.
Dean Ambrose was the most popular superstar in the company at that point. Given the kind of work he had done in the years prior, the Cincinnati, Ohio native had more than earned his spot to be in the main event of WrestleMania 32. But, we see instead saw Reigns Vs Triple H for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship in what was one of the most uninspiring main events in WrestleMania history.
# 3 Chris Jericho Vs Kevin Owens (WrestleMania 33)
The Kevin Owens - Chris Jericho friendship was the best thing about RAW in 2016. The duo had such great chemistry that fans cheered for them despite them being heels. Every time Owens and Jericho came together on TV, you were guaranteed to be entertained. Owens turning his back on Jericho and attacking him at 'The Festival of Friendship's will go down as one of the greatest moments in WWE history.
Jericho has stated on numerous occasions that the original plan for the Universal Championship at WrestleMania 33 was him facing Owens for the top prize in the red brand. But, Goldberg's return in late 2018 and the reception that he got following his victory over Brock Lesnar at Survivor Series led Vince McMahon to change his mind. Owens would drop the title to Goldberg at Fastlane following a distraction from Jericho.
After the stellar run that Jericho had in 2016, it would have made complete sense to put the former Undisputed Champion in a big title match at WrestleMania 33. It is shame that it didn't happen and while Jericho eventually did end up facing Owens at Mania 33 for the United States Championship, the match failed to live up to the hype primarily due to its placement on the card.
#2 CM Punk vs The Rock ( WrestleMania 29)
One of CM Punk's biggest gripes since leaving WWE in 2014 has been the fact that he never got to be in the main event of WrestleMania. A large section of fans, myself included, believe that Punk should've been in the main event of WrestleMania 29.
Punk had a stellar 2012 which saw him hold on to the WWE Championship for the entire year. To add to that, Punk had turned heel at the peak of his popularity at RAW 1000. Punk's title reign of 434 days, and the way he elevated the oldest prize in sports entertainment, would've warranted a title shot at Mania but alas, that didn't happen.
We instead got Rock Vs Cena 2, a match that was initially billed as ' Once in a Lifetime', for the WWE Championship. Punk ended up facing off against The Undertaker at Mania 29 in what was one of the best matches of the night.
#1. Seth Rollins Vs Dean Ambrose Vs Roman Reigns (The Shield Triple Threat)
The Shield will go down in history as one of the greatest factions ever. The trio of Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose wreaked havoc on WWE for over two years before going their separate ways in 2014. As good as The Shield were together as a unit, they were equally good, or even better, as singles stars.
Rollins, Reigns, and Ambrose stole the show every time they faced off against one another. From the incredible feud between Rollins and Ambrose between 2014 to 2015, to Money In The Bank 2016, where every member of the Shield held the WWE Championship in a single night, the trio delivered every time they were at loggerheads against one another.
Given the kind of impact that all three of them have made on the business, it is a shame that the Hounds of Justice never got to mix it up against one another on The Grandest Stage. While we got The Shield Triple Threat match at Battleground 2016 and, to be fair, that it was a great match, it deserved a big stage like WrestleMania. With Ambrose leaving WWE earlier this year, the possibility of this dream match ever happening is almost non-existent at this point.
Is there a WrestleMania match that should have happened that you wanted to see? Share your ideas in the comments below.
