WrestleMania 34 Sucked
In the end, we can all agree WWE never gets it right when it comes to booking their talent. Given can’t miss circumstances they epically whiff. At the height of their mediocrity was WrestleMania 34. Four years removed from their most inspiring ‘Mania, they returned to New Orleans steeped in stagnation. Roman Reigns is still chasing the championship, and it’s occupant Brock Lesnar, much like WrestleMania 31. To make the situation even more eerie, Daniel Bryan had returned from a neck injury, except he isn’t laying claim to the title he never lost like last time. Fans aren’t given even the brief glimmer of hope he’ll elbow his way into the title picture as he is shoved into a tag match with Shane-O as his partner.
The most exciting elements WWE had going for themselves at this time was Shinsuke Nakamura and Asuka. Both fan favorites and enjoyed much success in Japan. Each won their respective Royal Rumbles and were supposed to win, but neither of them did. Asuka submitted to Charlotte Flair. Nakamura was pinned by A.J Styles. The entrenched champions held on to their belts, and while Asuka would eventually climb the mountain top, Nakamura hasn’t sniffed the gold since that faithful night.
The first mistake was WWE taking the rumble for granted. The Royal Rumble isn’t simply a battle royal, but bigger. It is a program where you establish a new star that’ll main event your biggest pay-per-view and win the world title. It isn’t Money In The Bank or a lesser PPV. It is WWE’s second best and directly impacts the first. Having both winners strike out and neither main event is demoralizing and set them back.
Why WWE decided to tread water and resurrect the Reigns feud with Lesnar I’ll never know. Nakamura needed to challenge Lesnar for the belt and win. But Vince doesn’t believe the fans will buy a smaller man overcoming Brock’s size advantage. Vince wants his product to appear real, except for when it’s not. He’s full of shit is what I’m saying.
Roman could have faced Styles in a face vs face match, either have Styles turn or retain or relinquish the belt, it doesn’t really matter.
Instead, Nakamura turns heel and proceeds to do nothing ever since.
As for Asuka, she’s the only champion to leave NXT without taking a pinfall meaning she left the brand still their champion. Riding an undefeated streak she was sure to unseat Charlotte - except no. Perhaps this too was a mistake. While no doubt a dream match, WWE wasn’t interested in making room for the top of the women’s division. They can make stars, but only want to make one every five or so years.
Asuka didn’t have to face Flair. She could have challenged heel Alexa Bliss for the title. But instead we’re treated to a hypocritical anti-bullying angle with Nia Jax because WWE wants you to believe they aren’t an industry built upon bullying people.
Hell, if you weren’t going to do anything with Asuka’s undefeated streak why even have her leave NXT the champion? Why not let Ember Moon pin her and see if she can capitalize off ending her streak? It’s better than just having her first lost be to Flair. Or fuck it, don’t have her win the rumble. Do something special for the first women’s Royal Rumble and have Sasha Banks win the whole as the number one entrant, beat Alexa Bliss, then drop the title to Ronda Rousey a month later at Money In The Bank.
I mean why not? What did Asuka gain from losing to Flair? What did Nakamura gain going after a face like Styles and losing cleanly? Zero. Zilch.
“But who does Flair wrestle at ‘Mania?” Why not Carmella? Or Natalya? Or even Becky? Flair can make anyone look good. I don’t see why they’d be a problem. Or Hell, have Trish Status face Flair.
By now it’s easy to realize the WWE lacks vision and happily boxes themselves in to end up at the worst possible product for their biggest show. It’s hard to believe an over-bloated roster could make so many mistakes and do right by no one.
