History YMMV / Wrestlemania

** Music/BadBunny at ''[=WrestleMania=] 37''. Considering he was a celebrity was not that much related to the wrestling world, many were skeptical of how well his performance was going to be. It didn't help that the booking leading to his [=WrestleMania=] match was widely panned by critics and fans, mainly due to the fact that his weekly airtime stole the spotlight to much of the current roster who didn't make it to the show. When the match occurred, however, Bad Bunny's performance exceeded expectations as it showed that he really took the effort to fight. Bad Bunny showed his love and passion for pro wrestling and it ''shows'': performing the Falcon/Broken Arrow in sync with Damien Priest, jumping off the top rope, and the use of the dangerous '''Canadian Destroyer''' has received critical acclaim with fans stating it's the best celebrity wrestling match ever (even outshining Ronda Roussey's three years prior!). Even Randy Orton, who has acquired a reputation for being an outspoken critic of celebrities who claim that wrestling is fake, gave praise to Bad Bunny for taking the initiative and view the WWE world in their eyes.

** ''[=WrestleMania=] 13'' is largely considered the "one-match show", as it had one match that is considered both one of the best in professional wrestling history, and one of the starting points of the company's Wrestling/AttitudeEra: the submission match between Wrestling/BretHart and Wrestling/StoneColdSteveAustin. As for the rest of the card? Yeah, nobody talks about them.

* MemeticLoser: Wrestling/{{Maryse}} was solidified as the ultimate FauxActionGirl as of her mixed tag match at ''33''. Her stepping into the ring for the first time since returning as a valet was hyped up immensely, with social media and commentators talking about how much she had been training. She ultimately does very little in the match, and any big moves [[Wrestling/BellaTwins Nikki]] does are suspiciously sold by Wrestling/TheMiz instead. Not helping matters was Wrestling/JohnCena dressing her down the week before the show, pretty much calling her entire career useless - and her lack of participation in the match just seemed to validate his claims.

** Wrestling/TitusONeil's reaction to [[MindScrew the Firefly Funhouse Match]] because it mirrors ''everyone else's''. Better yet everything about said Firefly Funhouse Match became a FountainOfMemes, with fans comparing it to something directed by Creator/DavidLynch (particularly ''Series/TwinPeaks'') or ''Series/BlackMirror''

* RescuedFromTheScrappyHeap: At ''[=WrestleMania=] XX'', Wrestling/BrockLesnar vs. Wrestling/{{Goldberg}} more or less stank the joint up because of multiple issues, mainly due to both men already made it clear that they were done afterwards. It would go on to be considered one of the worst matches in Mania history. 13 years later at ''[=WrestleMania=] 33'', however, both men managed to give a performance that more than redeemed themselves at the showcase of the immortals. Sure the match was less than five minutes, but that was all they ever really needed.

** ''[=WrestleMania=] 35'': Wrestling/SethRollins winning the Universal Championship from Wrestling/BrockLesnar in the first match on the card, Wrestling/KofiKingston finally winning his first WWE Championship after 11 years in the company by beating Wrestling/DanielBryan and celebrating his victory with the rest of Wrestling/TheNewDay and his family in the middle of the ring, and in the first women's main event in ''[=WrestleMania=]'' history, Wrestling/BeckyLynch going over both Creator/RondaRousey and Wrestling/CharlotteFlair to win the Raw and [=SmackDown=] Woman's titles, dealing Ronda her first loss in her WWE career.[[note]] And apparently her last match, if ''Series/TotalDivas'' is correct.[[/note]]

** Wrestling/TheUndertaker's match with Giant Gonzalez at ''9''. Sure, Gonzalez was quite the FashionVictimVillain and basically an UpToEleven predecessor to The Great Khali... But the idea itself (a 7-foot monster vs. an 8-foot monster) was still epic, and we did get quite the memorable {{Narm}}[=/=]NarmCharm from it.

* TheyWastedAPerfectlyGoodPlot: The vast majority of women's wrestling fans would have preferred a singles match between Wrestling/TrishStratus and Wrestling/MichelleMcCool at 27 - as opposed to a mixed tag. Dolph Ziggler's involvement at least made storyline sense given he'd wrestled with Wrestling/LayCool before but John Morrison was even more of a spare part than Snooki (not helping matters was his rude behavior towards Trish, which was allegedly because he felt {{Wrestling/Melina}} should have been in the match). According to the women involved, the match's time got completely cut and they were told to wrap it all up in about three minutes.

*** Wrestling/TheUndertaker fought Wrestling/ShaneMcMahon in a match that came with a very confusing storyline beforehand: Shane had returned to WWE for the first time since 2009 to confront his father Vince and sister Stephanie in regards to how they run the company, which alone was seen as a [[SugarWiki/MomentOfAwesome Crowning Moment of Awesome]]. Vince then made a deal with Shane that he would gain control of ''Raw'' from the much-maligned Wrestling/TheAuthority if he could win a match of his choosing at ''[=WrestleMania=]''. After Shane accepted, Vince named The Undertaker as his opponent. Fans' reaction to Vince's choosing was basically a FlatWhat, given the lack of an alliance between Vince and Undertaker, and the storyline never explained why 'Taker would wrestle a match as the de facto {{Heel}} to help Vince against Shane; despite 'Taker's claims that he worked for no one, he went along with it, while Shane seemed to {{lampshade|Hanging}} it by asking why 'Taker would be one of his father's "puppets." Eventually, Vince added another stipulation; that if 'Taker did not win, it would be "his last ''[=WrestleMania=]''," implying that he'd have to retire, which at least raised some stakes. Then, at ''[=WrestleMania=]'', The Undertaker defeated Shane. So Shane didn't gain control of ''Raw'', right? Wrong. The following night on ''Raw'', Vince, claiming that Shane was supposedly upstaging him with his strong fan support (which, admitedly, Shane has), allowed Shane to run ''Raw'' that night anyway, and Shane was then allowed to continue controlling ''Raw'' for another three weeks after that, basically rendering the whole thing pointless. Thus, the Authority was disbanded in a confusing payoff after three years of tormenting the viewers.

*** [[Wrestling/DwayneJohnson The Rock]] came out to announce the legitimately record-setting (but still exaggerated) attendance. Then Wrestling/TheWyattFamily comes out to essentially heckle him, only for him to beat Erick Rowan in literally 8 seconds. When the somehow still supposed-to-be intimidating Wyatts surround Rocky, Wrestling/JohnCena came out to "rescue" him. [[SarcasmMode Because the last time they threw the Rock and Cena in WrestleMania for no good reason turned out amazing.]] [[TheLastStraw Just ask]] Wrestling/CMPunk![[note]]Ironically, the fans were actually happy to see Cena, and he ended up getting one of the biggest pops of the night. This was for two reasons: 1. Cena had a great 2015, both in wrestling and out of it, and having to deal with Wrestling/RomanReigns while he was out made them more appreciative of him and 2. His appearance meant the segment was almost over.[[/note]]

** The main event of ''[=WrestleMania=] 33'' between Wrestling/TheUndertaker, one of the biggest legends in the industry's history, and Wrestling/RomanReigns, maybe the biggest CreatorsPet in the company's history. Most people knew or at least suspected this would be the Undertaker's final match, and very few people wanted Reigns to be the one to retire him, so when Reigns did indeed put down the Undertaker, the match more than anything would have ended up being a depressing end to a storied career...at least until Undertaker came out of retirement the following year at ''[=WrestleMania=] 34'' and [[SquashMatch squashed]] Wrestling/JohnCena.

** [[Wrestling/DwayneJohnson The Rock]] vs. Wrestling/HulkHogan proved to be this. Wrestling/ChrisJericho and Wrestling/TripleH even pushed for that to go on last, feeling it was the true main event.

* UnexpectedCharacter: While Wrestling/JohnCena himself at ''[=WrestleMania=] 35'' wasn't that unexpected, the fact that he brought back the Doctor of Thuganomics gimmick was a pleasant surprise to everyone to the point where there was a very noticeable pop when his "Basic Thuganomics" music started playing.

** Wrestling/ShaneMcMahon in the later years (2016 and beyond), multiple times. Many critics would have thought that Shane, being the owner's son, would be getting nothing more than a place in the pedestal, despite being an aging non-wrestler. However, each of the matches at this point have received key positives. ''[=WrestleMania=] 32'' had the infamous fall from the top Wrestling/HellInACell, never before done. ''[=WrestleMania=] 33'' had him paired with AJ Styles, which turned out to be a much better match than expected and turned Styles face as a result. ''[=WrestleMania=] 34'' was icing to the cake for Daniel Bryan's return done right. ''[=WrestleMania=] 35'' had some brutal spots. ''[=WrestleMania=] 37'' also shows him falling off the top of the steel cage to the ring. Regardless if people expect Shane to take a dangerous high spot as predictable, one cannot deny the bravery and respect to give the fans that wow factor.

** ''[=WrestleMania=] 36'': The event in general. Many weren't sure if the company should've still hosted the event considering [[UsefulNotes/CoronavirusDisease2019Pandemic the pandemic]], and when they revealed that they were still going to host it via stitching together pre-taped matches and segments that would be broadcast over two nights, fans were skeptical over the final product. It turned out to be one of the better ''[=WrestleManias=]'' over the last few years, with some even calling it the best since ''[=WrestleMania=] 31''. Two matches in particular were praised for both unique execution and great entertainment value during this time:

** For ''[=WrestleMania=] 38'', few could have predicted, and even bemoaned the thought, but the likes of Logan Paul, Johnny Knoxville and Pat [=McAfee=] gave a performance that not only did they not hamper the show, but added to the experience. Similar to Bad Bunny, many fans weren't enthusiastic about Logan Paul's tag team match with the Miz against Rey Mysterio and his son. However, Logan ''excelled'' both in the physical feats and acting like a Heel, using Eddie Guerrero's Frog Splash and Three Amigo suplexles like a pro. At the end of the match, fans admitted he also had potential to be a wrestler. Johnny Knoxville vs. Sami Zayn was a baller of a time, thanks to Knoxville willing to take bumps, the involvement of the other Jackass groups and more importantly, the comedy landed in spades, as the crowd were loving every minute of it. Pat [=McAfee=] had the entire arena in the palm of his hands from the get go, showing off his committment and athleticism to the business to the large hype crowd, showing why exactly he is one of WWE's best signings in years.

** ''[=WrestleMania=] 33'': Wrestling/TripleH vs. Wrestling/SethRollins. Was it an awesome display of heart and talent by Seth Rollins, finally averting Stephanie [=McMahon's=] KarmaHoudini status and featuring two of the best talents in the business? Or was it a dull, boring slog that proved both Triple H and the main event style he used should have retired a long time ago, and was far from Rollins' best performance?

** During the Boneyard Match at ''36'', Undertaker attacks [[Wrestling/DrewHankinson Luke Gallows]] and Wrestling/KarlAnderson, and after he sets the barn on fire [[WhatHappenedToTheMouse they aren't seen again after that]], leading to many jokes about them being dead. Less than two weeks later, they were unexpectedly released amidst a gigantic wave of layoffs, meaning that that essentially ''was'' the last that viewers would see of them again.

** Due to taking place in Los Angeles, ''[=WrestleMania=] 21'' had a heavy Hollywood gimmick around it. The event is best known for, among other things, cementing Wrestling/JohnCena and Wrestling/{{Batista}} as main eventers, who would later go on to have successful film careers in the mid-to-late 2010s in the style of [[Wrestling/DwayneJohnson Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson]]. This is made even more hilarious when once considers the commercials for the event, which featured wrestlers doing parodies of famous films; Batista, alongside other wrestlers, took part in a ''Film/TaxiDriver'' parody by doing impressions of the film's "YouTalkinToMe" line, and Batista was ultimately the only one to nail it (albeit not before some confusion resulted in a WhosOnFirst routine). Eventually, he even worked alongside ''Taxi Driver'' star Creator/RobertDeNiro in ''Heist''.

** Bad Bunny (a ''musician'', we should remind you) became a fan favorite after his stellar match against Miz and Morrison at ''[=WrestleMania=] 37'', culminating on him pulling a '''Canadian Destroyer''' on Morrison. Fans were already stating that if he ever wants to stop making music, he had a career in wrestling.

** Titus O'Neil's reaction to [[MindScrew the Firefly Funhouse Match]] because it mirrors ''everyone else's''. Better yet everything about said Firefly Funhouse Match became a FountainOfMemes, with fans comparing it to something directed by David Lynch (particularly ''Series/TwinPeaks'') or ''Series/BlackMirror''

* RescuedFromTheScrappyHeap: At ''[=WrestleMania=] 20'', Wrestling/BrockLesnar vs. Wrestling/{{Goldberg}} more or less stank the joint up because of multiple issues, mainly due to both men already made it clear that they were done afterwards. It would go on to be considered one of the worst matches in Mania history. 13 years later at ''[=WrestleMania=] 33'', however, both men managed to give a performance that more than redeemed themselves at the showcase of the immortals. Sure the match was less than five minutes, but that was all they ever really needed.

*** Night 1: Bianca Belair prevailing over Wrestling/SashaBanks to win her first title in the main event. Bad Bunny's [[SugarWiki/HeReallyCanAct surprisingly good performance]] in a tag team victory over Wrestling/TheMiz and Wrestling/JohnMorrison (particularly his Canadian/Bunny Destroyer on Morrison). Wrestling/{{Cesaro}} spinning Wrestling/SethRollins with a no-armed airplane spin. [[note]] This is apparently one to WWE itself, as on the post-WM edition of ''[[Wrestling/WWESmackDown SmackDown]]'' they showed a clip of it multiple times and said it was the greatest moment in [=WrestleMania=] history. [[/note]]
*** Night 2: The triple threat main event: Wrestling/RomanReigns vs Wrestling/{{Edge}} vs [[Wrestling/BryanDanielson Daniel Bryan]], which saw Reigns retain the Universal Championship after 20 minutes of absolutely brutality in which all three competitors pulled out every single trick in their arsenal against each other.

*** Night 1: The return of Wrestling/CodyRhodes and the in-ring return of Wrestling/StoneColdSteveAustin after ''[[CueTheFlyingPigs 19 years]]'' in a No Holds Barred match victory over Wrestling/KevinOwens.
*** Night 2: Wrestling/RomanReigns defeating Wrestling/BrockLesnar to unify both the WWE and Universal Titles. Alternatively, either [[Series/{{Jackass}} Wee-Man]] body-slamming Wrestling/SamiZayn during his "Anything Goes" match with Creator/JohnnyKnoxville; or the brief shot of Pat [=MacAfee=] drinking a can of [[ProductPlacement Broken Skull Beer]], while lying on the floor after having eaten a Stone Cold Stunner, basically saying [[WorthIt "Totally Worth it."]]

** After the Boneyard Match of ''Wrestlemania 36'', people were thinking this was the fate of the Firefly Funhouse Match. Needless to say, people have now placed the match in equal positioning to the Boneyard Match. The title TATF fell to the main event of Drew [=McIntyre=] vs Brock Lesnar.
** In 38, Logan Paul had big shoes to fill in the celebrity match after Bad Bunny's excellent performance. However, he managed to be just as good as Bunny with how he acted as a total heel and excellent use of Eddie Guerro's signature moves. The same could be said to Johnny Knoxville and Pat [=MacAfee=] with their matches, but both of them were able to hold their own and leave the fans wanting more.

*** Night 2: Wrestling/RomanReigns defeating Wrestling/BrockLesnar to unify both the WWE and Universal Titles. Alternatively, the brief shot of Pat [=MacAfee=] drinking a can of [[ProductPlacement Broken Skull Beer]], while lying on the floor after having eaten a Stone Cold Stunner, basically saying [[WorthIt "Totally Worth it."]]

*** Night 2: Wrestling/RomanReigns defeating Wrestling/BrockLesnar to unify both the WWE and Universal Titles. Alternatively, the brief shot of Pat [=MacAfee] drinking a can of [[ProductPlacement Broken Skull Beer]], while lying on the floor after having eaten a Stone Cold Stunner, basically saying [[WorthIt "Totally Worth it."]]

** In 38, Logan Paul had big shoes to fill in the celebrity match after Bad Bunny's excellent performance. However, he managed to be just as good as Bunny with how he acted as a total heel and excellent use of Eddie Guerro's signature moves. The same could be said to Johnny Knoxville and Pat [=McAffe=] with their matches, but both of them were able to hold their own and leave the fans wanting more.

*** Night 2: Wrestling/RomanReigns defeating Wrestling/BrockLesnar to unify both the WWE and Universal Titles.

** In 38, Logan Paul had big shoes to fill in the celebrity match after Bad Bunny's excellent performance. However, he managed to be just as good as Bunny with how he acted as a total heel and excellent use of Eddie Guerro's signature moves.

** Few could have predicted, and even bemoaned the thought, but the likes of Logan Paul, Johnny Knoxville and Pat [=McAfee=] gave a performance that not only did they not hamper the show, but added to the experience. Similar to Bad Bunny, many fans weren't enthusiastic about Logan Paul's tag team match with the Miz against Rey Mysterio and his son. However, Logan ''excelled'' both in the physical feats and acting like a Heel, using Eddie Guerrero's Frog Splash and Three Amigo suplexles like a pro. At the end of the match, fans admitted he also had potential to be a wrestler. Johnny Knoxville vs. Sami Zayn was a baller of a time, thanks to Knoxville willing to take bumps, the involvement of the other Jackass groups and more importantly, the comedy landed in spades, as the crowd were loving every minute of it. Pat [=McAfee=] had the entire arena in the palm of his hands from the get go, showing off his committment and athleticism to the business to the large hype crowd, showing why exactly he is one of WWE's best signings in years.

** Similar to Bad Bunny, many fans weren't enthusiastic about Logan Paul's tag team match with the Miz against Rey Mysterio and his son. However, Logan ''excelled'' both in the physical feats and acting like a Heel, using Eddie Guerrero's Frog Splash and Three Amigo suplexles like a pro. At the end of the match, fans admitted he also had potential to be a wrestler.

** Bad Bunny at ''[=WrestleMania=] 37''. Considering he was a celebrity was not that much related to the wrestling world, many were skeptical of how well his performance was going to be. It didn't help that the booking leading to his [=WrestleMania=] match was widely panned by critics and fans, mainly due to the fact that his weekly airtime stole the spotlight to much of the current roster who didn't make it to the show. When the match occurred, however, Bad Bunny's performance exceeded expectations as it showed that he really took the effort to fight. Bad Bunny showed his love and passion for pro wrestling and it ''shows'': performing the Falcon/Broken Arrow in sync with Damien Priest, jumping off the top rope, and the use of the dangerous '''Canadian Destroyer''' has received critical acclaim with fans stating it's the best celebrity wrestling match ever (even outshining Ronda Roussey's three years prior!). Even Randy Orton, who has acquired a reputation for being an outspoken critic of celebrities who claim that wrestling is fake, gave praise to Bad Bunny for taking the initiative and view the WWE world in their eyes.

** Bad Bunny (a ''musician'', we should remind you) became a fan favorite after his stellar match against Miz and Morrison at ''[=WrestleMania=] 37'', culminating on him pulling a '''Canadian Destroyer''' on Morrison. Fans were already stating that he had more talent than half the roster and that if he ever wants to stop making music, he had a career in wrestling.

** Bad Bunny at ''[=WrestleMania=] 37''. Considering he was a celebrity was not that much related to the wrestling world, many were skeptical of how well his performance was going to be. It didn't help that the booking leading to his [=WrestleMania=] match was widely panned by critics and fans, mainly due to the fact that his weekly airtime stole the spotlight to much of the current roster who didn't make it to the show. When the match occurred, however, Bad Bunny's performance exceeded expectations as it showed that he really took the effort to fight. Bad Bunny showed his love and passion for pro wrestling and it ''shows'': performing the Falcon/Broken Arrow in sync with Damien Priest, jumping off the top rope, and the use of the dangerous '''Canadian Destroyer''' has received critical acclaim with fans stating it's the best celebrity wrestling match ever (even outshining Ronda Roussey's three years prior!). Even Randy Orton, a critic to celebrities who claim that wrestling is fake, gave praise to Bad Bunny for taking the initiative and view the WWE world in their eyes.

** Wrestling/ShaneMcMahon in the later years (2016 and beyond), multiple times. Many critics would have thought that Shane, being the owner's son, would be getting nothing more than a place in the pedestal, despite being an aging non-wrestler. However, each of the matches at this point have received key positives. ''[=WrestleMania=] 32'' had the infamous fall from the top Hell in a Cell, never before done. ''[=WrestleMania=] 33'' had him paired with AJ Styles, which turned out to be a much better match than expected and turned Styles face as a result. ''[=WrestleMania=] 34'' was icing to the cake for Daniel Bryan's return done right. ''[=WrestleMania=] 35'' had some brutal spots. ''[=WrestleMania=] 37'' also shows him falling off the top of the steel cage to the ring. Regardless if people expect Shane to take a dangerous high spot as predictable, one cannot deny the bravery and respect to give the fans that wow factor.

** Wrestling/ShaneMcMahon going up to the top of the Hell in a Cell against Wrestling/TheUndertaker at ''[=WrestleMania=] 32''. Several minutes of "What is he doing?" reactions from the fans watching him ascend the cage was one thing, but seeing Shane make the Sign of the Cross on himself before ''trying to an elbow drop on a downed Undertaker, who got out of the way'' stunned everybody.

** ''[=WrestleMania=] 32'' started with Wrestling/ZackRyder (who, while respected by the fans, wasn't remotely in the title hunt) winning the Intercontinental Championship in a Ladder Match, giving him the [[SugarWiki/HeartwarmingMoments WrestleMania Moment]] he always wanted.[[note]]Apparently, this wasn't even part of the plan. All six participants knew that whoever won was dropping the title to Wrestling/TheMiz the next night anyway, so WWE didn't particularly care who won. It was the wrestlers themselves who decided to put it on Ryder, so the only bright spot of the evening almost didn't happen.[[/note]] This was followed by [[TheBadGuyWins heel after heel winning]], often cleanly.

*** Wrestling/DeanAmbrose vs Wrestling/BrockLesnar in a "No Holds Barred Street Fight". In the days proceeding the event, both Wrestling/MickFoley AND Wrestling/TerryFunk [[PassingTheTorch gave Ambrose their]] [[WeaponOfChoice signature weapons]] (A barbed wire-wrapped [[BatterUp baseball bat]] and a [[ChainsawGood chainsaw]], respectively). Not only did Lesnar NoSell all Ambrose's attacks, but the only time the match was even remotely going in Ambrose's favor was when he hit Lesnar with a [[GroinAttack nut shot]]... [[InTheBack from behind]]. And said momentum lasted less than two minutes before Lesnar [[CurbStompBattle flattened Ambrose]], [[RunningGag cleanly]]. It's considered one of the worst matches of Ambrose's career, although almost everyone puts the blame on Lesnar, who simply didn't give a shit about the match and wasn't willing to work with Ambrose at all to try and make anything of it, a sentiment Ambrose stated to also have felt months after the match.

** Wrestling/BraunStrowman's tag team title match with Wrestling/{{Sheamus}} and [[Wrestling/ClaudioCastagnoli Cesaro]] at ''34'', in which he chose a ten-year old fan from the stands named Nicholas [[note]] Actually the son of referee John Cone, if you were wondering [[/note]] as his partner and subsequently won the titles with him. Normally this would have smarks decrying the devaluing of the RAW Tag Team Titles (and make no mistake, there were still a few who reacted like this, most notably Wrestling/StoneColdSteveAustin), but the majority, including the live crowd, [[ActuallyPrettyFunny actually found the situation]] ''[[ActuallyPrettyFunny hilarious]]'', mainly due to how seriously the wrestlers took the match (at one point Cesaro even started trash talking Nicholas); for those watching at home, the hilarity was doubled thanks to the commentary, in which Wrestling/MichaelCole, Jonathan Coachman, and ''especially'' Corey Graves [[LampshadeHanging lampshaded]] the absurdity of the entire situation. Nicholas eventually would gain MemeticBadass status from this alone.

* CriticProof: WWE as a whole is ''not'', as television ratings, attendance numbers and buy rates noticeably rise and drop with fan reception to the product, which reviews increasingly act as a microcosm of as fans themselves get on media platforms as critics. [=WrestleMania=], on the other hand ''is'', as no matter how bad WWE does anywhere else, [=WrestleMania=] numbers tend to stagnate at worst, though they've usually increased over the years (even during years when ticket sales for everything not [=WrestleMania=] dropped off).

* DiscreditedTrope: ''[=WrestleMania=] XXVI'' featured Wrestling/BretHart vs. Wrestling/VinceMcMahon in a No Holds Barred Match. In the late 1990s, this might have actually been an interesting confrontation; in 2010, with Vince in his 60s and Bret in no shape to actually wrestle (thanks to the combined effects of his career-ending concussion and a stroke he suffered a few years later), what we got was Bret and the Hart family giving Vince an over-ten-minute beatdown. Bret delivered 12 chairshots to a downed Vince (one for every year he was out of WWE following the Wrestling/MontrealScrewjob) before ''finally'' putting Vince in the Sharpshooter like everyone wanted. The match was widely panned by wrestling critics, especially for its length, depriving other matches of ring time. Another handicap was the [[LighterAndSofter new PG rating]]. Just about all of Vince's best-received matches were entertaining because he's willing to let the other guy do ''anything'' to him. Without the option to all but murder Vince, it's infinitely harder for him to pull off an entertaining fight.

** Heavily averted by XIX, 22, 32, 34 and (to some) [=X8=] - as they featured some of the more beloved women's matches in the event's history (quite a lot of people think Wrestling/{{Charlotte|Flair}} vs [[Wrestling/KanakoUrai Asuka]] was the best match of the night at 34). XX zig-zags this--while the women's match was viewed as a disappointment, the resulting moment of Wrestling/MollyHolly having her head shaved was viewed as a highlight of a disappointing event.

** During the Boneyard Match at ''36'', Undertaker attacks [[Wrestling/DrewHankinson Luke Gallows]] and Wrestling/KarlAnderson, and after he sets the barn on fire [[WhatHappenedToTheMouse they aren't seen again after that]], leading to many jokes about them being dead. Less than two weeks later, they were unexpectedly released amidst a gigantic wave of layoffs, meaning that that essentially ''was'' the last the viewers would see of them again.

* RescuedFromTheScrappyHeap: At ''[=WrestleMania=] 20'', Wrestling/BrockLesnar vs. Wrestling/{{Goldberg}} more or less stank the joint up because of multiple issues, mainly due to both men already made it clear that they were done afterwards. It would go on to be considered one of the worst matches in Mania history. 13 years later at ''[=WrestleMania=] 33'', however, both men managed to give a performance that more than redeemed themselves at the showcase of the immortals. Sure the match was less than five minutes, but that was all they really needed.

** Several fans had this reaction for 31's Divas tag team match featuring the {{face}} team of Wrestling/AJLee and Wrestling/{{Paige}} against the heel Wrestling/BellaTwins. If it happened a year or so before, the former team would have been clearly the heroines, being fan favorites, while the latter at that time were seen as everything that was wrong with the Divas division. However, by the time of 31 the former team came across as {{Designated Hero}}es in their promos, claiming they were automatically better than the twins because they weren't [[RealWomenDontWearDresses girly]], while the Bellas had considerably improved. It was also very hard to sympathise with AJ, who had taken many months off, stopped working house shows and not done any of the additional PR work that talent usually did (that the Bellas and Paige had done). One promo from Nikki was even rumored to be a WorkedShoot calling AJ out for her lack of interest in the division. This was underlined in [[https://cewshreviews.com/2015/06/22/wwe-wrestlemania-31/ Cewsh Reviews]].

*** Night 1: Bianca Belair prevailing over Wrestling/SashaBanks to win her first title in the main event. Bad Bunny's [[SugarWiki/HeReallyCanAct surprisingly good performance]] in a tag team victory over Wrestling/TheMiz and Wrestling/JohnMorrison (particularly his Canadian/Bunny Destroyer on Morrison). Wrestling/{{Cesaro}} spinning Wrestling/SethRollins with a no-armed airplane spin. [[note]] This is apparently one to WWE itself, as on the post-WM edition of Wrestling/[=SmackDown=] they showed a clip of it multiple times and said it was the greatest moment in [=WrestleMania=] history. [[/note]]

* SpecialEffectsFailure: At ''[=WrestleMania=] XIV'', Wrestling/{{Kane}}'s iconic tombstone of Pete Rose actually very clearly just has Wrestling/{{Kane}} falling to his knees with Rose's head never touching the apron. While that was understandable,[[note]]Piledrivers can cause serious injury [[FatalMethodActing or even death]] if not performed properly, as Stone Cold Steve Austin can attest to thanks to Owen Hart botching the move in 1997[[/note]] the camera angle could have done a better job of covering that up.

** ''[=WrestleMania=] 32'' started with Wrestling/ZackRyder (who was respected by the fans, but wasn't remotely in the title hunt) winning the Intercontinental Championship in a Ladder Match, giving him the [[SugarWiki/HeartwarmingMoments WrestleMania Moment]] he always wanted.[[note]]Apparently, this wasn't even part of the plan. All six participants knew that whoever won was dropping the title to Wrestling/TheMiz the next night anyway, so WWE didn't particularly care who won. It was the wrestlers themselves who decided to put it on Ryder, so the only bright spot of the evening almost didn't happen.[[/note]] This was followed by [[TheBadGuyWins heel after heel winning]], often cleanly.

*** Finally, the main event that no one (other than Wrestling/VinceMcMahon) wanted: Wrestling/TripleH vs CreatorsPet Wrestling/RomanReigns. First, they give Triple H an incredible EvilIsCool intro, followed by Reigns... coming down the ramp, followed by a special effect to the ring that was ''supposed'' to look like it "shattered", but they botched the timing. The match itself, while not terrible by any means, just fell flat, as the outcome couldn't be more obvious if it appeared with flashing captions on the screen, with Reigns winning [[OverlyLongGag cleanly]]. Even if fans had wanted Reigns to be WWE Champion [[XPacHeat (which was the one thing they really,]] ''[[XPacHeat really]]'' [[XPacHeat didn't want)]], they'd be disgusted from the rest of the show. While declaring it the [[WorstWhateverEver worst 'Mania ever]] is clearly hyperbole, it could easily rank in the bottom 20% or so.

* JustHereForGodzilla:
** Many, many wrestling fans have gotten to the point where they only watch ''[=WrestleMania=]'' for Wrestling/TheUndertaker's Streak match - and it doesn't help that every ''[=WrestleMania=]'' since ''[=WrestleMania=] XXV'' (the first Undertaker[=/=]Wrestling/ShawnMichaels match for WM) have had his match considered the best match of the night (and at times the only match worth watching). If the reception for his match with Wrestling/BrayWyatt was any indication, it seems that The Streak being broken hadn't slowed it down, either.
** ''[=WrestleMania=] 13'' is largely considered the "one-match show", as it had one match that is considered both one of the best in professional wrestling history, and one of the starting points of the company's Wrestling/AttitudeEra: the submission match between Wrestling/BretHart and Wrestling/StoneColdSteveAustin. As for the rest of the card? Yeah, nobody talks about them.

** ''[=WrestleMania=] 32'' started with Wrestling/ZackRyder (who was respected by the fans, but wasn't remotely in the title hunt) winning the Intercontinental Championship in a Ladder Match, giving him the [[SugarWiki/HeartwarmingMoments WrestleMania Moment]] he always wanted.[[note]] But even this was sadly subverted on the very next night, when Wrestling/TheMiz defeated him for the title[[/note]] This was followed by [[TheBadGuyWins heel after heel winning]], often cleanly.

** ''[=WrestleMania=] XIX'': Wrestling/BrockLesnar's botched shooting star press onto Wrestling/KurtAngle; [[Wrestling/DwayneJohnson The Rock]] vs. Wrestling/StoneColdSteveAustin III: the final chapter; Wrestling/ShawnMichaels vs Wrestling/ChrisJericho.

* SpecialEffectsFailure: At ''[=WrestleMania=] XIV'', Wrestling/{{Kane}}'s iconic tombstone of Pete Rose actually very clearly just has Wrestling/{{Kane}} falling to his knees with Rose's head never touching the apron. While that was understandable,[[note]]Piledrivers can cause serious injury [[FatalMethodActing or even death]] if not performed properly[[/note]] the camera angle could have done a better job of covering that up.

* ShockingSwerve:
** ''[=WrestleMania=] X-Seven'' had the twist ending to the show's main event, where Wrestling/StoneColdSteveAustin [[FaceHeelTurn turned heel]] and teamed up with longtime rival and WWF owner Wrestling/VinceMcMahon to defeat [[Wrestling/DwayneJohnson The Rock]] and win the WWF Championship for the fifth (and penultimate) time.
** Once you think about it, Wrestling/TrishStratus's heel turn at ''XX'' completely came out of nowhere. According to her, the original plan was a more straightforward happy ending where she and Wrestling/ChrisJericho would go "off into the sunset" after him defeating Wrestling/{{Christian}} - and the heel turn was a last minute idea by Wrestling/{{Vince|McMahon}}. At the time she was the top female babyface and although the groundwork was being laid for Wrestling/{{Lita}} and [[Wrestling/LisaMarieVaron Victoria]] to fill those roles, no one expected her to turn heel.[[note]]''SLAM Wrestling'' had predicted that Lita and Trish would feud eventually after the former's 2003 return and the storyline portrayal of them as best friends now, but it was expected to be a slower burning feud like Trish's with Wrestling/MickieJames ended up being.[[/note]] Proof that Administrivia/TropesAreNotBad - it was considered one of the high points of a mediocre show.
** The shocking swerve, arguably, above all other shocking swerves in wrestling history, happened at ''[=WrestleMania=] XXX''.
--->'''Justin Roberts:''' Ladies and Gentlemen, [[DefeatingTheUndefeatable the winner]] [[Wrestling/TheUndertaker of this match]], Wrestling/{{BROCK LESNAR}}!

* DarknessInducedAudienceApathy:
** ''[=WrestleMania=] 32'' started with Wrestling/ZackRyder (who was respected by the fans, but wasn't remotely in the title hunt) winning the Intercontinental Championship in a Ladder Match, giving him the [[SugarWiki/HeartwarmingMoments WrestleMania Moment]] he always wanted.[[note]] But even this was sadly subverted on the very next night, when Wrestling/TheMiz defeated him for the title[[/note]] This was followed by [[TheBadGuyWins heel after heel winning]], often cleanly.
*** Then-WWE Tag Team Champions Wrestling/TheNewDay were beaten by The League of Nations (in a non-title match). When Wrestling/WadeBarrett praised his other three teammates (Wrestling/AlbertoDelRio, Wrestling/{{Rusev|AndLana}} and Wrestling/{{Sheamus}}) as the best "three Superstars" in the company, cue Wrestling/StoneColdSteveAustin, Wrestling/ShawnMichaels, and Wrestling/MickFoley coming to the ring and beat them up. They then helped the New Day to their feet... and then Austin beat ''one of the New Day'' up (Xavier Woods). While it was nice to see Austin, Michaels and Foley again, this stunt harmed the credibility of both teams, as they were beaten by aging (albeit still respected) has-beens.
*** Hot new acquisition Wrestling/AJStyles fought Wrestling/ChrisJericho. Styles was recently hired and paid main event-level money for his contract, and Jericho was for quite some time best used shaping new talent. Jericho won cleanly.
*** Wrestling/DeanAmbrose vs Wrestling/BrockLesnar in a "No Holds Barred Street Fight". In the days proceeding the event, both Wrestling/MickFoley AND Wrestling/TerryFunk [[PassingTheTorch gave Ambrose their]] [[WeaponOfChoice signature weapons]] (A barbed wire-wrapped [[BatterUp baseball bat]] and a [[ChainsawGood chainsaw]], respectively). Not only did Lesnar NoSell all Ambrose's attacks, but the only time the match was even remotely going in Ambrose's favor was when he hit Lesnar with a [[GroinAttack nut shot]]... [[InTheBack from behind]]. And said momentum lasted less than two minutes before Lesnar [[CurbStompBattle flattened Ambrose]], [[RunningGag cleanly]]. It's considered one of the worst matches of Ambrose's career, although almost everyone puts the blame on Lesnar, who simply didn't give a shit about the match and wasn't willing to work with Ambrose at all to try and make anything of it, a sentiment Ambrose stated to also have felt months after the match.
*** They made a big deal that an "all-new" Women's Championship[[note]]"All-new" because it does not share the same title history as the original WWE Women's Championship that was retired in 2010. Later renamed as the Raw Women's Championship after the return of the brand extension and the creation of the [=SmackDown=] Women's Champion.[[/note]] was being introduced to replace the Divas Championship.[[note]]Ironically, replacing the original Women's Championship was the reason the Divas Championship was made in the first place.[[/note]] Wrestling/{{Charlotte|Flair}} won a triple threat to win the renamed Women's Championship by having her father Wrestling/RicFlair cheat to help her, just like pretty much every other title defense she'd had since winning the Divas Championship.
*** Wrestling/TheUndertaker fought Wrestling/ShaneMcMahon in a match that came with a very confusing storyline beforehand: Shane had returned to WWE for the first time since 2009 to confront his father Vince and sister Stephanie in regards to how they run the company, which alone was seen as a [[SugarWiki/MomentOfAwesome Crowning Moment of Awesome]]. Vince then made a deal with Shane that he would gain control of ''Raw'' from the much-maligned Wrestling/TheAuthority if he could win a match of his choosing at ''[=WrestleMania=]''. After Shane accepted, Vince named The Undertaker as his opponent. Fans' reaction to Vince's choosing was basically a FlatWhat, given the lack of an alliance between Vince and Undertaker, and the storyline never explained why 'Taker would wrestle a match as the de facto {{Heel}} to help Vince against Shane; despite 'Taker's claims that he worked for no one, he went along with it, while Shane seemed to {{lampshade|Hanging}} it by asking why 'Taker would be one of his father's "puppets." Eventually, Vince added another stipulation; that if 'Taker did not win, it would be "his last ''[=WrestleMania=]''," implying that he'd have to retire, which at least raised some stakes. Then, at ''[=WrestleMania=]'', The Undertaker defeated Shane. So Shane didn't gain control of ''Raw'', right? Wrong. The following night on ''Raw'', Vince, claiming that Shane was supposedly upstaging him with his strong fan support (which, admitedly, Shane has), allowed Shane to run ''Raw'' that night anyway, and Shane was then allowed to continue controlling ''Raw'' for another three weeks after that, basically rendering the whole thing pointless. Thus, the Authority was disbanded in a confusing payoff after three years of tormenting the viewers.
*** The Wrestling/AndreTheGiant Memorial Battle Royal was won by Wrestling/BaronCorbin, a midcarder {{Heel}} from [[Wrestling/{{WWENXT}} NXT]], WWE's developmental system. Cleanly. Granted, the fans were more forgiving in this instance, as Corbin was at least a fresh prospect; one may have noticed that most of the heels winning so far are not only heels but also older talent (or involved older talent in the women's title case).
*** [[Wrestling/DwayneJohnson The Rock]] came out to announce the legitimately record-setting (but still exaggerated) attendance. Then Wrestling/TheWyattFamily comes out to essentially heckle him, only for him to beat Erick Rowan in literally 8 seconds. When the somehow still supposed-to-be intimidating Wyatts surround Rocky, Wrestling/JohnCena came out to "rescue" him. [[SarcasmMode Because the last time they threw the Rock and Cena in WrestleMania for no good reason turned out amazing.]] [[TheLastStraw Just ask]] Wrestling/CMPunk![[note]]Ironically, the fans were actually happy to see Cena, and he ended up getting one of the biggest pops of the night. This was for two reasons: 1. Cena had a great 2015, both in wrestling and out of it, and having to deal with Wrestling/RomanReigns while he was out made them more appreciative of him and 2. His appearance meant the segment was almost over.[[/note]]
*** Finally, the main event that no one (other than Wrestling/VinceMcMahon) wanted: Wrestling/TripleH vs CreatorsPet Wrestling/RomanReigns. First, they give Triple H an incredible EvilIsCool intro, followed by Reigns... coming down the ramp, followed by a special effect to the ring that was ''supposed'' to look like it "shattered", but they botched the timing. The match itself, while not terrible by any means, just fell flat, as the outcome couldn't be more obvious if it appeared with flashing captions on the screen, with Reigns winning [[OverlyLongGag cleanly]]. Even if fans had wanted Reigns to be WWE Champion [[XPacHeat (which was the one thing they really,]] ''[[XPacHeat really]]'' [[XPacHeat didn't want)]], they'd be disgusted from the rest of the show. While declaring it the [[WorstWhateverEver worst 'Mania ever]] is clearly hyperbole, it could easily rank in the bottom 20% or so.
** The main event of ''[=WrestleMania=] 33'' between Wrestling/TheUndertaker, one of the biggest legends in the industry's history, and Wrestling/RomanReigns, maybe the biggest CreatorsPet in the company's history. Most people knew or at least suspected this would be the Undertaker's final match, and very few people wanted Reigns to be the one to retire him, so when Reigns did indeed put down the Undertaker, the match more than anything would have ended up being a depressing end to a storied career...at least until Undertaker came out of retirement the following year at ''[=WrestleMania=] 34'' and [[SquashMatch squashed]] Wrestling/JohnCena.

*** They made a big deal that an "all-new" Women's Championship[[note]]"All-new" because it does not share the same title history as the original WWE Women's Championship that was retired in 2010. Later renamed as the Raw Women's Championship after the return of the brand extension and the creation of the SmackDown Women's Champion.[[/note]] was being introduced to replace the Divas Championship.[[note]]Ironically, replacing the original Women's Championship was the reason the Divas Championship was made in the first place.[[/note]] Wrestling/{{Charlotte|Flair}} won a triple threat to win the renamed Women's Championship by having her father Wrestling/RicFlair cheat to help her, just like pretty much every other title defense she'd had since winning the Divas Championship.

* TheyWastedAPerfectlyGoodPlot: The vast majority of women's wrestling fans would have preferred a singles match between Wrestling/TrishStratus and Wrestling/MichelleMcCool at 27 - as opposed to a mixed tag. Dolph Ziggler's involvement at least made storyline sense given he'd wrestled with Wrestling/LayCool before but John Morrison was even more of a spare part than Snooki (not helping matters was his rude behavior towards Trish, which was allegedly because he felt {{Wrestling/Melina}} should have been in the match). According to the women involved, the match's time got completely cut and they were told to wrap it all up in about three minutes.