5 worst modern-day WrestleMania moments (2013-2017)

WWE has provided enough memorable WrestleMania moments in recent years to last fans until the end of their wrestling-watching days.

However, with the good comes the bad, and while WWE’s biggest event of the year has delivered more than disappointed of late, it’s fair to say that the show occasionally throws up moments and matches that leave fans scratching their heads.

In this article, we take a look at the five worst moments from the last five WrestleMania events.

#5 The finish to Mark Henry vs. Ryback

Back in late 2012/early 2013, Ryback was involved in rivalries with CM Punk and The Shield during his babyface main-event run, and then he squared off against Mark Henry, who had recently returned from a lengthy injury, at WrestleMania 29.

This was a largely forgettable mid-card match, so you’re probably surprised to see it on this list, but we include it for one simple reason: the finish was one of the most ridiculous in WrestleMania history.

Ryback impressively lifted Henry up for his Shell Shock finisher, only to collapse under the weight of “The World’s Strongest Man”, who then laid on the mat for a whole 12 seconds before pinning his opponent for the win.

In an interview with Sports Illustrated, Ryback said he disputed the finish with Vince McMahon for 30 minutes before the show and felt the manner of his defeat made “zero sense”.

#4 The whole Brock Lesnar vs. Dean Ambrose match

Brock Lesnar defeated Dean Ambrose at WrestleMania 32

Dean Ambrose was arguably WWE’s most popular Superstar in early 2016, with fans desperately hoping he would win the WWE title from Roman Reigns at the Royal Rumble or from Triple H at Roadblock.

In the end, “The Lunatic Fringe” didn’t win either of those encounters, but he was still booked in one of the biggest matches at WrestleMania 32 against Brock Lesnar.

Fans had high expectations, especially when it was made a No Holds Barred Street Fight, but the 13-minute match was very underwhelming and it never looked for a second like Ambrose was ever going to win.

The Shield member went on to reveal on The Stone Cold Podcast that he had lots of ideas for the match but he was “met with laziness” from Lesnar.

#3 Randy Orton defeating Bray Wyatt

The bu — Randy Orton won the WWE title from Bray Wyatt

Randy Orton won the 2017 Royal Rumble and spent the road to WrestleMania 33 tormenting his former leader, Bray Wyatt, by setting the Wyatt Family Compound alight and burning the soul of Sister Abigail to “eternal damnation”.

Now, as unexpected and refreshing as some of those segments were between Randy and Bray, their match at WrestleMania was the most disappointing on the card and it was one of the least entertaining WWE title matches at ‘Mania in recent memory.

We’ve selected this in the top 5 because Bray only won the WWE title at the previous pay-per-view, Elimination Chamber, and fans seemed genuinely happy for him that his hard work over the years had been rewarded with the company’s main championship.

Then, before his title reign was given any time to really get going, he lost it to Orton in a 10-minute match and he was never even granted a televised rematch. Why, WWE, why?!

#2 Sting losing to Triple H

There have been many questionable WrestleMania outcomes over the years, some of which we’ve omitted from this list (Chris Jericho’s matches with Fandango and AJ Styles spring to mind), but none were more questionable than Triple H vs. Sting.

For over two decades, WWE fans had been wondering when, if ever, Sting would finally join the company, with a dream match against The Undertaker potentially on the cards.

In the end, he faced Triple H – not The Undertaker – in his one and only WrestleMania match in 2015, with everybody assuming the former WCW star would get the victory.

However, D-Generation X and the NWO got involved, making the one-on-one match a battle between WWE and WCW, and (of course) WWE came out on top with “The Game” pinning Sting in one of the most universally unpopular finishes in WrestleMania history.

#1 The Rock squashing Erick Rowan in six seconds

WWE had an enormous injury list heading into WrestleMania 32, so it was no surprise that they called upon Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson to feature in a lengthy segment at the event.

Now, we don’t want to talk trash about The Rock, but even he will probably admit that his flamethrower segment and subsequent in-ring confrontation with the Wyatt Family, which featured a six-second win over Erick Rowan, wasn’t his best work.

His greatest WWE rival of all time, Steve Austin, even joked during an interview with Entertainment Tonight in 2017 that he “sucked all the energy out of 100,000 people” during the 30-minute segment.

What makes Sting special? His first AEW opponent opens up RIGHT HERE.

Edited by anirudh.b