5 things WWE needs to stop doing at WrestleMania

WrestleMania is the biggest WWE event of the year
WrestleMania is the biggest WWE event of the year

WrestleMania is the WWE's biggest event of the year, an occasion that brings together wrestling fans from all over the globe and a night that has become so big that cities bid against each other for the right to host it.

The show is the culmination of all the feuds and rivalries that have been built up during the preceding year, and has become a money-making machine that brings back casual fans once a year, for a showcase of the top stars in the company.

However, there are moments during the show that annoy hardcore and casual fans alike. Here are five such things WWE need to stop doing at WrestleMania.


#1 Music concerts

Ki
Kid Rock performed a
mini concert
at WrestleMania 25

Remarkably, at last year's WrestleMania, then WWE Champion Bray Wyatt had less screen time then Pitbull, Lunchmoney Lewis and Flo Rida. Likewise, Kid Rock's mini concert at WrestleMania 25 lasted longer than the WWE Tag Team titles match.

These 15-20 minute concerts could be better replaced with matches, such as ones that air on the pre-show. Another alternative could be for the musicians to be involved in storyline ideas, as with Snoop Dogg at WrestleMania 24.

WWE trying a SuperBowl-style half-time show feels out of place in a wrestling show. Although WWE tries to market to different audiences, fans tune in to watch wrestling and musicians taking up valuable time, when not related to wrestling, is a waste of time.

#2 The Kickoff show

tHE PRE
The WrestleMania Kickoff Show lasts two hours

WrestleMania 33 lasted 5 hours and 10 minutes, remarkably that was just the main show. Add to that the 2-hour Kickoff show, the event lasted a grand total of over 7 hours! An event that long, even for WrestleMania, is an enormous overdose of wrestling.

The Kickoff itself is designed to be an advert to encourage people to buy the show itself, however, the show is filled with mostly pointless matches, multiple video packages and a panel of legends pointlessly discussing the upcoming matches of the card. The pre-show could be much better if it was used for backstage promos or in-ring segments such as Miz TV or Jericho's Highlight Reel.

If WWE want to make their fans subscribe to the WWE Network or buy WrestleMania, they could use the Kickoff show more creatively with exciting and different content, rather than short matches, video packages and a talk panel.

#3 Battle Royals

WWE
WWE's annual Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal

Every wrestler wants to be a part of WrestleMania. It not only provides a larger-than-usual pay day for talent, but it's also the one show that every wrestler dreamt about being on. Therefore, on the surface, it is quite good that the WWE looks to utilise all of its talent.

The use of a significant amount of talent in Battle Royals is often to the detriment of the show though. This year's WrestleMania will feature two battle royals, one for the the men - Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal, and one for the women. These matches are often too clustered, most of the matches are hard to follow and it is mostly pointless other than to put over an upcoming, mid-level talent.

Battle royals are often prestigious matches and deemed special enough that they have their own pay-per-view, the Royal Rumble, which takes place a few months before WrestleMania. By having these battle royals every WrestleMania, it could be said that these matches have become less important and have lost value.

#4 Ignoring younger talent in favour of The Undertaker

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The Undertaker's entrance at WrestleMania

The Undertaker is arguably the important Superstar in WrestleMania history and his undefeated streak was one of the most famous runs in sports entertainment history. However Taker, now in his 50's, has certainly seen better days and yet the WWE continues to put him in prominent matches in the card.

WWE could give The Undertaker's spot to an upcoming mid-card level talent rather than resort to shipping 'Taker in every year to compete with other established stars. The Undertaker's rumoured match with John Cena at this year's 'Mania, for example, could be better used to give a chance to younger Superstars to make a name for themselves against Cena, instead of using an older and part-time talent.

It's unfair of WWE to ask this of The Deadman when he's already wrestled past his prime and toiled through the last few 'Mania matches he's starred in; against Shane McMahon and Roman Reigns, The Undertaker looked like he was finished. There's no reason to believe that the great man will look like the hero of old, when he lines up against Cena in New Orleans either.

In a WrestleMania already stacked with top names and talent, it seems bringing back 'Taker for another match is an attempt to appeal to lapsed-fans. The time has come for WWE to focus on the future and not older stars past their prime.

#5 Making Roman Reigns a perennial main-eventer

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Roman Reigns has appeared in the last 3 WrestleMania main events

Roman Reigns has appeared in the main event of every WrestleMania since 31 and whilst Reigns is certainly highly thought of, he is not exactly over with the fans. Daniel Bryan winning the WWE Title at WrestleMania 30 was one of the loudest crowds of any WrestleMania, the subsequent main events involving Reigns however have not lived up to the same level of crowd enthusiasm.

Reigns will face Brock Lesnar at this year's 'show of shows' in a repeat of the match they had two years ago at WrestleMania 31 and if this match lives up to the same level of their last, then it will certainly be worth watching. However, the WrestleMania main event should be the one that draws the biggest level of crowd interest and in the case of this year, AJ Styles vs Shinsuke Nakamura is the most eagerly anticipated match, involving two of the most popular stars in the WWE right now.

WWE fans are not interested in Roman Reigns as the sympathetic hero and the more he is shoved down the fans' throats, the more resentful they become. While Reigns vs Lesnar is sure to be one of the best matches on the card, it surely will not draw the same level of crowd interest as Nakamura vs Styles.

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